Document Document Title
US07779479B2 Method and apparatus for playing back content based on digital rights management between portable storage and device, and portable storage for the same
A method of playing back content based on digital rights management (DRM) between a portable storage and a device and a portable storage for the same are provided. The method of playing back content using a portable storage includes requesting the portable storage to transmit a right to play back content protected through digital rights management (DRM), receiving the right to play back the content protected through DRM from the portable storage, and informing the portable storage of completion of the playback when a playback of the content protected through DRM using the right is completed.
US07779477B1 System and method of facilitating compliance with information sharing regulations
The present invention provides a system and method of facilitating compliance to one or more information sharing regulations. The present invention provides a computer system equipped with a processing unit capable of receiving input information and extracting one or more data sharing guidelines. The present invention utilizes the relationship between the parties and the data at issue to construct a data sharing arrangement. Each data sharing arrangement may be cross-referenced to one or more data sharing guidelines designed to assist the user to determine what privacy regulations apply and how to comply with same.
US07779470B2 Server denial of service shield
A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for responding to a denial of service attack. The method comprising from a remote data processing system detects an occurrence of the denial of service attack in which invalid credentials are presented to the data processing system. Connections from the remote data processing system to the data processing system are blocked in response to detecting the occurrence of the denial of service attack. A command is selectively sent to a server data processing system to block connections from the remote data processing system, in response to detecting the occurrence the denial of service attack.
US07779469B2 Provisioning an operating environment of a remote computer
Systems and techniques are provided for controlling requests for resources from remote computers. A remote computer's ability to access a resource is determined based upon the computer's operating environment. The computer or computers responsible for controlling access to a resource will interrogate the remote computer to ascertain its operating environment. The computer or computers responsible for controlling access to a resource may, for example, download one or more interrogator agents onto the remote computer to determine its operating environment. Based upon the interrogation results, the computer or computers responsible for controlling access to a resource will control the remote computer's access to the requested resource.
US07779466B2 Systems and methods for anomaly detection in patterns of monitored communications
The present invention is directed to systems and methods for enhancing electronic communication security. A communication transmitted over a communications network is received and tested by a collection engine to generate data associated with the received communication. An analysis engine analyzes the data generated by the collection engine along with data associated with previously received communications to whether an anomaly exists. If an anomaly exists with respect to the received communication, an action engine initiates a predetermined response.
US07779449B2 Secured network processor
A method and system for sharing data between networks comprises an interface for receiving data from plural inputs; a policy-based router operationally connected to the interface, the policy-based router assigns security levels to the data based on security characteristics of the inputs and the policy-based router assigns virtual Internet protocol addresses to the data; a memory for retaining the data with the Internet protocol addresses, the memory being operationally connected to the policy-based router; a translator for converting the data into a standard format; and a network stack for transmitting the data to a network. The method includes assigning security levels to the data based on security characteristics of the inputs; assigning virtual Internet protocol addresses to the data; retaining the data with the Internet protocol addresses; converting the data into a standard format; and transmitting the data to a network.
US07779448B2 Virtual channel table for a broadcast protocol and method of broadcasting and receiving broadcast signals using the same
A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel.
US07779446B2 System for remotely controlling client recording and storage behavior
A system for remotely controlling client recording and storage behavior schedules the recording, storing, and deleting of multimedia content on a client system storage device. The invention accepts as input a prioritized list of program viewing preferences which is compared with a database of program guide objects that indicate when programs of interest are actually broadcast. A schedule of time versus available storage space is generated that is optimal for the viewer's explicit or derived preferred content. The viewer may request that certain content be captured, which results in the highest possible priority for those content. The invention provides objects called a capture requests that are sent by the service to client systems. Capture requests reflect local storage management decisions about how the client system storage is partitioned. Capture requests also allow the service to determine content to be recorded by the client system in the same manner that a viewer requests that certain content are recorded but are more powerful than what a viewer can request. Recording requests for a capture request can preempt viewer requests or be entered at the same or lower priority as a viewer request. Capture requests can adjust all aspects of a recording request and affect the capture request itself. Client system operational functionality are also manipulated by the service using capture requests.
US07779445B2 Interactive television systems with digital video recording and adjustable reminders
An interactive television system is provided in which an interactive television application is used to support network-based or local personal video recorder capabilities. A user may use this application to view lists of program listings. The user may select a program listing of interest. The interactive television application may allow the user to set a reminder for the selected program at the scheduled broadcast time. This application may also allow the user to set a reminder for the selected program at a later time at which the program is not scheduled to be broadcast. The user may be provided with a reminder at this later time. In response, the user may direct the network-based or local personal video recorder to play back the program or may defer the reminder again. The interactive television application may collect information on program usage and popularity to determine how long to retain certain programming.
US07779442B1 Information distribution system
This invention relates to an information delivery system and method, an information transmission apparatus and method, and an information receiving apparatus and method for delivering a digital multi-channel service signal through a satellite and a cable network. A QPSK demodulation circuit demodulates an inputted TS and outputs it to an error correction circuit. The error correction circuit corrects the inputted signal and outputs it to a network information (NIT) conversion circuit. The NIT conversion circuit replaces the NIT for CS waves with NIT for cable TV and outputs it to a QAM demodulation circuit. The QAM demodulation circuit demodulates the inputted signal and pouts it to a frequency conversion circuit. The frequency conversion circuit converts the frequency of the inputted signal into a predetermined value and outputs the signal to a signal mixer.
US07779433B2 3D actuator for optical disc system
An optical pick-up actuator includes a lens holder having tracking and focusing coils which substantially extend in two parallel planes at a side of the lens holder. A magnet system cooperates with the tracking and focusing coils and is arranged separately from the lens holder and extends beyond the planes. The coils are arranged for effecting tilt through cooperation with the magnet system and may be provided at each of two opposite sides of the lens holder.
US07779427B2 Automated application configuration using device-provided data
Described is a technology by which a device pre-enables application programs of a computer system to work with the device when the device is connected to the computer system. A set of data is obtained from a device, such as by an installer at installation time. The set of data includes information that identifies one or more computer system application programs that the device desires to work with when each application program runs. When the data set is obtained, the application program is enabled (e.g., given appropriate permissions) such that the application program may communicate data with the device when the program is run on the computer system. In one implementation, a device driver provides an installer with access to the data set, which may also include additional information such as application configuration parameters. The installer may be automatically run on the computer system upon initial device detection.
US07779418B2 Publisher flow control and bounded guaranteed delivery for message queues
Techniques for managing messages in computer systems are provided. In one embodiment, in response to a publisher attempting to enqueue a message in a queue, a determination is made whether a condition is satisfied. The condition is based on the current usage of the queue by the publisher. Based on whether the condition is satisfied, a decision is made whether to enqueue the message in the queue. The decision whether to enqueue the message may comprise restricting the publisher from enqueueing any more messages in the queue until the same or a different condition is satisfied.
US07779413B2 Method of assigning available resources for internal and external users at start time of scheduled time period based on program reservations information
Necessary resources are assigned to programs based on a program reservation information management table in which each of the programs is associated with a necessary resource quantity for execution of the program and execution scheduled time period as program reservation information. When the program reservation information is entered through a terminal, a free resource quantity management table in which available resource quantities are associated with respective time periods is referred to, and it is determined whether the available resource quantity for the execution scheduled time period is at or above the necessary resource quantity. When having determined that the available resource quantity is at or above the necessary resource quantity, the necessary resource quantity is subtracted from the available resource quantity, and the subtracting result is written as a new value of the available resource quantity into the free resource quantity management table, and the program reservation information is written into the program reservation information management table.
US07779412B2 Task scheduling method for low power dissipation in a system chip
A system chip includes a plurality of processing elements for performing primary computations of a plurality of tasks, a plurality of non-processing elements for controlling flow of data associated with the tasks among the processing elements, and a main controller including a scheduler, a resource allocation module, and a power management module. The scheduler assigns the tasks on the processing and non-processing elements with reference to time parameters of the processing and non-processing elements. The resource allocation module controls operations of the processing and non-processing elements with reference to task assignments determined by the scheduler. The power management module performs dynamic voltage management upon the processing and non-processing elements according to the scheduled tasks.
US07779411B2 System, method and medium for providing asynchronous input and output with less system calls to and from an operating system
A system, method and medium for reducing the number of system calls from an application program to an operating system kernel. In an embodiment, a method includes the steps of creating a list of requests issued by an application program, associating an indicia with the list indicating whether the list contains a request, querying the indicia to determine if the list contains a request, and adding a new application program request to the list when the indicia indicates that the list includes a request.
US07779410B2 Control interfaces for distributed system applications
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for control interfaces for distributed system applications. A method includes, at an application deployed on a first computing system in a grid computing environment, monitoring a communication channel connecting the first computing system to a second computing system, receiving a command over the communication channel from the second computing system, and in response to the received command, generating a descriptor file including descriptions of one or more actions to be performed by the second computing system in order to move the application from the first computing system to a third computing system.
US07779407B2 Computer-hardware, life-extension apparatus and method
A computer hardware life-extension apparatus and method is disclosed to circumvent hardware-dependent software installation locks, imposed by selected software packages, which may artificially enforce compliance with a minimum set of hardware requirements before allowing installation. Various techniques may be used to circumvent the artificial hardware locks, thereby effectively extending the useful life, and delaying the forced obsolescence, of selected computer hardware. An apparatus and method in accordance with the invention may be used to extend the life of a wide variety of computer hardware, including but not limited to processors, main memory, secondary storage devices, and the like.
US07779406B2 Method and system for managing lifecycles of deployed applications
Described is managing the changing of software implementations such as applications deployed to enterprise client users or machines. Precedence relationships between deployed applications are specified. To determine which applications to install for a given client, the precedence is applied to the subset of applications assigned or published to the client. At logon or machine reboot, an upgrade process evaluates the deployed applications and any upgrade relationships, setting applications for removal or installation. A user may also install an application that has been designated as optional. Also described is an application lifecycle model for replacing applications. For example, administrators can phase in upgrades as a pilot to a small group of users, roll out upgrades to a larger group, and then provide the application to all users. Upgrades may be mandatory or optional, and replaced programs may be removed and then replaced, or overlaid during installation.
US07779394B2 Software self-defense systems and methods
Systems and methods are disclosed for protecting a computer program from unauthorized analysis and modification. Obfuscation transformations can be applied to the computer program's local structure, control graph, and/or data structure to render the program more difficult to understand and/or modify. Tamper-resistance mechanisms can be incorporated into the computer program to detect attempts to tamper with the program's operation. Once an attempt to tamper with the computer program is detected, the computer program reports it to an external agent, ceases normal operation, and/or reverses any modifications made by the attempted tampering. The computer program can also be watermarked to facilitate identification of its owner. The obfuscation, tamper-resistance, and watermarking transformations can be applied to the computer program's source code, object code, or executable image.
US07779393B1 System and method for efficient verification of memory consistency model compliance
A system for efficiently verifying compliance with a memory consistency model includes a test module and an analysis module. The test module may coordinate an execution of a multithreaded test program on a test platform. If the test platform provides an indication of the order in which writes from multiple processing elements are performed at shared memory locations, the analysis module may use a first set of rules to verify that the results of the execution correspond to a valid ordering of events according to a memory consistency model. If the test platform does not provide an indication of write ordering, the analysis module may use a second set of rules to verify compliance with the memory consistency model.
US07779390B1 Thread-safe remote debugger
A thread-safe debugging system and method including a thread-safe debug service library and a thread-safe remote control library residing on at least one client computer system. The client and server libraries provide APIs which allow multi-threaded applications executing on the client computer system to take advantage of debug services in a thread-safe and dynamic manner. The remote control library provides third party applications the capability to initiate and manage the debug services on the client dynamically and remotely. The debug services may include providing debug output, listing the one or more debug objects in the multi-threaded application, listing the state of each debug object, turning on or off any debug object by name or pattern, directing the debug output to a remote location, allowing multiple remote diagnostic applications to view the debug output of the application, and logging statistical or performance information. The debug print function provides debug output for one or more threads of the multi-threaded application such that the debug output of each thread remains distinct from the debug output of the other threads. Thread safety may be ensured through the use of thread-safe mechanisms such as locks.
US07779389B2 System and method for dynamic VM settings
A deployable template structure is described. In an embodiment, the deployable template structure includes sections for virtual machines deployable, filters, and component configuration settings. Parameters for the virtual machine section are broken down into three groups: memory, system, and additional.
US07779388B2 System and methods for providing a declarative syntax for specifying SOAP-based web services
A system and methods are provided that make compile-time declarative modeling available for SOAP-based data transmission(s). The declarative modeling minimizes the amount of coding required of a developer. The underlying details regarding the SOAP protocol, dispatching to the appropriate object and function, marshaling and un-marshaling of XML and generating the SOAP response are hidden from the developer when implementing SOAP-based Web services. The task of creating a SOAP-based web service is thus greatly simplified by reducing the number and complexity of considerations required of the developer when generating SOAP-based Web services. In one embodiment, attributes for Visual C++ are utilized as a framework for a declarative syntax for SOAP-based Web services, which Visual C++ attributes have access to type and marshaling information.
US07779383B2 Composition model and composition validation algorithm for ubiquitous computing applications
Modeling a component-based application includes modeling communication capabilities of components of the application, modeling a plan for interlinking components of the application, modeling communications capabilities of a compound component composed of a plurality of constituent components, and determining if interlinked components are compatible to communicate validly in the application.
US07779382B2 Model checking with bounded context switches
Validity of one or more assertions for any concurrent execution of a plurality of software instructions with at most k−1 context switches can be determined. Validity checking can account for execution of the software instructions in an unbounded stack depth scenario. A finite data domain representation can be used. The software instructions can be represented by a pushdown system. Validity checking can account for thread creation during execution of the plurality of software instructions.
US07779379B2 Template-based gateway model routing system
A routing tool allows a user to create a set of routing templates, each specifying the shape of a routing corridor and identifying the corridor's terminal edges. Each routing template also specifies a set of constraints on routing of an unspecified number of conductors that are to be routed between the corridor's terminal edges. To direct the tool to create a routing plan for a particular set of conductors in a particular routing space, the user selects one of the routing templates and modifies the routing template if necessary to adjust the specified shape of the corridor to match that of the particular routing space or to adjust its specified routing constraints if necessary to accommodate any particular routing constraints to be imposed on that set of conductors. The routing tool then processes the modified routing template to generate the routing plan for routing the set of conductors between the terminal edges of the specified corridor in a manner that satisfies the specified routing constraints.
US07779378B2 Computer program product for extending incremental verification of circuit design to encompass verification restraints
An incremental verification method includes eliminating verification constraints from a first netlist and using the resulting netlist to create a constraint-free composite netlist suitable for determining equivalence between the first netlist and a second netlist of a design. Eliminating a constraint from a netlist may include adding a modified constraint net where the modified constraint net is FALSE for all cycles after any cycle in which the original constraint is FALSE. The method may include, instead of eliminating constraints, determining that the verification result is a target-not-asserted result and that the second netlist constraints are a superset of the first netlist constraints or that the verification result is a target-asserted result and that the first netlist constraints are a superset of the second netlist constraints. In either case, the method may include creating the composite netlist by importing all of the original constraints into the composite netlist.
US07779373B2 Position-dependent variation amount computation method and circuit analysis method
Using layout position information as input, in a position-dependent variation amount calculation step, position-dependent variation amount information which is a variation amount of a characteristic parameter or a shape parameter variable depending on an arrangement position of each element constituting a design target semiconductor integrated circuit is calculated. Thereafter, a simulation is performed using circuit information. In the simulation, a value for the circuit information is corrected according to a position-dependent variation amount of the position-dependent variation amount information, and a result of the simulation is calculated. Accordingly, a simulation for a circuit characteristic using a variation amount depending on an arrangement position of a device and the like can be performed with layout position information for a semiconductor integrated circuit.
US07779371B2 Methods, systems and user interface for evaluating product designs in light of promulgated standards
Interactive, computer implemented systems and methods for analyzing issues raised by promulgated industry standards for complex electrical product and system design. Data and information related to the electrical system and to the promulgated standards of interest are archived in the system databases, and with an intuitive menu driven user interface and graphic displays, interested users may rather quickly evaluate complex product designs for certification with desired promulgated standards applicable to the product and system design.
US07779369B1 Method for the graphic representation and/or processing values of data types
In a method for graphically representing and/or processing values of data types of a formally defined data structure existing as a value tree, a window is assigned as a graphical user interface to the data structure. Generic, scalable, graphical user-interface components are inserted hierarchically in the window, the value tree of the data structure being mapped onto the user-interface components. The graphical user-interface components are in a relation to the nodes of the value tree that is recognizable to the user. A graphical or textual representation of the value is selectable for each subtree of the value tree.
US07779368B2 Systems and methods for presenting managed data
Systems and methods for presenting managed data from one or more applications are invented and disclosed. A data storage management system comprises a data store, a data storage manager, and a graphical user interface. The data storage manager is communicatively coupled to the data store and configured to allocate and use logical and physical storage elements of the data store via an application instance. The graphical user interface exposes data storage in application specific storage units. A method for managing data comprises coupling a data store to one or more applications, allocating storage on the data store in accordance with respective storage requirements expressed as an application instance associated with each of the one or more applications, and using a graphical user interface to expose the data store in application storage units associated with the one or more applications.
US07779366B2 Graphics stack system and method
A system and method are provided for drawing graphics, such as to display a user interface on a display of a mobile device. A graphics stack is used to store pre-computed coordinate values to improve performance for drawing graphics, such as to display a user interface on a display of a mobile device.
US07779360B1 Map user interface
A first map comprising one or more selectable regions is arranged in an interface environment. Each of the one or more selectable regions are associated with respective content. The interface environment also includes an abstraction associated with at least one of the one or more selectable regions, wherein the interface environment is configured to display a second map representing the at least one of the one or more selectable regions based upon an event.
US07779357B2 Audio user interface for computing devices
An audio user interface that generates audio prompts that help a user interact with a user interface of a computing device is disclosed. The audio prompts can provide audio indicators that allow a user to focus his or her visual attention upon other tasks such as driving an automobile, exercising, or crossing a street, yet still enable the user to interact with the user interface. As examples, the audio prompts provided can audiblize the spoken version of a user interface selection, such as a selected function or a selected (e.g., highlighted) menu item of a display menu. The computing device can be, for example, a media player such as an MP3 player, a mobile phone, or a personal digital assistant.
US07779356B2 Enhanced data tip system and method
Displaying data sub-items corresponding to a cursor-selected object displayed on a computer screen involves determining that a cursor is positioned to point at an object on the computer screen, loading the cursor-selected object, evaluating the cursor-selected object to determine it has a fixed value, has related data sub-items or if the related data sub-items are capable of expansion into lower-tier sub-items. The values for the object and the related data sub-items are assembled and displayed in a window that indicates the values of the object and the related data sub-items along with an indication of a presence of lower-tier sub-items which can in turn be further examined.
US07779355B1 Techniques for using paper documents as media templates
Techniques for creating a composite image are provided. The techniques include receiving an electronic representation of a paper document. Features in the electronic representation are then extracted and compared to recorded information to determine matching information. For example, the matching information may be presentations and/or pages in the recorded information. Information is then determined based on the matching information and the received electronic representation. The composite electronic representation is then created using the determined information.
US07779354B2 Method and data processing system for recognizing and correcting dyslexia-related spelling errors
A method, computer program product, and a data processing system for recognizing and correcting dyslexia-related spelling errors is provided. A word is received for evaluation of a dyslexia-related misspelling. The received word is compared with a plurality of dyslexia variants, and a match between the received word and a dyslexia variant is identified. An error rate at which dyslexia-related misspelled words are received is compared with a threshold, and the read word is evaluated as one of a correctly spelled word and a dyslexia-related misspelling of a word.
US07779353B2 Error checking web documents
Error checking for web documents may be provided. Text errors within a web page are identified by determining text to be error checked within content used in generating a web page and by determining where the text is located within the web page. The text is sent to an error checking module, and errors are displayed to a user.
US07779350B2 Dynamic creation of an application's XML document type definition (DTD)
The system, method and program of the invention enables a new DTD to be dynamically created during runtime from a preexisting DTD. A next document is processed and validated according to the new DTD. An interface is provided that enables plug-in providers to provide fragments of DTD information for at least one new element to be added and the name of the element that is to be added to an existing parameter entity. All of the fragments from each plug-in provider are concatenated together and combined with the static header information of the preexisting DTD to form the new DTD.
US07779349B2 Method for adapting a K-means text clustering to emerging data
A method and structure for clustering documents in datasets which include clustering first documents and a first dataset to produce first document classes, creating centroid seeds based on the first document classes, and clustering second documents in a second dataset using the centroid seeds, wherein the first dataset and the second dataset are related. The clustering of the first documents in the first dataset forms a first dictionary of most common words in the first dataset and generates a first vector space model by counting, for each word in the first dictionary, a number of the first documents in which the word occurs, and clusters the first documents in the first dataset based on the first vector space model, and further generates a second vector space model by counting, for each word in the first dictionary, a number of the second documents in which the word occurs. Creation of the centroid seeds includes classifying second vector space model using the first document classes to produce a classified second vector space model and determining a mean of vectors in each class in the classified second vector space model, the mean includes the centroid seeds.
US07779348B2 Apparatus, system, and method for rendering multiple segment hypertext script
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for rendering multiple segment hypertext script. An identification module identifies a plurality of segments in a hypertext script. Each segment is delimited by at least one tag and includes an instruction for rendering a segment display region that is a portion of a display image described by the hypertext script. A calculation module calculates display coordinates for each segment display region. The display coordinates specify the spatial location and dimensions of the segment display region. A format module formats each segment as an independently displayable formatted segment hypertext script configured to be displayed within the corresponding segment display region. A rendition module renders each formatted segment hypertext script within the corresponding segment display region as a Java object using Java functionality.
US07779344B1 System and method for creating a value-based stacked bar chart
There is provided a system and method for creating a value-based stacked bar chart. More specifically, in one embodiment, there is provided a computer readable medium comprising code adapted to sort a plurality of data entries by transaction value, wherein the plurality of data entries correspond to a stack type; code adapted to assign each of the plurality of data entries to one or more cells associated with the stack type, code adapted to assign a color to the one or more cells, and code adapted to shade the color of a subset of the one or more cells based on the transaction value of the data entries assigned to the cells in the subset.
US07779339B2 ACS circuit
An ACS circuit includes: a basic DPM retaining section (11) for retaining basic DPMs (differential path metrics); a basic DPM calculating section (12) for calculating the basic DPMs; a reference DPM calculating section (13) for calculating reference DPMs, which are DPMs other than the basic DPMs; a basic DBM calculating section (14) for calculating basic DBMs (differential branch metrics), which are DBMs necessary for calculating the basic DPMs; and a path selecting section (15) for selecting the most likely paths for Viterbi decoding in accordance with the basic DPMs, the reference DPMs and the basic DBMs. The basic DPM calculating section (12) calculates new basic DPMs in accordance with the basic DPMs, the reference DPMs, the basic DBMs, and the results of the most likely path selection by the path selecting section (15).
US07779333B2 Semiconductor memory having embedded microcomputer with ECC function
There is provided a semiconductor device of which the circuit scale does not significantly increase even with an ECC function. A microcomputer having an internal flash memory inserts one weight in a sense amplifier activation signal only when an error detection signal is on the H level at a given time in a read cycle or when the error detection signal which was on the H level in a previous read cycle has shifted to the L level in a current read cycle. This allows the retrieval of output data signals after waiting till the output data signals through error correction are determined only when an error is contained in the output data signals.
US07779330B1 Method and apparatus for computing checksum of packets
A network interface includes a control module and a transmit module. The control module reads a segment of a packet and stores the segment in memory of the network interface when a size of the packet is greater than a size of the memory. The control module generates a partial checksum for the packet based on the segment. The control module reads a remainder of the packet at a first time and updates the partial checksum based on the remainder to generate a final checksum for the packet. The control module reads the remainder at a second time, where the second time is subsequent to the first time. The transmit module transmits the segment from the memory and transmits the remainder read at the second time.
US07779329B2 Method for a general near optimal turbo code trellis termination
A method of terminating two or more constituent encoders of a turbo encoder employing a turbo code, comprising the step of: generating tail input bits at each of two or more constituent encoders, including deriving the tail input bits from each of the two or more constituent encoders separately from a contents of shift registers within each of the two or more constituent encoders, after an encoding of information bits by the two or more constituent encoders; puncturing one or more tail output bits such that 1/R output tail bits are transmitted for each of a plurality of trellis branches, wherein R is a turbo code rate employed by the turbo encoder during an information bit transmission. In yet another variation, the step of puncturing the tail output bits further comprises the step of: transmitting, during trellis termination, the tail output bits, only if they are sent from an output branch of one of the two or more constituent encoders that are used during information bit transmission.
US07779328B2 Method and apparatus for efficiently decoding concatenated burst in a WiBro system
A method and apparatus for decoding a concatenated burst in a WiBro system are provided. A concatenated decoder fragments a received burst into fragment blocks, decodes at least one of the fragment blocks, and determines whether the decoded fragment block satisfies a circular state. A concatenated decoding controller determines burst quality information of the received burst according to a circular state check result on the decoded fragment block, and determines whether to stop decoding on the received burst according to the burst quality information.
US07779325B2 Data detection and decoding system and method
A data detection and decoding system includes a SOVA channel detector that uses single parity (SOVASP) to improve the accuracy with which the detector estimates bits. Each column or row read back from the read channel constitutes a code word and each code word is encoded to satisfy single parity. Because the SOVASP channel detector detects whether each code word satisfies single parity, it is unnecessary to use both a column decoder and a row decoder in the channel decoder. Either the row decoder or the column decoder can be eliminated depending on whether bits are read back on a column-by-column basis or on a row-by-row basis. This reduction in components reduces hardware complexity and improves system performance. The output of the row or column decoder is received by a second detector that processes the output received from the decoder to recover the original information bits.
US07779319B1 Input-output device testing including delay tests
Integrated circuits may include at least an instruction processor and input-output subsystems. Each input-output subsystem includes a wrapper circuit a wrapper circuit controlled by the instruction processor. The wrapper circuit includes two or more scan registers, where a data value stored in each scan register can be shifted out for analysis. The wrapper circuit also includes two or more update registers to transfer stored data values between itself and an associated scan register. The wrapper circuit also includes a set of combinatorial logic coupled to the scan registers, the update registers and the instruction test processor, wherein at least two I/Os of the plurality of I/Os but less than all of the plurality of I/Os couple to an external tester.
US07779316B2 Method of testing memory array at operational speed using scan
A method and system for testing a chip at functional (operational) speed. The chip may include an integrated circuit having a number flops and memory arrays arranged into logically functioning elements. Additional flops may be included to output to one or more of the other flops in order to provide inputs to the flops at the functional speed such that the receiving flops executing at the functional speed according to the received input at a next functional clock pulse to facilitate testing the chip at the functional speed.
US07779315B2 Semiconductor memory device having a single input terminal to select a buffer and method of testing the same
A semiconductor memory device has a single input terminal to select a buffer and includes input-output terminals, input-output buffers, a memory core, and a buffer selecting unit. The input-output terminals include address input terminals, data input-output terminals and an input terminal to select a buffer. The input-output buffers are coupled to the data input-output terminals respectively. The memory core is coupled to the input-output buffers through input-output lines. The buffer selecting unit generates a parallel buffer select signal based on an expected signal having a pulse stream, wherein the expected signal is provided via the input terminal to select a buffer in a test mode, and applies the parallel buffer select signal to the plurality of input-output buffers to select a corresponding input-output buffer. Hence, the semiconductor memory device may increase efficiency of a pin in a test device.
US07779313B2 Testing apparatus and testing method
Provided is test apparatus with higher testing efficiency, including: plurality of pattern generating sections generating test pattern to supply to devices under test; group control section controlling group of pattern generating sections out of the pattern generating sections, and generating control signal upon receiving signal output from any pattern generating section controlled; range information storage section storing range information indicating range of pattern generating sections, out of the pattern generating sections, that serve to test one independent device under test; and comprehensive control section receiving the control signal from the group control section, identifying any pattern generating section that supplies the test pattern to the same device under test as that to which the pattern generating section having output the signal supplies the test pattern based on the range information, and in response to the control signal, controlling any other group control section that controls the identified pattern generating section.
US07779311B2 Testing and recovery in a multilayer device
Disclosed are systems and methods of producing electronic devices including an auxiliary circuit mounted on another, underlying, circuit at the wafer level. The auxiliary circuit is electrically connected to the underlying circuit via micro-scale interconnects. The systems are capable of testing the auxiliary circuit and/or interconnects using an interface within the underlying circuit. For example, the auxiliary circuit may be tested although it is mounted such that the interconnects are hidden, i.e., inaccessible for testing purposes after assembly using conventional testing systems and methods.The systems and methods further allow for including excess circuits and/or excess interconnects that can be reconfigured to replace parts of the auxiliary circuit and/or micro-scale interconnects found defective during testing.
US07779309B2 Correlating complex errors with generalized end-user tasks
A system for reporting and/or displaying errors in a system that affect end-user tasks includes mechanisms for gathering, interpreting and displaying application status information in a convenient display. In one implementation, for example, distributed application programs in a system are configured to provide status reports (e.g., positive, negative, pending) to a centralized reporting service. The centralized service stores the status information in a database. An event interpreter module queries the database to identify the status of certain application components that affect or otherwise implicate performance of generalized end-user tasks, such as sending/receiving email, logging-in to the network, accessing the internet, remote computer management, or the like. A graphical user interface can then display this information to the administrator in a way that immediately indicates what end-user tasks might be affected by failure or correct execution of a given application component, as well as suggested corrective action as needed.
US07779308B2 Error processing across multiple initiator network
An architecture for error log processing is provided. Each error log is given a defined priority and mapped to an error recovery procedure (ERP) to be run if the log is seen. The system has a plurality of software layers to process the errors. Each software layer processes the error independently. Errors are reported to a higher software stack when error recovery fails from the lower stack ERPs and recovery is non-transparent. If the system host identified for error processing fails, the control of the ERP is transferred during the failover process. Non-obvious failed component isolating ERPs are grouped to be run together to assist in isolating the failed component. Prioritization of the error systems may be based on a plurality of criteria. ERPs are assigned to run within a particular software stack.
US07779302B2 Automated testing framework for event-driven systems
Techniques for programmatically coordinating, and synchronizing execution of, automated testing in event-driven systems. One or more user-provided test system event listeners listen for generated events and update test system status accordingly. A user-provided test suite definition invokes a test framework interface, thereby defining the structure of a test suite. This test suite is executed, referring to the test system status to determine when to move to a next stage (e.g., to a next test case or next test module). Test system status may also be updated directly from a test case or test module (e.g., when the test designer determines that the tested code will not generate events that can be leveraged for test status information).
US07779299B2 Efficiently re-starting and recovering synchronization operations between a client and server
Systems, methods and computer program products for efficiently re-starting and/or recovering interrupted synchronizations between a client and a server are described herein. A server transmits sync data to a client during a synchronization operation. The sync is interrupted for some reason prior to the client receiving all of the sync data. The client sends to the server a request to re-start the synchronization operation. The request includes information that identifies a point in the sync data that was received by the client prior to interruption of the sync. Such information may include (a) information identifying the last data received by the client prior to interruption of the sync; and/or (b) information identifying the next data needed by the client upon re-start of the sync. Thereafter, the server re-starts the sync by transmitting to the client the sync data starting from said point in said sync data identified by said request.
US07779298B2 Distributed job manager recovery
A method is provided for the recovery of an instance of a job manager running on one of a plurality of nodes used to execute the processing elements associated with jobs that are executed within a cooperative data stream processing system. The states of the processing elements are checkpointed to a persistence mechanism in communication with the job manager. From the checkpointed processing element states, the state of each distributed job is determined and checkpointed. Processing element states are also checkpointed locally to the nodes one which the processing elements are running. Following a failure of the job manager, the job manager is reinstantiated on one of the nodes. The recovery instance of the job manger obtains state data for processing elements and jobs from the persistence mechanism and constructs an initial state for jobs and processing elements. These initial states are reconciled against the current states of the processing elements and adjustments are made accordingly. Once the job and processing element states are reconciled, the system is returned to normal operation.
US07779295B1 Method and apparatus for creating and using persistent images of distributed shared memory segments and in-memory checkpoints
A method and apparatus that enable quick recovery from failure or restoration of an application state of one or more nodes, applications, and/or communication links in a distributed computing environment, such as a cluster. Recovery or restoration is facilitated by regularly saving persistent images of the in-memory checkpoint data and/or of distributed shared memory segments using snapshots of the committed checkpoint data. When one or more nodes fail, the snapshots can be read and used to restart the application in the most recently-saved state prior to the failure or rollback the application to an earlier state.
US07779291B2 Four site triangular asynchronous replication
Storing recovery data for a data center includes providing synchronous data from the data center to a local destination, providing chunks of data from the local destination to a first remote destination, different from the first remote destination, and providing chunks of data from the data center to a second remote destination. At least some of the destinations may maintain a plurality of maps, where each of the maps associates synchronous data being provided to the local destination with a specific chunk of data. In response to receiving an indicator in connection with creation of a new chunk of data, the at least some of the destinations that maintain a plurality of maps may point to a new map. There may be two maps or more than two maps.
US07779289B2 Methods and data processing systems for sharing a clock between non-secured and secured tasks
A method and a system of sharing of a clock by an electronic circuit between at least one first task clocked by at least one first counter and at least one second task clocked by a second counter, the two counters varying at the rate of said clock, the content of the first counter plus or minus an offset value being, on each execution of the second task, assigned to the second counter.
US07779286B1 Design tool clock domain crossing management
Methods and apparatus are provided for allowing efficient clock domain crossing management in programmable chip systems. Components associated with different clock domains can be analyzed. Clock domain crossing components are automatically selected from a library of clock domain crossing components to allow connection between disparate clock domains. Clock domain crossing components can be shared, chained, and intelligently selected for increased efficiency.
US07779285B2 Memory system including independent isolated power for each memory module
A memory system including independent power for each memory module. The memory system includes a plurality of memory modules each including a plurality of memory chips configured to store data. The memory system further includes a power conversion unit coupled to provide power to each of the plurality of memory modules via a respective power conduit. Each of the respective power conduits is electrically isolated from each other power conduit.
US07779284B2 Techniques for operating a processor subsystem to service masked interrupts during a power-down sequence
A technique of operating a processor subsystem masks interrupts to the processor subsystem during a power-down sequence of a processor of the processor subsystem. A boot vector for the processor of the processor subsystem is set. The boot vector provides an address associated with a saved processor state. A current state of the processor is saved to provide the saved processor state. The technique determines whether one or more first masked interrupts occurred during the saving of the current state of the processor. The processor that is to be powered-down is stopped when the one or more first masked interrupts did not occur during the saving of the current state of the processor. The technique also determines whether one or more second masked interrupts occurred following the saving of the current state of the processor. The processor is powered-down when the one or more second masked interrupts did not occur following the saving of the current state of the processor.
US07779280B2 Low power mode for portable computer system
A computer system is configured to operate in a normal mode and in a reduced power mode. The normal mode utilizes a primary processor, which operates using a primary operating system. When system power is depleted to a defined level, the primary processor is shut down and certain operations are taken over by a low-power, secondary processor that operates using a secondary operating system.
US07779272B2 Hardware cryptographic engine and encryption method
A hardware cryptographic engine for encrypting transmission data may include a plurality of ciphertext engines that generate intermediate ciphertexts and final ciphertexts. At least one of the ciphertext engines may receive an intermediate ciphertext output from at least one neighboring ciphertext engine to generate a corresponding intermediate ciphertext and final ciphertext. A method of encrypting transmission data may include inputting a second intermediate ciphertext of a second ciphertext engine to a first ciphertext engine and generating a first intermediate ciphertext of the first ciphertext engine using the second intermediate ciphertext.
US07779270B2 Software self-defense systems and methods
Systems and methods are disclosed for protecting a computer program from unauthorized analysis and modification. Obfuscation transformations can be applied to the computer program's local structure, control graph, and/or data structure to render the program more difficult to understand and/or modify. Tamper-resistance mechanisms can be incorporated into the computer program to detect attempts to tamper with the program's operation. Once an attempt to tamper with the computer program is detected, the computer program reports it to an external agent, ceases normal operation, and/or reverses any modifications made by the attempted tampering. The computer program can also be watermarked to facilitate identification of its owner. The obfuscation, tamper-resistance, and watermarking transformations can be applied to the computer program's source code, object code, or executable image.
US07779269B2 Technique for preventing illegal invocation of software programs
A technique for preventing illegal invocation of software programs is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized as a method for preventing illegal invocation of software programs in a computer system having a first program that invokes a second program. The method may comprise generating a first digital signature for the first program. The method may also comprise making one or more permitted digital signatures available to the second program. The method may further comprise generating a first parameter for the first program, wherein the first parameter is cryptographically computed based on the first digital signature, a memory address for storing the first parameter, and a first system code that is unique to the computer system. The method may additionally comprise making the first parameter available to the second program.
US07779265B2 Access control list inheritance thru object(s)
An item inheritance system and method are provided. The item inheritance system can be employed to propagate access control information (e.g., an access control list) to one or more item(s), thus facilitating security of item(s). At least one of the item(s) is a compound item.The item inheritance system includes an input component that receives information associated with one or more items. The items can include container(s), object(s) and/or compound item(s). The system can be triggered by a change in security policy to the item(s), for example, adding and/or deleting a user's access to the item(s). Additionally, moving and/or copying a collection of items can further trigger the system.The system further includes a propagation component that propagates access control information to the item(s). For example, the propagation component can enforce the ACL propagation policies when a change to the security descriptor takes place at the root of a hierarchy.
US07779263B2 Security support apparatus and computer-readable recording medium recorded with program code to cause a computer to support security
In a computer to support security of information, a user authentication request is received as a request of remote operation call through a network, a user using an external application program is authenticated based on the user authentication request. An authentication result capable of detecting a falsification is generated, and the authentication result is returned as a response of the remote operation call to a request originator through the network.
US07779262B2 Security method using electronic signature
A security method using an electronic signature, which improves the performance of an electronic signature authentication by generating and verifying an electronic signature using a mediator, and acquires a forward security in an electronic signature generation and verification by adding a forward secure signature of semi-trusted party (SEM) to a partial signature value generated based on a secret key piece of the SEM. A public key and an optional secret key composed of two kinds of pieces are generated by a certificate authority in response to a request from a user terminal device. The secret key pieces are issued to the user terminal device and a semi-trusted party not to be overlapped with each other. A first signature piece generated from the issued pieces of the private key is transmitted to the user terminal device from the semi-trusted party when a certificate of the user terminal device is still valid.
US07779261B2 Method and system for digital watermarking
A method for applying a digital watermark to a content signal is disclosed. In accordance with such a method, a watermarking key is identified. The watermarking key includes a binary sequence and information describing application of that binary sequence to the content signal. The digital watermark is then encoded within the content signal at one or more locations determined by the watermarking key.
US07779259B2 Key agreement and transport protocol with implicit signatures
A key establishment protocol between a pair of correspondents includes the generation by each correspondent of respective signatures. The signatures are derived from information that is private to the correspondent and information that is public. After exchange of signatures, the integrity of exchange messages can be verified by extracting the public information contained in the signature and comparing it with information used to generate the signature. A common session key may then be generated from the public and private information of respective ones of the correspondents.
US07779258B2 Method for controlling security function execution with a flexible, extendable, and non-forgable block
A method, article, and system for providing an effective implementation of data structures, and application programming interface (API) functions that allow secure execution of functions behind a secure boundary. The controlling mechanism is a flexible, extendable, and non-forgeable block that details how values and parameters behind the secure boundary can be changed. The invention allows for one entity to execute a security function that will normally require extensive authorizations or dual or multiple control. The method and system comprise instructions that are cryptographically protected against alteration or misuse, wherein the instructions further comprise a trusted block that defines security policies that are permitted when an application program employs the trusted block in APIs. The trusted block has a number of fields containing rules that provide an ability to limit how the trusted block is used, thereby reducing the risk of the trusted block being employed in unintended ways.
US07779256B2 Reproducing apparatus, recording apparatus and display apparatus
A data reproducing method for a plurality of devices, for sending and receiving data by authenticating the plurality of devices with each other, said data reproducing method including: selecting, from a plurality of descrambling methods, a scrambling method corresponding to a type of said data, executing authentication by an authenticating method corresponding to the selected descrambling method, where the authenticating method is selected from a plurality of authenticating methods, and reproducing said data.
US07779255B2 Multi-level security systems
Techniques are disclosed for multi-level security (“MLS”) in computing systems. Communication between MLS systems in the prior art requires explicitly tagging each packet with its security classification. The packet tags comprise variable-length bit patterns inserted into packet headers. This results in a number of drawbacks, including increased path length and code complexity, as well as reduced interoperability. An MLS system according to the present invention simulates a cluster or collection of single-level security systems, and thereby avoids packet tagging. For each security classification used by an MLS system, a distinct source address is defined. This source address is used for outbound packets having that security classification, such that the packet's source address implicitly identifies the packet's security classification.
US07779254B1 Mechanism to enhance and enforce multiple independent levels of security in a microprocessor memory and I/O bus controller
The present invention is a system and a method for extending multiple independent levels of security to a plurality of input/output buses and components connected to the buses. In an exemplary embodiment, the system may include a processing unit suitable for operation in a plurality of security level. A bus controller including security control logic may be coupled to the processing unit for restricting access and flow of information between the physical memory and the plurality of buses. The bus controller may employ base address registers to allocate and map the physical memory to control which partitions of the physical memory are accessible to each of the plurality of buses and thus, a device connected to at least one of the plurality of buses.
US07779251B2 Information communication apparatus and method, information communication system, and memory medium
It is intended, in the mobile information terminal, to achieve compactization, cost reduction and reduction in the burden of information processing, while taking the enciphering process for the information into consideration.The cipher signal process unit for enciphering the transmission information and the cipher process selection unit for selecting whether or not to use the cipher signal process unit are provided to select whether or not to execute the enciphering of the transmission information, according to the necessity in executing the communication of information, thereby dispensing the enciphering process as far as possible and alleviating the burden of the process involved in the enciphering. Also by executing the enciphering or not respectively in case the deciphering is possible or not in the information receiving side, the cipher process means may be dispensed with in the information communication apparatus of the receiving side, whereby the apparatus of the receiving side can be made less expensive and smaller.
US07779248B2 Moving principals across security boundaries without service interruption
An improved network architecture employs a super authority having an identity catalog to direct login authentication tasks to appropriate authorities. Authentication tasks may be performed by authorities across namespace boundaries if so directed by the super authority, such that a principal account may be moved without alteration of the account ID. In an embodiment of the invention, the identity catalog comprises a listing associating account IDs with appropriate authenticating authorities.
US07779247B2 Method and system for dynamically implementing an enterprise resource policy
A rules evaluation engine that controls user's security access to enterprise resources that have policies created for them. This engine allows real time authorization process to be performed with dynamic enrichment of the rules if necessary. Logging, alarm and administrative processes for granting or denying access to the user are also realized. The access encompasses computer and physical access to information and enterprise spaces.
US07779246B2 Content and security proxy in a mobile communications system
A method and device is provided for making available security functions during the transmission of data from and to a subscriber terminal of a mobile communications network. A real-time analysis of the data flow from and to the subscriber terminal is carried out in a device of a network node of the mobile communications network during which data with contents defined beforehand by the subscriber or by a network operator/provider are identified and processed. This results in protecting the terminal and subscriber's devices connected thereto from external attacks.
US07779244B2 Multi-socket boot
In some embodiments, the invention involves a system and method to provide maximal boot-time parallelism for future multi-core, multi-node, and many-core systems. In an embodiment, the security (SEC), pre-EFI initialization (PEI), and then driver execution environment (DXE) phases are executed in parallel on multiple compute nodes (sockets) of a platform. Once the SEC/PEI/DXE phases are executed on all compute nodes having a processor, the boot device select (BDS) phase completes the boot by merging or partitioning the compute nodes based on a platform policy. Partitioned compute nodes each run their own instance of EFI. A common memory map may be generated prior to operating system (OS) launch when compute nodes are to be merged. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07779240B2 System and method for reducing power consumption in a data processor having a clustered architecture
There is disclosed a data processor having a clustered architecture that comprises at least one branching cluster, at least one non-branching cluster and remote conditional branching control circuitry. Each of the clusters is capable of computing branch conditions, though only the branching cluster is operable to perform branch address computations. The remote conditional branching control circuitry, which is associated with each of the clusters, is operable in response to sensing a conditional branch instruction in a non-branching cluster to (i) cause the branching cluster to compute a branch address and a next program counter address, (ii) cause the non-branching cluster to compute a branch condition, and (iii) communicate the computed branch condition from the non-branching cluster to the branching cluster. The data processor then uses the computed branch condition to select one of the branch address or the next program counter address.
US07779234B2 System and method for implementing a hardware-supported thread assist under load lookahead mechanism for a microprocessor
The present invention includes a system and method for implementing a hardware-supported thread assist under load lookahead mechanism for a microprocessor. According to an embodiment of the present invention, hardware thread-assist mode can be activated when one thread of the microprocessor is in a sleep mode. When load lookahead mode is activated, the fixed point unit copies the content of one or more architected facilities from an active thread to corresponding architected facilities in the first inactive thread. The load-store unit performs at least one speculative load in load lookahead mode and writes the results of the at least one speculative load to a duplicated architected facility in the first inactive thread.
US07779228B2 Quantum information processing device and method
Quantum information processing device includes resonator incorporating material containing physical systems, each of physical systems having at least four energy states, transition between two energy states of at least four energy states, and transition energy between at least two energy states of at least four energy states, at least four energy states being non-degenerate when magnetic field fails to be applied to physical systems, transition resonating in resonator mode that is in common between physical systems, each of at least four energy states representing a quantum bit, transition energy being shifted when magnetic field is applied to physical systems, and magnetic-field application unit configured to apply magnetic field having direction and intensity to material, to eliminate linear transition energy shift between two energy states included in physical systems, each of two energy states included in physical systems being with excluding two energy states resonating in resonator mode.
US07779225B2 Memory access method using three dimensional address mapping
A memory access method includes: obtaining a, b, and c from a program code for accessing a memory with a triple loop in a program, a being a number of values which an inner-most loop variable of the triple loop may have, b being a number of values which a middle loop variable of the triple loop may have, and c being a number of values which an outer-most loop variable of the triple loop may have; obtaining a starting address of the memory accessed by the triple loop; and obtaining an a×b×c number of addresses of the memory accessed by the triple loop using the starting address and a function.
US07779218B2 Data synchronization management
In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving, in a source controller, a signal indicative of a write request to a source volume managed by the source controller in response to the signal: writing data associated with the write request to a destination controller when a connection to the destination controller is available; and setting a synchronization flag associated with the data storage segment managed by the source controller when a connection to the destination controller is unavailable.
US07779214B2 Processing system having a supported page size information register
A processing system includes initialization software that is executable by a processor to identify one or more memory page sizes supported by the processing system. The supported memory page sizes that are identified by the initialization software are stored in one or more memory page size identification registers. Individual bits of the one or more memory page size identification registers may be respectively associated with a memory page size. Whether a memory page size is supported by the processing system may be determined by checking the logic state of the individual bit corresponding to the memory page size.
US07779211B2 Reducing latency in responding to a snoop request
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for receiving a snoop request, providing the snoop request to a coherency engine along a first path and providing the snoop request to a bypass logic along a bypass path, and generating a speculative invalid snoop response in the bypass logic and forwarding the speculative invalid snoop response to indicate that an address associated with the snoop response is not present in a cache memory. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07779208B2 Prefetch unit
In one embodiment, a processor comprises a prefetch unit coupled to a data cache. The prefetch unit is configured to concurrently maintain a plurality of separate, active prefetch streams. Each prefetch stream is either software initiated via execution by the processor of a dedicated prefetch instruction or hardware initiated via detection of a data cache miss by one or more load/store memory operations. The prefetch unit is further configured to generate prefetch requests responsive to the plurality of prefetch streams to prefetch data in to the data cache.
US07779203B2 RAID blocking determining method, RAID apparatus, controller module, and recording medium
For each RAID group to be determined for blocking, each disk is classified into three types of totalization unit based on the status of each disk belonging to the RAID group or the presence/absence of an access path to each disk, and the number of disks corresponding to each totalization unit is totalized. The totalization unit is a “used disk”, an “unused disk”, and a “loop-down disk”. The totalization result is compared with the threshold condition set for each RAID level (for example, “unused disk”=0 and “loop-down disk”=‘1 or more’), and the blocking possibility is determined.
US07779199B2 Storage device, computer system, and data writing method
A storage device that includes: a flash memory device being a main storage medium; a cache memory for use for the flash memory device; and a control circuit. In the storage device, based on a write command and address information provided from outside, the control circuit selects either the flash memory device or the cache memory as a writing destination of input data.
US07779194B2 Data modification module
The present invention relates to a microcontroller including a central processing unit, at least one memory, a bus coupling the storage location to the central processing unit, and a data modification module for modifying data in the at least one memory. The data modification module includes a first interface being coupled to the bus for transferring data to the at least one memory over the bus, and a second interface being adapted to be coupled to an external device for receiving the data, wherein the data modification module is adapted to operate as a bus master and to transfer data received from the external device over the bus to the at least one memory.
US07779192B2 Electronic device with card interface
When initializing a card-shaped device inserted in a card interface, operation mode acquiring means incorporated in an electronic device acquires operation mode information, stored in a register file incorporated in the card-shaped device, by a predetermined procedure using a predetermined pin. Operation mode setting means incorporated in the electronic device executes signal assignment on a plurality of data pins peculiar to an operation mode indicated by the acquired operation mode information, thereby switching a data transfer width, and allowing the card-shaped device to operate in the operation mode.
US07779189B2 Method, system, and computer program product for pipeline arbitration
A method for pipeline arbitration including receiving a first request for a shared chip interface from a first pipeline, determining whether a response bus of the shared chip interface is needed by the first request, and if it is determined that the response bus is not needed by the first request, concluding that the first request needs just an address bus of the shared chip interface, arbitrating the first request with a second request for the shared chip interface received from a second pipeline for access to the address bus, sending the first request to the address bus if the first request wins the arbitration over the second request, and rejecting the first request if the second request wins the arbitration over the first request. A corresponding system and computer program product.
US07779188B2 System and method to reduce memory latency in microprocessor systems connected with a bus
A system and method for signaling a deferred response to a data request in a bus connected system is described. In one embodiment, a responding agent on the bus issues a deferred response message when it cannot supply the requested data in a short period of time. When the responding agent knows that the requested data will shortly arrive in its buffers, it may first send an identification signal to the requesting agent, indicating to the requesting agent that it should prepare to receive the data shortly. After one or more bus clock cycles, the responding agent may then subsequently send the corresponding data message to the requesting agent.
US07779185B2 Communication between a media player and an accessory using a protocol with multiple lingoes
An interface and protocol allow a media player to communicate with external accessories over a transport link. The protocol includes a core protocol functionality and a number of accessory lingoes. Examples of accessory lingoes include a microphone lingo, a simple remote lingo, a display remote lingo, an RF transmitter lingo, and an extended interface lingo.
US07779179B2 Interface controller, method for controlling the interface controller, and a computer system
An interface controller is connected to a host apparatus and a memory, and receiving multiple responses to one request. The interface controller includes a packet generation unit which adds header data to a request issued by the host apparatus to generate a request packet and outputs the request packet to the memory, a receive buffer which stores a response packet with respect to the request packet, a protocol generation unit which generates a response according to a prescribed protocol based on the response packet stored in the receive buffer, and outputs the response to the host apparatus, a maximum division number calculation unit which calculates a maximum division number of the request issued by the host apparatus, and a request issue control unit which gives a request issue permission to the host apparatus based on the maximum division number calculated by the maximum division number calculation unit, a maximum division number of processed request and a maximum division number of processed response.
US07779178B2 Method and apparatus for application/OS triggered low-latency network communications
A data buffer that is a target for data received over a communication channel is examined, and a device associated with the communication channel is polled, to find, process, and return data transmitted over the channel. Other methods and apparatus to reduce network latency are described and claimed.
US07779176B2 System and method of multiple controller control management of shared peripheral circuits
A system and method for control management of shared peripheral circuits by a plurality of controllers is provided. Control of the peripherals is mediated through a shared signal controller which uses mask registers to ensure that only one controller may control a peripheral at any one time, and that the type of peripheral is matched to the type of controller.
US07779173B2 Direct memory access transfer completion notification
Methods, apparatus, and products are disclosed for DMA transfer completion notification that include: inserting, by an origin DMA engine on an origin compute node in an injection FIFO buffer, a data descriptor for an application message to be transferred to a target compute node on behalf of an application on the origin compute node; inserting, by the origin DMA engine, a completion notification descriptor in the injection FIFO buffer after the data descriptor for the message, the completion notification descriptor specifying an address of a completion notification field in application storage for the application; transferring, by the origin DMA engine to the target compute node, the message in dependence upon the data descriptor; and notifying, by the origin DMA engine, the application that the transfer of the message is complete, including performing a local direct put operation to store predesignated notification data at the address of the completion notification field.
US07779169B2 System and method for mirroring data
Disclosed is a method and system for preparing a mirror batch within a data processing system. Upon determining that a first open batch is approaching or has reached a completion criteria, a controller may cause system elements contributing data to the first open batch to cease acknowledging transaction requests while not ceasing to execute the transaction requests.
US07779168B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and computer-readable memory medium storing program for realizing the method
An information processing apparatus installs a first control program corresponding to a first peripheral device and a second control program for controlling a second peripheral device, the first and second control programs including a common module. The information processing apparatus has deciding means for deciding identification information of the common module so that the identification information of the common module which operates as a part of the first control program and the identification information of the common module which operates as a part of the second control program are made different.
US07779166B2 Using haptic effects to enhance information content in communications
Embodiments of the invention relate to methods and systems for providing customized “haptic messaging” to users of handheld communication devices in a variety of applications. In one embodiment, businesses and organizations may each be associated with a distinct haptic logo and include their haptic logos in various messages sent to the handheld communication devices of their customers. In another embodiment, haptically-enabled avatars can be used in a chat session between users of handheld communication devices.
US07779159B2 Apparatus and method for providing high speed download service of multimedia contents
An apparatus for downloading a multimedia file including a file converter configured to convert a larger multimedia file into a smaller multimedia file by deleting prescribed medial information based on a media format contained in the larger file. Further, the file converter converts the larger file into the smaller file by deleting multi bit-rate media not corresponding to a selected bit rate or by deleting enhancement layer video.
US07779158B2 Network device
In a network device which provides a predetermined network service according to a request of a user, an IP-address generating unit is configured to generate an IP address from a value having an association with the network service, the IP address indicating an objective association with the network service. A service provision unit is configured to set up the generated IP address for the network device to provide the network service using the generated IP address.
US07779156B2 Reputation based load balancing
Methods and systems for operation upon one or more data processors for efficiently processing communications based upon reputation of an entity associated with the communication.
US07779155B2 Method and systems for resource bundling in a communications network
A method for resource bundling comprises receiving at a network policer (110) a plurality of data flows having different class of service (CoS) priority levels and processing the data flows while sharing a user allocated bandwidth between the different CoS priority levels in a prioritized manner. The method and a system implementing it allow a single user to aggregate multiple CoS, thereby enabling the user to utilize an entire paid-for bandwidth.
US07779152B2 Establishing communication tunnels
A method for establishing a secure communications tunnel between a first node and a second node in a communication system includes a plurality of networks each having a respective tunnel control entity for controlling establishment of secure communications tunnels in the respective network. The first node operates in a first one of the networks and the second node operates in a second one of the networks. The method includes determining a route for the communications tunnel from the first network to the second network by way of one or more of the other networks. A request message digitally signed by the first node is formed and the identities of the tunnel control entity of the first network and the tunnel control entities of the other networks are included. The request message from the first node to the tunnel control entity of the second network is transmitted. In response to that message, the secure communication tunnel is established between the first node and the second node by way of the tunnel control entities identified in that message.
US07779148B2 Dynamic routing based on information of not responded active source requests quantity received in broadcast heartbeat signal and stored in local data structure for other processor chips
A mechanism for performing dynamic request routing based on broadcast source request information is provided. Each processor chip in the system may use a synchronized heartbeat signal it generates to provide source request information to each of the other processor chips in the system. The source request information identifies the number of active source requests sent by the processor chip that originated the heartbeat signal. The source request information from each of the processor chips in the system may be used by the processor chips in determining optimal routing paths for data from a source processor chip to a destination processor chip. As a result, the congestion of data for processing at each of the processor chips along each possible routing path may be taken into account when selecting to which processor chip to forward data.
US07779143B2 Scalable methods for detecting significant traffic patterns in a data network
Methods and apparatuses are provided for detecting traffic patterns in a data network. A sequential hashing scheme can be utilized that has D hash arrays. Each hash array i, wherein 1≦i≦D, includes Mi independent hash tables each having K buckets, with each of the buckets having an associated traffic total. Each of the keys corresponds with a single bucket of each of the Mi independent hash tables of each hash array i. The keys of the data network are partitioned into D words. As traffic is received for a key, a traffic total of each bucket that corresponds with a key is updated. The hash arrays can then be utilized to identify high traffic buckets of the independent hash tables having a traffic total greater than a threshold value. The high traffic buckets can be used to detect significant traffic patterns of the data network.
US07779142B1 Bandwidth allocation to support fast buffering
A system delivers a media stream to a client using a delivery bandwidth. The system adjusts an amount of the bandwidth used to deliver the media stream based on a state of a buffer associated with the client that receives and buffers the delivered media stream.
US07779141B2 Communication apparatus of a home security system
The invention provides a communication apparatus used inside a house, a communication system connected thereto, a communication process, and computer program used therefore. The communication apparatus of the present invention connected via a network to one or more terminal appliances in the house, communicates with the outside via two or more different communication configurations including a first communication configuration with a high speed digital transmission technique and a second communication configuration providing service for telephone subscribers. The communication apparatus is characterized in recognizing a situation thereby to disconnect the first communication configuration and to use only the second communication configuration for communication with the outside.
US07779138B2 Streaming content between media players configured to locate each other
The invention relates to a device for either generating or maintaining an organic data network having an dynamic topology, comprising a data processing unit, at least one data connection to a data network to which several devices provided with a data processing unit are connected by means of a data connection, and software having a receiving routine for receiving data packages of at least one transmitting device in the data network, a transmission routine for transmitting data packages, received from the transmitting device or devices in the data network to at least one receiving device that is connected to the data network, independent of the transmitting device or devices. Additionally the invention relates to a method and software for data packages received from a transmitting device to at least one receiving device, independent of said transmitting device.A device according to the invention can be used in for instance mobile phones, streaming internet applications and cable television.
US07779137B1 IP aliasing and address resolution using a fibre channel (FC) fabric name server
In one embodiment, a method for building a failover-enabled communications systems is provided. The method comprises clustering a plurality of Fiber Channel (FC) node devices to form a failover cluster. A primary link is established between a first FC node device in the failover cluster and a FC node device outside the failover cluster. In the event of failure of the primary link, a backup link is established between the FC node device outside the failover cluster and a second FC node device in the failover cluster.
US07779135B2 Centralized selection of peers as media data sources in a dispersed peer network
A hierarchical content distribution system includes a seeding server, a plurality of geographically distributed content platforms, and a distribution controller, all interconnected by a communications network. The seeding server initially receives content files for distribution to various content platforms that provide for the persistent storage of the content files. Each content platform includes a content file server responsive on-demand to requests for the transfer of content files. The distribution controller autonomously monitors the transfers of content files and selectively issues transfer directives to the content platforms to modify the distribution of content files among the content platforms. The content file servers respond to received transfer directives by issuing requests for the transfer of the directive identified content files, thereby conforming the specific distribution of content files to an optimal distribution pattern as determined by the distribution controller based on usage patterns.
US07779133B2 Estimation of web client response time
Apparatuses, methods, and systems directed to estimating response time and other performance metrics in network communications. Some embodiments of the invention allow users to monitor and estimate response time in real time. In other particular embodiments, the systems disclosed below can be used to estimate response time using server logs. In some embodiments, the present invention involves using open control blocks as a proxy to estimate the number of dropped connections.
US07779132B1 Method and apparatus for supporting multiple transport layer implementations under a socket interface
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for communicating data using a socket interface with multiple transport layer implementations. During operation the system creates a socket which can be used with a set of transport layer implementations. Next, the system binds the socket to a local port without specifying a particular transport layer implementation. The system then receives a request to connect to a target port that is associated with a target address. Next, the system selects a protocol implementation from the set of transport layer implementations using the target port and the target address. The system then sends a connection request to the target port using the selected protocol implementation. Note that the present invention does not require changing a networking application because the transport layer implementation is selected automatically by the system, instead of requiring the application to possess the knowledge to select the appropriate transport layer implementation.
US07779128B2 System and method for perennial distributed back up
The invention relates to computer networks and to a digital data protection thereon, in particular to a method for the distributed backup of a digital data block (B) in an computer network comprising a DHT distributed hash table and at least one node NO, wherein said NO nodes are connected to said network. The inventive method consists in dividing said block B into digital data r fragments F, in storing the fragment F in the NOF resource memories, in recording couples (block B, node NOF) and (node NOF, fragment F) in the DHT parts contained in at least two nodes and in a centralised server when no operation on the DHT or storage operation is carried out during said process.
US07779126B1 System and method for propagating filters
A method and system for propagating filters to an upstream device. The method includes generating a filter at a first network device and sending information on the filter to a second network device located upstream from the first network device. The first network device then requests the second network device to install the filter.
US07779125B2 Method and system for receiving and providing access to information at a web site
At a vendor-managed web site, purchasing information is received from a first terminal, including purchasing information that is customized for a customer. The customer includes first and second users having respective first and second levels of authorized access to the purchasing information. The first user is identified by a first identifier, and the second user is identified by a second identifier. To a second terminal, access at the vendor-managed web site is provided to: only a first portion of the purchasing information in response to receiving the first identifier from the second terminal which identifies the first user; and at least a second portion of the purchasing information in response to receiving the second identifier from the second terminal which identifies the second user. The second portion includes at least a part of the first portion and a third portion of the purchasing information. The part of the first portion includes at least a portion of the customized purchasing information.
US07779124B2 Active monitoring system and method thereof
An active monitoring system and method thereof are provided to solve the problems of no real-time monitoring and bandwidth usage in the prior art. A triggering end detects a monitoring device to generate a device tag. The device tag is packed and actively sent to the server end via a network. The server end automatically generates an OPC tag for an integrating server to use. The mechanism can increase monitoring efficiency and bandwidth usage.
US07779119B2 Event monitoring and management
Described are techniques used in monitoring the performance, security and health of a system used in an industrial application. Agents included in the industrial network report data to an appliance or server. The appliance stores the data and determines when an alarm condition has occurred. Notifications are sent upon detecting an alarm condition. The alarm thresholds may be user defined. A threat thermostat controller determines a threat level used to control the connectivity of a network used in the industrial application.
US07779116B2 Selecting servers based on load-balancing metric instances
In an embodiment, a request is received that is directed to a page. A determination is made whether a session associated with the request already exists by determining whether the request is dependent on a previous request. If the session does not already exist, then a decision is made whether the request will result in creating a session. If the request will result in creation of a session, then a server is selected based on a load-balancing metric instance associated with the page, and the request is sent to the selected server. The load-balancing metric instance has an algorithm and an input parameter to the algorithm. The server is selected by executing the algorithm and selecting the server identified by an output parameter from the algorithm.
US07779114B2 Method and system for administering devices with multiple user metric spaces
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for administering devices that include creating a user metric vector including a plurality of disparate user metrics, creating a plurality of user metric spaces, each user metric space including a plurality of metric ranges, and selecting, from the plurality of user metric spaces, a user metric space. Administering devices also includes determining whether the user metric vector is outside the selected user metric space, identifying an action in dependence upon the user metric vector, if the user metric vector is outside the selected user metric space, and executing the action.
US07779110B2 Apparatus, system, and method for communicating control messages between a first device and a second device
An apparatus and system are provided for communicating control messages between a first device and a second device. The apparatus and system include a communication module that directs control messages between a first device and a second device through an intermediate device. The intermediate device is coupled to the first device by a control path and to the second device by a data path. The apparatus and system also include a translation module and a transmission module that cooperate to translate control messages received over the control path at the intermediate device to transport data messages and transport data messages received over the data path at the second device to control messages. Transport data messages are sent over the data path to the second device and control messages from the second device are sent over the control path to the first device.
US07779109B2 Facilitating synchronization of servers in a coordinated timing network
A timing network is provided that includes a plurality of servers. The servers of the network obtain information used to maintain the servers in time synchronization, thus ensuring the integrity of the servers.
US07779108B2 Network printer management system, method, and computer readable medium for managing a plurality of network printers including a printer directly connected to a networked personal computer device
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a device management system, which comprises a first device connected to a network, an information processing device connected to the network, a second device connected to the information processing device, and a management device connected to the network. The management device comprises: a request judgment unit configured to accept a request regarding management and to judge whether a target device of the request is the first device or the second device based on a database; a first management unit configured to transmit the first management command to the first device in accordance with a first protocol; and a second management unit configured to transmit the second management command to the information processing device in accordance with a second protocol. The information processing device comprises a command relaying unit configured to send the second management command to the second device.
US07779103B1 Dual cookie security system
One or more servers receive requests from clients and send responses. At least a subset of the responses including cookies produced by the one or more servers, and at least a subset of the received requests including cookies that were previously produced by the one or more servers and sent to the clients with responses to previously processed requests. Each of the cookies includes a respective user identifier. The one or more servers analyzing the received cookies to detect a first condition, which indicates that a respective plurality of clients may be using cookies that have a shared user identifier. Upon detecting the first condition, the one or more servers send at least one of the clients of the respective plurality of clients a response that includes a new cookie having a user identifier that is distinct from the shared user identifier.
US07779099B2 Distributed intelligent systems and methods therefor
A distributed intelligent system. The distributed network includes at least one gateway server configured for receiving meter data from one or more nodes of a distributed meter network and at least one subscriber station in communication with the at least one gateway server via a communication network. The at least one gateway server is further configured to selectively distribute the received meter data to the at least one subscriber station in accordance with a policy.
US07779091B2 Method and system for providing virtualized application workspaces
Methods and systems for providing virtual workspaces are provided. Example embodiments provide a Application Workspace System “AWS,” which enables users to access remote server-based applications (e.g., thin client applications, terminal server applications, applications on hosted operating systems, etc.) using the same interface that they use to access local applications, without needing to know where the application is being accessed. The AWS automatically determines which applications the user is entitled to use, and then figures out automatically, based upon a variety of parameters, which applications are to be made available to the user (resolved to version, particular package etc.), and whether they are to be installed locally, or accessed remotely. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US07779090B2 Method and system for distributing images to client systems
A method and system for distributing images for display by client systems. A distribution system includes an image server system that is connected to image client systems via a communications link, such as the Internet. The image server system is responsible for providing image packages to the image client systems and for collecting information from the image client systems. Each image client system periodically sends a heartbeat communication to the image server system. Upon receiving a heartbeat communication, the image server system determines the state of the image client system that sent the heartbeat communication and responds appropriately. The response may include instructions for the image client system to retrieve new images, to retrieve software updates, to send usage data, and so on.
US07779087B2 Processing numeric addresses in a network router
Processing of numeric addresses is facilitated by using a user interface, rather than system modules, to handle name resolution. Processing the addresses at the user interface level avoids delays and packet blocking problems associated with using system modules to perform the task. Relieving the system modules from the responsibility of processing numeric addresses allows them to process other requests, improving overall system efficiency.
US07779086B1 Methods and apparatus for performing a remote procedure call
Methods and apparatus for performing automatic service selection in a client are disclosed, where the client supports a protocol for calling a subroutine on a remote server. A request is sent to a name server for connection information for a specified service. A first handle for the specified service is then obtained using connection information received from the name server, the first handle including the connection information for the specified service, thereby enabling the specified service to be called via the first handle. A notice indicating that the first handle is not functional is then received. A subsequent request is automatically sent to the name server for connection information for the specified service when the notice is received. A second handle including updated connection information for the specified service is then obtained, thereby enabling the specified service to be called via the second handle.
US07779082B2 Address management device
Conventionally, when a switch virtualizing a storage (storage virtualization switch) is installed in a computer system including an SAN, a host computer, and a storage device, since a port ID of a virtual storage and a port ID of a storage device assigned to the virtual storage are different, the computer system has to be suspended at the time of installation of the storage virtualization switch.The storage virtualization switch installed in the computer system assigns a port ID to a port of a virtual storage generated by the storage virtualization switch so as to be equivalent to a port ID of an existing storage device and, in the case in which the port ID is designated as an access destination by an access request from one computer to the storage device, sends the access request to the virtual storage.
US07779079B2 Reducing unsolicited instant messages by tracking communication threads
Processes and techniques for reducing spam over instant messaging (SPIM) are described. In one implementation, the number of open instant messaging threads (“chat threads”) that a specific user can have at a given time is limited to prevent a potential spimmer from flooding instant messaging users with SPIM. Another implementation combines the technique of limiting the number of open instant messaging threads with a user feedback technique that enables users to inform an instant messaging service or other entity about users that are sending SPIM or other undesirable content. Another implementation combines the technique of limiting the number of open instant messaging threads with a text analysis technique that enables an instant messaging service or other entity to analyze text generated by a user to determine if the user is sending SPIM or other undesirable content to other instant messaging users.
US07779074B2 Dynamic data partitioning of data across a cluster in a distributed-tree structure
A method and apparatus for dynamically partitioning data across a cluster in a tree-based structure is disclosed. In one embodiment, cache nodes in the cluster are detected. A partition group is formed with members including one or more cache nodes of the cluster. An instance of a cache node in the partition group is copied to each cache node in the partition group. The membership of the partition group is adjusted based on a participation of data in the partition group.
US07779070B2 Remotely controllable soft keys
A method to remotely interact with an application server (4) of a Unified Messaging System (1) via an end user terminal (2) featuring soft keys is described, wherein at least one functionality dedicated to at least one soft key is remotely controllable by the application server (4) in real time. Furthermore a communication system (1), a terminal (2) and a server (3, 4) to be used to execute the method, and a computer program product comprising computer readable program for causing a computer to perform the method are described.
US07779067B2 User specific support in communications systems
In a multimedia call center (MMCC) operating through an operating system, a client-specific self-help wizard is provided for active clients and updated periodically with information related to client transaction history with the MMCC. A connected client is presented by the wizard with a selective media function through which the client may a select a media type for interaction and help, and the MMCC will then re-contact the client through the selected media. The client, for example, may select IP or COST telephony, and the MMCC will place a call to the client to a number or IP address listed for the client, and interactivity will then be through an interactive voice response unit. Help information specific to a client is updated in the client's wizard periodically according to ongoing transaction history with the MMCC. The wizard may also monitor client activity with the wizard and make reports available to various persons.
US07779062B2 System for preventing keystroke logging software from accessing or identifying keystrokes
A method and system is provided for securing user entry data against keyboard login attempts. The method/system masks user input data, either insulating the data from vulnerable parts of the operating system or application, or contaminating user data that is supplied to those vulnerable parts of the operating system or application. The method/system securely stores data, either intercepted prior to reaching the vulnerable parts of the operating system or extracted from the contaminated data, and securely provides the data directly to a verified application.
US07779056B2 Managing a pool of update memory blocks based on each block's activity and data order
In a nonvolatile memory with block management system, data are written to blocks and are erasable block by block. At any time a pool of blocks are open for storing data concurrently. The number of blocks in the pool is limited. A replacement system allows new blocks to be introduced into the pool without exceeding the limit. In particular, different classes of blocks in the pool each has its own replacement rule, such as closing a least active block before being replaced. In this way, possible inefficiency and premature closure of blocks in the pool can be avoided.
US07779052B2 Network management system
A system includes a relational database and processing logic. The relational database is configured to define a relationship between a group of logical activities and groups of physical commands that perform the logical activities. The processing logic is configured to receive a request to perform one logical activity of the group of logical activities, translate the one logical activity into one group of physical commands using the relational database, and cause the one logical activity to be performed on a remote device using the one group of physical commands.
US07779046B2 Web server and method to provide web-pages to manage devices
A web server and a method to provide web-pages to manage devices. A storage stores data for a web-page setting attributes and attribute values related to at least one device. A web-page generator generates a basic web-page based on the stored data of the web-page if to display of the web-page is requested from a user terminal. A communicator transmits the generated basic web-page to the user terminal. A server controller controls the web-page generator to generate a first web-page to display at least one attribute and attribute values of the at least one attribute on the basic web-page displayed on the user terminal. Thus, only attributes and attribute values, which can be supported by a device, can be displayed on a user interface (UI) screen. As a result, a user can easily write a workform.
US07779043B2 Extensible mechanism for object composition
An extensible framework for object oriented programming comprises a reception component that receives a customized strategy relating to composing a target object. An implementation component automatically implements the customized strategy to compose the target object based at least in part upon context associated with the target object. The extensible framework can further comprise a context component that determines the context, including context of an application associated with the target object, existing objects associated with the target object, and relationships between the existing objects.
US07779040B2 System for detecting associations between items
A method of detecting associations between items can include identifying a plurality of items represented in a data repository from which to select items to recommend to a target user, each item including one or more attributes. A degree of fit between an item's attributes and other items is calculated. The degree of fit can indicate the relevance of the attributes of one item to the other item. A degree of association between the two items is calculated based at least in part on the calculated degree of fit. The degree of association between the two items can indicate the relatedness of the two items. Based on this degree of association, an association between the items can be stored in a data repository.
US07779038B2 Reducing index size for multi-level grid indexes
The number of index entries in a grid index for indexing geometric shapes is reduced by establishing a pool storage area for geometric shapes, selecting a threshold number of grid cells which a geometric shape may overlap, storing the shape in the grid index if a geometric shape overlaps a number of grid cells not exceeding the threshold number, and storing the shape in the pool storage area if the geometric shape overlaps a number of grid cells which exceeds the threshold number.
US07779029B2 Method, software and device for effecting independently refreshable, markup language-based database queries and user interface screens
To effect database queries and user interface screens that are independently refreshable and markup language-based, a machine-readable medium contains object-oriented code for defining a database query, including instructions for storing the result of the database query, based on a markup language element representation of the query, and object-oriented code for displaying a user interface screen based on a markup language element representations of the screen which has a display element that is based at least in part upon the result of the database query. The machine-readable medium also contains object-oriented code for refreshing the database query and object-oriented code for refreshing the screen that are capable of mutually exclusive instantiation based upon a user specification of one of a markup language element representing a refreshing of the database query and a markup language element representing a screen refresh. The markup language may be Extensible Markup Language (XML).
US07779028B1 System, method and computer program product for communicating information among devices
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for communicating information among devices. In use, content is presented utilizing a first device. In one embodiment, a request for information associated with the content may then be received utilizing the first device. To this end, the requested information may be sent to a second device other than the first device. In another embodiment, a request for a contact associated with the content may be received utilizing the first device. Thus, in response to the request, contact may be established with the second device in regards to the content.
US07779022B2 Efficient retrieval and storage of directory information system knowledge referrals
The method, system and computer program product for efficient retrieval of knowledge referral are disclosed. In one approach, the method, system and computer program product modify a query for retrieving an entry from a directory information system, that is stored in a relational database, to retrieve the entry and a knowledge referral.
US07779012B2 Method and apparatus for intranet searching
A search system for finding information relevant on an intranet in response to a user query. Separate from the query, the system crawls the intranet to select at least some of the pages in the intranet. The system determines, for items in a selected page, an indication of the specificity or generality of that information based on structural information, such as display formatting or a number of links in a shortest path from a root page to the identified page. The system can also determine the level of specificity of a search query. When a user provides a query to request information over the intranet, pages matching the query can be ranked by comparing the level of specificity or generality of the query to the level of specificity or generality of the terms that match the query.
US07779011B2 Method and system for dynamically processing ambiguous, reduced text search queries and highlighting results thereof
A method and system are provided of processing a search query entered by a user of a device having a text input interface with overloaded keys. The search query is directed at identifying an item from a set of items. Each of the items has a name including one or more words. The system receives from the user an ambiguous search query directed at identifying a desired item. The search query comprises a prefix substring of at least one word in the name of the desired item. The system dynamically identifies a group of one or more items from the set of items having one or more words in the names thereof matching the search query as the user enters each character of the search query. The system also orders the one or more items of the group in accordance with given criteria. The names of the one or more items of the identified group are output to be displayed on the device operated by the user as ordered with the characters of the one or more words in the names corresponding to the prefix substring of the search query being highlighted.
US07779010B2 Repartitioning live data
A data set typically does not stagnate and remain the same size over time. The capabilities of hardware (e.g., servers and storage devices) also do not stagnate and remain the same. A date set is often repartitioned to accommodate changes in size of the data set and/or changes in hardware capability. Hundreds or thousands of writes may be performed on the data set (e.g., database, directory, etc.) every second. So, even a few seconds of downtime are unacceptable. Instead of taking the data set offline, the data set can be repartitioned while still allowing access to the data set (“repartitioning live data”). Live data can be repartitioned by establishing update or replication queues for the new partitions while servicing write requests and read requests with the old partitions. After the data has been migrated, the update queues are drained to ensure data integrity.
US07779007B2 Identifying content of interest
Methods of identifying content of interest within a corpus are disclosed. The methods may comprise the step of applying a first marker set to the corpus, where the first marker set comprises at least one marker identifying a first type of text. For a first textual unit included in the corpus, the methods may comprise generating a score for the first marker set and comparing the score to a reference score. The score may indicate a number of instances of the at least one marker in the first textual unit.
US07779006B2 Peer-to-peer file sharing
A peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing system is provided with an enhanced search method for a client node therein. A search from the client contains a primary search of metadata words and a secondary search of content file keys taken from the primary search results. The results of the secondary search are then used to rerank the results of the primary search before the client displays the results of the search to the user. Metadata distribution schemes can also be used to further enhance the utility of the system. Enhanced P2P file searching accuracy is thus provided. Applications for selective peer-to-peer communication may further be employed.
US07779003B2 Computerized search system for medication and other items
A search system finds an order to provide an item. The search system includes a repository including a plurality of records identifying a corresponding plurality of items for order. A record of an individual item for order includes a plurality of related text terms describing order related parameters. A search processor searches the plurality of records to find candidate items for order corresponding to a user entered search term by: identifying and prioritizing candidate items for order in response to a relative frequency of occurrence of the user entered search term in corresponding records of the candidate items for order; and ranking the identified and prioritized candidate items for order in response to a relative frequency of ordering of the identified and prioritized candidate items for use by users. An output processor provides search result data representing the ranked, identified and prioritized candidate items.
US07779002B1 Detecting query-specific duplicate documents
An improved duplicate detection technique that uses query-relevant information to limit the portion(s) of documents to be compared for similarity is described. Before comparing two documents for similarity, the content of these documents may be condensed based on the query. In one embodiment, query-relevant information or text (also referred to as “snippets”) is extracted from the documents and only the extracted snippets, rather than the entire documents, are compared for purposes of determining similarity.
US07779001B2 Web page ranking with hierarchical considerations
The described systems, methods and data structures are directed to ranking Web pages with hierarchical considerations. The hierarchical structures and the linking relationships of the World Wide Web are used to provide a page importance ranking for Web searches. The linking relationships are aggregated to a high level node at each of the hierarchical structures. A link graph analysis is performed on the aggregated linking relationships to determine the importance of each node. The importance of each node may be propagated to pages associated with that node. For each page, the importance of that page and the importance of the node associated with the page are used to calculate the page importance ranking.
US07779000B2 Associating conditions to summary table data
A method and system associate conditional formats with selected data points or groups of data points within a summary table. In one embodiment, related groups of data are determined based upon currently highlighted cells in a summary table. A user then selects from the groups and identifies conditional formats to be associated with the specified data points. The conditional formats are associated with currently displayed as well as non-displayed data within the summary table. The associated conditions are saved relative to the data points rather than the original cell positions so that the conditions remain associated with the data points following a reorganization of the summary table.
US07778996B2 Sampling statistics in a database system
A database system has the ability to perform sampled statistics collection, in which collection of statistics of a table is based on a sample (less than all rows of the table). The sample size is adjusted as the table is scanned in response to detecting a predetermined characteristic of the table (e.g., skewed data values are detected).
US07778995B2 Geometric search engine
One implementation provides a method to provide information associated with a previously designed component having a geometry that is similar to a geometry of a source component. In this implementation, the method includes obtaining a first set of coefficients for a non-invertible representation of the geometry of the source component, and comparing the first set of coefficients to a second set of coefficients for a non-invertible representation of the geometry of the previously designed component. If the first set of coefficients matches the second set of coefficients according to a threshold of similarity, the method further includes providing a search result associated with the previously designed component.
US07778993B2 Dynamic Taxonomy process for browsing and retrieving information in large heterogeneous data bases
A process is disclosed for retrieving information in large heterogeneous data bases, wherein information retrieval through visual querying/browsing is supported by dynamic taxonomies; the process comprises the steps of: initially showing (F1) a complete taxonomy for the retrieval; refining (F2) the retrieval through a selection of subsets of interest, where the refining is performed by selecting concepts in the taxonomy and combining them through boolean operations; showing (F3) a reduced taxonomy for the selected set; and further refining (F4) the retrieval through an iterative execution of the refining and showing steps.
US07778991B2 Service providing system, computer which executes program providing service and repository service control program
In a service providing system which provides, through a network, service which is provided by a program executed on a computer to other computer, a unit is provided for providing service which can not be provided by the computer to other computer than the computer in question.
US07778989B2 File management apparatus
A file management apparatus includes the following elements: a first non-volatile storage medium that holds a metadata group including a plurality of pieces of metadata corresponding to a predetermined file type; a detector that detects a file of the predetermined file type; a metadata guide unit that introduces, as selection options, the plurality of pieces of metadata included in the metadata group corresponding to the predetermined file type of the detected file; a metadata selection unit that accepts selection of at least one piece of the introduced metadata; and a management data storage unit that stores the selected metadata in association with the detected file in a second non-volatile storage medium in which the detected file is stored.
US07778988B2 Information processing device, method, and program for determining relativity between contents
The present invention provides an information processing device including a generating section, a calculating section, a link detecting section, and a presenting section.
US07778987B2 Locally storing web-based database data
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for locally storing Web-based database data. Embodiments of the present invention permit Web-based database data to be locally stored at a computer system to increase the efficiency of rendering the Web-based database data within a Web browser at the computer system. Web-based database data can be sandboxed per domain to mitigate (and possibly eliminate) the exposure of the Web-based database data to malicious computer systems. Space allocated to each domain can be initially set and then subsequently altered by a user.
US07778986B2 Securing transfer of ownership of a storage object from an unavailable owner node to another node
Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture that maintain a plurality of nodes coupled over a network, wherein a first node of the plurality of nodes initially owns a plurality of storage objects accessible via the network. A serialization lock is maintained in association with the plurality of storage objects, wherein the first node becomes unavailable. A second node of the plurality of nodes determines that the second node is to preemptively assume ownership of a selected storage object of the plurality of storage objects initially owned by the first node that has become unavailable. The second node acquires the serialization lock. The second node secures ownership of the selected storage object, subsequent to acquiring the serialization lock.
US07778985B2 System and method for suspending transactions being executed on databases
A database management system managing one or more databases to suspend access to at least one selected database by one or more processes or applications (e.g., message processing programs, batch messaging programs, etc.). In some instances, the one or more databases may include one or more IMS databases. Access to the at least one selected database may be suspended to enable one or more operations to be performed on the at least one selected database by the database management system and/or an outside entity (e.g., a user, an external application, etc.). For example, the one or more operations may include an imaging operation, a loading operation, an unloading operation, a start operation, a stop operation, and/or other operations. In some instances, access to the at least one selected database may be suspended without canceling transactions being executed by the one or more processes or applications on the selected at least one database.
US07778983B2 Application migration file scanning and conversion
An application migration planning manager is provided for scanning and reporting compatibility information of stored application files, followed by conversion of selected files from a first application version format to a target application version format. A scanning module scans selected files to determine whether the scanned files are formatted according to application versions that may be incompatible with target application versions. A reporting module reports the compatibility data for the scanned files. If scanned files include multiple versions of a given document or data, the scanned files may be passed to a version extraction module for stripping the files of all but a single version of the given document or data. Each stripped version may be saved as a separate additional file. The version-stripped files and the saved additional files then may be reported back to the reporting module for further processing. Scanned files may be automatically or manually sent to a file converter module where they may be converted to a target application version.
US07778977B2 Composite image apparatus and copy method thereof
A composite image apparatus and a copy method thereof. The composite image apparatus includes an optical recording unit in which first and second storage media are each able to store a plurality of video files and a plurality of audio files, the apparatus being adapted to copy the files stored in one of the first and second storage media to the other. The method includes determining, if a copy direction and one or more target files to be copied among the files stored in the one storage medium are selected by a user in a copy operation, whether one or more additional folders must be created in the other storage medium together with a copy folder of a folder of the one storage medium containing the selected target files, and creating, if the additional folders are determined to have to be created together with the copy folder, the copy folder and additional folders in the other storage medium, and storing the selected target files separately in the created copy folder and additional folders.
US07778976B2 Multi-dimensional surrogates for data management
Multi-dimensional surrogation systems and methods are provided that generate at least one data surrogate using information of data and numerous data changes received from at least one data source. The multi-dimensional surrogation transforms data of each data surrogate from a format of the data source to at least one alternative format. Original metadata is extracted from each data surrogate. New metadata is generated by combining portions of the original metadata and components of each data surrogate. The multi-dimensional surrogation generates an extended data surrogate comprising the data surrogate and the new metadata.
US07778975B2 Mirroring method, mirroring device, and computer product
A data storage device stores therein files as mirror source or mirror destination, and has ownership rights to files stored as mirror source. Having received a number of read/write requests to a file stored as mirror destination from a data processing device, the data storage device obtains an ownership right to the file, and updates ownership status of the file from mirror destination to mirror source. Thus, response time to the read/write requests to the file can be improved. After that, if the data processing device frequently requests another data storage device for access to the file, an ownership right to the file is transferred to the other data storage device, and accordingly, the ownership status of the file is updated.
US07778974B2 Apparatus and method to archive log entries formed by a data storage system
A method to archive log entries created by a data storage system comprising a first memory and a library log encoded in that first memory, wherein the first memory comprises a storage capacity, and wherein the method writes a plurality of log entries to the library log, wherein each log entry comprises a log entry time. At a time T0, the method copies to a log archive the plurality of log entries written to the library log, and sets a subsequent retrieval time based upon a time T1 when an earliest log entry was written to the library log, and a time T2 when a latest log entry was written to the library log.
US07778973B2 System, method, and program for sharing photos via the internet
A system for sharing files over a computer network via a hosting site is presented. The system includes a data storage space associated with the hosting. The space includes albums created by the one or more users for storage of related files. The albums include at least one level of sharing associated with each of the users, the level of sharing being in part assigned by users creating the albums. One or more accounts are associated with each user. The accounts allow the each of the users to access albums they created and albums that they are allowed access. An album creator creates the album. An album viewer views contents of the album. A file viewer views contents of the files. An album manager allows the one or more users to associate levels of sharing of the album and to modify the contents of the album.
US07778972B1 Dynamic object replication within a distributed storage system
Dynamic object replication in distributed storage systems. A system may implement a web services interface, storage nodes, storage node selection logic and a coordinator. The web services interface may be configured to receive, according to a web services protocol, client requests to store data objects including a given client request to store a given one of the data objects. The storage nodes may be configured to store replicas of the data objects. The storage node selection logic may be configured to dynamically determine a write plan for storing replicas of the given data object to corresponding storage nodes, where the write plan is dynamically determined according to current state information of the storage nodes. The coordinator may be configured to receive the client requests from the web services interface, and for the given client request, to store the replicas of the given data object to the corresponding storage nodes according to the write plan.
US07778970B1 Method and system for managing independent object evolution
A method for managing object evolution in a distributed object store (DOS) involving requesting an update of an object, wherein the object includes an active globally unique identifier (AGUID) object and at least one version globally unique identifier (VGUID) object, wherein the at least one VGUID object includes a first generation number and a first serializer name, locating a first serializer using the first serializer name, wherein the first serializer is associated with the first generation number, obtaining an order of the update using the first serializer, and creating a new VGUID object, wherein the new VGUID object includes a new version number, the first generation number, and the first serializer name.
US07778968B2 Systems and methods for compiling applications on a test server
Methods and systems for synchronizing applications deployed on a test server are provided. The methods and systems may comprise a software application comprising a plurality of files deployed on a test server. After the software application is deployed on a test server, one of the plurality of files comprising the software application may be modified in a development environment. The methods and systems may comprise a synchronization manager operative to, after modification of the one of the plurality of files, synchronize only the modified file with the software application deployed on the test server.
US07778967B2 System and method for efficient management of distributed spatial data
A system and method of providing efficient management of distributed, diversified, large sized spatial data as a scalable solution.The system and method are based on the combination of the following:Distributed spatial data is managed by spatial data servers which are deployed next to each spatial data source that needs to be accessed allowing spatial data to remain in the location where it was created. Spatial data indices allow fast delivery of large spatial data sets and are automatically updated whenever spatial data sets are modified.Spatial meta servers coordinate the spatial data servers, publish the existence of the spatial data, define access permissions and communicate with other spatial meta severs extending the spatial data connectivity into other networks.Spatial data providers deployed next to each location requiring access to the spatial data allow spatial data to be discovered and accessed directly from the spatial data servers.
US07778966B2 Method and system for attribute management in a namespace
A computer-based method and system for managing attributes of objects in a namespace and for allowing multiple views into the namespace. The namespace system allows the objects identified by the names of the namespace to be hierarchically organized. The namespace system allows for attributes of various objects, including directory objects and data objects, to be dynamically defined after creation of an object. The namespace system also allows for the querying of objects based on their dynamically defined attributes. When the namespace system receives a query specification that includes a newly defined attribute, it identifies the objects that match that query specification that includes a newly defined attribute, it identifies the objects that match that query specification.
US07778965B2 Systems and methods for common instance handling of providers in a plurality of frameworks
Systems and methods are provided for handling instances of providers in a plurality of frameworks. An instance of a first provider is created and registered to store a first change to a buffer. An instance of a second provider is created and registered to store a second change to the buffer. The buffer is checked to determine whether data consistency is guaranteed to result from the first and second changes. If data consistency is guaranteed, the first and second changes are committed to a database.
US07778961B2 Delayed deletion of extended attributes
Methods, systems, and products for delayed deletion of extended attributes associated with a file in a file system are provided. Embodiments include identifying a file to delete, moving an extended attribute directory associated with the file to a background deletion directory, deleting the file, and deleting in the background the extended attribute directory. Some embodiments also include deleting an ACL associated with the file.
US07778955B2 Database access system and database access method
Provision of a database access method allowing an open environment such as a Web system to access a main database constituted by a hierarchical database. A system for accessing a hierarchical database, including a storage section for storing schema information related to the hierarchical database converted to tree-structured data, and an access request generating section for generating a second access request to the hierarchical database based on the schema information converted to the tree-structured data corresponding to a first access request.
US07778949B2 Method and apparatus for transductive support vector machines
Disclosed is a method for training a transductive support vector machine. The support vector machine is trained based on labeled training data and unlabeled test data. A non-convex objective function which optimizes a hyperplane classifier for classifying the unlabeled test data is decomposed into a convex function and a concave function. A local approximation of the concave function at a hyperplane is calculated, and the approximation of the concave function is combined with the convex function such that the result is a convex problem. The convex problem is then solved to determine an updated hyperplane. This method is performed iteratively until the solution converges.
US07778937B2 Systems and methods for predicting wait time for service transactions
Systems and methods are provided to automatically predict wait times for customers to obtain service transactions at a service establishment, wherein wait times are estimated based on a combination of wait time values determined from current and historical service information that is collected, stored and processed over time.
US07778935B2 System for secure payment and authentication
A system and method for biometric-secure point-of-sale or online transactions and/or authentication and ID verification for restricted access that simplifies the checkout process and eliminates fraudulent transactions. The system employs a credit-card-sized device with integral fingerprint reader, on-board memory with pre-designated card number, infrared coder, power strip, plus at least one magnetic strip (encoded with designated financial account to be used for transactions, including routing number), one magnetic strip for personal medical and identification information and a bar code and photo ID for security. The card scanner is activated by an activation scan in which a subset of “minutia” are stored locally. To consummate a transaction (after registration), the user simply plugs their card scanner into a multi-function reader, and scans their own fingerprint. Upon authentication the card transmits the card/user ID to the reader as authentication of the transaction, the reader reads the encoded account numbers and routing information, offers a choice of account to charge to, verifies the total charge and completes the transaction. The process is fully secure.
US07778933B2 System and method for categorizing transactions
A system and method of allowing individuals to categorize transaction information. A user of the system may establish transaction identifiers that may be employed during or subsequent to a transaction in order to categorize transaction information.
US07778930B2 System of performing a retrospective drug profile review of de-identified patients
An apparatus and method for delivering targeted informational messages includes a computer system for creating a de-identified encrypted PID and de-identified patient transaction data in a retail store for transmission and storage. A subset of de-identified encrypted PIDs are associated with targeted informational messages by the system and transmitted to retail stores, where a targeted message is printed on behalf of the patient corresponding to the de-identified encrypted PID.
US07778926B1 Processes for verifying, and accepting content postings from, creators of works represented in an electronic catalog
An electronic catalog system provides an interface for users to author and post content for viewing by others. Users who are verified as creators of works represented in the electronic catalog (e.g., authors of books) are additionally granted the capability to post content that is displayed on the catalog pages of such works with attribution to the works' creators. In one embodiment, the system is capable of verifying a user's claim to be a creator of a particular work through automated communications with a third party verifier designated by the user. The third party verifier may, for example, be a publisher (in the case of books), a recording company (in the case of musical works), or a motion picture studio (in the case movies).
US07778925B2 Audio and video digital content delivery
A method of purchasing a soundtrack associated with A/V content. When A/V content is purchased by download or otherwise, the user is provided with an option to purchase or store the soundtrack. In one embodiment, the purchase of the motion picture secures usage rights to the soundtrack while another embodiment requires separate purchase of the soundtrack. In either case, the user is enabled to store the soundtrack as a separate file after having purchased rights to do so. The soundtrack is then stored, in some embodiments with digital rights management or copy protection to limit the number of copies that can be made of the soundtrack. The motion picture has a Table of Contents (TOC) indexing the soundtrack portions of the audio content of the motion picture to enable extraction of those portions of the motion picture forming the soundtrack.
US07778923B2 Method, system and apparatus for increasing the deposit-based assets of banking institutions subject to fractional-reserve banking
A method for increasing the demand deposit asset base of a bank for fractional-reserve banking within the Federal Reserve System, with first and second demand deposit accounts captive at that bank, comprising: (a) receiving physical fractional currency at the bank and increasing the first account balance in an amount corresponding to the value of currency received; (b) encrypting in a “cre-bit” device the balance of the first account including the numeric value of currency received; (c) reflecting in a node device currency amounts concomitantly linked to the second account; (d) performing a commercial transaction without the use of physical functional currency for a specific amount such that the first account is simultaneously debited and the second account is credited the specific amount; (e) repeating step (a) then step (b) and/or repeating step (c); and (f) displaying the first account balance and “cre-bit” data on the “cre-bit” device.
US07778920B2 Method and apparatus for providing pre-existing and prospective customers with an immediately accessible account
A system and method for providing in real-time an immediately accessible customized transaction account via the internet is disclosed. In particular, the system and method recognizes distinct access codes which are correlated to the credit profile of a person accessing an on-line application system via a computer network. During operation of the invention, a party may be driven to the on-line application system via the internet to conduct a transaction in response to an invitation to enroll in a special program. Upon entering the on-line application system, the accessing party may be unilaterally given the opportunity to apply for a special offer, which has been tailored to the accessing party's credit profile.
US07778917B2 Magnified bull and/or bear index participation notes
Techniques are described for securitizing, administrating and trading various index shares securitized by derivative, cash-settled instruments on the underlying index. In some examples, the tradable index shares are backed by a fractional interest in a plurality of derivative financial instruments and an amount of cash about equal to a strike price for one of the plurality of financial instruments to secure the tradable index receipt.
US07778911B2 Order risk management for financial product processing
Systems and methods are provided for processing derivative product orders at an exchange. Traders provide derivative product order risk data to the exchange. The order risk data may include maximum delta, gamma and/or vega utilization values for derivative product contracts based on the same underlying product. Before executing a trade, a match system analyzes the trader's current utilization state and the utilization that would result after the trade. The match system may then execute all or a portion of the trade.
US07778908B1 Convertible financial instruments with cash settlement features
Convertible financial instruments with cash settlement features. The present invention provides a way for an issuer to conduct a convertible instrument offering with a feature that allows the issuer to account for bonds using the “treasury stock method” of accounting. This bond offering feature is referred to herein as the “net share settlement feature” and includes both specific terms incorporated into the debt instruments, and a documented intention on the part of the issuer to settle the par, or the accreted face amount, of convertible bonds in cash. With the net share settlement feature in place, an issuer takes the convertible instruments into account using the treasury stock accounting formula to calculate its diluted earnings per share (EPS).
US07778907B1 Method and system for establishing, monitoring, and reserving a guaranteed minimum value return on select investments
The present invention provides a method and system for assuring a minimal guaranteed return on long-term investments, such as mutual funds or variable annuities. The invention includes a method and system for pricing, administration, customer presentation, and reserving relating to the guaranteed minimum return assurance. In addition, the present invention includes a method and system for allowing individual investors to control and easily change their typical asset allocation strategies. In order to accomplish the minimum guaranteed return, the present invention also includes sophisticated projection techniques, such as Monte Carlo simulation of investment performance. The present invention also includes features that allow the tracking of payments and removal of overcontributions from selected accounts, use of reserving techniques, optimizing investment diversification, proposal, issue, and administration of variable annuity riders, such as guaranteed minimum variable income benefit riders and guaranteed minimum income benefit riders, linkable to guaranteed minimum death benefits, and establish a charge for the guarantee.
US07778905B2 Separate trading of registered interest and principal of securities system, method and computer program product
A computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium may enable a computer processor to perform a method for generating a correlated investment. The method may include the steps of: discounting to present value one or more future liabilities at a discount rate of a bond that matures at the same time as the future liabilities; generating a correlated investment using an original investment amount and leverage funds; monitoring market information about a bond market using a computer; and recalibrating the correlated investment using the computer according to the market information, including: recommending at least one of buying or selling portions of the correlated investment as indicated by the market information. The future liabilities may be of a duration greater than the duration of the longest available bond issued by a sovereign.
US07778902B2 Method and apparatus for a new accounts program
A method for opening an on-line brokerage account includes the steps of opening an on-line brokerage account for a user based on account information received from the user, the on-line brokerage account having one or more restrictions, generating an application based on the account information: requesting that the user submit required information with the application within a predetermined time to remove the one or more restrictions from the on-line brokerage account, and removing said one or more restrictions from the on-line brokerage account when the application including the required information is received within the predetermined time.
US07778901B2 Integrated electronic presentment and payment of bills by different entities
To electronically present bills and request payment of presented bills, billing information representing a bill of a biller for a payee, and an associated selectable payment indicator having a first linking function, are received from a first network site associated with a bill presentment entity via a first communications link over a communications network. The received billing information and payment indicator are displayed. An input representing a selection of the displayed payment indicator is received. Based on the receipt of this input, the first linking function is activated to establish a second communications link over the communications network to a second network site, different that the first network site, associated with a bill payment entity, and to transmit a request to pay the represented bill on behalf of the payee to the second network site via the second communications link.
US07778897B1 Risk management system and method for determining risk characteristics explaining heavy tails of risk factors
A risk management system and method of determining risk characteristics of portfolios by generating risk factor scenarios based on stable Paretian distributions is provided. The system includes a database for storing any needed input, output, and intermediate results data. At least one module from each of the predefined types can be employed to produce a corresponding result—either intermediate or final. The risk management system and method provide possibilities to use flexible multivariate distribution exhibiting heavy-tails, skewness and different dependence structure, and characterizing the whole distribution of a given financial variable, allows users to perform flexible stress tests on all calculation levels, supplies fast analysis due to the possibility to use intermediate results in many subsequent calculations and to employ several calculation modules in parallel, allows for an efficient enterprise-wide risk management because of the possibility intermediate results to be used by many users.
US07778894B2 Method and apparatus for preparing tax information in the trucking industry
Method and apparatus provide for electronically processing vehicle location data wherein the vehicle location data specifies a sequence of vehicle locations, and wherein the processing determines if the sequence of vehicle locations form a sequence of the vehicle's travel that is acceptable for the purposes of filing tax reports relating to the vehicle. Processing further provides for determining the acceptability of the sequence according to one or more criteria, and provides a user tools that enable the user to accept or revise the vehicle location data for the unacceptable part of the sequence.
US07778887B2 Musical contents storage system having server computer and electronic musical devices
A musical contents system comprises a contents providing server comprising a connecting unit that connects to a communication network, and a contents storage unit that stores musical contents in a storage area corresponding to a user of an electronic musical device; and an electronic musical device comprising a connecting unit that connects to the contents providing server via the communication network, an accessing unit that accesses to the contents storage unit via the communication network, and a contents operating unit that performs an operation to the musical contents stored in the contents storage area corresponding to the user. The musical contents purchased or created by the user can be stored in a data center; therefore, convenience of using the musical contents is improved and the cost is decreased or cut off.
US07778881B2 Method, medium, and apparatus of agreeing to provide a product prior to selecting a vendor to provide the product
According to some embodiments, a transaction entity may determine historical pricing information associated with a plurality of vendors and a plurality of products. The transaction entity may also receive, from a remote customer, purchasing information associated with a requested product. A first price may be automatically calculated based at least in part on the purchasing information and the historical pricing information. Moreover, the transaction entity may agree to provide a selected product to the customer in exchange for payment of an amount based on the first price. It may also be automatically arranged for a remote selling vender to ship a sold product to the customer in exchange for payment of a second price from the transaction entity to the vendor.
US07778880B2 System and methods for remote access to stored items
Remote access to a computerized inventory, which includes images of items stored in a storage unit that is assigned to a customer, is provided so that the customer may view the images of the stored items. The remote access may further allow the customer to select particular items, according to the images, and send instructions to a storage facility representative, concerning those selected items.
US07778878B2 Profiling item sellers to inform item purchasing decisions and build trust in a multiple-seller marketplace
A facility for responding to a request for information about an item: The facility receives a request for information about the item. Among a plurality of sellers, the facility identifies those sellers (1) that are offering the item for sale, (2) whose availability level for the selected item exceeds a predetermined availability threshold, and (3) that have a seller score relating to a number of different items offered for sale by the seller that exceeds a predetermined score threshold. The facility uses the identified sellers and the price of the item to select the featured seller of the item. The facility replies to the request for information with a web page containing both information describing the item and a control that can be activated to order the item from the featured seller.
US07778877B2 Enhanced network based promotional tracking system
A novel communications network tracks and manages Merchant and Affiliate promotional efforts in a seamless, integrated fashion. Operative characteristics include central control over new, Rich Media promotional links, allowing sophisticated promotions employing Java-based presentations or similar to be easily applied across a broad network of connected Affiliate sites. The system accomplishes this, in part, by providing a selective API for use in wrapping the promotional links. In accordance with this protocol, these links may be hosted by the Clearinghouse or Merchant, and sourced from a variety of third-party vendors.
US07778875B2 Systems and methods for generating advertiser recommendations from users of workflow software
A method for using a workflow server to provide targeted advertisements recommended by users of workflow software includes: receiving, at a server from a user completing a workflow, information corresponding to a step in the workflow and an advertiser, the advertiser recommended by the user in connection with the step in the workflow; identifying, by the server, an advertisement corresponding to the recommended advertiser; and transmitting, from the server to a second client, a markup language page corresponding to the step in the workflow, the markup language page including the identified advertisement. Corresponding systems are also described.
US07778874B1 Automated generation of suggested online advertising campaign parameters
An advertising system automatically generates suggested ad campaign parameters for a business based on information obtained automatically from one or more sources, such as a corresponding business directory listing, a web site of the business, and/or a user account record associated with the business. The suggested ad campaign parameters, which may include suggested keyword strings for ad targeting, are presented to a user associated with the business via a partially or wholly pre-populated electronic form that can be submitted to create an active ad campaign for the business. In one embodiment, the pre-populated form is presented in response to the user selecting an ad solicitation object displayed on a web page. The ad solicitation object may be displayed in the format of an actual ad, and may include suggested ad text for use in the ad campaign.
US07778873B2 System and method of providing advertisements to Wi-Fi devices
A method of advertising is disclosed an includes monitoring at least one Wi-Fi access point of a Wi-Fi network. Also, the method includes identifying at least one Wi-Fi device after the at least one Wi-Fi device associates with the Wi-Fi access point and determining at least one type of media file that is supported by the Wi-Fi device. Further, the method includes transmitting at least one advertisement to the device that is specific to the location of the Wi-Fi access point. The advertisement is transmitted in a format that corresponds to the at least one type of media file supported by the Wi-Fi device.
US07778871B2 Optimal sequencing of marketing events
A system and method for optimizing and sequencing marketing events for offering to candidates. The system comprises a software application stored on a computer readable medium. The software application comprises an optimization tool and a timing tool. The optimization tool optimizes marketing events from a first list for candidates from a second list. Each marketing event from the first list comprises a marketing offer and an identified channel means for communicating the marketing offer. The timing tool determines an optimal sequence for offering each of the optimized marketing events to the candidates.
US07778869B2 Fair discounting auction
The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates employing an online auction in which a coupon is fairly administered. An online auction environment that can employ an auction to identify a fair market value of at least one of a good or a portion of a service, wherein the auction can receive at least one bid from a bidder with a coupon and a bidder without a coupon. A randomizer component that can select one of a collection of bidders having coupons or a collection of bidders not having coupons based on a randomizing technique, wherein the online auction environment can identify an auction winner as a highest bidder within the selected collection, the highest bidder provides a highest bid from both the collection of bidders having coupons and the collection of bidders not having coupons.
US07778868B2 System and method for determining the level of an authentication required for redeeming a customers award credits
A redemption system for use with Low Authentication Promotion (LAP) programs. The redemption system includes a method for use with a network promotion system. The network promotion system provides awards to consumers for participation in promotion programs. The method performs steps of receiving award transaction information describing awards earned by consumers for participation in promotion programs, maintaining an award history database that contains the award transaction information, receiving a request from a consumer to redeem at least a portion of the awards earned by the consumer, and determining a level of consumer authentication required from the consumer to redeem the at least a portion of the awards, wherein the level of consumer authentication is determined from the award transaction information maintained in the award history database.
US07778867B2 System and method for automated execution, reporting, and sales analysis
A method and apparatus are provided for automatically preparing a client communication pertaining to a financial product for a client, wherein the client communication is for combined use with a corresponding host vehicle. The method comprises providing a format for the client communication wherein the communication format includes a variable portion; inputting into a computer-accessible storage medium variable information other than a client identification; inputting into the storage medium decision information; and using the decision information to select a subset of the variable information for inclusion in a variable portion of the client communication corresponding to the variable portion of the client communication format. The apparatus comprises an inputting device for inputting into a computer-accessible storage medium variable information comprising other than a client identification and decision information; a processor operatively coupled to the storage medium for using the decision information to automatically select a subset of the variable information for each of the clients; and an output preparing component in operative communication with the processor for preparing the client communications and for automatically inserting into the client communication the subset of variable information for the corresponding and respective client.
US07778866B2 Systems and methods for software development
This invention relates to methods and a system for developing software. In one embodiment, a method for developing software includes communicating a specification for the design of a software program to a first plurality of developers, in response to the specification, receiving a design from a subset of the developers to a subset of the developers, facilitating a design review process for scoring the designs, selecting one design based on its score, communicating the selected design to a second plurality of software developers, in response to the design, receiving software programs from a subset of the second plurality of developers, facilitating a software review process for scoring the programs, and selecting one program based on its score. In another embodiment, a method for the distributed development of software includes providing a software development system to a distributed community of developers, the system including software development software that utilizes a structured development methodology, a communication server, and a review board for determining the quality of submitted software; accepting a request to create a software program; and facilitating the development of the program by a subset of the distributed community of developers using the software development system.
US07778864B2 System and method for identifying sourcing event metrics for analyzing a supplier
A system and method for identifying sourcing event metrics for analyzing a supplier are disclosed. A consumer solicits bids from a supplier desiring to provide goods, services, etc., by creating an event that poses queries to the supplier. The consumer can create the event and queries associated therewith by selecting from predefined events, having predefined queries. Further, predefined criteria and parameters associated with the queries may also be associated with predefined events. The criteria and parameters are designed to measure the supplier's responses to the queries and the consumer can rate the supplier based on the supplier's responses according to the predefined criteria and parameters established by the consumer.
US07778861B2 Methods and systems to complete transaction date
A method and system to receive transaction data; determine a gap in the transaction data; and use an algorithm to generate data to fill in the gap is described. The algorithm is selected from a group including a first algorithm and a second algorithm. The first algorithm is to determine a dominant pattern in the transaction data; identify a region within the dominant pattern that corresponds to the gap in the transaction data; and adopt data associated with the corresponding region into the gap to minimize impact on the dominant pattern. The second algorithm includes a Moore-Penrose pseudo-inverse algorithm to choose the transaction data to fill in the gap based on a set of substitute data from among a group of substitute data sets and adopts the set of substitute data into the gap.
US07778857B2 System and method for service parts planning in a multi-echelon network
Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to a system and method for service parts planning in a multi-echelon network having one or more service parts. For at least a subset of the one or more service parts, a calculation is performed to determine a location within the multi-echelon network at which allocating the service part provides the greatest gain in system availability per item cost. In one embodiment, the calculations take into consideration violations of incremental optimal allocation. In an embodiment, the calculations take into consideration violations of convexity.
US07778854B2 System and method for managing channel partner responsibilities
A system and method for managing channel partner responsibilities. According to an embodiment, an application receives an assignment of a responsibility to a channel partner or the channel partner's employees and assigns the responsibility thereto. According to another embodiment, an application receives a command by the brand owner to search for a channel partner or channel partner's employee based on responsibility data of the channel partner or the channel partner's employees, generates a search rule based on the command, executes the search rule in order to perform the search, and provides results of the search to the brand owner. According to another embodiment, in response to a command, an application searches a database for a channel partner to perform a job, selects a channel partner to perform the job whose responsibilities most closely match the job, and automatically dispatches the job to the selected channel partner. According to yet another embodiment, a data structure comprises one or more data elements identifying a responsibility associated with the channel partner or the channel partner's employees.
US07778853B2 Computer-implemented systems and methods for resource allocation
Systems and methods are described for processing queue data and for providing queue messaging over a network. An illustrative queuing system includes a first queue configured to hold resource requests from a plurality of users, and program code stored in computer readable memory configured to determine or estimate whether a resource requested by a first resource request submitted by a first requester will be available when the first resource request will be serviced, and to transmit a message over a network to the first requester indicating that the requested resource will not be available when the queued request is serviced if it is estimated or determined that the requested resource will not be available when the first request is serviced.
US07778847B2 System for minimizing the cost and maximizing the effectiveness of monitoring for recurrence of a condition
A method for determining an optimized surveillance schedule of follow-up diagnostic tests and doctor visits considers the tradeoff between timely detection of relapse and the cost of the diagnostic procedures. A method for generating a surveillance schedule for monitoring a recurrence of a condition includes the steps of (a) scheduling an initial testing date to test for the recurrence of the condition; (b) establishing a threshold, wherein the threshold is the cost associated with a subsequent testing date over the cost per recurrence detected; and (c) scheduling each subsequent testing date to test for the recurrence of the condition when a cumulative risk of recurrence of the condition since the previous testing date exceeds the threshold. A system utilizing this method is also disclosed.
US07778842B2 Media wall for displaying financial information
A system dynamically displays graphic identifier information, such as corporate logos, and value information for financial instruments, such as recent trade information, on a video wall having several monitors arranged to form a larger display. The system has input ports to receive feeds with identifiers and corresponding values of financial instruments, a filter to extract the identifiers and corresponding values of the financial instruments, a memory to store the extracted information and a table associating the financial instrument identifiers with graphic symbols, and processors to form a display signal with the graphic symbols and values.
US07778841B1 System and method for generating information relating to histories for a plurality of vehicles
System and method for generating information relating to a vehicle's history. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of identifying target records in a database, determining a total number of owners for each vehicle based on the target records, and displaying a listing of the vehicles including corresponding number of owners. A step of determining and displaying the ownership type may be provided. A vehicle history information system is also provided, including a database having vehicle history records, a vehicle history report module adapted to retrieve the vehicle history record, an ownership module adapted to determine the number of owners for the vehicles based on the vehicle history records, and a user interface module adapted to generate a listing of the vehicles and the number of owners. The system may be adapted to determine and display the ownership type.
US07778834B2 Method and system for assessing pronunciation difficulties of non-native speakers by entropy calculation
The present disclosure presents a useful metric for assessing the relative difficulty which non-native speakers face in pronouncing a given utterance and a method and systems for using such a metric in the evaluation and assessment of the utterances of non-native speakers. In an embodiment, the metric may be based on both known sources of difficulty for language learners and a corpus-based measure of cross-language sound differences. The method may be applied to speakers who primarily speak a first language speaking utterances in any non-native second language.
US07778833B2 Method and apparatus for using computer generated voice
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for computer generated voice in an interactive voice response system (IVR). A user will normally be able to identify the pre-recorded segments from the synthesized ones played by the IVR. According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a method of processing voice prompts in an IVR. The method can include: identifying a set of voice prompts within an application for output in a single voice, the set having a pre-recorded voice prompt and a computer generated voice prompt; providing reference voice characteristics formed from the pre-recorded voice prompt; and playing the computer generated voice prompt using the reference voice characteristics whereby the computer generated voice prompt sounds like the pre-recorded voice prompt.
US07778829B2 Real time monitoring and control for audio devices
Various embodiments are disclosed relating to the real-time monitoring and control for audio devices. An apparatus may include a peripheral audio device configured to operate in an operational mode or a debug mode, the peripheral audio device including an audio enhancement logic configured to include at least one tunable parameter. The apparatus may also include the peripheral audio device being further configured to transmit and receive data via a data channel to allow a debug or test to be performed on the peripheral audio device, while operating in the debug mode, and the at least one tunable parameter to be adjusted.
US07778827B2 Method and device for gain quantization in variable bit rate wideband speech coding
The present invention relates to a gain quantization method and device for implementation in a technique for coding a sampled sound signal processed, during coding, by successive frames of L samples, wherein each frame is divided into a number of subframes and each subframe comprises a number N of samples, where N
US07778825B2 Method and apparatus for extracting voiced/unvoiced classification information using harmonic component of voice signal
An apparatus and method for extracting precise voiced/unvoiced classification information from a voice signal is provided. The apparatus extracts voiced/unvoiced classification information by analyzing a ratio of a harmonic component to a non-harmonic (or residual) component. The apparatus uses a harmonic to residual ratio (HRR), a harmonic to noise component ratio (HNR), and a sub-band harmonic to noise component ratio (SB-HNR), which are feature extracting schemes obtained based on a harmonic component analysis, thereby precisely classifying voiced/unvoiced sounds. Therefore, the apparatus and method can be used for voice coding, recognition, composition, reinforcement, etc. in all voice signal processing systems.
US07778824B2 Device and method for frame lost concealment
A device and a method for frame lost concealment are disclosed. A pitch period of a current lost frame is obtained on the basis of a pitch period of the last good frame before the current lost frame. An excitation signal of the current lost frame is recovered on the basis of the pitch period of the current lost frame and an excitation signal of the last good frame before the lost frame. Thereby, the hearing contrast of a receiver is reduced, and the quality of speech is improved. Further, in the present invention, a pitch period of continual lost frames is adjusted on the basis of the change trend of the pitch period of the last good frame before the lost frame. Therefore, a buzz effect produced by the continual lost frames is avoided, and the quality of speech is further improved. In addition, by attenuating the energy of the excitation signal obtained from the continual lost frames, the device and method accord with the hearing physiological characteristics of human and reduce the hearing contrast of the receiver.
US07778822B2 Allocating audio processing among a plurality of processing units with a global synchronization pulse
Resources may be dynamically allocated in a distributed processing portable electronic communication device. The dynamic allocation may include receiving an instruction to process an audio processing task related to audio data; determining whether resources for processing the processing task are available at a first processing unit; performing the audio processing task by the first processing unit when the resources are determined to be available, the audio processing task obtaining processed audio data; and providing the processed audio data synchronously with a global synchronization pulse so that the phase of the audio data is controlled.
US07778820B2 Inferring informational goals and preferred level of detail of answers based on application employed by the user based at least on informational content being displayed to the user at the query is received
A system and method for inferring informational goals and preferred level of details in answers in response to questions posed to computer-based information retrieval or question-answering systems is provided. The system includes a query subsystem that can receive an input query and extrinsic data associated with the query and which can output an answer to the query, and/or rephrased queries or sample queries. The query subsystem accesses an inference model to retrieve conditional probabilities that certain informational goals are present. One application of the system includes determining a user's likely informational goals and then accessing a knowledge data store to retrieve responsive information. The system includes a natural language processor that parses queries into observable linguistic features and embedded semantic components that can be employed to retrieve the conditional probabilities from the inference model. The inference model is built by employing supervised learning and statistical analysis on a set of queries suitable to be presented to a question-answering system. Such a set of queries can be manipulated to produce different inference models based on demographic and/or localized linguistic data.
US07778814B2 Method and device for simulating an automation system
A method and a device for simulating an automation system are disclosed. The aim of the invention is to allow an automation system to be simulated in such a way that simulation components operating at very different computing speeds can be combined into an overall simulation. Said aim is achieved by a method comprising a control component that can be clocked using an external timing source and at least one simulation component which can be clocked using an external timing source. A coordinated clock system is provided for the control component and the at least one simulation component by means of a control component-independent timing coordinator.
US07778812B2 Selecting data to verify in hardware device model simulation test generation
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for generating write and read commands used to test hardware device models. The method is able to generate multiple write commands to a location without having to generate intervening read commands to validate the data. In addition, the method enables read commands to be generated in a different sequence from the sequence of generated write commands, having different sizes than the sizes of the write commands, and that maximize the amount of data read (verified) and minimize the amount of unnecessary reads (re-verification).
US07778811B2 Method and system for predictive stratigraphy images
Methods and systems are provided for displaying and forecasting the lithology and wellbore conditions to be encountered while conducting drill string operations are conducted in a wellbore. A method and system is described for predicting and modeling lithology while operating a drill string in a wellbore, comprising: developing a 3-D lithological model of a subsurface area; projecting a well path through said subsurface area; determining an open cylinder lithology display of said projected well path; and recording said determined open cylinder display. The open cylinder lithology display (the Predictive Stratigraphy Image) may be displayed with geological or structural cross-sections to compare the well path and the predicted well path, with the actual subsurface environment. Data acquired during drilling operations can be used in real time to update the model or the Predictive Stratigraphy Image, and the results compared with Predictive Image Logs and other wellbore images and data.
US07778809B2 Tire characteristic calculation method, tire dynamic element parameter value derivation method, vehicle traveling simulation method, and tire designing method and vehicle designing method in which consideration is given to tire friction ellipse
Values of multiple tire dynamic element parameters are set for a tire dynamic model constructed using the tire dynamic element parameters for calculating a tire axial force and a self-aligning torque under a given slip ratio. Next, the values of the tire axial force and the self-aligning torque are calculated using the tire dynamic model and output. The tire dynamic model allows a center position of a contact patch thereof against a road surface to move in accordance with a longitudinal force that occurs as the tire axial force when a slip ratio in a braking/driving direction is given so that a position of the contact patch moves in a longitudinal direction due to the longitudinal force. When designing a vehicle or when designing a tire, the tire dynamic model is used.
US07778804B2 Network system analysis
Apparatus for producing an electronic model of a communications network or system having at least one host and a plurality of nodes connected thereto, directly or otherwise, the apparatus comprising means for obtaining data relating to at least some of the nodes and/or the host and means for creating an electronic model of the system or network using the data. The apparatus comprises a trusted computer host for use in analysing the network. The trusted computer host comprises means for detecting nodes on the network. As nodes are detected, sampling probes are inserted at each such node wherever possible. The probes take measurements at the respective nodes and return the resultant data to the trusted computer host. For a case where it is not possible to insert a probe at a detected node, the trusted computer host comprises means for performing traffic analysis and obtaining a profile of behavior between that node and the network host. The data received from the probes and the traffic analysis data is used by model simulation means in the trusted computer host to create a model of the network.
US07778801B2 Automated test script for communications server
For use in a communication system having at least one enterprise server for facilitating communications and delivery of services to users of handheld mobile communication devices and an administrative program for managing the enterprise server, the improvement comprising an automated script for testing operation of the administration software by automatically executing operations and verifying results of these operations.
US07778796B2 Miter saw for displaying angle of cutter blade cutting workpiece
A digital miter saw for cutting a workpiece includes a base, a member supported on the base and moveable relative to the base, and a cutting member moveable with the member. A detector is provided for detecting at least one of a miter angle and a bevel angle between the cutting member and the workpiece, and for outputting a signal indicative of the at least one detected angle, and a digital controller is provided which has an interface operable to receive the signal.
US07778794B2 System and method for identifying an element of a structure in an engineered environment
A system and method are provided in which an element of a structure may be reliably identified. For example, a system may include a part selection element configured to interact with at least one positional marker having a predefined location. The part selection element is also configured to select at least a portion of a structure, with the structure being positioned at a predetermined location and orientation. The part selection element may also be configured to identify a depth within the structure. The system also includes a computing device configured to identify an element of the structure based upon the position and orientation of the part selection element and the portion of the structure selected by the part selection element. In instances in which a depth is identified, the computing device may also be configured to identify the element of the structure at the depth identified within the structure.
US07778787B2 Timing calibration for TOF-PET scanner
A time-of-flight PET nuclear imaging device (A) includes radiation detectors (20, 22, 24), electronic circuits (26, 28, 30, 32) for processing output signals from each of detectors (20), a coincidence detector (34), a time-of-flight calculator (38) and image processing circuitry (40). A calibration system (48) includes an energy source (50, 150) which generates an electrical or optical calibration pulse. The electrical calibration pulse is applied at an input to the electronics at an output of the detector and the optical calibration pulse is applied to a preselected point adjacent a face of each optical sensor (20) of the detectors. A calibration processor (52) measures the time differences between the generation of the calibration pulse and the receipt of a trigger signal from the electronic circuitry by the coincidence detector (34) and adjusts adjustable delay circuits (44, 46) to minimize these time differences.
US07778785B2 Signal-to-noise ratio measurement for discrete waveform
There is provided a measuring apparatus for measuring a signal-to-noise ratio of a discrete waveform which is output from an AD converter in response to an input signal, where the signal-to-noise ratio indicates a ratio of a signal component of the input signal to noise generated by the AD converter. The measuring apparatus includes a spectrum compensating section that receives a spectrum of the discrete waveform output from the AD converter, and compensates the received spectrum in accordance with a non-symmetric sideband between an upper sideband and a lower sideband of the received spectrum, where the upper and lower sidebands are defined with respect to a fundamental frequency of the input signal, and a phase noise waveform calculating section that calculates a phase noise waveform of the discrete waveform based on the spectrum which has been compensated by the spectrum compensating section.
US07778781B2 Automated generation of multi-dimensional structure activity and structure property relationships
The present invention relates to automated generation of multi-dimensional structure activity and structure property relationships.
US07778775B2 Position detecting apparatus and method of detecting a position
CPU instructs RF controlling section to switch RF section from an inoperative mode to an operation mode and from the operation mode to the inoperative mode. When all of five pieces of sub-frame data have not been acquired, RF section is switched intermittently from the inoperative mode to the operation mode in synchronization with transmission of lacking sub-frame data, thereby acquiring such lacking sub-frame data. When all the five pieces of sub-frame data have been acquired, the current position is calculated using positional information contained in the sub-frame data. A part of five pieces of sub-frame data including the first to fifth sub-frame data transmitted from a satellite in a time series manner is acquired from GPS signal received in the operation mode, and the remaining part of the five pieces of sub-frame data is acquired in operation mode set at other timing, and then the positional information is judged based on the five pieces of sub-frame data acquired in the above manner.
US07778774B2 Portable telematics device
An automobile navigation system with portable telematics device is disclosed, which comprises: a first telematics device, being arranged fixedly inside an automobile; a detachable second telematics device, capable of being coupled to the first telematics device by a specific control data bus; wherein, the resources of software/hardware of the second telematics device are accessible to the first telematics device while the second telematics device is connected to the first telematics device; and the second telematics device is capable of working independently and thus being used by a user as a personal data assistant while the second telematics device is detached from the first telematics device.
US07778772B2 Travel control system for travel vehicle
A travel control system for controlling a first travel vehicle which travels on a first travel course toward a junction between the first travel course and a second travel course and a second travel vehicle which travels on the second travel course toward the junction in a travel course network comprising the junction, includes a counter for counting a number of the first travel vehicle which exists in a predetermined junction area comprising the junction, and a travel regulator for stopping the second travel vehicle before the junction area when the counted number of the first travel vehicle is one or more. The travel regulator advances the second travel vehicle into the junction area when the counted number of the first travel vehicle is zero.
US07778771B2 Travel control system for travel vehicle and travel vehicle
A travel control system for controlling a travel vehicle to advance from a first travel course toward a predetermined one of a plurality of second travel courses includes a destination information provider providing to the travel vehicle destination information indicating the predetermined one of the plurality of second travel courses before the travel vehicle reaches the junction and a first junction information provider providing to the travel vehicle junction information indicating one of the plurality of second travel courses before the travel vehicle reaches the junction. The travel vehicle obtains the destination information from the destination information provider and the junction information from the first junction information provider before reaching a junction between the first and second travel courses. The travel vehicle collates the destination information with the junction information and advances to the predetermined one of the plurality of second travel courses based on a result of the collation.
US07778770B2 Communication system between vehicles
A communication system between vehicles of the present invention is equipped in each of the vehicles with an image taking device for taking an image around the vehicle; a moving body detection unit for detecting a moving body from the image taken by the image taking device; a display unit for displaying the image; an image data generation unit for generating image data output to the display unit of the each vehicle; and a transmitting/receiving device for any of transmitting/receiving data, wherein the image data generation unit generates image data for displaying an existence of a moving body, of which an image is taken by said image taking device of one of the vehicles, and outputs the image data to the display unit of other vehicle.
US07778767B2 Cold start emission strategy for hybrid vehicles
An engine control module includes an engine starting module that communicates with an electric motor to operate an internal combustion engine including M fuel injectors and that determines whether manifold pressure is below a manifold pressure threshold. A warming module communicates with the M fuel injectors to inject fuel into N of M the fuel injectors when the manifold pressure is less than the manifold pressure threshold. N and M are integers and N is less than M.
US07778765B2 Fuel injection control apparatus for internal combustion engine
A fuel injection control apparatus includes a computing unit that calculates a pulse width for a pulse signal which drives the valve of a fuel injector, based on the operational state of the internal combustion engine and fuel pressure detected by a fuel pressure sensor. After a valve-opening command has turned on and a high valve-opening current has been supplied to open the fuel injector valve, a fuel injector driving signal waveform command unit discharges the current and supplies a small hold current Ih2 to maintain the injector's valve-open state. After the elapse of a predetermined rapid-discharge starting time from the turn-on of the valve-opening command, the fuel injector driving signal waveform command unit rapidly discharges the current until the hold current Ih2 has been reached.
US07778763B2 Fuel property determination system, and fuel property determination method for internal combustion engine
The fuel injection amounts into each cylinder are set on the assumption that a heavy fuel will be injected during the engine starting process, and a specific torque is allowed to be generated by combustion in a specific cylinder when a fuel with a specific property between those of the heaviest fuel and the lightest fuel is injected thereinto. When the torque generated in the specific cylinder is in a range at or around the specific torque, the property level of fuel to be injected during the engine starting process is determined to be in a level range at or around the specific property. When the torque generated in the specific cylinder is higher than the range around the specific torque, the property level is determined to be in a level range on the light fuel side of the level range around the specific property.
US07778762B2 Method for operating a self-igniting internal combustion engine and corresponding control device
Operating a self-igniting internal combustion engine includes: specifying a setpoint combustion position and a setpoint combustion noise feature; operating at least one cylinder of internal combustion engine for at least one cycle while maintaining a first injector control variable and/or an air valve control variable and a second injector control variable and/or a second air valve control variable; ascertaining actual combustion position and actual combustion noise feature of the at least one cylinder; comparing the actual combustion position to the setpoint combustion position and, in case the actual combustion position deviates from the setpoint combustion position, determining anew the first injector control variable and/or the air valve control variable; and comparing the actual combustion noise feature to the setpoint combustion noise feature and, in case the actual combustion noise feature deviates from the setpoint combustion noise feature, determining anew the second injector control variable and/or the air valve control variable.
US07778759B2 Lane deviation avoidance system
A lane deviation avoidance system is arranged to execute a lane deviation avoidance control of controlling a vehicle behavior of the host vehicle so as to avoid the host vehicle from deviating from a traveling lane when the lane deviation tendency is detected, to suppress the driving force when the lane deviation tendency is detected, and to set a controlled variable of the lane deviation avoidance control according to a degree of the suppression of the driving force.
US07778753B2 Vehicle operation assisting system
A vehicle operation assist system includes as assist yaw rate calculator which calculates a necessary moving amount to avoid an obstacle based on a detection result of the obstacle by a radar device, and a vehicle movement controller controls lateral movement of the vehicle based on the calculated moving amount. When an avoiding operation detector determines initiation of an obstacle avoiding operation by the driver, the vehicle movement controller operates a braking device to control the lateral movement of the vehicle, so that the obstacle can be reliably avoided. When a restoring operation detector determines initiation of a restoring operation, the vehicle movement controller operates a power steering device to control the lateral movement of the vehicle, so that delay in the steering operation by the driver, and excessive restoring operation of the steering handle to compensate for the delay are suppressed, thus stabilizing vehicle behavior.
US07778752B1 System for connecting a telematics device to a vehicle using a wireless receiver configured to transmit diagnostic data
An embodiment provides a system for connecting a telematics device to a host vehicle. The system may comprise a short-range wireless transmitter and a short-range wireless receiver. The short-range wireless transmitter may be connected to an in-vehicle diagnostic system. The short-range wireless receiver may be connected to the telematics device installed in the host vehicle. The short-range wireless transmitter may be configured to wirelessly transmit diagnostic data to the short-range wireless receiver.
US07778751B2 Method and apparatus for monitoring the status of automotive service equipment and signaling the status by a wireless technology to the operator
Automotive service equipment and method of servicing an automotive vehicle use an automotive service machine having at least one automatic mode of operation during which an operator is not required to be present. A first, stationary communication module connected to the service machine receives first signals from the machine indicating the status of an automatic mode of operation of the machine and wirelessly transmits second signals communicating when an operator's attention to the machine is required. A second, portable communication module remotely receives the second signals and in response activates a signaling device in the second module for signaling an operator that attention to the machine is required. Thereby, during vehicle servicing the operator can perform other tasks within the workshop, thus being more productive and efficient.
US07778750B2 Vehicle communications network adapter
An adapter is disclosed for allowing communications between a vehicle control computer coupled to one or more vehicle communications networks and a remote computer. The one or more vehicle communications networks may be configured for data communications in accordance with, for example, an SAE J1939 or an SAE J1587 communications protocol, or the like. The adapter includes a first interface for operatively coupling to the one or more communications networks and a second interface including a universal serial bus (USB) controller configured for operatively coupling to the remote computer. The USB controller may be coupled to the remote computer via a device port and a host port, and/or a USB on-the-go port. In any case, the vehicle control computer and remote computer communicate through the adapter via the vehicle communications network and the first and second interfaces.
US07778745B2 Systems and methods for detecting and alerting mis-setting of barometric altimeter setting during a transition altitude
Systems and methods for producing an advisory if barometric altitude transition setting needs adjusting in an aircraft. In one embodiment, the method determines transition altitude, receives an uncorrected altitude, compares the uncorrected altitude to the transition altitude and to corrected altitude, and outputs a barometric altitude transition setting advisory based on the comparison between the uncorrected altitude and the transition altitude. The comparison determines if the uncorrected altitude is greater than the determined transition altitude and the advisory is output if the uncorrected altitude is determined to be greater than the transition altitude and the uncorrected altitude differs from the corrected altitude by a threshold amount. A delay is provided between the comparison of the uncorrected altitude to the transition altitude and the comparison between the uncorrected altitude and the corrected altitude.
US07778741B2 Vehicle stability control system with tire monitoring
A control system (10) for a vehicle (16) includes a sensor (35-47) that generates a sensor signal and a stability control system (26). Tire monitoring sensors (20) in each wheel generate tire signals including temperature, pressure and acceleration. The controller (26) is coupled to the sensors (20, 25-47), and generates a first roll condition signal as a function of the sensor signal, and generates a second roll condition signal as a function of the tire signals. The first or second roll condition signals control the rollover control system to mitigate a vehicle rollover event.
US07778727B2 Electronic component inspection apparatus
An electronic component inspection apparatus includes an inspection socket which inspects a component, a tray disposition area in which a component waits before it is inspected, tray disposition areas which store a component after it has been inspected, components transfer mechanisms each of which has a vacuum or suction nozzle that can pick up and hold a component to transfer the component, a component position confirmation camera which can capture an image of the component that is being transferred, and a controller which transfers a component to the inspection socket, via a position in which the component position confirmation camera captures an image of the component being held by the suction nozzle while the component is being transferred from the tray disposition area to the inspection socket, and based on that captured image, controls the drive of the components transfer mechanisms so that the component is set in the inspection socket.
US07778723B2 Polymer object optical fabrication process
High-volume mass-production and customization of complex three-dimensional polymer and polymer-derived-ceramic microstructures are manufactured in a single step directly from three-dimensional computer models. A projection based non-degenerate two-photon induced photopolymerization method overcomes the drawbacks of conventional one and two-photon fabrication methods. The structure includes dual, synchronized, high-peak power, pulsed femtosecond and picosecond lasers combined with spatial light modulation. Applications include high-resolution rapid prototyping and rapid manufacturing with an emphasis on fabrication of various Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) devices, especially in the area of MEMS packaging.
US07778720B2 Method and system for product line management (PLM)
A method and system for a product line management is presented. The system is capable of performing steps of the method. The method includes a first step of obtaining a product line architecture (PLA). A second step of obtaining a Change Management Workflow (CMW), the CMW includes a plurality of change activities, and the CMW being capable of interacting with the PLA. A third step of obtaining value stream maps for both the PLA and the CMW. A fourth step of creating activity lines for each of the change activity according to the PLA and the CMW. A fifth step of computing risk indicatives for the PLA and the CMW. A sixth step of triggering changes in the PLA and the CMW according the change activity, activity line, risk indicatives, or any combination thereof. And another step of repeating the steps of obtaining value stream maps onwards while managing the product line.
US07778716B2 Position command generating device
A command generating device includes a command shape calculating unit for calculating an nth derivative command shape which is a fixed multiple of the nth derivative with respect to time of a position command for causing a machine to reach a target position at a positioning time so that a convolution of a velocity command which is the first derivative with respect to time of the position command and the impulse response of a transfer function determined from the frequency of a vibration which occurs in the machine becomes equal to zero, the convolution being calculated over the time period from the positioning time onward, and an associating processing unit for integrating the nth derivative command shape n times with respect to time, and for multiplying the integral result by a constant which associates the position command at the positioning time with the target position so as to determine the position command.
US07778708B1 Diagnosing cardiac health using histogram analysis of thoracic impedance
Diagnosing a patient's cardiac health through histogram analysis of thoracic impedance is described. Data values indicative of thoracic impedance are measured from a patient over a sample period that includes multiple respiratory cycles. The values are distributed across multiple bins of a histogram. A diagnostic value for use in diagnosing a patient's cardiac health is derived from values in one or more of the bins. As one example, a diagnostic value representing minimum thoracic impedance during the sample period can be derived from values in the lowest-valued bins. Diagnostic values can be computed for multiple sample periods in the same fashion. A trend analysis is performed on the diagnostic values to determine whether the patient's cardiac condition is improving or worsening. The trend may be presented in a graphical form to provide a visual tool for assessing the patient's condition over time.
US07778706B1 Rate adaptive biventricular and cardiac resynchronization therapy
An exemplary implantable device includes control logic to determine a base state atrio-ventricular delay (e.g., PV base or AV base) based on width of an atrial event (e.g., ΔP or ΔA) as measured during a patient base state and based on a value of a parameter δ that depends on the atrial event and control logic to determine an active state atrio-ventricular delay (e.g., PV active or AV active) based at least in part on a base state interval (e.g., DD base or AD base) measured during a patient base state and an active state interval (e.g., DD active or AD active) measured during a patient active state where such intervals extend from the end of a respective atrial event to the beginning of a respective ventricular QRS complex or a point within a respective ventricular QRS complex. Various other exemplary methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed.
US07778697B2 Detection of ischemia
In an ischemia detection method, and in an ischemia detector and a cardiac stimulator embodying an ischemia detector, a workload of a patient is measured, as is an ejection fraction (EF) associated with the heart of the patient is determined. A predetermined reference relation between EF and workload for the patient is stored, and an analysis unit detects a state of ischemia of the patient from deviation in the determined EF for various workloads from the stored reference relation.
US07778696B2 Selection of cardiac capture verification modes
Systems and methods provide for selection of automatic capture verification modes. A number of capture verification modes are evaluated, wherein at least one of the capture verification modes has a distinct temporal relationship between delivery of a pacing pulse and detection of capture of heart tissue by the pacing pulse than the other capture verification modes. One or more capture verification modes are selected based on the evaluation. Capture verification is implemented using the selected one or more capture verification modes.
US07778695B2 In vivo fluorescence sensors, systems, and related methods operating in conjunction with fluorescent analytes
Methods, systems, devices and computer program product include: (i) administering a fluorescent analyte to a subject; (ii) repetitively emitting excitation light from an implanted sensor over a desired monitoring period; (iii) detecting fluorescence intensity in response to the excitation light using the implanted sensor that outputs the excitation light; and (iv) using data associated with the detected fluorescence intensity to perform at least one of: (a) calculate the concentration or dose of the analyte received proximate to the implanted sensor site; (b) evaluate the pharmacodynamic or pharmacokinetic activity of the fluorescent analyte; (c) confirm Ab attachment to a tumor site; (d) monitor a non-target site to confirm it is not unduly affected by a therapy; (e) monitor for changes in cellular properties; (f) use the calculated dose or concentration data to adjust or customize a therapeutic amount of the analyte administered to the subject; (g) confirm micelle concentration at a target site and then stimulate toxin release based on the confirmation; and (h) monitor for the expression of a protein produced from a gene therapy modification.In particular embodiments, the intensity of the excitation signals emitted to the localized tissue can be varied in a predetermined manner to generate optical profiling data of the response of the tissue proximate the sensor.
US07778690B2 Method for locating a medical instrument during an intervention performed on the human body
The invention relates to a method for locating a medical instrument during an intervention performed on the human body using an X-ray image recording system and an electromagnetic locating system whose systems of coordinates have been or will be mutually registered, with a first item of positional information about the instrument being obtained continuously by means of the locating system and in each case two two-dimensional X-ray images positioned at an angle to each other being intermittently recorded by means of the X-ray image recording system, from which images a second item of positional information about the instrument is determined and compared with the first item of positional information, after which the first item of positional information will be corrected depending on the comparison result taking account of the second item of positional information obtained from the X-ray images.
US07778687B2 Implantable marker with a leadless signal transmitter compatible for use in magnetic resonance devices
A leadless marker for localizing the position of a target within a patient. In one embodiment, the marker includes a casing, a resonating circuit, and a ferromagnetic element. The casing is configured to be positioned at a selected location relative to a target site in the patient; the casing, for example, can be configured to be permanently or semi-permanently implanted into the patient. The resonating circuit has an inductor within the casing comprising a plurality of windings of a conductor, but it does not have external electrical lead lines extending through the casing. The ferromagnetic element is at least partially within the inductor. The ferromagnetic element has a volume such that when the marker is in an imaging magnetic field having a field strength of 1.5 T and a gradient of 3 T/m, then the force exerted on the marker by the imaging magnetic field is not greater than gravitational force exerted on the marker.
US07778685B2 Method and system for positioning a device in a tubular organ
A system and method for positioning a device at a desired location in a tubular organ such as an artery. A three-dimensional reconstruction of the organ is obtained, and the desired location is marked in the reconstruction. The device is inserted into the organ and an image is obtained of the device and organ. The reconstruction with the marked location is projected onto a plane from the perspective of the image and the projection and image are superimposed. If the device is not at the desired location, the device is repositioned in the organ and an additional image of the device is obtained. The reconstruction is then projected onto a plane from the perspective of the additional image and the additional image and the projection are superimposed. This process is repeated, as required, until the device is in the desired location.
US07778683B2 Blood rheology measurement device and blood rheology measurement method
A blood rheology measurement device and a blood rheology measurement method which detect a fingerprint or a vein to thereby measure a positional relation between an artery in a living body and a sensor on the same conditions for each subject during non-invasive measurement and which correctly evaluate a change of blood rheology with elapse of time. A vein pattern or a fingerprint pattern peculiar to a subject is detected, recognized, and stored, a position of a sensor is adjusted so that the detected vein pattern or fingerprint pattern agrees with the stored vein pattern or fingerprint pattern every measurement, and a blood rheology index value indicating blood fluidity (fluidity/viscosity) is measured.
US07778682B2 Biopsy and sampling needle antennas for magnetic resonance imaging-guided biopsies
Herein is disclosed a magnetic resonance imaging antenna, including an inner conductor, an outer shield slideably displaceable with respect to the inner conductor, and an insulator electrically insulating the inner conductor from the outer shield. Herein is disclosed a biopsy needle antenna, including a magnetic resonance imaging antenna, having an outer shield, and an inner conductor electrically insulated from the outer shield by a dielectric; and a biopsy needle electrically connected to the inner conductor and electrically insulated from the outer shield by the dielectric. Herein is disclosed a method of obtaining a sample with magnetic resonance imaging guidance, including providing a sampling needle magnetic resonance imaging antenna, advancing the antenna to a structure from which the sample is to be taken, detecting magnetic resonance data by the antenna, and coupling the sample to the antenna.
US07778680B2 System and methods for processing analyte sensor data
Systems and methods for processing sensor analyte data, including initiating calibration, updating calibration, evaluating clinical acceptability of reference and sensor analyte data, and evaluating the quality of sensor calibration. During initial calibration, the analyte sensor data is evaluated over a period of time to determine stability of the sensor. The sensor may be calibrated using a calibration set of one or more matched sensor and reference analyte data pairs. The calibration may be updated after evaluating the calibration set for best calibration based on inclusion criteria with newly received reference analyte data. Fail-safe mechanisms are provided based on clinical acceptability of reference and analyte data and quality of sensor calibration. Algorithms provide for optimized prospective and retrospective analysis of estimated blood analyte data from an analyte sensor.
US07778677B2 Mobile terminal
In a mobile terminal capable of preventing its breakage or damage by absorbing a shock of a contact between a folder and a main body in unfolding or folding of the folder by installing a buffer member to contact portions of the folder and the main body, a mobile terminal includes a main body housing a circuit substrate inside and having an operational button on the front surface, a folder rotatively connected to the main body and having a liquid screen, a hinge connecting unit for rotatively connecting the main body and the folder, and a buffer means for absorbing a shock of a contact between the main body and the folder when the folder is unfolded.
US07778670B2 Mobile telecommunication handset and method for recognizing one or more cards using one socket
The present invention is related to a mobile telecommunication handset for recognizing at least one card capable of facilitating a telecommunication service with a network. The mobile telecommunication handset includes a socket for inserting the at least one card, wherein one card can be inserted into the socket at a time, a memory for storing information related to the at least one card inserted into the socket, and a controlling unit operationally coupled with the socket and the memory for operating the mobile telecommunication handset, wherein the controlling unit is capable of utilizing information related to any one of a preceding card and a subsequent card after the preceding card is inserted into and removed from the socket and the subsequent card is inserted into the socket to facilitate an event associated with the any one of the preceding and subsequent cards.
US07778669B2 Electronic device, data processing system, data processing method and recording medium
A nonvolatile memory stores the contents ID of a downloaded content in association with the identification information of a removable UIM card. When downloading of contents data is requested, the CPU determines whether or not contents data which is identical to the requested contents data is already stored in a cellular phone. If the contents data which is identical to the requested contents data is not stored in the cellular phone, the CPU downloads the contents data. If stored, the CPU does not download the contents data, but determines whether or not identification information associated with the contents data matches with the identification information of the currently loaded UIM card. If the identification information does not match, the CPU updates the association of the contents ID and the identification information.
US07778662B2 Distribution of tasks as a function of the operating mode in mobile communication terminals having two or more microprocessors
The processing of tasks in a mobile communication terminal that contains two or more microprocessors is disclosed. The processing rate of tasks is increased by redistribution of the tasks between the microprocessors as a function of the operating mode. Particularly in situations in which no conversation and/or no other type of payload signal transmission is taking place, tasks may be redistributed from the application processor to the modem processor and/or to the DSP, so that applications such as compression and/or decompression of video data can be processed more quickly.
US07778655B2 Mobile communications terminal for controlling user's floor and method thereof
A mobile communications terminal, and method and system for controlling a floor during a PT session, are discussed. According to one aspect of the present invention, the terminal includes a PT client. The PT client includes a controller to request a user's confirmation of media burst for a PT session when the PT client receives a media burst confirmation request. The controller selectively starts encoding of media data of the PT session depending on the user's response to the controller's request.
US07778646B2 Method and system for including location information in a USSD message by a network node
The present invention relates to a method of providing a location specific service in a digital cellular communication network using unstructured supplementary service data. In the method, the service data is sent to a network node of said network by at least one mobile station, and the service is dependent of location information of said at least one mobile station. Said method comprises a step of including location information in said service data by said network node. The invention is further related to a network node for use with a method as described here.
US07778643B2 Power and timing control methods and apparatus
The use of multiple states of mobile communication device operation to allow a single base station to support a relatively large number of mobile nodes is described. The various states require different amounts of communications resources, e.g., bandwidth. Four supported states of operation are an on-state, a hold-state, a sleep-state, and an access-state. Each mobile node in the on-state is allocated communication resources to perform transmission power control signaling, transmission timing control signaling and to transmit data as part of a data uplink communications operation. Each mobile node in the hold-state is allocated communication resources to perform transmission timing control signaling and is provided a dedicated uplink for requesting a state transition and a shared resource for transmitting acknowledgements. In the sleep state a mobile node is allocated minimal resources and does not conduct power control signaling or timing control signaling. Data may be received in the on and hold states.
US07778641B1 Inter-system handover—generic handover mechanism
A data mechanism is described for assisting third generational mobile radio systems to handoff mobile radio connection to neighboring cells when the neighboring cells are of a foreign generational type. The data mechanism includes a container in the data map which is a generic structure, not particular to any generational system. The generic structure can be content-specific to any of many different generational communications protocols.
US07778640B2 Method of communicating data in a wireless mobile communication system
A method of communicating data in a wireless communication system is disclosed. More specifically, a method discloses transmitting a request by a mobile subscriber station (MSS) to a network entity via a de-registration request message requesting the network entity to retain a preferred session information, and receiving a selected session information via a de-registration command response from the network entity.
US07778639B2 Network-initiated area event triggered positioning method for roaming terminal in mobile communication system
A network-initiated area event triggered positioning method for a roaming terminal in a session-based position information system is disclosed. Network-initiation of area-based positioning of a roaming terminal is discriminated according to a proxy mode and a non-proxy mode, and area-based positioning for the roaming terminal is performed in various manners according to whether an SLP for performing the positioning procedure with respect to the discriminated modes is a V-SLP or an H-SLP.
US07778637B2 Method for user terminal accessing home network quickly in wireless local area network
The present invention discloses a method for a user terminal in a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) quickly accessing its home network. Pre-store in each user terminal, respectively, the identifications of all the WLANs with direct connections to the home network of the corresponding user terminal. For a user terminal that is in an area covered by more than one WLAN, compare the identification of each of the detected WLANs with the WLAN identifications stored in the current user terminal. A successful matching between the identification of a detected WLAN and a pre-stored WLAN identification then means that the home network of the current user terminal is connected with the corresponding WLAN access network and can be accessed via this WLAN. If a plurality of detected WLAN identifications match the stored identifications, select in accordance with a pre-defined selecting rule one of the corresponding WLANs and get accessed via the selected WLAN. This method enables a user terminal covered by more than one WLAN to find quickly a WLAN access network directly connected with its home network and to access the home network via this WLAN.
US07778614B1 Receiver storage system for audio program
A receiver contains a demodulator system that can extract digital data from wireless radio frequency signal. The digital data contains at least three sets of compressed digital audio data each corresponding to an audio program. At least two of the three sets of compressed digital audio data are stored in storage. Each of the stored sets of compressed digital data is associated with a set of index data. The receiver contains an output device allowing a user to perceive the sets of index data. The receiver also contains a digital to analog converter. If a user selects one of the sets of compressed digital audio data, the selected compressed digital audio data is decompressed and converted to analog audio data.
US07778609B2 Power consumption control methods applied to communication systems, and related devices
A power consumption control method applied to a communication system adjusts the power consumption of a portion of circuit in the communication system according to a transmission distance between the communication system and another communication system. Another power consumption control method applied to a communication system adjusts the power consumption of a portion of circuit in the communication system according to a signal index of the communication system.
US07778605B2 Method and device for reporting information related to interference components received by a first telecommunication device to a second telecommunication device
A method for reporting, through a wireless network, information related to interference components received by a first telecommunication device which has M antennas to a second telecommunication device which has N antennas, the method comprises the steps executed by the first telecommunication device of: measuring the interference components received by the first telecommunication device, determining at most M weighting vectors from the measured interference components, weighting at most M pilot signals with the at most M determined weighting vectors, and transferring the at most M weighted pilot signals to the second telecommunication device.
US07778604B2 Garage door opener communications gateway module for enabling communications among vehicles, house devices, and telecommunications networks
A garage door opener (GDO) communications gateway module includes a receiver for receiving garage door signals and a transmitter for transmitting control signals to a GDO operable for opening and closing a garage door of a garage of a house. The transmitter transmits a control signal to the GDO to control the garage door upon receipt of a garage door signal by the receiver. The module includes a Bluetooth enabled first transceiver for communicating with a Bluetooth enabled appliance of a vehicle over a wireless communications path when the vehicle is located within the vicinity of the garage. The module includes a second transceiver for communicating with a device of the house over another communications path. The vehicle appliance and the house device communicate with one another over the communications paths via the transceivers. The receiver, the transmitter, and the transceivers are contained within a housing mountable to the garage.
US07778599B2 Aggregated channel feedback
Embodiments of methods and apparatus for providing aggregated feedback from a subscriber station to a base station are generally described herein. Some embodiments may include a channel response predictor to predict channel responses for future feedback periods and a feedback information generator to aggregate feedback information, generated based on the predicted channel responses, into an aggregated information block that is to be transmitted to a base station. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US07778592B2 Downstream adaptive modulation in broadband communications system
A downstream adaptive modulation system and method. The downstream adaptive modulation system comprises a wireless access termination system and one or more wireless modems. The wireless access termination system includes a plurality of queues and a parser. The parser parses data traffic onto the plurality of queues. Each queue is associated with a different coding and modulation scheme. Each of the one or more wireless modems receives data traffic from the plurality of queues based on the wireless modem's ability to demodulate and decode the signal from each of the plurality of queues. When a wireless modem experiences a change in signal strength, the present invention enables the wireless modem to adapt to data from other queues to compensate for the change in signal strength. Thus, if the signal strength improves over a period of time, the wireless modem may receive data at a higher order modulation and FEC code rate. If the signal strength weakens over a period of time, the wireless modem may receive data at a lower order modulation and FEC code rate.
US07778590B2 Game apparatus with music performance processing unit
Either a “list of song names” or a “list of artist names” is set (in a step S12) as a first display ordering which is to be a basic display ordering for songs, and, along with displaying (in steps S13 and S14) a song selection screen according to a display sequence setting table based on this first display ordering which has been set, particularly an appealing portion of a PV of a song which has been displayed in a song candidate display section and which has been selected with a music selection cursor is displayed in a selected PV display section; and furthermore (in steps S15, S20, S26, and S33) a appealing portion of the song is outputted via speakers.
US07778588B2 Sheet feeding apparatus and image forming apparatus
A sheet feeding apparatus, having: a first sheet feeding member to press a top surface of a sheet for sending out a sheet stored in a sheet storing section; a second sheet feeding member arranged on a downstream side of the first sheet feeding member with respect to a sheet feeding direction to further convey the sheet from the first sheet feeding member downstream; and a first cleaning member rotatably supported in contact with a circumference surface of the first feeding member and a circumference surface of the second feeding member to cleaning a circumference surface of the first feeding member and a circumference surface of the second feeding member by rotation.
US07778586B2 Waste toner solidification apparatus for a printing device
A waste toner solidification apparatus for a printing device includes a nozzle configured to receive waste toner from a hopper. A heater is configured to heat the waste toner in a manner sufficient to liquefy the waste toner within the nozzle. Substantially when exiting the nozzle, the liquefied waste toner solidifies and forms a plurality of solid waste toner pellets.
US07778585B2 Electrophotographic cleaning blade, process for producing electrophotographic cleaning blade, and electrophotographic apparatus
An electrophotographic cleaning blade is provided which is free of blade turning-up coming from both end portions of the blade in its lengthwise direction. The cleaning blade having a blade formed of a polyurethane resin, which is to come into touch with the surface of a photosensitive drum of an electrophotographic apparatus to remove a toner remaining thereon, and a support member which holds the blade. The blade has a polyurethane resin portion having a dynamic hardness of 0.05 mN/μm2 or more and 0.16 mN/μm2 or less and a high-hardness portion having a dynamic hardness 1.3 times or more and 30 times or less the dynamic hardness of the polyurethane resin portion, provided at each end portion of the blade in its lengthwise direction at its part coming into touch with the photosensitive drum.
US07778584B2 Thermal fixing device and image forming device
The contact rate between a heater 1 and a heater holder 2 is made higher at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the heater than at the center. Alternatively, the per-unit-length volume of the heater holder 2 in the longitudinal direction is made larger at the both ends in the longitudinal direction of the heater. In this configuration, the heat generated by the heater can easily escape into the heater holder side at the both ends but cannot easily escape into the heater holder side at the center. Although the per-unit-length heat amount in the longitudinal direction of the heater 1 may be even, it is also possible to set the heat amount distribution in such a way that the heat amount at the both ends is larger than that at the center. The present invention prevents an improper fixing problem generated by an insufficient temperature at a particular position of a recording material and, at the same time, prevents an increase in the temperature of the non-paper-passage part that occurs when a narrow recording material is used.
US07778580B2 Liquid delivery systems, fuser assemblies, printing apparatuses and methods of delivering release agents to fusing imaging surfaces
Liquid delivery systems, fuser assemblies, printing apparatuses and methods of delivering release agents to fusing imaging surfaces are disclosed. An embodiment of the liquid supply systems for delivering a liquid to a fusing imaging surface of a fusing member includes a first roll having a first outer surface adapted to contact a liquid contained in a sump; a first shim adapted to contact the first outer surface and the liquid in the sump; a second roll having a second outer surface adapted to contact the liquid in the sump, the first and second rolls contacting each other at an interface; and a second shim adapted to contact the second outer surface and the liquid in the sump. At least one of the first outer surface and the second outer surface is comprised of a compressible material which is compressed along the interface. The first and second shims define a liquid passage through which the liquid is metered from the sump to the interface, and the first and second rolls are rotatable to meter the liquid through the interface to the fusing imaging surface of the fusing member.
US07778579B2 Color image forming apparatus which executes color misregistration correction processing
A tandem type color image forming apparatus which executes color misregistration correction, including: a detecting section which detects a width of a transfer sheet; an image forming section having an image carrier, on which arranged side by side are an image area where formed is an image for transfer and a non-image area where formed is an imprint image; and a control section which selects a complex or a single correction mode based on the transfer sheet width, to execute correction processing; where the complex correction mode is an operation mode of forming in parallel the image for transfer in the image area and the imprint image in the non-image area, and the single correction mode is an operation mode of suspending to form the image for transfer in the image area, and executing only to form the imprint image in the non-image area or in the image area.
US07778578B2 Toner container in image forming apparatus
A toner container for use in an image forming apparatus to discharge toner from the toner container upon rotation of the toner container in the image forming apparatus along a direction of a rotation axis of the toner container has a cylindrical body unit for containing a toner; a cylindrical end portion at a first end of the toner container, the cylindrical end portion including a first end face and a second end face; a toner supply port provided in the cylindrical end portion; and a protruded portion provided on the first end face of the first end portion, the first end face being recessed from the second end surface and positioned under said toner supply port.
US07778577B2 Developer container for an image forming apparatus
A developer container storing a developer of the present invention includes a developer outlet formed in the side wall thereof, and a shutter member for selectively opening or closing the developer outlet. The shutter member opens the developer outlet when the developer container is mounted to the body of an image forming apparatus or closes it when the former is dismounted from the latter. The toner container with this configuration surely prevents the developer from leaking when the developer container is dismounted from an image forming apparatus.
US07778575B2 Imaging apparatus adjusting a rotational stop phase based on a calculated rotational phase
An imaging apparatus is disclosed that includes plural image carriers on which different-colored toner images are formed, the image carriers being driven and rotated to transfer the different-colored toner images onto one of an endless transfer member that is driven to rotate in contact with the image carriers or a transfer material that is carried by the endless transfer member. The imaging apparatus includes a phase calculating unit that extracts a periodic rotational variation component of each of the image carriers from a combination of periodic rotational variation components generated within said imaging apparatus and calculates a rotational phase of each of the image carriers based on the extracted periodic rotational variation component, and a rotational phase adjusting unit that adjusts a rotation stop phase of each of the image carriers based on the calculated rotational phase.
US07778574B2 Image forming apparatus with an intermediary transfer belt having a referential mark
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for carrying a toner image; a toner image forming device for forming a toner image on the image bearing member; a detector for optically detecting a mark bonded on the image bearing member; an adjusting for adjusting the toner image forming device on the basis of an output of the detector; a protection sheet removably adhered to the mark, the protection sheet being capable of passing detecting light, wherein an adhesion of the protection sheet to the mark is smaller than an adhesion of the mark to an image bearing member.
US07778573B2 Image forming apparatus and process cartridge
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a toner image forming unit configured to form a toner image having a predetermined polarity on the image carrier, an intermediate transfer body facing the image carrier, a primary transfer member configured to transfer the toner image on the image carrier onto the intermediate transfer body, a secondary transfer member configured to transfer the toner image on the intermediate transfer body onto a recording medium, and a contacting member in contact with the image carrier and configured to remove residual toner remaining on the image carrier after the toner image is transferred by the primary transfer member onto the intermediate transfer body and to pass the removed residual toner to the intermediate transfer body. A bias voltage with the same polarity as the predetermined polarity of the toner image is applied to the contacting member.
US07778572B2 Opening and closing assembly, and multifunction device including the assembly
An opening and closing assembly includes: (a) a first casing body; (b) a second casing body pivotable to be selectively placed in open and closed positions relative to the first casing body; and (c) a support stand for supporting the second casing body to maintain the open position. The support stand includes (c-1) a proximal end portion pivotably connected to one of the first and second casing bodies and (c-2) a distal end portion slidably connected to the other of the first and second casing bodies. The other of the first and second casing bodies includes (i) a guide portion for guiding the distal end portion of the support stand, and (ii) first and second wall portions cooperating with each other for gripping the distal end portion of the support stand. The distal end portion of the support stand includes a gripped portion having a thickness that is increased in a direction away from the distal end portion of the support stand toward the proximal end portion of the support stand.
US07778569B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a main body casing, a device that is positioned within a main body casing and having a function, a displacement member positioned in a main body casing and capable of displacement between an initial position and a stop position which causes the device to perform an action, a string-like connection that is connected between the displacement member and a cover member and that displaces the displacement member from the initial position to the stop position in synchronization with the opening operation of the cover member. The string-like connection, and the displacement member in the stop position, constitute an opening restricting device capable of restricting the opening angle of a cover member to a prescribed angle.
US07778567B2 Image forming apparatus and image forming unit
Image forming apparatuses include: a casing; an image forming unit removable from the casing in a first direction; and plural developer cartridges. The cartridges may be attached and detached with respect to the image forming unit in a second direction that is inclined toward the first direction. Other image forming apparatuses include: a casing; an exposure device; a plurality of cartridges configured to be attached and detached with respect to the casing in a first direction; and a recording medium transport system for transporting recording media adjacent the photosensitive members in a second direction. The first direction may be inclined with respect to the second direction, and at least a portion of optical paths of the light emitted from the exposure device may extend parallel with the first direction. Aspects of the invention also relate to image forming units, e.g., for use in image forming apparatuses as described above.
US07778566B2 Belt cleaning device and image forming apparatus
A belt cleaning device includes a cleaning roller, a backup roller, and a roller-pressing-state setting mechanism. The cleaning roller is disposed in confrontation with a surface of a belt. The backup roller is disposed in confrontation with the cleaning roller with the belt interposed between the cleaning roller and the backup roller. The roller-pressing-state setting mechanism selectively sets a state of the backup roller to a first state in which the backup roller is pressed against the cleaning roller via the belt, allowing a first pressure to be applied between the cleaning roller and the surface of the belt, and a second state in which a second pressure is applied between the cleaning roller and the surface of the belt. The second pressure is less than the first pressure.
US07778565B2 Heating device, fixing device, and image forming device
A heating device includes a magnetic field generating unit, and a heat generating body having a heat generating layer generating heat due to electromagnetic induction, and a temperature-sensitive layer. The heat generating layer is disposed opposing the magnetic field generating unit. The temperature-sensitive layer has a Curie temperature greater than or equal to a set temperature of the heat generating layer and less than or equal to a heat-resistant temperature of the heat generating layer, and is disposed at a side of heat generating layer opposite a side where the magnetic field generating unit is disposed such that heat from the heat generating layer is conducted. At temperatures lower than the Curie temperature, the temperature-sensitive layer causes the magnetic field to penetrate in from the heat generating layer, and at temperatures greater than or equal to the Curie temperature, causes magnetic flux of the magnetic field to pass therethrough.
US07778564B2 Fixing device and fixing method of image forming apparatus
In a fixing device of an image forming apparatus of the present invention, inner surfaces of upper and lower frames for respectively supporting a heat roller and a pressure roller are formed as a mirror surface. Between the heat roller and an infrared temperature sensor, an infrared transmission filter for cutting infrared rays beyond a wave length zone equivalent to a heatable area of the heat roller is installed. Detection results of a surface temperature of the heat roller by the infrared temperature sensor are prevented from exceeding the error tolerance due to infrared rays radiated from other than the heat roller. Temperature control for the heat roller is improved and a fixed image of high image quality is obtained.
US07778563B2 Variable speed fusing
Systems and methods are described that facilitate reducing temperature droop during an initial portion of a print job by reducing fuser speed to increase fuser-to-paper interaction while fuser heat is absorbed by the paper during a temperature transient. For instance, during a first N pages of a print job, where N is an integer, the paper acts as a heat sink and exerts a thermal load on the fuser roll. To compensate, fuser speed is reduced initially to ensure that a given amount of heat is applied to toner on the pages. Fuser speed is increased until fuser temperature reaches steady state. Acceleration of the fuser is also adjustable.
US07778561B2 Charging device for charging charge receiving material, image forming apparatus including the same, control method of the charging device and computer-readable storage medium recording control program for the charging device
In a charging device of the present invention, with reference to a state (movement speed of a charging receiving material, operating period of charging device) in which the charging device is used which state is obtained by an image formation controlling section, a voltage controlling section sets or changes an applied voltage to be applied between a discharge electrode and an inductive electrode. Accordingly, even in a case where discharge is hard to occur, a necessary amount of ions can be supplied stably.
US07778559B2 Method to improve data collection accuracy by improved windowing in a toner density control system
A method of compensating for mechanical and magnification errors affecting toner density control in an image forming device is described herein. The method includes directing light towards a toner test surface, sensing the resulting reflections, and buffering the density data corresponding to the sensed reflections during a predetermined test window. The method may compensate for mechanical and magnification errors associated with the toner test pattern by processing the buffered density data to adjust the location of the data collection windows corresponding to the toner test patterns. For example, the buffered density data may be processed to detect first and second boundary patterns disposed on the toner test surface within the test window, determine a time differential between the first and second boundary patterns, and adjust the location of the data collection windows based on the determined time differential and a nominal expected time differential.
US07778558B2 Image forming apparatus capable of controlling application voltage to adhering member
The image forming apparatus, includes a conveyor belt for bearing a recording material, capable of suppressing an image blur caused by a separating discharge at the separation of the recording material from the conveyor belt. To fix record materials on a transportation belt, the recording material is charged by a adhering member to electrically adhere the recording material to the conveyor belt. When the recording material is separated from the conveyor belt, a separating discharge occurs between the recording material and the conveyor belt, as the recording material is charged. In order to reduce the faulty of the toner image on the recording material caused by the separating discharge, the voltage applied to the adhering member is controlled for example according to a current which the recording material receives at the transfer position to mutually cancel the charge received at the transfer position by the adhering member.
US07778557B2 Fixing apparatus and image forming apparatus
In a fixing apparatus that has a heating roller, and heats a sheet where an image by a developer has been transferred, to thereby fix the image on the sheet, the following are provided: a first sensor that detects the radiant heat from the heating roller; a second sensor that detects the ambient temperature of the first sensor; a computing circuit that computes a threshold value for determining whether the temperature of the heating roller is abnormal or not; and a controlling circuit that controls the operation condition of the heating roller based on output values of the first sensor and the second sensor and the threshold value computed by the computing circuit.
US07778556B2 Toner supply device, image forming apparatus and toner shortage detecting method
A toner supply device including: a toner bottle filled with toner; and a toner supply assembly mounting mechanism having the toner bottle mounted thereon and feeding toner discharged from the toner bottle to a developing unit and supplying toner to the developing unit in accordance with the amount of toner consumed in the developing unit for the process of printing, further comprises: a toner bottle releasing mechanism which, when the amount of toner left in the toner bottle has been reduced to a predetermined level or lower, causes the toner bottle to move in the direction opposite to the direction in which the toner bottle is set into the toner supply assembly mounting mechanism and separate from the toner feed device.
US07778554B2 System and method for transmitting data on return path of a cable television system
An optical signal return path system includes a transmitter and a receiver. The receiver receives an optical data signal from the transmitter and recovers therefrom a digital data stream and an associated first clock having an associated first clock rate. The data stream is stored in a memory device at the first clock rate. A clock generator generates a second clock having an associated second clock rate that is adjusted in accordance with a clock control signal. A control circuit reads data from the memory device at a rate corresponding to the second clock rate and generates a fullness signal that indicates whether the memory device is fuller more full than a predefined threshold fullness level. A clock speed adjusting circuit generates the clock control signal in accordance with the fullness signal.
US07778551B2 Temperature compensation circuits
A differential driver configured to drive an optical source. The differential driver includes an anode transistor configured to connect to a diode anode. The differential driver further includes a cathode transistor configured to connect to a diode cathode. The differential driver additionally includes a tail current transistor. The tail current transistor controls the amount of modulation current through a diode. The tail current transistor includes provisions that control the current through the tail current transistor for controlling the amount of modulation current through the diode. The provisions are dependant on a temperature in or at which the diode operates.
US07778550B2 System and method for wavelength monitoring and control
A system and method using for wavelength monitoring and control in a WDM optical communication system. An aggregate channel monitor detects crosstalk between channels in the aggregate signal. Channel spacing may be modified by an element management system in response to the output of the aggregate channel monitor.
US07778549B1 Unidirectional drop and continue using bidirectional transponder
Systems and methods for unidirectional communication in an optical network employing bidirectional transponders are provided. The modulation and amplification capabilities of the bidirectional transponder are used to forward information to the next node. In this way a highly cost-effective “drop and continue” architecture is provided. In one implementation, the client-side output of the bidirectional transponder is looped back to the client-side input using, e.g., a Y-cable fiber. In this way, a unidirectional signal present on a network-side input wavelength to the transponder is presented both on a network-side output wavelength of the transponder and at the same time to a client. The modulation and amplification capabilities of the bidirectional transponder are thus exploited in forwarding the unidirectional signal to the next node.
US07778542B2 Image capturing apparatus
This invention can efficiently remove, within a short period of time, a foreign substance such as dust adhering on an optical element arranged on the front surface of an image sensor. An image capturing apparatus includes an image sensor which photo-electrically converts an object image, an optical element inserted between the image sensor and a photographing optical system which forms the object image, a foreign substance position storage unit which stores the position of a foreign substance adhering on the surface of the optical element, a vibration unit which vibrates the optical element to remove the foreign substance adhering on the surface of the optical element, and a control unit which controls a driving parameter of the vibration unit on the basis of the foreign substance position information stored in the foreign substance position storage unit.
US07778539B2 Optical apparatus
An optical apparatus which achieves fast focusing operation and allows accurate focusing is disclosed. The optical apparatus includes a first focus detector which detects a focus state on a subject, a second focus detector which detects a focus state on the subject in a detection method different from a detection method of the first focus detector, and a controller which has a function of detecting whether or not the subject is a moving body and a function of performing focus control of an image-taking optical system in a first sequence in which at least one of the first and second focus detectors is used and a second sequence in which at least the other of the focus detectors is used. The controller preferentially uses one of the first and second sequences depending on the result of the detection with the moving body detecting function.
US07778538B2 Lens barrel
The present invention provides a lens barrel having an optical system capable of change of a focal length, comprising: a diaphragm device which controls a light amount of light incident to the optical system and passing to an image forming surface; and an open F value varying device which is provided separately from the diaphragm device, controls a light amount of the light incident to the optical system and passing to the image forming surface and varies an open F value by limiting the light amount so that the open F value becomes a value according to a focal length of the optical system when the light amount which is controllable by the diaphragm device is at the maximum.
US07778536B2 Driving apparatus
An anti-vibration unit serving as a driving apparatus has an X axis transducer having a driver, a fixed frame having an X axis transducer holding part, an X frame having a sliding body against which the driver is pressed by a pressing plate with an anti-vibration sheet and a holder interposed therebetween, a Y axis transducer having a driver, and a Y frame having a sliding body against which the driver is pressed by the pressing plate with the anti-vibration sheet and the holder interposed therebetween. The anti-vibration sheet is narrower than the transducer, and grease is applied to one of the surfaces of the anti-vibration sheet and the pressing plate in contact with each other, so that the drivers are in proper contact with the sliding bodies, and the sliding bodies are efficiently driven. The driving apparatus is compact and produces high driving force with high efficiency.
US07778530B2 Energy delivery system for a gas transport vessel containing low vapor pressure gas
A system for delivering vapor phase fluid at an elevated pressure from a transport vessel containing liquefied or two-phase fluid is provided. The system includes: (a) a transport vessel positioned in a substantially horizontal position; (b) one or more energy delivery elements disposed on the lower portion of the transport vessel wherein the energy delivery devices include a heating means and a first insulation means, wherein the energy delivery devices are configured to the contour of the transport vessel; (c) one or more substantially rigid support devices disposed on the outer periphery of the energy delivery devices, wherein the support devices hold the energy delivery devices in thermal contact with a lower portion of the transport vessel; and (d) one or more attaching devices secure the rigid support devices onto the transport vessel and hold the energy delivery devices between the substantially rigid support device and a wall of the transport vessel.
US07778528B2 Method of reproducing an interactive disk through a network
The present invention relates to an interactive disk reproducing method using a network. The present method downloads various content-related information and the latest contents associated with A/V data pre-recorded on a placed interactive disk from a remote content-providing server connected through a network before reproduction of the placed interactive disk, and makes presentation of video or audio reproduced from the interactive disk along with contents already-received from the server while synchronizing presentation time of the A/V data and the contents with reference to the downloaded content-related information.
US07778526B2 System and method for maintaining DVD-subpicture streams upon conversion to higher compressed data format
A system and method for generating a file container, the file container having a main structure for sample data and substructures for information data wherein the structures are defined in accordance with a standard of the second format, the standard defining a fixed number of data handler types, each data handler type declaring a process by which sample data are to be presented; converting the audio/video data to the second format including the step of generating audio/video sample data from the audio/video data and information on position and size of the audio/video sample data within the main structure; storing the audio/video sample data in the main structure, wherein the information on position and size of the audio/video sample data within the main structure is stored in a substructure for audio/video data; defining a substructure for subpicture data in accordance with the standard such that the subpicture data are storable as subpicture sample data in the main structure, wherein the substructure for subpicture data is adapted for providing information on position and size of the subpicture sample data, and is adapted for presenting a data handler type being undefined in the standard; converting the subpicture data to the second data format; and storing subpicture sample data in the main structure, and storing information on position and size of the subpicture sample data in the substructure for subpicture data.
US07778521B2 Recording medium, reproduction device, program
A BD-ROM has a video stream and an entry map recorded thereon. The entry map indicates a plurality of entry points (SPN_EP_start) in the video stream, in one-to-one correspondence with a plurality of entry times (PTS_EP_start) and flags (is_angle_change_point). Each flag (is_angle_change_point) indicates whether a picture located at a corresponding entry point is an IDR picture for causing decoder refresh or Non-IDR I picture having a reference to a preceding picture.
US07778519B2 Iterative, maximally probable, batch-mode commercial detection for audiovisual content
Identification of starting and ending times of commercial breaks and commercials within those commercial breaks found in audiovisual content is disclosed. A solution to a “batch optimization” problem is used in which commercial locations within a set of audiovisual content are detected as a group by choosing a set of commercial locations which optimizes a cost function which can include considerations of, for example, 1) one or more cues, 2) relative locations of commercials within the audiovisual content, and/or 3) probability models based on statistics obtained regarding characteristics of typical commercial and commercial breaks. Optimization can be done over the total set of commercial location decisions, rather than on a per-commercial basis. Additionally, the cost function can be iteratively evaluated and many more types of cues and combinations of cues can be used in detection of commercials.
US07778514B2 Coupling of communications signals to a power line
In one embodiment, a system for coupling a communications signal to a medium-voltage power line includes a surge arrester electrically coupled to a medium-voltage power line and a disconnect device electrically coupled to the surge arrester. The disconnect device is electrically coupled in parallel with a communications device and has a resistance of at least one thousand ohms and a capacitance between one picofarad and twelve picofarads. Furthermore, the disconnect device is electrically coupled to a ground without the use of ferrites.
US07778512B2 Light-pipe array system
A light-pipe array system is provided. The system comprises a light projector that projects light, and a light-pipe array. The light-pipe array comprises a plurality of light-pipes. Each light-pipe comprises a dielectric transparent to the light, and an electrically conductive light barrier layer surrounding the dielectric. The barrier layer guides the light from an entrance of the dielectric surrounded by the barrier layer to an exit of the dielectric surrounded by the barrier layer. Each light pipe also comprises a light-receiving element that increases throughput of the guided light transmitted within the barrier layer via the dielectric. In one embodiment, the light-receiving element comprises an electrical conductor positioned along a central longitudinal axis of the dielectric. In another embodiment, the light-receiving element alternatively comprises a focusing element. The guided light transmitted within the barrier layer via the dielectric is used in fabricating photosynthesized bio-materials such as, for example, oligonucleotides.
US07778511B1 Optical fiber cables
An optical fiber cable suitable for drop cable applications has a dual jacket, dual reinforcement layers, a round cross section, and a tight buffered construction. The optical fiber cable is a compact unitary coupled fiber assembly that has a small profile, and is light in weight, while still sufficiently robust for many indoor/outdoor drop cable installations. The small profile and round construction make the cable easy to connectorize.
US07778510B2 Active optical cable electrical connector
An electrical connector that is integrated within an active cable at one end of the active cable, wherein the active cable is configured to communicate over much of its length using one or more optical fibers. The cable may be an electrical to optical cable, and electrical to electrical cable, or one of many other potential configurations.
US07778509B2 Method for incidence of light into a photonic crystal optical waveguide and structure thereof
Disclosed in a method and a device in which a wave number of light in the waveguide mode of a photonic crystal optical waveguide is matched with that of the incident light, or a intensity ratio of electric field to magnetic field of the light in the waveguide mode of the photonic crystal optical waveguide is matched with that of the incident light, and furthermore, in addition to the method above, the distribution of light intensity on the incident end surface in the waveguide mode of the photonic crystal optical waveguide is matched with that of the incident light. A photonic crystal optical waveguide and channel optical waveguide are joined together, and the structure of the channel optical waveguide is wedge shaped in the joint section.
US07778508B2 Image display optical system, image display unit, illuminating optical system, and liquid crystal display unit
Image display optical systems are disclosed that extend the angle of view longitudinally and transversely while saving space. The image display optical system includes a prism-shaped substrate transparent to an image-carrying light flux to be projected to a viewing eye, an introduction unit that guides the image-carrying light flux to a propagation path through which the image-carrying light flux propagates in a direction in which the image-carrying light flux from the outside enables internal reflection at least at three surfaces including at least one side of the substrate, and an output unit that guides the image-carrying light flux propagating through the substrate from the substrate to the viewing eye. By internally reflecting the image-carrying light flux at all the sides, i.e., three or more sides of the prism-shaped substrate, the propagation path is folded to be smaller and extends the opening angle of the light ray included in the image-carrying light flux longitudinally and transversely without increasing the substrate's size.
US07778504B2 Optical waveguide device and manufacturing method thereof
An optical waveguide device which includes an optical waveguide part and a photonic device mounting part is provided. A mask to form a pedestal block on which a light emitting device is mounted is patterned after high-temperature annealing. Thus, there is no influence on the mask, even if the device undergoes the heat treatment at a high temperature during the manufacturing process. This enables formation of the pedestal block with high accuracy. Therefore, it is possible to achieve an optical coupling with high accuracy in mounting a light emitting device on the pedestal block.
US07778503B2 Electronic device having optical data connection of movable housing parts
The present invention provides an electronic device comprising two or more housing parts which are movable in relation to each other with an optical arrangement enabling optical data communication between electronic components located in the housing parts. The device according to the invention comprises a first housing part comprising first electronic components, a second housing part comprising second electronic components, wherein said first housing part and said second housing part are movably connected and capable of taking at least a first and a second position in relation to each other, a first optoelectronic device connected with said first electronic components, a second optoelectronic device connected with said second electronic components, and a first light duct, and a second light duct, wherein said first light duct is arranged to provide a first light path optically coupling said optoelectronic devices in said first position, and said second light duct is arranged to provide a second light path optically coupling said optoelectronic devices in said second position.
US07778499B2 Silicon photonic wire waveguide biosensor
Methods and devices relating to a sensor for use in detecting and monitoring molecular interactions. A silicon waveguide sensing element is provided along with a layer of silicon. A silicon oxide layer is also provided between the waveguide element and the layer of silicon. The sensing element is adjacent to an aqueous solution in which the molecular interactions are occurring. A light beam travelling in the silicon waveguide creates an evanescent optical field on the surface of the sensing element adjacent to the boundary between the sensing element and the aqueous medium. Molecular interactions occurring on this surface affect the intensity or the phase of the light beam travelling through the waveguide by changing the effective refractive index of the medium. By measuring the effect on the intensity, phase, or speed of the light beam, the molecular interactions can be detected and monitored in real time.
US07778491B2 Oblique image stitching
An “Oblique Image Stitcher” provides a technique for constructing a photorealistic oblique view from a set of input images representing a series of partially overlapping views of a scene. The Oblique Image Stitcher first projects each input image onto a geometric proxy of the scene and renders the images from a desired viewpoint. Once the images have been projected onto the geometric proxy, the rendered images are evaluated to identify optimum seams along which the various images are to be blended. Once the optimum seams are selected, the images are remapped relative to those seams by leaving the mapping unchanged at the seams and interpolating a smooth mapping between the seams. The remapped images are then composited to construct the final mosaiced oblique view of the scene. The result is a mosaic image constructed by warping the input images in a photorealistic manner which agrees at seams between images.
US07778489B1 Method and system for determining the legibility of text in an image
Legibility of text in an image of a page is determined by comparing a measure of the text in the page image with a measure of the page image itself. In one aspect, a measure of the text in the page image may be the height of a line of text, while the measure derived from the page image may be the height of the page image. A text-to-page height ratio is determined and compared to one or more thresholds for determining legibility. In another aspect of the invention, a measure of the text in a page image is obtained by measuring the word density in the page image, while the measure derived from the page image comprises compressing the page image and determining the size of the compressed image file. Legibility is then determined by comparing the measure of word density with the compressed image file size.
US07778483B2 Digital image processing method having an exposure correction based on recognition of areas corresponding to the skin of the photographed subject
A digital image processing method includes extracting chromatic information of an image taken by an image taking device and related to a human subject; detecting visually interesting regions; and exposure correcting of the taken image by normalizing a grey scale of the taken image based on the visually interesting regions. Advantageously, the method includes recognizing areas corresponding to the skin of the subject, these areas being used as the visually interesting regions for the exposure correction step.
US07778476B2 System and method for transform coding randomization
A method and system are provided where image data is encoded in the spatial domain, and transformed in a two dimensional transform process to thereby recover a frequency domain representation of the image data. The frequency domain representation is then quantized to obtain an integer representation. The integer representation is ordered by frequency. Then, the hi-frequency coefficients are recreated and intelligently randomized at selective frequencies. This provides high quality encoded picture results, with fewer artifacts than those that would result from conventional approaches afflicted by artifacts due to loss of high frequencies.
US07778474B2 Scalable encoding method and apparatus, scalable decoding method and apparatus, programs therefor, and storage media for storing the programs
A scalable encoding method for decomposing an image signal into signals assigned to layers so as to encode the image signal includes encoding an image signal of at least one target layer among the layers based on an amount of codes allocated to the target layer; outputting a residual signal of the target layer corresponding to a difference between the pre-encoded image signal and an image signal decoded from the encoded image signal; determining a target amount of codes allocated for encoding the residual signal based on the residual signal, an amount of codes allocated to an objective layer, and an image signal of the objective layer; encoding the residual signal based on the determined target amount of codes; revising the amount of codes allocated to the objective layer based on the target amount of codes; and encoding the image signal of the objective layer based on the revised amount.
US07778473B2 Image processing apparatus and image processing method
A disclosed image processing apparatus for compressing image data through multiple operations includes multiple processing units corresponding to the operations. Each of two or more of the processing units includes a regular processing subunit perform regular processing and a simplified processing subunit to perform simplified version of the regular processing; and a control unit to select one of the regular processing subunit and the simplified processing subunit of each of two or more of the processing units to perform a corresponding one of the operations.
US07778470B2 Moving picture processor, method, and computer program product to generate metashots
A moving picture processor includes a similarity calculator which calculates a similarity between shots, which refer to temporal parts of a moving picture, into which the moving picture is divided at a point where a content of the moving picture changes over, a similar shot specifying unit which specifies similar shots based on the similarity, and a grouping unit which makes groups each including the similar shots. The moving picture processor also includes a lead group selector which selects a lead group from the groups. The lead group includes a lead shot to be a head of a metashot. The moving picture processor also includes a lead shot selector which selects the lead shot from shots included in the lead group, and a metashot generator which generates the metashot including the lead shot selected at the head.
US07778468B2 Decoding apparatus, dequantizing method, and program thereof
A decoding apparatus includes a distribution generating section and a correcting section. The distribution generating section generates a frequency distribution of quantization index values. The correcting section corrects dequantization values corresponding to the quantization index values based on the frequency distribution of quantization index values generated by the distribution generating section.
US07778466B1 System and method for processing imagery using optical flow histograms
A method, computer program product, and system for processing imagery is presented. The imagery is processed by receiving data regarding a scene (such as from a sensor monitoring a scene). The scene includes an object having a dimension. Flow vectors are computed from the data, while a flow histogram space is generated from the flow vectors. A line segment (with a length) is found within the flow histogram space. An object in the scene is associated with the length segment, and the dimensions of the object are estimated based on the length of the line segment.
US07778465B2 Image forming apparatus with a plurality of functions
An image forming apparatus with a plurality of functions includes an image information member at a position in a scan area of a scanner and outside an original document placement area. Image information which can be read by the scanner and specifies a permitted function or a prohibited function in the plurality of functions is formed in the image information member. Besides, a processing unit is provided which reads the information to specify the permitted function or the prohibited function from the image information read by the scanner and performs a permission or prohibition processing on the function.
US07778461B2 System and/or method for image tamper detection
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to techniques for detecting tampering of digital image data.
US07778460B2 Apparatus for compensating for gray component of image signal
Provided is an apparatus for compensating for a gray component of an input image signal. The apparatus detects a pattern of the input image signal and compensates for the gray component by substituting each channel value of the input image signal by a median value if it is determined that the input image signal is gray pattern. Accordingly, a problem of displaying a color component due to distortion of a gray component of an input image signal can be resolved by resolving a color recognition problem of a gray signal generated by channel differences of the input image signal due to noise induced by a display system, which receives an output of an ADC, or external influences.
US07778459B2 Image encoding/decoding method and apparatus
Provided are an image encoding/decoding method and apparatus, in which one of a plurality of color component images of an input image is predicted from a different color component image using a correlation between the color component images and the encoding order of the plurality of color component images is adaptively determined according to the characteristics of the input image. In the image encoding method and apparatus, prediction errors or the amounts of generated bits for the remaining color component images predicted using a previously encoded color component image according to encoding orders are compared to determine the optimal encoding order and encoding is performed using a correlation between the color component images according to the determined encoding order.
US07778458B2 Method, apparatus and program product for searching knots in wood
The photographing means of the present apparatus photographs a piece of wood, while the image processing means calculates degrees of circularity from the photographed images of the piece of wood, and detects images with significant degrees of circularity as knots. In addition, the image processing means 1 clips a portion including a knot from the photographed image of the piece of wood, deems a portion clipped at a predetermined threshold among the color spaces of each pixel of the clipped portions to be a blackened portion, and determines black portions with a high proportion of a number of pixels of the blackened portion to the number of pixels of the clipped portion of the knot as dead knots.
US07778457B2 Systems for mobile image capture and processing of checks
The present invention relates to automated document processing and more particularly, to methods and systems for document image capture and processing using mobile devices. In accordance with various embodiments, methods and systems for document image capture on a mobile communication device are provided such that the image is optimized and enhanced for data extraction from the document as depicted. These methods and systems may comprise capturing an image of a document using a mobile communication device; transmitting the image to a server; and processing the image to create a bi-tonal image of the document for data extraction. Additionally, these methods and systems may comprise capturing a first image of a document using the mobile communication device; automatically detecting the document within the image; geometrically correcting the image; binarizing the image; correcting the orientation of the image; correcting the size of the image; and outputting the resulting image of the document.
US07778451B2 Cylindrical projected picture generation method, program, and cylindrical projected picture generation device
An exfoliated picture projection method and device are provided which are capable of outputting distortion information of three-dimensional picture data. A distortion amount is calculated in accordance with the difference between the position of a reference virtual ray and the position of a virtual ray projected during creating of the exfoliated picture, coloring is added to the virtual rays in accordance with the distortion amount, and the colored virtual rays are projected to generate exfoliated picture data. Then, the same virtual rays are projected to generate perspective projective picture data, and the exfoliated picture data and perspective projective picture data are subjected to post processing. Therefore, the obtained exfoliated picture and perspective projection picture are output to a monitor.
US07778450B2 Pattern recognition systems and methods
The invention is generally directed to imaging systems, and more particularly to systems and methods for pattern recognition. In one embodiment, a medical imaging system includes an imaging device and a computer-usable medium, electrically coupled to the imaging device, having a sequence of instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes said processor to execute a process including generating an image from signals received by the imaging device, deconvolving the image, and then extracting a desired pattern from the deconvolved image.
US07778447B2 Method and device for mobile object information management, and computer product
A method, device and computer program for mobile object information management program includes obtaining a first image by photographing identification information of a mobile object, executing character recognition process on the first image to obtain a first character recognition result, determining accuracy of the first character recognition result, registering, as the identification information corresponding to the mobile object, a plurality of first character recognition results, for each of which the accuracy is determined as low, and outputting the first character recognition results registered.
US07778444B2 Method and apparatus for correcting a head pose in a video phone image
An image processing system (250) and method (300) are disclosed for correcting a head pose in a video phone image, so that a frontal view is presented on a display. A disclosed head pose corrector (250) estimates the orientation of a head pose and adjusts the orientation of the head pose, if necessary, to present a frontal view. The orientation of the head pose is adjusted by generating a three dimensional model of the face surface and adjusting the orientation of the three dimensional face model to provide the desired frontal view. The head pose corrector (250) may be included in a video phone (100) to correct the head pose of transmitted or received images (or both) or may be included in a server on a network to automatically adjust the head shots of one or more participants to a video phone communication.
US07778438B2 Method for multi-media recognition, data conversion, creation of metatags, storage and search retrieval
This invention relates to the storage and search retrieval of all types of digital media files, whether allowing the user to create index keys, metatags within each media file(s), provides search and indexing capability. The search terms and index keys are based on contextual elements within the media, including meta data such as time, date and location, but including as well elements within the media itself, such as people or elements (car, animals, street, events, historical location and other) within a picture or a video, audio, voice, spoke word, instruments used in a musical work, or scenes in a movie. An authorized client can then retrieve the media from the remote location. Specific works can then be referenced by means of the generated search terms and index keys. When the user transmits these media files via e-mail, FTP, public server, or copies to a digital media or other distribution method, these index keys are contained within the media files, therefore allowing the third party to search and retrieve the media files based on metatags.
US07778434B2 Self forming in-the-ear hearing aid with conical stent
A hearing aid body is provided that contains electronic hearing aid components and that is attachable to the user's body outside the ear canal. A conduit connects the hearing aid body to the flexible plug. The conduit enables sound emitted by the hearing aid to travel via the conduit to the flexible plug so that the user's able to hear a sound that is amplified by the hearing aid and received by the plug via the conduit. The conduit can be a flexible hollow tube or an electronic conduit that transmit electrical signals between the hearing aid and the plug. A stent embedded in the plug is provided, the stent having a first smaller diameter at a temperature below body temperature and being expandable to a second greater diameter when subjected to the user's body temperature, such as the temperature in the ear canal of a user.
US07778426B2 Feedback suppression in sound signal processing using frequency translation
A method of processing a sound signal in an audio amplification device using frequency transposition, the method including the steps of: (a) receiving (11) an input sound signal, (b) determining (19) gains for amplifying the input sound signal at a plurality of input frequencies, (c) transposing (20) one or more of the input frequencies of the amplified sound signal to generate one or more output signals at transposed frequencies, (d) determining (31-33) the presence of an undesired feedback signal component resulting from the amplification and frequency transposition of the input sound signal at the input frequencies, and (e) correcting (34) the output signal at each of the transposed frequencies to compensate for the presence of the undesired feedback signal component.
US07778421B2 Method for controlling access to encrypted content using multiple broadcast encryption based control blocks
An apparatus and a method are provided for selectively accessing digital content carried on a distribution medium such as a physical medium or a broadcast medium. In one embodiment, a plurality of digital content items are encrypted under a plurality of different key management blocks, wherein each key management block is associated with a different set of device keys. The plurality of content items may be provided together on a single distribution medium to devices having assigned device keys, so that devices may selectively access content as determined by the different key management block used to encrypt the various content items and by the device keys assigned to the devices. Depending on the association between the device key and the key management blocks, the decoding device may decode all of the content items, some of the content items, or none of the content items. To provide greater security, each content item may be multiple encrypted using multiple key management blocks per content item.
US07778420B2 Content security layer providing long-term renewable security
In an exemplary embodiment, digital content is mastered as a combination of encrypted data and data processing operations that enable use in approved playback environments. Player devices having a processing environment compatible with the content's data processing operations are able to decrypt and play the content. Players can also provide content with basic functions, such as loading data from media, performing network communications, determining playback environment configuration, controlling decryption/playback, and/or performing cryptographic operations using the player's keys. These functions allow the content to implement and enforce its own security policies. If pirates compromise individual players or content titles, new content can be mastered with new security features that block the old attacks. A selective decryption capability can also be provided, enabling on-the-fly watermark insertion so that attacks can be traced back to a particular player. Features to enable migration from legacy formats are also provided.
US07778413B2 Cryptographic system and method for encrypting input data
A cryptographic system for encrypting input data in accordance with an encryption algorithm having a repeated-round structure may include an encryption unit updating and storing encrypted data in accordance with the encryption algorithm in each given round, and outputting the encrypted data after executing the encryption for a given number of rounds. The system may include a compensation unit generating and storing compensation data so that a sum of a Hamming distance for the updated and stored data and a Hamming distance of the compensation data is maintained at a constant value.
US07778410B2 Personal audio listening device
A personal audio listening device is adapted to be worn on a user's ear, and includes a housing, a pivotal knob, and an ear hook member. The housing has a surface and a hollow portion, and defines a first axis and a second axis. The pivotal knob is pivotally mounted on the surface of the housing, and includes a pair of parallel resilient walls. The ear hook member includes a hook body and an end portion. The end portion includes a pivot element in the form of a polygonal post. The hook body is configured to be wearable on the user's ear. The ear hook member is fittingly received between the resilient walls by means of the pivot element so as to be mounted on the pivotal knob. The ear hook member is pivotable about the first axis, and is rotatable about the second axis.
US07778407B2 Statistical approach to automatic gain control for managing audio messages over a network
A system, method, and apparatus are directed towards managing an audio message, such as a Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) message over a network. The invention employs a statistical mechanism to automatically optimize a gain control for setting a volume of an audio message being sent by a client device. An initial gain value is automatically adjusted based, in part, on a statistical sampling of energy levels in the audio message. Environmental factors, such as a sound card within the client device, background noise, and the like, may also be considered through a setting of a servo coefficient that may be used to map between volume levels and decibel levels. The servo coefficient may also be adjusted based, at least in part, on decibel (dB) feedback information from a destination device for which the audio message is intended.
US07778405B2 Contact center system independent of line key status or current agent activity/state
A method and apparatus are provided for controlling a plurality of contacts with respective clients on a terminal of an agent of an organization. The method includes the steps of setting up the plurality of contacts with the respective clients under an Internet protocol and simultaneously displaying a respective line softkey of each contact of the plurality of contacts on a terminal of the agent where the respective line softkey depicts a status of the contact.
US07778401B2 Communication apparatus
A communication apparatus that includes: an operation unit; a line connection unit that operates in response to the operation of the operation unit; a number input unit; a dial signal transmitting unit that transmits a dial signal corresponding to a telephone number inputted by the number input unit; an operation detection unit that detects the operation of the operation unit; a measuring unit that measures a predetermined time when the operation of the operating unit is detected; and a number memory that stores the telephone number inputted by the number input unit before the measuring of the predetermined time by the measuring unit ends. A standby unit suspends a transmission of the dial signal corresponding to the telephone number stored in the number memory to the line until the measuring of the predetermined time by the measuring unit ends.
US07778399B2 System and method for real-time call log status
A system and method for real-time call log status includes a call log database of call records representing transpired communication events. The call log is displayed for the user and includes a status indicator for each of the events. The status indicator may be an icon, a description, a pop-up window, a pop-up menu or any other indication that informs the user of the real-time status of the name/number associated with the displayed event. In this manner, the user is able to determine, at a glance, whether the name/number is available to participate in an impending communication event.
US07778398B2 Communication center application
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for creating a record with a customer. One method receives at a communication center a request for support from the customer. A data field is presented to an agent for entry of information identifying the customer. A menu of options is presented that allows the agent to make selections describing the customer's request for support. A preformatted note is populated with selections received from the agent. The preformatted note has fields corresponding to the menu of options, with the preformatted note formed by populating a particular field with the corresponding selection by the agent. The preformatted note is stored as the record of the customer's request for support, wherein the preformatted note has a standardized format regardless of the agent.
US07778392B1 Method of reconstructing computed tomography (CT) volumes suitable for execution on commodity central processing units (CPUs) and graphics processors, and apparatus operating in accord with those methods (rotational X-ray on GPUs)
The invention provides in one aspect methods and apparatus for use with C-arm and other CT systems, e.g., with non-rigid geometries. In such systems, by way of example, calibration can be performed to determine the exact position of the x-ray source and the exact orientation of the detector where each projection measurement is made. Next, a weighting coefficient can be determined for the voxels in each plane of a reconstruction volume at every possible projection. Finally, the order in which to process the voxels during image reconstruction can be determined. Following an actual CT scan procedure in which scans are obtained of a volume to be constructed, a system according to these and related aspects of the invention can use an optimal, pre-calculated processing method, while utilizing offsets and weighting coefficients determined during calibration, for performing backprojection image reconstruction.
US07778387B2 Reconstruction method for helical cone-beam CT
The invention relates to a method and a system for the reconstruction of an object function (f(x)) based on projections acquired during the motion of a radiation source on a helical trajectory (17). The method is particularly suited for an n-PI+ acquisition which by definition completely comprises an n-PI and additionally some overscan data from the (n+2)-PI window. According to the method, two sets (Σ≦m, Σ>m) of filtered projections are generated from the measuring values and separately back-projected to yield two absorption functions. The first absorption function (flf(x)) is based on contributions of Radon-planes with at most m intersections with the source trajectory (17), while the second absorption function (fhf(x)) is based on Radon-planes with more than m intersections with the source trajectory (17). The two absorption functions are added to yield the final absorption function (f(x)) of an object in the examination zone. In an approximative version of the method, the sets (Σ≦m, Σ>m) of filtered projections are first added and then back-projected.
US07778386B2 Methods for analytic reconstruction for mult-source inverse geometry CT
Disclosed are embodiments of methods for reconstructing x-ray projection data (e.g., one or more sinograms) acquired using a multi-source, inverse-geometry computed tomography (“IGCT”) scanner. One embodiment of a first method processes an IGCT sinogram by rebinning first in “z” and then in “xy,” with feathering applied during the “xy” rebinning. This produces an equivalent of a multi-axial 3rd generation sinogram, which may be further processed using a parallel derivative and/or Hilbert transform. A TOM-window (with feathering) technique and a combines backprojection technique may also be applied to produce a reconstructed volume. An embodiment of a second method processes an IGCT sinogram using a parallel derivative and/or redundancy weighting. The second method may also use signum weighting, TOM-windowing (with feathering), backprojection, and a Hilbert Inversion to produce another reconstructed volume.
US07778385B2 Step-and-shoot cardiac CT imaging
The present invention is directed to a method and system of controlling rotation of a gantry to rotate at a rotational speed such that a desired relationship between center projection angles of neighboring partial scans is maintained.
US07778383B2 Effective dual-energy x-ray attenuation measurement
It is described a method and a CT system for measuring dual-energy X- ray attenuation data of an object. The CT system comprises a rotatable holder, an X-ray source comprising two different X-ray focus points, and an X-ray detection device comprising a plurality of detector elements exhibiting different spectral sensitivities. The method comprises the steps of (a) adjusting the X-ray source such that it emits X-rays originating a first focus point, (b) acquiring first attenuation data separately with first detector elements and with second detector elements, (c) moving the X-ray focus discretely to a second focus point, and (d) acquiring second attenuation data separately with both types of detector elements. Thereby the two focus points are spatially separated from each such that a first beam path originating from the first focus point penetrates a certain voxel within the object and impinges on a first detector element and a second beam path originating from the second X-ray focus point penetrates the same voxel and impinges on a second detector element.
US07778373B2 Sampling rate mismatch solution
Methods and apparatuses for compensating for differences in communication system transmit and receive clock signal frequencies include buffer timing modification and sample addition. In buffer timing modification, a buffer clock signal is interrupted as needed to slow the rate of data through the buffer. In sample addition, pseudo samples are inserted into a data stream to compensate for timing differences.
US07778372B2 Data delivery system and method, and receiver and transmitter
Provided is a data delivery system including a transmitter which transmits data stream via a network, and a receiver which receives the data stream and stores it into a reception buffer thereof, and decodes the stored data stream. The network has predetermined therein a necessary amount of data stored in the reception buffer for decoding the received data stream continuously irrespectively of a variation of a time taken for data transfer from the transmitter to the receiver. The receiver starts, after reception of the latter and before the data has been stored up to the predetermined necessary stored amount, decoding of the data stream at a rate lower than assumed at the time of data encoding at the transmitter. When the data has been stored into the reception buffer up to the predetermined necessary stored amount, the receiver changes the decoding data to the assumed rate for decoding further data.
US07778371B2 Digitally clock with selectable frequency and duty cycle
A system and method are provided for controlling the duty cycle and frequency of a digitally generated clock. The method accepts a first clock signal having a fixed first frequency. A frequency control word with a first pattern is loaded into a first plurality of serially-connected registers. A duty cycle control word with a second pattern is loaded into a second plurality of serially-connected registers. A register clock signal is generated in response to the first clock and the first pattern. Then, a digital clock signal is generated having a frequency and duty cycle responsive to the register clock signal and the second pattern.
US07778370B2 Frame synchronization
Frame synchronization methods and systems suited for packet communications systems, and particularly time frequency hopping packet communication systems, are disclosed. Frame synchronization is performed by performing a first correlation on information of received symbols and performing a second correlation on results of the first correlation. In systems with repeating synchronization information modulated by a cover sequence, the results of the second correlation may be used to determine symbol numbering of symbols in a packet.
US07778354B2 Communicating apparatus, method of calculating set value of orthogonal error compensation and orthogonal error compensation program
A communicating apparatus includes: a local signal generator, an orthogonal modulator, an orthogonal demodulator, and two orthogonal error compensators. The local signal generator generates a first local signal and a second local signal. The orthogonal modulator modulates an input signal into a modulation signal by using the first local signal. The orthogonal demodulator demodulates the modulation signal into a demodulation signal by using the second local signal. Each of the two orthogonal error compensators corrects orthogonal modulation error generated in the orthogonal modulator and an orthogonal demodulation error generated in the orthogonal demodulator respectively. Set values to be set to the orthogonal error compensators are calculated based on (1) a phase difference between the first local signal and the second local signal, (2) the input signal and (3) the demodulation signal.
US07778343B2 Method and apparatus for finite impulse response cyclic-shift diversity
A generalized form of cyclic shift diversity is described for use in an OFDM system with multiple transmit antennas. Multiple cyclic shifts are performed for each transmit antenna and the shifted signals are scaled and summed to form a time-domain data stream for each transmit antenna. A cyclic extension is added to each data stream prior to transmission.
US07778336B1 Timing and frequency synchronization of OFDM signals for changing channel conditions
An Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) synchronization module includes a window generator module, a symbol timing estimator module, and a reliability metric calculator. The window generator module generates a sampling window that bounds a plurality of samples of OFDM symbols. The symbol timing estimator module generates an estimated symbol timing from the plurality of samples before a fast Fourier transform operation is performed on the plurality of samples. The reliability metric calculator calculates a reliability metric for the estimated symbol timing based on the estimated symbol timing. The window generator module changes at least one parameter of the sampling window based on the reliability metric.
US07778334B2 Modulation scheme for communication environments
According to an aspect of the present invention, a symbol corresponding to a combination may be determined from a symbol set comprising at least sixteen PAM symbols. A sample such as a pulse may be generated based on the symbol value and a train of such pulses may be transmitted at a rate of at least 10 giga bits per second over a communication medium comprising, for example, a twisted copper cable. The received signal may be demodulated based on the empirically determined reliability values.
US07778328B2 Semantics-based motion estimation for multi-view video coding
A motion estimation method and apparatus for video coding of a multi-view sequence is described. In one embodiment, a motion estimation method includes identifying one or more pixels in a first frame of a multi-view video sequence, and constraining a search range associated with a second frame of the multi-view video sequence based on an indication of a desired correlation between efficient coding and semantic accuracy. The semantic accuracy relies on use of geometric configurations of cameras capturing the multi-view video sequence. The method further includes searching the second frame within the constrained search range for a match of the pixels identified in the first frame.
US07778326B1 System and method for dynamically determining multimedia transmission based on communication bandwidth
A system and method is provided for dynamically adjusting one or more characteristics of a multimedia transmission between a content provider and a content recipient. In one embodiment, the system responds to a change in available bandwidth between the content provider and the content recipient.
US07778318B1 OFDM gain compression measurement
A method for measuring amplifier gain compression in an OFDM signal includes measuring the signal as a function of time to provide an observed time magnitude, demodulating the OFDM signal to determine an estimate of the ideal signal constellation points, performing an inverse FFT on the estimate of the ideal constellation points to produce an estimated ideal time magnitude, comparing the observed time magnitude to the estimated ideal time magnitude to provide a measure of amplifier gain compression.
US07778315B2 Measuring instantaneous signal dependent nonlinear distortion in response to varying frequency sinusoidal test signal
A method of measuring instantaneous signal-dependent nonlinear distortion in a system under test in response to a test signal having a varying frequency sinusoidal component, such as a swept frequency signal or a multi-burst signal, uses a time window to locate a frequency of interest in the corresponding varying frequency component of a signal output from the system under test. Once the location of the frequency of interest is located in the output signal, a spectrum of the portion of the output signal within the time window is generated and the magnitudes of the spectral peaks, including the spectral peak for the frequency of interest or nominal frequency and all isolated peaks representing distortion frequencies, are measured. The amount of distortion is calculated as a ratio of the square-root of the sum of the magnitudes of the distortion frequencies to the magnitude of the nominal frequency.
US07778314B2 Apparatus for and method of far-end crosstalk (FEXT) detection and estimation
A novel and useful mechanism for the detection and estimation of far-end cross talk (FEXT) caused by transmissions over adjacent wire pairs or cables. The detection and estimation technique of the invention can be used to identify FET impairments in Ethernet and DSL systems. The detection and estimation scheme is performed utilizing an adaptive FEXT canceller filter for detection purposes during normal operation of the system. FEXT filter tap coefficients are determined one at a time using a mechanism shared amongst all taps. Once adapted, the filter coefficients can be used to estimate FEXT strength and to determine spectral measurements of the FEXT impairment noise.
US07778308B2 Method and device for processing received data of a radio interface
The invention relates to an apparatus and method for processing received data (I1/Q1, I2/Q2; d1, d2) of a radio interface, wherein the received data includes a sequence of data which have been transmitted for the purpose of error reduction through different branches of a carrier (Rk) of the radio interface, and which are combined into a sequence of data (DATAOUT) to be outputted, wherein the combining is implemented on the basis of carrier information values (Req,k, SINRk) of the different branches (k) relative to each other. A maximum ratio combining (MRC) is implemented in which the amplitudes of the branches of the carrier information (Req,1, (Req,2) are combined using a division method as a function of a disturbance information value (MIX, SINR1, SINR2) of the branches (k).
US07778307B2 Allocation of control channel for radio resource assignment in wireless communication systems
A wireless communication device for receiving a frame (200) corresponding to a transmission time interval, the frame having a control channel (210) including at least two control channel elements (212, 214) and an embedded bit sequence, the location of which indicates a portion of the control channel used for radio resource assignment, wherein the portion of the control channel used for radio resource assignment may be less than the entire control channel of the frame having the embedded bit sequence, and wherein the at least two frames may use different portions of the control channel for radio resource assignment.
US07778306B2 Laser system
The invention relates to laser system with a laser source and an articulated arm. The articulated arm has an optical arrangement for guiding a laser beam from the laser source along an optical path in the articulated arm to a target location. Within the optical path at least one crossing area (focus or focal point) of the laser beam is provided. The optical arrangement has at least one optical cell with an input window and an output window for passing the laser beam therethrough, wherein the crossing area is positioned within the optical cell. The optical cell has a gas fill with an energy threshold for ionization that is increased in comparison to that of ambient air.
US07778305B2 Mirror structure and laser device comprising such a mirror structure
For increasing the power emitted by surface emitting lasers and for improving the spatial coherence of the laser beam, emitted in particular by disk lasers, microchip lasers and VCSELs having a relatively wide emitting area, the invention proposes to select a low order transverse cavity mode by means of a mirror structure (12) of high reflectivity, and of high angular selectivity. The mirror structure comprises a multilayer (14) receiving the optical beam (24) and a resonant grating mirror (16) following the multilayer and arranged for highly reflecting the optical beam in a narrow angular range at each side of a determined incidence angle.
US07778304B2 Measuring arrangement and measuring system
A measuring arrangement comprises a radiation device (SE), having at least one first surface emitting semiconductor component (1) with a vertical emission direction, a detection device (DE) for detecting reflected radiation, and an evaluation circuit (AS), set up for controlling the radiation device (SE) and the detection device (DE) and for processing a detection result of the detection device (DE). The semiconductor component (1) comprises a semiconductor body (2) with a plurality of active regions (4a, 4b) suitable for generating radiation and arranged at a distance from one another in a vertical direction. In this case, a tunnel junction (5) is monolithically integrated in the semiconductor body (2) between two active regions (4a, 4b) and the two active regions (4a, 4b) are electrically conductively connected by means of the tunnel junction during operation of the semiconductor component (1).
US07778302B2 Laser system
A method/apparatus may comprise a seed laser oscillator producing an output which may comprise: a first gas discharge excimer or molecular fluorine laser chamber; a line narrowing module within a first oscillator cavity; a laser amplification stage receiving the output of the seed laser oscillator which may comprise: a ring power amplification stage; a coherence busting mechanism intermediate the seed laser oscillator and the ring power amplification stage which may comprise a beam splitter separating the seed laser output into a main beam and a beam entering an optical delay path which may have a delay length longer than the coherence length of a pulse in the seed laser output and may have a beam angular offset mechanism offsetting a delayed beam and the main beam.
US07778301B2 Cadmium sulfide quantum dot lasing in room temperature liquid solution
Disclosed is a lasing complex comprising a room temperature solution containing cadmium sulfide (CdS) quantum dots. Optical gain has been observed in CdS nanocrystal quantum dots in strong confinement regime in toluene solution at room temperature using femtosecond transient absorption techniques. The optical gain lifetime is measured to be 20 picoseconds under pump fluence of 0.77 mJ/cm2. The relative lower gain threshold compared to that of CdSe quantum dots is attributed to the long lifetime of fluorescence and biexcitons and the relatively sharp photoluminescence linewidth. The CdS nanocrystals are excellent gain media for semiconductor quantum dot based blue lasers.
US07778300B2 Optically pumped semiconductor device
A semiconductor device comprising an optically pumped vertical emitter having an active vertical emitter layer (3), and a pump radiation source, which is used to generate a pump radiation field which propagates in the lateral direction and optically pumps the vertical emitter layer (3) in a pump region, the wavelength of the pump radiation field being smaller than the wavelength of the radiation field (12) generated by the vertical emitter. The pump radiation source has an active pump layer (2), which is arranged downstream of the vertical emitter layer (3) in the vertical direction and which at least partly overlaps the vertical emitter layer as seen in the vertical direction, the active pump layer (2) being arranged in such a way that the pump radiation field generated during operation has a higher power than a parasitic laterally propagating radiation field generated by the vertical emitter layer (3) or that the generation of a parasitic laterally propagating radiation field by the vertical emitter layer (3) is suppressed.
US07778299B2 Semiconductor laser
A semiconductor laser having a double channel ridge structure includes: a ridge; channel portions located on opposite sides of the ridge, sandwiching the ridge, and having an equivalent refractive index lower than the equivalent refractive index of the ridge; and layers defining outside surfaces of the channel portions and, having an equivalent refractive index higher than the equivalent refractive index of the channel portions. The ridge has a flare ridge structure with a width that is widened toward a light outgoing end surface, and the width of the channel portions where the width of the ridge is the narrowest is wider than the channel portions at the light outgoing end surface.
US07778297B2 Surface emitting laser element and method of fabricating the same
A convex-portion forming layer is formed between a current-confinement aperture and a multilayer mirror, and forms a convex portion on each boundary between layers forming the multilayer mirror. The convex portion includes a plane equal to or larger than a spot size of the laser light, where the spot size is decided by a diameter of the current-confinement aperture, a predetermined diffraction angle of the laser light due to the current-confinement aperture, and a distance from the current-confinement aperture.
US07778293B2 Determining and setting the frequency modulation index of a laser in a CPT frequency standard
A technique for determining the modulation index of a frequency-modulated laser source from the absorption spectrum that is produced when light from the laser passes through an alkali metal vapor cell. The absorption spectrum contains a primary minimum and a number of satellite minima and the modulation index is determined using ratios of the minima. The technique is used to calibrate the laser source of a CPT frequency standard so that it operates at a desired modulation index. Ways are disclosed of using the technique to calibrate the CPT frequency standard either manually or automatically. The calibration may be done when the CPT frequency standard is built, when the frequency standard is initialized, or during normal operation of the CPT frequency standard.
US07778292B2 Laser processing apparatus, method for making settings for the laser processing apparatus, program for making settings for the laser processing apparatus, and computer-readable recording medium
It is an object to enable control according to an optimum temperature condition for a wavelength conversion device. There are provided a laser medium for creating fundamental-wave laser light with a fundamental frequency; a wavelength conversion device which, if the fundamental-wave laser light from the laser medium is inputted thereto, creates higher-harmonic-wave laser light with a harmonic wavelength of a higher order than the wavelength of the fundamental-wave laser light; a temperature measurement section for measuring the temperature of the wavelength conversion device; a temperature adjustment section for adjusting the temperature of the wavelength conversion device; a temperature control section for controlling the temperature adjustment section for changing the temperature of the wavelength conversion device within a predetermined range; an output monitoring section for measuring the laser power emitted from the wavelength conversion device at each temperature of the wavelength conversion device which is changed in temperature by the temperature control section; and a temperature setting section for setting the temperature of the wavelength conversion device at which the laser power measured by the output monitoring section has a maximum value, as an optimum temperature of the wavelength conversion device.
US07778285B2 Method and apparatus for extraction and insertion of plesiochronous overhead data
The invention comprises a method and apparatus for adapting plesiochronous hierarchical layered data to produce synchronous hierarchical layered data. Similarly, the invention comprises a method and apparatus for adapting synchronous hierarchical layered data to produce plesiochronous hierarchical layered data.
US07778279B2 Method and apparatus for instant channel change
The network unit includes a signaling unit and a video transmitting unit. The signaling unit is configured to receive a request from a decoding device requesting transmission of the video channel. The video transmitting unit is configured to transmit the video channel towards the decoding device, initially as a dedicated multimedia stream dedicatedly supplied to the decoding device and including an anchor frame as a first transmitted video frame, and further in time as a common multimedia stream commonly supplied to a plurality of decoding devices. The video transmitting unit is further configured to transmit the video channel within the dedicated multimedia stream having an earlier time frame with respect to transmission of the video channel within the common multimedia stream, and the video channel is to be initially played at an averagely slower motion speed than the nominal motion speed that the common multimedia stream is to be played.
US07778276B2 Mobile communication terminal, mobile communication method, and information recording medium
A mobile communication terminal receives and reproduces a television broadcast from a broadcasting device, and determines any error in the packets making up the received stream data. Based on the continuity of determined error packets, the mobile communication terminal groups the packets to determine the packets for which a retransmission request is to be made. When a user instructs complementary reproduction, the mobile communication terminal sends information indicating the designated packet group to a distribution device through a mobile communication network to request packet retransmission. The distribution device transmits the packets included in the packet group to the mobile communication terminal. When receiving stream data transmitted from the distribution device through the mobile communication network, the mobile communication terminal reproduces the received retransmitted stream data at higher bit rate than normal reproduction rate. When the reproduction catches up with the present broadcast, the present broadcast is reproduced on time.
US07778267B2 Bus system
A bus system for providing a common data transmission path for N data sources that have M data bits. The N data sources are connected to M interconnections correspondingly through N bus cells each of which includes logic circuits for selectively providing the data bits of data sources into the interconnections. The bus cells are controlled to connect each of the data bits of the data sources to the selected one of the interconnections. The bus system is capable of adapting to delay times or loads of the data sources. The bus system reducing the number and the length of the interconnections.
US07778266B2 Switch and network fault recovery method
A first switch flashes an FDB upon receiving an FDB flash frame and then floods a multicast group join query message (QRY1). A terminal sends a group join message (RP1) back to the first switch. A second switch, a third switch and the first switch receive RP1 and perform IGMP/MLD snooping, respectively.
US07778264B2 Apparatus and method for setting timer and counter in mobile communication system
A method of setting a timer value and a counter value depending on Radio Signal Strength (RSS) information according to a communication protocol is provided. In the method of determining the counter value and the timer value of a Mobile Station (MS) in a protocol negotiation process includes measuring a Round Trip Delay (RTD) and an RSS with respect to a counterpart MS, determining a timer value and a counter value according to the measured RTD and RSS, and exchanging a signaling message according to the determined timer value and counter value.
US07778261B2 Using PSTN to communicate IP address for point-to-point text, voice, video, or data communication
A first device uses a PSTN to send its public IP address to a second device to setup point-to-point communication over the Internet. The first device calls the second device over the PSTN. In one embodiment, the second device answers the call and the first device transmits its public IP address over the connected call to the second device. In another embodiment, the second device does not answer and the PSTN transmits the public IP address as signals in several intervals between telephone rings to the second device. The second device then sends a connection request to the first device over the Internet using the IP address. Once the connection over the Internet has been established, the first and the second devices point-to-point exchange data packets carrying text, voice, video, or data communications between their users.
US07778260B2 Method and apparatus for providing mobile and other intermittent connectivity in a computing environment
A seamless solution transparently addresses the characteristics of nomadic systems, and enables existing network applications to run reliably in mobile environments. A Mobility Management Server coupled to the mobile network maintains the state of each of any number of Mobile End Systems and handles the complex session management required to maintain persistent connections to the network and to other peer processes. If a Mobile End System becomes unreachable, suspends, or changes network address (e.g., due to roaming from one network interconnect to another), the Mobility Management Server maintains the connection to the associated peer task—allowing the Mobile End System to maintain a continuous connection even though it may temporarily lose contact with its network medium. An interface-based listener uses network point of attachment information supplied by a network interface to determine roaming conditions and to efficiently reestablish connection upon roaming. The Mobility Management Server can distribute lists to Mobile End Systems specifying how to contact it over disjoint networks.
US07778258B2 Distributing personalized content
The invention provides a method and system for distributing personalized content to potentially large numbers of recipients. A pool is selected, from among all content available for distribution, of those content elements that will be made available for simultaneous distribution, and personalized content is selected for distribution from that pool. The content of the pool can change with new selections over time. For each individual recipient, content elements in the pool are examined to determine if they are predicted to be of sufficient interest to that recipient for distribution, and if so, those content elements are distributed. If not, successive content elements in the pool are examined, relaxing the standard for sufficient interest, until at least one content element is found and distributed to the individual recipient.
US07778254B2 Method for managing congestion in a network switch
A method for managing congestion in a stack of network switches includes the steps of receiving an incoming packet on a first port of a network switch for transmission to a destination port and determining if the destination port of the packet is a monitored port. Thereafter, the method determines a queue status of the destination port, if the destination port is determined to be a monitored port, and preschedules transmission of the incoming packet to the destination port if the destination port is determined to be a monitored port.
US07778253B2 Data switch, and communication system using the data switch
A preferred embodiment comprising a data switch includes a first processor for routing data packets including a MAC address, using a MAC address table stored in a writable memory. The switch further includes a second processor for routing data packets including an IP address using an IP address look-up table stored in the writable memory. The writable memory consists of a single memory fabric that is allocated between the MAC address table and the look-up table by a memory control unit according to a setting stored in a non-erasable memory unit.
US07778251B2 Bandwidth control apparatus, bandwidth control method, bandwidth control system, and bandwidth allocating apparatus
A bandwidth control apparatus which can reflect current operation states or effective rates of the access lines on bandwidth distribution is realized for effective utilization of bandwidths in a subscriber data transmission system. In a plurality of bandwidth control apparatuses accommodating a plurality of access lines in a bandwidth control system, multiplexed signal lines of respective bandwidth control apparatuses are connected to one another in cascade. Each bandwidth control apparatus acquires a bandwidth state of the access lines in the own apparatus and notifies the other apparatuses of the bandwidth state of the own apparatus having been acquired. Therefore, the bandwidth control apparatus can allocate a transmission bandwidth to be controlled in the own apparatus using a ratio of the bandwidth state occupied by the own apparatus to a total bandwidth states occupied in the bandwidth control system, and can control transmission bandwidths of the respective access lines accommodated in the own apparatus.
US07778247B2 Cross layer network optimization for OFDMA systems using message passing algorithm
A method determines channel state information of a channel of a wireless network. Each of the wireless devices is configured to operate over the wireless network. An allocation of available transmission resources is performed according to a utility-based cross-layer resource management framework that transforms a utility function into an equivalent bipartite graph to concurrently maximize throughput and fairness in the resource allocation.
US07778246B2 Method and apparatus for IP data transmission using legacy transmission system and broadband downstream transmission system in HFC network
Provided is an IP data transmission apparatus using a legacy transmission system and a broadband downstream transmission system in a HFC network. The IP data transmission apparatus includes: an headend unit for receiving data from an application server system that is a service providing apparatus, splitting the received data into general user data and management message, determining whether the general user is transmitted using a broadband or an existing service band, and transmitting the general user data through the HFC network; and a user cable terminal unit for receiving the split data transmitted from the headend unit through the HFC network, transmitting the received data to an IP based user device, and transferring the management message to the IP based user device through the legacy transmission system.
US07778237B2 Method and apparatus for co-socket telephony
Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a wireless mobile device wireless air interface that enables both circuit-switched and packet-switched wireless communications between a wireless mobile device and one or more remote stations that can be computer telephony integration servers, or peer devices such as smart telephones or wireless smart telephones, or wireless mobile devices.
US07778235B2 Compression of a routing header in a packet by a mobile router in an ad hoc network
Each mobile router in a mobile ad hoc network is configured for identifying routes to nearby nodes that are within a prescribed distance, based on storage of explicit paths specified within routing headers of packets transmitted from a host node to a destination node. Each mobile router also can selectively compress the routing header, based on the storage of the explicit path, resulting in a loose source route type routing header in the packet output from the mobile router. In addition, a routing header of a received packet can be expanded based on the mobile router inserting the explicit path, enabling mobile hosts in the explicit path to forward the packet according to strict source routing. The storage and compression of explicit paths also can be applied to packets specifying reverse routing headers, minimizing the size of the reverse routing headers.
US07778234B2 Local provisioning of bandwidth and other network resources
A system for local allocation or provisioning of resources in a network. Allocation rules are defined based on one or more factors of user identity, device identity and device location. A communication is given a priority level based on the rules. A device in the network performs local provisioning according to the rule definitions. Rule definitions can be set or changed via a user interface. Automated ways to obtain factor values can be used such as automatic identification of users, devices, and location. Other possible factors to use to determine resource allocation can be time of day, date, identity of an originating or target device, identity of a caller or callee, etc. Resources that can be allocated include bandwidth, processing cycles, network storage and power.
US07778233B2 Time synchronizing apparatus for mobile WiMAX analyzer
Disclosed herein is a time synchronizing apparatus for a mobile WiMAX analyzer. The time synchronizing apparatus includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver and a synchronization control unit. The GPS receiver outputs a GPS signal that is synchronized with the GPS time using information received from a GPS satellite. The synchronization control unit compares the GPS signal and a reference signal, which is generated using an internal clock, and controls synchronization according to the result of the comparison. The synchronization control unit includes an oscillator, a divider, an offset comparison unit and a processor. The oscillator outputs an oscillation signal having a predetermined frequency. The divider divides the oscillation signal into the reference signal. The offset comparison unit compares the differences between the GPS signal and the reference signal, and outputs the result value of the comparison. The processor controls the oscillation frequency of the oscillator until the result value satisfies a predetermined reference value.
US07778232B2 Multiuser detector for variable spreading factors
A multiuser detector method and receiver that detects and decodes synchronous or asynchronous CDMA subchannels having different spreading factors with reduced computational complexity. The multiuser receiver is compatible with ZF-BLE, MMSE, decorrelating detectors and the like using Cholesky decomposition to minimize numeric operations. The receiver and method arranges the columns of system transmission response matrices representing the response characteristics of individual users into a total system transmission response matrix which represents a plurality of matched-filter responses for a given block of received data. The invention when used in conjunction with Cholesky decomposition reduces the number of required mathematic operations prior to parallel matched filtering.
US07778223B2 Cordless communication apparatus
Whether the reception electric field level of the antenna #1 is higher than the predetermined level is judged. If the reception electric field level of the antenna #1 is not higher than the predetermined level, the communication mode is to be set to the multi-slot mode, and then whether the reception electric field level of the antenna #1 is higher is judged by comparison of the reception electric field level of the antenna #1 and the reception electric field level of the antenna #2. If the reception electric field level of the antenna #1 is higher, the call mode is to be set to the antenna #1 for executing transmission and reception, or if the reception electric field level of the antenna #1 is not higher, the communication mode is to be set to the antenna #2 for executing transmission and reception.
US07778221B2 Apparatus and method for requesting bandwidth allocation and allocating bandwidth in a communication system
A method and apparatus for requesting bandwidth allocation and allocating a bandwidth in response to the request in a communication system are provided, in which an mobile station detects a second CID requiring bandwidth allocation, the second CID being different from a first CID included in a MAC header, generates a grant management subheader including an order field and a bandwidth field, the order field being for writing a rank of the second CID in a CID list listing CIDs of the mobile station according to a predetermined criterion and the bandwidth field being for writing a bandwidth required for the second CID, concatenates the grant management subheader to the MAC header, and transmits the concatenated MAC header and grant management subheader to a base station to request bandwidth allocation for the second CID.
US07778219B2 Directional transmission and reception in a mobile wireless ad hoc network
Directional transmission and reception in mobile wireless ad hoc networks may include a number of nodes, in which there is at least a first node and a second node. Each node is associated with a time multiplex frame structure having multiple sub-frames. The sub-frames includes at least a first sub-frame, a second sub-frame, and a third sub-frame. Each of the sub-frames includes multiple time slots. The network further includes one or more directional antennas associated with each of the nodes. The first node of the network is configured to establish communication with the second node within one or more time slots corresponding to the first sub-frame in the time multiplex structure. The first node is also configured to reserve one or more time slots for data transmission with the second node within one or more time slots corresponding to the second sub-frame in the time multiplex structure. The first node is further configured to transmit data to the second node based on the one or more reserved time slots corresponding to the third sub-frame in the time multiplex structure. Other embodiments of this aspect include corresponding techniques, apparatus, and computer program products.
US07778216B2 Broadcasting terminal for updating pilot channel information and method thereof
A satellite multimedia broadcasting terminal and method for updating pilot channel information is provided. By determining whether pilot channel information has changed and updating pilot channel information based on the determination, processing of unchanged pilot channel information can be minimized and the efficiency of a system enhanced.
US07778212B2 Method and apparatus for multicast transmission of packet data in a mobile communication system
An apparatus and method for multicast transmission of packet data in a mobile communication system. To multicast packet data to a group of MSs, a BS divides a plurality of MSs within its cell area into a plurality of multicast groups. Here, the MSs of each multicast group are to receive the same data. The BS assigns a MMAC index to each multicast group. Upon receipt of a multicast traffic channel request message from an MS, the BS transmits to the MS a traffic channel assignment message with the MMAC index of a multicast group to which the MS belongs and transmits forward packet data to the MS on a traffic channel corresponding to the MMAC index.
US07778211B2 Method for computing a downlink beamforming weighting vector based on up link channel information
Described herein is a method for obtaining a downlink beamforming weighting vector in a wireless communications system based on channel information about an uplink channel. The method comprises obtaining the channel information about the uplink channel by a means selected from the group comprising of training signals, pilot signals, and data signals, wherein the uplink channel comprises a set of uplink sub-channels, calculating a spatial signature of the uplink channel with the channel information, and computing a downlink beamforming weighting vector of a downlink channel with the spatial signature of the uplink channel, wherein the downlink channel comprises a set of downlink sub-channels that share few or no sub-carriers with the set of uplink sub-channels.
US07778210B2 Bridge circuit to suppress echoes in communication devices
Bridge circuit for echo suppression for a reception signal of a communication device connected to a transmission line, to which can be supplied a reception signal received via the transmission line and a transmission signal to be transmitted by the communication device via the transmission line. The bridge circuit is designed such that on balancing the bridge circuit, the reception signal there can be tapped echo-compensated with a transmission signal part generated by the transmission signal being suppressed. To balance the bridge circuit a variable simulation device is provided to simulate at least one circuit section of at least one bridge branch and connect with the at least one bridge branch. By such an arrangement, the signal level in the simulation device may be reduced so far that this can be designed as an integrated circuit and to be programmable.
US07778209B2 Passive echo cancellation device and signal transmission method thereof
The present invention refers to a passive echo cancellation device for use in a full-duplex communication system and its signal transceiving method. The full-duplex communication system comprises a transmitting end for sending a transmit signal to a wiring interface, and a receiving end for accepting a receive signal from the wiring interface. The passive echo cancellation device comprises an offset-signal-generating circuit and a passive echo cancellation circuit composed of a plurality of passive components. The offset-signal-generating circuit generates an offset signal according to the transmit signal. The passive echo cancellation circuit is serially connected between the wiring interface and the receiving end, and is connected with the offset-signal-generating circuit. The passive echo cancellation circuit receives the offset signal in such a manner that an echo signal contained in the receive signal coming from the wiring interface is cancelled by mean of the offset signal, so as to generate an output signal containing merely the signal characteristics of the receive signal.
US07778207B2 Passive tap and associated system for tapping network data
A network tap device array including one or more passive full-duplex bidirectional ZPL network tap devices is disclosed. The array enables data from multiple nodes in a communications network to be tapped and forwarded to a plurality of monitoring devices. In one embodiment the network tap device array includes a chassis that is configured to receive a plurality of passive full-duplex bidirectional ZPL network tap devices. Each passive full-duplex bidirectional ZPL network tap device includes network ports for passing network data via communication cables and tap ports for forwarding the tapped network data to the monitoring device. In another embodiment, a sub-chassis includes a plurality of passive full-duplex bidirectional ZPL network tap devices and an aggregator that aggregates tapped data from each of the tap devices. The aggregator then forwards the aggregated data to the monitoring device. The sub-chassis can be included in a chassis that is configured to receive multiple populated chassis.
US07778203B2 On-demand MAC address lookup
Described is looking up network information (e.g., port data) on demand upon receiving a (e.g., DHCP) request packet containing a MAC address. The MAC address may be looked up in a cache to find the port data. If not cached or cached but outdated, the lookup continues via a querying process that finds the relevant switch containing the port data; the cache is updated based on the querying process result. Successful querying results in a valid cache entry, while unsuccessful querying results in an invalid entry. For port data associated with the MAC address found via the cache or via querying, the port data is used to respond to the request packet, e.g., to assign an IP address to a network device corresponding to that MAC address. For a MAC address determined to be invalid via the cache or via querying, the request is rejected.
US07778195B2 Network, server apparatus, IP corresponding terminal device, and speech-quality control method used in the same
A network includes Internet protocol (IP) terminals for establishing communication using an initiation protocol used in connection-oriented communication in which connection to a destination is confirmed over an IP network for the communication; and a server apparatus constituting the network along with the IP terminals. The server apparatus includes a detecting unit for detecting a speech quality between the IP terminals; a calculating unit for calculating an optimal speech quality based on the detected speech quality information; and a notifying unit for notifying the IP terminals establishing communication of the calculated optimal speech quality. The IP terminals establish communication with the speech quality being set to the optimal speech quality, which the server apparatus notifies to the IP terminals.
US07778193B2 Residential network setting method, home gateway apparatus, home gateway program, and recording medium
The setting of the connection of devices to a home gateway apparatus is simplified by providing the apparatus with a gateway function interconnecting a residential network and an external network; a database holding information setting the states of devices getting connected to the residential network and software for the setting, as settings information for each device; and a device setting processing part, setting, for a device newly requesting connection, the state of the device via the residential network by using the settings information, and, when getting accessed from the external network, making settings, with respect to the gateway function for making the firewall settings and the network address translation settings, on the basis of the network information further included in the settings information and the IP address granted to the device.
US07778189B2 Maintaining an existing connection between nodes
Methods and systems for maintaining a connection between a first node and a second node communicating via a connection within a communication network. Data is communicated between the nodes on the basis of addresses assigned to the respective nodes. The addresses are managed by an address management node of the communication network. The system includes a detector unit, at the first node, configured to detect an outage of the existing connection between the nodes, a consulting unit, at the first node, configured to consult after detecting the outage of the connection, the address management node to verify the address assigned to the second node, a transceiver unit, at the address management node, configured to return a current address assigned to the second node, and a connection re-establisher unit, at the first node, configured to re-establish the connection based on the current address assigned to the second node.
US07778188B2 Network diagnostic systems and methods for transmitting and receiving network messages
A networking system is provided. The networking system may include a network diagnostic component. The network diagnostic component may perform any of a variety of network diagnostic functions. The network diagnostic component may include a diagnostic module. The network diagnostic component may also include at least one transceiver. The transceiver may receive a signal from a first node. The signal may form one or more network messages, for example. The transceiver may send the signal to a second node. The transceiver may send the signal to the diagnostic module, which may alter the signal. For example, the diagnostic module may digitally retime the signal, may alter the content of the messages themselves, and/or may alter the signal in other suitable ways. The transceiver may send the altered signal to the second node.
US07778186B2 Fault tolerant vehicle communication and control apparatus
Medium-range and global network information and control for a vehicle is achieved with a portable wireless key fob, a user-provided nomadic device, and a vehicle-installed telematics unit including a medium-range RF transceiver and a wireless network transceiver. The fob includes a medium-range RF transceiver for bi-directional communication with the telematics unit, and a short-range wireless transceiver for bi-directional communication with the nomadic device. The fob communicates with the telematics unit in a conventional manner, and also relays information between the telematics unit and the nomadic device. If a communication initiated via the fob cannot be completed because the fob is out of range, the communication is sent to the nomadic device for network transmission to the telematics unit. If a communication initiated via the nomadic device cannot be completed due to inadequate signal reception, the communication is sent to the fob for RF transmission to the telematics unit.
US07778185B2 Method for the transmission of data using self-diagnostic pulse width modulation
In a method for transmitting data between a master control unit and a slave control unit, the master control unit (4) outputs a pulse width-modulated signal (7) at an output terminal (HI_LO_BUS) in order to transmit the same to the slave control unit (5) via a bus (6). The method includes the steps: —the slave control unit (5) generates an acknowledgement signal at periodic acknowledgement intervals (TQuitt); —the slave control unit (5) influences the pulse width-modulated signal (7) transmitted on the bus (6) during the acknowledgement interval (TQuitt); —the master control unit (4) detects the influenced pulse width-modulated signal (7), the pulse width-modulated signal (7) output at the output signal terminal (HI_LO_BUS) being read back at an input signal terminal (Read_Back_Bus) of the master control unit (4).
US07778184B2 Communication system and remote diagnosis system
An object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of promptly and efficiently starting a communication processing when a demand is generated, in a communication system including a terminal for a non-continuous connection. A communication terminal and a device can be connected through a relay device, and when the communication terminal transmits a UDP packet to the device, the relay device receives the UDP packet and transmits a control signal to the device. The device makes a dial-up connection to establish a PPP session, and establishes a TCP connection with the relay device. By using this TCP connection, the communication terminal transmits an inspection instruction file to the device. The device conducts an inspection in accordance with the inspection instruction file, prepares an inspection result file, and returns it to the communication terminal. Then, the device disconnects the TCP connection, the PPP session, and the dial-up line network.
US07778183B2 Data replica selector
A method is provided for selecting a replication node from eligible nodes in a network. A multidimensional model is constructed that defines a multidimensional space and includes the eligible nodes, with each of the dimensions of the multidimensional model being a system characteristic. A data availability value is determined for each of the eligible nodes, and a cost of deploying is determined for each of at least two availability strategies to the eligible nodes. At least one of the eligible nodes is selected for replication of data that is stored on a source node in the network. The selecting step includes selecting the eligible node whose: data availability value is determined to be highest among the eligible nodes whose cost of deploying does not exceed a specified maximum, or cost of deploying is determined to be lowest among the eligible nodes whose data availability value does not exceed a specified minimum.
US07778180B2 Dynamic multi-hop negotiations
Negotiation of RSVP reservations prior to the setup of a call, rather than negotiating reservation parameters during the call. RSVP reservation parameters are negotiated prior to ringing a device, rather than after. In some embodiments, this is achieved by including information in the initial call signaling elements. This added information allows negotiation with each device in the proposed data path to determine, prior to ringing the terminating device in the data path, whether each of the devices can support the proposed data link.
US07778178B2 Oversubscribing bandwidth in a communications network
A system and computer readable medium for oversubscribing bandwidth in a communication network, is disclosed. The system and computer readable medium includes policing a first data flow and outputting a first output data flow from the first meter, in relation to a first Committed Information Rate (CIR) and a first Peak Information Rate (PIR); policing a second data flow and outputting a second output data flow from the second meter in relation to a second CIR and a second PIR; and policing an aggregated output data flow of the first output data flow and the second output data through a third meter of the oversubscription module, where the aggregated output data flow is policed in relation to a third CIR and a third PIR.
US07778172B2 Home networking system and admission control method thereof
The invention discloses a home networking system and an admission control method for the home networking system. First, a first request information representative of a first traffic request for a terminal station is received. The first request information includes a first padding information column which includes a first routing path, a first required bandwidth, and a first compression format corresponding to the first required bandwidth. Subsequently, according to the first routing path and the first required bandwidth, it is judged whether one available bandwidth allocated to each link of the first routing path satisfies the first required bandwidth. If YES, the first traffic in the first compression format is admitted.
US07778171B2 Connectionless configurations for stress testing timing and synchronization in data packet networks
A method and system for providing connectionless configurations for stress testing timing and synchronization in data packet networks. Packet traffic of interest is transmitted through multiple interconnected switching nodes such that different packets can be transmitted over different paths through the switching nodes. The nodes can support background traffic in order to generate delays for the packets at each of the switching nodes. By allowing packets to use multiple paths in a single testing configuration, a connectionless packet flow can be utilized for adaptive packet timing recovery stress testing.
US07778167B2 Simulating packet delay variation using step-target delay method
A method and system for simulating packet delay variation (PDV) is disclosed. The delay-step method for simulating PDV determines a delay for each packet is a stream of packets generated at a regular interval. Delay target values are randomly selected based on a statistical distribution, such as a Gamma distribution, which models a desired PDV. Delay-steps are determined for each packet based on the delay target values. The delay-steps can be fixed or variable sized steps which are used to adjust the delay of sequential packets. Each of the packets is then transmitted with the delay determined for that packet.
US07778165B2 Information plane for determining performance metrics of paths between arbitrary end-hosts on the internet
Performance metrics between any two arbitrary end-hosts are predicted based upon previous measurements on the Internet between a plurality of geographically dispersed vantage points and clusters of end-hosts. Each cluster comprises end-hosts that are related based upon their IP address prefixes. In response to a central agent that stores the measured data for each of a plurality of predicted paths on the Internet, the vantage points use traceroute software to measure and periodically update performance metrics such as latency, bottleneck capacity, bandwidth, and packet loss rate for links comprising the predicted paths between the vantage points and one (or more) destination points associated with each cluster, and gather such data using distributed application systems. A user or client application can subsequently request predicted performance metrics for communication between specific end-hosts, based upon the previous measurement data.
US07778161B2 Signaling system for telecommunications
A pair of devices (400, 401) appear to be a Common Channel Signaling (CCS) network nodes on each end of a pointdigital data link, that is, a normal CCS signaling link (402, 403). Multiple transport methods may be used to provide a redundant and diverse path for the signaling link. These methods include the encapsulation of the CCS protocol, at one or more layers, within other network protocols. In another embodiment, the present invention implements a virtual Signal Transfer Point by means of one or more encapsulating STPs (eSTPs). A packet data network (408) using standard packetdata protocols, rather than a backplane bus or specialnetwork, connects the encapsulating STPs (405, 406), and CCS messages are dynamically routed across the internal packet data network to an appropriate eSTP for transmission to the appropriate next hop address. The entire group of eSTPs appears to be one STP to the CCS network, but on the internal packet data network each eSTP operates as an autonomous message router for CCS traffic.
US07778157B1 Port identifier management for path failover in cluster environments
A method includes assigning a port identifier to a first port on a node and communicating data on a first path between the first port and a logical unit on an active/passive storage array. The port identifier is registered in a persistent reservation scheme for the logical unit. The method also includes detecting a failure of the first path, de-assigning the port identifier from the first port, assigning the port identifier to a second port on the first node, and resuming communications between the node and the logical unit. One implementation of a system includes a first port configured to communicate with a storage device, a second port configured to communicate with the storage device, and an identifier management block. The identifier management block executes a failover with N_Port ID Virtualization commands that transfer a world wide port name from the first port to the second port.
US07778156B2 Device and method for improving switching time of section/line and equipment protections
Disclosed is a device for providing an improved switching from one of two or more working resources to at least one spare resource in a telecommunication apparatus, each of the working resources comprising a profile with a set of parameters and configuration information, wherein the at least one spare resource comprises a bank of profiles, each profile of the bank corresponding to a profile of the working resources, and further comprises means for selecting a profile of the bank so that when a working resource has to be replaced by a spare resource, a profile in the bank corresponding to the profile of the working resource is selected for provisioning the spare resources accordingly. According to an embodiment, the working and spare resources are embodied in ports of a telecommunication apparatus.
US07778155B2 Broadcast router configured for alternately receiving multiple or redundant reference inputs
A broadcast router includes a router matrix having input and output sides. Coupled to the input side of the router matrix are first and second reference inputs. The first reference input is configured for application of a first reference signal thereto while the second reference input is configured for selective application of either a second reference signal or a redundancy of the first reference signal thereto. The broadcast router further includes N inputs, M outputs and a routing engine, coupled between the N inputs and the M outputs, for applying selected ones of the N inputs to the M outputs. A reference select circuit is coupled between the first and second reference inputs and the routing engine.
US07778154B2 Techniques for reducing interference in a communication system
A technique of operating a communication device includes identifying a signal null associated with a signal to be transmitted on a first communication channel. A channel gain of the first communication channel is adjusted at a time that substantially coincides with the signal null to reduce transient noise spectrum coupled from the first communication channel to one or more second communication channels.
US07778153B2 Method for estimating transmission delay and receiver using the same
There is provided a receiver for processing a ranging channel. The receiver includes a Fourier transformer for transforming a received signal into a frequency domain signal, a ranging channel extraction and ranging code elimination unit for extracting a ranging channel from the frequency domain signal, and eliminating a code of a ranging code from the ranging channel and a ranging channel processor for estimating transmission delay or transmission power from a time domain signal. By estimating transmission delay and/or transmission power in a time domain, it is possible to rapidly and accurately adjust the transmission delay and transmission power intensity in the ranging procedure.
US07778152B2 Non-intrusive method and system for coupling powerline communications signals to a powerline network
In one embodiment, a powerline system includes a data connection, a powerline module coupled to the data connection, a physical socket coupled to the powerline module and including a female connector device, a male connector device inserted into the female connector device, and a pair of wires coupled to and extending from the male connector device. The female connector device comprises a first female connector and a second female connector. The male connector device comprises a first male connector coupled to the first female connector and a second male connector coupled to the second female connector. The first wire of the pair of wires is coupled to and extending from the first male connector, and the second wire of the pair of wires is coupled to and extending from the second male connector respectively.
US07778151B2 Efficient scheduling request channel for wireless networks
In a method for transmitting a contention free scheduling request in a cellular network, a set of N frequency opportunities is defined within a scheduling request slot. A set of R CAZAC root sequences is then defined per frequency opportunity. A set of C cyclic shifts is then defined per CAZAC root sequence. Within a given cell, a unique identification number is assigned to each user equipment (UE) that is in an uplink (UL) synchronized state. Each UL synchronized UE is mapped to a unique combination of one of the N frequency opportunities, one of the R CAZAC root sequences and one of the C cyclic shifts. A cyclic shifted preamble sequence for a given UE is transmitted as a scheduling request on the mapped frequency, CAZAC root sequence and cyclic shift opportunity, wherein the unique identification number of the given UE is encoded by the combination of the frequency opportunity, CAZAC root sequence opportunity, and amount of cyclic shift, such that up to all of the plurality of UE can transmit a schedule request (SR) in a non-contentious manner in one schedule request slot.
US07778149B1 Method and system to providing fast access channel
A system for providing a fast access channel is disclosed. The system includes a transmitter configured to transmit a first long contention symbol and one or more subsequent long contention symbols. The first long contention symbol is followed by the subsequent long contention symbols. The system further includes a receiver configured to receive the first and subsequent long contention symbols and determine a contention code and a contention channel transmitted with the contention code based on the first and subsequent long contention symbols. Each of the first and subsequent long contention symbols includes a long cyclic prefix and a number of identical contention symbols.
US07778146B2 M-ary orthogonal keying system
A digital modulation system provides enhanced multipath performance by using modified orthogonal codes with reduced autocorrelation sidelobes while maintaining the cross-correlation properties of the modified codes. For example, the modified orthogonal codes can reduce the autocorrelation level so as not to exceed one-half the length of the modified orthogonal code. In certain embodiments, an M-ary orthogonal keying (MOK) system is used which modifies orthogonal Walsh codes using a complementary code to improve the auto-correlation properties of the Walsh codes, thereby enhancing the multipath performance of the MOK system while maintaining the orthogonality and low cross-correlation characteristics of the Walsh codes.
US07778143B2 Optical disk and optical disk apparatus
An optical disk according to the present invention includes: a substrate in a disk shape; guide grooves arranged at a pitch p in a radial direction of the substrate, each of the guide grooves being formed so as to extend in a circumferential direction of the substrate; and a pre-pit formed in a space between the guide grooves so as to extend along the guide groove. The optical disk is configured so that an address signal assigned to each location on a signal surface is indicated by the arrangement of the pre-pit in accordance with a predetermined rule. The pre-pit is composed of a pair of pre-pits formed on respective sides of the guide groove. The pair of pre-pits are arranged so as to be displaced in the circumferential direction so that a distance between inner edges of the respective pre-pits in the circumferential direction is smaller than the pitch p of the guide grooves. An optical disk apparatus of the present invention detects light reflected from the optical disk configured as above, calculates a differential phase detection signal, and detects an address signal using the differential phase detection signal. According to this optical disk apparatus, an address signal can be read reliably even at a region where a recording mark is formed so as to lie over the address pre-pit.
US07778142B2 Optical pickup apparatus and electronic equipment having the same
There is provided an optical pickup apparatus which is small in size and excellent in releasing action of heat generated inside the apparatus. An optical pickup apparatus includes semiconductor lasers as light sources for emitting light, a laser driver for controlling light emitting operations of the semiconductor lasers, a first housing in which the laser driver is housed, and a second housing in which the semiconductor lasers are housed. The first housing 31 and the second housing are separately formed and connected to each other so as to have a void portion therebetween, which penetrates the first housing and the second housing in thickness directions thereof. The laser driver and the semiconductor lasers are disposed so as to be adjacent to each other via the void portion, and housed in the housing.
US07778139B2 Optical information recording/reproducing device and objective lens for the same
There is provided an objective lens used for an optical information recording/reproducing device for recording information to and/or reproducing information from two types of optical discs, by selectively using one of two types of substantially collimated light beams including first and second light beams. When wavelengths of the first and second light beams are respectively represented by λ1 (nm) and λ2 (nm), λ1<λ2 is satisfied. The objective lens includes a first optical element, and a second optical element made of material different from that of the first optical element. The first and second optical elements are cemented via a cementing surface. Further, the objective lens is configured to satisfy a condition: 0.006 < { ( nR ⁢ ⁢ 2 - nR ⁢ ⁢ 1 ) - ( nB ⁢ ⁢ 2 - nB ⁢ ⁢ 1 ) } ×   [ { ( k ⁢ ⁢ 2 r ⁢ ⁢ 2 3 ) + 8 × A ⁢ ⁢ 42 } × f ⁢ ⁢ 1 3 + 2.29 ] < 0.038 ⁢ . ( 1 )
US07778134B2 Waveform equalization control device
A waveform equalization control device includes a waveform equalizer that has a filter provided with a plurality of taps, updates the tap coefficient of each of the plurality of taps in accordance with a tap coefficient signal inputted thereto, causes the plurality of taps to respectively receive a plurality of values sampled at different time points from an input signal, performs waveform equalization with respect to the input signal, and outputs the signal after the waveform equalization, an equalization target value generation unit for determining an equalization target value, an error estimation unit for obtaining the error between the equalization target value and the signal after the waveform equalization, and a coefficient update unit for determining an amount of updating the coefficient of each of the taps of the filter of the waveform equalizer based on the error signal and on the input value to each of the taps and outputting the amount of updating the tap coefficient as the tap coefficient signal. The equalization target value generation unit obtains sign signals each showing whether the signal after the waveform equalization has a positive value or a negative value for first to fifth time points and determines a value corresponding to a total sum which is a sum of respective results of multiplying the sign signals for the first to fifth time points by θ, β, α, β, and θ (where each of α, β, and θ is a predetermined real number) as the equalization target value.
US07778133B2 Optical Information recording/reproducing apparatus
An optical information recording/reproducing apparatus is adapted to record and/or reproduce multilevel information on/or from an optical information recording medium. The multilevel information is recorded in the form of pits in cells virtually formed at regular intervals on a track. The respective levels are represented by varying the length or the area of information pits such that a reproduced signal has a different amplitude level depending on the length or the area of information pits. A reproduced signal correction circuit corrects a reproduced signal obtained by performing sampling at the center of each cell. An error power calculation circuit calculates error power on the basis of the difference between the corrected reproduced signal and an ideal value of each level of the cell. A decoder performs decoding on the basis of the calculated error power values.
US07778131B2 Optical disk writing and energy control apparatus
An optical disk writing apparatus maintaining appropriate write power in real time with a simple configuration includes a buffer for recording data, a binarization circuit supplying data to the buffer, an LD writing data recorded in the buffer onto a DVD disk, a detector reading out from the DVD disk a signal representing data written by the LD at an arbitrary time during a period starting from when the amount of data recorded in the buffer and not yet written onto the DVD disk becomes zero until the amount of data reaches a predetermined number of ECC blocks, and a servo processor correcting an error in the data read out by the detector for every data amount susceptible to error correction at one time, evaluating the writing of the LD using the corrected signal, and controlling the energy density to be employed in writing data onto the DVD disk by the LD according to its own evaluation.
US07778129B2 Optical disk apparatus, focal position control method and focal position control apparatus
An optical disk apparatus can reliably detect the target recording layer of an optical disk having two recording layers. The optical disk apparatus is adapted to recording information on and reproducing information from an optical disk formed by sequentially laying a first recording layer, a second recording layer and a cover layer. The focal point of the light beam is moved closer to the optical disk from the side of the cover layer and the focal point of the light beam is determined to be coming close to the recording layer when the signal level of the focus error signal falls below a positive focus error threshold value after rising above the latter or rises above the negative focus error threshold value after falling below the latter. Then, the focal point of the light beam is kept on moving toward the optical disk after the detection of the recording layer and the recording layer that is detected last is determined to be the first recording layer when the recording layer is not re-detected within a re-detection period.
US07778124B2 Method and system for fluid mediated disk activation and deactivation
Embodiments of methods and systems for controlling access to information stored on memory or data storage devices are disclosed. In various embodiments, fluid-mediated modification of information or access to information is utilized. According to various embodiments, data storage devices designed for rotating access are described which include rotation-activated fluid control mechanisms.
US07778122B2 Methods for tuning write strategy parameters utilizing data-to-clock edge deviations, and systems thereof
A method for tuning a plurality of write strategy parameters of an optical storage device includes detecting a plurality of lengths, each length corresponding to a pit or a land on an optical storage medium accessed by the optical storage device, performing calculations corresponding to a plurality of data set types and generating a plurality of data-to-clock edge deviations respectively corresponding to the data set types, and utilizing the data-to-clock edge deviations for tuning the write strategy parameters corresponding to the data set types respectively.
US07778121B2 Optical disc apparatus capable of precisely reading address information and method of controlling optical disc apparatus
Detection of a wobble cycle of wobble formed at a groove of an optical disc is started. A phase locked loop time that is from reset of phase locked loop circuit until a signal read from the wobble locks is calculated. The focus balance value corresponding to the minimum phase locked loop lock time is set as the focus balance value for ADdress In Pre-groove. When ADdress In Pre-groove information being address information is read, focusing servo control is performed with the focus balance value for ADdress In Pre-groove.
US07778113B2 Ultrasonic transducer and manufacturing method thereof
A technology capable of improving receiver sensitivity and improving insulation withstand voltage in an ultrasonic transducer is provided. An ultrasonic transducer comprises: a lower electrode; an insulator covering the lower electrode; a cavity portion disposed on the insulator so as to overlap with the lower electrode; and an upper electrode disposed so as to overlap with the cavity portion. In this ultrasonic transducer, an insulator is inserted between the upper and lower electrodes in a part not having the cavity portion. By this means, sum total of thickness of insulators between the upper and lower electrodes in a part not having the cavity portion is larger than sum total of thickness of insulators between the upper and lower electrodes in a part having the cavity portion.
US07778110B2 Processing seismic data representative of the acceleration wavefield
A method of processing seismic data comprises processing data representative of the acceleration wavefield so as to obtain information about the earth's subsurface direct from the seismic data representative of the acceleration wavefield. In conventional techniques for processing seismic data representative of the acceleration wavefield the data are transformed to the velocity domain at an early stage in the processing. The invention enables the transform step to be eliminated, thereby simplifying the processing and eliminating the risk that the transform might degrade the data. Furthermore, the increased sensitivity at high frequencies of a typical acceleration sensor compensates for the low-pass filter effect of the earth.
US07778108B2 Method of and apparatus for processing seismic data
A method of acquiring or processing multi-component seismic data obtained from seismic signals propagating in a medium, the method comprising the steps of: selecting a first portion of the seismic data in which the first arrival contains only upwardly propagating seismic energy above the seafloor; and determining a first calibration filter from the first portion of the seismic data, the first calibration filter being to calibrate a first component of the seismic data relative to a second component of the seismic data.
US07778107B2 Decoding control with address transition detection in page erase function
Circuits and methods are provided for controlling multi-page erase operations in flash memory. The page address of each address of a multi-page erase operation is latched in wordline decoders. A page select reset generator circuit processes the block addresses of each address of the multi-page erase operation. In the event the addresses relate to pages in different blocks, then previously latched page addresses are reset. This avoids the incorrect circuit operation that will result should a multi-page erase operation include multiple pages in different blocks.
US07778104B2 Semiconductor memory apparatus
A semiconductor memory includes a cell mat configured to include a plurality of memory cells to which a first bit line pair or a second bit line pair is connected; a sense amplifier configured to amplify a positive sensing line and a negative sensing line in response to a first bit line equalize signal; a column selecting unit configured to connect the positive sensing line and the negative sensing line to a first data bus and a second data bus, respectively, in response to a column selection signal; and a share control unit configured to connect the positive sensing line and a positive first bit line of the first bit line pair or a positive second bit line of the second bit line pair in response to a second bit line equalize signal, a positive share control signal and a negative share control signal.
US07778101B2 Memory module and method of performing the same
A memory module and a method of performing the same for access of an external electronic device are provided herein. The memory module includes a NAND-type flash memory, a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) unit, and a memory controller. The dynamic random access memory unit which is electrically connected to the NAND-type flash memory includes a dynamic random access memory and an internal power. The memory controller is used for controlling at least one of both the NAND-type flash memory and the dynamic random access memory unit. When the memory module is disconnected with the external electronic device, the internal power of the dynamic random access memory unit powers the dynamic random access memory, actively. Accordingly, data stored in the dynamic random access memory will be retained.
US07778099B2 Semiconductor memory, memory system, and memory access control method
A semiconductor memory is provided, the semiconductor memory including a memory core that includes a plurality of memory cells, a refresh generation unit that generates a refresh request for refreshing the memory cell, a core control unit that performs an access operation in response to an access request, a latency determination unit that activates a latency extension signal upon a conflict between activation of a chip enable signal and the refresh request and that deactivates the latency extension signal in response to deactivation of the chip enable signal, a latency output buffer that outputs the latency extension signal, and a data control unit that changes a latency from the access request to a transfer of data to a data terminal during the activation of the latency extension signal.
US07778097B2 AC coupling circuits including resistive feedback and related methods and devices
An integrated circuit device may include an amplifier having an amplifier input configured to receive an input signal with the amplifier being configured to provide an amplifier output signal at an amplifier output responsive to the input signal received at the amplifier input. A capacitor may be coupled to the amplifier output, and a buffer may be coupled to the capacitor so that the capacitor is coupled in series between the amplifier output and an input of the buffer with an output of the buffer being coupled to a buffered signal terminal. A variable resistive feedback circuit may be coupled between the input and output of the buffer with the variable resistive feed back circuit providing a variable resistance between the input and output of the buffer. A feedback resistance controller may be coupled to the variable resistive feedback circuit with the feedback resistance controller being configured to select a first resistance for the variable resistive feedback circuit for a first frequency of the input signal and to select a second resistance for the variable resistive feedback circuit for a second frequency of the input signal different than the first frequency with the first and second resistances being different.
US07778093B2 Memory control circuit capable of dynamically adjusting deglitch windows, and related method
A memory control method for adjusting deglitch windows utilized by a memory control circuit receiving an original data strobe signal of a memory includes: deglitching according to the original data strobe signal by utilizing a plurality of deglitch windows that are set by delaying an original deglitch window signal in order to derive a plurality of deglitch results, where the deglitch windows have different beginning time points; and utilizing the deglitch results to dynamically determine a delay amount for delaying the original deglitch window signal, where the beginning time point of one of the deglitch windows is kept centered at a middle time point of a preamble of the original data strobe signal.
US07778091B2 Page buffer, memory device having the page buffer and method of operating the same
A page buffer includes a first latch coupled between a sensing node and a data input/output node for storing data to be programmed. The sensing node is coupled to a bit line corresponding to an MLC selected for programming. The data input/output node receives/outputs data. A second latch is coupled to the sensing node for performing a program, verifying or read operation. A first switching means is coupled between the first latch and the sensing node for transmitting data stored in the first latch to the bit line through the sensing node when the program operation is performed. A second switching means is coupled to a first node of the second latch and the sensing node for verifying a first program operation. A third switching means is coupled between a second node of the second latch and the sensing node for verifying a second program operation.
US07778090B2 Buffer circuit for a memory module
The invention provides a buffer circuit for a memory module including at least one configuration register bank for storing configuration data of the memory module, an error check logic for performing an error check of input signals applied to the memory module via input pins of the memory module to generate a signature output by the memory module via at least one output pin of the memory module, and a controller which depending on an output request setting stored in a configuration register of the configuration register bank reads out information data the buffer circuit via the output pin of the memory module.
US07778087B2 Memory programming method and data access method
A memory programming method is provided. A first programming operation is performed to program a multi level cell from an initial state to a first target state, which corresponds to a storage data and has a first threshold voltage range. A flag bit of the NAND flash is set to a first state to indicate that the first programming operation has been performed. A second programming operation is performed to program the multi level cell from the first target state to a second target state, which corresponds to the storage data and has a second threshold voltage range. The flag bit is set to a second state to indicate that the second programming operation has been performed.
US07778084B2 Non-volatile memory devices and operating methods thereof
Non-volatile memory devices and operating methods thereof are provided. In an operating method, a first operation is performed by applying a first voltage to at least one word line. The first operation includes one of a programming or erasing operation. The first operation is verified by applying a verify voltage to each of the at least one word lines. The voltage level of each verify voltage is determined according to position information of a corresponding one of the at least one word lines.
US07778081B2 Method for performing operations by applying periodic voltage pulses to control gate of an ono memory cell
A method for performing operations on a memory cell is described. The memory cell includes a substrate, a first doping region and a second doping region. The first doping region and the second doping region are formed on the substrate with a channel region therebetween. A dielectric layer is formed above the channel region and a conductive gate is formed over the dielectric layer. The method includes applying a first constant voltage for a first period to the conductive gate followed by applying a second constant voltage for a second period to the conductive gate repeatedly. The value of the first constant voltage is different from the value of the second constant voltage. A third constant voltage and a fourth voltage are applied to the first doping region and the second doping region respectively.
US07778079B2 Multiple level cell phase-change memory devices having post-programming operation resistance drift saturation, memory systems employing such devices and methods of reading memory devices
In a memory device and in a method of programming the same, a memory device comprises: a plurality of memory cells, each memory cell comprising a resistance-changeable material that has an initial resistance that is determined in response to an applied programming current in a programming operation; and a modification circuit that modifies the resistance of the memory cell following a programming operation of the memory cell to vary the resistance of the memory cell from the initial resistance to a second resistance by applying a saturation current in a saturation operation. Each memory cell is connected to a conduction line of the memory device that is used to apply the programming current to program the resistance of the corresponding memory cell in the programming operation, that is used to apply the saturation current to the corresponding memory cell in the saturation operation and that is used to apply a read current to read the resistance of the corresponding memory cell in a subsequent read operation.
US07778078B2 Memory system and control method thereof
A memory system includes: a flash memory that stores data; a memory that stores a read count table that indicates the number of times of data read from the flash memory; and a controller that performs: reading out the data from the flash memory; updating the read count table when the controller performs reading out the data from the flash memory; and refreshing the flash memory based on the read count table.
US07778077B2 Non-volatile memory system with end of life calculation
A system and methods are given for providing information on the amount of life remaining for a memory having a limited lifespan, such as a flash memory card. For example, it can provide a user with the amount of the memory's expected remaining lifetime in real time units (i.e., hours or days) or as a percentage of estimated initial life. An end of life warning can also be provided. In a particular embodiment, the amount of remaining life (either as a percentage or in real time units) can be based on the average number of erases per block, but augmented by the number of spare blocks or other parameters, so that an end of life warning is given if either the expected amount of remaining life falls below a certain level or the number of spare blocks falls below a safe level.
US07778074B2 System and method to control one time programmable memory
Systems and methods to control one time programmable (OTP) memory are included. A method may include determining a functionality for a hardware capability bus in an integrated circuit. The method may also include storing data in a first register of the integrated circuit based on the functionality. The method may also include disabling the functionality in the integrated circuit by setting at least one bit in a one time programmable memory bank in the integrated circuit based on the data.
US07778072B2 Method for fabricating charge-trapping memory
A manufacturing method of a charge-trapping memory device is provided. This method includes forming a stacked structure having at least a charge-trapping medium. An annealing process in a hydrogen gas is then performed on the stacked structure subsequent to the device fabrication process. The annealing process is conducted at a temperature of about 350° C. to 450° C. and with the concentration of the hydrogen gas greater than 0.5 mole percent.
US07778070B2 Memory with dynamic redundancy configuration
One embodiment of the invention relates to a method for repairing a memory array. In the method, a group of at least one memory cell is dynamically analyzed to determine whether the memory array includes at least one faulty cell that no longer properly stores data. If the group includes at least one faulty cell, at least the at least one faulty cell is associated with at least another cell. Other methods, devices, and systems are also disclosed.
US07778069B2 Semiconductor device and its fabrication method
An electrically rewritable non-volatile memory device is configured by the EEPROM 3, and an electrically non-rewritable non-volatile memory device is configured by the OTPROM 4a. Both the EEPROM 3 and the OTPROM 4a are configured by phase change memory devices each of which can be fabricated in the same fabrication step and at a low cost. The EEPROM3 uses a phase change memory device in which an amorphous state and a crystal state of a phase change material are used for memory information, while the OTPROM 4a uses a phase change memory device in which a non-disconnection state and a disconnection state of a phase change material are used for memory information.
US07778068B2 Semiconductor device
In a memory using spin transfer torque, state of the spin is made unstable by applying a weak pulse before rewriting to reduce rewrite current. Reading of high-speed operation is performed with current in a regime where the current becomes non-linearly increases corresponding to the pulse width to suppress disturb. Further, fluctuation of respective memory cells is suppressed by a driving method setting the amount of spin constant by bit line charge to suppress read disturb.
US07778064B2 Accessing a phase change memory
A memory employs a low-level current source to access a phase change memory cell. The current source charges an access capacitor in order to store sufficient charge for an ensuing access. When a memory cell is accessed, charge stored on the capacitor is discharged through the phase change memory, supplying a current to the phase change memory cell that is sufficient for the intended access operation and greater than that provided directly by the current source.
US07778060B2 Ferroelectric memory
A ferroelectric memory includes: a memory cell having a ferroelectric capacitor, wherein, in a read-out operation, a first signal Q1 is given when a first voltage is applied to the ferroelectric capacitor, and a second signal Q2 is given when a second voltage having an identical magnitude as a magnitude of the first voltage in a different polarity is applied to the ferroelectric capacitor, and a judgment is made that the memory cell stores first data when Q1/Q2 is greater than ½, and second data when Q1/Q2 is smaller than ½.
US07778057B2 PCB circuit modification from multiple to individual chip enable signals
A semiconductor package is discussed having a single CE signal during electrical test and a plurality of CE signals during normal operation thereafter. After electrical testing of the memory die during fabrication, the electrical traces carrying the single CE signal from the memory test pad matrix to each of the memory die may be severed. Severing the electrical traces from the memory test pad matrix electrically isolates the multiple electrical traces between the controller die and memory die, and allows separate and individual CE signals between the controller die and memory die during normal usage of the memory die.
US07778050B2 Energy transfer device and energy transfer control semiconductor device
The present invention includes a turn-off signal modulating circuit that periodically varies a turn-off timing of a switching element 2 at a preset modulation time after a current detection by a drain current detecting circuit 15, and by modulating the peak of a current flowing through the switching element 2, diffuses switching noise while preventing concentration of an oscillating frequency at a constant frequency even under a constant input voltage and a constant load.
US07778048B2 Switching power supply apparatus
In a switching power supply apparatus, an inductor, a transformer, a first switching circuit, a second switching circuit, and a capacitor are connected to each other so that a first switching element and a second switching element can be alternately turned on and off, an output can be obtained from a secondary winding of the transformer, and an output voltage can be controlled by controlling the ON period of the first switching element. The secondary winding of the transformer is connected to a first rectifying and smoothing circuit. A first control circuit is configured to operate using a DC voltage supplied from a second rectifying and smoothing circuit. After the second switching element has been turned on, the second switching element is forcefully turned off at a predetermined time set by a turn-off circuit included in a second control circuit that operates using an AC voltage.
US07778047B2 Inverter
Primary and secondary regions are electrically insulated from each other. The first and second pulse transformers are provided to the respective transistors in the switching circuit. Secondary windings of the first and second pulse transformers are connected to control terminals of the transistors. The control circuit supplies switching voltages to primary windings of the pulse transformers based on a feedback signal fed back through a feedback line. A primary winding of a transformer, the switching circuit, and the secondary windings are disposed on the primary region. A secondary winding of the transformer, the primary windings, the feedback line, and the control circuit are disposed on the secondary region.
US07778046B1 Voltage step-up switching DC-to-DC converter field of the invention
A non-isolated and isolated both polarity non-inverting and polarity inverting switching DC-to-DC converters with three switches are provided with a basic voltage step-up DC gain characteristics and a very efficient operation without a danger of voltage overstress of any of the three switches over the full operating range from duty ratio of 0 to 1.0, thus resulting in wide input voltage operating range. The isolated extensions feature transformer with no DC-bias for efficient operation and small size. Full-bridge secondary side implementation further reduces the output filtering requirements.
US07778039B2 Substrates, systems, and devices including structures for suppressing power and ground plane noise, and methods for suppressing power and ground plane noise
Substrates having power and ground planes, such as, for example, printed circuit boards, include at least one noise suppression structure configured to suppress electrical waves propagating through at least one of a power plane and a ground plane. The noise suppression structure may include a power plane extension that extends from the power plane generally toward the ground plane, and a ground plane extension that extends from the ground plane generally toward the power plane. The ground plane extension may be separated from the power plane extension by a distance that is less than the distance separating the power and ground planes. Electronic device assemblies and systems include such substrates. Methods for suppressing noise in at least one of a power plane and a ground plane include providing such noise suppression structures between power and ground planes.
US07778033B2 Thermally conductive covers for electric circuit assemblies
A method of producing a thermally conductive cover for an electric circuit assembly having a plurality of heat dissipating components is disclosed. The thermally conductive cover including a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one rib extending downwardly from the bottom surface. The method includes selecting a plurality of dimensions for the thermally conductive cover such that the bottom surface will be spaced above and extend over top sides of the plurality of heat dissipating components when the thermally conductive cover is installed over the electronic circuit assembly. The at least one rib will extend over and be spaced from the plurality of heat dissipating components when the thermally conductive cover is installed over the electronic circuit assembly. The method further includes producing the thermally conductive cover with the selected dimensions. Thermally conductive covers are also disclosed.
US07778031B1 Test slot cooling system for a storage device testing system
A test slot cooling system for a storage device testing system includes a storage device transporter having first and second portions. The first portion of the storage device transporter includes an air director and the second portion of the storage device transporter is configured to receive a storage device. The test slot cooling system includes a test slot housing defining an air entrance and a transporter opening for receiving the storage device transporter. The air entrance is in pneumatic communication with the air director of the received storage device transporter. The test slot cooling system also includes an air mover in pneumatic communication with the air entrance of the test slot housing for delivering air to the air director. The air director directs air substantially simultaneously over at least top and bottom surfaces of the storage device received in the storage device transporter.
US07778030B1 Method for cooling using impinging jet control
A system (50) includes a material layer (52) having an opening (62) extending through it and a pumping device (54) positioned behind the layer (52). A target element (56) is positioned in front of the material layer (52). In a partial cooling mode (124), the pumping device (54) drives a jet (134) of coolant through the opening (62) toward the target (56). Transducers (58, 60), positioned at opposing ends of the opening (62), produce output signals (130, 132) that perturb the jet (134) to partially control its oscillation. The jet (134) spreads from a location (96) on the target element (56) in one direction (142) to provide uniform cooling over a portion (126) of the target element (56) in the direction (142), and the jet (134) non-uniformly spreads in another direction (144) to provide non-uniform cooling over a portion (128) of the target element (56) in the other direction (144).
US07778023B1 Docking system for MP3 players and other portable electronic devices
Sleeves for different portable electronic devices (portable media players, wireless telephones, handheld computers, etc.) adapt the outer contours of the devices such that all can fit within the pocket of a standard device dock. Each sleeve situates its portable electronic device within the pocket of the dock such that at least one of its power/communications ports is situated at a standard location. The device dock then also accommodates a connector which fits within the dock pocket, and which has power/communications ports situated at the standard location, such that when the sleeved device is inserted into the pocket, its power/communications ports interface with the power/communications ports of the connector. The connector can incorporate data storage devices, power supplies, interface cables extending to other devices (such as personal computers, stereo systems, etc.) such that it lends the functionality of these devices to the sleeved device situated within the pocket.
US07778020B2 Apparatus, system, and method for a modular blade
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for a modular blade. The blade has a first carrier card and a second carrier card. At least one of these cards connects into the backplane of a blade server and provides connectivity for the modular blade to the backplane. The carrier cards also provide connectivity between their respective attached devices. In order to increase the density available in a modular blade, the computing components on the first and second cards interleave with one another such that a maximum number of components fit in a minimal space. The modular blade also provides an airflow channel for air circulation necessary to provide cooling. The first carrier card and second carrier card may also be identical, with one of the identical pair rotated one-hundred and eighty degrees with respect to the other.
US07778008B2 Capacitor structure and method of manufacturing the same
In a capacitor structure and a method of manufacturing the capacitor structure, first and second conductive patterns are formed on a substrate. The first and second conductive patterns extend in a first direction. The first and second conductive patterns are alternately arranged to be spaced apart from one another in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. An insulating interlayer is formed on the substrate to cover the first and second conductive patterns. Third and fourth conductive patterns extending in a third direction lying at an angle of between about 0° and about 90° relative to the first direction are formed on the insulating interlayer. The third and fourth conductive patterns are alternately arranged to be spaced apart from one another in a fourth direction substantially perpendicular to the third direction.
US07778006B2 Wireless electronic booster, and methods of blasting
Disclosed herein are boosters that include components sufficient for wireless communications with an associated blasting machine. In selected aspects, there are disclosed wireless electronic boosters that are self-contained and robust. Such boosters are especially suited for underground mining operations, optionally employing automated placement of boosters at a blast site.
US07778002B2 Method and apparatus to reduce ring out in an ignition coil to allow for ion sense processing
An ignition apparatus includes a transformer having a central core, a primary winding disposed thereabout, a secondary winding disposed outwardly of the primary winding, and an outer core or shield disposed outwardly of the secondary winding. The central and outer cores and the primary and secondary windings define a magnetic circuit through which magnetic flux flows during various phases of operation. An end-of-spark natural ringing of the secondary voltage is suppressed and limited by a control winding disposed in relation in the magnetic circuit. The control winding has a pair of terminals across which is connected a diode. The diode is oriented so that during a spark event, it is reverse biased but after the spark event it becomes forward-biased when the secondary voltage is positive so as to selectively facilitate dissipation of any residual electrical charge. Ringing is further suppressed by a resistor connected across the primary winding, or selectively connected across the primary winding using a controlled switch.
US07777999B2 Electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device
An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device includes an I/O terminal structure and a current discharge structure. The current discharge structure includes a conductive region separated from a bridge region by a gate electrode, a well region formed below the conductive region, another well region separated from the well region by another conductive region, and multiple additional conductive regions implementing dual current discharge paths through another well region.
US07777998B2 Electrostatic discharge circuit and method therefor
Circuitry on integrated circuits usually includes protection against electrostatic discharge (ESD) events. A second ESD current path may be provided in addition to a first ESD current path for shunting ESD current away from circuitry to be protected during an ESD event. In addition to the standard power and ground buses used to provide power and ground voltages to the protected circuitry, one or more extra power and/or ground buses and associated circuitry may be added for improved ESD protection.
US07777995B2 Pole-mountable medical equipment power supply having low patient leakage current
A medical electrical equipment power supply is configured to satisfy at least one industry standard for patient leakage current. The power supply is provided with a plurality of electrical sockets into which IV pumps, patient monitors and other equipment may be plugged in. In one embodiment, the power supply has a housing configured to be mounted on an IV pole. An isolation transformer within the housing helps reduce the total patient leakage current to a value that satisfies at least one industry standard for patient leakage current. In another embodiment devoid of an isolation transformer, the power supply's electrical circuit detects whether the patient leakage current exceeds a predetermined value based on the industry standard, and disconnects power to one or more sockets so as to maintain the patient leakage current below this predetermined value.
US07777992B2 Motor start circuit
Motor start circuit for an induction motor, particularly a single-phase AC induction motor, with a main winding (4) and an auxiliary winding (5), which are supplied with current, particularly alternating current, via current supply connections (24, 25), and with a start switching device (15) serving the purpose of interrupting the current flow through the auxiliary winding (5) after the start of the motor, the start switching device (15) being connected to a control device (20) via a connector (18), the control device (20) being connected between the current supply connections (24, 25), and with a winding protection switch (28), which is normally closed and which opens on the occurrence of a fault. The invention is characterized in that the control device (20) is connected to the winding protection switch (28) via at least one further connector (22, 17), preferably via at least one further connector (22, 17) and the auxiliary winding (5).