| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07721346B2 |
Method and apparatus for encrypting data to be secured and inputting/outputting the same
A technology is provided to improve tamper resistance in encrypting data to be secured and inputting/outputting the data between a recording device and a host device. When the recording device issues an input/output command to a storage device to input/output data to be secured, the recording device attaches an ID to the command to identify to which cryptographic input/output processing the command belongs. Upon reception of a sequence command, the storage device receives the command if its ID has been allocated and the command is verified to have been issued in the correct sequence. The sequence ID is used to identify a process system while appropriately managing the steps of executing commands. |
| US07721335B2 |
Ambient calculus-based modal logics for mobile ambients
Ambient calculus-based modal logics for mobile ambients are disclosed. Formal analysis mechanisms or frameworks with which mobile ambients can be described, and within which policies such as security policies can be tested against those ambients, are disclosed. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method receives at least one container, where each container has at least one process. The method applies the containers, including their processes, against a predetermined modal logic. The modal logic is based on ambient calculus, and provides for spatial relationships among the processes of the containers. The containers and their processes are output, as applied against the logic. |
| US07721334B2 |
Detection of code-free files
Detection of code-free files is described. According to one implementation, an input file is parsed to recognize a file format. Contents of the input file are checked according to the recognized file format, if available, in an effort to determine whether executable code might exist within the input file. A status is then sent in response to the checking. |
| US07721331B1 |
Methods and apparatus for performing a pre-processing activity
A system performs a pre-processing activity by identifying at least one file requiring a pre-processing activity to be performed prior to the file(s) being accessed by an application operating on a computerized device. The system schedules the pre-processing activity on the file(s) prior to receiving an invocation of the application that accesses the file(s). The pre-processing activity is scheduled to minimize a performance impact on the computerized device. The system then performs the pre-processing activity on the file(s) in accordance with the scheduling. |
| US07721330B1 |
Utility computing firewall
A firewall dynamically adapts to changes in a utility computing system. The utility computing system has multiple nodes that are dynamically provisioned in different roles. The different roles are best served by different security and/or Quality-of-Service (QoS) policies. The firewall selects and applies security and/or QoS policies to a node or group of nodes based on the roles provisioned to the node or group. The firewall detects when the provisioning of a node changes, and dynamically applies a new security and/or QoS policy to the node based on the new provisioning. The firewall thus provides adaptive network-level security and QoS functionality to a utility computing system. |
| US07721328B2 |
Application identity design
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for providing user credentials over a network to a remote computer application. User credentials for the remote computer application are stored in a central repository that is accessible through the network. A request is sent to a service to perform, on behalf of a user, a particular task involving the remote computer application. It is determined whether the service has been granted permission to act on behalf of the user with respect to the remote computer application. When the service has permission to act on behalf of the user, the service is used to retrieve the user's credentials for the remote computer application from the central repository and to supply the retrieved user credentials to the remote computer application. |
| US07721323B2 |
Method and system for including network security information in a frame
A method and apparatus for including network security information in a frame is disclosed. Network security information is included in a secure portion of overhead of a frame. The network security information is configured to facilitate network security. A network device configured to process a frame is also disclosed. The frame includes frame security information and network security information. The frame security information is configured to facilitate securing a portion of overhead of the frame, and the network security information is located in the secure portion of the overhead of the frame and is configured to facilitate network security. |
| US07721312B2 |
System and method for scrolling through TV video icons by category
In a TV displaying thumbnails of videos grouped by genre, genre labels are shown so that a user can conveniently move genre to genre with a single click on a remote control device. |
| US07721311B2 |
Displaying EPG information on a digital television
Disclosed is a method for displaying a plurality of objects on a display (105). Each object has at least a first attribute and a second attribute. The method sets a range of first attributes to be displayed. A set of objects is then displayed having the same second attribute on a radial line of an ellipse based on a comparison between the range and the first attribute of the objects. Desirably the method is used for displaying information regarding a plurality of broadcast programs on the display, each broadcast program having attributes comprising at least time of transmission and channel of transmission. In that implementation a display period is set. The method then compares the time of broadcast transmission of one or more programs with the display period and then displays (eg. 600) information regarding a set of programs (602, 604, 606) having the same channel of transmission (eg. 12) on at least one radial line of an ellipse, based on the comparison. The described arrangements are particularly useful in displaying television electronic program guide (EPG) information. |
| US07721310B2 |
Method and apparatus for selective updating of a user profile
A television programming recommender is disclosed that selectively obtains feedback information from a user to update one or more profiles associated with the user. Previously obtained implicit and explicit preferences are utilized to selectively focus the collection of feedback information to further update and refine the implicit and explicit preferences. The present invention obtains feedback from a user in a manner that maximizes the value of the obtained information and improves the performance of the television programming recommender. The present invention automatically requests feedback from the user upon the occurrence of predefined criteria. The nature of the requested feedback, and the manner in which the obtained feedback is used to adjust a profile, can vary. |
| US07721307B2 |
Method and apparatus for targeting of interactive virtual objects
A method and an apparatus are used to target interactive virtual objects to subscribers in a television delivery system. Programs are selected and virtual object locations are defined in the selected programs. The virtual objects available for targeting are categorized and the categories are correlated to subscriber information to determine the optimum targeting of the virtual objects. The invention uses upstream data reception hardware, databases and processing hardware and software, and corresponding features in the televisions to accomplish these functions. |
| US07721306B2 |
Bandwidth sharing
A method for bandwidth sharing between first and second satellite television networks involves receiving a shared video data stream shared between the satellite television networks; receiving advertisement metadata forming a part of the shared video data stream, the advertisement meta-data containing identifying information that identifies the advertisement as being associated with one of the satellite television networks; determining which of the satellite television networks the advertisement is associated with by reading the identifying information; if the first satellite television network is identified as associated with the advertisement, then outputting the advertisement as a video signal; and if the second satellite television network is identified as associated with the advertisement, then identifying an advertisement that is possibly stored in an advertisement cache, retrieving the advertisement from the advertisement cache and outputting the stored advertisement as a video signal. This abstract is not to be considered limiting. |
| US07721304B2 |
Method and apparatus providing programmable network intelligence
Programmable network intelligence approaches as disclosed herein provide apparatus, methods and tools to achieve programmable interfaces to a device, or group of devices or a network where native programmable interfaces are not available. |
| US07721302B2 |
Method and system for installing a self-contained application to operate with a previously installed self-contained application
A method of installing a first self-contained data handling application to operate with a second, previously installed, self-contained data handling application having at least one call routine which is executed when the second data handling application is operated, is described. The method comprises a) determining the presence of the second data handling application and, if it is present, b) generating a link to a software routine provided by, and utilizing when executed, the first data handling application, which will be executed by the call routine in the second data handling application. |
| US07721301B2 |
Processing files from a mobile device using voice commands
The presently described subject matter allows the user to interactively browse a collection of electronic files, such as a digital photo collection, remotely using voice activated mobile device. Files from the collection of electronic files can be displayed on the mobile device or they can be directed from the mobile device to be sent to a remote display device, where the file can be displayed. Also, a user can record voice and text annotations and keywords from the mobile device to preserve with an electronic file, and which is transported along with the file when it is displayed. |
| US07721299B2 |
Zero-copy network I/O for virtual hosts
Techniques for virtualized computer system environments running one or more virtual machines that obviate the extra host operating system (O/S) copying steps required for sending and receiving packets of data over a network connection, thus eliminating major performance problems in virtualized environment. Such techniques include methods for emulating network I/O hardware device acceleration-assist technology providing zero-copy I/O sending and receiving optimizations. Implementation of these techniques require a host O/S to perform actions including, but not limited to: checking of the address translations (ensuring availability and data residency in physical memory), checking whether the destination of a network packet is local (to another virtual machine within the computing system), or across an external network; and, if local, checking whether either the sending destination VM, receiving VM process, or both, supports emulated hardware accelerated-assist on the same physical system. This optimization, in particular, provides a further optimization in that the packet data checksumming operations may be omitted when sending packets between virtual machines in the same physical system. |
| US07721298B2 |
Operating system performance
Techniques for improving operating system performance are provided. A subsystem of an operating system operates as a kernel mode component, such as a kernel mode driver, instead of operating as a user mode component. |
| US07721296B2 |
Event based charging in a communications system
A communications system in which event based charging is implemented and in which service flows between end user equipments and application servers are filtered for charging purposes by a traffic plane function (TPF). The TPF identifies a service flow between an end user equipment and an application server and implements event based charging by sending a message to an Event Owner for the service flow requesting notification of Events associated with the service flow. The Event Owner sends a message containing an Event Result to the TPF when an Event associated with the service flow occurs and the TPF correlates the Event Result with the service flow. This correlation may include the matching of the Event Result to the service flow which the TPF then notifies to a billing control function so that the billing control function can bill the end user appropriately based on the Events. This correlation may also include the matching of the Event Result to a data download detected by the TPF on the service flow so that the system operator can confirm that the service flows filtered by the TPF match the Events notified to the TPF by the Event Owner. |
| US07721295B2 |
Execution multiplicity control system, and method and program for controlling the same
An execution multiplicity control system is provided which measures a load distribution over service objects for each case when one type of service requests are inputted into a distributed object system; calculates an effect index for when the execution multiplicity of each of the service objects is varied, based on the load distribution; measures, for each type of the service requests, the number of service requests actually inputted, to acquire a request distribution; calculates and stores a total effect index for when the execution multiplicity of each of the service objects is varied, based on the effect index and the request distribution; and controls the execution multiplicity of the service objects by applying a method of controlling the execution multiplicity of the service objects in descending order of the respective total effect indices calculated. |
| US07721292B2 |
System for adjusting resource allocation to a logical partition based on rate of page swaps and utilization by changing a boot configuration file
Program instructions, responsive to processor utilization being above a first predetermined upper threshold, automatically change a boot configuration file of the server to increase a number of real processors, physically resident within the server, allocated to LPAR effective upon a next boot-up of the server. Program instructions, responsive to the processor utilization being below a second predetermined lower threshold, automatically change a boot configuration file to decrease a number of the real processors, physically resident within the server, allocated to the LPAR effective upon a next boot-up of the server. Program instructions, responsive to the processor utilization being below a second predetermined lower threshold, automatically change a boot configuration file to decrease a number of the real processors, physically resident within the server, allocated to the LPAR effective upon a next boot-up of the server. |
| US07721291B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for automatically minimizing real-time task latency and maximizing non-real time task throughput
An apparatus, system, and method are provided for automatically minimizing Real-Time (RT) task latency and maximizing Non-Real Time (NRT) task throughput. The apparatus may include a task manager, a determination module, and optionally a tracking module. The task manager may execute a NRT task configured to obtain exclusive access to a resource within a multi-processor environment. The determination module identifies a RT task within the multi-processor environment that shares exclusive access to the resource with the NRT task. Optionally, the tracking module selectively executes or bypasses a preemption point associated with the NRT task in response to the RT task becoming runnable. Alternatively, the NRT task selectively executes or bypasses a predefined preemption point in response to the RT task becoming runnable. In this manner, RT tasks on any processor of the multi-processor environment meet minimum latency thresholds and NRT tasks automatically provide maximum throughput in the multi-processor environment. |
| US07721288B2 |
Organizing transmission of repository data
A method of organizing a transmission of repository data includes receiving, in a computer system, a request to transmit data from a data repository to a data recipient. In response to the request, batch jobs for transmitting the data are performed. Each of the batch jobs identifies a data amount that is to be transmitted to the data recipient. Upon detecting during transmission that a performance parameter of the computer system does not meet a predefined standard, the data amount that is identified by at least one of the batch jobs is automatically changed. Changing the data amount may include splitting the batch job into at least two batch jobs, or merging the batch job with another batch job. A predictive model may be created for determining a control parameter that can be assigned to the batch jobs. The control parameter may help the system assume an optimal organization state. |
| US07721286B2 |
Preemptive multi-tasking with cooperative groups of tasks
An operating system combines preemptive scheduling with cooperative or non-preemptive scheduling. In particular, tasks are divided into groups of interdependent tasks. Interdependent tasks are tasks that utilize the same modules of code or resources Each group includes tasks that should not be run asynchronously relative to each other. The scheduler in the operating system provides each group with a time slot of processor time. The tasks within the group are cooperatively scheduled to exploit the time slot assigned to the group. Dependencies between modules and tasks are maintained to assure that no difficulties arise amongst preemptively scheduled groups. |
| US07721285B2 |
Virtual machine system and virtual machine control method
A user interface function for a virtual machine system based on a server or a PC is provided only by applying software without using SVP or the like. A control virtual machine is provided for controlling a virtual machine control screen which is displayed for defining virtual machines and instructing operations to the virtual machines. A virtual machine control program exclusively displays either a screen for each virtual machine or the virtual machine control screen in response to a screen switching instruction from an input device. |
| US07721281B1 |
Methods and apparatus for securing local application execution
A system detects an application attempting to invoke an administrative utility on a target application for installation of software. In response, the system identifies the administrative utility as an installer launcher. The system then detects the installer launcher invoking execution of the target application, and in response, identifies the target application as an installation application. The system allows classification of applications as installer launchers and installation applications and in response to detecting operation of such programs, enforces installation security profiles during their operations that apply varying levels of access to certain system resources that differ from a level of access normally applied during non-installation activities. |
| US07721274B1 |
Intelligent processing of external object references for dynamic linking
Performance information can be utilized for comparison of resolving an external object reference through a linking module against accessing the external object directly (“relocation processing”). With the performance information, a determination of whether performing relocation processing on a runtime linked external object reference provides improved runtime performance sufficient to outweigh the runtime linking overhead incurred from the relocation processing is made. If the improvement in runtime performance is sufficient, then the runtime linked external object reference, or the code section that includes the reference, is marked to indicate that relocation processing should be applied. |
| US07721273B1 |
Controller equipment model systems and methods
The present invention relates to a system and methodology facilitating automated manufacturing processes in an industrial controller environment. An automation system is provided for automated industrial processing. The system includes an equipment phase object that is executed by a controller engine, wherein the equipment phase object can be accessible from internal instructions within the controller and/or from external instructions directed to the controller such as from a server or another controller across a network connection. A sequencing engine operates with the equipment phase object to facilitate automated industrial processing. The sequencing engine can be adapted to various industrial standards or in accordance with other state type models. |
| US07721269B2 |
System and method for detecting redundant subroutine calls
A system and method of detecting redundant subroutine calls in a software system is provided. Call path data is obtained for the software system and stored into a call tree comprising a plurality of nodes, each node representing a software routine of the software system, the call tree describing the calling paths between the plurality of software routines. At least one focal node is identified among the plurality of nodes in the call tree for redundancy analysis. The calling redundancy to the focal node is analyzed by determining a common ancestor node list for the focal node and by generating call path data for each of the common ancestor nodes on the list. The common ancestor list data may be sorted and call trees generated for the common ancestors in relation to the focal node. This data may then be displayed on a graphical user interface for redundancy analysis of the focal node. |
| US07721264B2 |
Method and apparatus for storing and replaying creation history of multimedia software or other software content
An authoring or other software tool is provided which allows users of the tool to review the creation and evolution of all or part of a content such as a multimedia title created using a tool incorporating the invention. According to the invention, an authoring tool comprises a recording mechanism for recording actions performed during the development or modification of software content in a manner that preserves, directly or indirectly, the relative chronological order of the actions and a playback mechanism for performing or otherwise simulating recorded actions. Preferably, the playback of an action includes annotation using text, recorded or computer-generated voice, video and/or graphic animation. Preferably, an authoring tool embodying the invention allows an author to specify criteria for which actions are to be played back, thereby providing an author with a mechanism for focusing on a particular subset of the recorded actions. |
| US07721260B2 |
Embedded Test I/O Engine
A system and method for testing input and output paths connected to an embedded processor. Specialized test software operating on the embedded processor creates one or more test workers or threads, each having a specific routine to perform, which are executed in parallel, stressing various communication paths. The results may be analyzed to help in many different ways during the life cycle of the device with the embedded controller. |
| US07721259B2 |
Configurable and customizable software application system and metadata
Systems and methods of generating and executing customized variants of a software application are provided. The customized variants include customization of user interfaces, data processing logic, and data models. Customization is accomplished by overlaying custom metadata on base metadata. The base metadata characterizes the software application and the custom metadata characterizes variants of the software application. The custom metadata and base metadata have an object-oriented relationship. Related variants are optionally applied as a set to assure compatibility between variants of the same software application. |
| US07721257B2 |
Method for effecting software maintenance in a software system landscape and computer system
A method for effecting software maintenance in a software system landscape comprising a central control system and a plurality of logical systems interconnected by logical transport paths, each system having associated therewith one of a plurality of system roles is described. The method comprises: providing system role types, each system role type comprising a group of system roles; providing an association of tasks to system role types; providing a transport track that defines a route for software services through a group of systems in a particular order and specifies one source system in which software services are permitted, adjacent interconnected systems, and at least one target system, each software service relating to at least one of the code and the data of at least one system in the landscape; and generating a maintenance instance from the system role types, the association and the transport tracks, the maintenance instance defining tasks for effecting a software service in a maintenance interval. |
| US07721255B2 |
Sequence program editing apparatus
A sequence program editing apparatus according to the present invention includes: program storing means for storing an application program including the sequence program; information storing means for storing symbol information and/or comment information used in the sequence program; selecting means for, in a state in which a plurality of application programs including at least first and second application programs runs, selecting at least a part of a sequence program displayed on an application screen run by the first application program; extracting means for extracting the symbol information and/or the comment information included in at least the selected part of the sequence program from the information storing means; and copy means for copying at least the selected part of the sequence program on the sequence program displayed on the application screen run by the second application program and copying the extracted symbol information and/or the extracted comment information on the information storing means of the second application. |
| US07721254B2 |
Programming interface for a computer platform
A programming interface provides functions for generating applications, documents, media presentations and other content. These functions allow developers to obtain services from an operating system, object model service, or other system or service. |
| US07721251B2 |
Method and device for creating project planning for an operating device of an automation component
To increase the user friendliness of the project planning software (6), it is proposed that information (12, 13, 14, 15) about the applicability of project planning (8) to the operating device (1) be provided, such that the information (12, 13, 14, 15) is recorded directly within the framework of an operating interface of project planning software. |
| US07721247B2 |
Side lobe image searching method in lithography
A method for detecting the presence of side lobes in a full chip layout having a main pattern designed on a mask includes surrounding the main pattern with a pattern of polygons or circles. A lithography rule check is performed and uses the pattern of polygons or circles to search the main pattern for side lobes. The location of a side lobe is preferably marked with an error flag. |
| US07721243B2 |
Method and apparatus for routing
Some embodiments of the invention provide a router that can define a route that has different widths along different directions on the same layer. To facilitate the creation of such a route, some embodiments adaptively define the shape of interconnect-line ends (i.e., the shape of route-segment ends) on a particular layer based on the routing directions available on the particular layer. By so defining these shapes, these embodiments improve the alignment of route segments that have differing widths. In other words, dynamically defining the interconnect-line ends improves the shape of a route at bends along which the route transition from one width to another. Also, to facilitate the creation of a route with different widths and/or spacing in different directions on a particular layer, some embodiments define, for each available routing direction on the particular layer, an “unroutable” bloated region about a previously defined geometry (e.g., a previously defined obstacle, wire, or via pad) on the particular layer. An item's bloated region for a particular routing direction specifies the portion of the particular layer that is not available for route segments along the particular routing direction. As further described below, the item's bloated region for a particular direction is derived based on the minimum spacing required between the item and any route segment in the particular direction for the particular net. |
| US07721241B2 |
Automated method and tool for documenting a transformer design
A method and tool for creating documentation for a transformer design uses design files created during the transformer design process to generate drawings and other information necessary to populate documentation. The design files contain information relating to the physical layout of all of the components of the coil as well as the electrical connectivity of the windings. The method and tool retrieve the design information, construct the associated drawings, format the drawings to the appropriate sizes, and display any associated text. |
| US07721240B2 |
Systematic yield in semiconductor manufacture
Three-dimensional structures are provided which improve manufacturing yield for certain structures in semiconductor devices. The three-dimensional structures take into account the interaction between an upper layer and a lower layer where the lower layer has a tendency to form a non-planar surface due to its design. Accordingly, structures built on a layer above the lower layer are formed on a more planar surface and thus are more likely to function properly. The changes to improve manufacturing yield are made at the design stage rather than at the fabrication stage. |
| US07721236B2 |
Method and apparatus of estimating circuit delay
Methods and apparatus for estimating the propagation delay along a logical signal path are described herein. The methods and apparatus account for the behavior of multi-stage logic gates along a signal path, initial input transition times, inter-stage fanouts, as well as different logic gate types. The methods and apparatus convert signal transition features into an effective fanout to provide estimates of gate delay dependencies on input slope and gate logic topology. |
| US07721231B2 |
Controlling an object within an environment using a pointing device
The present invention is directed toward a system and process that controls a group of networked electronic components using a multimodal integration scheme in which inputs from a speech recognition subsystem, gesture recognition subsystem employing a wireless pointing device and pointing analysis subsystem also employing the pointing device, are combined to determine what component a user wants to control and what control action is desired. In this multimodal integration scheme, the desired action concerning an electronic component is decomposed into a command and a referent pair. The referent can be identified using the pointing device to identify the component by pointing at the component or an object associated with it, by using speech recognition, or both. The command may be specified by pressing a button on the pointing device, by a gesture performed with the pointing device, by a speech recognition event, or by any combination of these inputs. |
| US07721226B2 |
Glom widget
The present invention provides a glom widget to the pen user of a PC that allows them to access contextual tools near a location where they are writing. If the user selects the glom widget, a context menu drops down that contains several of the most common tools and/or commands that a user creating handwriting might want to access. The glom widget menu can also contain contextual commands that are easier to comprehend and use since they are presented directly next to the content on the page to which they relate. |
| US07721225B2 |
System and method for creating and presenting modal dialog boxes in server-side component web applications
A system and method for creating and presenting modal dialog boxes in web-based applications is presented herein. The invention includes client devices that initiate requests for webpages that include modal dialog boxes and a server that receives and processes the web page requests and includes modal dialog controls to generate HTML instructions to render and display the modal dialog boxes at the client devices. The modal dialog controls include a web rendering module to determine the existence of children controls within the modal dialog box and to generate display related information. The modal dialog controls also include an event handling module to intercept attempts to access elements of the web page while the modal dialog box has not been responded to. |
| US07721223B2 |
Application sharing user interface improvements
An improved application sharing system and method are described wherein shared window data is treated according to different sets of rules depending upon the fraction of the shared window data that corresponds to the actual shared window. In this manner, occlusions of a shared window on a sharer display may be disguised or handled by a viewer display to minimize the impact of the occlusion on a viewing user, providing a more consistent and less confusing viewer experience. |
| US07721221B2 |
Task manager
A computer system is configured as a task manager that provides interfaces both for designing an abstract activity and for defining a concrete instantiation of such an activity by replacing the abstract activity's abstract information with concrete information. In executing concrete instantiations of the abstract activities thus defined the task manager sends users prompts that cause them to take actions such as providing the task manager information that it uses to define the concrete instantiation further. |
| US07721211B1 |
Methods and apparatus providing filtering in a management application
A system filters network management information in a graphical user interface by receiving a managed object selection that represents a resource in a storage area network. The system then identifies a view selection associated with the managed object selection, and produces a filter region containing filter components. At least one of the filter components is contingent upon the managed object selection in conjunction with the view selection. The system then displays the filter region containing the filter components. |
| US07721209B2 |
Object-aware transitions
Techniques for accomplishing slide transitions in a presentation are disclosed. In accordance with these techniques, objects within the slides are identified, automatically or by a user, and each object is individually manipulable during slide transitions. The individual manipulation applied to each object during a transition may also be automatically determined or specified by a user. In certain embodiments, the persistence of an object between slides may be taken into account in the manipulation of the object during slide transition. |
| US07721207B2 |
Camera based control
A communication device may include a lens and processing logic. The lens may receive a gesture made by a user of the mobile terminal and the processing logic may identify the gesture. The processing logic may also generate a command based on the identified gesture, where the command instructs the mobile terminal or an external device to perform a control action. |
| US07721206B2 |
Systems and methods for remotely viewing page layouts
A system and methods for remotely viewing a dynamically generated page layout is described. The page layout can represent a reader ordering of pages defined as part of a print production job. Alternatively, the page layout can represent an arrangement of pages based on information defined as part of a print production job. |
| US07721201B2 |
Automatic authoring and publishing system
The invention relates to a system and method for automatically producing documents that incorporate one or more data elements. A guided/structured software environment is provided that assists users in creating manuals by defining the appropriate content for each manual in a document definition section, content rules and relationships, and tasks to be performed for each type of manual entry. Manual content is stored as data and data elements, rather than pages of sentences, to more efficiently generate, revise, and store the content of a manual. A storage database is provided for retrieving and storing predefined templates, documents, data elements and data to produce a final manual. Manuals are created by combining various data elements. A preview interface permits a user to quickly view what revisions will look like in a final document prior to actually publishing the manual. A published manual is compiled by assembling the stored data into document. |
| US07721200B2 |
Automatic authoring and publishing system
The invention relates to a system and method for automatically producing documents that incorporate one or more data elements. A guided/structured software environment is provided that assists users in creating manuals by defining the appropriate content for each manual section, content rules and relationships, and tasks to be performed for each type of manual entry. Manual content is stored as structured data elements, rather than pages of sentences, to more efficiently generate, revise, and store the content of a manual. A storage database is provided for retrieving and storing predefined templates, documents and individual data elements to produce a final manual. Manuals are created by combining various data elements. An instant preview interface permits a user to quickly view what revisions will look like in a final document prior to actually publishing the manual. A published manual is compiled by assembling the stored data elements and into a document. |
| US07721195B2 |
RTF template and XSL/FO conversion: a new way to create computer reports
A template processor converts an initial template document into an XSL template that can be used to automatically generate reports from report data extracted from a database or other application. Users create initial template documents using a word processor or other rich-text editing application. The initial template document employs the word processor's native formatting features to specify the formatting of report data. The initial template document includes placeholder tags inserted by the user to define the locations of report data in the report. The initial template document also includes transformation tags that dynamically define the content of a report based on the value or quantity of report data. The template processor can include a reader adapted to read portions of the initial template file and a parser adapted to create corresponding XSL code from these portions. The XSL template can be combined with XML-formatted data to create a report. |
| US07721194B2 |
Method and apparatus for efficient management of XML documents
A storage manager represents XML-compliant documents as a collection of objects in memory, allowing the storage manager to manipulate the document, or parts of the document, with a consistent interface and to provide for features that are not available in conventional XML documents, such as element attributes with types other than text and documents that contain binary rather than text information. The XML-compliant document may be associated with a schema document which defines the arrangement of the document elements and attributes. The schema data associated with a document can contain a mapping between document elements and program code to be associated with each element. The storage manager further has methods for retrieving the code from the element tag. The retrieved code can then be invoked using attributes and content from the associated element and the element then acts like a conventional object. |
| US07721190B2 |
Methods and systems for server side form processing
Various embodiments can efficiently utilize form server resources by, in at least some embodiments, acting only on one tree during the form editing process. Various embodiments can act on a form's data and not necessarily a representation of the form's view. The described embodiments can support various different presentation formats. |
| US07721186B2 |
Redundancy protection for data recorded across multiple layers of recording media
To improve reliability for multi-layer media, a data stream U is received for recording to a multi-layer rotating storage medium, the data stream U comprising a sequence of data bits. Each data bit U(J) is encoded into X representation bits. A first representation bit B(1,J) is recorded onto a first layer of the storage media, the second representation bit B(2,J) is recorded onto a second layer of the storage media, etc. When a request to read the recorded data U from the storage media is subsequently received, a plurality of the X representation bits are read back from the storage media and are decoded into the original data bit U(J). One embodiment employs a convolution encoding algorithm and PRML decoding algorithm. Another embodiment employs Reed Solomon encoding/decoding. |
| US07721184B2 |
Method and apparatus for fast encoding of data symbols according to half-weight codes
Efficient methods for encoding and decoding Half-Weight codes are disclosed and similar high density codes are disclosed. The efficient methods require at most 3·(k−1)+h/2+1 XORs of symbols to calculate h Half-Weight symbols from k source symbols, where h is of the order of log(k). |
| US07721183B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing SEU-tolerant circuits
The invention provides circuits that are tolerant to soft errors, such as a single event upset (SEU). The circuits have a chain of permitted state changes. Redundant elements, including redundant literals and assignments, are designed and implemented in the circuit. The design is such that a disruption or change of state on a single element by an SEU will not change the state flow of a circuit or lead to impermissible state changes. In one embodiment, the invention is implemented in quasi-delay-insensitive (QDI) asynchronous circuits. |
| US07721180B2 |
Information management system, information management apparatus and information management method
An information management system has an information management apparatus that receives a data stream with a general-purpose format, which is constituted of data and additional information, from a data-supplying system and separates the additional information from the data stream to hold and manage the data obtained by separating the additional information from the data stream. The information management system has a data storage device that stores the data obtained by separating the additional information from the data stream with the information management apparatus. The data is stored in the data storage device as it is with the data having the general-purpose format. |
| US07721178B2 |
Systems, methods, and computer program products for providing a two-bit symbol bus error correcting code
Systems, methods and computer program products for providing a nested two-bit symbol bus error correcting code. Methods include constructing a nested error correcting code (ECC) scheme. The method includes receiving a Hamming distance n code. A symbol correcting code H-matrix is created by iteratively adding rows of H-matrix bits on a symbol column basis such that the symbol correcting code H-matrix describes a symbol correcting code, and the Hamming distance n code is preserved as a subset of the symbol correcting code H-matrix. |
| US07721176B2 |
Method, system, and computer program product for integrated circuit recovery testing using simulation checkpoints
A method, system, and computer program product for integrated circuit recovery testing using simulation checkpoints is provided. The method includes executing an error injection test on an integrated circuit that includes a plurality of domains and latches. The error injection test includes injecting an error into one of the domains, clock stopping the domain with the error, performing fencing between the domain with the error and the other domains, and quiescing the other domains. A checkpoint is created of a state of the integrated circuit after the clock stopping, fencing and quiescing have been completed. A mainlines test of the integrated circuit is executed. The mainline test includes applying the checkpoint to the integrated circuit, and performing a recovery reset of the stopped domain. It is determined if the mainline test executed correctly and the results of the determining are output. |
| US07721173B2 |
Method and apparatus for broadcasting scan patterns in a scan-based integrated circuit
A broadcaster, system, and method for reducing test data volume and test application time in an ATE (automatic test equipment) in a scan-based integrated circuit. The scan-based integrated circuit contains multiple scan chains, each scan chain comprising multiple scan cells coupled in series. The broadcaster is a combinational logic network coupled to an optional virtual scan controller and an optional scan connector. The virtual scan controller controls the operation of the broadcaster. The system transmits virtual scan patterns stored in the ATE and generates broadcast scan patterns through the broadcaster for testing manufacturing faults in the scan-based integrated circuit. The number of scan chains that can be supported by the ATE is significantly increased. Methods are further proposed to reorder scan cells in selected scan chains, to generate the broadcast scan patterns and virtual scan patterns, and to synthesize the broadcaster and a compactor in the scan-based integrated circuit. |
| US07721168B2 |
eFuse programming data alignment verification
An eFuse data alignment verification mechanism is provided. Alignment latches are provided in a series of latch units of a write scan chain and a logic unit is coupled to the alignment latches. A sequence of data that is scanned-into the series of latch units of the write scan chain preferably includes alignment data values. These alignment data values are placed in positions within the sequence of data that, if the sequence of data is properly scanned-into the series of latch units, cause the data values to be stored in the alignment latches. The logic unit receives data signals from the alignment latches and determines if the proper pattern of data values is stored in the alignment latches. If the proper pattern of data values is present in the alignment latches, then the data is aligned and a program enable signal is sent to the bank of eFuses. |
| US07721167B1 |
Apparatus and method for testing and debugging an integrated circuit
A system for receiving Joint Task Action Group (JTAG) data bits from a device under test includes a deserializer that receives serial messages from the device under test and forms data frames based on the serial messages. A frame sync module communicates with the deserializer and forms JTAG data bits based on the data frames. N virtual JTAG test access ports (VTAPs), each having an input and an output. The N VTAPs are connected in a daisy chain and the input of a first VTAP receives the JTAG data bits from the frame sync module. |
| US07721163B2 |
JTAG controlled self-repair after packaging
An integrated circuit containing memory includes IEEE 1149.1 (JTAG) controlled self-repair system that permits permanent repair of the memory after the integrated circuit has been packaged. The JTAG controlled self-repair system allows a user to direct circuitry to blow fuses using an externally supplied voltage to electrically couple or isolate components to permanently repair a memory location with JTAG standard TMS and TCK signals. The system may optionally sequentially repair more than one memory location using a repair sequencer. |
| US07721161B2 |
Method for controlling memory access
A cyclic redundancy check (CRC) is used for improving error check coverage during memory access. In memory reading process, a part of read data is outputted from the memory via a CRC bus, and a CRC result and the other part of the read data are outputted from the memory via a data bus. |
| US07721154B1 |
System and method for software run-time testing
A method and system for run time testing of a computer software application. The method and system include attaching a RAS agent to the application to be tested; running the application with the attached RAS agent; configuring the RAS agent to monitor a component of the application, while the application is being executed to collect results; exercising the application to perform a task; and validating the collected results while the task is being performed by the application. The RAS agent may be configured (for example, remotely) to modify behavior of the component of the application, while the application is being executed. |
| US07721151B2 |
Selective error recovery of processing complex using privilege-level error discrimination
An apparatus has at least one processing unit to generate a request having a request privilege level. At least one resource exists in the apparatus to receive the request and determine if the request is allowable. The apparatus includes an error handler that determines the nature of an error and performs a reset based upon the privilege level of the request that cause the error. |
| US07721148B2 |
Method and apparatus for redirection of machine check interrupts in multithreaded systems
Disclosed is a communication mechanism among hardware, firmware and system software in order to redirect interrupts or other hardware events to only one thread execution context of an error domain for a multi-threaded processing system. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US07721147B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing bad run-time block in MLC flash memory
A method and apparatus are provided for managing a bad run-time block in a multi-level cell flash memory. The apparatus includes a buffer-allotting module which allots a buffer in which data programmed in a least significant bit (LSB) of a cell is temporarily stored, a data-copying module which copies the data programmed in the LSB of the cell to the allotted buffer, and a bad-block-managing module which programs the copied data to a free block if a program error occurs in a page of the cell. |
| US07721143B2 |
Method for reducing rebuild time on a RAID device
The present invention provides a method for reducing rebuild time on a Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) device. A first stripe of the RAID device is selected. Write-back caching on a drive being built is enabled. Data and/or parity may be read from at least one other drive. The at least one other drive and the drive being built belong to a same stripe of the RAID device. When a RAID level of the RAID device is 5, the at least one of data or parity is XORed (exclusive ORed) to obtain a result. When the RAID level of the RAID device is 1, the at least one of data or parity is data and treated as the result. The result is written to a second drive, which is a repaired, replaced, or hot-spare drive for the drive being built. |
| US07721142B2 |
Copying procedures including verification in data networks
The present invention provides a method and a system for backing up data (copying data) from a primary computer system onto a removable backup medium and/or a copy computer system combined with verifying the data copied onto the medium and/or computer, whereby a more fail-safe backup system is provided and a stand-in computer in case of primary computer failure is readily available. In particular the verification includes functional tests, wherein the functionality of files and databases on the copy computer system is tested. The method offers the user a possibility of assuring that a functional backup has been obtained and furthermore, in case of breakdown of the primary computer the copy computer may function as stand-in. |
| US07721138B1 |
System and method for on-the-fly migration of server from backup
A system, method and computer program product for migrating a server include creating an image of a storage device of a first server; during execution of a boot loader on a second server, starting an initialization application that at least partially restores, to a storage device of the second server, operating system data from the image; analyzing a hardware configuration of the second server; modifying at least one driver of an operating system based on the analyzed hardware to enable the operating system of the second server to interface to the storage device of the second server; rebooting the second server using the at least partially restored operating system data; and restoring unaltered portions of remaining data from the image. The second server identification and/or authentication data stored on the image is updated before the rebooting. Identification data of the second server is at least partially replaced with corresponding data stored on the image. The image is unchanged until completion of the restoring step. The restoring is performed over a network. The image is created on the computing system connected to the server over a network. More than one storage device is restored from the image. The restoration step uses an incremental image of the storage device. A boot loader is started in case of failure of the first server. |
| US07721137B2 |
Bus receiver and method of deskewing bus signals
A bus receiver receives at least one first signal and a second signal both generated from a chip connected to a parallel bus. The bus receiver includes a receiving module and a deskewing module. The receiving module is electrically connected to the parallel bus and receives the first signal and the second signal transmitted through the parallel bus. The deskewing module is electrically connected to the receiving module and deskews the phase of the first signal and the phase of the second signal. The first signal and the second signal are in the same phase. |
| US07721135B2 |
Method of timing calibration using slower data rate pattern
An improved technique and associated apparatus for timing calibration of a logic device is provided. A calibration test pattern is transferred to a logic device first at a data rate slower than normal operating speed to ensure correct capture of the pattern at the device to be calibrated. Once the pattern is correctly captured and stored, the test pattern is transmitted to the logic device at the normal operating data rate to perform timing calibration. The improved technique and apparatus permits the use of any pattern of bits as a calibration test pattern, programmable by the user or using easily-interchangeable hardware. |
| US07721134B2 |
Method for on-chip diagnostic testing and checking of receiver margins
A method and system for determining the eye pattern margin parameters of a receiver system during diagnostic testing is presented. The circuitry in the receiver's front end comprises a series of latches, XOR gates and OR gates which first provide the data samples and edge samples, i.e., data sampled at the rising or falling edge of an (edge) clock characterized by a phase delay relative to the data sampling clock. The receiver also comprises optimization circuitry for the ideal alignment of the edge clock (edges) with the data edges. The method further provides for a phase shifting of the edge clock to the left and right from the ideal/locked position to screen the data eye pattern in order to compute the Bit Error Rate (BER) value. The position of the edge clock relative to the data sampling clock determines the horizontal eye opening for the computed BER. |
| US07721132B2 |
Information processing apparatus with temperature-dependent battery charging
Battery information is transmitted from a recording and playback apparatus to a host computer. In the host computer, based on the time for which the operation can be continued, corresponding to the current operating status and the remaining battery level, stored in the battery information, a warning is output, the data of a cache memory is written, data writing prohibition is set, and a forced closing process is performed. With this construction, in a system formed of a recording and playback apparatus, such as a CD-R/RW drive unit, and a personal computer, a proper system operation corresponding to the remaining battery level of the recording and playback apparatus is obtained, and the data recorded on the recording medium is prevented from being destroyed as a result of operation stopping due to, for example, the remaining battery level becoming zero. |
| US07721127B2 |
Multithreaded dynamic voltage-frequency scaling microprocessor
A multithreaded microprocessor includes a thread scheduler and voltage-frequency scheduler (VFS). The thread scheduler uses application-specified QoS requirements, which include required instruction completion rates, and instruction completion information from execution units to schedule the priorities of the threads at which the thread scheduler issues instructions to the execution units. Concurrently, the VFS uses the instruction completion and QoS information to calculate an aggregate utilization of the microprocessor by all the active threads when it is time to scale the voltage-frequency. The aggregate utilization is an effective measure of the amount of work left to be performed relative to the rate requirements. The VFS scales the voltage-frequency based on the aggregate utilization. |
| US07721117B2 |
Stream control failover utilizing an attribute-dependent protection mechanism
A technique for managing the streaming of digital video content to multiple clients involves identifying an attribute of a content element that is streamed to a client and selecting a protection mechanism for the content element as a function of the attribute, wherein the protection mechanism enables streaming of the content element to the clients in the event of a resource failure. In an example, the identified attribute is an indication of the popularity of the content element (e.g., as measured by the number of active streams), such that the protection mechanism is selected as a function of the popularity of the content element. In an embodiment, protection mechanisms that offer a higher level of protection are selected for the more popular content elements and protection mechanisms that offer a lower level of protection are selected for the less popular content elements. |
| US07721116B2 |
Security system
Provided is a security system for managing which CD-ROM is used for a game device not having identifying information in advance. When a game device accesses a server via a communication network, a device ID, which is issued from the server, is stored in a nonvolatile memory This device ID is generated based on the time and date when the game device accesses the server via a communication network (e.g. Dec. 10, 2000 at 21:05:37). The server associates a serial number (SN) of a CD-ROM used in the game device and a device ID of the game device with each other and registers them on a database. This makes it possible to manage which CD-ROM is used in each game device. |
| US07721113B2 |
Data alteration detecting method, data alteration detecting device and data alteration detecting program
An inter-record alteration detection code verification unit 36 calculates an inter-record alteration detection code by merging a record alteration detection code stored in a record to read from a database 34 and a record alteration detection code in the immediately previous record so as to generate a code and applying a predetermined hash operation to the generated code. The verification unit verifies whether the calculated inter-record alteration code coincides with the inter-record alteration detection code stored in the record to read. If they coincide with each other, data is determined to be not altered. |
| US07721107B2 |
Physical token for supporting verification of human presence in an online environment
A physical token operates together with an online server to test whether a user operating a user computer to access a service available at the online server is human. The physical token has two states: inactive and active. When in the inactive state the physical token displays interaction instructions for performing a physical action on the token. When the interaction instructions are satisfied, the physical token transitions to the active state and displays a response that may be used for satisfying a challenge issued by the online server to the user seeking to access the service. |
| US07721105B1 |
Repurposing digitally signed information
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implement techniques for repurposing digital information. One or more repurposing constraints are associated with information in an electronic document. A digital signature is associated with the repurposable information and the repurposing constraints. The repurposable information can be repurposed and represented as signed information subject to the repurposing constraints. |
| US07721102B2 |
System and method for detecting exposure of OCSP responder's session private key
A system and method for detecting exposure of an OCSP responder's session private key in a D-OCSP-KIS to verify the status of a user's certificate online are provided. The system includes: a client for requesting certificate status information from the OCSP responder; the OCSP responder for receiving the certificate status information request from the client, sending a response, producing a hash value, and delivering the hash value to a certificate authority (CA) to get a certificate issued; and the CA for receiving the hash value from the OCSP responder and issuing the certificate to the OCSP responder in response to a certificate issue request; wherein the client verifies a digital signature using a hash value contained in the OCSP responder's certificate and the hash value contained in the response, and each client stores a counter value for a hash operation in each verification and recognizes the response as valid when a current counter value is greater than a previous counter value. |
| US07721101B2 |
Communication apparatus and authentication apparatus
A communication apparatus with a memory (418) holding CA information A(301a) including (i) a CA certificate A(106a) indicating that an AP server certificate A(402a) (that indicates the validity of an application server (401)) is valid and (ii) a URL B(302b) indicating the URL of a download server B(406b) where CA information B(301b) including the next valid CA certificate B(106b) is stored. The communication apparatus also having a server authentication unit (416) verifying the AP server certificate A(402a) using the CA certificate A(106a), and having a CA information update unit (417) obtaining the CA information B(301b) from the download server B(406b) indicated by the URL B(302b), wherein, when the CA certificate A(106a) becomes revoked, the server authentication unit (416) authenticates the application server (401) using the CA certificate B(106b) included in the CA information B(301b) obtained by the CA information update unit (417). |
| US07721097B2 |
Information recording medium, and information recording apparatus and method
A disc-shaped information recording medium includes a first recording layer (L0 layer) having (I) a first trial write area (101P-1) for trial write of first trial write information for calibration of the laser beam along the first track path (TP1) from the inner circumference toward the outer circumference and (II) a first recording area for recording the first recording information along a first track path (TP1), in this order from the inner circumference side. Furthermore, the disc-shaped information recording medium includes a second recording layer (L1 layer) having (I) a second trial write area (101P-2) for trial write of second trial write information for calibration of the laser beam along the second track path (TP2) from the outer circumference toward the inner circumference and (II) a second recording area for recording the second recording information along a second track path (TP2), in this order from the inner circumference side. |
| US07721096B2 |
Self-authenticating blade server in a secure environment
A blade server module in an information handling system may have secure environment and authorized removal modes in non-volatile memory. If the secure environment mode is set in the blade server module, then the authorized removal mode is read to determine whether it also is set. If both of these modes are set then authentication keys of the inserted blade server module and blade server chassis are verified as being properly associated. If the authorized removal mode is not set when the blade server module is inserted into a server chassis or authentication keys are not verified as being properly associated then the blade server module power-up sequence is disabled. The authentication keys may be administrator/user defined. The secure environment and authorized removal modes may be set and cleared by the administrator/user. |
| US07721094B2 |
Systems and methods for determining if applications executing on a computer system are trusted
Access to an authentication image may be protected so that only authenticated processes have access to the image. The image can be displayed to authenticate a User Interface (UI) to a computer user. The image indicates the UI can be trusted. If the image is not displayed, it may be that an application UI is “spoofed” to trick a user into providing sensitive information. Additionally, a large variety of different images can be used as authentication images, so spoofing one image be recognized by most users. A set of original images may be provided, along with image modification processes which can generate a large number of variations. Techniques for authenticating UIs in a virtual machine context are provided. A secure attention sequence is also provided, which allows users to test whether processes running on a computer are authenticated. |
| US07721090B1 |
Event-driven simulation of IP using third party event-driven simulators
A method of creating a secure intellectual property (IP) representation of a circuit design for use with a software-based simulator can include translating a hardware description language representation of the circuit design into an encrypted intermediate form and compiling the intermediate form of the circuit design to produce encrypted object code. The method further can include linking the encrypted object code with a simulation kernel library thereby creating the secure IP representation of the circuit design. The secure IP can include an encrypted simulation model of the circuit design and a simulation kernel configured to execute the encrypted simulation model. |
| US07721083B2 |
CPU runaway determination circuit and CPU runaway determination method
A CPU reads a clear pattern held in a register in a watchdog timer when a system is booted up or reset, thereby determining whether or not the boot-up or the reset is a reset performed by the system or a reset due to runaway of a program to be executed and performing a process for booting up the system so as not to restart the task in which the runaway has occurred. |
| US07721079B2 |
Pointbus architecture and automatic sequential addressing
A system for automatically configuring I/O devices is provided in accordance with the present invention. The system includes a plurality of I/O devices operatively coupled to each other and a sub-system for determining physical locations of the I/O devices with respect to one another. The sub-system assigns node addresses to each I/O device—each assigned node address corresponds to the physical location of the respective I/O devices. |
| US07721078B2 |
Method and system to dynamically boot to a non-visible partition
A system and method for accessing a hidden partition during a boot sequence is disclosed. An information handling system can include a basic input output system (BIOS) that can be operable to access a master boot record (MBR) of a storage device. The digital media storage device can include a fixed number of visible partitions and at least one hidden partition. The information handling system can further include a processor operable to detect a boot event operably associated with initiating a request to access contents that can be stored within an associated hidden partition of the storage device. The information handing system can also include a memory that can be operable to store at least a portion of the contents of the hidden partition. The contents can be stored upon accessing the hidden partition using an association established between one of the fixed number of visible partitions and the hidden partition. |
| US07721074B2 |
Conditional branch execution in a processor having a read-tie instruction and a data mover engine that associates register addresses with memory addresses
A RISC processor having a data mover engine and instructions that associate register addresses with memory addresses. In an embodiment, the instructions include a read-tie instruction, a single write-tie instruction, a dual write-tie instruction, and an untie instruction. The read-tie, single write-tie, and dual write-tie instructions are used to associate software accessible register addresses with memory addresses. These associations effect the operation of the data mover engine such that, for the duration of the associations, the data mover engine routes data to and from associated memory addresses and the execution unit of the processor in response to instructions that specify moving data to and from the associated register addresses. The invention reduces the number of instructions and hardware overhead associated with implementing program loops in a RISC processor. |
| US07721073B2 |
Conditional branch execution in a processor having a data mover engine that associates register addresses with memory addresses
A RISC processor having a data moving engine and instructions that associate register addresses with memory addresses. In an embodiment, the instructions include a read-tie instruction, a single write-tie instruction, a dual write-tie instruction, and an untie instruction. The read-tie, single write-tie, and dual write-tie instructions are used to associate software accessible register addresses with memory addresses. These associations effect the operation of the data moving engine such that, for the duration of the associations, the data moving engine routes data to and from associated memory addresses and the execution unit of the processor in response to instructions that specify moving data to and from the associated register addresses. The invention reduces the number of instructions and hardware overhead associated with implementing program loops in a RISC processor. |
| US07721072B2 |
Information processing method and apparatus, recording medium, and program
An information processing method includes generating a state transition diagram based on state transition information; displaying the state transition diagram; manipulating the displayed state transition diagram; updating the state transition information in accordance with how the state transition diagram has been manipulated; and storing a position of a state designated as a transition starting state by the manipulating step. When the position of the transition starting state has been specified by the manipulating step, the displaying step displays as a pointer an icon indicating that the position of the transition starting state has been specified. When a position of a transition destination state has been specified by the manipulating step, the displaying step displays a transition directed from the stored transition starting state toward the transition destination state, and the updating step updates the state transition information by adding information of the transition to the state transition information. |
| US07721067B2 |
Translation lookaside buffer manipulation
A processor having a multistage pipeline includes a TLB and a TLB controller. In response to a TLB miss signal, the TLB controller initiates a TLB reload, requesting address translation information from either a memory or a higher-level TLB, and placing that information into the TLB. The processor flushes the instruction having the missing virtual address, and refetches the instruction, resulting in re-insertion of the instruction at an initial stage of the pipeline above the TLB access point. The initiation of the TLB reload, and the flush/refetch of the instruction, are performed substantially in parallel, and without immediately stalling the pipeline. The refetched instruction is held at a point in the pipeline above the TLB access point until the TLB reload is complete, so that the refetched instruction generates a “hit” in the TLB upon its next access. |
| US07721059B2 |
Performance optimization in solid-state media
A host device is coupled to a peripheral device such as a multi media card or the like, where the peripheral device includes a solid state data storage segment. The peripheral device has means for initiating a defragmentation function, such as registers for comparing a current performance measure against a threshold performance metric, or block validity parameters received form the host device for the data storage segment of the peripheral device. Once met, the means for initiating cause a defragmentation function to execute on the data storage segment. A logical layer of the data storage segment is accessed by the host device and a physical layer of the data storage segment is accessed by the peripheral device. The defragmentation program may be resident on either the host or peripheral device. Defragmentation may be enabled to execute automatically once initiated, such as by a continuous or periodic background scan of current performance of the data storage segment. |
| US07721056B2 |
Storage system, disk array apparatus, volume presentation method, and data consistency confirmation method
The present invention proposes a storage system having a plurality of disk array apparatuses managed separately by different managers, that can considerably improve the reliability of data backup. The invention provides a storage system, in which a first disk array apparatus includes a storing unit for storing volume information, which is information about the configuration of the volume; an extracting unit for, when receiving an external backup instruction, extracting, according to the backup instruction, volume information, as backup volume information from the volume information stored in the storage unit, about a backup target volume; and a presenting unit for presenting the backup volume information extracted by the extracting unit to an external device, and the second disk array apparatus includes an allocating unit for allocating a corresponding second volume to the backup target volume by referring to the backup volume information presented by the presenting unit. |
| US07721055B2 |
System and method for controlling the updating of storage device
Arrangements for controlling the updating of a storage device, which investigates the number of times that a lock waiting time exceeds an upper limit value to judge whether or not the number of times that the upper limit value has been exceeded exceeds a frequency threshold value; stops the reception of write requests by the file system if the result of this judgment is affirmative; and stops the copy-on-write by cutting off the logical connection between the primary storage device and the secondary storage device. |
| US07721051B2 |
Techniques to improve cache performance
Method and apparatus to improve cache performance using interarrival times between demand requests are described. |
| US07721049B2 |
Disk drive write method
A disk drive includes a first flush cache memory location, a second flush cache memory location, and a controller for writing information associated with a flush cache write command alternatively between the first flush cache memory location and the second flush cache memory location. |
| US07721048B1 |
System and method for cache replacement
A computer processing system is disclosed that includes a cache that includes cache blocks of data. The system includes a marking sub-system, an ordering sub-system, and a replacement sub-system. The marking sub-system identifies and marks cache blocks that were provided to the cache via a wrong path with marking data. The ordering sub-system provides an order in which the cache blocks of data will be replaced in the cache, and the ordering sub-system is responsive to the marking data. The replacement sub-system replaces cache blocks in the cache in accordance with the ordering sub-system as required. |
| US07721046B2 |
Memory card authentication system, capacity switching-type memory card host device, capacity switching-type memory card, storage capacity setting method, and storage capacity setting program
A system for authenticating a memory card including a capacity switching-type memory card host device including a capacity switch notification module which notifies a memory card targeted for exchanging information that the capacity switching-type memory card host device handles a capacity switching-type memory card, and a capacity switch authentication module which authenticates whether the targeted memory card is the capacity switching-type memory card, a capacity switching-type memory card including a capacity switching-type controller which flags the large-capacity expression register use flag on receipt of notification of being the capacity switching-type memory card host device, and a bus which transmits and receives data between the capacity switching-type memory card host device and the capacity switching-type memory card. |
| US07721043B2 |
Managing write requests in cache directed to different storage groups
Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for managing write requests in cache directed to different storage groups. A determination is made of a high and low thresholds for a plurality of storage groups configured in a storage, wherein the high and low thresholds for one storage group indicate a high and low percentage of a cache that may be used to store write requests to the storage group. A determination is made of a number of tasks to assign to the storage groups based on the determined high and low thresholds for the storage groups, wherein each task assigned to one storage group destages write requests from the cache to the storage group. |
| US07721042B2 |
Content-addressable memory that supports a priority ordering between banks of differing sizes
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that implements a content-addressable memory (CAM) which has multiple banks. During operation, the system receives a request to insert an item into the CAM, wherein the request includes a key which is used to index the item and a body containing data. Next, for each bank in the CAM, the system calculates a different hash function based on the key to produce an index and a tag. The system then uses the calculated index and the tag for each bank to lookup an entry in each bank. If the lookups do not generate a hit in any bank, the system stores an entry for the request into a highest priority bank which does not contain a valid entry in the location accessed by the lookup. In one embodiment of the present invention, the multiple banks in the CAM have varying sizes. |
| US07721036B2 |
System and method for providing flexible signal routing and timing
A target interface system for flexibly routing and timing communication signals exchanged between selected components of a communication system and methods for manufacturing and using same. Under the control of a host system, the target interface system samples an output data signal provided by the host system and includes a reconfigurable datapath for flexibly routing the sampled data signal to a selected target I/O pin of the target interface system. The selected target I/O pin provides the sampled data signal as an outgoing target data signal to a target system and likewise receives an incoming target data signal from the target system. Upon sampling the incoming target data signal, the target interface system flexibly routes the sampled data signal to the host system as an input data signal. The target interface system thereby facilitates exchanges of communication signals between the host system and the target system. |
| US07721035B2 |
Multiprocessor system, processor and interrupt control method
A first processor in a multiprocessor system for processing interrupts by a plurality of processors accepts an interrupt and executes first interrupt processing in accordance with the accepted interrupt. In the first interrupt processing, second interrupt processing corresponding to the accepted interrupt is assigned to a second processor. |
| US07721033B2 |
Interrupt notification block
An interrupt notification block stored in host memory is disclosed that contains an image of the interrupt condition contents that may be stored in a host attention register in a host interface port. The interrupt notification block is written by the host interface port and pre-fixed into the port pointer array of a host at the time the host interface port updates the pointers stored in a port pointer array in host memory. The host may then read the interrupt notification block to determine how to process a response or an interrupt rather than having to read the host attention register in the host interface port across the host bus. |
| US07721032B2 |
Method and apparatus for mediating among media applications
In a device that can execute multiple media applications, but only one at a time, a media server coordinates among applications, but neither the media server nor the individual applications maintain rules regarding all of the different applications. Each connection used by an application is assigned a priority and communicates that priority to the media server when the connection is established. When an application requests to begin playback, the request is granted if no other application is playing, or if another application is playing on a connection having a priority at most equal to that of the connection used by the requesting application, but is denied if the connection already in use has a higher priority. Resumption of an application that was interrupted by another application on a connection with higher priority is determined by the interrupted application after the interruption ends, based on information communicated by the media server. |
| US07721030B2 |
Method and device for connecting sensors or actuators to a bus system
A method for connecting at least one sensor or actuator to a time-controlled bus system, the sensor or actuator carrying out a signal processing in at least two phases, the signal processing in a first phase taking place at a higher speed than in a second phase, the sensor or actuator being synchronized to a time, which is external to the sensor, of the time-controlled bus system in at least one of the phases. |
| US07721028B2 |
Keyboard video mouse (KVM) switch between plurality of internal USB hubs each associated with plurality of audio codecs connected to the downstream port of associated USB hub
An improved KVM switch is provided which enables computers to be connected to the KVM switch by reduced numbers of cables. It also supports transmission of digital audio signals between the computers and the KVM switch. A single USB port is provided to transmit keyboard, mouse, speaker and microphone signals between the KVM switch and each computer. The improved KVM switch is provided with one or more USB hubs to separate the keyboard/mouse signals and the digital audio signals, and one or more audio codecs to convert the audio signals from a digital form to an analog form and vice versa. |
| US07721027B2 |
Physical layer device having a SERDES pass through mode
A physical layer device (PLD), comprising: a first serializer-deserializer (SERDES) device having a first parallel port; a second SERDES device having a second parallel port; a third SERDES device having a third parallel port; and a path selector being selectively configurable to provide either (i) a first signal path between the first and second parallel ports, or (ii) a second signal path between the first and third parallel ports. |
| US07721020B2 |
Method and system for redundancy suppression in data transmission over networks
Methods, systems and apparatus for suppressing redundancy in data transmission over networks are provided. Data segments are transmitted from a transmitting DPU to a receiving DPU. Initially, only signatures of the transmitted data segments are stored in a cache at the transmitting DPU. A data segment is stored in the cache only if it satisfies a redundancy-suppressing admission policy. Such a data segment is referred to as a redundant data segment. The redundant data segment is also stored in a cache at the receiving DPU. The transmitting DPU transmits the signatures of the redundant data segments to the receiving DPU, which then extracts the redundant data segments from its cache. Therefore, transmission of the redundant data segments is suppressed. |
| US07721018B2 |
Direct memory access controller with flow control
A direct memory access controller has a data register for transferring data from a source to a destination address. A pattern register is provided and a data comparator is coupled with the data register and the pattern register for comparing the content of the data register with the content of the pattern register. A control unit coupled with the comparator controls the data flow and stops a data transfer if the comparator detects a match of the data register and the pattern register. |
| US07721017B2 |
Methods and apparatus for identifying operating modes for peripheral devices
Apparatus and methods provide for configuring a peripheral device in response to applying defined sets of signals to input/output terminals of the peripheral device, sensing the signals at those input/output terminals after applying the defined sets of signals, and comparing the sensed signals with the defined sets of signals. |
| US07721015B2 |
Dynamic audio jack colors
For dynamically adjusting a color code corresponding to a task performed by an input/output (I/O) port, a retasking request for the I/O port is received. The retasking request may be generated in response to detecting a plugging in of a multimedia device into the I/O port. The retasking request includes switching the task from a first task to a second task. In response to the retasking request the task performed by the I/O port is automatically reconfigured from the first task to the second task. The color code is automatically changed from a first color code corresponding to the first task to a second color code corresponding to the second task in response to the reconfiguring, without user intervention. |
| US07721014B2 |
Network device having a flexible EEPROM for setting configuration settings
A method for flexibly configuring default values of a network device and a network device using such flexible configuration method is described. First, it is determined whether the default values are obtained through a microprocessor interface or a memory interface. When it is determined that the default values are obtained through the memory interface, a header is received from a memory through the memory interface it is determined from the header whether any default value of the network device should be updated. If the network device should be updated, then at least one configuration instruction is fetched from the memory and the at least one configuration instruction is interpreted. A register default value of the default values is changed, corresponding to the interpreted at least one configuration instruction. Alternatively, when it is determined that the default values are obtained through the microprocessor interface, the default values are changed according to data received through the microprocessor interface. |
| US07721010B2 |
Method and apparatus for implementing memory enabled systems using master-slave architecture
Embodiments of the invention generally provide a system, method, and memory device for accessing memory. In one embodiment, a first memory device includes command decoding logic configured to decode commands issued to the first memory device and a second memory device, while command decoding logic of the second memory device is bypassed. |
| US07721006B2 |
Meta-message set with real-time and database aspects
A generic device controller unit system (10) includes a generic “true real time” peripheral device controller and a data and protocol communications interface that uses a common set of instructions from a meta-message set. The system (10) is generic, in that the system (10) is capable of connecting a processor (40) to any number of various peripheral devices (50), instead of being designed to interconnect a processor (40) only to a specific peripheral device (50). The system (10) interfaces between a standard non-true real time operating system and peripheral devices (50) in such a manner as to employ true real time peripheral device control using the meta-message set. The device controller of the system (10) allows a standard non-true real time operating system to send instructions from the meta-message set to implement true real time control of peripheral devices (50). The system (10) interfaces between a processor (40) and peripheral devices (50) such that the data and protocol communications interface of the system (10) allows the processor (40) to utilize a single protocol, associated data and set of instructions in order to communicate with peripheral devices (50) which are utilizing different protocols and associated data. |
| US07721005B2 |
Data bus between middleware layers
A system and method is introduced that integrates middleware components without canonicalization of data at runtime. An interface receives inputs identifying at least a first and second middleware to be made interoperative and a configurator configures at least an in-port and an out-port based on a binding and transport associated with the first and second middleware, respectively. Interoperation of the first and second middleware is effected via at least one communication path between the configured in-port and out-port, wherein the communication path allows an incoming message to pass from the in-port corresponding to said first middleware to the out-port corresponding to the second middleware without the creation of an intermediate canonical message. |
| US07720998B2 |
System and method for promoting messages to a plurality of websites from a centralized authority in response to a disaster or emergency event
A system and method for broadcasting messages to selected websites in order to provide emergency information to the U.S. populace, or zone applicable populace, from a central authority. This is achieved by implementing a “partial deflection” of a website altering the applicable zone file on a DNS server having authority over a website. Depending up which authority makes a request for broadcasting an emergency message, an emergency website is created and a partial deflection of the original entity's page is deflected to a main frame accompanying a header frame displaying the emergency alert message the emergency alert webpage. The requesting authority retains control over the content of the emergency message and can trigger the implementation of the broadcast from a variety of signal interfaces. |
| US07720994B2 |
Method for suppression of multicast join/prune messages from extranet receivers
A method of suppressing the number of PIM messages from extranet receivers is disclosed. Each receiver, before sending a PIM message, first searches for any other receivers other than itself. If there are no other receivers, then the PIM message is sent; otherwise, the receiver suppresses sending the PIM message. PIM Join, triggered Join, and Prune messages may be suppressed. If there are multiple receivers, the PIM messages are sent by a source Extranet receiver located in a provider edge router, for example. The receiver sends the PIM messages for the rest of the Extranet receivers in the provider edge router, and also maintains a counter, ensuring that only one PIM message is sent within a specified time period. As a result, the number of PIM messages traversing core elements of a service provider network may be greatly reduced. |
| US07720993B2 |
Information driven routing in ad hoc sensor networks
A sensor network routing is formulated as a joint optimization problem taking into account routing cost and information aggregation. Information gain is used explicitly to optimize the routing path. The optimization approach involves a shortest path algorithm in a modified network graph. A method is provided that routes queries from an arbitrary entry point to high activity network sensor regions using inputs from sensor nodes along the path to refine the message. The multiple step look-ahead approach provides deadlock avoidance and routing around sensor network holes. For point-to-point query routing, a method based on real-time A* (RTA*) search is provided to find a path which takes detours efficiently to maximize information aggregation. Future information expected to be gained along the path from an arbitrary node to an exit node may be estimated to allow the selection of a successor sensor node. |
| US07720992B2 |
Tentative update and confirm or compensate
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for communications in a distributed software system. An operation request from a remote computer is received, and provisionally executes an operation identified by the operation request. A first message is generated. The first message contains a transaction identifier identifying the operation request, an unsuccessful indicator flag, and a temporary data store. The temporary data store identifies tentatively written data generated by the operation. The first message is stored in a message store. If the successful completion of the operation is detected, a second message is generated. The second message contains the transaction identifier as well as a successful indicator flag. The second message is stored in the message store, and the message is transmitted to the remote computer. If the failure of the operation is detected, the message stored in the message store is transmitted to the remote computer. |
| US07720987B2 |
Mapping transport streams
In a digital network that includes a plurality of devices, which include multiple devices that transmit transport streams, a system and method are provided for discovering and mapping the transport streams and the plurality of devices included in the digital network. One such method sends a transport stream map request to a plurality of network devices. The network devices include a plurality of network transport stream sources and a plurality of network transport stream handlers. The method receives a plurality of replies to the transport stream map request. Each reply includes information associated with the respective network device. The method generates a transport stream map based on the received replies. The transport stream map represents a flow of transport streams among the plurality of network devices. |
| US07720986B2 |
Method and system for media adaption
A method includes receiving a media request for a target device. The signaling information may be received from the target device and a media server. At least one attribute of the target device and the media server may be identified using the signaling information. At least one attribute of the target device and the media server may be evaluated against a service level objective to select a media format. The service level objective may include consideration of the target device and available bandwidth over a provider network. The media may be provided in the selected media format over the provider network to the target device. |
| US07720984B2 |
Method and system for stream processing web services
Systems and methods for stream processing message data relating to a web service application are described. One system has an input pipe for receiving multiple interrelated session based messages according to an order with which they originate. A processor processes an accumulation of the messages upon reaching a trigger point related to grammar characterizing the messages. |
| US07720982B2 |
Computer architecture and software cells for broadband networks
A computer architecture and programming model for high speed processing over broadband networks are provided. The architecture employs a consistent modular structure, a common computing module and uniform software cells. The common computing module includes a control processor, a plurality of processing units, a plurality of local memories from which the processing units process programs, a direct memory access controller and a shared main memory. A synchronized system and method for the coordinated reading and writing of data to and from the shared main memory by the processing units also are provided. A hardware sandbox structure is provided for security against the corruption of data among the programs being processed by the processing units. The uniform software cells contain both data and applications and are structured for processing by any of the processors of the network. Each software cell is uniquely identified on the network. A system and method for creating a dedicated pipeline for processing streaming data also are provided. |
| US07720981B2 |
Processing device, method for establishing processing device communication session, program, and recording medium
A controlled device executes processing for device authentication and processing for device registration, receives a response of registration completion from a direct-access management server, and sets an automatic connection flag indicating the registration is completed. When the automatic connection flag is not set, the controlled device establishes an always-on connection session with the direct-access management server after executing the processing for the device authentication and the processing for the device registration. When the automatic connection flag is set, the controlled device skips the processing for the device authentication and the processing for the device registration to enter processing for establishing an always-on connection session. Thus, a controlled device whose registration has been completed can automatically enter the state of an always-on connection with the direct-access management server without performing the processing for the device authentication and the processing for the device registration. |
| US07720978B2 |
Method for data communication and system thereof
The present invention discloses a system and method for data communication. In the system and method for data communication, a part of communication peers in the communication system are assigned as super peers, and each super peer forwards message according to its route table. When a communication peer logs in the system, network information of the logged communication peer is saved in a super peer which is logically closest to the logged communication peer through messages forwarded among every super peer. And when an origination communication peer searches for a destination communication peer, the network information of the destination communication peer is saved in a super peer which is logically closest to the destination communication peer through the message forwarded among every super peer in super peer layer. The origination communication peer establishes connection with the destination communication peer based on the network information of the destination communication peer, and implements the data communication through the connection established. |
| US07720975B2 |
Distributed cache for state transfer operations
A network arrangement that employs a cache having copies distributed among a plurality of different locations. The cache stores state information for a session with any of the server devices so that it is accessible to at least one other server device. Using this arrangement, when a client device switches from a connection with a first server device to a connection with a second server device, the second server device can retrieve state information from the cache corresponding to the session between the client device and the first server device. The second server device can then use the retrieved state information to accept a session with the client device. |
| US07720972B2 |
System for transferring standby resource entitlement
An apparatus and program product for transferring entitlement to standby resources between respective computers. Standby resources are made available at a destination computer by rendering unavailable corresponding resources at a source computer. As such, the aggregate number of available standby resources may remain unchanged, but the distribution of the availability may be reapportioned according to operational requirements. Where desired, this transfer of entitlement may be accomplished automatically, dynamically and/or in a secure manner. |
| US07720971B2 |
Arbitrating an appropriate back-end server to receive channels of a client session
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for arbitrating an appropriate back-end server to receive channels of a client connection. Each front-end server in a server farm specifies a back-end server in the server farm that it deems appropriate for receiving channels of a client connection. Each specified back-end server is represented by an arbitration order, for example, a universally unique identifier. A relevant set of potential back-end servers that can receive channels of a client connection is selected according to function configured to minimize performance impact. A load balancing service compares arbitration orders for different back-end servers in the set of potential back-end servers to determine an appropriate back-end server for receiving channels of the client connection. |
| US07720970B2 |
Method for processing received networking traffic while playing audio/video or other media
A method of providing media content (e.g., audio and/or video) and processing data received over a network. Received data may be processed at a reduced rate while at least one media application is running. Received packets may be processed in batches, and media data may be processed in between processing the batches. The method may provide for reducing or eliminating glitches in the media content caused by receiving data over a network while providing the media content. |
| US07720969B2 |
Description document for a service offered by a server in a communication network and method of validating a multimedia document
A description document for a service offered by a server in a communication network comprises a first abstract part adapted to describe at least one message exchanged on the communication network when a service is implemented and a second concrete part adapted to describe the information relating to the transmission of the messages over the communication network. This service description document comprises, in the first abstract part, a description of abstract constraints associated with a binary multimedia document. It has particular use for validating a multimedia document from the extraction (E11) of the description of abstract constraints and the extraction (E12) of the MPEG7 description of this multimedia document. |
| US07720968B2 |
Method and system of configuring elements of a distributed computing system for optimized value
A method and system for configuring elements of a distributed computing system based on evaluations of their value add and cost impact. The system and method for configuring elements of a distributed computing system comprises the steps of: determining one or more system metrics that relate to hardware and/or software elements of a configured distributed system; determining a system value in response to one or more system metrics, the value determined according to one or more value criteria; and, re-configuring elements of the distributed computing environment according to said determined system value. The re-configuring step further comprises steps of determining one or more potential changes in the distributed computing environment based on the system value determined, and, determining an alternate system value based on at least one potential change determined, the alternate value reflecting an economic consequence including but not limited to: increased revenue, or decreased cost resulting from a potential change. |
| US07720967B2 |
Method, system, and storage medium for resolving contention issues during channel program execution
An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a method, system, and storage medium for resolving contention issues by a channel in a fibre optic switch environment that occur during channel program execution. The method comprises a channel receiving a status packet indicating a device is no longer busy. The method also includes specifying whether the channel intends to re-initiate a channel program that previously resulted in the device busy status. If the channel does not intend to re-initiate the channel program, a first combination of bits in a re-initiate field of a status-acceptance packet are set which indicate that the channel will take no further action. If the channel intends to re-initiate the channel program, a second combination of bits in the re-initiate field of the status-acceptance packet are set, indicating that the channel will re-initiate the channel program. The method further includes transmitting the status-acceptance packet to a control unit. The invention also includes a system and a storage medium. |
| US07720963B2 |
Content display monitor
The invention can enable monitoring of the display of content by a computer system. Moreover, the invention can enable monitoring of the displayed content to produce monitoring information from which conclusions may be deduced regarding the observation of the displayed content by an observer. The invention can also enable monitoring of the display at a content display site of content that is provided by a content provider site over a network to the content display site. Additionally, the invention can enable the expeditious provision of updated and/or tailored content over a network from a content provider site to a content display site so that the content provider's current and appropriately tailored content is always displayed at the content display site. Aspects of the invention related to transfer of content over a network are generally applicable to any type of network. However, it is contemplated that the invention can be particularly useful with a computer network, including private computer networks (e.g., America Online™) and public computer networks (e.g., the Internet). In particular, the invention can be advantageously used with computer networks or portions of computer networks over which video and/or audio content are transferred from one network site to another network site for observation, such as the World Wide Web portion of the Internet. |
| US07720962B2 |
Peer-to-peer name resolution protocol (PNRP) security infrastructure and method
A security infrastructure and methods are presented that inhibit the ability of a malicious node from disrupting the normal operations of a peer-to-peer network. The methods of the invention allow both secure and insecure identities to be used by nodes by making them self-verifying. When necessary or opportunistic, ID ownership is validated by piggybacking the validation on existing messages. The probability of connecting initially to a malicious node is reduced by randomly selecting to which node to connect. Further, information from malicious nodes is identified and can be disregarded by maintaining information about prior communications that will require a future response. Denial of service attacks are inhibited by allowing the node to disregard requests when its resource utilization exceeds a predetermined limit. The ability for a malicious node to remove a valid node is reduced by requiring that revocation certificates be signed by the node to be removed. |
| US07720960B2 |
Method and apparatus providing prepaid billing for network services using explicit service authorization in an access server
A method is disclosed for authorizing a prepaid network service in a data network. A network end station issues a request for a prepaid network service. At a network node, such as a router serving as a gateway for selecting services, a determination is made about whether a user associated with the end station is authorized to access the prepaid network service. Network traffic from the end station is forwarded to a service provider only when the user is authorized to use the prepaid network service. Specific embodiments provide message flows among a mobile station, gateway support node, router, and authentication server that support providing prepaid services in a packet-switched network for mobile communication. In certain embodiments, a connection is held open for an end station while a prepaid quota value is refreshed at a portal, thereby reducing overhead and precluding the need to repeat user logon steps. Further, unused quota amounts can be returned to the authentication server for use in association with multiple concurrent connections of the same device. |
| US07720955B1 |
Determining performance of an application based on transactions
A method for determining performance of an application in a system is described herein. The method includes receiving performance data of the application, the performance data includes a plurality of types of transactions performed by the application, a counted number of transactions for each of the plurality of transaction types as performed by the application, and a total service time by the system of the counted number of transactions of each of the plurality of transaction types; calibrating a performance model of the application in accordance with the received performance data; and calculating an expected performance of the application by the system based on the performance model calibration and the received performance data. |
| US07720949B2 |
Method and apparatus for relay control and computer product
A relay control apparatus is arranged between clients and a CoD system. The relay control apparatus accepts process requests from the clients and stores the process requests. If the CoD system is installing a server in addition to existing servers, the relay control apparatus provides a control so that requests unprocessable with the existing servers are not passed to the CoD system until the installation of the server is completed. When the installation of the server is completed, servers that can process, within a predetermined period, a volume of requests at that time and a volume of requests retained by that time are secured. |
| US07720945B2 |
Method and system for automatic detection, inventory, and operating system deployment on network boot capable computers
A system for the automatic detection and inventory of a network boot capable computer and for the automatic deployment of an appropriate operating system to the network boot capable computer. First, an initial broadcast packet from the network boot capable computer is received. In response to receiving the initial broadcast packet, a discovery kernel is sent to the network boot capable computer. The discovery kernel generates a hardware details file. The hardware details file is received from the network boot capable computer and is analyzed. After the hardware details file is analyzed, an appropriate operating system is deployed to the network boot capable computer. |
| US07720939B1 |
Method for transforming and verifying downloaded program fragments with data type restrictions and corresponding system
A method and system for transforming and verifying downloaded programs fragments with data type restriction in an embedded system in which a program fragment being temporarily stored a verification process of the stored program fragment object code is executed instruction by instruction so as to discriminate for each instruction the existence of a target, a branching instruction target, a target of an exception handler call or a target of a subroutine call. On the occurrence of a target of a branching instruction as the current instruction, the empty status of the stack is verified and the program fragment is rejected otherwise. A verification process and updating of the effect of the current instruction on the data types of the type stack and the table of register types is performed. The verification process is successfully executed instruction by instruction until the table of register types is stable, with no modification being present, and interrupted with the program fragment being rejected otherwise. |
| US07720938B2 |
Timely update of information displayed within a portal
A function is added to a Web page that communicates with a refresh control helper. The Web page is associated with a session identifier. If an information update that affects the Web page occur, an update notification is associated with the session identifier. Periodically, the function in the Web page sends the session identifier to the refresh control helper. The refresh control helper calls a refresh controller and passes the session identifier. The refresh controller checks a data store to determine if update notifications associated with the session identifier have been received. If updates are available for the page, the refresh controller informs the refresh control helper that new data is available and removes any update notifications for the session identifier from the data store. The refresh control helper then informs the function in the Web page that new data is available and the function requests a page reload. |
| US07720936B2 |
Systems and methods of freshening and prefreshening a DNS cache
The present solution provides a variety of techniques for accelerating and optimizing network traffic, such as HTTP based network traffic. The solution described herein provides techniques in the areas of proxy caching, protocol acceleration, domain name resolution acceleration as well as compression improvements. In some cases, the present solution provides various prefetching and/or prefreshening techniques to improve intermediary or proxy caching, such as HTTP proxy caching. In other cases, the present solution provides techniques for accelerating a protocol by improving the efficiency of obtaining and servicing data from an originating server to server to clients. In another cases, the present solution accelerates domain name resolution more quickly. As every HTTP access starts with a URL that includes a hostname that must be resolved via domain name resolution into an IP address, the present solution helps accelerate HTTP access. In some cases, the present solution improves compression techniques by prefetching non-cacheable and cacheable content to use for compressing network traffic, such as HTTP. The acceleration and optimization techniques described herein may be deployed on the client as a client agent or as part of a browser, as well as on any type and form of intermediary device, such as an appliance, proxying device or any type of interception caching and/or proxying device. |
| US07720919B2 |
Automatic restriction of reply emails
In one embodiment, a method includes detecting, by an automated program, an attempt by a recipient of an email addressed to a plurality of addressees that includes the recipient to send a reply-all email. The automated program rejecting the reply-all email based on a pre-set policy rule that limits a number of reply-all email in a thread. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. |
| US07720918B1 |
Systems and methods for interconnecting media services to an interface for transport of media assets
Systems and methods are provided to integrate disparate media services and applications across an organization. The media services are connected to an interoperable media services bus by creating a connector API for each service, thereby enabling the media services to exchange messages in a standardized format related to transactions to be performed involving media assets and/or metadata associated with media assets. Media assets are advantageously transported between different media systems using a transport interface that hides details of the transport operation from the sender and recipient media services. Each media service provides its own file transport parameters defining procedures for obtaining media assets therefrom and writing media assets thereto; the transport service determines particular protocols for each transport operation based on the information provided by the sender and recipient media services. |
| US07720916B2 |
Ordering personal information using social metadata
A unique system, method, and user interface that facilitate ordering personal items based on past personal interaction between a user and the user's correspondents are provided. In particular, the system provides alternative views of information, such as messages, that is organized around people using an ordering based on the history of communication between the recipient and sender. Social metrics can be calculated based on social metadata associated with the messages, for example. Metrics can be used to configure how or which messages are viewed and their order in one or more pane views. Each pane view can present different orderings of messages—which are displayed by the recipient or sender of the message. So for instance, instead of viewing messages in chronological receipt date, they can be viewed by the message's sender and ordered by the number of messages previously sent to the user. |
| US07720914B2 |
Performing an operation on a message received from a publish/subscribe service
A client subscribes to a pub/sub service, the client comprises an application program for performing an operation on a published message received from a Pub/Sub service. The operation on the message comprises any one of saving the message to storage, accessing a web service based on information in the received message, authorizing subscription, executing an application identified by the message, filtering the message information for presentation to a user, overriding a message function, transforming the message media format or forwarding the message to another node. |
| US07720913B2 |
Electronic musical apparatus and server computer
An electronic musical apparatus M1 transmits apparatus ID information and a common mail page access signal to a server computer SC. The server computer SC receives the signal and apparatus ID information. On the basis of the apparatus ID information, the server computer SC searches a user database 206a to identify the mail box of the user of the electronic musical apparatus M1. The server computer SC also searches an e-mail database 206b to retrieve an e-mail message stored in the identified mail box. The retrieved e-mail message is adjusted in accordance with display capabilities of a display unit 13 of the electronic musical apparatus M1. The server computer SC then transmits the retrieved e-mail message to the electronic musical apparatus M1. The user of the electronic musical apparatus M1 is allowed to easily read e-mail messages on the display unit 13. |
| US07720910B2 |
Interactive filtering electronic messages received from a publication/subscription service
Electronic messages are published through a pub/sub service to subscribing clients. Client applications filter incoming messages according to user predefined criteria, only presenting messages to the user that pass filtering criteria. Messages are preferably Instant Messages transmitted in a SOAP protocol. |
| US07720908B1 |
System and method for multi-layered network communications
A multi-layered network for transporting data comprises a first network layer that provides a first session topology, and a second network layer that provides a second session topology. The second network layer uses the first network layer to transport data. In one embodiment of the invention, the data sent by the second layer is real-time audio data, such as voice. Each session topology may be either peer-to-peer or client/server. The first and second layers may have different topologies and/or different session hosts. A deterministic algorithm is provided whereby a new session host is selected when the current host leaves the session. |
| US07720905B1 |
Method and system for automated digital asset management on client-server computer network
A method and system can be used to automatically manage a digital asset, from development to deployment, to control change within a network environment in a comprehensive and efficient manner. Digital assets can be tracked for progress and inaccuracies, mistakes, and incompatibilities can be addressed prior to deployment. Stages can be used to formalize and automate the flow of digital assets along the process. Further, metadata regarding the digital asset can be captured at any time to provide an audit trail for the digital asset from development all the way through deployment. Any stage may have access to any or all metadata captured for the digital asset. |
| US07720904B2 |
Entity projection
The present invention provides an entity projection in a client. The entity projection is an encapsulation of data, from an owning service, and residing on a consumer of that service. The entity projection provides an abstraction that conforms to an entity programming model on the consumer. The entity projection may illustratively include a subset of the properties of an entity in the owning service, the subset being only those properties required by the entity and those properties desired by the consumer. |
| US07720900B2 |
Fused multiply add split for multiple precision arithmetic
An apparatus and method for performing floating-point operations, particularly a fused multiply add operation. The apparatus includes a arithmetic logic unit adapted to produce both a high-order part (H) and a low-order part (L) of an intermediate extended result according to H, L=A*B+C, where A, B are input operands and C an addend. Each H, L part is formatted the same as the format of the input operands, and alignment of the resulting fractions is not affected by alignment of the inputs. The apparatus includes an architecture for suppressing left-alignment of the intermediate extended result, such that input operands for a subsequent A*B+C operation remain right-aligned. |
| US07720895B2 |
Random number generator and method for generating random numbers
Random number generator including a first signal source outputting a first signal having a first frequency, a second signal source outputting a second signal having a second frequency which is lower than the first frequency, and time delay elements, wherein the output signals are delayed by a time interval with respect to the input signal. The output of one time delay element is connected in series to the input of another time delay element. The input of the first time delay element is connected to the output of the first signal source. The output of the first signal source and the output of each of the time delay elements are connected to the data input of a corresponding sample and hold element. Clock signal inputs of the sample and hold elements are each connected to the output of the second signal source. Outputs of the sample and hold elements provide random values. |
| US07720894B2 |
Internal security system for a relational database system
An internal security method for use with a relational database system is disclosed. The method is incorporated into a database system such that there is no need for security coding be layered on top of the system application software to prevent unauthorized access to restricted database information. The method of the present invention includes at least two embodiments and at least one of the embodiments has a “down the tree view” structure. |
| US07720889B1 |
System and method for nearly in-band search indexing
A system and method for nearly in-band search indexing. A network switch (or other intermediate network device) is configured to provide port mirroring so that data access requests directed to a storage system are forwarded to both the storage system and to a search appliance. The search appliance collects index information from the received data access requests to update a search index. As the search appliance is nearly in-band, i.e., not directly in-line of the data access request path, no increase of latency occurs for processing data access requests by the storage system. |
| US07720888B2 |
Contents conversion communication terminal, server system, and method
A contents conversion communication terminal, a contents conversion supporting server system, and a contents conversion supporting method are provided. In a protocol structure of the communication terminal, a distribution file system layer supports a server system and at least one other communication terminal connected through a network to share a data file therebetween, an adaptation layer performs a contents conversion to use a data file in the communication terminal, the adaptation layer being placed on the distribution file system layer, and a virtual file system layer receives a system call message and transmits the system call message to the adaptation layer, the virtual file system layer being placed on the adaptation layer. |
| US07720887B2 |
Database navigation
Database interaction is facilitated by graphically presenting database objects in groups that are not necessarily dictated by object types of the database objects. In an example implementation, database navigation is facilitated by determining object dependency groups for a database in which each object dependency group corresponds to a database source object and includes at least those database objects that depend directly or indirectly from the corresponding database source object. When these data source object-based dependency groups are graphically displayed, selecting a database object thereof provides access thereto. In another example implementation, a user can designate an attribute associated with database objects by which the database objects are to be grouped. Thus, the database objects are grouped by various values that the user-designated associated attribute takes. These designated-attribute-based value-driven groups may also be graphically displayed to enable navigation of and access to the different database objects assigned to them. |
| US07720885B2 |
Generating a word-processing document from database content
Documents are automatically generated from data within a database. The look and feel of the document is defined externally from the data in the database such that a consistent look and feel is applied to the retrieved data. Templates are defined that specify the structure of the document including its look and feel for the documents created by using data from the database. When a document is requested to be generated for viewing and/or editing, the appropriate data from the database is retrieved and placed within the document according to the defined look and feel that is contained within the templates. |
| US07720881B2 |
Role based groups
A method and apparatus for managing group based roles in a directory server is described. In one embodiment, a group of entries is defined in the directory server. One or more of the entries possess a group based role. The group based role points to one or more groups. Entries that belong to a group pointed by the group based role also possess the group based role. |
| US07720879B2 |
Methods of using an integrated development environment to configure business applications
An interactive configuration environment consistent with the present invention integrates and displays a table-based business application using a single, interactive display. When business application structures are displayed using object-oriented code structures, the business meaning of the object-oriented code structures may also be displayed in the integrated environment. Users can write a new business rule using object-oriented code, and that code may be converted into logic entities to apply the new rule in the business application. When a user rolls a mouse over an item in the object-oriented code, documentation of the underlying business meaning may be displayed in a pop-up box. |
| US07720877B1 |
Class structure based enhancer for data objects
Various embodiments of a system and method for enhancing applications for Java Data Object (JDO) persistence are disclosed. A class structure based data object enhancer may operate on the classes of an application in the absence of user input, to produce metadata to determine a persistence structure corresponding to the application classes. The class structure based data object enhancer may use the generated metadata to produce enhanced application classes. For example, the class structure based data object enhancer may incorporate calls to a JDO persistence mechanism into a class at each point where a field designated by the persistence structure to be persisted, is accessed. The class structure based data object enhancer may also generate a database schema, which may specify how the fields designated for persistence are stored in a persistent data store. |
| US07720875B2 |
Information processing apparatus, image processing apparatus, data conversion method, and computer-readable medium storing data conversion program
An information processing apparatus is disclosed that includes a system acquisition data conversion unit that converts system acquisition data acquired as information for use by one or more applications installed in the information processing apparatus into universal data, and an application usable data conversion unit that converts the universal data into application usable data usable by the one or more applications. The universal data are independent of the data structure of the system acquisition data and the data structure of the application usable data. |
| US07720873B2 |
Dynamic data discovery of a source data schema and mapping to a target data schema
A computerized method, program product, and a service that discovers trace data inserted into a source database having an unknown schema. Once the trace data is found by a dynamic data discovery engine, the tables, the fields, and the attributes of the fields in the source schema in which the trace data were located can be evaluated to determine if the data in the fields are pertinent to a target database. If so, then the data in those fields can be mapped and transferred to a target database. The dynamic data discovery engine generates the commands in both the source and the target database command language to find all pertinent data, map and transfer the data from the source database to a target database. The dynamic data discovery engine generates commands to create the target database and/or fields within an existing target database for the mapped and transferred data. |
| US07720866B2 |
Data-generation suppoprting system, data-generation supporting apparatus, and computer program product
A data-generation supporting system includes an template generating unit that generates a document type template from metadata for inputting a combination, the metadata defining a class and properties indicating attributes of an instance belonging to the class; a combination-information generating unit that receives a combination of constituent elements of the properties based on the generated document type template through an input unit, and that generates combination information; and a combination expanding unit that generates contents data using a function of calculating a direct product of the properties of the generated combination information, and using a function of performing a calculation of the constituent elements of the properties and a character-string combination of the constituent elements of the properties. |
| US07720864B1 |
Expiration of access tokens for quiescing a distributed system
A method, system and computer accessible medium for expiring access tokens in preparation for freezing file images. A metadata server may maintain a next scheduled quiesce time and may issue access tokens configured to expire before the next scheduled quiesce time. A metadata server may set an access token's expiration time to a maximum expiration time indicated by the next scheduled quiesce time or may set an access token's expiration time to a default expiration time if the default expiration time is earlier than the maximum expiration time. A storage device may recognize and enforce the access token's expiration time. |
| US07720862B2 |
Request-based knowledge acquisition
One implementation provides a method for acquiring knowledge from multiple knowledge bases in a knowledge repository. The method includes identifying first and second knowledge bases within the knowledge repository by analyzing a search request received from a client system. The first knowledge base contains knowledge of a first type and the second knowledge base contains knowledge of a second type. The method further includes generating instructions that, when executed, cause first and second requests to be sent to the knowledge repository in sequential fashion to acquire knowledge from the first and second knowledge bases, such that the second request is sent after the first request, and such that the second request includes knowledge of the first type from the first knowledge base acquired in response to the first request. |
| US07720861B1 |
Multimedia inspection database system (MIDaS) for dynamic run-time data evaluation
An object-oriented system provides a comprehensive and integrated tool to manage, operate, analyze and inspect structures by providing 3-D visualization of the structures, a database interface, connectivity with one or more databases, a data display and analysis capabilities. The structural model is stored as an object-oriented, serialized file as a series of objects, including primitives, coordinates, object names, group names and other object identifiers. The system integrates various types of data, including tabulated textual data, annotated engineering drawings, photographic records, graphical plots, audio and videotaped records, from different tables and databases. Data are displayed to the user based on queries that the user submits to the system, which queries are evaluated at run-time. As a result, the user achieves unparalleled flexibility in data analysis and evaluation. |
| US07720857B2 |
Method and system for providing an invisible attractor in a predetermined sector, which attracts a subset of entities depending on an entity type
A visualization graph is provided on a computer by storing data corresponding to a plurality of entities having a particular type, wherein a semantic net includes the entities and wherein the entities are linked to each other by a plurality of relations. The visualization graph is provided in response to a query with respect to an entity selected from the plurality of entities, wherein the visualization graph includes a plurality of sectors representing the results of the query. Entities are allocated to a predetermined sector of the graph depending on their entity type. |
| US07720856B2 |
Cross-language searching
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, related to cross-language searching. Input characterizing search criteria in a first language may be received and a search may be performed on a database having records in a second language. The search may be performed on the database with synonyms of the search criteria that are in the second language. A user may be able to select or edit search criteria in the second language from suggested search criteria. Context information may be used to find search criteria in the second language or results that may be more relevant. The results may be translated for a user to the first language. |
| US07720855B2 |
Social network for affecting personal behavior
A social network for affecting personal behavior is provided. The psychological and behavioral progress of a registered user of the social network is maintained. The social network provides the registered user with friends who can track the user's progress and encourage the user by communications with the user. The friends of the user can be anybody, including people who are not registered with the social network. A dynamic mechanism for grouping different users into support groups is also provided. The grouping is based on the user's progress, satisfaction with the user's supporters, and the user's traits and preferences. User-customized profiles are used to elucidate user traits instead of standard direct forms to avoid incorrect or misleading responses to the forms. In addition, a wireless portable device in communication with the social network of friends and supporters is provided for constant access to sources of motivation. |
| US07720854B2 |
Techniques for accessing a table
Techniques are described herein that can be used to access entries in a packed table. An unpacked table includes empty and filled elements. Filled elements can be accumulated and included in a packed table. An element in the packed table can be accessed by considering the location the element would have been located in the unpacked table. The location can be used to determine the location of the element in the packed table. |
| US07720853B1 |
Flexible rule-based infrastructure for discussion board maintenance
Generally described, a method and system for providing a flexible rule-based infrastructure for a self-policing discussion board is provided. More specifically, a method and system is provided for processing reports for messages posted in a discussion board and determining whether each report is accurate based on predetermined criteria. The predetermined criteria are defined by a set of report handling rules which evolve over time by learning from previously processed activity reports. The set of report handling rules also defines an appropriate action to take with regards to an accused message as response to the report when the predetermined criteria are satisfied. |
| US07720851B2 |
Active context-based concept fusion
A context-based concept fusion method detects a first concept in an image record. The method includes automatically determining at least one other concept in the image record which has a contextual relationship with the first concept and which is to be labeled by a user of the method; and labeling the at least one other concept by the user with a ground truth label to be used in the context-based concept fusion method to improve detection of the first concept in the image record. |
| US07720849B2 |
Information processing device, information processing method, program, and recording medium
An information processing device that includes a referring unit configured to refer to a table in which a characteristic of each piece of first information is expressed as distribution of model parameters in a plurality of semantic classes. The semantic classes are in units of pieces of the first information. An obtaining unit is configured to obtain second information to be searched. A calculating unit is configured to calculate similarities between the second information and the respective pieces of the first information. A first reading unit is configured to read the pieces of the first information from the table in descending order of the similarity. |
| US07720845B2 |
Systems and methods for updating query results based on query deltas
Systems and methods for automatically updating queries on a data store, such as a personal content database (PCDB), are provided. A query engine runs queries against two indexes: a first index that represents a previous state of documents and a second index that represents a current state of documents. The query is run twice and a delta analysis is performed, i.e., a determination is made as to which documents have changed in some respect from the previous state to the current state, and a view or a count associated with at least one query changes in accordance with the delta analysis. Transactions may be batched dynamically by a transaction manager until an optimal number of documents have changed or a certain amount of time has passed prior to re-running the query and performing the delta analysis. |
| US07720843B2 |
Real-time end-user aware interactive search utilizing layered approach
A system and method for facilitating real-time end-user awareness in results to a query to optimize and refine a computerized search utilizing an interactive result layer (IRL) and result operational layer (ROL) are disclosed. The present invention establishes a loopback feedback between encapsulated end-user interactions, which are facilitated through an interactive result layer (IRL), and the results from a query, passed through a result operational layer (ROL). An end-user selects interactions to particular results by way of a prompt within the IRL. The end-user interactions are provided to and processed in the ROL in real-time without the end-user having to re-query the system to reflect said interaction or combination of interactions. A real-time automatic result feeder aides in delivering new results to end-user when results are deleted. Subsequent queries can reflect past end-user interactions. |
| US07720842B2 |
Value-chained queries in analytic applications
A method for facilitating the navigation of data generated using an analytic application. In particular, a method of creating and using a query chain to access data is described. The user designates some data field as being of particular interest. A list of further query chains for the user to choose from is shown. The user can select one of these query chains to further navigate the database, modify one of the query chains listed, or can create a new query chain by further navigating the database. The selections made by the user while further navigating the database are recorded and linked into a query chain, which can be stored for later use. Accordingly, user access to a field of particular interest is facilitated, and information of particular interest can be accessed in a timely manner. |
| US07720840B2 |
Method applying transitive closure to group by and order by clauses
A database engine and optimizer framework support the use of transitive closure to assist in rewriting GROUP BY and ORDER BY clauses to reduce the number of referenced tables (optimally to a single table if possible) and to free the join order selected for the query plan. The SQL parser and optimizer, by performing transitive closure on the selection, or search, conditions is able to identify which fields referenced by the ORDER BY and GROUP BY clauses can be replaced with equivalent fields to improve the performance of the query. In one instance, the fields are replaced so that the ORDER BY or GROUP BY clause references only a single table. If more than one such possible ORDER BY or GROUP BY clause exists, then the optimizer selects from among the different possible clauses to select the one that provides the best performing join order. |
| US07720839B2 |
Replacing an unavailable element in a query
A method, apparatus, system, and signal-bearing medium that in an embodiment replace an element in a query with a backup if the element is not available, but the backup is available. An element may also be removed from the query if the element is not required. In various embodiments, the element may be a table or a user-defined function. In this way, the query may still execute even if the element is not available. |
| US07720837B2 |
System and method for multi-dimensional aggregation over large text corpora
Systems and methods for multi-dimensional aggregation. Exemplary embodiments include a method for retrieving data from an inverted list index within a computer system, wherein the index comprises annotated postings, the method including receiving a query in a system, converting the query into a query language, scanning at least one list of postings for data from the query, aggregating the data in the list, thereby resulting in an aggregated list, wherein the aggregating includes recording the occurrence of unique values from the list, mapping the values using a user-provided definition to an alternate value, grouping the values by a user-provided mapping of values to groups, recording and mutating data associated with the unique value in the list, relating the recorded data values with other values in the index and returning the requested data from the aggregated list in a return format. |
| US07720836B2 |
Internet streaming media workflow architecture
A method and system for utilizing metadata to search for media, such as multimedia and streaming media, includes searching for the media, receiving results, extracting metadata associated with the media, enhancing the extracted metadata, and grouping the search results in accordance with attributes of the enhanced metadata. Enhancing and grouping include adding related metadata to the database of metadata, iteratively using metadata to search for more media related data, removing duplicate URLs, collapsing URLs that are variants of each other, and masking out superfluous terms from URLs. The resultant metadata and media files are available to users and search engines. |
| US07720833B1 |
Method and system for automatically updating search results on an online auction site
A method and system for updating searches on an online auction site are described. In one embodiment, a database of auction postings is automatically searched based upon at least one search criteria to produce at least one new search result. The at least one new search result is compared with at least one previous search result. In addition, an e-mail notification of the result of the comparison is sent to a user notifying a user of the comparison. |
| US07720829B2 |
Middleware sign-on
An application for middleware sign-on is provided. A secure engine in the middleware generates a soft keyboard and scroll area. The scroll area includes coordinates associated with the soft keyboard. A selector is generated overlaid on the soft keyboard. The selector moves with respect to the soft keyboard in response to cursor movement within the scroll area. As the cursor movement causes the selector, the secure engine generates and stores false data key selections. When a user selects a data key with the selector, the middleware generates and stores the valid data key entry. The middleware stores both the valid data key selections and the false data key selections in the same area. Once the user submits his completed selection, or data, the middleware processes the data. |
| US07720823B1 |
Repairing links in deactivated files
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing a technique for repairing links in a file. The file can contain one or more links, each link referring to a target file. For one or more of the links, a file identifier is stored that uniquely identifies the target. Alternatively, for one or more of the links, information is stored that identifies an old target and a new target for the link. The links can be repaired based on the stored information. The stored information can be used to identify changes to the links that occurred while the file containing the link was in a non-modifiable state, for example, in a deactivated state. |
| US07720820B2 |
Logless persistent components for enterprise applications
Systems and methods that create persistence for an execution state via employing a logless component with persistent stateful functionality. The logless component is introduced as part of a runtime service that supplies transparent state persistence and automatic recovery for component based applications. Such logless component can avoid logging at a middle tier, and exploit logging that is already performed at a client side and/or various end point servers. The execution state can be re-created entirely via replay of the component execution, without the need to replicate the execution state or save the component's interactions in the middle tier. |
| US07720818B1 |
On-line account management system having a tiered account information storage system
A system and method for on-line management of account information by customers of a provider of goods or services. A web server receives billing information from a telecommunications service provider in a standardized XML-format readily suitable for viewing by the customers. The system further includes a tiered storage system for maintaining invoices of the customers. Recent invoices are maintained in an upper tier of the storage system where they are accessible to customers over the Internet. As the invoices age, an archival and retrieval application periodically transfers the invoices to an intermediate tier where they may only be accessed by the archival and retrieval application using an index maintained in the upper tier. Account receivable information is also available on-line through the web site. The available account receivable information is continuously synchronized with corresponding information maintained by the service provider using a synchronization application which minimizes traffic therebetween. |
| US07720816B2 |
System and method for managing log information
A system and a method for managing log information. The system includes an input module that receives log information on a data renewal and a control module that stores a renewed data image based on the received log information when a page area where the renewed data exists is a hotspot, wherein the control module manages a hotspot control list (HSCL) including hotspot managing information and address information on a storage area in which the renewed data image is stored. |
| US07720813B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for the autonomic virtualization of a data storage server
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for autonomically virtualizing a data storage server. The apparatus, system, and method include a central control hub module configured to service storage server operations between a client and one or more storage servers, a detection module configured to determine whether a set of storage conditions is satisfied, and a creation module configured to create an additional instance of a storage server in response to the set of storage conditions being satisfied. The central control hub module may also include a mapping module configured to maintain storage mappings between the client and servers and provide the storage mappings to the client. When a new server instance is created, it may include a new maintenance database instance. |
| US07720811B2 |
Synchronization of application rules across database instances
A method and system for synchronizing M application rules across N database instances. N and M are each at least 2. A rule synchronization agent is executed which updates N1 database instances with the M application rules and does not update a remaining N-N1 database instances with the M application rules if N1 is equal to N. N1 is at least 1. If N1 is less than N, then each of the remaining N-N1 database instances include a first and/or second characteristic. The first characteristic is that the remaining database instances include the M application rules upon initiation of the executing. The second characteristic is that the agent is unable to access the remaining database instance during the executing. |
| US07720796B2 |
Directory and file mirroring for migration, snapshot, and replication
A NAS switch provides mirroring in a NAS storage network that is transparent to client. A source file server exports an original NAS file handles indicative of object locations on the source file server to the NAS switch. The NAS switch modifies the original NAS file handles to an internal file system and maps the original NAS file handles to a switch file handles independent of location. The NAS switch exports the switch file handles to a client. The client looks-up objects and makes NAS requests to the source file server using switch file handles. The NAS switch performs mirroring of a namespace when during processes such as data migration, data replication, and data snapshot. |
| US07720792B2 |
Automatic stop word identification and compensation
Disclosed are methods and computer program products for automatically identifying and compensating for stop words in a text processing system. This automatic stop word compensation allows such operations as performing queries on an abstract mathematical space built using all words from all texts, with the ability to compensate for the skew that the inclusion of the stop words may have introduced into the space. Documents are represented by document vectors in the abstract mathematical space. To compensate for stop words, a weight function is applied to a predetermined component of the document vectors associated with frequently occurring word(s) contained in the documents. The weight function may be applied dynamically during query processing. Alternatively, the weight function may be applied statically to all document vectors. |
| US07720791B2 |
Intelligent job matching system and method including preference ranking
A job searching and matching system and method is disclosed that gathers job seeker information in the form of job seeker parameters from one or more job seekers, gathers job information in the form of job parameters from prospective employers and/or recruiters, correlates the information with past job seeker behavior, parameters and behavior from other job seekers, and job parameters and, in response to a job seeker's query, provides matching job results based on common parameters between the job seeker and jobs along with suggested alternative jobs based on the co-relationships and based on ratings and preferences provided by the job seeker and provides negative filtration of undesirable jobs based on job seeker input and in response to queries from the system in order to efficiently and accurately accommodate job seeker perception. In addition, the system correlates employer/recruiter behavior information with past employer/recruiter behavior, parameters and information concerning other job seekers, which are candidates to the employer, and resume parameters, and, in response to a Employer's query, provides matching job seeker results based on common parameters between the job seeker resumes and jobs along with suggested alternative job seeker candidates based on the identified co-relationships and specifies job seekers to be eliminated from displayed results. |
| US07720783B2 |
Method and system for detecting undesired inferences from documents
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that detects inferences from documents. During operation, the system receives one or more documents and extracts a first set of knowledge relevant to the documents. The system further formulates one or more queries to one or more reference corpora based on the first set of knowledge. The system then extracts a second set of knowledge from results received in response to the queries. Additionally, the system produces a mapping relationship between at least one document and a piece of the second set of knowledge which is not within the first set of knowledge, the mapping relationship indicating an inference from the documents. |
| US07720776B2 |
Knowledge organization and expansion method for conveying context using contextual maps
A method of facilitating calculations of the changes in three mutually dependent variables, in which an initial condition of all the variables is represented by a triangle, calculated changes are then displayed by modifying the triangle, and the modified form of the triangle then provides a new basis for further calculations. |
| US07720773B2 |
Partitioning data elements of a visual display of a tree using weights obtained during the training state and a maximum a posteriori solution for optimum labeling and probability
We set out a graphical model for describing probability distributions over labeled partitions of an undirected graph which are conditioned on observed data. We show how to efficiently perform exact inference in these models, by exploiting the structure of the graph and adapting the sum-product and max-product algorithms. The method can be used for partitioning and labeling hand-drawn ink fragments, image data, speech data and natural language data amongst other types of data elements. A significant performance increase is obtained by labeling and partitioning simultaneously. It is also possible to partition without labeling. |
| US07720772B2 |
System and method for extracting entities of interest from text using n-gram models
A document (or multiple documents) is analyzed to identify entities of interest within that document. This is accomplished by constructing n-gram or bi-gram models that correspond to different kinds of text entities, such as chemistry-related words and generic English words. The models can be constructed from training text selected to reflect a particular kind of text entity. The document is tokenized, and the tokens are run against the models to determine, for each token, which kind of text entity is most likely to be associated with that token. The entities of interest in the document can then be annotated accordingly. |
| US07720771B1 |
Method of dividing past computing instances into predictable and unpredictable sets and method of predicting computing value
An embodiment of a method of dividing past computing instances into predictable and unpredictable sets begins with a first step of a computing entity storing a training data set comprising past computing instances. Each past computing instance comprises attributes and a past computing value. In a second step, the computing entity separates the training data set into a predictable set of past computing instances and an unpredictable set of past computing instances. According to an embodiment, a method of predicting a computing value begins with the first and second steps. The method of predicting the computing value continues with a third step of the computing entity forming a predictor from the predictable set of past computing instances. In a fourth step, the computing entity applies the predictor to a pending computing instance that meets a predictability test to determine a predicted value for the pending computing instance. |
| US07720767B2 |
Method and system to support dynamic rights and resources sharing
The invention relates to method for deriving a sub-right from a right, the right comprising a plurality of components, each of which specifies an aspect of the right. A component may be, for example, a principal, an action, a resource, and a condition. The invention also relates to a method for integrating a first right with a second right. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method of sharing rights by deriving a sub-right from a right, allowing use of the sub-right, and integrating the sub-right with the right. In addition, the invention relates to a system to support rights sharing by enabling the derivation of a sub-right from a right, the right comprising plural components each of which specifies an aspect of the right, the system comprising a receiving module for receiving a sub-right, the sub-right comprising plural components each of which specifies an aspect of the sub-right, and a confirmation module for confirming that the values of the components of the sub-right can be derived from the values of the corresponding components of the right. The invention further relates to a method for deriving a sub-right from a pool of rights granted by a grantor to a grantee for controlling use of resources within a computing environment, the computing environment having a mechanism for enforcing rights within the environment to control use of resources in accordance with the rights. |
| US07720765B1 |
System and method for using digital strings to provide secure distribution of digital content
A method and system for secure distribution of digital content, using a disintegration tool under control of a distributor of the digital content to divide the digital content into protected and unprotected segments, delivering the unprotected segments to the customer along with installation software and identification information. The segments to be protected are modified using the identification information on the distribution medium and hardware information unique to a particular customer device. Upon communication of this information from the customer device, the modified segments are sent to the customer device for integration with the unprotected segments to generate a modified digital content operable only on the particular customer device. |
| US07720763B2 |
System and method for providing supplemental transaction processing services to users of a primary financial services system
A supplemental financial transaction processing system operates in conjunction with one or more primary financial services systems for purposes of providing supplemental financial transaction processing services to users of the primary financial services system. The supplemental financial transaction processing system comprises a secure web services system and a supplemental transaction server. The secure web services system comprises at least one financial transaction method available to the primary financial services system. Upon receipt of a method call for a financial transaction, the supplemental financial transaction processing system: i) associates a unique redirect URL to the method call; and ii) returns the unique redirect URL to the primary financial services system. The primary financial services system may then pass the unique redirect URL through a secure connection with its client. The supplemental transaction server, upon a client requesting an HTTPS connection to the unique redirect URL, verifies the validity of the unique redirect URL. If valid, a web document object is provided for rendering by the client. The web document object comprises: i) the financial institution defined transaction values (at least one); ii) user interface control script for rendering of controls for obtaining user entry of at least one client defined transaction value; and iii) transaction control script. The transaction control script comprises instructions for i) creating a financial transaction; ii) validating the financial transaction; and iii) posting the validated transaction back to the supplemental financial transaction server. |
| US07720759B2 |
Revenue assurance tool
A system assures revenue reconciliation of customer billing and vendor settlements for multimedia services, including voice over IP, provided through a network. The system includes a data repository configured to store a plurality of tables, each table including data collected from a plurality of network elements in the network and relating to at least one of customer usage, mediation, customer billing and vendor settlement. The system also includes a processor configured to execute an alert rule based on data retrieved from at least one table stored in the data repository. The alert rule includes a comparison between the at least one table and at least one other table of the plurality of tables. The processor triggers an alert associated with the alert rule when a corresponding alert rule threshold is exceeded based on the comparison, and initiates reporting of the triggered alert. |
| US07720758B2 |
System, computer program product and method for managing bills issued from application service providers
A method, system and computer program product for managing bills issued from applications service providers (ASPs). The method on which the system and computer readable medium are based includes receiving an ASP service request from a remote user, forwarding the ASP service request to an ASP, receiving a service bill from the ASP, and incorporating the service bill into a unified bill and issuing the unified bill to the remote user. Calculating the ASP fee may include determining a discount offered by the ASP. The discount offered by the ASP may be determined on a customer by customer basis or based on a volume usage of a document management system providing access to the ASP for a plurality of users. The accuracy of the service bill from the ASP may be verified, and a discrepancy between a calculated fee and the billing amount may be determined, and negotiations undertaken with the ASP to resolve the discrepancy. Whether the user pays the bill issued may also be monitored. |
| US07720754B1 |
Money-transfer techniques
A technique for transferring money between a customer and a beneficiary comprises a financial institution, serving as a money-transfer company, a plurality of selling agents, paying agents and ATM (automatic teller machine) card distributors that communicate via a telephone network and/or the Internet. Selling agents distribute transaction cards to customers for use in initiating a money transfer to a particular beneficiary. A selling agent uses a transaction card to transmit a customer's request to the company, which creates a unique transaction record. The company returns a unique, secret fund pick-up (“folio”) number to the customer. The customer discloses the folio number to the beneficiary, who collects the transferred money. Specifically, the beneficiary may obtain an ATM card from an ATM card distributor and use that card to collect the transferred funds at a conventional ATM. |
| US07720747B2 |
Method and system for multi-enterprise optimization using flexible trade contracts
A method of multi-enterprise optimization at a buyer computer includes accessing a forecasted demand for at least one item and generating one or more proposed flexible trade contracts using the forecasted demand for the item. The proposed flexible trade contract is communicated to a seller computer and subsequently executed after acceptance of the proposed flexible trade contract at the seller computer to create a flexible trade contract. Each proposed flexible trade contract may be a forward contract, an option contract, or a flexible forward contract. |
| US07720746B2 |
Computer-based right distribution system with password protection
An automated ticket auctioning system receives and evaluates bid information records received from a plurality of remote terminals. Each bid information record corresponds to at least one bid for one or more desired seats at a venue. Each bid information record may also include a plurality of additional bids identified for different seats in the venue. The separate bids in each bid information record are prioritized. The automated ticket auctioning system includes a central controlling computer operable to receive the bid information records and determine, in order of priority, whether any of the bids in a bid information record is accepted. If one bid in a bid information record is accepted, all lower priority bids in that bid information record are dismissed. |
| US07720741B2 |
Method and device for calculating a forward price for using links in a network
The invention relates to a method for calculating in a network that comprises links a distribution of forward prices for using the links in the network. The method comprises the following steps:a) a provision step for providing an observed forward price of a forward contract for each of the links,b) a determination step for deriving from the observed forward prices a proposed joint distribution of forward prices by applying a forward pricing process to each of the links, thereby generating a geographical arbitrage in the network;c) an arbitrage reduction step for reducing the geographical arbitrage in the proposed joint distribution of forward prices by a geographical arbitrage reduction value;d) a verification step for verifying if the proposed joint distribution of forward prices together with the observed forward prices has a defined property in response to the determination step and the arbitrage reduction step;if the verification step results in the defined property being not presente) a generation step for generating a property reduction value;repeating the determination step, the arbitrage reduction step and the verification step, applying the property reduction value to the forward pricing process of each of the links. |
| US07720740B2 |
System of fractional ownership of intellectual property
A system of fractional ownership of intellectual property, and a method for providing same. The system can comprise a pooling account, a first entity, and at least one second entity. The first entity can have an interest in an intellectual property, and can transfer at least a portion of such interest into the pooling account. The second entity can contribute consideration into the pooling account. In return for the consideration from the second entity, a commensurate fractional interest in the intellectual property can be associated with the second entity. |
| US07720739B2 |
Method of and apparatus for preparing tax refund application form, method of and apparatus for outputting tax refund application form, method of and apparatus for controlling tax refund procedure, and computer product
A traveler registers a credit card and merchandise purchased at each of domestic shops with the credit card. The shop transmits purchase information to a card company. The traveler finishes an embarkation procedure and then receives an application form output from an information terminal that is installed in advance. The application form is prepared by the card company and is output to the information terminal. The traveler performs a tax refund application process at a tax refund application counter with a passport and the application form. The merchandise is delivered to the tax refund application counter in a departure airport. |
| US07720736B2 |
Method and system for insuring against investment loss
Participants purchase into a given system for a given period of time. Those with investment gains, by definition, are without loss and need no compensation from the system. Those with investment losses are reimbursed by the system according to previously agreed upon terms. Total loss of a given system's participants is calculated, with that figure compared to the previously agreed upon amount of funds available for loss compensation (total revenue generated by participant premiums minus previously agreed upon detracted percentage for firm or a sum set forward by the company that is independent of a given system's generated revenue). |
| US07720733B2 |
Virtual world reversion rights
A method and system provides transactions and arrangements in virtual world environments. A user can participate in transactions to acquire virtual property and related virtual rights. In some implementations, real-world and virtual parties can be involved in possible transfers and/or transfer revocations involving various types of virtual objects and virtual rights. |
| US07720729B2 |
Systems and methods for facilitating agreement generation and negotiation via an agreement modeling system
Systems and methods are provided to facilitate generation and/or negotiation of an agreement document via an agreement modeling system. According to one embodiment, agreement information associated with an agreement between a party and a counter-party is determined. An agreement document is generated in accordance with the agreement information, and it is automatically arranged for the agreement document to be received by the party and/or the counter-party. For example, an agreement modeling system controller may transmit the agreement document to the counter-party via an electronic mail address. |
| US07720722B2 |
Sharing shopping information on a network-based social platform
A system that receives, at a network-based social platform, a request from a first user of the network-based social platform. The request is to add an item to a list associated with a second user of the network-based social platform. The list is for watching items offered for sale on a network-based marketplace. Next, the system determines whether the first user is authorized to add the item to the list associated with the second user based on relationship information that identifies a predetermined relationship between the first user and the second user on the network-based social platform. Finally, the system communicates the request to the network-based marketplace to add the item to the list associated with the second user. |
| US07720719B2 |
Method and system for IMPS-based transient objects
By utilizing IMPS technology and transient objects or object identifiers, a method and system can notify registered participants of changes in the status of those transient objects. One use of such technology is in the area of on-line auctions, but other uses include the general area of distributed queuing for an item of interest (or a subject of interest) and dispatching to similarly interested users, through transitive presence, information concerning corresponding transactions or actions. |
| US07720713B1 |
Method for designing and purchasing a product
A method 10 for designing and purchasing a product which allows the respective product and cost information associated with a variety of potential suppliers 36, 38 to be automatically queried. |
| US07720709B1 |
Method for controlling a machine dispensing good and charging of goods thus dispensed
A method for controlling and operating a vending machine that incorporates a mobile radiocommunication transmit/receive unit and can be called from a user's mobile telephone unit over a mobile telephone network via an abbreviated mobile telephone number affixed on the vending machine. The method includes, upon receipt of a call from the user's mobile telephone unit to the abbreviated mobile telephone number on the vending machine, establishing a connection to a bank and determining if the user has an account at that bank, and if so, whether there are sufficient funds in the user's account, if the user has an account and there are sufficient funds, prompting, via the vending machine, the user to select a merchandise item, after the merchandise item has been dispensed, generating, a billing entry in the vending machine, and settling the billing entry via a payment gateway, the step of settling comprising accessing a mini-payment account the user has opened with a bank, and determining the mini-payment account number based on the user's mobile telephone number. |
| US07720708B1 |
System and method for selling perishable products
An exemplary system and method are provided to sell a plurality of limited perishable products. The method may include offering to sell the first perishable product at first defined conditions that include an initial price and a minimum refund schedule; or an initial price, an incentive relative to another offer to sell the product, and a purchaser agreement to receive a directed offer. The method may include receiving an acceptance from a first purchaser; and making the first perishable product again available for sale if a first refund opportunity is exercised by purchaser. The method may include determining and offering a directed offer related to the first perishable product that may include a hold incentive or a release incentive option. The method may continue for additional products of the limited perishable products that are of the same (or similar) type and each having the same (or similar) expiration date. |
| US07720703B1 |
System and method for tracking and managing construction projects
System and methods are described for assisting a contractor in managing information associated with a construction project. The amount of information relating to labor, materials, scheduling and billing and the number of individuals accessing the information can be overwhelmingly large for even a simple construction project. As such, the system and methods described are particularly useful for gathering, maintaining and disseminating the voluminous amount of information associated with a construction project. In one method, a drawing from a construction project is provided that has one or more intelligent objects. Information is then gathered relating to labor, materials and schedules for the project. The information is associated with the respective intelligent object and visually represented on the drawing. The drawing is displayed and certain aspects associated with the intelligent objects can be quickly identified. In addition, reports may be generated that quickly and efficiently organize information according to any number of user selected criteria. |
| US07720698B1 |
Method and apparatus for performing assessments
Described are techniques used in connection with providing insolvency services in connection with guaranty funds, such as property and casualty guaranty funds, upon the occurrence of an insurance company insolvency. A client/server system provides for creating and maintaining a database of state and insurance company member information. Operations, such as calculations, are performed in accordance with different rules that are associated with varying state laws and rules that may vary with insurance account. A range of functions are performed by the system including report generation, unearned premium calculations, assessment calculation, claim entry and management, administrative tasks, and other related operations. The system which provides services and operations in connection with managing insolvency funds may interact with other applications and systems, such as an accounting system, word processing system, and the like by generating data used as input in these other systems. Also described is a database schema representing a relationship between the different data entities that may be stored in a database in connection with performing insolvency operations. |
| US07720694B2 |
Pharmaceutical verification network
Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods for communicating pharmaceutical verification information between a server and a node using a network. A node includes a pharmaceutical identification and verification system. The verification information includes a known spectral signature of a known pharmaceutical and a corresponding known pharmaceutical name and dosage strength of the known pharmaceutical. The server stores the verification information in a server database. The node receives the verification information from the server, stores the verification information in the client database, reads a pharmaceutical name and dosage strength from a container enclosing a pharmaceutical, obtains a detected spectral signature for the pharmaceutical, and compares the detected spectral signature to the at least one known spectral signature. The pharmaceutical identification and verification system includes a static multimodal multiplex spectrometer. The verification information can also include a spectral signature of a known container. |
| US07720693B2 |
Diagnosis support system and method and server to be used therein
A diagnosis support method capable of promoting upload of a large amount of case image data. This method includes the steps of: transmitting case image data and case region information from a provider to a server in order to register case images; recording the case image data and so on; transmitting the case region information from a requester to the server in order to refer to a case image; retrieving the case image data; transmitting list information of the case images; displaying the list of the case images; identifying a selected case image; retrieving the case image data and incrementing a number of times of use; transmitting the retrieved case image data; displaying the case image; and transferring the amount of money in accordance with the number of times of use of the respective case image data to the account of the provider. |
| US07720692B2 |
Providing standardized medical triage
A triage category for determining a medical triage disposition includes a set of tiered triage questions comprising a plurality of only yes/no questions arranged in a plurality of tiers. The tiers are ranked according to a level of urgency. There is also a plurality of dispositions corresponding to the plurality of tiers. One of the plurality of dispositions is selected when one of the plurality of only yes/no questions is answered “yes.” |
| US07720685B2 |
Receptionist robot system
To automate the work of recognizing a guest, check the appointment, notify a host of the arrival of the guest and conduct the guest to a designated place, a robot having a function to autonomously travel is equipped with camera/microphone for recognizing a guest at least according to image information. The system comprises management database adapted to communicate with the robot and equipped with an information database for identifying the recognized guest, and identifies the guest according to the information obtained from the camera/microphone and management database. The robot recognizes the guest from the image thereof, and the recognized guest is identified and verified by comparing the image of the visitor with the information contained in the database so that the robot can automatically conduct the guest to the designated meeting room according to the information of the appointment stored in the database. |
| US07720682B2 |
Method and apparatus utilizing voice input to resolve ambiguous manually entered text input
From a text entry tool, a digital data processing device receives inherently ambiguous user input. Independent of any other user input, the device interprets the received user input against a vocabulary to yield candidates such as words (of which the user input forms the entire word or part such as a root, stem, syllable, affix), or phrases having the user input as one word. The device displays the candidates and applies speech recognition to spoken user input. If the recognized speech comprises one of the candidates, that candidate is selected. If the recognized speech forms an extension of a candidate, the extended candidate is selected. If the recognized speech comprises other input, various other actions are taken. |
| US07720681B2 |
Digital voice profiles
Generally described, the present invention is directed toward generating, maintaining, updating, and applying digital voice profiles. Voice profiles may be generated for individuals. The voice profiles include information that is unique to each individual and which may be applied to digital representations of that individual's voice to improve the quality of a transmitted digital representation of that individual's voice. A voice profile may include, but is not limited to, basic information about the individual, and filter definitions relating to the individuals voice patters, such as a frequency range and amplitude range. The voice profile may also include a speech definition that includes digital representations of the individual's unique speech patterns. |
| US07720677B2 |
Time warped modified transform coding of audio signals
A spectral representation of an audio signal having consecutive audio frames can be derived more efficiently, when a common time warp is estimated for any two neighboring frames, such that a following block transform can additionally use the warp information. Thus, window functions required for successful application of an overlap and add procedure during reconstruction can be derived and applied, the window functions already anticipating the re-sampling of the signal due to the time warping. Therefore, the increased efficiency of block-based transform coding of time-warped signals can be used without introducing audible discontinuities. |
| US07720669B2 |
Method, system and computer program product for register management in a simulation environment
A method for register management in a simulation environment including receiving an instruction from an instruction unit decode pipeline. An address generation interlock (AGI) function is executed in the simulation environment if the instruction is an AGI instruction. The executing an AGI function is responsive to a pool of registers controlled by a register manager and to the instruction. An early AGI function is executed in the simulation environment if the instruction is an early AGI instruction. The executing an early AGI function is responsive to the pool of registers and to the instruction. |
| US07720664B2 |
Method of generating simulation model while circuit information is omitted
For the purpose of providing a simulation model allowing gate simulation but is capable of keeping the circuit information on the functional block (IP) secret, a method of generating a simulation model provided herein by the present invention comprises a step of generating a net list containing circuit information of an electronic circuit using a functional block; and a step of deleting the circuit information based on the net list, and generating a gate simulation model carrying out a timing simulation, including logic information and delay information between input/output of the functional block. |
| US07720655B2 |
Extended mainframe designs for semiconductor device manufacturing equipment
In a first aspect, a first mainframe is provided for use during semiconductor device manufacturing. The first mainframe includes (1) a sidewall that defines a central transfer region adapted to house a robot; (2) a plurality of facets formed on the sidewall, each adapted to couple to a process chamber; and (3) an extended facet formed on the sidewall that allows the mainframe to be coupled to at least four full-sized process chambers while providing service access to the mainframe. Numerous other aspects are provided. |
| US07720651B2 |
Compression of interaction data using directional sources and/or testers
A compression technique compresses interaction data. The interaction data can include a matrix of interaction data used in solving an integral equation. For example, such a matrix of interaction data occurs in the moment method for solving problems in electromagnetics. The interaction data describes the interaction between a source and a tester. In one embodiment, directional sources and/or directional testers are described. The directional sources produce a very weak (or negligible) effect except in selected directional regions. The directional testers are relatively insensitive to an incoming effect except in selected directional regions. Depending on their locations and directional properties, relatively many of the directional sources and directional testers interact weakly (or negligibly). The weak interactions can be effectively removed from the interaction matrix, thereby reducing the effective size of the interaction matrix. |
| US07720650B2 |
Synchronous drive apparatus and methods
A synchronous drive apparatus includes first and a second rotors. The rotors have multiple teeth for engaging sections of an elongate drive structure. A rotary load assembly couples to the second rotor. The elongate drive structure engages about the rotors. The first rotor drives and the second rotor is driven by the elongate drive structure. One of the rotors has a non-circular profile having at least two protruding portions alternating with receding portions. The rotary load assembly presents a periodic fluctuating load torque when driven in rotation. The angular positions of the protruding and receding portions of the non-circular profile relative to the angular position of the second rotor, and the magnitude of the eccentricity of the non-circular profile, are such that the non-circular profile applies to the second rotor an opposing fluctuating corrective torque which reduces or cancels the fluctuating load torque of the rotary load assembly. |
| US07720648B2 |
Method and apparatus for adapting threshold values in electronic signal processing devices
A method for adapting threshold values in an electronic signal processing device, involving a plurality of different threshold values being calculated and being compared with processing variables calculated in the signal processing device, involves calculation of a common correction value which is valid for the various threshold values. The threshold values are then set on the basis of the common correction value. |
| US07720647B2 |
System and method for filtering a point cloud
An exemplary method for filtering a point cloud is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: acquiring a point cloud from a point cloud obtaining device; identifying an outmost point on each of surface edges of the point cloud in a coordinate system; determining a cubical figure that confines the point cloud and intersects at surface points of the point cloud; deriving the length, the width and the height of the cubical figure; mapping a grid on the cubical figure of the point cloud and obtaining a plurality of grid squares; and processing points in each of the grid squares to retain a selected point having a smallest distance from a center of the grid square and delete redundant points in the grid square, thereby yielding a filtered point cloud. A related system is also disclosed. |
| US07720646B2 |
Signal processor and tracking method of signal search range
A signal processor and a tracking method of a signal search range are provided which can read out precisely a specific spectrum having frequency varied. A signal processor includes an FFT computation portion to compute spectrum data by fast-Fourier-transforming an input signal, a spectrum selection portion to select a specific spectrum, a spectrum search portion to search sequentially the specific spectrum selected by the spectrum selection portion from the spectrum data computed by the FFT computation portion, and a search range computation portion to compute the search range of the spectrum searched by the spectrum search portion based on the frequency of the specific spectrum, in which the search range computation portion computes the search range based on the varied frequency of the specific spectrum and makes it track the varied specific spectrum, when the frequency of the specific spectrum varies. |
| US07720639B2 |
Automatic remote monitoring and diagnostics system and communication method for communicating between a programmable logic controller and a central unit
A Monitoring and Diagnostics System is provided, which includes a monitoring unit and a monitored unit remotely located from the monitoring unit. The System also includes communication means between the monitoring unit and the monitored unit. The monitored unit includes data acquisition means for providing fault data of the monitored unit and the communication means are adapted to communicate the fault data from the monitored unit to the monitoring unit. The monitoring unit includes a rules engine having a set of expert rules for analyzing the information contained in the fault data and being adapted to deduce diagnostics information from the rules and from the information. In addition, a communication method for communicating between a first Programmable Logic Controller and a second Programmable Logic Controller or a central unit is provided, in which a description file is provided. |
| US07720638B2 |
Method for diagnosis of functional faults in a functional architecture
A method for diagnosis of functional faults in a functional architecture, including a unit of functions connected to electronic components, producing and using data, at least one datum of which can adopt a fixed pre-determined value, following occurrence of an erroneous functioning of at least one of the components of the unit. The method, while having a unit of functions and carrying out a function for which the input and output data can be assigned to sensors or actuators, determines particular values during which the particular values corresponding to functional faults for the sensors and actuators are listed and generates the functional diagnostic for the function as a function of the lists determined during the determining. |
| US07720632B2 |
Dimension measuring apparatus and dimension measuring method for semiconductor device
A dimension measuring apparatus used for measuring a dimension of a semiconductor device having a first pattern of repeated structure and a second pattern that is linear and formed on the first pattern to extend over the repeated structure. The invention includes a shape information acquisition unit which acquires information on a shape of the first pattern; a width value acquisition unit which acquires a width value of each portion of the second pattern; an analytic area setting unit, which sets a plurality of analytic areas on the second pattern; and a dimension determining unit, which extracts, for each of the set analytic areas, width values of portions included in the analytic area, and uses the extracted width values to determine a dimension of the second pattern at portions overlapping the first pattern. |
| US07720631B2 |
Semiconductor substrate processing method and apparatus
According to one aspect of the invention, a semiconductor substrate processing apparatus and a method for processing semiconductor substrates are provided. The method may include providing a semiconductor substrate having a surface and a plurality of features on the surface, each feature being positioned on the surface at a first respective point in a first coordinate system, plotting the position of each feature at a second respective point in a second coordinate system; and generating a translation between the first and the second coordinate systems. The generating of the translation may include calculating an offset between the first and the second coordinate systems. The calculating of the offset may include calculating an offset distance between a reference point of the first coordinate system and a reference point of the second coordinate system and calculating an offset angle between an axis of the first coordinate system and an axis of the second coordinate system. |
| US07720628B2 |
Digitally controlled sensor system
Systems and methods for digitally controlling sensors. In one embodiment, a digital controller for a capacitance diaphragm gauge is embedded in a digital signal processor (DSP). The controller receives digitized input from a sensor AFE via a variable gain module, a zero offset module and an analog-to-digital converter. The controller automatically calibrates the received input by adjusting the variable gain and zero offset modules. The controller also monitors and adjusts a heater assembly to maintain an appropriate temperature at the sensor. The controller utilizes a kernel module that allocates processing resources to the various tasks of a gauge controller module. The kernel module repetitively executes iterations of a loop, wherein in each iteration, all of a set of high priority tasks are performed and one of a set of lower priority tasks are performed. The controller module thereby provides sensor measurement output at precisely periodic intervals, while performing ancillary functions as well. |
| US07720626B2 |
Model-based dissimilarity indices for health monitoring systems
A method, apparatus, and computer program product for identifying dissimilarity indices for a structure is presented. A first test signal is sent into a baseline model of the structure. An estimated response signal to the first test signal sent into the baseline model of the structure is received. A second test signal is sent into the structure. A second response single to the second test signal is received. A value is assigned to a model-based dissimilarity index using the first response compared to the second response. |
| US07720624B2 |
Information processing method, information processing apparatus and program
An information processing method, an information processing apparatus and a program can prevent errors from arising when associating point group data obtained by actually measuring an item such as a metal part and design data defining the item. The characteristic value representing the profile of a face of the design data defining the item and the characteristic value computationally determined from the point group data obtained by actually measuring the item are compared and associated with each other. |
| US07720622B2 |
Non-destructive systems, devices, and methods for evaluating iontophoresis drug delivery devices
Systems, devices, and methods for evaluating iontophoresis devices. An impedance spectrometer is operable to determine an impedance of an iontophoresis device and a controller configured to perform a comparison of the measured impedance of the iontophoresis device to stored reference data, and to generate a response based in part on the comparison. |
| US07720619B2 |
Systems and methods for detecting high-impedance faults in a multi-grounded power distribution system
The apparatus and methods calculate a plurality of sum of differences for a power distribution system quantity with a sum of difference filter, provide a set of predetermined blocking conditions, provide a trending and memory with an output, generate a set threshold with an adaptive tuning algorithm; establish a reference based upon the plurality of power distribution quantities differences from the one-cycle difference filter and the set threshold, calculate a ratio of the difference between the plurality of sum of differences from the sum of difference filter and the reference, memorize a time and form a trend output if the ratio of the difference exceeds the set threshold, and determine the existence of a high-impedance fault with decision logic based on the trend output and the set of predetermined blocking conditions. |
| US07720617B2 |
Flow sensor signal conversion
A method of obtaining at least one representation of a characteristic function of a sensor from a test fluid during calibration of the sensor according to a sensor model having a transfer function operating on flow rate, at least one sensor property and at least one fluid property and employing the at least one representation of the characteristic function to determine flow rates through the sensor during operation with an arbitrary fluid. |
| US07720612B2 |
Methods for resolving convoluted peaks in a chromatogram
The present invention relates to methods for resolving convoluted peaks in a chromatogram into one or more constituent peaks using peak resolution values. The peaks methods of the invention determine empirical peak resolution values of “well-defined” or “isolated” peaks in the data, then extrapolate these empirical resolution values to peaks in neighboring regions to predict the number of constituent peaks at a given peak position. Predicted peak resolution values are compared to observed peak resolution values of low-resolution or convoluted peaks to determine the number of constituent peaks in the convoluted peaks. These methods enable extension of the region of data that can used for identifying nucleotide sequences, and increase base-calling accuracy in the low-resolution region (end region) of data. |
| US07720610B2 |
Detection of psychological disorder activity patterns
A method for detecting a psychological disorder in a person comprises collecting movement and, optionally, other data from the person by a device borne by the person; storing the data in a memory in contact with the device during the collection of data; transferring the stored data to a computer; calculating at least one set of parameter data distinctive of the movement data; feeding the least one set of parameter data to an Artificial Neural Network trained to recognize in the data a feature specific for a psychological disorder or a group of such disorders. Also is disclosed an assembly for carrying out the method. |
| US07720609B2 |
Method of seismic signal processing
A method of assessing acquisition errors in seismic images in a seismic data volume. The method includes selecting a seismic attribute in a seismic data volume and then stacking seismic quality image measurements taken along the selected attribute. The stacked measurements are then related on the basis of any vertical correlation and any vertically correlated feature is identified as a cobweb. Any identified cobwebs are removed from the seismic data volume. |
| US07720606B2 |
Generation and distribution of personalized multimedia natural phenomenological information
Natural-phenomenological information is personalized to the unique requirements of a subscriber and distributed to the subscriber. Natural-phenomenological data is gathered from a variety of sources, such as current ground observations, forecast conditions, satellite images, and radar data. Personal preferences of the subscribers are also gathered and stored, such as activities of the subscriber, geographic locations of the activities, sensitivities of the subscriber to natural-phenomenological conditions, calendar information of the subscriber, and modes of delivery. The personal preferences of the subscriber are used as a filter to identify the natural-phenomenological data that is particularly useful to the subscriber, and the resulting information is delivered to the subscriber. The subscriber identifies the destination device that the information is delivered to. The invention is extensible to support new sources of natural-phenomenological information and new output devices. Electronic delivery of the personalized natural-phenomenological information can be through any number of a variety of output mediums, including pagers, text to voice synthesizers to create an audio stream for playback either via a telephone or a personal digital assistant (PDA), a multimedia-enabled computer, email, computer display monitors, PDA, and a PCS phone. |
| US07720605B2 |
Identifying vegetation attributes from LiDAR data
Aspects of the present invention are directed at using LiDAR data to identify attributes of vegetation. In this regard, a method is provided that identifies the location of individual items of vegetation from raw LiDAR data. In one embodiment, the method includes selecting a coordinate position represented in the LiDAR data that generated a return signal. Then, a determination is made regarding whether the selected coordinate position is inside a geographic area allocated to a previously identified item of vegetation. If the selected coordinate position is not within a geographic area allocated to a previously identified item of vegetation, the method determines that the selected coordinate position is associated with a new item of vegetation. In this instance, a digital representation of the new item of vegetation is generated. |
| US07720604B1 |
Stationkeeping optimization for inclined elliptical satellite orbit constellations
A satellite constellation optimized for stationkeeping fuel consumption is provided. The satellite constellation includes a plurality of satellites, each satellite having a corresponding inclined elliptical orbit, each orbit having an initial right ascension of ascending node (“RAAN”) value, a RAAN drift rate, a semi-major axis, an eccentricity, an argument of perigee and an inclination. Each satellite has a fuel consumption value required to maintain the RAAN drift rate, the semi-major axis, the eccentricity, the argument of perigee and the inclination of the corresponding orbit. The initial RAAN value and the RAAN drift rate for each orbit correspond to a minimized fuel consumption value for the satellite having the highest fuel consumption value. The initial RAAN value and RAAN drift rate may be determined by calculating, for each possible data combination of an initial RAAN value for each orbit and a RAAN drift rate for the constellation, a fuel consumption value for each satellite in the constellation, and selecting, from the fuel consumption values thus determined, the data combination corresponding to a lowest fuel consumption for a highest fuel-consuming satellite. |
| US07720596B2 |
Electronic guide system, contents server for electronic guide system, portable electronic guide device, and information processing method for electronic guide system
Tour guide contents utilized by a user at a travel destination consist of guide information including POI information, map data and the like, and user information including memoranda written by the user. The user can access a contents server from a user terminal, and is able to customize at the contents server the tour guide contents to be utilized at a travel destination. Customized tour guide contents are stored into a memory medium at a business terminal, and the memory medium is installed in an electronic guide apparatus, such as at an airport counter. The user receives the electronic guide apparatus and a GPS on a rental basis at the airport counter, and takes them to the travel destination. Then, the user is able to utilize the tour guide contents customized for the user at the travel destination. |
| US07720589B2 |
Vehicle control device utilizing brake hydraulic pressure
A vehicle control device using brake hydraulic pressure includes a hydraulic unit having a housing and an electronic control unit having a casing. The housing of the hydraulic unit is mounted on a mounting surface of the casing of the electronic control unit so that the casing of the electronic control unit protrudes from the housing of the hydraulic unit to one side. On the protruding area of the casing, a bulge is formed in which a vehicle behavioral sensor is mounted. A control connector is also provided on the protruding area of the casing. The bulge does not protrude from the substantially square contour of the vehicle control device. Thus, the bulge will scarcely increase the installation space of the vehicle control device. A vehicle behavioral sensor is mounted on a small substrate. By adjusting the angle and position of the small substrate relative to a control substrate in the casing, the position of the sensor can be adjusted relative to the travel direction, lateral direction and vertical direction of the vehicle. With the position of the sensor adjusted, the small substrate is fixed to the bulge of the casing. |
| US07720587B2 |
Variable operation of vehicle transmissions using rough road sensing
A method for variable operation of a vehicle transmission using rough road sensing includes defining a first set of parameters to calibrate the vehicle transmission for a smooth road condition and a second set of parameters to calibrate the vehicle transmission for a rough road condition. The method includes sensing a road condition, generating a road condition signal corresponding to the road condition, and measuring a magnitude of the road condition signal. The method includes switching from the first set of parameters to the second set of parameters to operate the vehicle transmission when the magnitude of the road condition signal exceeds a first predetermined threshold. The method includes switching from the second set of parameters to the first set of parameters to operate the vehicle transmission when the magnitude of the road condition signal is less than a second predetermined threshold that is different than the first predetermined threshold. |
| US07720585B2 |
Variable passenger restraint controlled system
An aspect of the present invention provides a passenger protection device that includes, a brake pedal sensor configured to detect the amount by which a brake pedal of a vehicle is operated, a webbing, one end of the webbing fixed to the vehicle, configured to restrain a passenger seated on a seat of the vehicle, a retractor connected to the other end of the webbing, the rector configured to retract the webbing and inhibit of the webbing extraction, and an ECU electrically coupled to the brake pedal sensor, the ECU configured to detect that the brake pedal operation amount detected by the pedal sensor exceeds a first threshold value, the ECU configured to revise the threshold value based on safety related information of the vehicle to control the inhibition of the webbing extraction of the retractor. |
| US07720578B2 |
Method and device for piloting a pitching aircraft
The invention relates to a method and device for piloting a pitching aircraft. The inventive device (1) comprises: means (4) for receiving an ordered load factor (NZc); means (11) for estimating a load factor (NZcg) that is applied to the aircraft; a means (12) for calculating a control order for a means (5) for deflecting a control surface (7) of the aircraft, taking account of at least the following expression K1·NZc+K2·NZcg, K1 and K2 representing gain values; means (13) for determining the Mach number; means (14) for determining the angle of incidence; means (15) for comparing the angle of incidence with a reference value; and means (16) for determining a modified gain value (ΔK2) with the aid of the Mach number and the angle of incidence if said angle of incidence is greater than the reference value, said modified gain value (ΔK2) replacing gain value K2 in the calculation performed by the calculation means (12). |
| US07720577B2 |
Methods and systems for data link front end filters for sporadic updates
Systems and methods having front end filters for data links for improved tracking of moving objects are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes sensing at least one characteristic of a moveable object using a sensor of an acquisition system, and sensing at least one characteristic of the moveable object using an auxiliary sensor. A data link update is transmitted from the auxiliary sensor to the acquisition system, and the data link update is conditioned to provide composite likelihood. The conditioning includes differencing the data link update and at least one predicted characteristic of the moveable object to produce at least one residual (e.g. using a plurality of Kalman filters). A viewing direction of the sensor may be adjusted based at least in part on the composite likelihood. In another embodiment, residuals are projected along sensor line of sight to form a multi-modal non-Gaussian composite likelihood. |
| US07720575B2 |
Pipeline flow control optimization software methods
Pipeline flow optimization systems, software, and methods that emulate transient optimization are disclosed. A pipeline flow optimization system includes an upset condition handler that is adapted to provide a multivariable controller with pipeline flow adjustments to handle one or more upset conditions. The optimization system may be used with fluid pipeline systems, including gas pipeline systems and liquid pipeline systems. Systems, software, and methods according to embodiments of the invention may further include linepack transition handling capabilities and administrative tools. |
| US07720574B1 |
Fluid flow monitor and control system
A fluid flow monitoring, evaluation, and control system providing accurate dispensing of fluids in low volume, high pressure systems. The system includes one or more fluid flow sensors mounted on positive displacement dispensing valves and a processor that receives cycle signals from the fluid flow sensors to determine fluid flow information. If the fluid flow is not within specified limits, a signal is sent to a pump control device to adjust the pump to return the fluid flow to desired level. A dispensing valve can include a display to show cycle time or other fluid flow measurement. The system can include dispensing valves having single inputs and single outputs for measuring fluid dispensed at a point of use, which measurement can be compared to measurements taken at a divider block earlier in the hydraulic path to verify that fluid sent into the path was actually dispensed. |
| US07720570B2 |
Network architecture for remote robot with interchangeable tools
Systems, methods and devices for the remote control of a robot which incorporates interchangeable tool heads. Although applicable to many different industries, the core structure of the system includes a robot with a tool head interface for mechanically, electrically and operatively interconnecting a plurality of interchangeable tool heads to perform various work functions. The robot and tool head may include several levels of digital feedback (local, remote and wide area) depending on the application. The systems include a single umbilical cord to send power, air, and communications signals between the robot and a remote computer. Additionally, all communication (including video) is preferably sent in a digital format. Finally, a GUI running on the remote computer automatically queries and identifies all of the various devices on the network and automatically configures its user options to parallel the installed devices. Systems according to the preferred embodiments find particular application in the pipeline arts. For example, interchangeable tool heads may be designed to facilitate inspection, debris clearing, cleaning, relining, lateral cutting after relining, mapping, and various other common pipeline-related tasks. |
| US07720567B2 |
Automated box opening apparatus
An apparatus includes a conveyor, a programmable motion device, and a controller. The conveyor preferably includes actuatable rollers, and the programmable motion device is preferably a robotic arm. The controller operates the conveyor, a stopping rail, and a positioning rail to move and position a box in a cutting position relative to the robotic arm. The controller determines three dimension of the box and translates a programmed cut pattern to those determined dimensions. Based on the determined dimensions, the controller then operates the robotic arm to perform the programmed cut pattern in the box with the cutting element. The cutting element preferably has square blade so that each of the four blades can be used to cut a side of the box without having to rotate the cutting element during operation. |
| US07720561B2 |
Optimizing non-productive part motion in an automated tape laydown machine
The non-productive motion of an automatic composite tape laydown machine is optimized to increase the overall rate of the laydown. Ordering of tape courses is analyzed to determine the time required to move between courses using a time function that reflects operating characteristics and limitations of the tape laydown machine. The ordering is optimized by re-ordering, grouping and/or partitioning the tape courses so as to reduce the non-productive motion of the machine. The optimized ordering is used by a NC program that controls the operation of the machine. |
| US07720560B2 |
Semiconductor manufacturing process monitoring
A system and method for monitoring a semiconductor manufacturing process is disclosed. The system communicates with one or more process tools, and monitors each tool during a predetermined process window time. Errors and warnings are provided to users, allowing corrective action to be taken. Additionally, the system of the present invention can initiate automatic adjustment of the process tools to maintain an efficient manufacturing operation. |
| US07720558B2 |
Methods and apparatus for mapping carrier contents
In a first aspect, a first method of mapping contents of a substrate carrier is provided. The first method includes the steps of (1) coupling a sensor to the substrate carrier or a loadport adapted to receive the substrate carrier; and (2) determining a presence or absence of a substrate in a slot of the substrate carrier using the sensor. Numerous other aspects are provided. |
| US07720552B1 |
Virtual knob lever arm as analog control element
The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or method that facilitates providing analog control within an industrial automation environment. An interface component can facilitate the receipt of data relating to an input. An analog lever component can be communicatively coupled to the interface component to provide analog control of a parameter associated with the industrial automation environment, wherein the analog control correlates the input with a virtual knob to adjust the parameter. |
| US07720549B2 |
Partially implantable system for the electrical treatment of abnormal tissue growth
This present embodiment relates generally to the electrical treatment of malignant tumors and neoplasms by applying a voltage to affected tissue. Devices and various adaptations therein are described for use in electrical therapy. Additionally, various ambulatory devices are described which advantageously increase versatility of the electrical therapy system. The ambulatory devices may include an internal and external power source and/or a first and second power source. The ambulatory devices may also include communication means for communicating between various portions of the device. |
| US07720548B2 |
Impedance-based stimulation adjustment
Techniques for adjusting stimulation are disclosed. A medical device measures an impedance associated with one or more electrodes, e.g., the impedance presented to the medical device by a total electrical circuit that includes the one or more electrodes, the conductors associated with the electrodes, and tissue proximate to the electrodes. The medical device stores at least one patient-specific relationship between impedance and a stimulation parameter, and adjusts the value of the stimulation parameter based on the measured impedance according to the relationship. The medical device may store multiple relationships, and select one the relationships based on, for example, an activity level of the patient, posture of the patient, or a current stimulation program or electrode combination used to deliver stimulation. By adjusting a stimulation parameter, such as amplitude, according to such a relationship, the stimulation intensity as perceived by the patient may be kept substantially constant. |
| US07720542B2 |
Remote sensing and actuation of fluid in cranial implants
An implantable device is described. An implantable transducer converts between electrical energy and acoustic energy. An implantable electronics module is in communication with the transducer and processes electronic data signals associated with the transducer. A fluid filled catheter has a proximal end coupled to the transducer, and a distal end having a distal opening to cerebrospinal fluid in an implanted patient. |
| US07720541B2 |
Adaptive therapy for disordered breathing
An approach to providing disordered breathing therapy includes detecting disordered breathing and adapting a therapy to mitigate the disordered breathing. The therapy may be adapted to enhance therapy effectiveness, to provide therapy that reduces an impact of the therapy on the patient, or to achieve other therapeutic goals. Cardiac electrical therapy to mitigate the disordered breathing may include various cardiac pacing regimens and/or delivery of non-excitatory electrical stimulation to the heart. |
| US07720538B2 |
Internal hermetic lead connector for implantable device
An implantable active medical device is disclosed and includes a hermetically sealed housing defining a sealed housing interior, a power source and electronics in electrical communication and disposed within the sealed housing interior, and a lead connector projecting into the sealed housing interior. The lead connector includes a closed end, an open end, an outer surface, and an inner surface defining a lead aperture. The lead connector includes one or more electrically conducting contact rings spaced apart by electrically insulating rings. The one or more electrically conducting contact rings are in electrical communication with the electronics and the lead connector provides a hermetic seal between the lead connector outer surface and the lead connector inner surface. |
| US07720535B2 |
Pacing management during cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Systems and methods provide for coordinated cardiac pacing with delivery of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to a patient. Managing cardiac pacing in a patient during a cardiac arrhythmia involves detecting a cardiac arrhythmia using a patient implantable medical device, prompting a cardiopulmonary resuscitation compression, and delivering, using the patient implantable medical device, a pacing pulse to a heart chamber in coordination with the compression prompt. |
| US07720534B2 |
Transthoracic impedance measurement in a subcutaneous device
A subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator is disclosed which has an electrically active canister which houses a source of electrical energy, a capacitor, and operational circuitry that senses the presence of potentially fatal heart rhythms. At least one subcutaneous electrode that serves as the opposite electrode from the canister is attached to the canister via a lead system. Cardioversion-defibrillation energy is delivered when the operational circuitry senses a potentially fatal heart rhythm. There are no transvenous, intracardic, or epicardial electrodes. A method of subcutaneously implanting the cardioverter-defibrillator is also disclosed as well as a kit for conducting the method. |
| US07720531B2 |
Method and system for analyzing and presenting an electroencephalogram (EEG)
A system and method determines from EEG signals the lack of awareness and the depth of anesthesia of a patient to whom an anesthetic agent is being administered. In particular, a log-log representation of the EEG power spectrum is converted to two intersecting lines so that the intersection point and the relative slopes can be analyzed to determine a state of awareness of a patient. This system and method may also be used in an analysis of the brain function of a sleeping individual to distinguish between different levels of non-REM sleep, REM sleep, and awakeness. |
| US07720529B1 |
Implantable therapeutic device control system
A control system for an implantable cardiac therapy device, the device defining a plurality of sensing vectors including at least one impedance sensing vector and operating under a set of a plurality of variable operating parameters that define conditions for delivery of therapy and wherein the control system evaluates signal quality from the at least one impedance sensing vector and, if the quality is sufficient to discern valvular events, the control system adjusts the set of operating parameters to dynamically improve cardiac performance, including synchrony with valvular events, and if the quality is insufficient to discern valvular events, but sufficient to discern peaks, the control system adjusts the set of operating parameters to dynamically improve cardiac performance independent of valvular events, and if the quality is insufficient to discern peaks, the control system adjusts the set of operating parameters to induce cardiac performance towards a defined performance goal. |
| US07720528B2 |
Catheter for inserting into a vessel
Catheter for insertion into a vessel, comprising a reversibly inflatable balloon (10, 25) provided in the area of the catheter tip, on the outside of which a stent (11) to be implanted in the vessel is arranged, and at least one imaging device (14, 21, 22) arranged in the area of the catheter tip for optical coherence tomography, which is arranged or configured such that the area of the vessel, in which the balloon (10, 25) is positioned, can be captured. |
| US07720522B2 |
Fiducial marker devices, tools, and methods
This document discusses, among other things, fiducial marker devices, tools, and methods. One example illustrates a combined imagable fiducial locator and divot for receiving a positioning wand of an image-guided surgical (IGS) workstation. A further example is reflective such that it is locatable by a remote detector of an optical positioning system. A generally cylindrical (e.g., faceted cylindrical) columnar locator permits easy application of reflective tape. Other examples discusses a unitary fiducial marker with multiple divots and a swiveling and/or tilted fiducial marker divot, each of which allows manipulation of a positioning wand into a remote camera's field of view. Another example includes at least one reflector that can be aimed. A further example discusses an imagable fiducial marker carrier that is attachable to a single location on a patient's skull to reduce trauma. A keying arrangement fixedly defines the orientation of the carrier, allowing detachment and reattachment in the same orientation. |
| US07720519B2 |
Method for three-dimensional modeling of the skull and internal structures thereof
A method is disclosed in this publication for modeling different internal structures of a head, such as different parts of the brain, the method comprising the step of determining the location of the internal structures, such as the different cerebral parts, of at least one first head in a three-dimensional space by techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging or computer-aided tomography. According to the invention, the external dimensions of at least one second head are determined, and the location data of the internal structures of the first head are scaled in a three-dimensional space to correlate with the external dimensions of the second head, whereby the location data of the internal structures of the second head also become modeled without the need for anatomical images of the second head. |
| US07720518B2 |
Nuclear medical diagnostic equipment and data acquisition method for nuclear medical diagnosis
A nuclear medical diagnostic equipment wherein radiation which is emitted by a nuclide administered into the body of a patient is detected as projection data by a gamma camera, and an image which indicates the distribution of the nuclide within the body of the patient is obtained on the basis of the projection data. The equipment comprises a rotation unit which rotates the radiation detector round the patient, a respiration identification unit which identifies breathing of the patient and non-breathing thereof based on breath holding, a data storage unit in which the radiation detection data acquired by the radiation detector are stored in an identifiable manner on the basis of a result of the identification by the respiration identification unit, and an image generation unit which generates the image from the radiation detection data stored in the data storage unit on the basis of the result of the identification by the respiration identification unit. |
| US07720514B2 |
Receiver circuit using nanotube-based switches and logic
Receiver circuits using nanotube based switches and logic. Preferably, the circuits are dual-rail (differential). A receiver circuit includes a differential input having a first and second input link, and a differential output having a first and second output link. First, second, third and fourth switching elements each have an input node, an output node, a nanotube channel element, and a control structure disposed in relation to the nanotube channel element to controllably form and unform an electrically conductive channel between said input node and said output node. The receiver circuit can sense small voltage inputs and convert them to larger voltage swings. |
| US07720513B2 |
Method for operating an electronic device, electronic device, and electronic assembly
The present invention relates to a method for controlling an electronic device (10), to an electronic device (10) as such as well as to an electronic assembly (100). A key idea of the present invention is to provide a standby state in which no operation power is consumed with respect to processes of monitoring and terminating said standby state. The standby state can at most be terminated upon receipt of a remote wakeup radio signal (WS) from which also the operation power for terminating said standby state is extracted. |
| US07720511B1 |
Self-optimizing adaptive antenna
The present invention determines optimal positions of a variable antenna using an artificial intelligence-based genetic algorithm (GA). The GA acquires a fitness value for an individual of a genetic algorithm population by updating positions of the antenna. The population improves through an evolutionary computational process using a fitness measure based on the signal strength. At the end of the process, the system positions the antenna to the best position found by the GA. Therefore, the final position gives exceptionally clear reception for a chosen received frequency. |
| US07720510B2 |
Data communications between terminals in a mobile communication system
An apparatus and method are provided for communicating data between a first and a second terminal unit, wherein at least one of the terminal units is a mobile terminal unit. The apparatus includes a base station and a number of antenna units each linked to the base station. The base station has a transmitter that transmits modulated data signals to each of the antenna units, a receiver that receives modulated data signals forwarded by at least one of the antenna units, demodulator that demodulates received modulated data signals that have been modulated according to a predetermined modulation scheme. In the predetermined modulation scheme, successive blocks of modulated data are arranged such that a predetermined minimum time period elapses between the arrival, at the receiver, of a first and the arrival of a second of the successive modulated data blocks and wherein, in operation, the predetermined minimum time period being adjusted based on the maximum delay at the receiver between the arrival of a modulated data block a first antenna unit to a time of arrival of the same modulated data block of a different antenna unit. |
| US07720508B2 |
Radio controller, server and mobile communication method
A radio controller includes: a schedule information receiver for receiving schedule information related to a schedule of data transmission; a selection execution determiner for determining, based on the schedule information, whether or not to select a cell used by a mobile station after the data reception; and a selection execution commander for commanding the mobile station to select the cell used after the data reception in accordance with a determination result by the selection execution determiner. |
| US07720502B2 |
Radio device and interference avoiding method by transmission power control
Upon receiving a frame from a transmitting radio device, a propagation attenuation calculator calculates a propagation attenuation amount from information in the received frame and registers a propagation attenuation amount for each transmission rate in a table. When transmitting a frame, a transmission power controller, selects optimum transmission power to the transmission destination radio device from the table and sends the frame at the selected optimum transmission power, and detects whether there is a value smaller than the selected optimum transmission power in the optimum transmission power at a minimum transmission rate of a radio device different from a transmission destination radio device registered in the optimum transmission power table. |
| US07720495B2 |
Method and device for remote controlling a wireless communication device utilizing a text message
A method for remote controlling a wireless communication device by a message includes the following steps: the wireless communication device receives a message; and the wireless communication device executes a corresponding operation according to the data stored in the TP-User-Data (TP-UD) field or the data stored in the TP-Protocol-Identifier (TP-PID) field. A user can control the wireless communication device to perform functions like increasing volume or switching from a silent mode to a sound mode, or even switching the mobile phone off, through transmitting a text message to the mobile phone. |
| US07720489B2 |
Network initiated USSD in mixed networks
The claimed subject matter provides systems and/or methods that facilitate sending a network initiated USSD message via a mixed network to user equipment. An application server component can communicate to user equipment. A location component can aggregate location data associated with the user equipment, wherein the location component can utilize the last known location data to send a network initiated USSD message to the user equipment via a mixed network. |
| US07720487B2 |
Handover method and apparatus for mobile terminal using location information in heterogeneous system network
A handover method and apparatus for a mobile terminal using location information in a network of heterogeneous systems are provided. The handover method uses service area map information provided by a location service server in a mobile communication network in which at least one or more heterogeneous wireless network systems are connected through a predetermined network and, includes: receiving service area map information transmitted from the location service server; the mobile terminal determining whether or not the location of the mobile terminal is within the service area map; and if it is determined that the mobile terminal is within the service area map, the wireless terminal selecting an accessible wireless network system and then activating a unit for communicating with a base station of the selected wireless network system. According to the method, a battery consumption problem that occurs by activating all modems when a wireless terminal, which is connected to a predetermined mobile communication system in an environment where a plurality of heterogeneous systems are overlapping each other, is searching for candidate systems in order to perform handover to a heterogeneous network, can be solved. Also, a problem where finding a candidate system is time-consuming can be solved. |
| US07720483B2 |
Apparatus and method for assigning sub-channels in an OFDMA system
A sub-channel assignment apparatus and method of minimizing interference caused by sub-channel frequency overlaps when assigning sub-channels for sectors of a base station in an OFDMA system of a FDMA type. The apparatus includes: a plurality of sector channel management parts that assign at least one channel having assignable channel indexes in response to requests from users in a sector managed by the sector channel management part, and report sector load information regarding the total number of the requests from the users in the sector; and a channel assignment scheduler for using the sector load information reported from each channel management part to calculate the number of assignable channels per class for each of the sectors, and determines the assignable channel indexes per class for each of the sectors according to the number of assignable channels, and forwards the assignable channel indexes to each of the sector channel management parts. |
| US07720482B2 |
Method and apparatus for transitioning between EVDO and CDMA 1X systems using redundant data call blockings
A method and apparatus of optimizing transitioning between EVDO and CDMA 1X systems in a hybrid access terminal, the method having the steps of preventing a reconnect data call from being sent from the hybrid access terminal. The preventing step including checking whether a transition between an EVDO and a CDMA 1X system is successful; and if not blocking the data call, and/or checking whether an EVDO received signal strength indication is greater than or equal to a receiver sensitivity on the hybrid access terminal; and if yes, allowing the hybrid access terminal to connect to the EVDO system, and/or delaying a connection timer for connecting to the EVDO system and/or applying fast dormancy to the hybrid access terminal in an EVDO state. |
| US07720478B2 |
Control device of mobile communication system
There is provided a control device enabling switching of communication of a mobile terminal with one system to communication with another system while reducing power consumption and workload of the mobile terminal. The control device is used in a communication system including a first mobile communication system, a second mobile communication system, and a mobile terminal being in communication with the first mobile communication system. The control device comprises a position measuring unit for measuring the position of the mobile terminal, a judgment unit for making a determination whether or not to switch the communication of the mobile terminal from the first mobile communication system to the second mobile communication system according to a position measurement result of the position measuring unit, and a switching unit for performing the above switching operation according to the determination of the judgment unit. |
| US07720473B2 |
System and method for optimizing handover in mobile communication system
Disclosed are a system and a method for optimizing a handover process in a mobile broadband wireless access system. The method performs handover in a mobile communication system including a mobile subscriber station, a serving base station currently providing service to the mobile subscriber station, and at least one neighbor base stations adjacent to the serving base station. The method includes the steps of receiving a handover request from the mobile subscriber station by the serving base station; instructing the mobile subscriber station to perform handover by the serving base station in response to the handover request from the mobile subscriber station and performing by the mobile subscriber station a network reentry process for fast handover in accordance with information included in a handover instruction from the serving base station. |
| US07720472B1 |
Stratospheric-based communication system having interference cancellation
A system has a stratospheric platform with a payload controller and a phased array antenna having a plurality of elements. A gateway station communicates with the stratospheric platform. The gateway station scales the plurality of elements to form a reconfigurable plurality of beams. The gateway station communicates a control signal to the stratospheric platform to communicate a scaling of the elements. The stratospheric platform configures the elements of the phased array antenna according to the scaling using adaptive interference rejections. |
| US07720471B2 |
Method for managing hidden stations in a centrally controlled network
The embodiments of the present invention provide methods, devices, and systems enabling a central coordinator to manage hidden stations via a proxy central coordinator, where a hidden station is discovered based on beacons and made known to other networked devices via transmitted lists. |
| US07720466B2 |
Radio control station, radio terminal, base station, communication system, and communication method
A communication system includes a transmission unit configured to transmit control information relating to plural radio communication systems to a radio terminal through a dedicated control channel commonly used by the plural radio communication systems and for transmitting the control information relating to the plural radio communication systems. |
| US07720464B2 |
System and method for providing differentiated service levels to wireless devices in a wireless network
Described is a system and method for providing differentiated service levels to wireless devices in a wireless network. The method comprises receiving, on a first network arrangement connected to a network, an authentication request from a wireless device. The network uses a first access protocol having a plurality of access categories and the wireless device uses a second access protocol. The authentication request including one of the plurality of access categories. The wireless device is verified to ensure that it is authorized to communicate at the one of the plurality of access categories. When the wireless device is verified as authorized, a response is communicated to a second network arrangement that indicates the one of the plurality of access categories is used for communications with the wireless device. |
| US07720461B2 |
Mobile communications device with security features
A mobile communications device for communicating with a wireless network. The device includes a processor, a communications sub-system connected to the processor for exchanging signals with the wireless network and with the processor, a user input device connected to the processor for sending user input signals to the processor in response to user inputs. A security module is associated with the processor for automatically taking a security action upon detecting a predetermined security user input through the user input device. The security action can include sending a duress message and/or wiping data stored on the device. |
| US07720459B2 |
Method of remote collection of data for the account of an entity, using a third party data communication network, e.g. for automatic meter reading
The remote collection of data for the account of an entity (2) uses a data communications network (26) operated by a third party (28) with respect to the entity. It is characterised in that the access to said data communication network (26) by the entity for remote data collection is governed dynamically by said third party (28) as a function of the spare data-carrying capacity of the communications network. The third party (28) may thus grant the entity (2) access to the communications network (26) when the level of the third party's own data traffic on said network is below a determined threshold value, corresponding to an occupation below peak capacity. The approach finds applications notably in the field of automatic meter reading (AMR), where the network operator, e.g. a cellular telephone operator, is a third party with respect to the utilities company (2), and the collected data is meter reading data from remote meters (14a-14g) sent via GPRS interfaces (16a-16d). |
| US07720449B2 |
Fault-tolerant amplifier matrix
An amplifier matrix (112) has a plurality of inter-coupled matrix clusters (201), and a controller (106). The controller is programmed to detect (304) a fault in an amplification path of one of the matrix clusters, and update (316) vector relationships in the matrix clusters to minimize inter-sector isolation at the outputs of the matrix clusters. |
| US07720446B2 |
Multi-position device
A multi-position device has first and second body elements configured for sliding engagement and constrained movement with respect to one another along a common plane in X, Y and XY coordinate directions for positioning the body elements in multiple different fixed positions relative to one another and for accessing one or more user interfaces carried on an outward facing surface of one body element covered by the other body element. The body elements are arranged to move relative to another from an overlapping alignment along linear, L-shaped and triangular paths in X, Y and XY coordinate directions back to the original overlapping alignment. |
| US07720445B2 |
Modular access point
Described is a modular access point for wireless communications. The access point includes a housing which has at least one module receiving slot and a first wireless communication radio. The radio communicates with a first wireless device via a first frequency band. The access point also includes a removable module configured for insertion into the module receiving slot. The module includes a second communication radio utilizing a second frequency band so that, when the removable module is inserted into the slot, the access point is capable of communicating with a second wireless device via at least one of the first and second frequency bands. The access point includes a plurality of antenna connectors which are connected to the first and second radios. The access pint may utilize external antennas or internal antenna modules which interchangeably attachable to the antenna connectors. |
| US07720441B2 |
Apparatus and method for minimizing inter-signal interference in a wireless communication system
An apparatus and method for minimizing inter-signal interference in a wireless communication system are provided. The polarization phases of Mobile Stations (MSs) are measured. An MS group including a predetermined number of MSs is determined and a polarization phase of the MS group is compensated. The polarization phase of a transmission signal is matched to the compensated polarization phase and the matched signal is sent to the MS group. |
| US07720440B2 |
Distributed coordination of a clear channel assessment (CCA) threshold
Embodiments of distributed coordination of a clear channel assessment threshold are presented herein. |
| US07720433B1 |
Antenna hub configuration
An antenna hub having an antenna includes a housing. Uplink circuitry is disposed within the housing. The uplink circuitry includes block upconverters, high-power amplifiers and variable phase combined amplifiers. A diplexer is also disposed within the housing at the antenna hub. A configuration is set-up for redundancy so that uplink signals are not lost. |
| US07720432B1 |
Content customization in asymmetric communication systems
Systems and methods for providing customization in asymmetric communication are disclosed. An excess of information is broadcast from a transmitter to multiple receivers in what is optionally a one-way transmission. The excess of information includes metadata used to select which subset of the excess of information is presented to a user and which subset of the excess of information is discarded. The metadata includes criteria that are compared with various, possibly different, customization factors stored on each of the multiple receivers. This comparison is used to determine which subsets of the excess information are presented and which are discarded. Because the customization factors can be different on different receivers, customization of the presented information is achieved. The customization factors optionally include geographic information resulting in customization based on a receiver location. The excess information optionally includes radio or television signals. In some embodiments, a nationally broadcast signal results in the presentation of advertisements, where the presentation is customized to a specific location. |
| US07720429B2 |
Image forming apparatus including shutter arm unit
An image forming apparatus includes a printing unit and a shutter arm unit. The shutter arm unit includes a shutter arm that swings to first and second positions, and a stopper arm, connected to the shutter arm, which protrudes toward a transportation path when the shutter arm swings to the second position in which the stopper arm prevents extra sheets of recording media from moving along the transportation path. The force of the paper moving along the transportation path swings the shutter arm unit into the second position, a protrusion cam and an escape cam prevent an increase in the return load of the shutter arm, and a pair of ends of the shutter arm aligns the front end of the sheet of paper. |
| US07720427B2 |
Cleaning apparatus, image holding apparatus, and image forming apparatus
There is provided a cleaning apparatus having a cleaning member that makes contact with a surface of an image holder and vibrates due to friction arising when the surface of the image holder moves, the image holder bearing an electrostatic latent image developed using a developer having toner containing a crystalline resin, and a cleaning member support unit that supports the cleaning member and increases the amplitude of the vibration of the cleaning member. |
| US07720425B2 |
Method and apparatus for printing using a tandem electrostatographic printer
A tandem color electrostatographic printer apparatus has five or more color printing stations or modules for applying respective color separation toner images to a receiver member to form a pentachrome color image in a single pass. A fuser station fuses the pentachrome color image. A clear toner overcoat is then applied to the fused pentachrome toner image and enhanced glossing of the image is provided by a belt glosser to improve color gamut. |
| US07720424B2 |
Image forming apparatus and fixing device therefor
In order to efficiently utilize the energy of the flux leaked from the vicinities of the edges of a fixing roller having a part to be heated, which is made of magnetic material that has Curie point, the energy of the leaked flux is stored to be utilized as need arises, or is utilized to heat the vicinity of the center of the fixing roller. |
| US07720423B2 |
Image heating apparatus including a cooler and a siloxane-modified polyimide belt therefor
An image heating apparatus is provided for heating an image formed on a recording material having a resin material layer at an image formation side thereof. The apparatus includes a belt for closely contacting and heating an image on the recording material to provide a high glossiness image, and a cooler for cooling the recording material heated by the belt. The belt comprises a layer of siloxane-modified polyimide and has a thermal expansion coefficient of not less than 6×10−5/° C. and not more than 10×10−5/° C. |
| US07720422B2 |
Fuser cleaning apparatus and method of operating a fuser cleaning device for use with an image forming device
A fuser cleaning apparatus and method of operating a fuser cleaning apparatus for use with an image forming device. Heat is efficiently transferred to a guide member of a fuser, thereby allowing for relatively easy performance of a cleaning operation of the fuser, since a heating roller of the fuser is heated by a heater while the heating roller is not in motion. It is also possible to prevent melted toner remnants from contaminating the heating roller since a sheet of paper which has waited at an entrance of the fuser is conveyed and passed between the heating and pressure rollers of the fuser after the heating roller is heated while it is not in motion. |
| US07720417B2 |
Toner container and image forming apparatus
A toner container detachably attached to a toner-container holder of a main body of an image forming apparatus includes a container body that includes an opening, and discharges toner contained in the container body, from the opening; and a held portion that is held by the toner-container holder in a non-rotating manner. The held portion includes an open/close member for opening/closing the toner outlet in synchronization with an attachment/detachment operation of the held portion to/from the toner-container holder. |
| US07720416B2 |
Method and toner bottle for image forming apparatus capable of effectively supplying toner to image forming apparatus
The toner bottle exchangeably used in an image forming apparatus. The toner bottle includes a bottle body having a substantially cylindrical shape and configured to contain toner, a gear configured to rotate a part of the toner bottle, a cap attached to the bottle body and including an opening arranged in a circumferential surface of the cap and configured to output toner to a development apparatus of the image forming apparatus, a toner conveyance mechanism arranged in the bottle body and configured to convey the toner to the opening. |
| US07720412B2 |
Process cartridge
A process cartridge in which before use, the separation of a predetermined distance between a charging roller and a photosensitive drum can be maintained, and in use, the separation state of the charging roller can be released without increasing the burden on a user. The process cartridge includes a charging roller separation member moveable between the first position to hold the separation of the charging roller from the photosensitive drum and the second position to abut the charging roller on the photosensitive drum. One of a photosensitive member unit and a developing unit includes a hook portion holding the separation member in the first position, and the other includes a hook portion that releases the separation member from the hook portion to move the separation member to the second position when the developing unit is pivoted. |
| US07720410B2 |
Methods and apparatus for remanufacturing toner cartridges
A device for manufacturing a printer cartridge, the printer cartridge having a doctor blade and a developer roller, the doctor blade being configured to regulate the amount of toner delivered to the developer roller, the device comprising: (a) first surface, the first surface lying on a first plane; and (b) a second surface positioned opposite the first surface, the second surface lying on a second plane, the first and the second plane being parallel to each other, the second surface comprising a flat portion, the flat portion being configured to contact a portion of the doctor blade, wherein when the flat portion contacts the doctor blade portion, the device applies pressure to the doctor blade portion. |
| US07720409B2 |
Image forming apparatus having lowered image forming position and recessed sheet stacking portion
In a printer, a scanner unit is formed into a taper shape having a thinner thickness on a side of a pick-up roller in a removing direction of a process unit, to allow the process unit to be removed from the printer. A part of a sheet feeding path is formed in an area between the process unit and a sheet cassette. An image forming position on the sheet feed path is set lower than an upper end of the pick-up roller. Thus, removal of the process unit can be readily performed. Further, the height of the printer at a position of the pick-up roller can be reduced as compared with a case where the scanner unit is not formed into a taper shape. |
| US07720408B2 |
Process cartridge, developing cartridge and electrophotographic image forming apparatus
A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and which is transportable in a state of being mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the member with a developer, a developer accommodating portion accommodating the developer and having a developer supply opening for permitting passage of the developer to supply the developer to the roller, a sealing member unsealably sealing the opening and a grip member, provided on the sealing member, for being gripped to unseal the opening when the sealing member is removed from the opening. The grip member is movable between a first position where the cartridge can move to a predetermined position in the main assembly to permit transportation of the cartridge when mounted to the main assembly, and a second position where the cartridge is prevented from moving to the predetermined position from the first position when the cartridge is dismounted from the predetermined position. |
| US07720406B2 |
Optical device and image forming apparatus
An optical device includes an optical element that transmits or reflects light, and scans the light onto a target surface to form a latent image on the target surface. The optical element includes a conducting portion that is located on at least any one of a light transmitting surface and a light reflecting surface, and a bias applying unit that applies a predetermined bias to the conducting portion. |
| US07720404B2 |
Methods of operating a multi-color image forming device in a mono-color mode
The present application is directed to methods of operating a multi-color image forming device in a mono-color mode. The methods may include performing three basic loops during the printing in the mono-color mode. A first loop may include printing mono-color pages up to an initial preset maximum. The preset maximum may prevent a wear mark from forming on the non-operational PC members due to rubbing against the moving ITM. A second loop may occur when the mono-color pages exceeds the initial preset maximum. The second loop may include rotating the non-operational imaging stations to prevent wear. A third loop may occur when the number of mono-color images exceeds an overall maximum number. The third loop may include resetting the non-operational image forming stations to allow for continuing printing in the mono-color mode. |
| US07720399B2 |
Image forming apparatus controlling transfer output in accordance with variation of environment conditions
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing body that bears a developer image, a transfer member for transferring the developer image to a recording medium, a storing section in which a stored temperature value and a stored electric resistance value of the transfer member are stored, a temperature detecting section that detects a temperature of the transfer member, a calculating section that calculates a temperature variation value, a comparing-and-determining section that determines whether the temperature variation value is less than a temperature variation threshold, an output control section that determines a transfer output based on the stored electric resistance value stored in the storing section in the case where the temperature variation value is less than the temperature variation threshold, and an output applying section that applies the transfer output to the transfer member. |
| US07720398B2 |
Image forming apparatus
If, upon an occurrence of a jam, a sheet is detected by a sensor disposed downstream of a fixing portion or the leading end thereof has not reached this sensor and a coverage rate is high, the jam is judged to have occurred in the fixing portion. A number (x) of blank sheets to be passed is determined from a coverage rate of the entire sheet, and a cleaning mode is automatically executed if the automatic execution of the cleaning mode is selected, whereas a notification urging the input of an instruction as to whether or not to execute the cleaning mode is given if the automatic notification is selected. Therefore, toner adhered to the fixing portion can be simply and properly cleaned. |
| US07720396B2 |
Toner cartridge having first protrusion that transmits sound by engaging second protrusion on image forming apparatus
A toner cartridge comprises a toner cartridge main body which houses toner, a discharging opening which supplies the toner housed in the toner cartridge main body to an image forming apparatus, a shutter which opens the discharging opening when the toner cartridge main body is inserted in the image forming apparatus and closes the discharging opening when the toner cartridge main body is removed from the image forming apparatus, and a notifying member which includes a first protrusion provided in the toner cartridge main body, to show that the toner cartridge main body is set in the image forming apparatus by temporary engaging with a second protrusion provided in the image forming apparatus at the same time when the shutter completes the opening of the discharging opening, when the toner cartridge main body is inserted in the image forming apparatus. |
| US07720393B2 |
Optical module
In an optical module in which a transmitter and a receiver that respectively outputs and receives optical signals are stored in a casing, the transmitter and the receiver are connected to a common power line and to a common ground line, and a ferrite bead is arranged on the ground line in the receiver. The ferrite bead absorbs a high-frequency current component out of components in an electric signal passing through the ground line on which the ferrite bead is arranged. An inductance component that evolves on a ground line and a power line of a light receiving element and oscillation of a series resonance circuit that is formed of a capacitance component of the light receiving element are suppressed to reduce crosstalk. |
| US07720391B2 |
System and method for generating optical return-to-zero signals with alternating bi-phase shift
A system and method for generating an optical return-to-zero signal. The system includes a bit separator configured to receive an electrical non-return-to-zero signal and generate a first signal and a second signal, and a driver configured to receive the first signal and the second signal and generate a driving signal. The driving signal is associated with a difference between the first signal and the second signal. Additionally, the system includes a light source configured to generate a light, and an electro-optical modulator configured to receive the light and the driving signal, modulate the light with the driving signal, and generate an optical signal. The electrical non-return-to-zero signal includes a first plurality of bits and a second plurality of bits. The first signal includes the first plurality of bits, and the second signal includes the second plurality of bits. The optical signal is an optical return-to-zero signal. |
| US07720389B2 |
Optical integrated circuit apparatus
Optical waveguides and optical transmission/reception units are placed on one principal plane of a semiconductor substrate. A light source is placed on one end surface of the semiconductor substrate and guides generated light to the optical waveguides. In the optical transmission/reception units, each of optical resonant members optically resonates with partial light of one of light beams propagating in the optical waveguides and emits the partial light into an optical transmission member if voltage is applied thereto. In the optical transmission/reception units, each of another optical resonant members optically resonates with light propagating in the optical transmission member and emits the resonated light into a photodetector unit if voltage is applied thereto. |
| US07720385B2 |
Device and method for provision of customized system for optical transmission of data
Device and method for fiberoptic transmission for a plurality of different communication protocols. A single electronic card is adaptable to any of a plurality of communication protocol configurations designed by the user. |
| US07720376B2 |
Camera with acceleration sensor
A method and system for determining camera positioning information from an accelerometer mounted on a camera. The accelerometer measures the orientation of the camera with respect to gravity. Orientation measurement allows user interface information to be displayed in a “right side up” orientation on a viewfinder for any camera orientation. Alternatively, an artificial horizon indicator may be displayed in the viewfinder. The accelerometer may also measure camera movement. Camera movement information together with camera orientation can be used to determine camera usage. Additionally, camera movement information can be used to determine a minimum shutter speed for a sharp picture. |
| US07720367B2 |
Anti-shake apparatus
An anti-shake apparatus (an image-stabilization apparatus) of a photographing device comprises a movable unit and a controller. The movable unit has an imaging device and is movable and rotatable for an anti-shake operation. The controller controls the movable unit for the anti-shake operation. The controller obtains information regarding a resolution at the edge of a lens that is used for an imaging operation of the imaging device. The controller controls a degree of the anti-shake operation that is performed for correcting hand-shake caused by roll on the basis of the resolution at the edge of the lens. |
| US07720366B2 |
Actuator, and lens unit and camera with the same
The present invention is directed to an actuator capable of retaining an image-shake correcting lens in a position(s) at which a calibration of lens optics can be affected, without additional locking means. The actuator (10) is capable of translating an image-shake correcting lens (16) so as to prevent an image from shaking, and the actuator is comprised of a fixed member (12), a movable member (14) provided with the image-shake correcting lens, supporting means (18) for supporting the movable member, a position detecting means (24, 25) for detecting a position of the movable member, a driving means (20, 22) for translating and rotating the movable member, a plurality of positioning receiving portions (15a) provided on the fixed member, a plurality of positioning contact surfaces (17a) disposed on the movable member and forced by a rotational movement of the movable member to mate and come in contact with the positioning receiving portions so that the movable member can be moved to a calibration position, and a calibrating means (37) for calibrating the position detecting means in response to detection values from the position detecting means that are received when the movable member is positioned at the calibration position. |
| US07720357B2 |
Multifunctional recording and reproducing apparatus
A multifunctional recording and reproducing apparatus includes a first recording unit that records video signals on a first recording medium which can be ejected from a main body, a second recording unit that records the video signals on a second recording medium which can be ejected from the main body, and a programmed recording control unit that accepts setting of programmed recording. Whether a recording medium corresponding to a programmed recording item to be performed first among a plurality of programmed recording items set by the programmed recording control unit is the first recording medium or the second recording medium is displayed on a display unit. |
| US07720356B2 |
Recording medium having data structure for managing reproduction of multiple reproduction path video data recorded thereon and recording and reproducing methods and apparatuses
The recording medium has a data structure for managing reproduction of at least multiple reproduction path video data recorded on the recording medium. One or more management areas of the recording medium store path change information. The path change information indicates where changes in reproducing at least one of the reproduction paths of video data are permitted. |
| US07720355B2 |
Recording medium, reproduction device, program
A BD-ROM has a video stream, playlist information, and an entry map recorded thereon. The playlist information defines a playback path by indicating a sequence of one or more pairs of a playback start time (In_time) and a playback end time (Out_time) within the video stream. The entry map (EP_map) indicates positions (SPN_EP_start) and playback times (PTS_EP_start) of a plurality of intra pictures in the video stream, in one-to-on correspondence with flags (is_angle_change_point). Each flag indicates whether a corresponding intra picture is an intra picture (IDR picture) for causing decoder refresh or an intra picture (Non-IDR picture) having reference to a preceding picture. |
| US07720354B2 |
Embedded access information for digital versatile disc (DVD) independent of DVD player software
An operating system extension is used to implement embedded information on a DVD. The operating system extension examines DVD sector addresses requested from the DVD hardware. When address associated with an embedded link is requested, an application program that can run the embedded link is started, and the embedded link is provided to the application program. The system of the present invention has the advantage that it does not require modifying the DVD software program and thus can be used with a variety of different DVD software programs. |
| US07720352B2 |
Systems and computer program products to facilitate efficient transmission and playback of digital information
Systems, methods, and computer products that facilitate transmission of information used for fast and responsive video and audio playback at non-standard, trick mode speeds. An embodiment of the present invention uses low resolution, compressed, and independent frames derived from the encoded digital video or audio information to facilitate the operation of user-requested VTR-like speed change functions associated with digital video and digital audio frames. The present invention greatly simplifies locating specific frames in a video or audio presentation for purposes such as fast forward and fast reverse scanning that is typically used in digital editing. |
| US07720350B2 |
Methods and systems for controlling trick mode play speeds
In one of many possible embodiments, a method is provided for controlling trick mode playback speed. Frame indices associated with video frames of a digital video stream are monitored and a Group-of-Pictures (GOP) size is determined from the frame indices. One or more trick mode play speed parameters are calculated based on the determined GOP size. Presentation of the video frames is controlled based on the calculated trick mode play speed parameters. In one embodiment, the trick mode play speed parameters include a frame-skip count (FSC) and a frame-repeat count (FRC). |
| US07720349B2 |
Image processing apparatus, method, and program, and program storage medium
An image processing apparatus, method, and program and program storage medium that enable easy search for a desired part. A plurality of video data are created from video data and are displayed, each as a motion picture, at time intervals in a display order on a plurality of display areas on a display screen. |
| US07720344B2 |
Fiber distribution hub
A fiber distribution system includes one or more fiber distribution hubs (FDHs) that provide interface at a splice panel and/or a termination panel between incoming fibers routed from a central office and outgoing fibers routed to network subscribers. Splice trays, termination modules, splitter modules, and storage modules can be incrementally added to the FDH. The termination modules, optical splitters, and storage modules can be provided on a swing frame chassis within the FDH cabinet. |
| US07720340B2 |
Device for coupling radiation into or out of an optical fibre
A device for coupling multimode pump light and a laser signal into or out of a cladding-pumped fibre laser is disclosed, comprising an output optical fibre, a substantially un-tapered feed-through optical fibre, an annular waveguide having a tapered section, and a plurality of multimode pump fibres such that: the signal feed-through fibre is located within the annular waveguide; the signal feed-through fibre is fused into the annular waveguide in the tapered section so that the annular waveguide becomes an additional cladding layer of the feed-through fibre; the end of the feed-through fibre that is fused into the annular waveguide is optically coupled to the output optical fibre; the multimode pump fibres are optically coupled to the annular waveguide in the un-tapered section. Methods of forming the device are also disclosed. |
| US07720335B2 |
Hybrid planar lightwave circuit with reflective gratings
The present invention relates to a hybrid planar lightwave circuit in which a silicon reflective diffraction grating etched with a highly accurate deep reactive ion etching process is mounted in a trench formed in a high optical performance silica on silicon waveguide device. |
| US07720333B2 |
Optical module and data communication system including the optical module
An optical module includes a fiber array, a laser diode array, a photodiode array and a micro-lens array. The fiber array includes optical fibers which are divided to a transmitter group and a receiver group. The laser diode array includes laser diodes which are grouped in a transmitter group. The photodiode array includes photodiodes which are divided to a monitor group and a receiver group. The laser diode array is provided between the fiber array and the photodiode array. The optical fibers of the transmitter group are optically aligned with the laser diodes of the transmitter group, respectively. The micro-lens array is provided between the laser diode array and the photodiode array, and optically aligns the laser diodes of the transmitter group and the optical fibers of the receiver group with the photodiodes of the monitor group and the photodiodes of the receiver group, respectively. |
| US07720327B2 |
Optical waveguide mounted substrate and method of producing the same
A lower cladding layer is formed on a surface of an electrical circuit substrate. A UV curable resin layer is stacked on the lower cladding layer. The resin layer is partly cured, and the other uncured resin layer is removed, thereby forming resin projections. The resin projections are processed so as to have an inclined face. Metal reflecting layers are formed on the inclined faces. A core layer is stacked on the lower cladding layer and the metal reflecting layers, and an upper cladding layer is stacked on the core layer. |
| US07720320B2 |
Electro-optical modulator with curving resonator
An electro-optical modulator includes a structural substrate, having an insulating layer on top. A waveguide layer, disposed on the insulating layer. A curving resonant MOS device, disposed on the insulating layer and having an optical coupling region with the waveguide layer. |
| US07720318B1 |
Font identification system
A computer-implemented method of font identification includes receiving a first document, the first document including the first text set in a proportional font. Test text, corresponding to the first text of the first document, is received. The test text is set in a test font. A first fingerprint is generated, based on relative line widths of the first text of the first document. A second fingerprint is generated based on relative line widths of the test text, as set in the test font. The test font is then accepted as being consistent with a font of the first text, based on a predetermined strength of relationship between the first and second fingerprints. |
| US07720316B2 |
Constraint-based correction of handwriting recognition errors
A handwriting recognition system interprets handwritten text and produces a typed interpretation of that text. When the initial interpretation of the handwritten text is inaccurate, the handwriting recognition system alters the initial recognition by reinterpreting the handwritten text in view of a correction made by a user and constraints (e.g., derived by assumptions in user behavior). The handwriting recognition system intelligently reinterprets and renews its text recognition each time the user implements a correction. In effect, a single correction can trigger multiple adjustments to the text recognition. Therefore, with the use of a reinterpretation algorithm, the handwriting recognition system helps the user obtain the desired result in fewer correction steps. |
| US07720314B2 |
Image processing device and image processing method
An image processing device inputs shading correction data, which can identify the image processing device itself, to a first hash function and generates comparison data. The image processing device inputs the shading correction data to a second hash function, and generates tracing identification data. The image processing device generates a tracing pattern from the tracing identification data, and adds the tracing pattern to output image data. The image processing device verifies the comparison data with standard data, which has been generated by inputting the shading correction data in a first function and previously stored in a storage device. When the comparison data matches the standard data, the image processing device permits to print out the output image data to which the tracing pattern has been added. |
| US07720313B2 |
Digitized bank checks validated by digital signatures
A system for handling files containing digitized images, such as digitized bank checks. Four digitized image-files are obtained for each check: front and back at the beginning of a process, and front and back at the end of the process. Four digital signatures are generated, one for each image-file. The four image-files are to be consolidated into a single composite file. However, for technical reasons, the content of the image-files must be altered somewhat. Thus, if the image-files are later extracted from the composite file, the extracted files will not correspond to the original image-files, and will produce different digital signatures. The invention allows the original image-files to be accurately extracted from the composite file. |
| US07720311B1 |
Memory and compute efficient block-based two-dimensional sample-rate converter for image/video applications
A new technique for image sample-rate conversion can be efficiently implemented with respect to memory, bandwidth and computational requirements. According to one aspect, the technique takes advantage of certain inherent similarities and symmetries within the image data to limit switching of filters during processing and to otherwise process the data in an efficient order. According to another aspect, the technique can be implemented within a decoding pipeline such as a JPEG/MPEG decoding pipeline in such a way that multiple transfers of image data in and out of the external memory can be avoided. According to a still further aspect, where poly-phase filters are used, computationally-efficient filters are chosen for use with the image conversion process. The technique is amenable to both hardware and software based implementations. |
| US07720310B2 |
Scaling down of data
The scaling down of data is provided. At least two blocks of transformed data samples representing at least two blocks of original data samples are received. One of at least two tables of constants is selected wherein each table of constants is capable of reducing the number of transformed data samples by a different factor. The constants taken from the selected table are applied to the at least two blocks of transformed data samples to produce one block of transformed data samples representing one block of final data samples. The data is processed one dimension at a time by multiplying the data in one dimension with selected constants taken from previously developed tables corresponding to the desired scale down factor. Scaling down by different factors in each dimension as well as scaling down in one dimension and scaling up in the other dimension may be achieved. In addition, the de-quantization of the quantized transform coefficients may be accomplished by pre-multiplication of the selected constants when the quantization values are known. In a similar way the re-quantization may be accomplished by a pre-division of the selected constants. Both de-quantization and re-quantization may be combined when the input quantized transform coefficients and output quantized transform coefficients are desired. |
| US07720309B2 |
Image processor and camera system, image processing method, and motion picture displaying method
A similar-image detecting part detects similar image regions similar to one another in a plurality of frame images captured by rolling shutter type exposure. A displacement-vector detecting part detects a displacement vector of each of the similar image regions with respect to a reference position in each of the plurality of frame images. An average calculating part calculates an average of displacement vectors in the plurality of frame images. A correcting part shifts a similar image region in one of the plurality of frame images such that the displacement vector of the similar image region becomes the average calculated by the average calculating part. |
| US07720303B2 |
Polynomial approximation based image filter methods, systems, and machine-readable media
Polynomial approximation based image filter methods, systems, and machine-readable media are described. In one aspect, multiple n-order polynomial approximations to a value of a target pixel of an input image are computed from multiple respective sets of m values of pixels in a neighborhood of the target pixel, wherein n≧0 and m≧n+1. A respective approximation error is computed from each of the computed n-order polynomial approximations. A value of a pixel of an output image is computed from the target pixel value and the computed approximation errors. |
| US07720301B2 |
Structure characterization of images
A method and system for characterizing structures in an image are presented. The method and system generates a structure checksum value based on a plurality of pixels in the image. The structure checksum is used as an index of a look-up table containing structure characteristics corresponding to the structure checksum values. |
| US07720296B2 |
Method for determining a displacement vector in an image processing operation
In a method to determine a selection vector that indicates a displacement of an image area from a first position in a first image to a second position in a second image, a set of prediction vectors and a set of test vectors are provided. Using selected test vectors, an image comparison is performed to supply an image comparison result for each selected test vector. The selected test vectors and at least one prediction vector are compared to provide at least one test vector comparison result for each selected test vector. The image comparison result and the at least one test vector comparison result are linked to provide at least one quality characteristic for each selected test vector. A ranking order is determined for these quality characteristics, where at least one test vector is selected as the displacement vector based on the ranking order determined. |
| US07720295B2 |
Method and apparatus for coding images with different image qualities for each region thereof, and method and apparatus capable of decoding the images by adjusting the image quality
A region of interest is set within an image, the region of interest is tracked along motion of an object marked out within the image, and coding is performed in a manner that image quality differs between the region of interest and a region other than the region of interest. A wavelet transform unit applies a low-pass filter and a high-pass filter in the respective x and y directions of an original image, and divides the image into four frequency sub-bands so as to carry out a wavelet transform. A quantization unit quantizes, with a predetermined quantizing width, the wavelet transform coefficients outputted from the wavelet transform unit. A motion detector detects the motion of an object. A ROI setting unit moves a ROI region according to this motion of an object. In the case of moving images where a viewpoint changes, the background may be separated from the object and then the ROI region may be moved according to the motion of the object and the motion of the background. |
| US07720290B2 |
Method, program, and apparatus for detecting specific information included in image data of original image, and computer-readable storing medium storing the program
An image processing apparatus which includes a specific information extracting processor that extracts specific information that is represented by an image and included in image data, based on a specific information extracting program loaded into the specific information extracting processor, a variable factor recognizing mechanism that recognizes a variable factor of the image data from which the specific information is extracted by the specific information extracting processor, and a program loading mechanism that selects one of a plurality of specific information extracting programs stored in a storage area. The selected specific information extracting program corresponds to the recognized variable factor of the image data and is suitable for extracting specific information included in varied image data. The program loading mechanism further loads the selected specific information extracting program into the specific information extracting processor. |
| US07720288B2 |
Detecting compositing in a previously compressed image
In a method and system for detecting digital image compositing, a first artifact is detected in an uncompressed digital image. The first artifact is characteristic of an earlier compression of the digital image with a predetermined compression algorithm. An interpolation marker in the image is evaluated to provide interpolation results. During the evaluating, a second artifact of the compression algorithm is counteracted. The image is classified responsive to the interpolation results. The first artifact can be a blocking artifact and the second artifact and interpolation marker can be different periodicities in the image. |
| US07720281B2 |
Visual characteristics-based news anchorperson segment detection method
A method to detect anchorperson segment in news reporting by using visual characteristics to provide the basis to divide news into various categories includes steps of providing news image for skin color detection on the image with color space; applying morphology depending on whether the object in the image subject to skin color detection is moving to eliminate noise surrounding the image of the face to solve the region of the face of the anchorperson; and performing anchorperson detection once again by detecting the probable anchorperson segment. |
| US07720280B2 |
Color correction apparatus and method
A color correction apparatus and method are provided. The color correction apparatus includes: a chromatic region determination module determining a first chromatic region to which an input pixel constituting an input image belongs and a second chromatic region neighboring the first chromatic region on a basis of specified chromatic region division information; a polynomial regression operation module performing polynomial regression on the first chromatic region and the second chromatic region; and a blending module providing corrected pixel information for the input pixel by giving weight values to results of the polynomial regression on the first chromatic region and the second chromatic region. The color correction method includes: determining the first and second chromatic regions; performing polynomial regression on the first and second chromatic regions; and providing corrected pixel information for the input pixel by giving weight values to results of the polynomial regression on the first and second chromatic regions. |
| US07720279B2 |
Specifying flesh area on image
A CPU 411 divides image data GD into a plurality of areas (pixel data groups), analyzes the data in image data area units, and determines the color value and dispersion value of the image data areas. When the determined color value is within a flesh toned color area and the dispersion value is at or below a reference dispersion value, the CPU 411 determines the target image data area to be a flesh area. The CPU 411 carries out a smoothing process on the image data area determined to be a flesh area. |
| US07720277B2 |
Three-dimensional-information reconstructing apparatus, method and program
Apparatus includes unit configured to compute parallax search range in (x-y-d) three-dimensional space formed of three variables (x and y providing first point (x, y) on first image and parallax candidate d), similarity unit configured to compute degree-of-similarity C (x, y, d) between point (x, y) and second point (x′, y′) corresponding to point (x, y), using sum of products of brightness levels of corresponding pixel pairs between first window on first image and second window on second image, first window including first point (x, y) second window including second point (x′, y′) and unit configured to compute parallax D between first point (x, y) and second point (x′, y′), based on C (x, y, d), where similarity unit includes unit configured to store sum, which is used for computing C (x, y, d) between new first point on first image and new second point on second image. |
| US07720276B1 |
Photogrammetry engine for model construction
A system and methods for accessing 2D digital images and 3D geometric models over a network (preferably the Internet) and transforming and composing that media along with 2D digital image and 3D geometric model media, acquired by other means, into enhanced 2D image and 3D model representations for virtual reality visualization and simulation is disclosed. Digital images and models from a network and other sources are incorporated and manipulated through an interactive graphical user interface. A photogrammetric media processing engine automatically extracts virtual sensor (camera) and geometric models from imagery. Extracted information is used by a reconstruction processor to automatically and realistically compose images and models. A rendering system provides real-time visualization and simulation of the constructed media. A client-server processing model for deployment of the media processing engine system over a network is disclosed. |
| US07720274B2 |
Board inspection apparatus and method and apparatus for setting inspection logic thereof
In generating inspection logic of a new component, the image of a new component is obtained, the trend data for selected characteristics of the focused region of the new component is computed; a previously inspected component having characteristics similar to that of the new component is selected by comparing the trend data of the new component with trend data of the previously inspected component, the image of the selected (previously inspected) component is read from the storage device, and inspection logic for the new component is generated using the images of the new component and images of the previously inspected component as teaching data. |
| US07720273B2 |
Fixed pattern extracting apparatus, pattern writing apparatus, fixed pattern extracting method and recording medium
In a computer, fixed pattern information indicating respective shapes of fixed pattern elements included in a fixed pattern and respective position vectors of the fixed pattern elements with respect to a reference position in the fixed pattern is prepared and key pattern elements coincident with any of fixed pattern elements are specified from writing pattern elements. Subsequently, a value is added to a position designated by a reverse vector of position vector of a corresponding fixed pattern element with each of the key pattern elements as a starting point in a setting area which corresponds to a writing pattern, and a position is specified to which a value coincident with the number of fixed pattern elements is given, to detect an existing position of the fixed pattern in the writing pattern. It is thereby possible in the computer to extract a fixed pattern from a writing pattern at high speed. |
| US07720271B2 |
Estimation of solitary pulmonary nodule diameters with reaction-diffusion segmentation
A reactive-diffusion method for estimating a diameter of an object of interest includes providing a volume of interest including a plurality of voxels, initializing at least two volumes of the volume of interest, wherein each of the voxels has at least two values corresponding to the at least two volumes of the volume of interest, respectively, performing a diffusion operation and a reaction operation on the voxels to adjust the at least two values, comparing, for each voxel, the at least two values to a threshold to assign each voxel to one of the at least two volumes, wherein the assignment of the voxels is a segmentation result, and estimating a diameter of the object of interest from the segmentation result, wherein the object of interest is represented by at least one of the at least two volumes but less than all the volumes. |
| US07720264B2 |
Method and system for pupil detection for security applications
An object to be detected is illuminated by a single broadband light source or multiple light sources emitting light at different wavelengths. The light is captured by an imager, which includes a light-detecting sensor covered by a hybrid filter. |
| US07720263B2 |
Collation device, registration device, image correcting method and program
There is provided an authentication device capable of improving an authentication accuracy, in which a finger tilt angle α made by a straight line between the positions at the fingertip abutting portion 6 and the image pickup camera 4 and the finger positioned in the imaging space is detected from a distance D2 (FIG. 5) between the finger positioned in the imaging space and the image pickup camera 4 and the distance D1 (FIG. 5) between the positions at the image pickup camera 4 and the fingertip abutting portion 6. The projection distortion of the corresponding comparative images can be removed according to the difference between the finger tilt angle α and the finger tilt angle α of registration information previously stored at the time of registration. |
| US07720261B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, program, and recording medium
An image processing apparatus includes a detecting unit for detecting a position of a facial feature in a face image, a principal component analysis performing unit for performing principal component analysis on the position of the facial feature in a registered image that is a pre-registered face image, a first evaluation value calculating unit for calculating a first evaluation value that is used to evaluate the position of the facial feature in a target image relative to the principal component obtained in the principal component analysis operation, and a first determining unit for determining whether or not the face in the target image matches the face in the registered image by comparing the calculated first evaluation value with a first threshold set based on the position of the facial feature in the registered image relative to the principal component. |
| US07720260B2 |
Object detection system and method
The embodiments described herein include an object detection system and method for identifying objects within an area. In one embodiment, the objection detection system may formulate an outline of a detected object and generate a three-dimensional shape or image of the object. Object information may be used to determine and communicate the position, range, and bearing of the object. |
| US07720256B2 |
Idenitfication tag for postal objects by image signature and associated mail handling
The method of processing objects, in which method a digital image (1) is obtained of the surface of each postal object, which image includes address information (2), and an identifier or time stamp for the postal object is associated with the digital image of the postal object in a video-coding system, is characterized by the fact that said digital image is processed in order to extract a signature that serves as an identifier. The signature comprises a first component representative of a physical characteristic of the digital image and a second component (SC) which is a textual description of the address block. This method can be used to implement immediate video-coding in a postal sorting machine without requiring a delay line. |
| US07720254B2 |
Automatic microparticle mark reader
An automatic reader system, apparatus, and method for the identification and authentication of articles enabling automatic collection and processing of code data associated with microparticle marks, automatic determination of the code from the code data associated with microparticle marks, and automatic retrieval of reference information associated with the code. |
| US07720245B2 |
Hearing aid system
An exemplary hearing aid system includes a receiver unit configured and positioned within the user's ear canal so as to minimize insertion loss and/or occlusion effect. |
| US07720240B2 |
Audio signal processing
Systems and methods of processing audio signals are described. The audio signals comprise information about spatial position of a sound source relative to a listener. At least one audio filter generates two filtered signals for each of audio signal. The two filtered signals are mixed with other filtered signals from other audio signals to create a right output audio channel and a left audio output channel, such that the spatial position of the sound source is perceptible from the right and left audio output channels. |
| US07720239B2 |
Capacitor microphone with acoustic resistor
A capacitor microphone includes a microphone unit having one acoustic terminal or more than one acoustic terminals at one end or opposite ends thereof; an acoustic resistor provided near the acoustic terminal or near one of the acoustic terminals; and a case housing the microphone unit. The acoustic resistor is constituted by a conductive elastic material such as a woven or nonwoven fabric of metal threads, and is electrically connected to the microphone unit and the case. |
| US07720238B2 |
Video-audio output device and video/audio method
According to one embodiment, a video/audio output method according to one embodiment includes detecting a playback volume value set in an external speaker controller for controlling an external speaker, calculating a decibel value corresponding to the detected playback volume value, generating an audio signal corresponding to the calculated decibel value, and outputting the generated audio signal to the external speaker controller, and, at the same time, outputting a video based on a video signal corresponding to the audio signal. |
| US07720235B2 |
Signal processing method and apparatus, signal processing program, and recording medium
A signal processing method divides a first signal of two signals to be compared in similarity into smaller regions, selects one of the regions, and calculates the correlation of the selected one with the other second signal. The method finds a time difference, an expansion factor, and a similarity in one region in which the maximum similarity as the square of the correlation is obtained, and performs integration in the position represented by the time difference and the expansion factor of values based on similarities. The method performs similar processing on all the regions, and evaluates similarity by, in a peak where the integrated value of similarities is a maximum, compares its magnitude with a threshold value. The region corresponding to the peak can be extracted. |
| US07720234B1 |
Communications interface device
A communications interface device is wearable about a user's neck, and can have various audio communications devices—such as cellphones, walkie-talkies, radios, scanners, digital music players, etc.—connected to the interface device to serve as a central communications hub. An audio input microphone is provided on the device to pick up audio messages that the user wishes to deliver, with such messages then being directed to the appropriate connected communications device. Speakers, which preferably extend from the interface device via flexible leads, supply audio from one or more of the connected communications devices to the user's ears. A switch or other selector is provided on the interface device to allow user selection of the communications devices from which the user wishes to receive (and to which the user wishes to send) messages. |
| US07720232B2 |
Speakerphone
A processor operates on samples of a digital output signal to determine samples of a digital correction signal. The output signal samples are directed to an output channel for transmission from a speaker. The digital correction signal samples are supplied to a first digital-to-analog converter for conversion into an analog correction signal. The subtraction circuit generates a difference between a first analog signal provided by a microphone and the analog correction signal. The analog correction signal is an estimate of a contribution to the first analog signal due to a direct path transmission between the speaker and the microphone. The processor also receives a digital input signal derived from the difference signal, and, performs acoustic echo cancellation on the digital input signal to obtain a resultant signal. The acoustic echo cancellation is configured to remove contributions to the digital input signal due to reflected path transmissions. |
| US07720230B2 |
Individual channel shaping for BCC schemes and the like
At an audio encoder, cue codes are generated for one or more audio channels, wherein an envelope cue code is generated by characterizing a temporal envelope in an audio channel. At an audio decoder, E transmitted audio channel(s) are decoded to generate C playback audio channels, where C>E≧1. Received cue codes include an envelope cue code corresponding to a characterized temporal envelope of an audio channel corresponding to the transmitted channel(s). One or more transmitted channel(s) are upmixed to generate one or more upmixed channels. One or more playback channels are synthesized by applying the cue codes to the one or more upmixed channels, wherein the envelope cue code is applied to an upmixed channel or a synthesized signal to adjust a temporal envelope of the synthesized signal based on the characterized temporal envelope such that the adjusted temporal envelope substantially matches the characterized temporal envelope. |
| US07720227B2 |
Encryption method for SIP message and encrypted SIP communication system
It takes time for an encryption data communication system to transfer encrypted data, because negotiations of security parameters are necessary prior to communications in order to protect security and integrity of a SIP message or public key cryptography is required to be used for an encryption process, a decryption process., an digital signature process and an digital digital signature verification process each time a SIP message is transmitted/received. When a SIP message is transferred between two entities, the message is encrypted by shared information if the information is being shared between the entities, or the message is encrypted by the public key of the transmission destination entity if the shared information is not being shared. The encrypted message contains shared information to be used for the transmission destination entity of the encrypted data to encrypt or decrypt the message, during communications after the encrypted data is generated. |
| US07720226B2 |
Private and secure optical communication system using an optical tapped delay line
A method and apparatus for secure transmission of an information-containing optical signal. An optical signal is divided into a first plurality of sub-bands. Each of the sub-bands is modified to encrypt the information contained in the optical signal. The modified sub-bands are combined into a combined optical signal. The combined optical signal is divided into a second plurality of sub-bands. Each of the second plurality of sub-bands is modified to decrypt the previously encrypted information contained in the optical signal. |
| US07720224B2 |
System and method for the assertion and identification of rights information in an analog video signal
A method for processing an analog video signal that represents a work for which rights information is asserted. The signal includes a rights assertion mark (RAM) in the video portion of the signal within the visible picture such that capture of the picture will include the mark. The signal also includes copy control information (CCI) bits in the vertical blanking interval of the signal for representing copying and redistribution rules. If the RAM is present and the CCI bits are present, then the copying and redistribution rules represented by the CCI bits are applied. If the RAM is present but the CCI bits are not, then the most restrictive copying and redistribution rules that can be represented by the CCI bits are applied. |
| US07720222B2 |
Method for storing and transmitting data generated by security module
The aim of this invention is to be able to recover specific information of a security module when it has been replaced by a new module in a user unit connected to a broadcasting network.This aim is reached by a method of storage and transmission of information generated by a first security module connected to a user unit, this first security module comprising a unique identifier and information representative of its functioning, this first module being able to be replaced by a second security module, this method comprising the following steps: determination of the specific information contained in the first security module intended for transmission, transfer of this information in the user unit, storage of this information in the user unit, replacement of the first security module by the second security module, connection of the user unit on a transmission network, initialization of a communication between the second security module and a management center, insertion by the user unit, of a data block in the blocks transmitted by the second module, this block comprising the identifier of the first module and the data specific to said first module. |
| US07720220B2 |
Cipher message assist instruction
A method, system and program product for executing a cipher message assist instruction in a computer system by specifying, via the cipher message assist instruction, either a capability query installed function or execution of a selected function of one or more optional functions, wherein the selected function is an installed optional function, wherein the capability query determines which optional functions of the one or more optional functions are installed on the computer system. |
| US07720217B1 |
Mute condition indicator
A method and apparatus for providing a mute condition indicator is presented. In a communication set for a telephone, the communication set including a speaker and a microphone, a mute condition is indicated with an indicator disposed adjacent the microphone. The indicator is operable to indicate to a user of the communication set that a mute condition for the microphone is active while the user is using said communication set. |
| US07720216B1 |
Acoustic pass through for handsets
An acoustic pass through is provided in telephone handsets for sounds transmitted from a hands free operation speaker laid out underneath the handset. One or more cutouts in a middle portion of the handset in various shapes such as rectangular, round, elliptical, and similar allows enhanced sound quality when the speakerphone feature is used and flexibility in handset design. |
| US07720215B2 |
Speech output control device and recording medium recorded with speech output control programs
While the amplification factor of an external amplifier is increased to raise the minimum volume level, synthesized speech of text data is generated as PCM data. When the PCM data is output for each frame (63 ms), the voltage of a battery power supply is detected and different ATT values (attenuation ratios) are set in accordance with threshold values (Level 1˜4) corresponding to the detected voltage. The lower the power supply voltage, the larger the attenuation ratios. The PCM data is attenuated by such an attenuation ratio to reduce a load to the battery power supply. Even though the battery power supply is exhausted to some extent, no power-down due to an instantaneous increase in power load occurs, with the result that a high-level part of a series of speech data items is output at an adequate volume level that makes a low-level part thereof easy to hear. |
| US07720214B2 |
Call center study method and system
Studies of call center activities are performed by using a tool having timer buttons for timing call activities during a live or recorded call. Code values are assigned to specific activities and activity subtypes. The calls are assigned to a plurality of reviewers who gather data using the tool. Reviewer data is consolidated into a master database. The data is normalized with agent performance ratings. The normalized data is analyzed statistically to determine leverage points for improvement. |
| US07720203B2 |
System and method for processing speech
Systems and methods for processing speech are provided. A system may include an acoustic model to transform speech input into one or more word strings. The system may also include a semantic model to convert each of the one or more word strings into a detected object and a detected action. The system may also include a synonym table to determine a preferred object based on the detected object and to determine a preferred action based on the detected action. |
| US07720199B2 |
X-ray tube and X-ray source including same
The present invention relates to an X-ray tube, having a structure for effectively suppressing discharge at a tip of an anode, irradiated with electrons in order to generate X-rays, and an X-ray source including the X-ray tube. In the X-ray tube, electrons emitted from an electron gun are made to collide with an X-ray target, and X-rays generated at the X-ray target due to the collision are taken out to an exterior. The X-ray tube includes: a head, defining an internal space that houses a tip of an anode; an irradiation window, transmitting the generated X-rays to the exterior; an exhaust port, disposed at an inner wall surface of a casing and being for vacuum drawing of the internal space; and a shielding structure, hiding the exhaust port from the tip of the anode. |
| US07720196B2 |
Target tracking using surface scanner and four-dimensional diagnostic imaging data
A method and apparatus for tracking a pathological anatomy within a patient's body is described. A data model of a skin surface of the patient's body may be acquired using light reflected from the skin surface. The data model can be matched with skin surfaces reconstructed and/or interpolated from four-dimensional (4D) diagnostic imaging data, such as 4D CT data, to determine a temporal phase of the patient's respiratory motion. The identified temporal phase may then be used in conjunction with the diagnostic imaging data to identify a location of the pathological anatomy within the patient's body. |
| US07720195B2 |
Self-contained mobile inspection system and method
The inspection methods and systems of the present invention are mobile, rapidly deployable, and capable of scanning a wide variety of receptacles cost-effectively and accurately on uneven surfaces. The present invention is directed toward a portable inspection system for generating an image representation of target objects using a radiation source, comprising a mobile vehicle, a detector array physically attached to a movable boom having a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end is physically attached to the vehicle. The invention also comprises at least one source of radiation. The radiation source is fixedly attached to the distal end of the boom, wherein the image is generated by introducing the target objects in between the radiation source and the detector array, exposing the objects to radiation, and detecting radiation. |
| US07720184B2 |
Technique for reducing multipath distortion in an FM receiver
A technique for reducing multipath distortion in a mobile FM receiver with a plurality of antennas is accomplished through a number of steps. Initially, a first antenna signal and a second antenna signal are received. The first antenna signal is weighted with a variable first weight and the second antenna signal is weighted with a variable second weight. The weighted first antenna signal and the weighted second antenna signal are then combined to provide a combined received signal having a combined signal level. The variable first and second weights are determined by an adaptation strategy that is substantially controlled by a first algorithm, when the combined signal level is greater than a predetermined signal level. When the combined signal level is less than the predetermined signal level, the variable first and second weights are determined by an adaptation strategy substantially controlled by a second algorithm. |
| US07720183B2 |
Apparatus and method for inter-carrier interference self-cancellation and inter-carrier interference reconstruction and cancellation
A method for ICI self-cancellation and ICI reconstruction and cancellation is introduced. The method includes receiving input signals; receiving boundary information regarding a length q of an ISI-free region of the received signals; selecting a plurality of ISI-free signals from the received signals; combining the plurality of ISI-free signals to provide combined signals z(n); performing FFT operations on the combined signals to provide output signals Z(k); reconstructing ICI based on the output signals Z(k) and the length q of the ISI-free region of the input signals r(n) in order to provide an estimated ICI; subtracting the estimated ICI from the output signals Z(k) to provide a cancelled signal W(k); performing a channel estimation for the cancelled signal W(k); equalizing the cancelled signal W(k) to provide an equalized signal; and de-mapping the equalized signal to provide a de-mapped signal d(k). |
| US07720172B2 |
Transmitting apparatus receiving apparatus, radio communication method and radio communication system
A radio communication method for transmitting data to radio stations, wherein propagation parameters to be estimated in a receiving station are controlled, based on the data transmitting, by an array antenna comprising a plurality of antenna elements to perform data transmitting in a transmitting station. This allows channels characterized by the propagation parameters to be shared only by particular radio stations, and signals are superimposed on the propagation parameters, thereby realizing radio access in which a high security is retained. |
| US07720169B2 |
Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) detector incorporating efficient signal point search and soft information refinement
A novel and useful apparatus for and method of multiple input multiple output (MIMO) detection for use in MIMO based communication systems. The mechanism of the invention performs a simplified tree search utilizing a single stage expansion of the most likely first symbol candidates, in the case of a 2×2 MIMO system. The invention also provides a refinement mechanism operative to significantly improve the soft information (i.e. log likelihood ratio) of the list of candidates. To improve the soft information, the mechanism applies one or more refinement rounds to generate additional candidates for both first and second detected symbols. |
| US07720168B2 |
Systems and methods for coding in broadband wireless communication systems to achieve maximum diversity in space, time and frequency
Maximum diversity in multiple antenna distributed frequency broadband systems such as MIMO-OFDM is achievable through space-frequency (SF) and space-time-frequency (STF) coding. Full-rate full-diversity coding is achieved through a combination of maximal minimum product distance symbol set design and formation of codeword blocks. Full-diversity codes are also achieved which have reduced symbol transmission rates, such as through mapping of space-time (ST) codes to SF codes. The reduction in symbol rate may be offset by the fact that any ST code may be mapped to a full-diversity SF code. |
| US07720167B2 |
Power save mode transition using loading translation function
Methods and systems provide an efficient power save mode for multi carrier modems, such as DMT based ADSL and VDSL modems. Fast transitions from power save mode to full operational mode occur, without the overhead of transmitting large quantities of configuration information between the transmitter and receiver. Signal constellation size changes occurring while operating in power save mode to continue to apply once full operational mode is resumed. Multiple power save modes are enabled, each having a different level of power dissipation and crosstalk, both far end crosstalk and near end crosstalk. Power dissipation and crosstalk can thus be graduated on a line, according to a user-requested bit rate. |
| US07720165B2 |
Demapper applied to quadrature amplitude modulation trellis coded modulation decoder and related method
A demapper, applied to a quadrature amplitude modulation trellis coded modulation (QAM-TCM) decoder, for generating more significant bits of a QAM signal according to the QAM signal and at least a less significant bit of the QAM signal is disclosed. The demapper includes a shifter for shifting the QAM signal to generate a shifted signal; a threshold value comparing and mapping unit for outputting at least a more-significant-bit buffered value; a sign bit decider for determining a sign value corresponding to the shifted signal; a multiplexer for generating a first more-significant-bit estimation and a second more-significant-bit estimation; and an operating unit for determining a third more-significant-bit estimation and a fourth more-significant-bit estimation. |
| US07720160B1 |
Phase noise shaping using sigma delta modulation in a timing recovery unit
A method and apparatus for converting a high precision digital word into a high precision analog signal is disclosed. A sigma delta modulator applies a digital input signal to a dither signal to generate a combined signal for sampling. A digital-to-analog converter quantizes the combined signal. An analog filter provides a cutoff at a bandwidth of interest to remove out of band quantization noise and signals. An I transfer function and a Q transfer function can be coupled between the sigma delta modulator and the digital-to-analog converter for mapping of the combined signal. The apparatus can also include a phase interpolator for receiving the output signal and outputting a clock recovery phase. |
| US07720159B2 |
Receivers for cycle encoded signals
In some embodiments, the inventions includes a transmitter including a cycle encoding circuit to receive a data input signal and to provide a full cycle encoded signal in response thereto by continuously joining portions of different encoding signals. Some of the encoding signals have a different frequency than others of the encoding signals and some of the encoding signals have a different phase than others of the encoding signals. Data is represented in data time segments of the full cycle encoded signal and no data time segment has more than one cycle of an encoding signal. In some embodiments, a receiver receives the cycle encoded signal and recovers data of the data input signal. |
| US07720158B2 |
Memory managing method and video data decoding method
A memory managing method for video data decoding process is provided. The memory managing method includes the following steps. A first frame having a first definition is stored, wherein the first frame is a first type or a second type. A second frame having the first definition is stored, wherein the second frame is the first type or the second type. A first frame having a second definition is stored in the memory space where the first frame having the first definition was originally stored, and the remaining memory space left after the original first frame having the first definition had been stored is released, wherein the memory space for storing the first frame having the first definition is greater than the memory space for storing the first frame having the second definition. A third frame having the second definition is stored, wherein the third frame is a third type. |
| US07720157B2 |
Arrangement and method for generating CP images
A method for creating a coded target Continuous Presence (CP) image according to a video coding standard from a number of coded video signals including defined orders of macroblocks, each including coded video signals corresponding to a respective endpoint video image, received from endpoints participating in a multipoint video conference, the method including: decoding the coded video signals with plural decoders to generate decoded video signals; spatially mixing the decoded video signals, resulting in a number of CP images including regions respectively associated with each of the endpoint video images with a mixing unit; encoding the CP images with plural encoders; and rearranging macroblocks of the encoded CP images to create the target coded CP image with one or more re-packer units. |
| US07720155B2 |
System and method for estimating motion vector for transcoding digital video
A system and method for estimating a motion vector for transcoding digital video is presented. The method includes selecting a direction of an adjustment vector for estimation of a motion vector within a search region, and selecting the adjustment vector having a minimum SAD (sum absolute distance) within the search region. |
| US07720154B2 |
System and method for fast variable-size motion estimation
Methods and systems for fast variable block-size motion estimation based on merging and splitting procedures for AVC video encoding are disclosed. The methods take advantage of the correlation of the Motion Vectors (MVs) of the different block-size modes to achieve a good computation reduction. Considering that the smaller the block-size difference between two block-sizes is, the more correlations between their MVs can be expected, the methods use a 8*8 block as an initial processing block to calculate prediction MVs. The prediction MVs are then used in predicting MVs for other block-sizes. |
| US07720147B2 |
Method and system for providing a high speed multi-stream MPEG processor
An MPEG processor is provided. According to one aspect of the processor, multiple MPEG data streams for corresponding channels are individually stored in an off-chip memory. Corresponding data for a channel is then retrieved from the off-chip memory for processing. The retrieved data is then decoded. The decoded results and associated information are stored on the off-chip memory. Some or all of the associated information that can be used for decoding subsequent data is stored in an on-chip memory. When video images need to be displayed, the corresponding data that is needed for that purpose is then retrieved from the off-chip memory and provided to an analog encoder for encoding in a format that is compatible with an analog display device. |
| US07720145B2 |
Model based bit rate control for a macroblock encoder
A method for achieving bit rate controlled encoding, e.g., constant bit rate, uses a bit rate control model based on bits allocated per macroblock and based on error in estimating bits consumed in an encoding process in a macroblock. The method computes bits consumed per macroblock as a function of the formed bit rate control model, and allocates bits for the macroblock. To this end, a quadratic (second order) equation is used for the model, which equation might default into a first order equation requiring fewer computations, in the event that no second order solutions exist. In one form, the bit rate control model computes the bit rate to satisfy video buffer verifier (VBV) compliance in accordance with MPEG requirements. The bit rate control model makes allowances for the type of macroblock, i.e., inter, intra or bidirectional, and provides for any frame-skips. |
| US07720143B2 |
Signal processing apparatus
The present application discloses a signal processing apparatus. Particularly, it discloses a signal processing apparatus comprising a first decoder for generating video data by decoding data and a second decoder for generating video data by decoding data, wherein, regarding predetermined operations for generating the video data by decoding the data, the number of the predetermined operations that can be executed by the second decoder for each unit time is lower than that of the predetermined operations that can be executed by the first decoder for each unit time. |
| US07720141B2 |
Decision feedback restore of DC signals in a receiver
An AC coupled receiver incorporates a decision feedback restore technique that is readily implemented on a monolithic integrated circuit to reduce or eliminate effects of baseline wander in a non-return-to-zero (NRZ) data receiver. In at least one embodiment of the invention, a method includes at least substantially attenuating at least a DC portion of a received signal to generate a first signal. The method includes generating a low frequency signal based at least in part on a reference signal selected from a plurality of reference signals. The method includes generating a restored signal based at least in part on the first signal and the low frequency signal. |
| US07720139B2 |
Equaliser circuit
One embodiment of an equalizer circuit has an FIR filter 116 in the asynchronously oversampled domain with a filter coefficient adaptation module that adapts the filter coefficients to the transfer function of a data read channel. Applications include tape drives, drives for optical and magnetic discs as well as receivers. The filter adaptation is performed on the basis of an error signal delivered by a slicer 128 which operates on synchronous samples after timing recovery and sample reconstruction. |
| US07720137B2 |
Characterization of a frequency response for a frequency translation device
A method of characterizing the frequency response of a frequency translation device over a wide IF bandwidth is based on a two-dimensional model to generate calibration data for a device at run-time. The model is a function of a center frequency and frequency offset for a plurality of center frequencies over a wide system bandwidth to produce a frequency response at each center frequency. The frequency responses at each center frequency are scaled and normalized relative to a reference frequency and stored. |
| US07720135B2 |
System, method and device for autonegotiation
Disclosed are a system, method and device for negotiating a data transmission mode over an attachment unit interface (DDI). A data transceiver circuit may be coupled to one or more data lanes of the DDI. A negotiation section may receive a link pulse signal on at least one data lane in the DDI during a negotiation period and selectively configure the data transceiver to transmit and receive data on one or more data lanes according to a data transmission mode based upon the received link pulse signal. |
| US07720134B2 |
Frequency-domain multi-user access interference cancellation and nonlinear equalization in CDMA receivers
A wireless CDMA communication system receiver receives a stream of chips generated by spreading data symbols formed by grouping bits of information at a wireless CDMA communication transmitter which are broadcast at a certain chip-rate. The received chips are de-spread and symbols pertaining to respective users are reconstructed. The stream of chips are formatted into blocks of chips, and an iterative block decision feedback equalization is performed in a frequency domain at the chip-rate of the broadcast stream of chips to remove inter-symbol interference by defining a transfer function. The chips generated are interleaved by spreading each data symbol being transmitted before broadcasting the stream of interleaved chips in distinct blocks of chips. |
| US07720127B2 |
Opto-semiconductor devices
An opto-semiconductor device. An opto-semiconductor element includes a semiconductor substrate, a multilayered semiconductor layer formed on a first surface of the semiconductor substrate and having a resonator, a first electrode with multiple conductive layers formed on the multilayered semiconductor layer, and a second electrode formed on a second surface of the semiconductor substrate. A support substrate has a first surface formed with a fixing portion having a conductive layer for fixing the first electrode connected thereto through a bonding material. Bonding material and conductive layers forming the first electrode react to form a reaction layer. The difference in thermal expansion coefficient between semiconductor substrate and support substrate is not more than ±50%. A second barrier metal layer not reactive with bonding material is formed inside the first electrode uppermost conductive layer, while uppermost layer reacts with the bonding material to form the reaction layer. |
| US07720125B2 |
Surface light emitting laser element, surface light emitting laser array provided with it, electro-photographic system and optical communication system
A surface-emission laser device comprises an active layer, cavity spacer layers provided at both sides of the active layer, reflection layers provided at respective sides of the cavity spacer layers, the reflection layers reflecting an oscillation light oscillated in the active layer and a selective oxidation layer. The selective oxidation layer is provided between a location in the reflection layer corresponding to a fourth period node of the standing wave distribution of the electric field of the oscillating light and a location in the reflection layer adjacent to the foregoing fourth period node in the direction away from the active layer and corresponding to an anti-node of the standing wave distribution of the electric field of the oscillation light. |
| US07720120B2 |
Method and apparatus for laser control in a two chamber gas discharge laser
A laser control system contains an oscillator gas chamber and an amplifier gas chamber. A first voltage input is operatively connected to deliver electrical pulses to a first pair of electrodes within the oscillator gas chamber and a second pair of electrodes within the amplifier gas chamber. An output of the gas chambers is an energy dose calculated by a trapezoidal window. A control circuit connects to the first voltage input for modifying the first voltage input. A feedback control loop communicates an output of the gas chambers to the control circuit for modifying the first voltage input. |
| US07720118B2 |
Laser unit having preparatory function for activating the unit and activation method for the unit
A laser unit having a preparatory function for activating the unit and an activation method for the unit, capable of stabilizing the temperature of each component of the laser unit in the preparation stage when the laser unit is activated in a low-temperature or high-temperature environment, and then effectively judging completion of the preparation. During a period of time Ta from T1 to T2, a first trial of laser oscillation is performed. After a period of time Tb in which the laser is not oscillated, a second trial of laser oscillation from T3 to T4. Such an operation is repeated until a predetermined criterion is satisfied. Laser output values P2, P4, P6, . . . , at the last moment in each trial of laser oscillation are recorded. Then, each difference between the laser outputs at the last moments of two neighboring or continuous trials, is calculated. When the difference is lower than a predetermined criterion value, the preparation of the laser unit is judged to be completed. |
| US07720117B2 |
Fast continuously wavelength tuning single frequency fiber laser using tunable polymer optical filters
A method for generating a laser projection by employing a laser gain medium for receiving an optical input projection from a laser pump. The method further includes a step of employing a mode selection filter comprising an electro-optical (EO) tunable layer disposed between two parallel reflection plates for generating a laser of a resonant peak. |
| US07720113B2 |
Receiving apparatus, receiving system using same, and receiving method thereof
A receiving apparatus (100) includes demodulation parts (101, 102) for receiving the respective one of received signals of broadast systems to output demodulated data and timing clocks synchronized with the respective demodulated data, a clock generating part (103) for outputting, to an A/V decoder (107), the two timing clocks from the demodulation parts (101, 102) as high-rate and low-rate timing clocks and for outputting a control signal for multiplexing the two demodulated data from the demodulation parts (101, 102), and a multiplexing part (104) for multiplexing, based on the control signal, the two demodulated data to output the multiplexed data to the A/V decoder (107). The A/V decoder (107) receives the multiplexed data and timing clocks from the receiving apparatus (100) to process the video/audio signals of each broadcast. |
| US07720111B2 |
Method and apparatus for carrying out connection and related input/output processing functions in a synchronous digital hierarchy transport node
The present invention provides for a method and apparatus for carrying out connection and related input/output processing functions in a Sinchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH/SONET) transport node (network), in which the payload switching matrices (e.g. MSPC and HPC matrices for an High Order VC system) collapse into one single functional block (MTRX), while the Virtual Container (VCs) monitoring functions (HVC_RX, HVC_TX) are shifted to the Input/Output position of the matrices. |
| US07720109B2 |
One-way delay time estimation method and apparatus and clock synchronization method and apparatus using the same
An apparatus for and method of estimating a one-way delay time between two hosts and an apparatus and method of clock synchronization using the same. The two hosts are connected to a network and communicate a predetermined packet; k-th, (k+1)-th, and (k+2)-th transmission times are measured at the first host, and k-th, and (k+1)-th transmission times are measured at the second host; a time difference of the m-th transmission time is measured at the first and second host, where m is k or k+1, and by using the measured transmission times, an m-th one-way delay time is calculated. If the time difference is identical to the calculated one-way delay time, a value equal to or less than the calculated one-way delay time is determined as the estimated one-way delay time. Accordingly, the estimation error of a one-way delay time is reduced for both symmetrically and asymmetrically connected hosts. |
| US07720106B2 |
Circuit for synchronizing symbols of OFDM signal
A circuit for synchronizing symbols of a received OFDM signal includes a unit configured to detect cross-correlation of a received signal to generate a value of the cross-correlation, a unit configured to obtain synchronous summation of the value of the cross-correlation performed at predetermined intervals, a unit configured to obtain received electric power of the received signal, an autocorrelation electric power obtaining unit configured to obtain autocorrelation electric power of the received signal, a threshold obtaining unit configured to obtain a synchronous summation threshold responsive to the received electric power, and a symbol timing detecting unit configured to identify timing of a peak of the synchronous summation as symbol timing in response to detecting, at the timing of the peak, that the autocorrelation electric power is smaller than the received electric power multiplied by a predetermined factor and that the synchronous summation is larger than the synchronous summation threshold. |
| US07720103B2 |
Digital television receiver and method for processing a digital television signal
A method of processing a digital television (DTV) signal in a DTV receiver, the method includes receiving a digital television signal including video streams and an event information table carrying information for events on predefined virtual channels; parsing the event information table, the parsed event information table comprising bit rate information defining one or more bit rates associated with video streams in the digital television signal; and processing the video streams according to the parsed bit rate information. |
| US07720102B1 |
Method of providing enterprise wireless communication method for intergrated residential and business services
The present invention sets forth a network-centric service distribution method that integrates a wireless access system/service in the residence, SOHO, business or public environment through the use of a local broadband network, such as a Residential-Business Broadband Network (RBN), to the service provider's broadband transport network and to a service provider's broadband packet network that facilitates end-to-end packet telecommunication services. The method includes the step of connecting said service provider's broadband packet network to the RBN via said service provider's broadband transport network. Call and service termination functions to a plurality of local RBN devices are also provided in the method. Signals from a plurality of wireless devices are accepted and forwarded to an IEEE 802.11b interface for a wireless modem and/or to an Ethernet interface for a Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP)/Ethernet Processor, where the forwarded signals comprise intranet telephony and data. |
| US07720101B2 |
Wideband cable modem with narrowband circuitry
A hybrid cable modem includes wideband circuitry configured to receive data over multiple different downstream channels at the same time. The wideband circuitry demodulates signals on the different downstream channels and then formats the demodulated signals back into packets or frames for sending out over an Internet Protocol (IP) home network. Narrowband cable modem circuitry is coupled to the wideband circuitry and selectively extracts Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications (DOCSIS) data from one of the multiple downstream channels being processed by the wideband circuitry. |
| US07720100B2 |
Packet preclassification using search tree algorithms
An information packet preclassification system and method are provided. The method receives a packet of information and differentiates the packet into segments. Using a decision tree with multiple levels, segments in the packet are compared to a node at a tree level, where each node includes a plurality of node reference segments and corresponding node comparison operators. The reference segment may be a different segment from the packet, or a predetermined segment value stored in memory. One, or more classification attributes are accessed in response to comparing segments, and the classification attributes are assigned to the packet. Then, the packet is processed in response to the classification attributes. |
| US07720092B1 |
Hierarchical round robin arbiter
A hierarchical round robin arbiter includes a first set of arbitration vectors, each associated with a plurality of requesters. A second arbitration vector includes one bit for each arbitration vector in the first set. The single bit informs the round robin arbiter if any of the requesters associated with the corresponding arbitration vector in the first set are requesting service. The round robin arbiter can determine whether one of a number of requesters is requesting service by examining the single bit in the arbitration vector. |
| US07720090B2 |
Apparatuses and methods to utilize multiple protocols in a communication system
A two way communication system is adapted for compatible inter-operation of a plurality of devices operating in accordance with a plurality of protocols. The communication system includes a first group of one or more remote devices that interface with a local host in accordance with a first protocol and a second group of one or more remote devices that interface with the local host in accordance with a second protocol. The local host includes a protocol processor that identifies transmissions from the first and second groups of remote devices and routes transmissions from the first group of remote devices to a first processor operating in accordance with the first protocol and also routes transmissions from the second group of remote devices to a second processor operating in accordance with the second protocol. |
| US07720084B2 |
Alternate routing of voice communication in a packet-based network
A method for performing alternate and therefore least cost routing in distributed H.323 Voice over IP (VoIP) networks is provided. With this method, the VoIP network consists of a hierarchy of gatekeeper (GK) functions to provide alternate routing, network element redundancy, and scalability. The alternate routing function is performed by a directory gatekeeper with route selection advancing from a first route to a second route by either of two conditions: (1) there are no resources available to terminate the call in the first zone; and (2) a lack of response to the directory GK request for such resources. |
| US07720082B2 |
System and method for short message service and instant messaging continuity
A system and method are disclosed for communicating messages between users that use different messaging services. A message from a user communication device is communicated to a remote user communication device using a first messaging service. The remote user communication device communicates messages using a second messaging service. The message from the user communication device is routed to a messaging interface gateway in accordance with configuration information associated with the remote user communication device. The message is routed from the messaging interface gateway to a messaging server associated with the remote user communication device. The messaging server is configured to use the second messaging service. The message is delivered to the remote user communication device using the second messaging service. |
| US07720081B2 |
System and method for bypassing data from egress facilities
An open architecture platform bypasses data from the facilities of a telecommunications carrier, e.g. an incumbent local exchange carrier, by distinguishing between voice and data traffic, and handling voice and data traffic separately. An SS7 gateway receives and transmits SS7 signaling messages with the platform. When signaling for a call arrives, the SS7 gateway informs a control server on the platform. The control server manages the platform resources, including the SS7 gateway, tandem network access servers (NASs) and modem NASs. A tandem NAS receives the call over bearer channels. The control server determines whether the incoming call is voice traffic or data traffic, by the dialed number, and instructs the tandem NAS how to handle the call. Voiced traffic is transmitted to a switch for transmission from the platform. Data traffic is terminated at a modem NAS, where it is converted into a form suitable for a data network, such as a private data network or an Internet services provider (ISP). The converted data is sent by routers to the data network. The data network need not convert the data, as the function has already been provided by the platform. In lieu of a conversion, the modems can create a tunnel (a virtual private network) between a remote server and the data network. |
| US07720080B2 |
Relay unit, terminal device, communication system, and communication control method
A relay unit capable of inquiring of a DNS comprises: an inquiry section which transfers an acquisition request of a transmission destination terminal address, sent from a transmission source terminal, to the DNS, and acquires the transmission destination terminal address and a transmission destination label corresponding to the transmission destination terminal address and transmission destination terminal; a label creation section which creates a unique relay label; a label storage section which correlates the created relay label to the acquired transmission destination terminal address and transmission destination label, and stores thus obtained label; a label transmission section which transmits the relay label and a private address of the relay unit to the transmission source terminal; and a determination section which, if a packet containing the relay label is received from the transmission source terminal, determines that the transmission destination terminal address and transmission destination label corresponding to the relay label are an address and a label related to a transmission destination or a relay destination of the packet. |
| US07720079B2 |
Data transfer procedure for transferring data of a data sequence between a transmitting entity and a receiving entity
A data transfer procedure enables data of a data sequence to be transferred between a transmitting entity (13) and a receiving entity (19). The entities each comprise a higher data handling layer (11, 17) and a lower data handling layer (12, 18). The procedure comprises transferring down from the higher data handling layer (11) of the transmitting entity (13) to the lower data handling layer (12) of the transmitting entity a data unit of the data sequence, which data unit comprises one or more segments. The or each segment is transmitted from the lower data handling level (12) of the transmitting entity (13) to the lower data handling level (17) of the receiving entity (19) via a transmission link between the transmitting entity (13) and the receiving entity (19). An acknowledgement of receipt of the or each segment is sent from the lower data handling level (17) of the receiving entity to the lower data handling level (12) of the transmitting entity. The or each segment is transferred from the lower data handling layer (17) of the receiving entity to the higher data handling layer (18) of the receiving entity in data sequence order. The higher data handling layer of the transmitting entity (13) is arranged to retain a copy of the data unit until such time as an at least implied acknowledgement of receipt of earlier segments in the sequence is sent back from the receiving entity (19) to the lower data handling level of the transmitting entity. |
| US07720074B2 |
Methods and systems of network management
A network management system (NMS) automatically models a path for a customer's services from a terminating unit through elements typically on a link-by-link basis, across networks if appropriate, to a network service provider (NSP) or Internet service provider (ISP). The path may be a private virtual circuit or connection (PVC), and it may traverse an “overall network” including other networks such as an asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) service or sub-networks. To model a path, the NMS creates a topology including the elements and links in the overall network and respective features, functions, characteristics, and capacities thereof. The topology allows the NMS to speedily, efficiently, and automatically provision a customer's service from the terminating unit to connection to the customer's selected NSP or ISP for Internet access. |
| US07720073B2 |
System and/or method for bidding
Disclosed are systems and/or apparatuses of transmitting digital objects to a destination. In particular, disclosed are systems and/or apparatuses of facilitating bidding for the business of forwarding digital objects in a data transmission network. |
| US07720066B2 |
System and method for distributed multicast routing
A distributed router composed of individual units connected by links in a routing fabric which appears to be a single network entity routes multicast packets by bridging to the final unit in the fabric. At the final unit the packet is replicated as necessary and routed. The scheme avoids multiple transmission of the same packet across the fabric. |
| US07720062B2 |
Method of processing traffic information and digital broadcasting system
A digital broadcast transmitting/receiving system and a method for processing data are disclosed. The method for processing data may enhance the receiving performance of the receiving system by performing additional coding and multiplexing processes on the traffic information data and transmitting the processed data. Thus, robustness is provided to the traffic information data, thereby enabling the data to respond strongly against the channel environment which is always under constant and vast change. |
| US07720060B2 |
Information dissemination system having an information layer
An information dissemination system has at least one node acting as a data source, at least one node acting as a data recipient, and an information layer residing on all of the nodes in a system. The information layer receives a generic utility function from an application on the node acting as a data source wanting to propagate information, uses the generic utility function at the node acting as data source to produce a microutility and uses the microutility on non-data source nodes of the system to propagate the information through the system to any recipients based upon the microutility. |
| US07720053B2 |
Service processing switch
A system and method for providing IP services. A packet is received at a line interface/network module and forwarded to a virtual routing engine The virtual routing engine determines if the packet requires processing by a virtual services engine. If the packet requires processing by the virtual services engine, the packet is routed to the virtual services engine for processing. |
| US07720052B2 |
Radio protocol for mobile communication system and method
Radio protocol for a next generation mobile communication system is disclosed including a radio link control layer for connecting to an upper layer through a service access point provided in advance and for connecting to a lower layer through a plurality of logic channels provided in advance. The radio link control layer includes at least one radio link control entity for transmission/reception of data to/from up-link or down-link according to a form of a data transmission mode. |
| US07720049B1 |
Semantic service broker for telecommunications networks
A service broker of telecommunications networks is described herein. According to one embodiment, in response to a telephony call event from a subscriber to be serviced by a plurality of services, for each of the plurality of services, a service description associated with the respective service is examined to identify which of the plurality of service is capable of handling the telephony call event, where the service description semantically describes the respective service. Thereafter, the telephony call event is distributed to one or more of the identified services that are capable of handling the telephony call event, where the telephony call event is processed by the one or more services. Other methods and apparatuses are also described. |
| US07720047B1 |
Managing periodic communications
Techniques are described for managing periodic communications between devices. For example, a periodic packet process may receive configuration parameters from a routing protocol process. The periodic packet process may manage periodic communication sessions with neighboring devices in accordance with the configuration parameters from the routing protocol process. The periodic packet process may monitor for incoming periodic packets from a specified neighboring device in a specified periodic time interval. The periodic packet process may also send outbound periodic packets at a specified periodic time interval. |
| US07720046B2 |
Synchronizing a channel codec and vocoder of a mobile station
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for maintaining a vocoder and channel codec in substantial synchronization. The method may include receiving a configuration message that includes rate information and an effective radio block identifier at a mobile station, coding a current radio block via a vocoder and channel codec, configuring an encoding portion of the vocoder and channel codec with the rate information after performing the coding, and then coding the effective radio block using the rate information. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US07720045B2 |
Method to enable simultaneous connections to multiple wireless networks using a single radio
A system and method that allows a user to concurrently connect to multiple wireless networks with a single network interface card is presented. The networks may be infrastructure (“IS”) networks and ad hoc (“AH”) networks. A driver is inserted into a device's networking stack and exposes a plurality of virtual wireless network adapters, one for each network. The adapters are enabled and disabled in accordance with which network is presently activated. Packets for a network are queued when the network is not enabled. The wireless driver controls the switching of the network card. In one embodiment where multiple wireless cards are switching in and out of AH networks, the method converges the switching times for the cards in an AH network to ensure concurrent connectivity in the AH network for at least a brief time period every switching cycle of the wireless cards. |
| US07720044B1 |
System and method for terminal configuration
Systems and methods for providing network configuration information and/or additional information to terminals. A central administration server may, for example, determine the network configuration and/or additional information to be provided to a terminal. In some cases, the information provided depends on one or more factors. The data provided may, for instance, include terminal IP address, netmask, gateway address, WAP (wireless application protocol) gateway address, landing page, advertisement information, and service group identifiers. A terminal wishing to receive network connectivity from an access point may, for example, request such from the access point. |
| US07720042B2 |
Method for transmitting and receiving data signal in MIMO system
Provided is a method for transmitting a data signal in a multiple-input multiple-output mobile communication system for transmitting and receiving the data signal by using a plurality of transmitting antennas and a plurality of receiving antennas, wherein when each data transmitted through the plurality of transmitting antennas is transmitted with respectively different control signals, the control signals are transmitted respectively through downlink control signal transport channels as many as the number of control signals. According to this, when information with respect to modulation methods and OVSF codes for each transmitting antenna in the MIMO system is different, it is possible to achieve efficient transmission and reception by using a method for transmitting the different information to a terminal. Furthermore, a backward compatibility between the MIMO system and the related art HSDPA system can be satisfied by using control channels similar to the control channels used in the related art HSDPA system, and the method can be unlimitedly applied to any case data is composed of one packet or of several packets. |
| US07720039B2 |
LAN based wireless communications system
A method of routing calls from a mobile unit to a destination location can include registering the mobile unit with a wireless adjunct, wherein the wireless adjunct is in communication with a switching unit and a packet based network and is operable to receive data from the switching unit and place the data, in packetized form, on the packet based network. The method can further include responding to a call setup request from the mobile unit and querying a subscriber database to determine if the mobile unit is a resident or a guest. If the mobile unit is a resident, communications data can be routed from the mobile unit through the switching unit to a first destination location. If the mobile unit is a guest, communications data can be routed from the mobile unit through an RF source to a second destination location. |
| US07720038B2 |
Cell network selectively applying proxy mode to minimize power
A wireless access point and multiple wireless terminals exchange utilization, status, mobility and reception characteristics. Each wireless terminal generates reception characteristics based on transmissions received from the wireless access point and from other devices in the network. In one operating mode, the characteristics gathered by the wireless devices are forwarded to the wireless access point, and, based on all received characteristics, the wireless access point selects a client device for the relay of communications between itself and another client device. In another mode of operation, the access point selects a relay proxy on a transmission by transmission basis. In response to a request, a servicing client device repeats intercepted transmissions sent by a client device and intended for the access point. |
| US07720033B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus and wireless communication control method for wireless communication system
According to one embodiment, a wireless communication apparatus includes a reserved period ensuring unit which ensures a reserved period to be occupied for communication in a communicable period time-shared in a group by adjustment in a periodic beacon period, a wireless communication unit which performs wireless communication using the reserved period, a group generating unit which generates a new group in which a periodic beacon period is formed not to temporally overlap the beacon period and causes the apparatus to belong to the new group, when the reserved period ensuring unit fails to ensure the reserved period, and a controlling unit which controls the reserved period ensuring unit to ensure the reserved period not to temporally overlap the beacon period of the original group in the communicable period of the new group to which the apparatus is caused to belong by the group generating unit. |
| US07720032B2 |
Method and apparatus for priority management of system algorithms in real time
A method for management of real-time system algorithms to achieve optimal efficiency which provides for dynamically managing priorities in a complex real-time system, considering the dynamic requirements of the system. A preferred embodiment describes the management of a plurality of RRM algorithms, including algorithms for SCC escape, LM escape, SCC rate control, and F-DCA background. More specifically, one exemplary embodiment assists in deciding: when to increase algorithm priorities, how to increase/decrease algorithm priorities, how to assign priority parameters, and how to dynamically manage priorities in the system, to result in optimal system efficiency. |
| US07720030B2 |
Techniques for explicit feedback delay measurement
Techniques for explicit feedback delay measurement are described. An apparatus may comprise a processor to generate a steering matrix for transmit spatial processing over a channel, determine a delay time associated with explicit feedback information for the channel, and determine whether to modify the steering matrix with the explicit feedback information based on the delay time. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US07720029B2 |
Channel selection in wireless telecommunication system
Channel selection in a wireless telecommunication system includes determining at least one transmission frequency used by a first transceiver from information on the first transceiver. The harmonics of the transmission frequency are determined and at least one channel used by the second transceiver is selected by at least taking into account the harmonics of the transmission frequency of the first transceiver. |
| US07720024B2 |
Method and apparatus for obtaining server information in a wireless network
In a communications system where a mobile node seeks to establish contact with a server node within or outside the home network of the mobile node by first providing the general location information and the server type of the server node to a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server. The DHCP server then matches the provided information with its record in storage to arrive at an IP (Internet Protocol) address of the sought server node. The DHCP server then sends the IP address to the mobile node, thereby allowing the mobile node to directly access the server node. |
| US07720020B2 |
Method and system for wireless communication networks using cooperative relaying
The present invention relates to relay supported wireless communication to enhance communication performance. In the wireless communication system according to the invention neighboring relay stations are arranged with substantially overlapping coverage. In the method according to the invention mobile stations makes soft association to relay stations. The mobile stations feed back the selection of relay stations and channel quality measures to the base station. The base station adapts the transmission to the relay stations based on each mobile stations reported soft associations and channel quality measures. In this way the control signaling to and from the relay stations can be very limited. |
| US07720018B2 |
Low power transmission provisioning for wireless network devices
A process for secure, safe, and easy provisioning of a wireless device with credentials to connect to a wireless network. A connecting wireless device and an established wireless device both utilize low power transmission at close proximity to exchange wireless connection setting information and/or a password. The connecting wireless device is moved into proximity with the established wireless device and a low power setting is discovered at which the wireless devices may communicate with a sufficiently low error rate. The connecting wireless device is then passed the secret information by the established network device. |
| US07720016B2 |
Multi-hop routing method with bandwidth reservation in wireless network
A routing method for communication from a source node to a destination node in a distributed wireless network which comprises a plurality of wireless mobile nodes. The method has the following steps: (1) a query step where the source node sends a route request query, which is relayed by one or more mobile nodes along one or more paths to the destination node; (2) a route reply step where the destination node upon receiving the route request query sends a route reply packet, which is relayed by one or more mobile nodes along one or more selected paths back to the source node; (3) a bandwidth reservation step performed during the same time when step (2) is performed, where each said mobile node that receives said route reply packet carries out bandwidth reservation, resulting one or more paths with bandwidth reservation from said source node to said destination node; (4) an outgoing path selection step where a single path is selected from the paths with bandwidth reservation resulted in step (3); and (5) a proactive erasure step where each mobile node which has bandwidth reservation but is not in the path selected in step (4) removes its bandwidth reservation. |
| US07720015B2 |
Receiver ADC clock delay base on echo signals
A device and method for a full-duplex transceiver is disclosed. The transceiver includes a transmitter DAC coupled to a transmission channel. The transmit DAC converting a digital transmission signal into an analog transmission signal. The transceiver further includes a receiver connected to the transmission channel. The receiver receives a desired signal and an echo signal, in which the echo signal includes at least a portion of the analog transmission signal. The receiver includes a receiver ADC, a programmable delay line for adjustably delaying a clock signal of the ADC, and a receiver processing circuit for adjusting the delay of the clock signal based at least in part upon the echo signal. |
| US07720014B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing a supplemental channel in a mobile communication system
Provided is a method and apparatus for managing an SCH in an MS in a mobile communication system are provided. The MS receives an SCH assignment message notifying assignment of the SCH from a BS. If the duration of the SCH expires, the MS receives at least one more frame on the SCH and performs an error check on the at least one frame. If the at least one frame turns out to not be erroneous in the error check, the MS extends the duration of the SCH. |
| US07720006B1 |
System for determining reachablity of a neighboring node in a network
A system for determining reachablity of a neighboring node from a node. A packet is received over a network by node. The packet has a destination address of a node other than the receiving node. The node reads a source address from the packet. The node then determines whether the source address is for a neighboring node in which the node has an interest. The node then determines whether the packet indicates a forward link from the node to the neighboring node. Reachablity information for the neighboring node is then stored in a memory responsive to a determination of the forward link. |
| US07720004B2 |
Interfering packet streams in packet networks
A method for estimating the network-layer topology of a telecommunications network is described. In particular, the illustrative embodiment of the present invention estimates the existence and connectivity of nodes in the topology based on the detection of network-wide end-to-end path intersections. This is based on the assumption that pairs of streams of packets that share a common node will interfere and that the interference can be detected in the received streams. In general, this interference is manifested as jitter. By transmitting streams on each pair of end-to-end paths in the network, and detecting interference (or a lack of interference) a matrix of path intersections for the network can be created. Using logic and supposition, the topology of the network can be estimated using the matrix of path intersections. Once the estimate of the topology is complete, the maintenance and operation of the network can proceed based on the topology. |
| US07720003B2 |
Model-based method and apparatus for determining MPLS network properties
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and apparatus for the identification or discovery for properties of MPLS networks through a modeling technique. Aspects of the present invention provide for discovering or identifying the Label Switched Paths in MPLS networks. The method comprises the steps of representing a network by a model comprising a plurality of configuration non-specific first object classes that are representations of types of components associated with the network components, and a plurality of configuration non-specific second object classes that are representations of relationships among the representation of types of component, identifying instances of a first one and a second one of the types of components object class, and identifying the label switch path by traversing the instances of the first and second types of components object classes through select ones of the relationship object classes associated with the first and second type of components object classes. |
| US07720000B2 |
Network control apparatus, method, and program
To enable network control (particularly, transmission band allocation) that excels in follow-up ability to follow changes in a network, locality, and responsiveness. A network control apparatus controls a wireless ad-hoc network and includes: a routing processing unit (402) which establishes routing within a wireless ad-hoc network using routing information including information regarding a local transmission quality within the wireless ad-hoc network; a routing processing unit (406) which obtains the information regarding the transmission quality from the routing information used for establishing the routing; and a bottleneck estimating unit (411) which estimates a relay apparatus as a bottleneck candidate, based on a distribution of plural transmission qualities within the wireless ad-hoc network, which are indicated by the obtained information. |
| US07719999B2 |
Predicting link quality of a link
A method and apparatus of predicting link quality of a link are disclosed. One exemplary method includes a receiver receiving multi-carrier modulated signals over a period of time. A signal to noise ratio (SNR) for each received sub-carrier is estimated. An ordered sequence of the signal to noise ratios (SNR)s are constructed based on interleaving of the multi-carrier modulated signals, wherein an order of the interleaving is used to set the ordered sequence of the signal to noise ratios (SNR)s. The receiver estimates link packet error rate (PER) based upon knowledge of encoding of the multi-carrier modulated signals used during transmission and the ordered sequence. |
| US07719995B2 |
Application driven fast unicast flow replication
A technique to replicate unicast flows is described. A plurality of unicast control flows are received at a network element from a plurality of clients. One of the unicast control flows is forwarded to a server. A unicast content flow is received from the server at the network element in response to forwarding the one of the unicast control flows. The unicast content flow is replicated at the network element as a plurality of replicated unicast content flows for transmission to the plurality of clients. |
| US07719989B2 |
Routing protocol for ad hoc networks
A routing method for an ad hoc network is disclosed, the network comprising two or more nodes (A, B, C, D, E, F), and the method comprising: sending a message from a start node (A) to a finish node (F) via one or more intermediate nodes (B, C, D, E); each of the start node (A) and intermediate nodes (B, C, D, E) receiving an acknowledgement signal (AckB, AckC, AckD, AckE, AckF) from a one-hop neighboring node when the one-hop neighboring node receives the message from the start node (A;F) or intermediate nodes (B, C, D, E) and, in the case of the one-hop neighboring node not being the finish node (F), the start node and intermediate nodes receiving an acknowledgement signal (AckC, AckD, AckE, AckF) from a two-hop neighboring node when the two-hop neighboring node receives the message from the one-hop neighboring node. |
| US07719979B1 |
Bandwidth detection in a heterogeneous network with parallel and proxy modes
Effective bandwidth of a communication link is determined in a heterogeneous, packet switched network between a source and a destination, where effective bandwidth is defined as actual available bandwidth between the server and the client, minus the overhead of the various network protocols used to transmit the data. The method includes measuring transmission times between the source and a destination for a plurality data segments having different characteristics, such as different sized files or subfiles of data; processing the transmission times to cancel effects of transmission latencies other than the different characteristics of the data segments; and indicating a bandwidth based on said processing. The processing is done in parallel with the return of user resources to the destination, and using a bandwidth detection engine associated with a proxy server. |
| US07719978B2 |
Method for transmitting data over lossy packet-based communication networks
The invention is concerned with the transmission of streaming scalable data, particularly video data, through lossy communication channels, for applications in which limited retransmission is possible, and the associated reception and decoding of transmitted data. The PET (Priority Encoding Transmission) framework is used and the invention exploits both unequal error protection and limited retransmission. Each element in the scalable representation of each frame can be transmitted in one or both of two transmission slots, depending on the availability of the data received from the first of the two transmission slots. An optimization algorithm determines the level of protection which should be assigned to each element in each slot, subject to transmission bandwidth constraints. To balance the protection assigned to elements which are being transmitted for the first time with those which are being retransmitted, the proposed algorithm in preferred embodiments formulates a collection of hypotheses concerning its own behavior in future transmission slots. |
| US07719976B2 |
Variable dynamic throttling of network traffic for intrusion prevention
Methods, apparatus, and computer program products for variable dynamic throttling of network traffic for intrusion prevention are disclosed that include initializing, as throttling parameters, a predefined time interval, a packet count, a packet count threshold, a throttle rate, a keepers count, and a discards count; starting a timer, the timer remaining on no longer than the predefined time interval; maintaining, while the timer is on, statistics including the packet count, the keepers count, and the discards count; for each data communications packet received by the network host, determining, in dependence upon the statistics and the throttle rate, whether to discard the packet and determining whether the packet count exceeds the packet count threshold; and if the packet count exceeds the packet count threshold: resetting the statistics, incrementing the throttle rate, and restarting the timer. |
| US07719974B2 |
System and method for loadbalancing in a network environment using feedback information
A method for loadbalancing in a network environment is provided that includes receiving a request from an end user for a communication session at a central node. The method further includes identifying a selected one of a plurality of network nodes to facilitate the communication session for the end user based on feedback information provided by the selected network node. The feedback information is communicated from the selected network node and processed before making a decision to establish the communication session between the selected network node and the end user. |
| US07719972B2 |
Methods and apparatus for providing an admission control system in a wireless mesh network
Embodiments of methods and apparatus for providing an admission control system in a wireless mesh network are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US07719967B2 |
Cumulative TCP congestion control
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, providing cumulative TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) congestion control. One method includes establishing multiple TCP connections between a transmitting host and a receiving host for sending data from the transmitting host to the receiving host; and using one congestion window on the transmitting host to perform congestion control for the multiple TCP connections as a whole. |
| US07719965B2 |
Methods and systems for coordinated monitoring of network transmission events
Methods and systems for coordinated monitoring of network transmission events. Predetermined information for the network transmission event is obtained at a first network location and the network transmission event predetermined information is provided to a predetermined monitoring location (or server). From the predetermined monitoring location, the predetermined information is provided to other network monitoring devices at one or more other network locations. At the one or more other network locations, the network transmission event, corresponding to the predetermined information obtained at the first location, is monitored. Network transmission event information, corresponding to the predetermined information obtained at the first location, is provided to the predetermined monitoring location from the first location and the other network locations. The monitoring of network transmission can be thereby coordinated. |
| US07719963B2 |
System for fabric packet control
A method for managing data traffic in nodes in a fabric network, each node having internally-coupled ports, follows the steps of establishing a managed queuing system comprising one or more queues associated with each port, for managing incoming data traffic; and accepting or discarding data directed to a queue according to the quantity of data in the queue relative to queue capacity. In one preferred embodiment the managed system accepts all data directed to a queue less than full, and discards all data directed to a queue that is full. In some alternative embodiments the queue manager monitors quantity of data in a queue relative to queue capacity, and begins to discard data at a predetermined rate when the quantity of queued data reaches the threshold. In other cases the queue manager increases the rate of discarding as the quantity of queued data increases above the preset threshold, discarding all data traffic when the queue is full. |
| US07719957B2 |
Resiliency in minimum cost tree-based VPLS architecture
A system for providing resilient multimedia broadcasting services over a VPLS network is described. A Network Management System (NMS) calculates disjoint minimum cost trees using the Steiner algorithm, executed with extra steps to result in disjoint trees. Destination PE routers in the VPLS network are connected to the disjoint trees so that they can be serviced by either tree in case of a fault. Each of the disjoint trees is provisioned with enough bandwidth to carry all of the services provided by the VPLS network. Under normal operation, however, the services are distributed evenly over the trees. In the event of a fault, the services on a faulty tree are switched to another tree using split horizon bridging. Each Steiner tree can also be realized using point-to-multipoint LSPs which is fully protected by a precomputed point-to-multipoint LSP. |
| US07719955B2 |
Transmission of signaling information in an OFDM communication system
An Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing, OFDM, transmitter comprises a signalling data generator (113) which generates a set of data symbols indicative of physical layer characteristics of data transmissions from the OFDM transmitter (100). A first symbol generator (115) and second symbol generator (117) generates a first and second OFDM signalling symbol by allocating the set of data symbols to subcarriers. The allocation of the physical layer data symbols to subcarriers is different for the first OFDM signalling symbol and the second OFDM signalling symbol. A data packet generator (105) and transmitter (101) generate a data packet and transmit this to an OFDM receiver (300). The OFDM receiver (300) determines the physical layer data symbols by combining the data symbols of corresponding subcarriers of the first and second OFDM signalling symbols and uses the resulting information to decode the user data of the data packet. |
| US07719953B2 |
Optical recording medium, optical recording method, optical reproducing method, optical recording apparatus, and optical reproducing apparatus
A substrate in which a minute ruggedness structure including columnar projections is formed in a track shape is prepared. The pitch of the columnar projections of the ruggedness structure is set such that a plurality of the columnar projections is within a beam spot. A flat portion is disposed between adjacent tracks. A reflecting layer is formed on the substrate. The flat portion becomes a mirror surface because of the formation of the reflecting layer. The reflectance of the ruggedness structure becomes significantly lower than the reflectance of the flat portion. When the ruggedness structure is irradiated with high-power laser light, a portion of the ruggedness structure is raised to a reflecting layer side and flattened. At this time, reflectance of the raised portion becomes higher than reflectance of a non-raised portion. When a track including the ruggedness structure is irradiated with high-power pulse laser light, signal recording based on a change in reflectance is possible. |
| US07719950B2 |
Disk drive apparatus and method for adjusting focus bias and spherical aberration correction value
A disk drive apparatus includes: head means for performing laser irradiation to and detection of reflected light from an optical disk recording medium and having a focus bias mechanism and a spherical aberration correction mechanism; focus bias means for driving the focus bias mechanism to add a focus bias to a focus servo loop; spherical aberration correction means for driving the spherical aberration correction mechanism based on a spherical aberration correction value; evaluation value creating means for creating an evaluation value based on reflected light information obtained by the head means; adjustment means for adjusting the focus bias and the spherical aberration correction value; and control means for determining whether data is written on at least one track of the tracks adjacent to an adjustment use range on the recording medium and controlling an adjustment operation on the focus bias and the spherical aberration correction value by the adjustment means based on the determination result. |
| US07719948B2 |
Lens unit for optical pick-up apparatus and optical pick-up apparatus
The lens unit for the optical pick-up apparatus has: the objective lens by which the projecting light from the light source is condensed on the information recording surface of the optical information recording medium; the phase control element which is arranged on the light source side to the objective lens, and which controls the phase of the projecting light from the light source; and the supporting member holding the objective lens and the phase control element; and the phase control element is held under the condition that its optical axis is inclined by a predetermined angle to the optical axis of the objective lens, and the intersection at which the optical axis of the phase control element crosses the optical surface having the phase structure is arranged on the optical path passing through the central point which passes the optical axis of the objective lens. |
| US07719944B2 |
Method and apparatus for recording information on optical recording medium with compensation for thermal effects in ultra-high-density optical recording and reproducing system
A method for recording information on an optical recording medium in which a laser beam modulated into one or a plurality of write pulses with one or a plurality of write powers in accordance with target data to be written is projected onto a recording layer of the optical recording medium to form a record mark. During recording the information on the optical recording medium, a data level and a weight index are assigned to each channel bit in reference data trains before and after the target data. Recording compensation of the target data is carried out in accordance with the sum totals of the products of the data level and the weight index in the reference data trains, so that it is possible to easily carry out high a real recording by writing fine mark/space trains. |
| US07719943B2 |
Information recording device and information recording method
An information recording device and method capable of forming a recording mark by suppressing thermal interference. The device applies a laser beam to a recording medium and forms a recording mark in accordance with a recording signal. The device includes a light source for emitting the laser beam, signal generation elements for generating a recording pulse signal according to the recording signal, and drive elements for driving the light source according to the recording pulse signal. The recording pulse signal has a mark period for forming the recording mark and a space period. The recording pulse signal makes the level in the entire space period equal to or shorter than a predetermined length and a part of the space period longer than the predetermined length to be off level. While the recording pulse signal is off level, the recording medium is cooled down, thereby suppressing the affect of thermal interference. |
| US07719938B2 |
Optical disk recording/reproducing apparatus and optical disk recording method
An optical disk recording/reproducing apparatus for accurately determining optimum recording power of a laser beam even if medium deviations occurs, stabilizing recording quality, and realizing recording which hardly causes read inability error. In test recording, a laser drive (5) irradiates a laser beam to an optical disk (1) to record information while varying the recording power stepwise and reproduce the information stepwise recorded on the optical disk. A recorded state index value calculating unit (9) determines the value representing the index of the recorded state from the signal level of the reproduced information at each step. A smoothing calculating unit (11) performs smoothing calculation of the recorded state index value at each step. An optimum recording power determining unit (12) determines the optimum power by acquiring the optimum value from the recorded state index values at the steps after smoothing calculation to record information on the optical disk with the optimum power determined in recording. |
| US07719937B2 |
Method of optimizing the write power for recording marks in an information layer of a record carrier and recording device using such an optimizing method
A method of optimizing the write power for recording marks in an information layer of a record carrier by irradiating the information layer with a (pulsed) radiation beam. The method includes recording a pattern of test marks including short marks having a predetermined short nominal runlength onto the record carrier by applying at least three different write powers; measuring the runlengths of the recorded short marks obtained by applying the at least three different write powers; and determining an optimum write power based of the deviations of the measured runlengths from the nominal runlength of said short marks. |
| US07719935B2 |
Information storage medium having multiple information storage layers with optimal power control area, and recording apparatus to record data with respect to the information storage medium
An information storage medium is provided with a plurality of information storage layers, each of which includes an optimal power control (OPC) area for obtaining an optimal recording condition. Optimal power control areas in odd-numbered and even-numbered information storage layers viewed from a direction in which light is incident upon the information storage medium are disposed one on another to not directly face each other. An actually usable area of an optimal power control area in each of the information storage layers varies depending on use circumstances of each of the information storage layers. Therefore, when an OPC area of one information storage layer performs OPC, this OPC does not affect another information storage layer. Also, an area of each of the information storage layers can be efficiently used. |
| US07719933B2 |
Apparatus for manufacturing information record medium, information record medium, information recording apparatus and information recording method
On an information record medium (10, 11), record information can be recorded one time or a plurality of times by a predetermined record format. An apparatus for manufacturing the information record medium by using a stamper (27, 28) is provided with an embossed pit array forming device (20 to 26, 50) for forming on the stamper as an embossed pit array, pre-record data (SFi) which is a predetermined data row to disable overwriting on the record information in a pre-record area, which is set in advance in a range including an area (13c) assigned to information required to control a reproduction of the record information, which is recorded by the predetermined record format. |
| US07719926B2 |
Slotted cylinder acoustic transducer
A slotted cylinder acoustic transducer has a crescent-shaped insert disposed between a ceramic stack assembly and s cylindrical housing shell. In some embodiments, all of the ceramic elements in the ceramic stack assembly can have the same shape. |
| US07719921B2 |
Duty detection circuit, DLL circuit using the same, semiconductor memory circuit, and data processing system
A duty detection circuit includes discharge transistors, charge transistors, detection lines, and a comparator circuit that detects a potential difference of these detection lines, and also includes a gate circuit that controls the discharge transistors and the charge transistors in response to the internal clock signal of an even cycle. As a result, the detection lines are charged and discharged in response to the internal clock signal of the even cycle. Consequently, the duty detection circuit can be applied to a multi-phase DLL circuit, and a potential difference appearing in the detection line can be sufficiently secured. |
| US07719916B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes a command decoder, a refresh address counter, an address delivery unit, and an address output selector. The command decoder decodes a command signal to generate a refresh signal. The refresh address counter generates a refresh address in response to the refresh signal. The address delivery unit delivers one of the refresh address and an address from outside of the semiconductor memory device to a memory core area. The address output selector outputs the refresh address to the outside of the semiconductor memory device. |
| US07719913B2 |
Sensing circuit for PCRAM applications
A sensing method for a memory cell as described herein includes selecting a memory cell. A first bias applied to the memory cell induces a first response in the memory cell. A second bias applied to the memory cell induces a second response in the memory cell, the second bias different from the first bias. The method includes determining a data value stored in the memory cell based on a difference between the first and second responses and a predetermined reference. |
| US07719910B2 |
Sense amplifier circuit and method for a dram
A sense amplifier of a DRAM includes, in series between two terminals of application of a supply voltage, at least one first transistor of a first channel type, and an amplification stage formed of two parallel branches each including a second transistor of the first channel type in series with a transistor of a second channel type. The gates of the transistors of a same branch are connected to the junction point of the transistors of the other branch. Each branch including at least one first additional transistor of the first channel type in parallel with at least each second transistor of the first channel type. |
| US07719909B2 |
DRAM writing ahead of sensing scheme
This invention discloses a write-sensing circuit for a semiconductor memory having at least one memory block with a continuous word-line being coupled to all the memory cells in a column of the memory block and a continuous bit-line being coupled to all the memory cells in a row of the memory block, the write-sensing circuit comprising a first and a second sense amplifier belonging to the same memory block, a first switching device coupled between the first sense amplifier and a first power supply, the first switching device being controlled by a first signal, and a second switching device coupled between the second sense amplifier and the first power supply, the second switching device being controlled by a second signal different from the first signal, wherein when the first sense amplifier is activated, the second sense amplifier can remain de-activated. |
| US07719908B1 |
Memory having read disturb test mode
Embodiments of the invention relate to the testing and reduction of read disturb failures in a memory, e.g., an array of SRAM cells. A read disturb test mode may be added during wafer sort to identify any marginal memory cells that may fail read disturb, thus minimizing yield loss. The read disturb test mode may include first writing data to the memory. After a predetermined time period, the read disturb test mode reads data from the same memory, and compares the read data with the data previously written to the memory. A repair signal may be generated, when the read data is different from the data previously written to the memory. Additionally, a system may be implemented to reduce read disturb failures in the memory. The system may include a match logic circuit and a data selecting circuit. When a match condition is satisfied, data is read from a register that stores the previous written data, instead of from the memory. The match logic circuit may be selectively enabled or disabled. |
| US07719906B2 |
Semiconductor device
Disclosed is a semiconductor storage device in which a cell array including a plurality of cells in need of refresh for data retention includes the redundancy area, which has a plurality of redundant cells for replacing faulty cells of a normal area within the cell array. When the redundancy area is tested, a refresh counter circuit for generating and outputting refresh addresses rearranges the address in such a manner that a row address of the redundancy area is substantially reduced and placed on a lower-order bit side inclusive of the LSB of the counter. |
| US07719897B2 |
Program verification for non-volatile memory
A non-volatile memory device includes page buffers arranged in groups, each group being coupled to a corresponding data output line so that data from more than one of the page buffers in each group may be simultaneously represented on the corresponding data output line during a program verification operation. Page buffers may be arranged in repair units with data from more than one page buffer simultaneously coupled to a data output line during a column scan operation. |
| US07719896B1 |
Configurable single bit/dual bits memory
A configurable memory device includes an array of configurable memory units arranged into rows and columns. The configurable memory unit includes a memory cell comprising a first storage element configured to store a first value and a second storage element configured to store a second value. The memory unit can be either a single-ended or a differential configuration. In the single-ended configuration, the stored value of each storage element is interpreted as one bit. In the differential configuration, the stored first and second values of the storage elements are interpreted as a differential single bit. An external control signal determines in which configuration the unit is in. |
| US07719889B2 |
Methods of programming multilevel cell nonvolatile memory
A memory system includes a first block in which data is stored with a low density and a second block in which data is stored with a high density. When data is received it is written to the first block, and in parallel some of the data is written to the second block, so that the second block is partially programmed. The second block is later fully programmed by copying additional data from the first block. |
| US07719888B2 |
Memory device having a negatively ramping dynamic pass voltage for reducing read-disturb effect
The present disclosure includes methods, devices, modules, and systems for operating memory cells. One method embodiment includes applying sensing voltages to selected access lines for sensing selected memory cells. The method also includes applying a dynamic pass voltage to unselected access lines while the sensing voltages are applied. |
| US07719885B2 |
Thin film magnetic memory device having a highly integrated memory array
Read word lines and write word lines are provided corresponding to the respective MTJ (Magnetic Tunnel Junction) memory cell rows, and bit lines and reference voltage lines are provided corresponding to the respective MTJ memory cell columns. Adjacent MTJ memory cells share at least one of these signal lines. As a result, the pitches of signal lines provided in the entire memory array can be widened. Thus, the MTJ memory cells can be efficiently arranged, achieving improved integration of the memory array. |
| US07719884B2 |
Integrated circuit, cell arrangement, method of manufacturing an integrated circuit, method of operating an integrated circuit, and memory module
According to one embodiment of the present invention, and integrated circuit having a cell arrangement is provided. The cell arrangement includes: at least one reference memory cell set to a reference memory cell state; and a bias supplier to supply a bias condition to the reference memory cell when accessing the memory cell, such that the bias condition increases the stability of the set reference memory cell state. |
| US07719880B2 |
Method and system for semiconductor memory
Methods and systems for embodiments of a 9T memory cell, memory devices which utilize such 9T memory cells and the creation of embodiments of such memory devices are disclosed. More specifically, an embodiment of a 9T memory cell may comprise a 6T memory cell portion and a 3T read port. Additionally, in one embodiment, a memory which utilizes 9T memory cells may be made by from a grid comprising columns and rows of transistors formed according to a layout for 6T memory cells. |
| US07719876B2 |
Preservation circuit and methods to maintain values representing data in one or more layers of memory
Circuitry and methods for restoring data in memory are disclosed. The memory may include at least one layer of a non-volatile two-terminal cross-point array that includes a plurality of two-terminal memory elements that store data as a plurality of conductivity profiles and retain stored data in the absence of power. Over a period of time, logic values indicative of the stored data may drift such that if the logic values are not restored, the stored data may become corrupted. At least a portion of each memory may have data rewritten or restored by circuitry electrically coupled with the memory. Other circuitry may be used to determine a schedule for performing restore operations to the memory and the restore operations may be triggered by an internal or an external signal or event. The circuitry may be positioned in a logic layer and the memory may be fabricated over the logic layer. |
| US07719875B2 |
Resistance change memory device
A resistance change memory device including: a substrate; cell arrays stacked thereabove, each including a matrix layout of memory cells; a write circuit configured to write a pair cell constituted by two neighboring memory cells; and a read circuit configured to read complementary resistance value states of the pair cell as one bit of data, wherein the memory cell includes a variable resistance element for storing as information a resistance value, and wherein the variable resistance element has a recording layer formed of a first composite compound expressed by AxMyOz (where “A” and “M” are cation elements different from each other; “O” oxygen; and 0.5≦x≦1.5, 0.5≦y≦2.5 and 1.5≦z≦4.5) and a second composite compound containing at least one transition element and a cavity site for housing a cation ion. |
| US07719870B2 |
Storage device
The object of the invention is to avoid an unselected data line being driven in a memory array composed of memory cells each of which uses a storage element depending upon variable resistance and a selection transistor when the selection transistors in all memory cells on a selected wordline conduct. To achieve the object, a source line parallel to a data line is provided, a precharge circuit for equipotentially driving both and a circuit for selectively driving the source line are arranged. Owing to this configuration, a current path is created in only a cell selected by a row decoder and a column decoder and a read-out signal can be generated. Therefore, a lower-power, lower-noise and more highly integrated nonvolatile memory such as a phase change memory can be realized, compared with a conventional type. |