| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07845013B2 |
Method and system for protecting the security of an open file in a computing environment
A file security protection method and system. The method is performed by an operating system of a computer system. A metadata token is received from a software application executing on the computer system. The metadata token denotes that the application has opened a file. The metadata token includes the name of the file. An initial time is set to about a time at which the metadata token was received. A loop is executed. Each iteration of the loop includes determining whether a first or second condition has been satisfied. The loop is exited if it is determined that the first or second condition has been satisfied. The first condition is that an elapsed time relative the initial time exceeds a specified threshold. The second condition is that a closeout token denoting that the file has been closed has been received from the application. |
| US07845010B2 |
Terminal control apparatus and terminal control method
A terminal control apparatus includes a fragility detection unit, a control content decision unit, a terminal information registration unit, a terminal specifying unit and a control content notification unit. The terminal specifying unit specifies, based on the fragility information and the terminal information acquired by the terminal information registration unit, a terminal device to be affected by the fragility of the program. The control content notification unit notifies the control contents to the terminal device specified by the terminal specifying unit. |
| US07845005B2 |
Method for preventing malicious software installation on an internet-connected computer
A computer random access memory is divided into first and second partitions. Each partition has its own operating system (OS). The first partition has a conventional OS and is designated for non-Internet use. The second partition is designated for secure Internet access, and has an OS specific for Internet usage. Software in the second partition cannot write or copy files in the second partition. The size of the second partition is fixed and unchangeable while said second partition is open. Each software application in the second partition is allocated a memory region that cannot be changed, thereby preventing memory overflow attacks. A secure memory is designated for temporary storage of software used in the second partition. Cyclic redundancy check (CRC) values are calculated for all files in the secure memory. To detect unauthorized file changes, CRC values are calculated for all files used in the second partition, and checked against values stored in the secure memory. The second partition can write only to a secure memory using a security arrangement such as password protection or a download memory separate from the first partition to allow files stored in the download memory to be examined by scanning and testing from the first partition prior to being stored elsewhere in the computer. |
| US07844998B2 |
Apparatus and method for autonomic email access control
A software application and corresponding architecture to implement the application that dynamically updates the access control list and keeps track of the distribution routes of a document in a repository where the document is built and accessed through usage of a common email system. The access control list and distribution routes are built by tracking recipients of the email message linked to the document. Some recipients can be disabled by the originator from forwarding the referenced databases within the emailed document, while others may designate further transmissions to selected persons or groups. |
| US07844995B1 |
Signal processing apparatus and methods
A unified system of programming communication. The system encompasses the prior art (television, radio, broadcast hardcopy, computer communications, etc.) and new user specific mass media. Within the unified system, parallel processing computer systems, each having an input (e.g., 77) controlling a plurality of computers (e.g., 205), generate and output user information at receiver stations. Under broadcast control, local computers (73, 205), combine user information selectively into prior art communications to exhibit personalized mass media programming at video monitors (202), speakers (263), printers (221), etc. At intermediate transmission stations (e.g., cable television stations), signals in network broadcasts and from local inputs (74, 77, 97, 98) cause control processors (71) and computers (73) to selectively automate connection and operation of receivers (53), recorder/players (76), computers (73), generators (82), strippers (81), etc. At receiver stations, signals in received transmissions and from local inputs (225, 218, 22) cause control processors (200) and computers (205) to automate connection and operation of converters (201), tuners (215), decryptors (224), recorder/players (217), computers (205), furnaces (206), etc. Processors (71, 200) meter and monitor availability and usage of programming. |
| US07844990B2 |
Broadcast program recorder
An information including all program names from a recording start time to a recording end time of a broadcast signal, the recording start time and the recording end time is extracted from an electronic program guide information in a broadcast signal, based on a recording information associated with the broadcast signal recorded in a recording section. An OSD image generating section generates an image of the information for all the programs extracted and outputs the image to a monitor unit 4. |
| US07844988B2 |
Real time channel grouping method and the apparatus thereof
A real time preference channel grouping apparatus and method are disclosed. The apparatus receives a preference channel grouping setting signal, a display demand signal, and a group selection signal, stores user selection-guide information according to the preference channel grouping setting signal and the display demand signal, processes a received signal and the user selection-guide information to display on display device, and groups preference channels according to the signal of the key input unit and allows the preference channels and the user selection-guide information to be concurrently displayed. Thus, the user can perform real time grouping for channels to watch for each desired time and easily retrieve only the grouped channels, and hence it is possible to reduce the time for selecting favorite channels. |
| US07844987B2 |
Interactive content guide for television programming
A navigation interface display system generates a navigation element that organizes television programming data in an easy-to-use manner. The navigation element employs a hierarchical display protocol for a plurality of selection items that represent the various television programs, channels, and/or networks. The hierarchical display scheme displays a limited number of active selection items at a first magnification level and additional active selection items at a second magnification level. In addition, the selection items are displayed on distinctive areas or features of the navigation element, where such features represent different content genres or categories. Subcategories can also be displayed in a hierarchical manner, thus providing additional information related to the content as the magnification level of the navigation element changes. |
| US07844984B2 |
Optical recording medium and manufacturing method thereof
A method of manufacturing a multilayered recording medium. A transmissive stamper with a depression protrusion contour contacts a protection layer on a supporting base. The transmissive stamper is then irradiated with ultraviolet rays to cure the protection layer and the transmissive stamper is subsequently removed. A recording layer is deposited on the cured protection layer. Further, another recording layer is deposited on the transmissive stamper. Next, an intermediate layer is formed on the recording layer deposited on the transmissive stamper and thereafter, the intermediate layer is attached to the recording layer on the cured protection layer. Then, the transmissive stamper is irradiated with ultraviolet rays to cure the intermediate layer. Thereafter, the supporting base is removed from the protection layer. These steps produce a multilayered optical recording medium. |
| US07844973B1 |
Methods and apparatus providing non-blocking access to a resource
A system to control access to a resource by a group of threads requiring access to the resource provides exclusive access to the resource within a computerized device on behalf of a first thread by allowing the first thread exclusive access of a monitor associated with the resource. An entry list of threads is maintained that are awaiting access to the monitor using block-free list joining mechanisms including a thread chaining technique, a push/pop technique, and a detach, modify, reattach technique to allow threads to join the entry list of threads without blocking operation of the threads. Upon completion of access to the resource by the first thread, the system operates the first thread to manipulate the entry list of threads to identify a successor thread as being a candidate thread to obtain exclusive access of the monitor to gain exclusive access to the resource. |
| US07844970B2 |
Method and apparatus to control priority preemption of tasks
A computer implemented method, apparatus, system, and computer usable program product for controlling preemption rates. A scheduler identifies a preemption interval in response to a plurality of processes being executed by a processor. Only a single preemption of a process occurs during the preemption interval. The scheduler preempts a currently running process only once during the preemption interval. The preemption interval is adjusted to increase performance in executing processes. |
| US07844965B2 |
Providing user applications for accessing data on multiple platforms from a removable storage medium
Under the present invention, a computer program is provided/developed to include a first set of program code that is executable on a first operating system (e.g., a WIN32-based operating system) and a second set of program code that is executable on a second operating system (e.g., handheld device-based operating system). Both sets of program code are set to read/write from a common datastore. Thereafter, the sets of program code and the common datastore can be stored on a removable storage medium such as a SD-RAM card with a USB adapter for easy interface with “full” computer systems and handheld devices. |
| US07844961B2 |
Automatic field linking
A method, system and apparatus for automatic field linking is described. In one embodiment, the invention is a method. The method includes receiving input data for a first field. The method further includes receiving input data for a second field. The method also includes comparing contents of the first field to contents of the second field. Additionally, the method includes detecting identical contents of the first field and second field. Moreover, the method includes offering an opportunity to a user to create a link between the first field and the second field. Furthermore, the method includes receiving acceptance from the user. The method also includes creating the link between the first field and the second field and storing the link between the first field and the second field in persistent storage. |
| US07844960B2 |
Optimizing software program execution during class loading phase
A mechanism is provided for optimizing computer program execution during class loading phase. As a code method of the program is received for compiling prior to execution, a check is performed whether program execution is in class loading phase. Program execution is in class loading phase where the class loading rate exceeds a pre-determined level during a pre-determined interval. If the program is in class loading phase, then compiling is reduced by lowering frequency of just-in-time (JIT) compilation, lowering optimization level of just-in-time compilation, or a combination of the two. The code method may also be passed to an interpreter to be interpreted. |
| US07844959B2 |
Runtime optimization of distributed execution graph
A general purpose high-performance distributed execution engine for coarse-grained data-parallel applications is proposed that allows developers to easily create large-scale distributed applications without requiring them to master concurrency techniques beyond being able to draw a graph of the data-dependencies of their algorithms. Based on the graph, a job manager intelligently distributes the work load so that the resources of the execution engine are used efficiently. During runtime, the job manager (or other entity) can automatically modify the graph to improve efficiency. The modifications are based on runtime information, topology of the distributed execution engine, and/or the distributed application represented by the graph. |
| US07844957B2 |
Development system with methodology providing optimized message parsing and handling
A development system with methodology providing optimized message parsing and handling is described. In one embodiment, for example, a computer-implemented method is described for improved processing of certain types of messages, the method comprises steps of: loading metadata at design time, the metadata characterizing a particular message type; based on the metadata, automatically generating source code for creating runtime components highly optimized for the particular message type; compiling the source code into the runtime components, for deployment in a runtime environment; and at runtime, processing messages of the particular message type with the runtime components, so that messages are processed in a manner that is highly optimized for the particular message type. |
| US07844956B2 |
Object-oriented processing of markup
An application-specific client for object-oriented processing of markup includes a model object and a plurality of element objects. The model object is configured to respond to client requests including construct-element, accept-root-element, and accept-root-text. The element objects are configured to respond to client requests including accept-attribute, accept-element, and accept-text. Responses to requests contain application-specific processing as necessary. A driver generates client requests in response to processing of XML markup. An RSS client processes markup describing syndicated web content to HTML markup. |
| US07844952B2 |
Grouping threads in a debugger display
A debugger display groups threads according to user-specified criteria. The threads may be grouped by type, by current or historic breakpoints, according to historical debug patterns, based on what thread spawned the thread, based on execution pattern, based on object class in a Java environment, based on Java thread group in a Java environment, or base on other suitable criteria. The grouping of threads is displayed graphically to a user of the debugger, thereby allowing more efficient debugging of multi-threaded computer programs. |
| US07844951B2 |
Specification generation from implementations
A computerized method receives an implementation comprising a modifier method and an observer method of a class implementing an abstract data type. The method symbolically executes the modifier method to obtain constrained states, and applies the observer method in constrained states to obtain specialized axioms. The method then creates a specification from the obtained specialized axioms based on generalizing, merging and simplifying the specialized axioms. |
| US07844950B2 |
System for diagnosing and testing computers
A system for diagnosing and testing computers includes a graphical user interface tier, an invoking logic tier, and a test logic tier. The graphical user interface tier offers users a graphical user interface to show the progress and results of testing hardware components and generating diagnosis configuration files in accordance with a selected computer hardware component as needed; the invoking logic tier invokes the test logic tier in accordance with the diagnosis configuration files; and the test logic tier includes a test items module, the test items module includes a plurality of sub-modules which run to test different computer hardware components after invoked by the invoking logic tier. |
| US07844949B2 |
Computer method and apparatus for software configuration management repository interoperation
A computer method and apparatus for software configuration management is disclosed. Given a subject software system under development, the subject software system including one or more components and being represented by one or more configurations in a first stream, the invention method and apparatus stores the first stream on a first repository. Software development of one component of the subject software system is enabled in a working stream stored on a second repository. The working stream has one or more configurations of the one component. For the one component, the invention method and apparatus create a second stream on the first repository, create in the second repository a copy of the second stream and create in the first repository a copy of the working stream. When a configuration of the working stream stored on the second repository is of interest to the subject software system, (i) a replication of that configuration is made to the first repository copy of the working stream and (ii) the resulting copy of the working stream is merged with the second stream on the first repository. The replication and merge enable merge conflicts to be resolved. |
| US07844947B2 |
Runtime services for network software platform
Runtime services for network software platforms are described. In one implementation, runtime services are configured for a web application. A configuration file is created containing tags that provide references to configuration information specific to operational behavior of the web application. The configuration file is read upon receiving a request to start the web application. The runtime services for the web application are initialized based on the configuration information read from the configuration file. |
| US07844946B2 |
Methods and apparatus to form a transactional objective instruction construct from lock-based critical sections
Methods and an apparatus for forming a transaction object instruction construct are provided. An example method translates a source instruction construct to form a transactional objective instruction construct, executes the transactional objective instruction construct, intercepts an aborted transaction associated with the transactional objective instruction construct during execution, maintains a graph of nodes and edges associated with the executed transactional objective instruction construct to predict a deadlock situation, and resolves the deadlock situation associated with the transactional objective instruction construct based on the graph. |
| US07844944B2 |
Hierarchical presentation techniques for a design tool
A design tool hierarchically presents information about a design with nested blocks. For example, the design tool presents scheduling information for the design in a hierarchical Gantt chart. The scheduling information includes hierarchical design schedule blocks which accurately depict the timing and scheduling of the nested blocks of the design. Each of the hierarchical design schedule blocks includes control steps numbered relative to the block. The scheduling information also includes a hierarchical list of scheduled operations for the design. The hierarchical list emphasizes which operations are associated with which nested blocks. The scheduling information further includes pseudo-operation icons that are easily differentiated from real operation icons in the hierarchical Gantt chart. |
| US07844943B2 |
System and method for providing indicators of textual items having intrinsic executable computational meaning within a graphical language environment
An electronic device with a graphical language environment that includes a method which examines a graphical model to identify textual items having intrinsic executable computational meaning within the graphical model is discussed. The method identifies at least one textual item with intrinsic executable computational meaning. The method further provides an indicator for the at least one identified textual item with intrinsic executable computational meaning in a display of the graphical model. The indicator may be based upon a characteristic of the identified textual item. |
| US07844942B2 |
System and method for model driven transformation filtering
A method and system for model-driven transformation are provided. The method and system in one aspect allows selecting of one or more model elements in a model. Transformation definitions are evaluated to identify one or more transformations that may be applicable to the selected one or more model elements. In one aspect, transformations may be identified that are applicable in an entire model, those that take the selected one or more model elements as input parameters, those that affect one or more model element, or any combination thereof. In one aspect, a list of applicable transformations is presented. In another aspect, the method and system automatically apply the one or more applicable transformations to the model. |
| US07844940B2 |
Mask set for microarray, method of fabricating mask set, and method of fabricating microarray using mask set
A mask set with a light-transmitting region of a controlled size includes a plurality of masks for performing in-situ synthesis on probes of a microarray, wherein each mask includes a light-transmitting region and a light-blocking region, and the size of the light-transmitting region is equal to or greater than about 5% of the total size of the light-transmitting and light-blocking regions. |
| US07844939B2 |
Mask pattern correction program and system
The present invention provides a mask pattern correction program for correcting a design pattern which serves as a source to form a mask pattern so that, by exposure of a mask with a pattern formed thereon onto a substrate, the mask pattern is transferred as designed, the mask pattern correction program including performing, on a computer, the steps of: determining, before simulation of the dimension of the pattern transferred by exposure, whether the simulation result will converge; and classifying design pattern edges into first and second target edges, correct the first target edges and perform simulation thereon if it is determined that the simulation result will not converge. |
| US07844936B2 |
Method of making an integrated circuit having fill structures
A method for configuring an integrated circuit including configuring a plurality cells to form a cell library, wherein configuring each cell includes routing a intracell wiring in at least one layer positioned above a substrate, with the conductors being spaced apart from one another so as to have gaps there between, and configuring and positioning a plurality of fill structures in the gaps. The method further includes arranging selected logic cells from the cell library to form a desired layout of the integrated circuit, routing interconnect wiring between the selected logic cells in the at least one layer, and removing fill structures at positions that conflict with the routing of the interconnect wiring. |
| US07844931B2 |
Method and computer system for optimizing the signal time behavior of an electronic circuit design
A method and program for designing an electronic circuit, especially a clock tree and a sub-clock tree, within a set of sinks with given target arrival time windows, preferably on an integrated circuit. The clock tree and the sub-clock tree are preferably connected through one or multiple fixed circuits which must not be altered, cloned or removed. Several alternative implementations of the at least one logic structure are built and for each of the several alternative implementations data is stored. A set of configurations is built, each configuration comprising a combination of the one or several alternative implementations and each configuration satisfying the target arrival time windows at the complete set of sinks. A configuration is selected according to an evaluation of the data, preferably latency data, for constructing the configuration. No manual interaction is needed and a configuration with minimum latencies is provided. |
| US07844930B2 |
Method and apparatus for circuit partitioning and trace assignment in circuit design
Methods and apparatuses to design a circuit. In one embodiment, the method includes determining a first multiplexing ratio by a computer. The method, in one embodiment, further includes determining, according to the first multiplexing ratio, a first partition solution of the circuit and a first trace assignment solution for nets crossing partition boundaries of the first partition solution of the circuit. In one embodiment, the first trace assignment solution time multiplexes signals for a first plurality of nets crossing partition boundaries of the first partition solution according to the first multiplexing ratio, the first trace assignment solution satisfying a trace constraint, the first partition solution satisfying an area constraint when circuitry for time multiplexing signals for the first plurality of nets is considered. |
| US07844928B2 |
Method and apparatus for evaluating integrated circuit design performance using enhanced basic block vectors that include data dependent information
A test system or simulator includes an IC benchmark software program that executes application software on a semiconductor die IC design model. The benchmark software includes trace, simulation point, clustering and other programs. IC designers utilize the benchmark software to evaluate the performance characteristics of IC designs with customer user software applications. The benchmark software generates basic block vectors BBVs from instruction traces of application software. The benchmark software analyzes data dependent information that it appends to BBVs to create enhanced BBVs or EBBVs. The benchmark software may graph the EBBV information in a cluster diagram and selects a subset of EBBVs as a representative sample for each program phase. Benchmarking software generates a reduced application software program from the representative EBBV samples. Designers use the test system with benchmarking software to evaluate IC design model modifications by using the representative reduced application software program. |
| US07844927B2 |
Method for quality assured semiconductor device modeling
According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for producing a quality assured semiconductor device model when at least one critical parameter of a semiconductor device process is upgraded includes verifying the quality assured semiconductor device model for consistency against measured data or projected targets. The method further includes verifying the quality assured semiconductor device model for accuracy and consistency when one of a number of critical parameters is varied. The method further includes verifying consistency of the quality assured semiconductor device model against an old semiconductor device model. The method further includes verifying the quality assured semiconductor device model over a range of each of a number of semiconductor device dependencies. The method further includes verifying the quality assured semiconductor device model for digital circuit operation. The method further includes verifying the quality assured semiconductor device model for analog circuit operation. The method further includes verifying convergence of the quality assured semiconductor device model. |
| US07844926B1 |
Specification window violation identification with application in semiconductor device design
A method for identifying specification window violations for a system is described. The method includes generating a sample set of input parameters. The system is simulated using the sample set to generate an output set. A mathematical model is best-fit to the output set. A set of desirability functions is defined to an out-of-spec condition. The model is then searched using the desirability functions to identify a worst-case data point. The worst-case data point can then be determined as either being within specification or out of specification. |
| US07844922B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit device and design method thereof
In a semiconductor integrated circuit device in which dynamic type logic circuit cells, in which transistors constituting a logic section are in an unconnected condition, are arranged in two-dimensional array form and wiring for distributing a clock signal to each row of these dynamic type logic circuit cells is provided, a logic function is allotted to the cells, the number of series connection stages of the cells within an evaluation period determined by a clock cycle of the clock signal is found, and a judgment is made as to whether restrictions can be met by arranging the cells on the semiconductor integrated circuit device and performing delay calculations in a case where the number of series connection stages does not exceed a prescribed number of stages. When the restrictions are met, the whole processing comes to an end. When the restrictions are not met, modifications are made. |
| US07844917B2 |
Optimal display of multiple windows within a computer display
An apparatus and method for optimally displaying multiple windows on a display is provided. The multiple windows can be sequentially or simultaneously resized and/or repositioned. The method performs at least one of resizing or repositioning operation on at least one of the multiple windows to fit within the available display area. The method provides the user the ability to see a maximum of information from multiple windows and allows access to the scroll bars, title bars, status bars and command window of the multiple windows. |
| US07844916B2 |
Multimedia reproducing apparatus and menu screen display method
In a multimedia reproducing apparatus, a read unit reads contents, content icons, and folders containing the contents from an external recording medium. A storage unit 80 stores data on a folder icon. A display processing unit processes menu screen display and content reproduction. A menu control unit switches between and displays a first level menu screen and a second level menu screen, the first menu screen displaying folder icons and content icons, the second level menu screen displaying folder icons in the state that contents are stored in folders. In the first level menu screen, a reproduction indicator is displayed near a content icon that corresponds to contents under reproduction. In the second level menu screen, the reproduction indicator is displayed near a folder icon that contains the contents. |
| US07844915B2 |
Application programming interfaces for scrolling operations
At least certain embodiments of the present disclosure include an environment with user interface software interacting with a software application. A method for operating through an application programming interface (API) in this environment includes transferring a set bounce call. The method further includes setting at least one of maximum and minimum bounce values. The set bounce call causes a bounce of a scrolled region in an opposite direction of a scroll based on a region past an edge of the scrolled region being visible in a display region at the end of the scroll. |
| US07844910B2 |
Linking information making device, linking information making method, recording medium having recorded a linking information making program, and document processing system therewith
A linking information making device including a service list acquisition unit which acquires a service list expressing services which execute predetermined processing of document data; an interface information acquisition unit which individually acquires pieces of interface information from service processing devices respectively providing the services expressed in the service list which has been acquired by the service list acquisition unit; and a linking information making unit which makes linking information to link services provided by the respective service processing devices, based on the interface information which has been acquired by the interface information acquisition unit. |
| US07844909B2 |
Dynamically rendering a button in a hypermedia content browser
A method of rendering a button in a hypermedia content browser. The method can include decoding a network address received from the content browser to determine encoded characteristics for a button. Once the encoded characteristics for the button have been determined, a button can be dynamically formed based upon the determined characteristics. Once formed, the button can be forwarded to the content browser and the content browser can render the dynamically formed button. The decoding step can include the step of parsing an HTTP request to identify a plurality of parameters which specify display characteristics for the button. |
| US07844908B2 |
Diagram that visually indicates targeted execution
System and method for distributed execution of a graphical program. First and second icons associated with respective execution targets are displayed on a display. Each icon has an interior and specifies execution of a respective graphical program portion positioned in the interior of the icon on the respective execution target. First and second graphical program portions are respectively displayed in the interiors of the first and second icons, where each graphical program portion comprises a respective one or more interconnected nodes that visually indicate functionality of the graphical program portion. One or more wires connecting the first graphical program portion and the second graphical program portion are display. During execution of the graphical program, the first and second graphical program portions execute respectively on the first and second execution targets, and the first graphical program portion and the second graphical program portion communicate as specified by the one or more wires. |
| US07844892B2 |
Method and system for display of business intelligence data
The invention provides improved mechanisms for the construction and rendering of graphical results sets for business intelligence reports derived from large volumes of data. This is achieved by various means including, determining the amount of useful data that can be rendered within the available display space while still being legible, determining the most effective way of displaying that data within the display space, and providing for limited control of the format and quantity of data displayed. |
| US07844890B2 |
Document link management
Document links may be efficiently managed by providing automated techniques for organizing them. In particular implementations, a system and process for automated management of document links may include the ability to determine that a link is to be established for a document and identify at least one descriptor for the document. The system and process may also include the ability to correlate the identified document descriptor(s) with at least one document descriptors in a pre-existing taxonomy of document descriptors and associate the correlated taxonomy document descriptor(s) with a link for the document. |
| US07844888B2 |
Electronic device, method for operating an electronic device, memory circuit and method of operating a memory circuit
The present invention relates to a method of operating an electronic device and an electronic device. The electronic device comprises a signal path for transmitting data, an input/output interface connected with the signal path, a masking circuit and an error calculation circuit. The masking circuit is connected with the signal path and the error calculation circuit. The error calculation circuit is connected with the signal path. The signal path is connected with the masking circuit to deliver masking information to the masking circuit. The masking circuit considers the received masking information for masking the data and delivers the masked and non-masked data to the error detection circuit. |
| US07844885B2 |
DTV transmitter and method of coding main and enhanced data in DTV transmitter
A DTV transmitter includes a pre-processor pre-processing enhanced data, a data formatter generating enhanced data packets including the pre-processed data and inserting known data place holders to the data packets, and a multiplexer multiplexing the enhanced data packets with main data packets. It further includes an RS encoder which RS-codes the multiplexed data packets, and a data interleaves which interleaves the RS-coded data packets. The RS encoder adds systematic RS parity data to each main data packet and adds non-systematic RS parity place holders to each enhanced data packet. The RS encoder adds the RS parity place holders such that the RS parity place holders are placed after the enhanced data within each interleaved enhanced data packet. |
| US07844878B2 |
Dynamic electronic correction code feedback to extend memory device lifetime
Unrecoverable electronic correction code (ECC) errors in memory storage devices are usually preceded by recoverable ECC errors. A memory storage device controller is provided notice of the recoverable errors and associated information. The memory storage device controller can cause the data having the recoverable information to be rewritten on the memory storage device. Rewriting the data on the memory storage device (often in a different location) normally reduces the probability of encountering data with unrecoverable data errors. |
| US07844876B2 |
Temperature sampling in electronic devices
In some embodiments the continuous measuring of temperature in remote memory devices operating within an electrically noisy environment is facilitated by coordinating the progressive approximation of temperature within quiescent periods of non-activity as known by a memory controller. |
| US07844874B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit device and inspection method therefor
A semiconductor integrated circuit device includes: a plurality of devices under test formed on a substrate; a selection circuit formed on the substrate which selects two of the plurality of devices under test; a magnitude comparison circuit formed on the substrate which measures an electrical characteristic of the two selected devices under test and makes a magnitude comparison between values of the measured electrical characteristic; an address memory circuit formed on the substrate which stores addresses of the two devices under test between which the magnitude comparison has been made; and a control circuit formed on the substrate and connected to the selection circuit, the magnitude comparison circuit, and the address memory circuit. |
| US07844873B2 |
Fault location estimation system, fault location estimation method, and fault location estimation program for multiple faults in logic circuit
A fault location estimation system includes single-fault-assumed diagnostic unit nodes; error-observation node basis candidate classification unit; inclusion fault candidate group selection unit; inter-pattern overlapping unit; and multiple-fault simulation checking unit. |
| US07844872B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device capable of reducing a memory area of a test circuit required for storing fail-information is provided. In the test circuit, for determining right/wrong of information obtained by memory access, specific fail-information among pieces of fail-information sequentially obtained in response to wrong-determination result is held in a first memory section; and differences in serial two pieces of fail-information sequentially continuing from the specific fail-information are held in a second memory section. The test circuit, when it obtains differences based on pieces of fail-information sequentially obtained with a wrong-determination result at the time of holding the specific fail-information as a base point, sequentially adds subsequent differences to the specific fail-information to decompress subsequent pieces of fail-information. |
| US07844871B2 |
Test interface for memory elements
A method for testing memory elements of an integrated circuit with an array built in self test (ABIST) comprises providing an ABIST interface to interface between an ABIST engine and a plurality of latches of a memory element under test, providing a multiplex (MUX) stage adjacent a scan input port of each latch, providing functional signal inputs to a data input port of the latches, setting the latches to an ABIST mode by activating an ABIST enable signal and delivering the ABIST enable signal to each of the latches, generating a plurality of ABIST test signals with the ABIST engine, applying the ABIST test signals in parallel to the scan input ports of the latches, determining whether one or more test patterns have been executed, and setting the latches to a normal run mode by deactivating the ABIST enable signal. |
| US07844865B2 |
Bus module for connection to a bus system and use of such a bus module in an AS-i bus system
Disclosed is a bus module that can be connected to a bus system and comprises means for outputting safety-relevant signals in the form of repeated unambiguous code sequences. The bus module further comprises a first and second arithmetic unit with means for executing software programs. A code generator program of the first arithmetic unit generates a first partial code sequence of the code sequence while a code generator program of the second arithmetic unit generates the remaining portion of the code sequence as a second partial code sequence. Advantageously, a proper code sequence is output at the output of the bus module only when both arithmetic units function properly. A deviation in the code sequence that is output can then be detected by a monitor or actuator. |
| US07844864B2 |
Location based notification system
A location based notification system for a shop having multiple components that are susceptible to a fault event includes an electronic data storage device and a fault event sensor apparatus associated with each susceptible component. The electronic data storage device has identification data for the associated component stored therein. Operators carry a portable device having an electronic data storage device reader and a memory. The fault event sensor apparatus generates fault event data when a fault event occurs in the associated component and transmits the fault event data to the electronic data storage device or the portable device. The data stored in the electronic data storage devices is read with an electronic data storage device reader of the portable device as the operator moves through the shop. The portable device determines whether the electronic data storage device has fault data stored therein, or if fault event data has been stored in the portable device for the component associated with the identification data read from the electronic data storage device. |
| US07844862B1 |
Detecting software race conditions
Detecting a race condition is disclosed. An indication of a store operation to a memory address is received. An identifier of the memory address is stored. The identifier is used to detect an occurrence of a memory operation that is not associated with a previous ordering operation. |
| US07844860B2 |
Apparatus and computer program product in a processor for performing in-memory tracing using existing communication paths
An apparatus and computer program product are disclosed for performing in-memory hardware tracing in a processor using an existing system bus. The processor includes multiple processing units that are coupled together utilizing the system bus. The processing units include a memory controller that controls a system memory. Information is transmitted among the processing units utilizing the system bus. The information is formatted according to a standard system bus protocol. Hardware trace data is captured utilizing a hardware trace facility that is coupled directly to the system bus. The system bus is utilized for transmitting the hardware trace data to the memory controller for storage in the system memory. The memory controller is coupled directly to the system bus. The hardware trace data is formatted according to the standard system bus protocol for transmission via the system bus. |
| US07844859B2 |
Method and apparatus for instruction trace registers
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program product for utilizing instruction trace registers. In one embodiment, a value in a target processor register in a plurality of processor registers is updated in response to executing an instruction associated with program code. In response to updating the value in the target processor register, an address for the instruction is copied from an instruction address register into an instruction trace register associated with the target processor register. The instruction trace register holds the address of the instruction that updated the value stored in the target processor register. |
| US07844854B2 |
Opportunistic transmission of computing system state information within a link based computing system
A method is described that involves within a link based computing system, opportunistically transmitting, into a network utilized by components of the link based computing system, one or more packets that contain computing system state information. The computing system state information includes software state information created through execution of software by said link based computing system. The method also involves collecting the computing system state information at a monitoring and/or debugging system attached to the link based computing system in order to analyze the link based computing system's operation. |
| US07844853B2 |
Methods and apparatus for restoring a node state
In one aspect of the invention, a method is provided. The method may include: (1) storing a snapshot of a system state of a node; (2) executing a job on the node; and (3) restoring the node to the system state using the stored snapshot of the system state. |
| US07844848B1 |
Method and apparatus for managing remote display updates
A method of transmitting encoded computer display images between computers over a nondeterministic network is disclosed. During a display session in which images are transmitted from a host to a client, the client requests sections of encoded image updates at a predetermined time in advance of when the requested at least one section is to be transmitted by the display controller. When the requested section is received, a time value is compared to a display controller timing value and, if the difference between the compared times is outside of an acceptable range, the client adjusts a predetermined time at which time the client requests image sections from the host. |
| US07844847B2 |
System and method for tuning power consumption and group delay in wireless RFICs
The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for tuning power consumption and group delay in circuits such as radio frequency integrated circuits (RFICs). In one example, a system includes first and second gating blocks configured to reduce a first clock signal operating at a first clock rate to a second clock rate and a third clock rate, respectively. A first processing block coupled to the first gating block operates at the second clock rate. A second processing block is coupled to the first processing block and the second gating block, and operates at the third clock rate. The first processing block changes a flag state from a first state to a second state when transmitting a first data sample to the second processing block, and changes the flag state from the second state to the first state when transmitting a second data sample to the second processing block. |
| US07844836B1 |
Method and apparatus for using an IC to facilitate downloading content
A method and apparatus for using an integrated circuit card to facilitate downloading reusable content from a server into a terminal. Specifically, the method comprises the steps of verifying that an entitlement contained in the integrated circuit card is correct for receiving the reusable content from the server and downloading the reusable content from the server into a memory of the terminal. The apparatus comprises a terminal, coupled to a remote server and an integrated circuit card, coupled to the terminal via the interface circuit, for enabling the server to download the reusable content in the terminal. The terminal comprises a processor for processing the download of the content from the server, a memory for receiving the downloaded content and an integrated circuit card interface circuit. |
| US07844834B2 |
Method and system for protecting data, related communication network and computer program product
A method for securely storing at least one user's private information item, such as a private key for cipher processing, includes the steps of providing a communication network wherein the user is allotted a respective subscriber identity module and the subscriber identity module stores at least one security algorithm; producing a cipher key via the at least one security algorithm; and providing a remote storing location accessible by the user via the communication network wherein the user's private information items are stored as files encrypted via the cipher key. |
| US07844832B2 |
System and method for data source authentication and protection system using biometrics for openly exchanged computer files
A system and method for authenticating the source of, protecting the contents of, and ensuring the integrity of information. The information may be any digital information which can be stored in a computer file. The information is encapsulated in a computer file which also includes the biometrically verified identity of the person who packaged the information. The contents of the computer file are encrypted, and a unique message digest value is generated and stored in a secure central database. The message digest value functions as the digital signature of the encrypted information, and is used to ensure the integrity of the information. |
| US07844828B2 |
Method to secure the execution of a program against attacks by radiation or other
A method for verifying execution of a program, wherein the program comprises a first code portion and a second code portion. The method includes entering the first code portion, where the first code portion includes a first plurality of instructions, executing the first code portion, calculating a first checksum during the execution of the first code portion, wherein the first checksum is calculated using information associated with at least one of the first plurality of instructions, comparing the first checksum to a first pre-calculated checksum prior to exiting the first code portion, and exiting the first code portion and entering the second code portion if the first checksum equals the first pre-calculated checksum. |
| US07844827B1 |
Method of key generation using biometric features
A system and method for generating an encryption key using physical characteristics of a biometric sample is described. In one embodiment, the biometric feature(s) from a sample are analyzed to generate a feature vector. After discretizing the feature(s), the resultant feature vector is translated into a bit vector. The bit vector is the secure biometric key that results from the biometric(s). The secure biometric key is used to generate at least one cryptographic key. A similar process is used to access the cryptographic key secured by the secure biometric key. If the access biometric key matches the secure biometric key, the cryptographic key is revealed and access is allowed. In another embodiment, if the access biometric key does not match the secure biometric key a camouflaging process is used to provide an unauthorized user a bogus secure biometric key indistinguishable from the correct secure biometric key. |
| US07844825B1 |
Method of generating a spatial and chromatic password
A method of generating a non-linear spatial and chromatic password includes the steps of establishing a spatial password entry pattern (SPEP) within boundary conditions of a matrix of a password entry screen (PES), the SPEP including coordinates of the matrix of the PPS. The method also includes selecting a first color from a color selection keypad (CSK) having many selectable colors. The first color is then mapped to a first coordinate of the SPEP of the matrix. Then, a second color from said CSK is mapped to a second coordinate of said SPEP. The above steps of selection and mapping are then repeated for N coordinates, each corresponding to a selected color of the CSK, until all coordinates falling within the boundary conditions defining said non-linear SPEP are fully mapped. A high security, high anti-decryption, spatial and chromic password results. |
| US07844821B2 |
System and method for controlled copying and moving of content between devices and domains based on conditional encryption of content key depending on usage state
A system and method is disclosed for allowing content providers to protect against widespread copying of their content, while enabling them to give their customers more freedom in the way they use the content. In accordance with one embodiment, content providers identify their content as protected by watermarking the content. Consumers use compliant devices to access protected content. All of a user's compliant devices, or all of a family's devices, can be organized into an authorized domain. This authorized domain is used by content providers to create a logical boundary in which they can allow users increased freedom to use their content. |
| US07844820B2 |
Set of metadata for association with a composite media item and tool for creating such set of metadata
A set of metadata for association with the composite media item and a tool for creating a composite media item with an associated set metadata. In one embodiment, the tool comprises a component for extracting a portion of a first media item having first metadata and for extracting a portion of a second media item having second metadata, a component for combining the first portion and the second portion to form a composite media item, and a component for analyzing the first metadata and the second metadata to extract portions of the first and second metadata to form a new set of metadata for association with the composite media item. In one embodiment, the new metadata is a data container. |
| US07844818B2 |
Authentication apparatus and method for home network devices
An authentication method in a home network having at least one communicatable device and a home server which controls the devices, in which the home server authenticates the devices forming the home network. The home server generates the authentication key using the stored unique information of the home network device, and sends the generated authentication key together with the unique information to the device. The home server compares the operation value with respect to the generated authentication key and the unique information with the value received from the device, and completes the authentication when the two values are the same. |
| US07844814B2 |
Methods and apparatus for protecting against IP address assignments based on a false MAC address
Methods and apparatus detecting attempts to obtain IP addresses by faking a MAC address in a data portion of an IP address request message are described. In accordance with the present invention, rather than use standard address allocation protocols, e.g., ARP, the DNS DCHP contacts the requesting edge router via a private secure network. The MAC address received in the address request is compared to the MAC addresses stored in the edge routers port/MAC address resolution table. If the MAC address received in the request message cannot be found in the edge router's table which was created from the MAC address included in the message's header, a fraudulent attempt to obtain a MAC address is declared. The fraudulent attempt to obtain an IP address can be reported and steps taken to identify the perpetrator of the fraud. |
| US07844810B2 |
Computer system and booting method therefor and server used for streaming on-demand a remaining part of a boot-up main memory image that includes an operating system
To accelerate the booting time of a computer by a booting method using a communication network, a boot-up main memory image of an OS and application programs is used to boot a computer. The main memory image is managed in one batch on a server, and is regularly updated with the latest programs. When booting up the computer, only an initial load image which is the minimum part of the main memory image necessary to start the system is loaded, and remaining parts of the main memory image are suitably loaded in an on-demand manner after the system starts operating. |
| US07844809B2 |
Verifying a trusted SMI handler
A trusted system management interrupt handler may be verified by first locating a signed system management interrupt handler image in system memory. The digital signature of the signed system management interrupt handler image is verified. An existing basic input/output system management interrupt handler is erased and replaced with a new system management interrupt handler image. Then an analysis is done of the system management interrupt handler message is to determine whether to continue to launch. |
| US07844799B2 |
Method and system for pipeline reduction
A method and system for operating a high frequency out-of-order processor with increased pipeline length. A new scheme is disclosed to reduce the pipeline by the detection and exploitation of so called “no dependency” for an instruction. A “no dependency” signal tells that all required source data is available for the instruction at least one cycle before the source data valid bit(s) are inserted into the issue queue. Therefore, one or more stages of the pipeline are bypassed. |
| US07844786B2 |
Addressing and command protocols for non-volatile memories utilized in recording usage counts
Electrical interfaces, addressing schemes, and command protocols allow for communications with memory modules in computing devices such as imaging and printing devices. Memory modules may be assigned an address through a set of discrete voltages. One, multiple, or all of the memory modules may be addressed with a single command, which may be an increment counter command, a write command, or a punch out bit field. The status of the memory modules may be determined by sampling a single signal that may be at a low, high, or intermediate voltage level. |
| US07844783B2 |
Method for automatically detecting an attempted invalid access to a memory address by a software application in a mainframe computer
A method for automatically detecting an attempted invalid access to a memory address in accordance with an exemplary embodiment is provided. The method includes reading a first data set having a software application name and a memory address stored therein utilizing the mainframe computer. The memory address indicates a portion of a memory that is not allowed to be changed. The method further includes detecting when a software application is attempting to access the memory address and setting a first bit in the memory to a first value in response to the detection utilizing the mainframe computer. The method further includes storing a name of the software application, the memory address, and contents of the portion of the memory specified by the memory address, in a second data set, when the first bit has the first value utilizing the mainframe computer. The method further includes displaying an error message on a display device when the first bit has the first value. |
| US07844775B2 |
Distribution of data in a distributed shared storage system
Segments or blocks of a file can be distributed among an number n of storage units by using a function of sequentially assigned segment identifiers for each segment, where the function is reduced modulo n, so long as the function is not congruent to segment identifier, modulo n, for any given segment identifier. An example of such a function, where n is the number of storage units and k is a segment identifier, is f(k)=ak+b, where a is relatively prime to n. Such a function can be computed quickly for any given segment. As the list of storage units changes, data may be redistributed using a new mapping of segments to storage units. Any new mapping can be restricted so that segments only move to a new storage unit or from an old storage unit, and not from one existing storage unit to another. In this way, the amount of data to be moved is limited. A chain of the lists of available storage units, as that list changes over time, is maintained to permit the history of file mappings to be recreated. |
| US07844771B2 |
System, method and storage medium for a memory subsystem command interface
A system for implementing a memory subsystem command interface, the system including a cascaded interconnect system including one or more memory modules, a memory controller and a memory bus. The memory controller generates a data frame that includes a plurality of commands. The memory controller and the memory module are interconnected by a packetized multi-transfer interface via the memory bus and the frame is transmitted to the memory modules via the memory bus. |
| US07844767B2 |
Method for identifying bad lanes and exchanging width capabilities of two CSI agents connected across a link
A technique is described by which two link agents with ports coupled together using a point-to-point interconnect in a system exchange their link width support capabilities and negotiate a link width that is mutually agreeable. The interconnect between each pair of agents comprises a pair of uni-directional links having multiple electrical wires, or lanes, where one link is used by a first agent to transmit data to a second agent and another link is used by the second agent to transmit data to the first agent. |
| US07844762B2 |
Parallel interface bus to communicate video data encoded for serial data links
In some embodiments, a device includes a bus, a parallel source, and a parallel sink. The parallel source is to provide parallel groups of signals including video signals to the bus, wherein the bus has a number of lanes that is fewer than a number of signals used to represent a pixel such that pixels are represented in more than one of the parallel groups. The parallel sink is to receive the parallel groups of signals from the bus, wherein the parallel sink includes a signal extractor to separate at least a portion of the groups of signals into multiple channels, and encoder and serializer circuits to encode and serialize the separated signals. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US07844758B1 |
Dynamic resource allocation scheme for efficient use of a queue
A method and mechanism for managing requests to a resource. A request queue receives requests from multiple requestors and maintains a status for each requestor indicating how many requests the requestor has permission to issue. Upon initialization, the request queue allots to each requestor a predetermined number of “hard” entries, and a predetermined number of “free” entries. Un-allotted entries are part of a free pool of entries. If a requestor has an available entry, the requestor may submit a request to the request queue. After receiving a request, the request queue may allot a free pool entry to the requestor if the free pool currently has entries available. Upon de-allocation of a queue entry, if the entry corresponds to a hard entry, then the hard entry is re-allotted to the same requestor. If the entry is a free entry, the entry is made available and a free pool counter is incremented. |
| US07844756B2 |
Selection of data mover for data transfer
Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture wherein a set of communication paths between a plurality of data movers and a plurality of storage devices is maintained. A request to transfer data from a source storage device to a target storage device is received, wherein the source storage device and the target storage device are included in the plurality of storage devices. At least one data mover from the plurality of data movers is selected based on the set of communication paths, wherein the selected at least one data mover can transfer the data from the source storage device to the target storage device. |
| US07844754B2 |
Data transfer apparatus and data transfer method
A data transfer apparatus includes a processor, a main memory, and a DMAC connected to the main memory via a plurality of buses. The DMAC transfers data to the main memory by bypassing the processor, writes flag data “1” indicating completion of the data transfer processing in a completion status storage area of the main memory, and finally outputs an interrupt signal to the processor. In response to the interrupt signal, an interrupt handler refers to the completion status storage area, and when the flag data is written, reads the data in the main memory and erases the flag data in the completion status storage area. |
| US07844752B2 |
Method, apparatus and program storage device for enabling multiple asynchronous direct memory access task executions
A method, apparatus and program storage device for enabling multiple asynchronous direct memory access task executions. DMA I/O operations and performance are improved by reducing the overhead in DMA chaining events by creating a software DMA queue when a hardware DMA queue overflows and dynamically linking new DMA requests to the software queue until a hardware queue becomes available at which time the software queue is put on the hardware queue. Thus, microcode does not need to manage the hardware queues and keep the DMA engine running continuously because it no longer has to wait for microcode to reset the DMA chain completion indicator. |
| US07844750B2 |
Advanced fan control and identification system and method
A computer system is capable of operating with various types of fans from the same manufacturer or from different manufacturers and is capable identifying the type of fan which is presently installed in the system. The system includes a fan of the type which includes an integral optical sensor and detectable indicia such as, by way of example, a bar code label or imprint. Fan identification has a variety of uses including, for instance, adjusting system parameters to properly execute the computer system's cooling functions based on the type of fan presently installed, and reporting fan type and/or serial number to an administrator or central inventory server for quality control purposes. Particular embodiments include the derivation of tachometric information from the detectable indicia. The computer system may include an inventory program which maintains fan ID data for a plurality of fans. |
| US07844747B2 |
Performance tuning using encoded performance parameter information
A multi-chip system in which at least one of the chips includes a performance parameter encoded thereon. After system assembly, the performance parameter can be obtained by a companion chip and used to automatically or semi-automatically fine tune the companion chip to the specific parameters of the at least one chip. |
| US07844743B2 |
Protocol stack that offloads a TCP connection from a host computer to a network interface device
A host CPU runs a network protocol processing stack that provides instructions not only to process network messages but also to allocate processing of certain network messages to a specialized network communication device, offloading some of the most time consuming protocol processing from the host CPU to the network communication device. By allocating common and time consuming network processes to the device, while retaining the ability to handle less time intensive and more varied processing on the host stack, the network communication device can be relatively simple and cost effective. The host CPU, operating according to instructions from the stack, and the network communication device together determine whether and to what extent a given message is processed by the host CPU or by the network communication device. |
| US07844740B2 |
System and method for dynamic compression of data
A method of transferring a compressed web page over a computer network without affecting the existing web server applications and processes. The compressor intercepts a request from a workstation for the web page. A second request is transmitted to the server from the compressor for the original, uncompressed web page. The web page is selectively compressed in the compressor. Then the compressed web page is transmitted to the workstation. Optionally, some of the files associated web page, such as image files, are also compressed and the references to the compressed associated files is changed to reflect any change in the name of the compressed associated files. |
| US07844737B2 |
Subscription-based priority interactive help services on the internet
The present invention includes a method and apparatus for providing an e-help service over a network. The e-help service provides one or more action sequences, i.e., recommended courses of action, for specialized circumstances over a network, such as an Internet Protocol network. Subscribers subscribe to specific application areas, such as one or more application areas related to a subscriber's industry. The e-help service provider maintains information pertaining to application areas in one or more databases. When a user activates the e-help service, information corresponding to the present conditions of the user's circumstance is transmitted to the e-help service provider. The e-help service provider identifies one or more action sequences based upon a statistical analysis of the information received from the user and information stored in a database corresponding to the application area of the user. The action sequences having a high probability of success are transmitted to the user and provide one or more recommended courses of action. |
| US07844730B2 |
Computer system and method of communication between modules within computer system
A computer system comprising a plurality of modules that transfer data in packets mutually, whose major feature is that each of the modules comprises an output controlling part for sending out a packet to transmit to the destination via each of a plurality of communication paths, and an input controlling part for receiving packets transmitted from a plurality of communication paths, identifying the identical packets transmitted from different communication paths, and capturing transmit data properly, wherein the input controlling part stores information for use for identifying the captured packets, identifies whether the packet received has already been captured or not, and newly captures a packet if the packet received is yet to be captured, and discards a packet if the packet received has already been captured. |
| US07844726B2 |
System and method for dynamically managing message flow
System and method for dynamically managing message flow. According to the example embodiments, an intermediary network device or a client device dynamically manages the flow of messages received from an electronic exchange by analyzing the client device's capabilities, such as CPU utilization. Based on a percentage of total CPU utilization, the level of throttling is dynamically adjusted, such that if the percentage of CPU utilization, or load, increases, then throttling is increased from a lower level to a higher level. Similarly, if the percentage of CPU utilization decreases significantly enough, then throttling is decreased to a lower level. |
| US07844724B2 |
Automated real-time data stream switching in a shared virtual area communication environment
In one aspect, one or more real-time data stream connections that deliver a set of real-time data streams to a given network node are determined based at least in part on bandwidth capabilities of the given network node. In another aspect, for each of one or more recipient network nodes, a respective link over which to transmit a respective transmission set of one or more real-time data streams is determined. For each of the links, the respective link bandwidth is apportioned between one or more channels that are respectively allocated to the one or more real-time data streams in the respective transmission set. |
| US07844723B2 |
Live content streaming using file-centric media protocols
Described herein is technology for, among other uses, performing playback of dynamic content using protocols designed for playback of fixed-length files. The technology involves strategically updating the duration of the content during playback under various conditions. During playback, as the playback position approaches the duration, the duration is refreshed. Also, during playback the rate at which the duration is increasing is used to predict the duration and thus smoothly report the duration to the user. Upon receiving a seek request, if the request is beyond the current duration, the duration will be refreshed to avoid unnecessarily limiting the seek request. |
| US07844716B2 |
Instant messaging architecture and system for interoperability and presence management
A computer network system establishes an instant messaging (IM) session between a first user registered with a first ISP (ISP) and at least one user registered with a second ISP when the two ISPs operate using different IM protocols. The ISPs each contain a Local IM server connected to each registered user. Each ISP also contains a Universal IM server that is connected to the distributed network. The Universal IM server includes a database that stores routing information and Presence information for each user registered with the second ISPs and facilitates communications between the first and second user using a universal format, such as XML. |
| US07844713B2 |
Load balancing method and system
A load balancing method for continuation requests transmitted from client moves session information to continuation request to another business server and embeds a character string for making a request transmission apparatus identify the business server of destination in to a response to the continuation request to return the response to the client, so that the business server of destination to which subsequent requests transmitted from the client are transferred is switched. |
| US07844712B2 |
Hybrid open-loop and closed-loop erasure-coded fragment retrieval process
Retrieving erasure-coded fragments associated with approximately sequential segments, including the steps of requesting a first set of the fragments, using a fragment pull protocol, by an assembling device from a plurality of fractional-storage servers, and requesting a second set of erasure-coded fragments, using the fragment pull protocol, to compensate for the fragments of the first set that failed to arrive at the assembling device. And wherein while requesting the first-set fragments associated with a certain segment, at least one compensation request is made for a second-set fragment associated with a prior segment. |
| US07844711B2 |
Volume allocation method
A management device selects a storage device having a plenty of unallocated storage regions, selects a target using a port having a small allocation quantity from the storage device targets, and allocates the target, an initiator, and a storage region. When the number of targets and the allocated storage regions prepared by the storage device is within a predetermined number, the storage device manages the storage device as an allocation candidate. When the predetermined number is exceeded, the exceeding one is excluded from the allocation candidate. When the number of storage devices excluded from the allocation candidate has reached a certain number, the management device manages a new storage device and a new storage region as an allocation candidate. |
| US07844705B2 |
Networked image visualization image quality enhancement method and system
A method for managing medical image data transmission between computing devices is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes monitoring a plurality of parameters of a computer network that includes a server and a client. The plurality of parameters may include a client resource parameter, a server resource parameter, and a network operating parameter. The disclosed method may also include automatically determining a desired compression level at which to send medical image data to the client based at least in part on the client resource parameter, the server resource parameter, and the network operating parameter. Further, in one embodiment the method may include communicating the medical image data from the server to the client at the desired compression level in response to a client request for the image data. Various other methods, systems, and manufactures are also disclosed. |
| US07844704B2 |
Event notification device and event notification method
An event notification device notifies event information via a network. A storage unit stores therein event-transmission determination information. An event monitoring monitors whether an event occurs. A determining unit determines based on the event-transmission determination information whether event information of occurred event is to be transmitted to only a target communication device from among communication devices that have requested to be notified of the event information. An event notifying unit notifies the target communication device or all the communication devices of the event information by using the WS-Eventing protocol according to a result of the determination. |
| US07844703B2 |
System and method of measurement for a distributed computer system
A system and method of parameter measurement for a distributed computer system, the method including selecting a master unit; selecting slave units operably connected to the master unit on a bus, the slave units having a slave clock; determining slave unit latencies between the master unit and the slave units; generating slave unit synchronizing signals for the slave units, the slave unit synchronizing signals being adjusted for the slave unit latencies; synchronizing the slave clocks in response to the slave unit synchronizing signals; and measuring an operating parameter at the slave units at a synchronously determined time. |
| US07844701B2 |
Rule-based performance analysis of storage appliances
A rule-based performance analysis tool and a method analyze metrics from a network storage system and generate recommendations for resolving actual or anticipated performance problems. The tool and method collect system metrics from one or more sources, including a storage appliance and optional user-reported comments and/or information about proposed changes to the network storage system. A rule base is applied against the collected metrics and user inputs. Each rule is associated with one or more metrics and has one or more threshold values. A rule can analyze a rate of change of a metric. For each triggered rule, the tool provides an output that includes an explanation of the rule, a suggested action to alleviate or avoid the problem that triggered the rule and, optionally, a priority level. The outputs are presented in a hierarchical display. |
| US07844698B2 |
Wireless network modification support system and radio network modification support method
A wireless network change support system includes a change setting section, an income prediction section and an expense calculation section. The change setting section sets a change data for changing a setting data based on a status data indicating a status of a wireless network with wireless base stations and said setting data indicating a setting of said wireless network. The income prediction section calculates a prediction income in said wireless network when said setting data is changed, based on said status data, said setting data and said change data. The expense calculation section calculates a prediction expense necessary to execute a change of said wireless network as indicated in said change data based on said change data. The wireless network change support system may further includes an income and expenditure calculation section which calculates a profit of said wireless network when said setting data is changed on the basis of said changing data, based on said prediction income and said prediction expense. |
| US07844696B2 |
Method and system for monitoring control signal traffic over a computer network
A system and method is provided for detecting, tracking and/or blocking control signal attacks, which can occur between local computer systems and/or between remote computer systems, network links, and/or routing systems over a computer network. The system includes a router monitor adapted to receive a plurality of control signals and related information from the computer network and to process the plurality of control signals and related information to detect one or more control signal anomalies. The router monitor is further adapted to generate a plurality of alert signals representing the one or more control signal anomalies. The system further includes a controller that is coupled to the router monitor and is adapted to receive the plurality of alert signals from the router monitor. The controller is constructed and arranged to respond to the plurality of alert signals by tracking attributes related to the one or more control signal anomalies to at least one source, and to block the one or more control signal anomalies using a filtering mechanism executed in close proximity to the at least one source. |
| US07844695B2 |
Data forwarding storage
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for data forwarding storage. A network includes a group of interconnected computer system nodes each adapted to receive data and continuously forward the data from computer memory to computer memory without storing on any physical storage device in response to a request to store data from a requesting system and retrieve data being continuously forwarded from computer memory to computer memory in response to a request to retrieve data from the requesting system. |
| US07844694B2 |
Communication system, relay apparatus, relay method and computer readable medium
The communication system includes: an apparatus that mounts a processing unit which executes transmission and reception of a signal with an external apparatus and which processes the received signal; and a relay apparatus that relays transmission and reception of a signal between the external apparatus and the apparatus. The relay apparatus is provided with: a transmission and reception unit that receives a signal from the external apparatus and transmits a signal to the external apparatus; an analysis unit that analyzes whether or not the signal received by the transmission and reception unit is a signal to be processed by the processing unit of the apparatus; and a determination unit that determines whether or not to execute transfer processing of the received signal to the apparatus based on a result of the analysis by the analysis unit. |
| US07844693B2 |
Methods and systems involving monitoring website content
An exemplary embodiment of a system for monitoring website content, including, a browser client operative to send a first request for content to a first website server, the content stored on a second website server, an intermediate server, operative to receive a URL associated with the content, from the first website sever, the URL comprising an address of the intermediate server, an address of the content, and an address for threshold data stored on the intermediate server associated with the content, the threshold data including a plurality of thresholds, the intermediate server further configured to send a second request for the content to the second website server, receive the content, determine whether the content exceeds the plurality of thresholds associated with the content, deny the first request for content, responsive to determining that the content exceeds one of the plurality thresholds associated with the content. |
| US07844691B2 |
Scalable distributed storage and delivery
Embodiments describe scalable distributed storage delivery method that can utilize commodity storage devices, thus there is little, if any, modification of the existing storage hardware or storage clients. According to an aspect is a system that can include a plurality of primary servers and application servers to deliver data to the storage client. The client can request information from the primary server, which can in some embodiments, authenticate the client. The primary server can determine a set of application servers that can deliver the information. The information data can be served to the client transparently from the application servers. The application servers can read the information content from a local cache or directly from storage devices. |
| US07844690B1 |
Systems and methods for creation and use of a virtual protocol analyzer
Systems and methods are provided for facilitating analysis of a communications system through the use of a multi-protocol communications analyzer. A graphical user interface employed in connection with the multi-protocol communications analyzer enables a user to create a new domain, or modify an existing domain, that includes a list of ports selected by the user, where each port is associated with a particular communication link of the communications system. The ports are selected from a list of available ports displayed by the graphical user interface. The ports selected for inclusion in the domain can then be configured, by way of the graphical user interface, as desired. After the domain has been defined, the domain can then be used to analyze one or more of the links associated with the ports included in the domain. |
| US07844686B1 |
Warm standby appliance
A warm standby appliance is described herein. The warm standby appliance is coupled to a storage server which is coupled to one or more servers. When a server fails, the storage server transfers a backed up image to the warm standby appliance, so that the warm standby appliance is able to replicate the failed server. While the failed server is inaccessible, the warm standby appliance is able to mimic the functionality of the failed server. When a new server or repaired server is available, the warm standby appliance is no longer needed. To incorporate the new server into the system quickly and easily, the server image of the warm standby appliance is sent to the new server. After transferring the image, the warm standby appliance is cleaned and returns back to a dormant state, waiting to be utilized again. |
| US07844683B2 |
String matching method and device
A method and device for string matching HTTP headers. The method typically includes identifying a predefined string, identifying an unknown string to compare with the predefined string, performing a bitwise exclusive OR operation on an ASCII binary representation of at least one segment of the unknown string and an ASCII binary representation of at least one segment of the predefined string, and identifying a case-insensitive string match based on the exclusive OR operation. The method may further include performing a bitwise operation with a predefined flag to determine the case-insensitive segment match. |
| US07844678B2 |
Filtering email messages corresponding to undesirable domains
An email message is filtered to determine whether or not it is an undesired email message (e.g., “spam,” “junk mail,” etc.) that originates from an undesirable domain, such as, for example, a domain designated as originating from an undesirable geographic location. In some embodiments, upon determining that the email message originates from an undesirable domain, the email message is deleted (e.g., permanently removed, moved to a designated folder, marked for followup, etc.). In other embodiments, upon determining that the email message originates from an undesirable domain, the email message is further filtered to determine whether or not the email message includes attributes that indicate that the email message should not be discarded. |
| US07844675B2 |
Accessing web services
One Embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for accessing web services. In this regard, one embodiment of such a method, among others, can be broadly summarized by the following steps: receiving a request for a web service, the request being in an instant messaging format; converting the request into a native format utilized by the web service; and relaying the request in the native format to the web service. Other methods and devices are also provided. |
| US07844673B2 |
Filtering features for multiple minimized instant message chats
A user is notified of activity in an instant messaging session by receiving a selection input signal from a selection device. When the selection input signal is received, a minimized chat window is detached from a task bar and moved to a position on a display indicated by the selection input signal. A slot is displayed in the detached chat window for each open instant messaging session. |
| US07844668B2 |
Suggesting a discussion group based on indexing of the posts within that discussion group
A system and corresponding methods for recommending a discussion group as an appropriate place to post a message are provided. In one embodiment, the system searches a plurality of existing posts to identify the posts that are similar to a subject of a user's message. The system identifies the discussion groups that contain the identified posts and selects one of the identified discussion groups to recommend as an appropriate discussion group to post the user's message. |
| US07844665B2 |
Modified computer architecture having coordinated deletion of corresponding replicated memory locations among plural computers
The present invention discloses a modified computer architecture (50, 71, 72) which enables an applications program (50) to be run simultaneously on a plurality of computers (M1, . . . Mn). Shared memory at each computer is updated with amendments and/or overwrites so that all memory read requests are satisfied locally. During initial program loading (75), or similar, instructions which result in memory being re-written or manipulated are identified (92). Additional instructions are inserted (103) to cause the equivalent memory locations at all computers to be updated. In addition, the initialization of JAVA language classes and objects is disclosed (162, 163) so all memory locations for all computers are initialized in the same manner. The finalization of JAVA language classes and objects is also disclosed (162, 163) so finalization only occurs when the last class or object present on all machines is no longer required. During initial program loading (75), or similar, instructions which result in the application program (50) acquiring (or releasing) a lock on a particular asset (50A, 50X-50Y) (synchronization) are identified. Additional instructions are inserted (162, 163) to result in a modified synchronization routine with which all computers are updated. |
| US07844660B2 |
Method of discovery of a domestic network and device implementing the method
The invention relates to audio and video interoperability over networks based on network technologies other than the 1394 bus. The invention relates more particularly to a method of discovery, by a device connectable to a communication network, of the other devices connected to this network, which comprises a step of connection of the device to the said network, a step of despatching of an announcement message containing autodescription information describing the device destined for all the other devices connected to this network, a step of despatching of an autodescription information request message to all the other devices connected to this network and a step of reception of a response message from each of the other devices of the network containing the autodescription information of this other device. The invention also relates to the corresponding connectable device. |
| US07844652B2 |
Efficient computation of sketches
Determining a summary feature set is disclosed. A plurality of subsegments of a first segment are selected. For each subsegment, a plurality of values by applying a set of functions to each subsegment are computed. From all the values computed for all the subsegments, a first subset of values is selected. |
| US07844647B2 |
System and method of informing users of changes in geographically bound rules
A system, method, and program product are provided that inform users of changes in geographically bound rules. This is performed by receiving, via a GPS device, a first geographic location. Identifying, based on the received first geographic location, a first geographic region, and retrieving a first set of geographically bound rules that correspond to the identified geographic region. After a period of time, a second geographic location is received and a second geographic region is identified based on the second geographic location. If the first geographic region is different than the second geographic region, then the system retrieves a second set of geographically bound rules corresponding to the identified geographic region. The first set of geographically bound rules is compared to the second set of geographically bound rules, resulting in one or more different geographically bound rules. The users are then informed of the different geographically bound rules. |
| US07844643B2 |
Storage management system with integrated continuous data protection and remote copy
A storage control system is adapted to operate as a primary of a remote copy pair by communicating with a secondary of the remote copy pair, and comprises: an I/O receiving component for receiving read and write commands; a continuous data protection component operatively coupled to the I/O receiving component for maintaining a continuous data protection journal; the continuous data protection journal operable to retain write I/O data items for access by subsequent read commands and to roll back the data at the primary of the remote copy pair; a remote copy controller component adapted to read the write I/O data item from the continuous data protection journal; and a remote copy transmission component operatively coupled to the remote copy controller component to transmit the write I/O data item to the secondary of the remote copy pair. |
| US07844639B2 |
Backward compatibility in database schemas
A method of accommodating at least one difference between a first database schema and a second database schema is provided. The method includes receiving a request from a first application program that is operationally dependent upon the first database schema, the request being received at a second application program that is operationally dependent upon the second database schema. Thereafter, the method identifies if there is a difference between the first database schema and the second database schema. When there is a difference, the method identifies the difference between the first database schema and the second database schema to identify at least one different schema definition element and associates the different schema definition element with a reserved element. The reserved element may have a corresponding reserved element provided in the first database schema. A response is then communicated to the first application program including the reserved element. |
| US07844635B2 |
Method and computer program product for dynamic weighting of an ontological data model
A method, computer program product, and a data processing system that facilitates navigation through a directed graph for selection of sub-processes of a modified business process derived from a business process is provided. A bounding box is used for evaluating and selecting sequences of nodes representative of business sub-processes or services. The bounding box has a predefined depth for limiting the scope of the evaluation. The bounding box is shifted during the evaluation as sequences of nodes are selected. Additionally, state data is maintained such that a sense response model may be employed to detect and account for changes to the environment in previously evaluated services. By maintaining state data, a transition to a previously evaluated sub-process may be implemented to account for significant changes in the environment. |
| US07844631B2 |
Method, system, and storage medium for providing a dynamic, multi-dimensional commodity modeling process
An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a method, system, and storage medium for providing a dynamic multi-dimensional commodity modeling process. The system includes a data collection component operable for collecting raw data, a dynamic multi-dimensional commodity model component, and a commodity tree generated by the dynamic multi-dimensional commodity model component. The system also includes a closed loop/corrective action component operable for resolving nonconformance issues resulting from analysis of the raw data and commodity tree, and an analytic engine in communication with the data collection component, the multi-dimensional commodity model component, and the closed loop/corrective action component. The analytic engine receives the raw data from the data collection component, receives the commodity tree, performs analytics on the raw data according to rules defined by the commodity tree, and transmits any nonconformance data resulting from performing the analytics to the closed loop/correction action component for resolution of any identified nonconformances. |
| US07844623B2 |
Method to provide management of query output
System and article of manufacture for processing queries that are executed against a database. In one embodiment, the database environment imposes a limit on the number of columns capable of being returned for a single query. Accordingly, a single query is replicated to produce N sub-queries, each selecting a portion of the total number of result fields specified in the single query. |
| US07844622B1 |
System and method for maintaining a product specification within regional parameters when selecting options
Disclosed is a method of computer generating a product specification. The specification is dependent on the selection of a number of options by a consumer. The method utilizes a computer program which receives from user a location in which said product will be used. After that, the user is allowed to select product options. Information regarding rules and regulations for that particular location is made available from separately identified data files on a server. Options required in that particular locations will be automatically added to the specification. When additional options are selected, the program determines whether the product is still in compliance in the location selected. If the added option results in the specification running afoul of a regional rule or regulation, the user will be notified, and advised as to how the violation can be overcome. Once the user is satisfied with the options, and these options are in compliance, the specification is completed and useful for making an order. |
| US07844620B2 |
Real time data replication for query execution in a massively parallel computer
Embodiments of the invention may be used to increase query processing parallelism of an in-memory database stored on a parallel computing system. A group of compute nodes each store a portion of data as part of the in-memory database. Further, a pool of compute nodes may be reserved to create copies of data from the compute nodes of the in-memory database as part of query processing. When a query is received for execution, the query may be evaluated to determine whether portions of in-memory should be duplicated to allow multiple elements of the query (e.g., multiple query predicates) to be evaluated in parallel. |
| US07844617B2 |
Systems and methods of directory entry encodings
In general, the invention relates to supporting multiple different character encodings in the same file system. In one embodiment, a method is provided for filename lookup that supports multiple character encodings. The method comprises storing filename data in a first character encoding into an indexed data structure. The method further comprises receiving filename data in a second encoding. The method also comprises looking up filename data in the indexed data structure using the second encoding. |
| US07844615B2 |
Systems and methods for an enterprise services framework using a state model
Embodiments consistent with the principles of the invention check, before the data underlying a changed primary object is persistently save, for related objects whose data is also affected by the change. The related objects may be two or more degrees removed from the primary object. The changed primary object and all its changed related objects are then persistently saved together, so that the saved data is consistent across the related objects. Embodiments consistent with the principles of the invention also provide a state model for controlling access to services by clients and for making services available by servers. |
| US07844614B2 |
Apparatus and method for enhanced revocation of direct proof and direct anonymous attestation
In some embodiments, a method and apparatus for enhanced revocation of direct proof and direct anonymous attestation are described. In one embodiment a trusted hardware device verifies that membership of the device within a trusted membership group is not revoked according to a revocation list received with a challenge request from a verifier. Once such verification is performed, the device convinces the verifier of possessing cryptographic information without revealing unique, device identification information of the trusted hardware device or the cryptographic information. In one embodiment, the trusted hardware device computes a digital signature on a message received with the challenge request to the verifier if membership of the anonymous hardware device within a trusted membership group is verified. In one embodiment, the verifier authenticates the digital signature according to a public key of the trusted membership group to enable a trusted member device to remain anonymous to the verifier. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US07844613B2 |
Data warehouse with operational layer
A data warehouse having an operational layer is provided. The data warehouse stores historical data in an historical format that is based on operational data for an organization. The operational layer enables access to the historical data in an operational format that is used to store the operational data on which the historical data is based. The invention further provides a solution for managing the data warehouse with the operational layer. The operational layer can be incorporated in various solutions. To this extent, the invention further provides a solution for developing an application using the operational layer of the data warehouse. |
| US07844609B2 |
Attribute combination discovery
A method and system are presented in which a query attribute is used as the basis for accessing stored attribute combinations and their frequencies of occurrence for query-attribute-positive individuals and query-attribute-negative individuals and tabulating, based on frequencies of occurrence, those attribute combinations that are most likely to co-occur with the query attribute. |
| US07844608B2 |
Clustered query support for a database query engine
A device, system, and method are directed towards combining a plurality of queries to a database into a combined execution plan. The plurality of queries is received. The queries may be Structured Query Language (SQL) statements. The database may be a relational database. The plurality of queries is transformed into a plurality of parse trees. A determination is made whether the plurality of queries operates on at least the same portion of the same table. If so, then the plurality of query trees is query-optimized. The plurality of query trees are combined into a master query tree based on similar nodes in the plurality of query trees. A split node in the master query tree represents non-similarities between the plurality of query trees. The master query tree is transformed into an execution plan. The execution plan is applied to a database to return at least one result. |
| US07844606B2 |
Legacy filter support in a new managed file system filter model
Systems and methods are described that facilitate management of file system filters, comprising a filter manager that maps altitudes of minifilters to legacy filter order groups. An aspect of the present invention provides for minifilters that can dynamically load and unload, thus facilitating increased flexibility in filter system management. |
| US07844604B2 |
Automatically generating user-customized notifications of changes in a social network system
Techniques are described herein for notifying a member of a social network system of those changes, within the social network system, that are of most interest to the member. In one embodiment, change records are generated for changes in the social network system. The change records are stored in an activities log. To notify a particular user of changes that would be of interest to the user, a subset of the change records contained in the activities log is selected based on user-specific selection criteria. Once the subset of change records has been selected, a set of notification records is generated based on the subset of change records. To reduce the possibility of information overload, the subset of change records is consolidated by removing duplicates and merging related notifications. The consolidated list of user-specific notifications may then be sent to the user. A variety of mechanisms may be used to send the notifications to the user, including streaming the notifications to a user (e.g. via an RSS feed), placing the notifications in a web page that is sent to the user, and sending the user an email that lists the notifications. |
| US07844601B2 |
Quality of service feedback for technology-neutral data reporting
A system for providing feedback associated with the planning of a query is provided. The system comprises a query planning mechanism capable of determining transformations required for the execution of the query, and a monitoring mechanism for monitoring and extracting feedback information from the planning mechanism, the feedback information including an indication of the transformations. |
| US07844598B2 |
Question answering system, data search method, and computer program
A question answering system includes a question dividing unit, a question answering unit, and an answer determination unit. The question dividing unit applies a predetermined question dividing rule to an input question, to divide the input question into sub-questions. The question answering unit acquires answer candidates corresponding to the sub-questions generated by the question dividing unit, together with certainty values serving as reliability indexes. The answer determination unit selects an answer to the input question from among the answer candidates acquired by the question answering unit. |
| US07844595B2 |
Document similarity scoring and ranking method, device and computer program product
A device, computer program product and a method for computing the similarity of a set of documents that avoids the large, wasted computational effort involved in calculating very small similarity scores by using thresholds to stop a similarity calculation between documents, thus ensuring that, with high probability, all document pairs with higher similarity than the thresholds have been found. |
| US07844594B1 |
Information search, retrieval and distillation into knowledge objects
The invention provides for various methods and apparatuses for searching bodies of knowledge, such as previously indexed source documents reachable over a network, search results from previous searches, and results from performing meta-searches. Search criteria is received from a client, and the bodies of knowledge are searched based on the search criteria, and search results provided responsive to said searching. Search results may be configured to have associated distillation triggers, where selecting a trigger causes its associated search result to be distilled in real-time. Distilled search results can be indexed into portions of the source document for focused entry, and can also be grouped and analytically presented on mid-menus to allow the user to review distilled data in summary form. Results may also have associated status symbols indicating by symbol a particular topic area to which a result is related, and by opacity or other indicator the apparent relevance of a result to the particular topic area. Search and viewing preferences may be determined according to psychometrics, user selection of a default user category, through a question/answer session, or based on monitoring user activity which incrementally defines a profile. |
| US07844591B1 |
Method for displaying an image with search results
A method for displaying an image with search results is described, including detecting a trigger related to a search request, selecting an image and retrieving the image in response to detecting the trigger, determining a search result in response to detecting the trigger, presenting the search result and the image with the search result. |
| US07844586B2 |
Methods and systems in monitoring tools for effective data retrieval
Systems and methods are provided for accessing and presenting data in real-time. In one exemplary embodiment, the systems and methods may include presenting a first record set, fetching a second record set before a data request, and presenting the second record set in response to the data request. The first record set may be associated with at least one of a first part monitored by the monitoring system, a first location of the first part, and a first supplier of the first part. The second record set may be associated with at least one of a second part monitored by the monitoring system, a second location, and a second supplier. |
| US07844584B1 |
System and method for persistently storing lock state information
A system and method persistently stores lock state information associated with a file system within a storage system. Received operations that modify lock state information are stored in a non-volatile log (NVLog) within a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) of the storage system. During a consistency point (CP), entries from the NVLog are committed to a lock file. In the event of an error condition, lock state information may be recovered from the lock file, thereby enabling rapid reconstruction of the lock state prior to the error condition. |
| US07844580B2 |
Methods and systems for file replication utilizing differences between versions of files
Methods and systems for efficient file replication are provided. In some embodiments, one or more coarse signatures for blocks in a base file are compared with those coarse signatures for blocks of a revised file, until a match is found. A fine signature is then generated for the matching block of the revised file and compared to a fine signature of the base file. Thus, fine signatures are not computed unless a coarse signature match has been found, thereby minimizing unneeded time-consuming fine signature calculations. Methods are also provided for determining whether to initiate a delta file generation algorithm, or whether to utilize a more efficient replication method, based upon system and/or file parameters. In accordance with additional embodiments, the lengths of valid data on physical blocks are obtained from physical block mappings for the files, and these lengths and mappings are utilized for delta file generation, to minimize unnecessary signature computations. |
| US07844579B2 |
System and method for manipulating and managing computer archive files
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide an archive management application that operates within a host application to provide access to an archive and/or allow access to and/or modification of files in an archive using the host application's interface, instead of operating as a separate standalone archive management application. In an embodiment of the present invention, a file archiving system may include a user interface component, a file management component and a compression/extraction engine component. The user interface component may include an enhanced user interface of a host application that provides an interface for a user. The file management component may include a central directory that provides a representation of the contents of an archive. The compression/extraction engine component may include a file size module and/or a security module. The file size module may be used to compress and/or decompress a file in an archive. The security module may be used to encrypt, decrypt, digitally sign and/or authenticate a file in an archive. |
| US07844574B2 |
Systems, methods and computer program products for automatic network-based persistent XML storage and management
Systems, methods and computer program products for automatic network-based persistent XML storage and management. Exemplary embodiments include a method including loading an XDM widget having internal XML, sending an XCAP GET request via an XCAP URI parameter, retrieving an existing XML document at a location associated with the XCAP URI parameter, invoking an initializer callback function via the XDM widget to populate the internal XML with default values associated with an etag, wherein the etag is null, sending an XCAP PUT request via the XCAP URI to store the existing XML document, executing etag header scenarios, providing XML management functions to automatically publish changes to the server, and trigger a timer function to poll for updates from the server and display the resulting updates to the user's screen via a render callback function. |
| US07844573B2 |
Systems and methods for managing location of media in a storage system
A system and method for operating a storage library. The system comprises a management server, a media agent connected to the management server, a library connected to the media agent and a database connected to the management server. The management server controls the media agent to monitor for the addition or removal of a piece of media in the library. When the media agent determines that the piece of media has been added to the library or removed from the library, the media agent causes the library to read a media label stored as data on the piece of media, the media label including an identifier identifying the piece of media. When a backup or restore is performed, the system checks the media label to ensure that the correct media is being used. Inventory procedures are disclosed. Media labels are stored in a database along with an indication of the corresponding slot where the media is stored, a time when the label was put on the medium, and a confidence parameter indicating how confident the system is that the particular medium is stored in the respective slot. |
| US07844571B2 |
Method and data network for managing medical image data
To increase the efficiency of the management of image data in a data network including a multiplicity of network nodes, at least one embodiment of the present invention provides for image data, having been stored at a network node provided as a buffer store, to be transmitted for archiving to a network node provided as an archive store and to be stored there, with the storage of the respective image data in the buffer store and in the archive store involving a reference to the respective network node being recorded in an index in conjunction with an explicit identifier for the respective image data. Further, in at least one embodiment, the index is used when the stored image data are subsequently loaded to ascertain the respective at least one network node at which the respective image data are stored. |
| US07844566B2 |
Latent semantic clustering
An embodiment of the present invention provides a computer-based method for automatically identifying clusters of conceptually-related documents in a collection of documents, including the following steps: generating a document-representation of each document in an abstract mathematical space; identifying a plurality of document clusters in the collection of documents based on a conceptual similarity between respective pairs of the document-representations, wherein each document cluster is associated with an exemplary document and a plurality of other documents; and identifying a non-intersecting document cluster from among the plurality of document clusters based on (i) a conceptual similarity between the document-representation of the exemplary document and the document-representation of each document in the non-intersecting cluster and (ii) a conceptual dissimilarity between a cluster-representation of the non-intersecting document cluster and a cluster-representation of each other document cluster. Variants of the method enable creating hierarchy of clusters and conducting incremental updates of preexisting hierarchical structures. |
| US07844564B2 |
System and method of load balancing using fuzzy logic
A system and method of load balancing using fuzzy logic and, more particularly, to a system and method of load balancing tasks over a grid environment including, for example, CPU utilization, traffic over a network and other functions. The method comprises defining cause and effect relations associated with input variables and output variables. A current utilization is assessed. The method further includes determining which cause and effect relations are associated with the current utilization and calculating a weighted balancing factor for the cause and effect relations having membership with the utilization. A load is balanced using the weighted balancing factor. |
| US07844562B2 |
Method and knowledge structures for reasoning about concepts, relations, and rules
A system and method for reasoning about concepts, relations and rules having a semantic network comprising at least one node from a predetermined set of node types, at least one link from a predetermined set of link types, and zero or more rules from a predetermined set of rule types, a subset of the rule types being matching rule types, each node and each link being associated with a set of zero or more rules; a network reasoning data structure having a reasoning type database having at least one regular expression, each of the regular expressions being a class of sequences having at least three node types and two link types, wherein the network reasoning data structure further has a context being a set of rules; and a reasoning engine having an activator for activating one or more activated paths in the semantic network, the set of activated paths having a common starting node in the semantic network, wherein the reasoning engine further has a validator for selecting a subset of the activated paths being valid paths, each rule from the set of rule matching types that is associated with one or more path elements on each valid path being matched by one or more rules in the context and wherein the reasoning engine further has a legal inferencer for selecting a subset of the set of valid paths being legal and valid paths, the legal and valid paths matching at least one of the regular expressions. |
| US07844557B2 |
Method and system for order invariant clustering of categorical data
A computerized method of representing a dataset with a taxonomy includes representing a plurality of records within a dataset as a plurality of clusters in an initial taxonomy layer; generating a hierarchy of cluster sets based on clusters within the initial taxonomy layer, wherein the structure of the hierarchy is independent of the order of the records within the dataset; and labeling clusters within the hierarchy. |
| US07844556B2 |
Mobile brain-based device having a simulated nervous system based on the hippocampus
A brain-based device (BBD) having a physical mobile device NOMAD controlling and under control by a simulated nervous system. The simulated nervous system is based on an intricate anatomy and physiology of the hippocampus and its surrounding neuronal regions including the cortex. The BBD integrates spatial signals from numerous objects in time and provides flexible navigation solutions to aid in the exploration of unknown environments. As NOMAD navigates in its real world environment, the hippocampus of the simulated nervous system organizes multi-modal input information received from sensors on NOMAD over timescales and uses this organization for the development of spatial and episodic memories necessary for navigation. |
| US07844555B2 |
Ranker selection for statistical natural language processing
Systems and methods for selecting a ranker for statistical natural language processing are provided. One disclosed system includes a computer program configured to be executed on a computing device, the computer program comprising a data store including reference performance data for a plurality of candidate rankers, the reference performance data being calculated based on a processing of test data by each of the plurality of candidate rankers. The system may further include a ranker selector configured to receive a statistical natural language processing task and a performance target, and determine a selected ranker from the plurality of candidate rankers based on the statistical natural language processing task, the performance target, and the reference performance data. |
| US07844552B2 |
Shared software agent for customer relations management services
A method for implementing a customer relationship management system can include establishing a plurality of customer contact channels within a customer relationship management services system. A software component can be associated with each of customer contact channels. A shared software agent can be accessed by software components through a publicly accessible network. The shared software agent performs at least one data management task and displays at least one visual element within a graphical user interface of an accessing software component. |
| US07844550B2 |
Method and device for generating a single-use financial account number
A device for facilitating financial account transactions is described which includes a processing unit including a cryptographic processor. The device also includes an input unit, a display unit and a memory device connected to the processing unit. The memory device contains a private cryptographic key, a first data element and a second data element. The processing unit encrypts the first data element using the private cryptographic key and the second data element, modifies the second data element, combines the encrypted first data element and the second data element to generate a single-use financial account identifier, and displays the single-use financial account identifier. This identifier is then transmitted to a central processor for authorization of the transaction. The central processor extracts and decrypts data elements from the transmitted identifier using the private cryptographic key, compares those data elements with data elements stored in a memory, and verifies the single-use financial account identifier in accordance with the comparison. |
| US07844547B2 |
Uncle gem IV, universal automatic instant money, data and precious metal and stone transfer machine
The Universal Automatic Instant Money, Data and Gold Transfer Machine, Uncle GEM II, system is a multiplicity of devices on a communications network available 24 hours a day, used interchangeably as sender, receiver and dispenser of funds and data. The sender accepts standard currency and includes removable medium storage devices to transfer to another such device acting as a receiver/dispenser. Remitted amounts are inserted or deducted from credit/debit accounts or currency and who pays the fees charged is indicated by an initiator of the transaction. Transfer transaction information includes: the type of transfer (money/funds or data); which device deducts the fee; how much money or what data to transfer; and to who and where the transfer transaction is to be made available. A receipt is generated by the sender via the system and a receiver becomes a dispenser when the recipient retrieves a pending transaction using the appropriate password or identification. The cash, data, or financial instrument is then dispensed. The Uncle GEMs also feature acceptance of alternate payment options, such as, precious metal coins, i.e., gold, silver and platinum, and precious stones, i.e. diamonds, sapphires, and rubies. In essence, virtually anything can be bought, purchased, bartered, traded or sold. Smartcards, phonecards and store specific cards can be used to buy goods and services, can be bought, or can be reloaded using the Uncle GEM II system. |
| US07844543B1 |
Multiple protocol trading system
A multi-protocol trading system in which traders preferring different trading protocols may coexist within the same system, and access the same liquidity pool, while maintaining their trading rule preferences. The system supports two protocol preferences: a workup preference and a FIFO preference, and includes a single integrated order book that stores orders received from both workup and FIFO traders. Received orders are matched against orders in the order book in accordance with a FIFO and/or workup protocol, as a function of preferences selected by the traders and/or the system operator. Alternatively, the system includes a pair of order books, a workup order book and a FIFO order book. Customers submit linked orders having a workup leg and a FIFO leg which may be matched against the workup and/or FIFO order books, as a function of preferences selected by the traders and/or the system operator. |
| US07844541B2 |
System and method for quick quote configuration
A method and system are described for providing a trader with the ability to quickly configure the quoting side of a trading tool, without experiencing the normal delays associated with conventional methods of quoting. In spread trading, an automated spread trading tool may automatically work an order to buy or sell a tradable object. A user may configure the trading tool to work an order in a certain tradable object first. The system allows the user to essentially on-the-fly configure the trading tool to work a second order in another tradable object, and in response to the change, the system can take specific actions such as deleting the order in the first tradable object and automatically entering the second order in the other tradable object. This allows the trader to trade quickly and efficiently. |
| US07844540B2 |
Concisely expressed combinatorial auction problem solving method
In a method of determining an optimal allocation in a combinatorial auction, a plurality of bids is received. Each bid includes a plurality of sub bids. Each sub bid includes either one good and a price associated with the good or a logical operator logically connecting at least two child sub bids and a price associated with the logical operator. For each sub bid, the price associated with the good or the logical operator is either an explicit price that is included with the sub bid or is assigned a value of zero when the sub bid does not include an explicit price. An objective is defined for the plurality of bids. For each bid, a plurality of mathematical relationships collectively representing the bid without logical operators is defined. The received bids are processed to achieve the objective subject to the mathematical relationships. |
| US07844539B2 |
Hybrid trading system for concurrently trading combined orders for financial instruments through both electronic and open-outcry trading mechanisms
A system and method of trading combined orders in an exchange configured for trading by a combination of electronic and open-outcry trading mechanisms is provided. One method includes receiving an incoming order having a first order component and a second order component at an electronic trade engine and routing the first and second order components to a first electronic database. The first and second order components are matched and executed against order components maintained in the first and second electronic databases, respectively. Any unexecuted first and second order components are placed in an electronic book according to a predetermined program if the first or second order component cannot be completely matched against any order components maintained in one of the first or second electronic databases. The system includes a trade engine configured for receiving combined orders from market makers. |
| US07844537B2 |
Interbank process
In transactions between a consumer and a merchant where a merchant requires a deposit for participation, a method and system are provided for intermediating the transaction (10). The system enables a consumer to secure the required deposit amount for the transaction with funds deposited in one of a bank account (14) or a special deposit account (16). Fees are generated based on a percentage of the deposit amount secured with the deposited funds and/or by providing an interest rate on funds deposited in the special deposit account (16) with a fixed spread from a bank interest rate. The system assures merchants that deposit funds have been reserved for a particular transaction, and enables consumers to participate in such transactions without requiring an actual transfer of funds. |
| US07844533B2 |
Report generator apparatus for allowing a financial entity to monitor securities class action lawsuits and potential monetary claims resulting therefrom
Reports are automatically created of securities class action lawsuits customized to show potential monetary claims resulting from the lawsuits for securities purchased or acquired by one or more financial entities. To produce the reports, a database of securities class action lawsuits is maintained. The lawsuit database includes a subset of securities class action lawsuits that are deemed to be noteworthy by the entity that administers the system. A comparison is made for each financial entity of transaction activity of the financial entity with records in the database subset of securities class action lawsuits to identify any securities purchased or acquired by the financial entity that are associated with a securities class action lawsuit in the lawsuit database and which may provide a potential monetary claim for the financial entity. A report is then created for each financial entity showing the noteworthy lawsuits. For the lawsuits that were identified as providing a potential monetary claim for the financial entity and which are deemed to be noteworthy, the report includes the potential monetary claim for the financial entity based on the transaction activity of the financial entity. A similar process occurs for creating a watchlist report of securities class action lawsuits of interest to financial entities customized to show potential monetary claims resulting from the lawsuits for securities purchased or acquired by one or more financial entities. |
| US07844528B2 |
Apparatuses, methods, and systems for providing a risk evaluation product builder user interface
The present disclosure describes an approach to constructing and implementing risk rating products that provides a number of advantages. Instead of hard-coding attributes of a risk rating scheme, which requires the assistance of a trained programming specialist for any modifications, adjustments, or new products, the present invention provides a set of modular tools that assist non-specialists in on-the-fly generation and implementation of risk rating products. The modularity of this approach facilitates the modification and/or updating of a system component without affecting the operation of other components. Described herein are embodiments of a risk evaluation product builder, which allows users to manipulate visual tools to generate a data-structure comprising an embodiment of a risk rating scheme and insurance quoting product. |
| US07844526B1 |
Net present value attrition for Life-Time Value financial processing in a relational database management system
A Life-Time Value (LTV) system is a data-driven computer-facilitated financial model that provides accurate and consistent profitability projections using current period account level profitability data stored in a Relational Database Management System (RDBMS). The Life-Time Value system performs Net Present Value (NPV) and Future Value (FV) processing using business-rule and data-driven applications that embrace the current period profit components, defines forecast periods, parameters and methodologies, and applies appropriate growth values, attrition values and propensity values to an object of future value interest. |
| US07844523B2 |
Automatic mapping and allocation of beneficial interests in trusts for portfolio analysis
The present invention relates to analysis of trusts that have multiple beneficiaries whose interests mature in different time periods or under different conditions. In particular, we disclose automatic mapping of interests in one or more trusts, optionally subject to user confirmation, to long and short positions in financial or derivative interests that have expected payouts and costs that can be offset against underlying trust assets. The underlying assets and long and short positions in the mapped instruments can be attributed to various beneficiaries and subjected to various risk and investment analyses. |
| US07844521B1 |
Method and system for providing sellers access to business managing consumers
A method and system for identifying business managing consumers includes a process for identifying business managing consumers whereby financial transaction data for various consumers is obtained from one or more sources using a computing system implemented financial management system. The consumers' financial transaction data is then analyzed to identify financial transactions typically associated with ownership and/or management of a business, i.e., business management related transactions. If more than a defined threshold number of business management related transactions associated with a given consumer are identified, that consumer is categorized as a business managing consumer. Sellers of business related products and/or service are then given access to the identified business managing consumers for promoting their various business related products and services. |
| US07844512B2 |
Server software adapted to convert messages to enable ATM and ATM host communication
A server is in communication with an ATM host and at least one ATM. Sever software is adapted to operate in the server to cause messages to be converted to enable ATM and ATM host communication. The server is operative to receive messages from the ATM host and/or the ATM, cause the received messages to be converted for handling by the other one of the ATM host and the ATM, and then cause the converted messages to be sent to the other one of the ATM host and the ATM. In one embodiment, the server software is operative to cause HTTP messages to be converted to non-HTTP messages, and vice versa. |
| US07844509B2 |
Method and apparatus for monitoring depletion of an item
A computer implemented method, apparatus, system, and computer usable program code for monitoring a real-time depletion of an item in a storage unit. A controller identifies an item placed in the storage unit to form an identified item. The controller detects a change in mass sensor data from a mass sensor shelf in a set of mass sensor shelves associated with the storage unit. The controller associates the change in mass sensor data with the identified item to form a current mass for the identified item. The controller determines a depletion of the identified item based a difference between the current mass and a previous mass for the identified item. |
| US07844505B1 |
Automated real-time distributed tag reader network
A method and system for conducting an inventory of items by a network tag reader, wherein a tag is attached to each item and each tag is permanently assigned a tag identification number (Tag ID). A method according to the present invention includes selecting one of a plurality of remote access sensor modules, where the selected remote access sensor module has a coverage pattern that defines a physical area. The method also includes interrogating tags through the selected remote access sensor module. These tags are within the physical area defined by the coverage pattern. As a result of the interrogating step, the network tag reader receives information regarding these tags. This information is stored in a plurality of inventory records. |
| US07844503B2 |
Builders on-line assistant
A method and apparatus are provided for servicing customers of a plurality of builders or a plurality of builders through a third-party website provider. The method includes the steps of the plurality of builders providing product offerings to customers through a first website provided by the third-party website provider. The method also includes the steps of a customer of the plurality of customers and a builder of the plurality of builders entering into a contract to build or rehabilitate real estate for the customer at a building site of the real estate, said contract forming a pre-existing contract, the customer viewing and selecting product options of product offerings available from or through the builder through the first website and receiving from the customer through the first website a selection of an option of the options provided by the builder. The method further includes the steps of incorporating the selected options, into a new or modification of the pre-existing contract and the third-party website collecting a fee or commission based upon the products viewed by and selections made by the customer. |
| US07844498B2 |
Online purchase of digital media bundles having interactive content
In one embodiment, techniques are provided for interacting with an online media store to obtain a media asset bundle, such as a digital boxset. These techniques involve, for instance, browsing for a media asset bundle that includes at least one interactive playable media asset, purchasing the media asset bundle, obtaining the media assets contained in the media asset bundle, determining if a presentation request has been made for a media asset in the media asset bundle, and presenting the requested media asset. |
| US07844490B2 |
Method and system for conducting promotional programs
A method for using promotional programs and merchant values is disclosed. In one example, the method includes receiving an authorization request message including a merchant verification value through a payment processing network, where the authorization request message is associated with a purchase by a consumer. A merchant-specific promotional program is then determined using the merchant verification value, and the merchant specific promotional program is performed. For example, the promotional program can be a sweepstakes and the task may be determining of the consumer is an instant winner. |
| US07844487B2 |
Computer-implemented method for displaying price and value extremes
A method of transforming the standard O.H.L.C. (open, high, low, close) bar chart into a new advanced chart that diagrams value changes occurring within the charted period, disclosing the sequence of occurrence of value extremes (highest price or value compared to lowest price or value) as well as the direction and momentum of value changes during the ending portion of the period. |
| US07844483B2 |
System and method for predicting external events from electronic author activity
A system and method for collecting and analyzing electronic discussion messages to categorize the message communications and to identify trends and patterns in pre-determined markets. The system comprises an electronic data discussion system wherein electronic messages are collected and analyzed according to characteristics and data inherent in the messages. Objective data is collected by the system for use in analyzing the electronic discussion data against real-world events to facilitate trend analysis and event forecasting based on the volume, nature and content of messages posted to electronic discussion forums. The message posting activity of a plurality of posters can be tracked to determine the tendency of individual posters to initiate or moderate discussions, accurately predict events external to the discussion forums, accelerate or decelerate a buzz level in a forum, or precede a rising market or a falling market. |
| US07844482B1 |
Mechanism for collecting feedback from users
A method for collecting feedback from a user, involving determining a location of the user using a user device comprising location detection, sending a feedback request corresponding to an entity at the location to the user device, providing feedback data responsive to the feedback request, wherein feedback data is supplied by the user and includes rating information associated with the entity, and transmitting feedback data and the location from the user device to a remote database. |
| US07844480B2 |
Method and system for planning and managing multiple projects on demand with critical chain and replenishment
Disclosed are a method, system and computer program for managing multiple projects. The method comprises the steps of defining a plurality of projects requiring resources, each of said projects having a project manager; and managing said resources with resource buffers and replenishment times. Said replenishment times are incorporated by said project manager, into resource view plans for said plurality of projects. The preferred embodiment of the invention employs a technique called Replenishment to manage resources when Critical Chain (CC) is used on diverse projects. This embodiment of the invention overcomes problems with the Strategic Resource approach by (1) not requiring identification of a common strategic resource, (2) providing heuristics to determine how much spare capacity to provide for each resource type, and (3) allowing projects to be started or completed on demand. |
| US07844477B2 |
Process for rule-based insurance underwriting suitable for use by an automated system
A process for at least a partial underwriting of insurance policies is described. Various rules are created, along with a degree of satisfaction for each rule. Rules may be directed toward various insurance underwriting components (e.g., cholesterol levels, blood pressure, etc.). Based on the degree of satisfaction for each rule, a component may be assigned to a category. Based on the category for each component, the insurance application may be assigned an underwriting category. |
| US07844473B1 |
System for allocating home health services
A method in a computer system for optimizing allocation of a fixed medical payment to a variety of medical services. The method includes the steps of first selecting a standard rate representing an unadjusted amount of money to be received for the rendering of medical services. Next, the method generates an adjusted standard rate by adjusting the standard rate by at least one adjustment factor. The method then selects a base medical service rate from a plurality of medical service rates. Finally, the method divides the adjusted standard rate by the base medical service rate in order to generate a quantity of medical service points available. |
| US07844468B2 |
Second site control of article transport processing
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a system and methodology for sorting and/or distributing items and articles being shipped to a receiving party through private and/or commercial delivery systems. Various characteristics of an article being shipped are obtained and assembled in a database. In an exemplary embodiment, the descriptive characteristics of the article are acquired at a first site and the processing and desired disposition of the article is determined at a second site which is physically separate from the first site. The descriptive characteristics of the article being shipped are displayed at the second site and are sufficient to identify the article to a processing individual located at the second site. The processing individual is then enabled to indicate a desired disposal of the article from the second site without being exposed to the physical article located at the first site. In an exemplary embodiment, the descriptive characteristics of the article may include one or more images of the article along with various other descriptive physical characteristics of the article such as the size and weight of the article. In one example, the processing individual is enabled to authorize the opening of an article in which case, descriptive characteristics of the contents of the article are acquired at the first site and displayed to the processing individual at the second site for use in determining an appropriate disposition of the article. |
| US07844467B1 |
System and method of providing conversational visual prosody for talking heads
A system and method of controlling the movement of a virtual agent while the agent is listening to a human user during a conversation is disclosed. The method comprises receiving speech data from the user, performing a prosodic analysis of the speech data and controlling the virtual agent movement according to the prosodic analysis. |
| US07844464B2 |
Content-based audio playback emphasis
Techniques are disclosed for facilitating the process of proofreading draft transcripts of spoken audio streams. In general, proofreading of a draft transcript is facilitated by playing back the corresponding spoken audio stream with an emphasis on those regions in the audio stream that are highly relevant or likely to have been transcribed incorrectly. Regions may be emphasized by, for example, playing them back more slowly than regions that are of low relevance and likely to have been transcribed correctly. Emphasizing those regions of the audio stream that are most important to transcribe correctly and those regions that are most likely to have been transcribed incorrectly increases the likelihood that the proofreader will accurately correct any errors in those regions, thereby improving the overall accuracy of the transcript. |
| US07844462B2 |
Spatial sound generation for screen navigation
Methods and apparatus for spatial sound generation for screen navigation are disclosed. An example method for spatial sound generation comprises receiving an indication of a cursor focus position, where the cursor focus position corresponds with a location on a display device. The example method further includes receiving speech information associated with an object situated at the location on the display device. The example method also includes modifying the speech information based on the indication of the cursor focus position such that the modified speech information spatially represents the location on the display device. |
| US07844459B2 |
Method for creating a speech database for a target vocabulary in order to train a speech recognition system
The words of the target vocabulary are composed of segments, which have one or more phonemes, whereby the segments are derived from a training text that is independent from the target vocabulary. The training text can be an arbitrary generic text. |
| US07844456B2 |
Grammar confusability metric for speech recognition
Architecture for testing an application grammar for the presence of confusable terms. A grammar confusability metric (GCM) is generated for describing a likelihood that a reference term will be confused by the speech recognizer with another term phrase currently allowed by active grammar rules. The GCM is used to flag processing of two phrases in the grammar that have different semantic meaning, but that the speech recognizer could have difficulty distinguishing reliably. A built-in acoustic model is analyzed and feature vectors generated that are close to the acoustic properties of the input term. The feature vectors are then sent for recognition. A statistically random sampling method is applied to explore the acoustic properties of feature vectors of the input term phrase spatially and temporally. The feature vectors are perturbed in the neighborhood of the time domain and the Gaussian mixture model to which the feature vectors belong. |
| US07844451B2 |
Spectrum coding/decoding apparatus and method for reducing distortion of two band spectrums
A coding apparatus capable of coding a spectrum at a low bit rate and with high quality without producing any disturbance in a harmonic structure of the spectrum. In this apparatus, internal state setting section (106) sets an internal state of filtering section (107) using first spectrum S1(k). Pitch coefficient setting section (109) outputs pitch coefficient T by gradually changing it. Filtering section (107) calculates estimated value S′2(k) of second spectrum S2(k) based on pitch coefficient T. Search section (108) calculates the degree of similarity between S2(k) and S′2(k). At this time, pitch coefficient T′ corresponding to the maximum calculated degree of similarity is given to filter coefficient calculation section (110). Filter coefficient calculation section (110) determines filter coefficient βi using this pitch coefficient T′. |
| US07844440B2 |
Systems and methods for real-time dynamic simulation of uninterruptible power supply solutions and their control logic systems
A system for real-time modeling of uninterruptible power supply (UPS) control elements protecting an electrical system is disclosed. The system includes a data acquisition component, a power analytics server and a client terminal. The data acquisition component acquires real-time data output from the electrical system. The power analytics server is comprised of a virtual system modeling engine, an analytics engine and a UPS transient stability simulation engine. The virtual system modeling engine generates predicted data output for the electrical system. The analytics engine monitors real-time data output and predicted data output of the electrical system. The UPS transient stability simulation engine stores and processes patterns observed from the real-time data output and utilizes a user-defined UPS control logic model to forecast an aspect of the interaction between UPS control elements and the electrical system subjected to a simulated contingency event. |
| US07844438B1 |
Method to analyze and correct dynamic power grid variations in ICs
A method to analyze and correct dynamic power grid variations in an IC includes performing a dynamic power grid analysis of the circuit, identifying an excessive dynamic power grid voltage fluctuation from the analysis, and modifying the circuit to reduce the excessive dynamic power grid fluctuation. |
| US07844437B1 |
System and method for performing next placements and pruning of disallowed placements for programming an integrated circuit
A system and method for matching the hardware resource requirements of a user module with the available resources of an underlying integrated circuit is shown. Databases are utilized to describe the requirements of a particular user module and the resources of a particular chip. A graphical interface is utilized to relate a selected user module with potentially appropriate resources, and to illustrate alternative placements. This graphical interface utilizes highlights of both the module and the associated resource in patterns, grayscales, or colors to graphically illustrate the relationship between the module and the associated resource. |
| US07844428B2 |
Method for assessing life-affecting damage on a rotary member
Method and arrangements for predicting life-affecting damage on a rotary member subjected to repeated loading during operation. A number of operating parameters are measured, and a temperature increase during each loading is calculated from the operating parameters. More precisely, a total temperature in a part of the rotary member is calculated for each loading by summation of basic temperature of the rotary member before the loading concerned and the temperature increase, and the values for the total temperature are used as a measure of the damage. The part of the rotary member for which the total temperature is calculated defines a surface that is acted on when the rotary member is loaded. Two sets of predetermined functions (M, N), which each comprise at least one function, are used for temperature-increase calculation, and the set which is used for temperature-increase calculation is selected depending on at least the nature of the rotary member. |
| US07844426B2 |
Methods for designing fixed cutter bits and bits made using such methods
In one aspect, the invention provides a method for modeling the dynamic performance of a fixed cutter bit drilling earth formations. In one embodiment, the method includes selecting a drill bit and an earth formation to be represented as drilled, simulating the bit drilling the earth formation. The simulation includes at least numerically rotating the bit, calculating bit interaction with the earth formation during the rotating, and determining the forces on the cutters during the rotation based on the calculated interaction with earth formation and empirical data. |
| US07844424B2 |
Human behavioral modeling and simulation framework
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for simulating human behavior. Source code, written in a language for predicting human behavior, is located on a storage system in a network data processing system. An interpreter executing on hardware has a language interpreter and a communications module. The language interpreter executes a simulation with the source code using artificial intelligence to generate a new definition and interpreted source code. A graphical user interface processor receives the interpreted source code from the language interpreter and generates device dependent output. Devices display the device dependent output, receive user input, and send received user input to the graphical user interface processor. The communications module receives the received user input from the graphical user interface processor and the new definition from the language interpreter and modifies the source code to form modified source code that is executed by the language interpreter. |
| US07844421B2 |
Hybrid finite element method for traveling surface acoustic waves with thickness effect
The present invention is a process for simulating a SAW device, while taking into account the thickness of the substrate. An aspect of the present invention is simulating a traveling surface acoustic wave in a periodic waveguide. The surface acoustic wave is simulated by analyzing an upper portion of the waveguide including a periodic array of electrodes using a periodic finite element method. The simulation further involves analyzing a lower portion of the waveguide including a bottom of the waveguide with an analytic method. |
| US07844419B1 |
Method of detecting potential topology problems in a network
The present invention is a method for detecting potential topology problems in a network representation consisting of links and nodes. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, there are three potential topology problem cases that are identified by the program. Those include nodes in close proximity, pipe-split candidates in which nodes are close to pipes, and pipe-split candidates in which pipes overlap. The program searches the data for any cases that fall within user-defined criterion or tolerances and returns a list of potential problems that the user can visually inspect and, if necessary or desired, make corrections thereto. Graphic user interfaces with dialog boxes and action buttons are also provided in accordance with the invention. |
| US07844416B2 |
Intelligent modular transport system with object behavioral pattern recognition and traffic management
Invention describes apparatus as closed-loop intelligent Object Transport System with Object Behavioral Pattern analysis and recognition for applications, including automatic self-check-out lanes at grocery, retail stores. Invention calculates Objects Behavioral Patterns, Object Expected Behavioral Pattern ranges for each Object or Group of Objects and stores information at central data base. Invention, based on Object barcode, obtains from central data base Expected Object Behavioral Pattern and compares to calculated real-time Objects Behavioral Pattern, and based on preset acceptance criteria, the System automatically without intervention by operator, executes real-time process controls to regulate traffic of Objects. Example of acceptance criteria: protection of fragile Objects from colliding with heavy Objects and rejection of Object outside the range of Object Expected Behavioral Patterns. Invention performs real-time Object traffic management, regulating acceleration, deceleration, speed and direction of motion of Objects. Invention performs process control over Objects, including application of heat. |
| US07844415B1 |
Dynamic motion compensation for orientation instrumentation
The instant invention discloses a method for an orientation measuring instrument to isolate and separate gravitational and non-gravitational components of acceleration from accelerometer measurements by using an ambient magnetic field, typically the earth's magnetic field, as a fixed rotation reference. Using magnetic field measurements, one can track changes in orientation of a device and use that information to determine the gravitation direction, during periods when acceleration measurements include non-gravitational acceleration combined with gravitational acceleration components. In addition to determining orientation, a method and associated instrument provide a non-gravity acceleration vector of the device. |
| US07844414B2 |
Method of calibrating temperature compensated sensors
A method of calibrating an individual sensor of a particular sensor type whose output varies non-linearly with at least one measured quantity and at least one operating condition. The first step includes producing a set of calibration curves for each sample sensor of the particular sensor type. The resulting sets of calibration curves are then averaged and the results used to produce a generic calibration surface for the particular sensor type showing its variation. Individual calibration measurements are then taken for a number of different values of the measured quantity at a small number of discrete values. The individual calibration readings are then used to map the generic calibration surface to the individual calibration measurements of the individual sensor. |
| US07844412B2 |
System and method for performing processing in a testing system
Test systems and methodologies are provided and may include platforms for developing test programs for automated testing. In one example, tester and instruments are isolated from the tester OS, permitting any OS to be used. In another, a user layer is isolated from the physical layer, permitting hardware-independent development and usability among different tester platforms. In another, test program execution is isolated from tester platform OS, permitting test program function independent from tester platform. In another embodiment, functions are only added, existing links to functions are not broken, ensuring continued operation with new software, hardware and/or features. Systems may be non-deterministic. In one example, the non-deterministic computer is required to execute computer instructions within a constant execution time. A deterministic engine may be used to wait a variable amount of time to ensure constant execution time. Execution over constant time is deterministic permitting applications requiring deterministic behavior. |
| US07844408B2 |
System and method for time domain reflectometry testing
A time domain reflectometry (“TDR”) testing method that includes storing test data resulted from a TDR test applied on an electronic component, displaying the test data, identifying a distinctive portion of the test data corresponding to a defective location in the electronic component, modifying the distinctive portion of the test data, and computing the modified test data to verify whether a predetermined requirement is satisfied. |
| US07844406B2 |
Level measurement system
To provide a simpler and less expensive system for multipoint level measurement, a level measurement system with at least two sensor devices operating in accordance with the pulse-echo principle and being connected via a communication network to a central signal processing device is provided. The computation-intensive evaluation of echo profiles for calculating distances or ranges is thus shifted from the sensor devices at the measurement locations or sites to the central signal processing device. |
| US07844401B2 |
System and method for determining producibility of a formation using flexural mechanical resonator measurements
The present disclosure presents illustrative embodiments of a method for estimating the producibility of a hydrocarbon bearing formation using a flexural mechanical resonator to measure the viscosity and density of a representative fluid from the formation. A system is disclosed for estimating the producibility of a hydrocarbon bearing formation using a flexural mechanical resonator to measure the viscosity and density of a representative fluid from the formation. A data structure is disclosed for storing data useful for estimating the producibility of a hydrocarbon bearing formation using a flexural mechanical resonator to measure the viscosity and density of a representative fluid from the formation. The data structure provides a structural and functional interrelationship between the data structure, data in the data structure and a computer and computer software provided in an illustrative embodiment. |
| US07844400B1 |
System for sampling fluid from a well with a gas trap
A low maintenance adjustable system for sampling gas from a well using a gas analyzer; a conditioning and filtering device; a gas trap having a plurality of couplings, a plurality of hammer unions, a plurality of base manifold pipes, a base manifold flow line, a chimney pipe connected to the base manifold flow line, a controllable valve, a reducer connected to the chimney, an expansion chamber component connected to the reducer, a restrictor mounted to the expansion chamber component, and a conduit connection connected to the restrictor for engaging a conduit to flow a gas sample from the gas trap to a gas analyzer. |
| US07844397B2 |
Method and apparatus for high accuracy relative motion determination using inertial sensors
A relative navigation system including a first unit responsive to the motion of a first position, a second unit responsive to the motion of a second position and a processing unit that generates a relative navigation solution as a function of first unit information and second unit information. The generated relative navigation solution is indicative of at least one of: a relative position vector of the second position relative to the first position, a relative velocity of the second position relative to the first position, and a relative attitude of the first unit at the first position relative to the second unit at the second position. |
| US07844395B2 |
Map display having scaling factors on the display and selecting scaling factors by touch sense
A map display apparatus that displays a map includes: a display device; a touch panel disposed over a screen at the display device; and a control device that controls display at the display device with a signal input from the touch panel, and: the control device displays at the display device a map and a plurality of buttons used to adjust a scaling factor of the map, makes a decision as to whether or not the touch panel has been pressed at a position corresponding to one of the plurality of buttons, makes a decision as to whether or not a finger having pressed the touch panel has been moved to a specific position and displays, together with the map, a wide-area map at a scaling factor smaller than the scaling factor of the map if the finger having pressed the touch panel is judged to have been moved to the specific position. |
| US07844392B2 |
Optoelectronic taxi-assistance safety device for aircraft
The field of the invention is that of optoelectronic taxi-assistance devices for aircraft, including a head-up display providing for the presentation of information in the pilot's field of vision. The invention applies in particular to large civil aircraft of the Boeing 747 or Airbus A380 type. The object of the invention is to propose the displaying of safety-related symbologies in the head-up display, providing for substantially improving aircraft safety and maneuverability during the taxiing phase. These symbologies relate substantially to the position of the aircraft on the taxiway and to the turning and stop maneuvers to be performed by the pilot. Said symbologies are particularly useful in poor visibility conditions. |
| US07844388B2 |
Method for regulating an air-fuel mixture for an internal-combustion engine
A method of regulating the actual lambda value for an internal-combustion engine of a motor vehicle in a closed control loop is provided. A lambda setpoint is transferred to a controller for influencing an injection calculation for the internal-combustion engine, and an actual lambda value, which occurs at the output of a controlled system as a function of the injection calculation, is returned to the controller. At least one system parameter of the controlled system is determined, and the determined system parameter is transferred to a Smith predictor added to the controller for compensating the influence of the system dead time on the control loop characteristics. |
| US07844387B2 |
Method and device for optimizing the consumption in a motor vehicle
A method for consumption-optimized operation of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle is described, an engine output of the internal combustion engine being set as a function of a position of a gas pedal according to a manipulated variable, the gas pedal being adjustable in a first mechanically defined adjustment range between an initial position and a specific gas pedal position, the internal combustion engine being controlled with a consumption-optimized engine output with regard to the instantaneous engine speed by adjusting the gas pedal to the specific gas pedal position, the consumption-optimized engine output causing a minimal fuel consumption at the instantaneous engine speed. |
| US07844384B2 |
Vehicular traveling control apparatus and method
In vehicular traveling control apparatus and method, comprising: a vehicular forward substance detecting section of a laser radar type is provided to detect a forward substance located in a forward direction of the vehicle, a vehicular travel control is performed on the basis of a relative positional relationship between the forward substance detected by the vehicular forward substance detecting section and the vehicle, such an impulse that a detection range of the vehicular forward substance detecting section is varied has been applied to the vehicular forward detecting section is detected, and the vehicular traveling control is inhibited when detecting that the impulse has been applied to the vehicular forward substance detecting section. |
| US07844381B2 |
Method for producing a setpoint adapted to a cornering situation for a motor vehicle engine-transmission unit transmission device and corresponding device
A device for controlling an automated transmission of a motor vehicle engine-transmission unit capable of delivering a torque setpoint signal to be applied to the motor vehicle wheels, including two static and dynamic components, produced based on input data delivered by an input unit including a recorded list of parameters representing the driver's wishes, the motor vehicle state, and the motor vehicle surroundings. The device includes a first unit capable of calculating a dynamic torque component not adapted to a cornering situation; a second unit capable of calculating a static torque component, connected to the input of the first unit; and a unit for adaptation to the come in situation delivering a static torque component adapted to the cornering situation in accordance with a list of predetermined input parameters. |
| US07844373B2 |
Method and a system for monitoring the following of a reference trajectory by an aircraft
The present invention relates to a method and a system for monitoring the following of a reference trajectory by an aircraft. The values that flight parameters of the aircraft will have on completion of a time interval ΔT are extrapolated, the time interval ΔT corresponding to a duration less than the remaining duration of validity of a guidance instruction presently applied by the aircraft and during which the instruction remains unchanged, by measuring at the start of the time interval ΔT the actual values of the flight parameters as well as external conditions on which the performance of the aircraft depends, then by making the assumption that the instruction values of the flight parameters will remain constant throughout the time interval ΔT, an alarm being raised if the extrapolated values of the flight parameters are not substantially equal to theoretical values of the flight parameters deduced from the reference trajectory on completion of the time interval considered ΔT or if they are not compatible with the actual performance of the aircraft having regard to the measured external conditions. |
| US07844367B2 |
Code replacement for irrigation controllers
Described herein are several embodiments relating to modular irrigation controllers. In many implementations, methods of implementing irrigation control are provided that detect a presence of a first module coupled with a control unit of an irrigation controller, the control unit operating in accordance with a bootloader set of code and a first set of code to implement irrigation control, identify that the first module stores a second set of code, and activate the bootloader set of code to replace the first set of code with the second set of code. Also described are various different types of modular controllers, expansion modules that may be coupled to the modular controller, having as variety of functions and features, as well as related methods of use and configuration of the controller and these modules in the controller. |
| US07844356B2 |
System and method for automatic construction of orthodontic reference objects
System and method for automatic construction of orthodontic reference objects, such as the occlusal plane, arch form, and the local occlusal plane for a patient's teeth are disclosed. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a computer-implemented system and method for automatic construction of orthodontic reference objects comprises receiving three dimensional data for the teeth, setting an initial direction for a normal of the occlusal plane, determining tips for selected teeth, calculating a plane that matches the determined tip, and determining a new normal for the calculated plane. |
| US07844354B2 |
Adjusting the volume of an audio element responsive to a user scrolling through a browser window
A scroll-based volume controller detects a user selection to scroll through a browser window loaded with data comprising at least one display element, wherein an audio element is associated with the display element and wherein the size of the displayable data is larger than the display area of the browser window. The scroll-based volume controller, responsive to detecting the user selection to scroll through the browser window, calculates a change in position of the display element relative to the browser window. The audio element may include an audio file that is downloaded or streamed to the browser. Next, the scroll-based volume controller automatically adjusts a volume of the associated audio element based on the calculated change in position of the display element relative to the browser window, such that the volume of the audio element, associated with said display element, is automatically adjusted as the position of the display element changes relative to the particular browser window when the user scrolls through the data in the browser window, without the user having to separately select to adjust the volume of the audio element using a separate volume control input. |
| US07844351B2 |
Model based optimization of multiple power generating units
A method and apparatus for optimizing the operation of a single or multiple power generating units using advanced optimization, modeling, and control techniques. In one embodiment, a plurality of component optimization systems for optimizing power generating unit components are sequentially coordinated to allow optimized values determined by a first component optimization system to be fed forward for use as an input value to a subsequent component optimization system. A unit optimization system may be provided to determine goals and constraints for the plurality of component optimization systems in accordance with economic data. In one embodiment of the invention, a multi-unit optimization system is provided to determine goals and constraints for component optimization systems of different power generating units. Both steady state and dynamic models are used for optimization. |
| US07844344B2 |
MRI-safe implantable lead
A stimulation lead to be implanted into a patient's body includes at least one distal stimulation electrode and at least one conductive filer electrically coupled to the distal stimulation electrode. A jacket houses the conductive filer and provides a path distributed along at least a portion of the length of the lead for conducting induced RF energy from the filer to the patient's body. |
| US07844341B2 |
Implantable medical device with antenna
An implantable medical device for use in a patient management system is described including a sensor, a processor, and a first communications unit. The first communications unit can deliver notification of significant events to a host computer using a short-range telemetry first communications link. A second communications unit can deliver notification of the significant events to the host computer over a second communications link, which is over a pervasive wireless communications network, such as a cell phone network. The device includes an antenna that is operatively connected to both the first and second communications units. |
| US07844338B2 |
High frequency obesity treatment
A method for treating at least one of a plurality of disorders characterized at least in part by vagal activity includes positioning an electrode around a body organ innervated by the vagus. An electrical signal is applied to the electrode to modulate vagal activity. The electrical signal is applied at a frequency selected for the signal to create a neural conduction block to the vagus with the neural conduction block selected to at least partially block nerve impulses on the vagus. The application of the electrical signal is discontinued. The application of the signal and the discontinuing of the signal are repeated with durations of the discontinuing and the application selected to treat the disorder. |
| US07844336B2 |
Implantable medical device configured as a pedometer
This document discusses, among other things, a system including an implantable medical device. The implantable medical device includes a control circuit and a motion sensing device. The motion sensing device is coupled to the control circuit, and the motion sensing device is configured to transmit signals to the control circuit. The control circuit is configured to identify one or more steps of a patient using the motion sensing device signal. |
| US07844334B2 |
Dual-use sensor for rate responsive pacing and heart sound monitoring
An implantable medical device includes a dual-use sensor such as a single accelerometer that senses an acceleration signal. A sensor processing circuit processes the acceleration signal to produce an activity level signal and a heart sound signal. The implantable medical device provides for rate responsive pacing in which at least one pacing parameter, such as the pacing interval, is dynamically adjusted based on the physical activity level. The implantable medical device also uses the heart sounds for pacing control purposes or transmits a heart sound signal to an external system for pacing control and/or diagnostic purposes. |
| US07844333B1 |
Pacing therapy for transient ischemia treatment
Embodiments include methods and devices for detecting ischemia in a patient and treating the ischemia with a pacing therapy that increases cardiac efficiency, output, or both, without substantially increasing myocardial oxygen consumption. Such therapy may also be used to mitigate the adverse effects of decreased blood flow to the ischemic tissue by increasing the blood flow an oxygenation thereto. |
| US07844332B2 |
Atrioventricular delay adjustment enhancing ventricular tachyarrhythmia detection
This document discusses, among other things, an apparatus comprising an atrial sensing circuit, a ventricular sensing circuit and an atrioventricular (AV) delay adjustment circuit. The atrial sensing circuit detects a first fast atrial pace that concludes a timing interval that is shorter than or equal to a first threshold value. The ventricular sensing circuit detects a first condition that comprises a sensed intrinsic first fast ventricular contraction that occurs within a specified first period of a most recently detected first fast atrial pace. The fast ventricular contraction concludes a timing interval that is shorter than or equal to a second threshold value. The AV delay adjustment circuit attempts to decrease an AV delay at least in part in response to detecting the first condition. Other apparatuses and methods are disclosed. |
| US07844320B2 |
Method and apparatus for volumetric image navigation
A surgical navigation system has a computer with a memory and display connected to a surgical instrument or pointer and position tracking system, so that the location and orientation of the pointer are tracked in real time and conveyed to the computer. The computer memory is loaded with data from an MRI, CT, or other volumetric scan of a patient, and this data is utilized to dynamically display 3-dimensional perspective images in real time of the patient's anatomy from the viewpoint of the pointer. The images are segmented and displayed in color to highlight selected anatomical features and to allow the viewer to see beyond obscuring surfaces and structures. The displayed image tracks the movement of the instrument during surgical procedures. The instrument may include an imaging device such as an endoscope or ultrasound transducer, and the system displays also the image for this device from the same viewpoint, and enables the two images to be fused so that a combined image is displayed. The system is adapted for easy and convenient operating room use during surgical procedures. |
| US07844318B2 |
Patient support device, such as a patient bed, table or chair for use with magnetic resonance imaging apparatuses
The invention relates to a patient support device, for use with Magnetic Resonance imaging apparatuses, comprising a support surface (7) adapted to accommodate at least a part, particularly the whole of the patient body. According to the invention, this device comprises at least one, receptacles (307) for holding and/or removably coupling a coil (13′) adapted to receive signals from an anatomic region particularly from the spinal region, which receptacle (307) is arranged over the surface (7) of the patient support device in areas corresponding to the position of the anatomic region to be imaged. The invention also relates to a Magnetic Resonance imaging apparatus comprising a magnet structure (2) which delimits a cavity to receive at least a part of the patient body, in which an imaging volume is created. In accordance with the invention, the apparatus comprises a patient support device as defined in the invention and as described above. The invention further relates to a Magnetic Resonance imaging method providing the use of the apparatus and the patient support device according to the invention. |
| US07844316B1 |
EKG cable
The present invention relates to an EKG cable for connection to an EKG machine. The cable has a root cable with a connector for connection to the EKG machine. The root cable is connected to a cable connector. The cable connector has at least two branch cables connected thereon. Each of the branch cables has a plurality of nodes disposed thereon. Each of the nodes has two connections each being capable of being connected to an electrode disc. Each of the nodes have opposing upper and lower surface. Each of the surfaces may have indicia disposed thereon. Each of the surfaces may be color-coded. The indicia and the color-coding may be used independently of each other or in combination with each other. |
| US07844304B1 |
Method of filtering low frequency components from power lines
A power supply for a communications device, including a controllable regulator that varies power drawn from a power input according to communications requirements of the communications device. The controllable regulator increases power drawn from the power input immediately before an increase of power is required by the communications device when a magnitude of a rate of change of required power exceeds a predetermined level. An active filter is connected to an output of the controllable regulator. The active filter is controlled to variably divert power that is output from the controllable regulator in excess of what is required by the communications device, wherein electromagnetic emissions resulting from the rate of change of power are reduced. |
| US07844299B2 |
Mobile station capable of and a method for generating chip patterns for transmission
A base station configured to communicate with a mobile station includes a controlling-information transmitting unit and a receiving unit. The controlling-information transmitting unit is configured to transmit to the mobile station as a set of controlling information, an information set indicating an environment of a cell which is resided by the mobile station, or an information set indicating power of interference from surrounding cells, or an information set indicating a condition of propagation channel. The receiving unit is configured to receive a signal transmitted from the mobile station, based on said set of controlling information, via a variably-controlling process of a spreading factor and a number of chip repetitions. |
| US07844298B2 |
Tuned directional antennas
A technique for improving radio coverage involves using interdependently tuned directional antennas. An example according to the technique is a substrate including two antennas, a transceiver, and a connector. Another example system according to the technique is a wireless access point (AP) including a processor, memory, a communication port, and a PCB comprising a plurality of directional antennas and a radio. An example method according to the technique involves determining a voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) and interdependently tuning a first and second directional antenna to reach an expected radiation pattern. |
| US07844297B2 |
Task switch between two computing devices
A method is provided to enable the person to switch use of computing devices when working with records and/or documents. A method such as described may be implemented for an individual operating two (or more) computing devices that share and synchronize sets of records. One or more operations may be performed to update and maintain correspondence between the two sets of records. A switchover event may be detected, where the event corresponds to the individual using a second computing device while already using a first computing device. Once the switchover event is detected, state of use information may be received on the second computing device. This information indicates the state of use of one or more records on the first computing device. This information may be used to affect the state of use of corresponding records on the second computing device. In particular, the corresponding records on the second computing device may be placed in a state of use, or in a selected state for subsequent use. |
| US07844294B1 |
Systems and methods for opt-in and opt-out talk group management
Systems and methods for supporting group communications are provided. A group list management server (GLMS) stores communications group definitions in documents, such as extensible mark-up language (XML) documents. The communications group can include communication addresses for different types of communication applications, including electronic mail, voice telephone, data, instant messaging, voice dispatch, short messaging service (SMS), and multimedia service (MMS). Various methods for managing communications groups and features provided for communications groups are provided. |
| US07844290B2 |
Method for establishing call connection in wireless terminal
Disclosed is a method for establishing a call connection in a wireless terminal, which can make a call connection using one line number when a call connection fails through another line number in a wireless terminal subscribing to a service in which the portable terminal uses two line numbers. The method includes receiving call release signals from a mobile switching center with respect to a call request of the wireless terminal; reattempting the call request in the wireless terminal with respect to the mobile switching center using a line number having priority, when the call release signal is received from the mobile switching center to the wireless terminal; and assigning resources from a resource pool used for another purpose so as to establish the call connection to the line number having priority when the mobile switching center receives the call request, which uses the line number having the priority, from the wireless terminal again. |
| US07844286B1 |
Emergency notification system for a portable device
Systems and methods for providing alerts to end users of networked enabled portable devices are provided so that the end users are made aware when broadcast emergency alerts are issued. In various embodiments, a portable device is enabled to receive information about an emergency alert broadcast of which the user should be aware, e.g., from the EAS, and to notify the user of the emergency alert. The user can be automatically taken to the emergency alert information by having the portable device automatically tune to the emergency broadcast information, the user can optionally retrieve the emergency information by tuning to the emergency broadcast channel, and/or the user can otherwise be presented with a reference to the emergency data, such as a link to the information. |
| US07844284B2 |
Third party location query for wireless networks
A location query service is disclosed. The service provides requesters with a location of a device. The service receives a location query from a requestor, retrieves location information associated with the network user, and returns the location information to the requestor. Before returning the location information to the requestor, the service is configured, in some embodiments, to authenticate that the requestor is authorized by the network user to receive the network user's location information. Methods for providing a location query service also are disclosed. |
| US07844280B2 |
Location of wideband OFDM transmitters with limited receiver bandwidth
One illustrative embodiment takes the form of a system for locating wireless transmitters employing an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) digital modulation scheme. The OFDM scheme comprises transmitting signal components over narrowband frequency channels spanning a wideband channel. The system includes a first receiving system configured to receive a fraction of the signal components transmitted by a first wireless transmitter to be located in a fraction of the narrowband frequency channels, and to process the fraction of the signal components to derive location related measurements. The system further includes at least a second receiving system configured to receive the fraction of the signal components transmitted by the first wireless transmitter, and to process this fraction of the signal components to derive location related measurements. The system also includes a processing system configured to use location related measurements from the first and second receiving systems to compute the location of the wireless transmitter. |
| US07844277B2 |
Method for coordinated control of radio resources in a distributed wireless system
A method is provided for coordinating distributed radio resource management. The method comprises communicating information between a plurality of units having radio resource management responsibilities, wherein the communicated information is related to radio resources associated with each unit. |
| US07844276B2 |
Calibration procedure for wireless networks with direct mode traffic
A calibration procedure of wireless networks to create a topology map mainly consists of two phases: a measurement phase during which each wireless device, i. e. all mobile terminals end the central controller transmits a calibration signal in broadcast mode (S2, S3, S4) and each other wireless device measures the received signal quality and the reporting phase during which each mobile terminal reports the measured results to the central controller of the network (S6, S7). Both of these phases are preferably initiated by the central controller the measurement phase with the broadcast of a measurement control signal to all mobile terminals (S1) and the reporting phase with the broadcast of a reporting control signal to all mobile terminals (S5). Based on all measurement results the central controller creates a topology map of the network once all reports have been received. This topology map is updated in two cases, namely when a new device joins the network with a high priority calibration and when a timer expires with a low priority calibration. i. e. only when there are enough free resources. |
| US07844265B2 |
Method for aperiodic mobile assisted sleep mode
Disclosed is a method for mobile assisted sleep mode to reduce current drain in packet based mobile systems. The method comprising the step of receiving (102) from a network a channel condition threshold. Then, monitoring (104) a channel condition while in sleep mode. Then exiting (110) sleep mode in response to the determination (108) that the monitored channel condition is greater than the channel condition threshold. |
| US07844262B2 |
Method for announcing a calling party from a communication device
A system and method are disclosed for announcing a calling party from a communication device. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a call processing system (102) can have a controller (108) for processing calls in a communication system (100). The controller can be programmed to detect (504) an incoming call initiated by a third party communication device over a first voice channel, transmit (508) to a communication device (115, 116) over a control channel a notification signal associated with the incoming call, detect (512) a connection made by the communication device to a second voice channel, transmit (518, 521) to the communication device over the second voice channel audio signals that identify a calling party, and link (524) the first and second voice channels upon detecting over the control channel a call acceptance action by the communication device. Additional embodiments are disclosed. |
| US07844261B2 |
Number portability and services utilizing number range owner information
Number portability is a service where a subscriber can keep his old telephone number within a portability cluster and thus retain easy contactibility. Because of number portability, a called address, i.e. B-number, no longer refers to the subscription network/number range owner and the old rule “the number range of the called party reveals the tariff level” is no longer valid. To overcome this defect all intelligent network-like service invocation requests are routed (3-2) via a network node performing a number portability function to the network node controlling the service. The node performing the number portability function performs (3-3) a mapping of the B-number and relays (3-4) the service invocation requests indicating the subscription network/number range owner. |
| US07844260B2 |
Method and system for previewing a multimedia conference
A method and system for previewing a multimedia conference are disclosed. As one example, the method comprises the steps of recording a conference preview message, storing the conference preview message, assigning an address to the conference preview message, selecting a plurality of invitees for the multimedia conference, preparing an invitation message, the invitation message including the address, sending the invitation message to the plurality of invitees, at least one invitee of the plurality of invitees retrieving the conference preview message using the address, and displaying the conference preview message for the at least one invitee. |
| US07844254B2 |
Method and apparatus for collaboration and media access using mobile communications devices
In one embodiment, a new method enables an individual to selectively preserve the integrity of potentially private data such as identity, current location and the like while using a mobile communications device (e.g., a cell phone) for media access. In one embodiment, the method receives a request for media content from the user in the form of a verbal command. The method then determines whether execution of the command would require the revelation of any potentially private user information. If execution would require such a revelation, the method prompts the user to either permit revelation of the information or to reformulate the request in a way that would not require the information to be revealed. Once data integrity has been resolved, the method searches for and retrieves the requested content. |
| US07844253B2 |
Method and apparatus for using an electromagnetically shielded enclosure for exchanging secure data
A method and apparatus to use a shielded enclosure for exchanging secure data. One embodiment comprises an enclosure formed of electromagnetically shielding material that prevents an electromagnetic field from entering an interior of the enclosure or emitting from the interior of the enclosure, the enclosure sized to house a mobile electronic device; a receiver within an interior of the enclosure to receive data transferred wirelessly from a mobile electronic device placed within the enclosure; and a hardware interface having a first end external to the enclosure and a second end within the interior of the enclosure and coupled to the antenna, the hardware interface to transfer data wirelessly received by the receiver to a separate device exterior to the enclosure. |
| US07844252B2 |
Telecommunication call management and monitoring system
A secure telephone call management system is provided for authenticating users of a telephone system in an institutional facility. Authentication of the users of the telephone call management system is accomplished by using a personal identification number, biometric means, and/or radio frequency means. The secure telephone call management system includes accounting software capable of limiting access to the system based on funds in a user's account or other related limitations. The system includes management software capable of implementing widespread or local changes to the system and is further capable of modifying or setting any number of user account parameters. |
| US07844251B2 |
Peer-to-peer distributed backup system for mobile devices
Some embodiments provide a method, system, and apparatus for transparently backing-up information from a mobile device to distributed devices having storage capabilities. As the mobile device comes within communication range of one or more of the trusted partner devices, information from the mobile device is backed up, in segments or portions, on the one or more distributed partner devices. Information backed-up in one partner device may be transferred to another partner device for storage. A centralized master server may also maintain a list of the locations (e.g., partner devices) where backup information is maintained for the mobile device. When requested to do so by a user, the centralized server can retrieve and consolidate the backup information for the mobile device. |
| US07844247B2 |
System for automatic wireless utilization of cellular telephone devices in an emergency by co-opting nearby cellular telephone devices
Parties are automatically notified mounting a controller and a peer-to-peer short-range wireless communicator on a vehicle; responsive to a vehicle urgency, pinging by the short-range communicator a long-range communication device within peer-to-peer range, the long-range device being capable of delivering a notification to a party via a wireless network which has a longer range than the peer-to-peer range, and being physically detached from the vehicle; receiving a message indicating that user authorization is required; sending a request for authorization; receiving temporary authorization to co-opt the long-range communications device to deliver the emergency notification message via the wireless network; and sending the emergency notification message from the short-range wireless communicator through the co-opted long- range communication device first over the peer-to-peer communications and second over the wireless network, to a hotline service. |
| US07844244B2 |
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for providing dynamic assignment of slot cycle index for network nodes
An apparatus for providing dynamic assignment of slot cycle index includes a processing element. The processing element may be configured to send a registration message to a server for registering a network node to a service associated with the server, to receive a response to the registration message from the server in which the response identifies slot cycle index information, and to apply a slot cycle value at the network node based on stored information defining the slot cycle value corresponding to the identified slot cycle index information. |
| US07844242B2 |
Wireless communication device with programmable antenna system
A wireless communication device includes an integrated circuit (IC) and an antenna system. The IC includes a processing module and a transceiver section. The processing module establishes a wireless communication protocol, converts outbound data into an outbound symbol stream, converts an inbound symbol stream into inbound data, and establishes operational parameters. The transceiver section converts an inbound RF signal into the inbound symbol stream and converts the outbound symbol stream into an outbound RF signal. The antenna system provides a plurality of antenna structures corresponding to the plurality of operational modes of the wireless communication device, wherein the antenna system provides one of the plurality of antenna structures in accordance with the operational parameters to transceive the inbound and outbound RF signals. |
| US07844240B1 |
Method of selecting receive antennas for MIMO systems
A method of performing receive antenna selection is presented. The method executes a determination operation for a set of receive antennas, determines a maximum result of the determination operation for two of the antennas, eliminates one of the two antennas from the set of antennas, and repeats the determination and elimination process until only a predetermined number of antennas remain in the set. The signals from these remaining antennas are then processed. The present invention reduces receiver complexity and cost. |
| US07844238B2 |
Compensation for holes in the read range of an RFID reader technical field
A reader and a corresponding method are provided for processing transponder data signals received from a transponder in an RFID system. The reader includes an exciter which generates excitation signals, a receiver which conditions the transponder data signals, an antenna coupled to the exciter and receiver which transmits the excitation signals and receives the transponder data signals, and a controller coupled to the receiver. The controller receives the conditioned transponder data signals and demodulates the conditioned signals to extract the transponder data. The controller is configured to detect the amplitude of the conditioned signals and to control operation of the receiver as a function of the amplitude of the conditioned signals. |
| US07844237B2 |
Radio frequency signal for determining location
Systems and methods of position sensing for a receiver, via employing an ability thereof to receive signals in a broader range than what such receiver is initially tuned for. A frequency skip component can skip channel frequencies such that the spectrum range is scanned without a typical requirement of tuning to all the channels during such scan. Accordingly, the subject innovation enables the entire spectrum of interest to be scanned at a substantially reduced amount of time. Location interpolation for the receiver and time stamping of received signals can be implemented as part of the position sensing. |
| US07844236B1 |
Apparatus and method for enabling an adaptation unit to be shared among a plurality of receivers
An apparatus and method are provided to enable an adaptation unit to be shared among a plurality of receivers. The adaptation unit provides compensation values to each receiver to enable each receiver to compensate for the pulse response effect experienced by that receiver. By sharing an adaptation unit among a plurality of receivers rather than having a dedicated adaptation unit for each receiver, the chip space needed is significantly reduced since the number of adaptation units that need to be implemented is significantly reduced. In addition, the fewer number of adaptation units leads to less power consumption during operation. Overall, the sharing of the adaptation unit enables greater efficiency and improved scalability to be achieved. |
| US07844231B2 |
Apparatus and method for transmit/receive antenna switch in a TDD wireless communication system
An apparatus and method in a Time Division Duplex (TDD) wireless communication system are provided. The apparatus includes two 90° hybrid couplers and a phase converter block. The two 90° hybrid couplers each separate a signal into two signals and output the two signals, and each couple two signals and output the coupled signal. The phase converter block connects between the two 90° hybrid couplers. In a transmission mode, the phase converter block identically varies phases of two signals and outputs the varied two signals to the second 90° hybrid coupler. In a reception mode, the phase converter block varies phases of two signals and outputs the varied two signals to the first 90° hybrid coupler. |
| US07844224B2 |
Method for supporting simultaneously multiple-path Bluetooth audio applications
An optimized method for supporting simultaneously multipath Bluetooth audio application in a system includes said system establishes Bluetooth audio connections with a plurality of remote Bluetooth device simultaneously said system selects or adds dedicated Bluetooth soundcard audio device for each Bluetooth audio connection the data of each Bluetooth audio connection makes interaction with Bluetooth audio application in the system via respective dedicated Bluetooth sound card thus supporting multipath Bluetooth audio application simultaneously is realized in the system. Said system configures the sampling frequency and the sound channel mode of the Bluetooth soundcard audio device based on the format of the Bluetooth audio connection, in order to match the sampling frequency and the sound channel mode of audio data of the Bluetooth audio connection and reduce audio data format conversion. When said system exists a plurality of sound card audio devices only one of the sound card audio devices can become default sound card audio device usually the system sets automatically system default sound card audio device and notify correlative Bluetooth audio application. Said system also can notify correlative Bluetooth audio application that corresponding soundcard audio device hand been all set after said Bluetooth audio connections are established successfully so that multiple sound card are transparent for users. |
| US07844220B2 |
Headset, portable communication system, and headset calling method
Disclosed is a headset which includes a radio communication unit and control unit. The radio communication unit has 2 communication mode. The first mode is used for communication with an access point connected to a fixed network. The second mode is used for communication with a specific portable communication terminal. The communication control unit judges whether the headset can communicate with the access point. The communication control unit selects either one of said first and said second mode based on the judgment result. When the first mode is selected, the communication control unit connects the headset to the fixed network with the telephone number of the specific portable communication terminal as a telephone number of the call originating party. |
| US07844216B2 |
Wireless repeater using a single RF chain for use in a TDD wireless network
A repeater for re-transmitting an incoming RF signal comprising: a first antenna array for receiving the incoming RF signal; a second antenna array for transmitting an outgoing RF signal; and a transceiver for down-converting the incoming RF signal to a down-converted signal, processing the down-converted signal, and up-converting the processed signal to produce the outgoing RF signal. The first antenna array is cross-polarized with respect to the second antenna array. The repeater also comprises an echo processor for attenuating in the down-converted signal an echo signal associated with the outgoing RF signal. The echo processor delays transmission of the outgoing RF signal in order to minimize the echo signal. |
| US07844213B2 |
Reducing spectral roll-off factors to increase spectral efficiency
Systems for delivering a plurality of broadcast programs where the transmitter and receiver roll-off factors are mismatched. A system in accordance with the present invention comprises a transmitter comprising a modulator, and a plurality of receivers, each receiver in the plurality of receivers receiving the plurality of broadcast programs, each receiver in the plurality of receivers further comprising a demodulator; wherein the modulator has a first root-raised cosine filter having a first roll-off factor and each receiver has a second root-raised cosine filter having a second roll-off factor, the first roll-off factor being smaller than the second roll-off factor. |
| US07844207B2 |
Image forming apparatus including belt traveling unit which detects drifiting of belt postion
A belt traveling unit includes an endless belt, a drive roller and a correction roller, a driving unit, a correction unit, a contact member, a position detector and a regulating member. The endless belt is spanned between a plurality of rollers. The driving unit rotates the drive roller to drive the belt. The correction unit adjusts a tilt angle of the correction roller to correct drifting of the belt in the width direction thereof. The contact member is rotatable in conjunction with traveling of the belt in the width direction thereof. The position detector detects a position of the contact member to detect a position of the belt in the width direction thereof. The regulating member is located at a position where the position detector does not misdetect the position of the belt when the contact member rotates. |
| US07844200B2 |
Image forming apparatus with a pre-exposure light control feature
An inexpensive image forming apparatus, which can suppress a ghost to obtain an image maintaining satisfactory density and gradations for a long time. The apparatus including an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a contact charger in contact with the photosensitive member for charging the photosensitive member, a charging voltage applying device for applying direct current voltage to the contact charger, a charging current detector for detecting electric current flowing through the contact charger, a pre-exposure device for exposing the photosensitive member to light to remove residual charge on the photosensitive member, and a pre-exposure light amount controller for controlling an exposure light amount of the pre-exposure device in image formation based on the results of detection by the charging current detector when the exposure light amount of the pre-exposure device is changed with direct current voltage applied from the charging voltage applying device to the contact charger during non-image formation. |
| US07844199B2 |
Image forming apparatus having detachable intermediate transfer body
An image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus body including: an image forming unit that forms toner images having the colors being different from each other; a intermediate transfer body that has a belt-shape, and that is arranged in an upper portion of the image forming unit being inclined with respect to the horizontal direction, the toner images being transferred onto the intermediate transfer body; an intermediate transfer body unit that detachably holds the intermediate transfer body with respect to the apparatus body; and a guide rail member that detachably guides the intermediate transfer body unit in a direction of one side of the apparatus body, and that is set so that the direction, in which the intermediate transfer body unit is guided, is changed in the middle of guiding. |
| US07844197B2 |
Photosensitive member cartridge, developer cartridge and process cartridge
A process cartridge includes a developer frame portion and a photosensitive member frame portion, wherein when the photosensitive member frame portion is attached to the developer frame portion, a first extension portion and a second extension portion are positioned in a substantially overlapping configuration and the first extension portion engages the second extension portion so as to urge a developer carrying member toward a photosensitive member. |
| US07844195B2 |
Cleaning member
The present invention provides a cleaning member which can be produced at low cost and which maintains excellent cleaning performance for a long period of time. The cleaning member has a lower layer formed through winding a double-faced tape formed of a sponge member having an adhesive layer on each side thereof around the surface of a core member, and an upper layer provided on the outer surface of the lower layer. The upper layer is formed of at least one fiber layer made of woven fabric or knitted fabric. |
| US07844194B2 |
Image forming apparatus with an air channel that communicates with a handle for a sheet cassette
An image forming apparatus includes: an apparatus main body; a sheet feeding cassette attached to the apparatus main body so as to be pulled out to an outside; a cover that covers, with an internal space in between, a portion of the apparatus main body different from a portion where the sheet feeding cassette is attached; a handle portion formed on a front face side in a pull-out direction of the sheet feeding cassette so as to open for enabling a user to insert a fingertip therein; an air channel formed in the sheet cassette and allowing an opening of the handle portion and the internal space inside the cover to communicate with each other; and an air blower that sends outside air inside the apparatus main body by way of the opening, the air channel, and the internal space. |
| US07844191B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method performed by the image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus, in which an image forming method is performed, includes an image carrier, an optical writing unit, a developing unit developing a toner image including an output image and a forcible toner consumption image, a transfer unit including an endless moving member to transfer the toner image onto the endless moving member directly or a recording medium carried on the endless moving member, a first remover to remove residual toner from the image carrier after transfer, a toner recycling unit to convey the residual toner to the developing unit, a controller to form the forcible toner consumption image and transfer the forcible toner consumption image onto the surface of the endless moving member, and a second remover to remove the forcible toner consumption image from the endless moving member. |
| US07844189B2 |
Phase controllable optical delay interferometer, optical differential phase shift keying demodulator using the same, and demodulating method therefor
An optical DPSK signal demodulator includes a signal separator that separates an optical signal into an input optical signal and an output optical signal in a signal optical path. First and second reflectors are provided at a predetermined interval and reflect the optical signals with a predetermined time delay to have substantially the same intensity. A phase shifter is provided between the first and second reflectors and configured to allow the optical signals reflected from the first and second reflectors to have a phase difference. |
| US07844185B2 |
Method and apparatus for suppressing optical surge in optical burst switching network
Apparatuses and methods are provided which suppress a surge component occurring at an optical amplifier on an optical path through which an optical burst signal is transmitted. An optical amplifier may experience a surge due to the power variation of the optical burst signal that is fed to the optical amplifier. To suppress such a surge component, a power corresponding to a number of wavelengths of an optical burst signal to be input is calculated. The optical amplifier is instructed to generate an optical signal with a power corresponding to a difference between a set value and the calculated power. The generated optical signal and the optical burst signal to be input are coupled and output according to the instruction. Thus, the optical amplifier can receive the optical signal with the constant power and the surge component at the optical amplifier can be suppressed. |
| US07844181B2 |
Simple fibre channel speed negotiation across transport
A method for negotiating speed between a Fiber Channel (FC) local client and a remote FC client across a DWDM network is provided. A transmission speed of the local FC client at a local ingress transport interface is detected. The data from the local FC client is forwarded along with the detected transmission speed to a remote egress transport interface. The remote egress interface forwards the data at the detected transmission speed to the remote FC client. The present invention eliminates complex speed negotiation state machines that would otherwise be required to make the DWDM transport behave like a virtual wire with respect to the FC ports and to allow the FC clients to negotiate the desired speed directly between themselves. |
| US07844180B2 |
Optical device and a method for converting WDM signals into an OTDM signal and vice versa
The invention relates to a device and a method for converting WDM signals into an OTDM signal. The device comprises shifting means (102, 103, 104) adapted to introduce a time shift between the pulses of the WDM signals carried by the optical carriers, modulation means (112, 113, 114) adapted to modify the optical power of the WDM signals, an optical temporal multiplexer/demultiplexer (120), a birefringent propagation medium (130) into which the WDM signals are injected in such a manner as to achieve a soliton trapping phenomenon, and absorption means (140) adapted to introduce optical losses into the components of the OTDM signal. This device performs WDM/OTDM conversion at very high bit rates. It also performs OTDM/WDM conversion. It is intended to be installed in long-haul telecommunication networks. |
| US07844177B2 |
Optical signal changeover device and optical signal changeover method
Disclosed herein are a device and a method for an optical signal changeover that will not necessitate any addition to the capacity of the optical signal selection unit even when the N×M optical switches are expanded in scale, but can keep the optical signal selection unit compact in size and enhance the reliability of the unit. The optical signals received from plural optical transmission lines are converted into predetermined wavelengths by the wavelength conversion unit based on the settings given from the system monitoring control unit. The converted optical signals are bifurcated by the optical bifurcating unit and inputted to the optical switches of the active system and the optical switches of the stand-by system. The optical signals outputted from the optical switches of the active system and from the optical switches of the stand-by system are wavelength-multiplexed by the wavelength multiplexer of the active system and the wavelength multiplexer of the stand-by system and inputted to the 2×1 optical switches of the optical signal selection unit. The optical signal selection unit selects either of the inputted optical signals of the active system or of the stand-by system in accordance with the settings given by the monitoring control unit. The selected wavelength-multiplexed optical signals are demultiplexed by the wavelength demultiplexer into multi-channel optical signals for outputting. |
| US07844173B2 |
Image capturing apparatus
An image capturing apparatus includes an image sensing device that receives object light and generates an image signal relating to the object image, a phase difference detection unit that receives the object light using a ranging sensor and generates a phase difference detection signal, a first focusing unit for performing a first focusing operation on the basis of the phase difference detection signal, and a display controlling unit for displaying a preview image on the basis of a plurality of image signals sequentially generated by the image sensing device before an image is actually recorded. The display controlling unit combines a first area for which the phase difference detection is performed using the ranging sensor and the preview image so as to display the combined image. |
| US07844171B2 |
Rapid thermal processing apparatus and method of manufacture of semiconductor device
A rapid thermal processing apparatus comprises a processing chamber which subjects a semiconductor substrate to rapid thermal processing. A substrate support part is arranged in the processing chamber and supports the substrate. A lamp part optically irradiates the substrate supported by the substrate support part and heats the substrate. A thermo sensor is provided to measure a temperature of the substrate. A temperature computing part computes the temperature of the substrate based on an output signal of the thermo sensor. A control part controls an irradiation intensity of the lamp part according to the temperature computed by the temperature computing part. In this apparatus, the control part is provided to correct a control parameter of the irradiation intensity of the lamp part based on a measured reflectivity of a surface of the substrate. |
| US07844170B2 |
Method for controlling fan speed
A method for controlling a fan speed is disclosed. The fan cools a CPU in a computer. The method includes defining a CPU-max-temp value of a CPU, such that the first fan speed is linearly enhanced with the increase of a real temperature value of the CPU, when the real temperature value of the CPU is lower than the CPU-max-temp value, and changing the CPU-max-temp value to a higher CPU-max-temp value in a basic input output system. A second fan speed is linearly enhanced with an increase of the real temperature value, when the real temperature value is lower than the higher CPU-max-temp value. The second fan speed is less than the first fan speed at the real temperature value. |
| US07844169B2 |
Method for converting data format
A method for converting the MPEG 1 data format to the MPEG 2 data format is provided. The method includes reading and mapping the MPEG 1 data format to the MPEG 2 data format to generate a first title file and a second title file. Sequential playback functions defined in the Video 1.1 specification is supported when the first title file is selected for playback. Otherwise, playback controls functions defined in the Video 2.0 specification is supported when the second title file is selected for playback. |
| US07844162B2 |
Method for fabricating IR-transmitting chalcogenide glass fiber
A thermally stable chalcogenide glass, a process for making the same, and an optical fiber drawn therefrom are provided. A chalcogenide glass having the composition Ge(5−y)As(32−x)Se(59+x)Te(4+y) (0≦y≦1 and 0≦x≦2) is substantially free from crystallization when it is heated past the glass transition temperature Tg or drawn into optical fibers. A process for making the thermally stable chalcogenide glass includes purifying the components to remove oxides and scattering centers, batching the components in a preprocessed distillation ampoule, gettering oxygen impurities from the mixture, and heating the components to form a glass melt. An optical fiber formed from the chalcogenide glass is substantially free from crystallization and exhibits low signal loss in the near-infrared region, particularly at wavelengths of about 1.55 μm. |
| US07844155B2 |
Optical fiber containing alkali metal oxide
Disclosed is an optical fiber having a silica-based core comprising an alkali metal oxide a silica-based core, said core comprising an alkali metal oxide selected from the group consisting of K2O, Na2O, Li2O, Rb2O, Cs2O and mixtures thereof in an average concentration in said core between about 10 and 10000 ppm by weight, and a silica-based cladding surrounding and directly adjacent the core, the cladding including a region having a lower index of refraction than the remainder of such cladding. By appropriately selecting the concentration of alkali metal oxide dopant in the core and the cladding, a low loss optical fiber may be obtained which exhibits a cable cutoff less than 1400 nm chromatic dispersion at 1550 nm between about 13 and 19 ps/nm/km, and a zero dispersion wavelength less than about 1324 nm. |
| US07844154B2 |
Optical fiber for optical power transmission
An optical fiber adapted to carry optical power for powering an electrical device and also optionally adapted to carry optical data for signal processing. The optical fiber capable of carrying both optical data and optical power includes a central data waveguide region that carries data light and an annular power waveguide region concentrically surrounding the data waveguide region and adapted to carry relatively large amounts of optical power. A first annular isolation region between the data and power waveguide regions and that includes microstructures serves to optically isolate the waveguide regions. An outer annular isolation region serves to confine power light to the power waveguide region and contributes to the bend-resistance of the optical fiber. An optical power and optical data distribution system that utilizes the optical fiber is also described. |
| US07844147B2 |
Dynamic waveform shaping in a continuous fiber
A system for dynamic waveform shaping in an optical fiber comprising: the optical fiber receiving an optical waveform, the optical waveform having individual spectral lines; a plurality of fiber bragg gratings in-line on the optical fiber, each having a reflectivity wavelength corresponding to one of the spectral lines; a plurality of polarization controllers in-line on the optical fiber, each polarization controller receiving the optical waveform from a respective fiber bragg grating; a circulator for directing the optical waveform as input to the plurality of fiber bragg gratings and receiving the optical waveform as output from the plurality of fiber bragg gratings; and a polarizer in-line on the optical fiber receiving the optical waveform from the fiber bragg gratings and the polarization controllers. |
| US07844140B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and server and control method of the same
An image processing apparatus includes a generating unit for generating a database related to image data acquired by image sensing, a transmitting unit for transmitting image data to a server, a receiving unit for receiving characteristic data of the image data from the server, the characteristic data being based on the result of at least person extraction performed on the image data, a recording unit for recording, on a recording medium, the characteristic data related to the image data and received from the server as a part of the database generated by the generating unit, a searching unit for presenting the characteristic data such that the characteristic data can be designated, and searching the database so as to hit image data corresponding to the designated characteristic data, and a display unit for displaying images based on the image data hit by the searching unit. |
| US07844139B2 |
Information management apparatus, information management method, and computer program product
A feature-amount extracting unit extracts a first feature amount of information to be registered, from the information. A searching unit searches for a second feature amount of information from a feature-amount storing unit. A similarity calculating unit calculates a similarity between the first feature amount and the second feature amount. A registering unit registers the first information in association with a similarity-information list in a similarity-information-list storing unit, which includes the second information corresponding to the second feature amount of which the calculated similarity is larger than a threshold, as similarity information. |
| US07844138B2 |
History control apparatus
A history management apparatus includes: a detection unit that detects a character or a word included in image data which is processed in an image processing apparatus; and a storage unit that stores information to specify a detection position of the detected character or word in the image data and the image data in association with each other. The stored information is provided to an image data searching process using the character or the word and the detecting position as search conditions. |
| US07844136B2 |
Apparatus and method for generating coefficients, apparatus and method for generating class configuration, informational signal processing apparatus, and programs for performing these methods
A class configuration generation unit generates (n−1) number of class configurations each of which is comprised of i number of the already selected features plus a feature selected from the remaining (n−i) number of the features (both of n and i are integers). A class configuration selection unit selects an optimal class configuration from the (n−i) number of the class configurations using an arbitrary evaluation value. The features used in the class configuration selected by the selection unit are used as the already selected features in the generation unit. The operations by the generation unit and the selection unit are repeated with values of i sequentially varying from 0 to r−1, thereby generating a class configuration comprised of r number of the features. |
| US07844133B2 |
Method and system for filtering, registering, and matching 2.5D normal maps
An iterative approach to vector median filtering wherein the resulting median vector need not be a member of the original data set. The iterative vector median filtering allows for fast convergence for complex computations and an output which is approximate to the mean, particularly for small data sets.In addition, a method and system for registering and matching 2.5 normal maps is provided. Registration of two maps is performed by optimally aligning their normals through 2-D warping in the image plane in conjunction with a 3-D rotation of the normals. Once aligned, the average dot-product serves as a matching metric for automatic target recognition (ATR). |
| US07844124B2 |
Method of estimating a quantization parameter
A method of estimating a quantization parameter is provided. The method is applied to a de-blocking filter. The de-blocking filter de-blocks a decoded block-based image according to the quantization parameter, and the block-based image is coded and decoded in units of macroblocks. The method comprises calculating blocking degrees of a number of block edges corresponding to the macroblocks; and estimating the quantization parameter according to a sum of the blocking degrees. |
| US07844120B2 |
Method and device for compressing image data
A method for compressing image data on which a pseudo gradation process has been performed by using a dither pattern is provided. The method includes the steps of dividing the image data into predetermined blocks, calculating a typical value if an arrangement pattern of image data in each block can be reproduced by using a dither pattern that was used for the pseudo gradation process and the typical value, checking whether there is an arrangement pattern that matches the arrangement pattern of the image data in the block before then if it cannot be reproduced, calculating position data indicating a matching position if there is the arrangement pattern before then, obtaining the arrangement pattern of the image data in the block as block data if there is not the arrangement pattern before then, and using the calculated or obtained typical value, position data or block data for generating compressed data. |
| US07844119B2 |
Wavelet detector for finding similarities between major boundaries in images
A method of and a system for finding similarities between major boundaries of images using a wavelet detector is described herein. Unimportant edges of the image are disregarded by eliminating Gaussian wavelet coefficients and Haar wavelet coefficients of lower significance. Comparison between the images is made on the basis of quantized color, sign and magnitude of the Haar wavelet coefficients. The method performs the comparison between images in two steps. First, the method checks for exact matches between the Haar wavelet coefficients to determine whether the images are very similar. This is followed by binning of the coefficients into nine spatial bins in the image. A representative is assigned to each of the bins in terms of color, orientation and sign. Each bin of one image is compared with all the bins of the other image. Thus, images that are similar but not identical are still detected. |
| US07844117B2 |
Method for identifying images under distortion via noise characterization and bregman optimal matrix approximations
An image digest based search approach allows images within an image repository related to a query image to be located despite cropping, rotating, localized changes in image content, compression formats and/or an unlimited variety of other distortions. In particular, the approach allows potential distortion types to be characterized and to be fitted to an exponential family of equations matched to a Bregman distance. Image digests matched to the identified distortion types may then be generated for stored images using the matched Bregman distances, thereby allowing searches to be conducted of the image repository that explicitly account for the statistical nature of distortions on the image. Processing associated with characterizing image noise, generating matched Bregman distances, and generating image digests for images within an image repository based on a wide range of distortion types and processing parameters may be performed offline and stored for later use, thereby improving search response times. |
| US07844111B2 |
Image processing method, recording medium with recorded image processing program and image processing apparatus
An image processing method for carrying out predetermined correction processing with respect to one or more items regarding the quality of color images and the image processing method comprises a judgment step for judging the necessity/nonnecessity of correction with respect to each of the above-mentioned items and a correction processing step for carrying out the predetermined correction processing with respect to the item judged as required to be corrected at the above-mentioned judgment step. |
| US07844110B2 |
Method of processing image data and apparatus operable to execute the same
A method and apparatus for receiving image data obtained by capturing an image. The image data is compared with a prescribed criterion for judging whether the image includes a prescribed part of a human, and a part of the image including the prescribed part of the human with a matching degree with respect to the criterion is extracted. The extracted part of the image is corrected in accordance with the matching degree to obtain corrected image data. |
| US07844102B2 |
Analog-to-digital conversion apparatus and sensing apparatus having the same
A sensing apparatus includes a reference voltage generation circuit for generating a first and a second reference signals having different constant voltage levels, an A/D conversion circuit having a ring-gate-delay circuit, and a correction circuit for correcting an output value of the A/D conversion circuit. The A/D conversion circuit converts a load signal and the first and second reference signals to digital data based on the number of times a pulse signal input to the ring-gate-delay circuit circulates through the ring-gate-delay circuit. The correction circuit corrects the output value based on a ratio of a first difference between the digital data to a second difference between the digital data. |
| US07844101B2 |
System and method for performing post-plating morphological Cu grain boundary analysis
Grain size variations within a copper film are quantified by analyzing an SEM image of a portion of the copper film, determining an approximate total length of grain boundaries within the SEM image, and calculating a grain boundary density based on the approximate total length of the grain boundaries and the area of the copper film represented in the SEM image. The calculated grain boundary density allows for correlating plating and anneal process parameters, as well as electrical and reliability performance. |
| US07844100B2 |
Method for filtering nuisance defects
A method for inspecting a sample, consisting of receiving a definition of image attributes that are characteristic of defects, and processing an image of the sample so as to identify candidate defects on the sample. The method further includes forming distributions of values of the respective attributes from the candidate defects, and selecting a set of the candidate defects that are characterized by respective candidate attribute values that fall in one or more tails of the distributions. The selected set is presented to a human operator, and respective classifications of the candidate defects in the selected set are received from the operator. A definition of the one or more tails of the distributions is refined responsively to the classifications. The method may be used as a filter to remove false alarms, or nuisances. The method may also be used to categorize the candidate defects into two or more classes. |
| US07844098B2 |
Method for performing color analysis operation on image corresponding to monetary banknote
A method for performing a color analysis operation on an image corresponding to at least a monetary banknote is provided. The method comprises: dividing the image into a plurality of blocks; performing a block analysis operation on each block of the image to generate a block analysis result of each block; performing a super-block analysis operation on each super-block of the image to generate a super-block analysis result of each super-block, wherein each super-block includes more than one block; and performing a global analysis operation on the image to identify a currency type of the monetary banknote according to super-block analysis results of super-blocks of the image. |
| US07844095B2 |
Method and apparatus for virtual bowel cleaning
A method and an apparatus for virtual bowel cleaning are disclosed. A first CT volume data record of an area of the bowel of interest is produced, in which voxels relating to a bowel content are identified and are suitably modified in order to obtain a modified data record without visible bowel contents, which is then visualized. In at least one embodiment of the method, at least one further volume data record is produced of the area of interest, which was recorded by a CT scanner with a different spectral distribution than the first volume data record which was recorded by a CT scanner, with at least some of the voxels relating to the bowel content being identified on the basis of information about a local density and/or atomic number, which is obtained from data in the first and the further volume data record taking account of the different spectral distributions. In at least one embodiment, the method and the apparatus make it possible to increase the reliability of virtual bowel cleaning. |
| US07844089B2 |
Image interpretation report creating apparatus
An image interpretation report creating apparatus for displaying a case in combination of an image interpretation report and a blood test result even if they are stored in different computers. The apparatus includes: a display unit for displaying an image interpretation report creation screen along with a blood test result; an input unit for specifying finding and a blood test result; a search key generating unit for generating search keys for searching an image interpretation report DB and a blood test result DB; a search processing unit for causing an image interpretation report server and an examination result server to obtain cases that match the search keys; a similarity degree determining unit for displaying the cases in an order of the degree of similarity; and an image interpretation report preservation unit for causing the image interpretation report server to store image interpretation report data. |
| US07844088B2 |
Methods and systems for data analysis and feature recognition including detection of avian influenza virus
Systems and methods for automated pattern recognition and detection of avian influenza virus in a data set corresponding to an aspect of a biological sample. The method includes receiving a first data set corresponding to a first aspect of a first biological sample, analyzing the first data set using results of a first series of algorithms processed on a second data set corresponding to an aspect of a second biological sample known to contain avian influenza virus, generating an algorithm value cache for the first data set by running a second series of algorithms on the first data set, generating a match result by comparing the algorithm value cache with the results of the first series of algorithms, and performing a processing action based on the generated match result. |
| US07844086B2 |
Head pose assessment methods and systems
Improvements are provided to effectively assess a user's face and head pose such that a computer or like device can track the user's attention towards a display device(s). Then the region of the display or graphical user interface that the user is turned towards can be automatically selected without requiring the user to provide further inputs. A frontal face detector is applied to detect the user's frontal face and then key facial points such as left/right eye center, left/right mouth corner, nose tip, etc., are detected by component detectors. The system then tracks the user's head by an image tracker and determines yaw, tilt and roll angle and other pose information of the user's head through a coarse to fine process according to key facial points and/or confidence outputs by pose estimator. |
| US07844084B2 |
Rotation compensated iris comparison
A method of comparing a test iris image with a candidate iris image comprises generating test and candidate lists representative of measured image values along respective curves around the pupils. Treating these list as periodic, a relative displacement is calculated at which one list best matches the other list. This determines the amount of rotation required for best match of the iris images. The method may be used either alone or in combination with other identity verification systems. |
| US07844083B2 |
Method for acquiring personal identification data, personal identification method, apparatus for acquiring personal identification data, and personal identification apparatus
The present invention provides a method for acquiring personal identification data by extracting a ridge-and-recess pattern corresponding to a fingerprint or a knuckle joint and lines on a palm by utilizing characteristics by which subcutaneous bloodstream distribution is spatially modulated by the ridge-and-recess pattern on the surface when measuring a subcutaneous bloodstream distribution based on a bloodstream measuring technology utilizing laser scattering, and by acquiring the same as personal identification data based on living body information, and the same method for acquiring personal identification data includes the steps of: irradiating a laser beam onto at least a part of a fingertip surface or a palm; imaging reflection light from subcutaneous blood vessel layers at an irradiation spot to which a laser beam is irradiated by receiving the same on an image sensor as laser speckles; calculating a change ratio of a light-receiving amount at respective pixels of the laser speckles; preparing a two-dimensional bloodstream map of the irradiation spot based on the numerical values obtained in the step of calculating a change ratio of a light-receiving amount; and storing a ridge-and-recess pattern of the irradiation spot appearing in the two-dimensional bloodstream map as personal identification data. |
| US07844082B2 |
Method and system for biometric authentication
A method for authentication by biometric data, including receiving a biometric data set; evaluating if the received biometric data set is within a reference region, wherein the reference region represents a region associated with a reference biometric data set; evaluating if the received biometric data set is within a blackout region, wherein the blackout region represents a region associated with at least one previously received and positively authenticated biometric data set; and issuing a positive authentication if the received biometric data set is within the reference region, but outside the blackout region. |
| US07844081B2 |
Imaging systems and methods for obtaining and using biometric information
Disclosed herein are exemplary embodiments of imaging systems and methods of using such systems. In one exemplary embodiment, one or more direct images of the body of a clothed subject are received, and a motion signature is determined from the one or more images. In this embodiment, the one or more images show movement of the body of the subject over time, and the motion signature is associated with the movement of the subject's body. In certain implementations, the subject can be identified based at least in part on the motion signature. Imaging systems for performing any of the disclosed methods are also disclosed herein. Furthermore, the disclosed imaging, rendering, and analysis methods can be implemented, at least in part, as one or more computer-readable media comprising computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform the respective methods. |
| US07844075B2 |
Image processing
A method of processing image data relating to at least one image comprising using data relating to disposition and saliency of selected salient portions of the or each image, generating at least one respective saliency vector for respective said portions, and a device operable in accordance with the method. |
| US07844073B2 |
Watermark-based goods authentication
An implementation is described herein facilitates certification of goods and/or identifications of the source of such goods. At least one implementation, described herein, embeds a watermark into a relatively small amount of data in a deterministic manner. This abstract itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. The scope of the present invention is pointed out in the appending claims. |
| US07844070B2 |
Methods and apparatus for processing audio signals
Various methods and apparatus for processing audio signals are disclosed herein. The assembly may be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a removable oral appliance to form a hearing aid assembly. Such an oral appliance may be a custom-made device which can enhance and/or optimize received audio signals for vibrational conduction to the user. Received audio signals may be processed to cancel acoustic echo such that undesired sounds received by one or more intra-buccal and/or extra-buccal microphones are eliminated or mitigated. Additionally, a multiband actuation system may be used where two or more transducers each deliver sounds within certain frequencies. Also, the assembly may also utilize the sensation of directionality via the conducted vibrations to emulate directional perception of audio signals received by the user. Another feature may include the ability to vibrationally conduct ancillary audio signals to the user along with primary audio signals. |
| US07844067B2 |
Universal horn speaker
A universal speaker horn assembly includes a speaker horn sized and shaped to fit into a four inch deep space and connectors which are adjustable to such an extent to permit the speaker horn to be mounted to substantially any site, regardless of desired speaker position and building construction material. A grille press-fits to the front of the horn and a trim ring hides connectors from an optional trim plate to an optional back box. Speaker controls can be accessed from the rear or front of the system. |
| US07844065B2 |
Hearing instrument
According to the first aspect of the invention, a hearing instrument with at least one microphone and signal processing comprises at least two receivers having a different frequency response. At least a first one of the receivers is placed outside the ear canal, for example in a behind-the-ear component. According to the second aspect of the invention, a hearing instrument comprising a behind-the-ear component and an external component for being placed in the user's ear canal or in the user's ear as well as a connection link between the behind-the-ear component and the external component is provided, where the connection link is reversibly pluggable to the behind-the-ear component and/or the in-the-ear-canal component and has a length that is reversibly adjustable. The hearing instrument also comprises fixation means for reversibly fixing the adjusted length of the connection link. A hearing instrument according to the third aspect comprises a fixation means separate from the in-the-ear-canal component. The fixation means may be positioned in the ear canal and rest therein. The in-the-ear-canal component may be connected to the fixation means and detached therefrom when the same is already in the ear canal. |
| US07844063B2 |
Hearing and apparatus with compensation of acoustic and electromagnetic feedback signals
Hearing aids with microphone and telephone coil are to be made simpler and more convenient. For this purpose it is provided to use an adaptive filter to compensate acoustic and electromagnetic feedback. In order to allow for the propagation delay differences, a delay element is connected downstream of the telephone coil. The microphone and telephone coil signals can be individually weighted with the factors a and b so that mixed mode is also possible. |
| US07844062B2 |
Method for the synchronization of signal tones and corresponding hearing aids
The output of signal tones from hearing aids for binaural coverage is to be synchronized. To this end, it is provided that the counters of the two hearing aids are equalized by a synchronization signal. By transmitting a control signal with a count value or before a predetermined count value, the simultaneous emission of a signal tone from the two hearing aids is initiated. Alternatively, for the indirect synchronization of the counters the respective differences of the counter readings may also be stored in the individual hearing aids. |
| US07844061B2 |
Speaker system of utilizing pulse width modulation signals for saving idling power consumption
In a speaker system, pulse width modulation signals are utilized for driving said speaker system, and duty cycles of both left audio channel signals and right audio channel signals of an earphone in said speaker system are modulated by said pulse width modulation signals. When the left audio channel or the right audio channel of the earphone has no inputted audio signals with the abovementioned modulated duty cycles, the speaker system may be prevented from unnecessary power consumption. Besides, audio signals from both the left audio channel and the right audio channel of the earphone and outputted from the speaker system may thus be synchronized further by both the pulse width modulation signals and a sawtooth wave source for generating said pulse width modulation signals, for reducing noise and increasing an output audio quality of the speaker system. The abovementioned speaker system is preferably utilized for a Class D amplifier. |
| US07844060B2 |
Remote control single crystal speaker system
A light socket mounted radio receiver speaker device having a light bulb screw base for attaching to a light socket. A detector having a detector signal input, a first electrical output and a control output is electrically connected to the light bulb screw base. A radio receiver is controlled by the control output of the detector, having a radio frequency input and an audio signal output, whereby said radio receiver converts a radio signal into an audio signal. A speaker is connected to the audio signal output of the radio receiver, whereby said audio signal may be propagated. A light bulb socket is in electrical connection with the first electrical output of the detector. |
| US07844052B2 |
Encoding and detecting apparatus
An encoding data processing apparatus is arranged to generate a marked copy of an item of material by introducing at least one code word into a copy of the material item, the code word being arranged to identify a payload data word. The encoding apparatus comprises an encryption circuit operable to receive a payload encryption key and to receive the payload data word, and to encrypt the payload data word using the payload encryption key. A pseudo random number generator receives the encrypted payload data and a finger print key and generates the code word having a plurality of code word coefficients using the encrypted payload as a seed for the pseudo random number generator and the finger print key. A combiner combines the code word with the material to form the marked copy of the material item. The encoding apparatus may form part of a media terminal for marking material items with the code words, when the material items are to be reproduced. A more secure system for reproducing watermarked material can be formed using the encoding apparatus in which the payload data is encrypted and used as a seed for the pseudo random number generator with the finger print key to generate the code word coefficients. The code word is thereby generated from a finger print key and an encrypted seed, which provides an improved level of security against an attack aimed at compromising correction detection of a code word in a mark material item. |
| US07844048B2 |
Selective tone event detector and method therefor
In one embodiment, a tone event detector first determines whether the presence of a tone is indicated on the input signal, and then, based on this determination, selectively determines whether a tone has been detected on the input signal. For example, in one embodiment, tone detection is performed only when the presence of a tone is first indicated, such that if the presence of a tone is not indicated, tone detection need not be performed. This may help reduce complexity of a tone event detector since a simplified method may be used to indicate the presence of a tone, and the more complex algorithms for tone detection may be enabled only when needed. Also, in one embodiment, detection of a tone includes generating one or more tone characteristics corresponding to the detected tone which may then be used to determine whether the detected tone corresponds to a valid tone event. |
| US07844047B1 |
Tune master internet protocol device
Systems for providing a tune master internet protocol (IP) device includes a communications network configured to provide caller identification information for an incoming telephone call and a processor that is coupled to the communications network. The processor is configured with telephony capabilities and to receive the caller identification information for an incoming telephone call, to access a storage device having tunes, to associate a tune with the caller identification information, and to play the associated tune as notification of the incoming telephone call. Other systems and methods are also provided. |
| US07844046B2 |
Method for generating a telephone number
Method for generating a telephone number in a device comprising at least a display for presenting a first character string. At least one second character string (1) containing a telephone number is selected from the first character string presented on the display, and a telephone number (2), which is signalled is searched for from said character string. The invention also relates to a device, a computer program and a software product implementing the method. |
| US07844045B2 |
Intelligent call routing and call supervision method for call centers
A call routing and supervising system includes an input receiving customer speech from a remote location, and a voice characteristics extractor extracting voice characteristics from the customer speech, such as language/dialect/accent, age group, gender, and eigendimension coordinates. A customer service representative selector selects one or more customer service representatives based on profiles of the customer service representatives respective of customers having voice characteristics similar to the extracted voice characteristics. In other aspects, a call monitor automatically analyzes dialogue between the customer and the customer service representative, such as detected interruptions, tracked dialogue turns, and recognized key phrases indicating frustration, polity, and/or resolution characteristics of dialogue. The call monitor records performance of the customer service representative respective of customers having the voice characteristics. Automatic call rerouting and/or real-time instruction of call center personnel can also be accomplished based on analysis results. |
| US07844037B2 |
Method and device for enabling message responses to incoming phone calls
A computing device is configured to receive an incoming communication from another computing device. The incoming communication may be for purpose of initiating a voice-exchange session. In response to receiving the incoming call, the computing device may identify or determine a message identifier of the other computing device. The message identifier is determined based at least in part on data provided with the incoming communication. The computing device may programmatically address a message to the other computing device using the message identifier determined from the incoming communication. |
| US07844036B2 |
Visual test automation tool for message-based applications, web applications and SOA systems
In one embodiment, a graphical user interface (“GUI”) enables the efficient composition and execution of a test of a message-based application, Web application, or SOA systems' capacity to receive, process and respond to message traffic. The GUI may be used to generate a test composition by dragging and dropping message clips onto one or more tracks. Each clip includes one or more message, with each track being organized into one or more bands. Each track and each band may run contemporaneously to send messages to a target device or application. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. |
| US07844033B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for generic call tracing
Methods, systems, and computer program products for performing a trace of a communications transaction using a dynamically generated endpoint identifier list are disclosed. According to one method, a first endpoint identifier for identifying a communications endpoint is received. A list including the first endpoint identifier is created. A signaling message including the first endpoint identifier may be searched for in the list. A parameter from the signaling message having the first endpoint identifier may be extracted that is distinct from the endpoint identifier. Further, the method may include searching for signaling messages having the extracted parameter. The method may include adding to the list any endpoint identifiers found in the search for signaling messages having the extracted parameter. The method may include searching for signaling messages having any of the endpoint identifiers in the list and thereby tracing a communications transaction involving endpoints in the endpoint identifier list. |
| US07844030B2 |
System and method of fast switching for spectral imaging
A system includes a generator configured to output at least one voltage level and an x-ray source configured to generate x-rays directed toward an object. The system includes a module coupled to the output of the generator and to an input of the x-ray source and configured to switch or assist in switching an output to the x-ray source between a first voltage level and a second voltage level. |
| US07844029B2 |
X-ray diagnostic apparatus
An X-ray diagnostic apparatus includes an X-ray generating unit which generates X rays, an X-ray detecting unit which detects X rays transmitted through a subject, an X-ray exposure operating unit which is operated by an operator, and a system control unit which controls the X-ray generating unit in order to start the generation of the X rays from the X-ray generating unit at a time point when a heart rate phase of the subject reaches a specified phase after the X-ray exposure operating unit is operated. |
| US07844028B2 |
X-ray diffraction method
An X-ray diffraction method for the analysis of polycrystalline materials, the method comprising: (a) providing a polycrystalline material for analysis; (b) providing a polychromatic X-ray source, wherein the source produces X-rays by accelerating charged particles to energies of no more than 1 MeV; (c) collimating X-rays from the polychromatic X-ray source into a beam having a divergence in the range of from 10−4 to 10−2 radians; (d) exposing at least a portion of the polycrystalline material to the collimated X-ray beam, whereby the beam is diffracted; (e) collecting at least some of the diffracted X-rays in an energy dispersive X-ray detector or array; and (f) analysing the collected, diffracted X-rays. |
| US07844021B2 |
Method and apparatus for clock skew calibration in a clock and data recovery system using multiphase sampling
Methods and apparatus are provided for clock skew calibration in a clock and data recovery system. One aspect of the invention compensates for skew among a plurality of clocks in a clock and data recovery system. The clocks are applied to a plurality of latches to sample an incoming signal. A reference signal, such as a Nyquist signal, is applied to a data input of each of the latches. Statistics of “early” and “late” corrections applied to at least one of the clocks by a bang-bang phase detector in the clock and data recovery system are evaluated and a delay of a clock buffer associated with the at least one clock is adjusted to obtain approximately a 50% early-to-late ratio for the at least one clock. The clock and data recovery system ensures that the early-to-late ratio for the sum of the plurality of clocks is approximately 50%. |
| US07844019B2 |
Timing recovery system for a multi-pair gigabit transceiver
A method and a timing recovery system for generating a set of clock signals in a system which includes a set of subsystems. Each of the subsystems includes an analog section. The set of clock signals includes a set of sampling clock signals. Each of the analog sections operates in accordance with a corresponding one of the sampling clock signals. For each of the sampling clock signals, a phase error is generated from a corresponding phase detector. The phase errors are filtered by a set of corresponding loop filters. The filtered phase errors are provided to a set of corresponding oscillators to generate phase control signals. The phase control signals are provided to a set of corresponding phase selectors to generate the sampling clock signals. |
| US07844017B2 |
Carrier frequency detection for signal acquisition
A carrier frequency in a filtered received M-ary phase-shift keyed (MPSK) modulated signal having in-phase and quadrature components is detected by processing the filtered received signal to remove modulation components and thereby generate a test signal at the carrier frequency; processing the test signal to provide an amplitude spectrum of samples at different test frequencies; and processing the amplitude spectrum to detect the carrier frequency in accordance with the test frequency at which there is a test statistic of the highest magnitude. The magnitude of the test statistic is determined by processing a signal statistic in relation to a noise statistic. The signal statistic is the amplitude of the largest-amplitude sample. The filtered received signal is processed to provide approximate values of the modulus of the received signal and the phase of the received signal; and the approximate modulus and phase values are processed to generate the test signal. |
| US07844016B2 |
Radio transmitting apparatus and radio receiving apparatus
A radio transmitting apparatus includes a calibration reference signal generator for generating a calibration reference signal for each of the subcarriers to be calibrated, a subcarrier modulator for modulating the calibration reference signal with the subcarrier, a radio transmitter for frequency-converting a baseband signal, which is the modulated signal, into a transmission signal in a radio frequency band, a radio receiver for frequency-converting the transmission signal in the radio frequency band supplied from the radio transmitter, into a baseband signal, a calibration coefficient measurer for calculating a calibration coefficient from the baseband signal output from the radio receiver, and a calibration coefficient multiplier for multiplying a transmission signal for each of the subcarriers and each of the antenna elements, by the calculated calibration coefficient. |
| US07844011B2 |
Apparatus and method for improving symbol error rate performance of M-ary phase shift keying system having quadrature error
An apparatus and method for improving a symbol error rate of an M-ary phase shift keying (M-PSK) system having a quadrature error are provided. The apparatus includes: a conversion parameter detector that detects a conversion parameter and converts a symbol decision region using the quadrature error and at least one pair of first received symbols; and a converter & determiner converting a pair of second received symbols using the detected conversion parameter, and determining a transmission symbol according to a symbol of the converted pair of second received symbols. An increase in a symbol error rate due to the quadrature error can be prevented and the quadrature error can be easily estimated. |
| US07844006B2 |
Method of non-uniform doppler compensation for wideband orthogonal frequency division multiplexed signals
Described is a method for compensation of an OFDM signal propagating through Doppler-distorted, time-varying multipath channels. The method is based on low-complexity post-FFT signal processing. Minimum mean square error combining of signals is performed for signals received at spatially-distributed receiver elements using adaptive channel estimation and phase tracking. Doppler shifts are modeled as a consequence of motion-induced time compression and dilation. The Doppler rate is assumed constant over one OFDM block but can vary between OFDM blocks. Thus a non-constant Doppler shift is accommodated by the method. Non-uniform Doppler compensation across subchannels is based on adaptive estimation and prediction of the Doppler rate. A single adaptively estimated parameter is used to track the phases of all the carriers and channel estimates are updated on a block by block basis. |
| US07844001B2 |
Process and system for encoding and playback of stereoscopic video sequences
A method for decoding a compressed image stream, the image stream having a plurality of frames, each frame consisting of a merged image including pixels from a left image and pixels from a right image. The method involves the steps of receiving each merged image; changing a clock domain from the original input signal to an internal domain; for each merged image, placing at least two adjacent pixels into an input buffer and interpolating an intermediate pixel, for forming a reconstructed left frame and a reconstructed right frame according to provenance of the adjacent pixels; and reconstructing a stereoscopic image stream from the left and right image frames. The invention also teaches a system for decoding a compressed image stream. |
| US07843997B2 |
Context adaptive variable length code decoder for decoding macroblock adaptive field/frame coded video data
Described herein is a context adaptive variable length code decoder for decoding macroblock adaptive field/frame coded video data. In one embodiment, there is presented a context adaptive variable length code decoder. The context adaptive variable length code decoder comprises a symbol decoder, and a left neighbor buffer. The symbol decoder decodes context adaptive variable length code symbols representing frequency coefficients associated with a partition of a macroblock. The left neighbor buffer stores information about another partition, the another partition being a left neighbor of the partition. The information about the another partition is overwritten by information about the partition. |
| US07843996B2 |
Video encoding/decoding method and apparatus for motion compensation prediction
A video encoding apparatus includes selecting one combination, for each block of an input video signal, from a plurality of combinations. Each combination includes a predictive parameter and at least one reference picture number determined in advance for the reference picture. A prediction picture signal is generated in accordance with the reference picture number and predictive parameter of the selected combination. A predictive error signal is generated representing an error between the input video signal and the prediction picture signal. Encoding the predictive error signal, information of the motion vector, and index information indicating the selected combination is included. |
| US07843995B2 |
Temporal and spatial analysis of a video macroblock
The temporal and/or spatial characteristics of a macroblock are analyzed in order to reduce the number of modes for which motion estimation and rate distortion efficiency calculations are to be performed. In one embodiment, macroblock mean and variance characteristics are analyzed to merge sub-blocks together within the macroblock. These merged sub-blocks may be used to identify both inter and intra modes for the macroblock. |
| US07843994B2 |
Moving picture stream generation apparatus, moving picture coding apparatus, moving picture multiplexing apparatus and moving picture decoding apparatus
To provide a moving picture stream generation apparatus and the like that generates a moving picture stream that can be played back in trick-play such as variable-speed playback and reverse playback even in a Coding format such as the MPEG-4 AVC in which flexible prediction structures are allowed. A moving picture stream generation apparatus includes: a trick-play information generation unit TricPlay for generating supplemental information on a random access unit basis, the supplemental information being referred to at the time of playback of each random access Unit and each random access unit including one or more pictures; and a variable length coding unit VLC for generating a stream including the generated supplemental information and the one or more pictures by adding the supplemental information to each corresponding random access unit. |
| US07843985B2 |
Light chip and optical module
There is provided a light chip and an optical module with high reliability.The light chip 100 according to the present invention is a light chip having a semiconductor laser formed on a first substrate and includes a cavity 18 having an emission surface 22 on the upper surface, a first electrode 24 and a second electrode 26 for driving the semiconductor laser, and a plurality of pad portions 24a, 26a, for flip-chip bonding to a second substrate, respectively connected to the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the cavity is, seen in a plan view, formed outside a region 25 formed by connecting the outermost peripheries of the plurality of pad portions by straight lines. |
| US07843984B2 |
Semiconductor laser device
A semiconductor laser device has a red laser element and an infrared laser element on a substrate. The red laser element has a double hetero structure in which an InGaP-based or AlGaInP-based active layer is interposed between a first conductivity type cladding layer and a second conductivity type cladding layer having a ridge. The infrared laser element has a double hetero structure in which a GaAs-based or AlGaAs-based active layer is interposed between a first conductivity type cladding layer and a second conductivity type cladding layer having a ridge. Provided that a first electrode formed over the second conductivity type cladding layer has a width W1 in a direction perpendicular to a cavity length direction and a second electrode formed over the second conductivity type cladding layer has a width W2 in a direction perpendicular to a cavity length direction, the relations of W1>W2 and 80 μm≧W2≧60 μm are satisfied. |
| US07843983B2 |
Semiconductor laser element and manufacturing method thereof
In an element wherein a plurality of ridges (16, 36) are arranged in parallel, supports (17, 37) are formed to sandwich each of the ridges (16, 36). More specifically, on an outer side of the ridge (16) in the element, the first support (17a) is formed, and on an inner side in the element, the second support (17b) is formed. On an outer side of the ridge (36) in the element, the first support (37a) is formed, and on an inner side in the element, the second support (37b) is formed. Thus, even when a resist is applied on an element surface and spin-coating is performed at the time of manufacturing the element, the resist on the inner side than the ridges (16, 36) in the element can be prevented from flowing into a groove between the ridges to a certain extent by means of the second supports (17b, 37b), and a resist film thickness on the inner sides of the ridges (16, 36) in the element can be prevented from being considerably small compared with that on the outer sides in the element. |
| US07843980B2 |
Semiconductor laser diode
An inventive semiconductor laser diode includes a Group III nitride semiconductor layered structure having a major crystal growth plane defined by a non-polar or semi-polar-plane. The Group III nitride semiconductor layered structure includes: a p-type cladding layer and an n-type cladding layer; an In-containing p-type guide layer and an In-containing n-type guide layer held between the p-type cladding layer and the n-type cladding layer; and an In-containing light emitting layer held between the p-type guide layer and the n-type guide layer. |
| US07843975B2 |
High-power fiber optic pulsed laser device
The invention relates to a high-power fiberoptic laser device comprising at least one laser diode (1) capable of transmitting a pump wave, a triggered optical resonator (22) consisting of a first double-sheathed optical fiber (6), an optical amplifier consisting of a second double-sheathed optical fiber (10), first (33) and second (35) optical coupling means capable of coupling said pump wave onto at least one of the two optical fibers (6) and (10). According to the invention, at least one of the two fibers has a configuration according to which the pump wave coupled to this optical fiber (6) or (10) is partially absorbed, generating a residual pump wave which is coupled to the other optical fiber (6) or (10) by second optical coupling means, and said second optical fiber (10) has a length greater than that of the first optical fiber (6). |
| US07843973B2 |
Method and apparatus for constituting transport network based on integrated synch and asynch frame
Provided is a method for forming a customized-quality integrated transport network based on synch and asynch frames, and a transport network forming apparatus thereof. The method of the present invention includes: a) synchronizing a transmission bit rate in a network; b) when the transmission bit rate is synchronized in the network and a connection request is received, establishing a connection by determining a route and a start cycle time of the link based on a quality of the connection request and transporting it to nodes of the link; and c) transmitting data to be transported to a link of an adjacent node within the virtual cycle time when the data are synch frames; or when the data are asynch frames and the data are not transmitted within a virtual cycle time of a link to be switched, keeping the data waiting for a next cycle time. |
| US07843972B2 |
OFDM signal transmission method, and OFDM signal transmitter/receiver
In an OFDM transmission method, in order to compensate any frequency response variation time wise resulted from any distortion in a transmission path, out-of-synchronization with passage of time, frequency drift, and phase shift, and to improve a demodulation characteristic, a PS detector in a receiver receiving an OFDM signal detects a pilot symbol. A PS1 TPFR calculator calculates a frequency response of the transmission path for a first pilot symbol, while a PS2 TPFR calculator calculates a frequency response of the transmission path for a second pilot symbol. Thereafter, a compensation vector calculator calculates compensation vectors from the frequency responses of the transmission path for both the first and second pilot symbols by linear approximation. A frequency response compensator compensates the frequency response variation of subcarriers in a data symbol based on the calculated compensation vectors. |
| US07843971B2 |
Modular expandable telecommunication system
A modular expandable telecommunication system having a main cabinet and at least one expansion cabinet that are interconnected with each other to obtain an extended telecommunication system with increased connection possibilities for extensions and trunks. The main cabinet and each expansion cabinet have a transmission interface unit allowing connection of the expansion cabinet(s) to the main cabinet via a single transmission link conveying voice/data channels and low level signaling for mutual synchronization and clock recovery for all interconnected cabinets. The main cabinet has a master clock device, a CPU for running software applications and a DSP for routing the higher level messages issued by the CPU depending on the physical location of the expansion cabinet. |
| US07843969B2 |
Communications system to feed multiple single frequency networks with multiple content
A system and processes create a transport stream carrying several encapsulated contents, watermarks, and other ancillary data. The transport stream is re-multiplexed while keeping synchronous and deterministic operation. Synchronous deterministic operation allow each derived transport stream to be broadcasted in Single Frequency Networks, as all re-multiplexers have the same signal at the input and selecting the same content generates exactly the same stream in multiple locations. |
| US07843965B2 |
Dynamic bandwidth allocation method with punishment mechanism in passive optical network
A dynamic bandwidth allocation method with a punishment mechanism applicable in an Ethernet passive optical network (EPON) is provided. The method utilizes GATE message, report message format, and different data types of a multipoint control protocol (MPCP) to order various queues to make the queues have priority and transmit them sequentially in transmission. Meanwhile, the method can fairly allocate the bandwidth and reduce the delay time of queue according to an appropriately designed punishment mechanism and bandwidth allocation principle, so as to fulfill the requirements of Quality of Service (QoS). |
| US07843964B1 |
Method and apparatus for dynamically adjusting broadband access bandwidth
A method and apparatus for providing a method to enable subscribers of broadband access services, such as Digital Subscriber Loop based or Cable based broadband access services, to dynamically reconfigure their access arrangements as a function of the bandwidth usage of subscribers are disclosed. The present invention provides a method for broadband service providers to dynamically adjust access bandwidth allocation for subscribers by monitoring access bandwidth usage by subscribers and dynamically adjust the needed access bandwidth for the subscribers accordingly. |
| US07843961B2 |
Hardware device emulation
A solution for emulating a hardware device is provided. In particular, a communication device that includes a standard mode of operation and a mapping mode of operation is used together with a control program to emulate communication with the hardware device. The mapping mode of operation is used to implement communication functionality that requires hardware, while the control program emulates other communication functionality previously provided by the hardware device. As a result, a protocol, such as a channel protocol, that requires hardware functionality can be successfully emulated using both the control program and the communication device. |
| US07843959B2 |
Prioritising data elements of a data stream
The invention relates to prioritising of data elements of a data stream for transmission to a receiving device including determining a decodability of data elements, wherein the decodability indicates the extent to which the current data element is decodable at the receiving device. Then, a priority is assigned to the data elements based on the determined decodabilities. A transmission of the data elements to a receiving device is then scheduled based on the priorities. |
| US07843957B2 |
Method for managing a communication network comprising wireless links with more than two wireless devices
The invention concerns a method for managing resets in a communication network comprising wireless devices connecting busses over a wireless link, comprising the steps of: electing a parent wireless device among the wireless devices of the network, other wireless devices being labeled child wireless devices; having a first child wireless device send a bus reset message to the parent wireless device further to a reset on the child wireless device's local bus; having the parent wireless device spread the bus reset to other child wireless devices; having the other child wireless devices perform a bus reset on their local wired bus. |
| US07843954B2 |
Scaleable VoIP telephone line circuit
A telephone subscriber line device for providing an interface between a legacy telephone circuit based on circuit-switched technology and a packet network has a legacy interface for connection to telephone circuit; a packet interface for connection to a packet network, processing circuitry for converting between legacy telephone signals and packet signals, and a cascadable expansion bus permitting multiple said devices to be connected to a common port on a packet network. Such a device is highly scalable. |
| US07843950B2 |
Audio/video communications system
An audio/video communication system is provided which includes: a web server providing a user system with a phone icon or button indicating a call receiver and transmitting a phone identifier LN for identifying the receiver allocated to the phone button when a user clicks the icon or button; and a gateway module performing a call setup in response to a data connection request for the audio/video communication from the user system, specifying the user identifier DN for identifying the user system from another user system, transmitting the phone identifier LN to the IP-based telephone exchanger, and relaying a communication between a phone connected to the IP-based telephone exchanger and the user system to progress the audio/video communication. |
| US07843949B2 |
Communication apparatus and method with changing composition of a vectored group
In an embodiment, a method for crosstalk reduction includes reducing crosstalk of a group of communication channels based on crosstalk reduction parameters. The method also changes a composition of the group of communication channels, which includes including at least one additional communication channel to the group, removing at least one communication channel from the group or exchanging at least one communication channel of the group for at least one communication channel not in the group. Crosstalk reduction parameters are calculated after the change of composition based on crosstalk reduction parameters before the change of composition. |
| US07843946B2 |
Method and system for providing via a data network information data for recovering a clock frequency
At an ingress interface of a data network first information data are generated, at an egress interface of the data network second information data are generated, correction data are generated on the basis of the second information data, and at the egress interface a clock frequency is recovered on the basis of the first information data and the correction data. |
| US07843942B2 |
Node and fair rate calculating method
A topology database stores the number of RPR nodes which belong to an RPR network. A traffic rate measuring unit sends a variety of parameters for calculating a communication band available to a fairness controlled traffic packet to a fairness control unit. Upon detection of congestion, the fairness control unit calculates a communication band available for transmission of the fairness controlled traffic packet from the parameters sent from the traffic rate measuring unit, divides the communication band by the number of nodes to find an initial value for a fair rate. |
| US07843941B2 |
Communication system, server, communication terminal and communication method
A communication system includes: communication terminals; and a server that can connect to and communicate with the communication terminals, wherein: the server including: a first communication section that communicates with the communication terminals; a storage section that stores a plurality of connection patterns each of which indicates timings at which the communication terminal will access the server; a pattern selection section that selects one of the connection patterns from the storage section; and a first control section that controls the first communication section to transmit the connection pattern selected by the pattern selection section to the communication terminal the first communication section connects to; and the communication terminal including: a second communication section that communicates with the server; and a second control section that controls the second communication section to connect to the server at timing indicated in the connection pattern received by the second communication section. |
| US07843935B2 |
System and method for resource management in a terminal connected to a communication network
A system for managing a resource in a terminal (10) for an architecture (15, 15′) dedicated to a communications network. The system includes a dedicated architecture resource manager (16, 16′) adapted to process a request for a resource of the dedicated architecture (15, 15′) defined by a process manager (17, 17′) of the dedicated architecture (15, 15′) as a function of an application activated on the terminal (10) and to dialogue with a resource administrator (14) of a dedicated architecture manager (13) to manage a resource of the terminal (10) and to process simultaneously the operation of the dedicated architectures (15, 15′) of the terminal (10) that are connected to a plurality of the communications networks. Application to the management of resources allocated to a communications network from a set of communications networks each offering a set of services via a dedicated architecture (15, 15′) integrated in a terminal (10) connected to a public mobile network to which the user is a subscriber. |
| US07843934B2 |
Methods and apparatus for providing emergency telephone service to IP-based telephone users
For purposes of servicing emergency calls, such as 911 calls, a telephone number is associated with each edge router port used to provide IP service to a customer premise location. A telephone number is associated with the edge router port and the corresponding customer location. The telephone number and location information are stored in a database used for providing emergency calling party location information. When a switch used for routing IP calls detects a telephone call to an emergency call center it determines the edge router port from which the call was placed and the telephone number associated with the port for emergency call purposes. The call is then forwarded to the emergency call service center with the determined telephone number being supplied as the calling party number. Performing a lookup operation using the supplied telephone number the emergency service operator determines the location from which the call was placed. |
| US07843933B2 |
Non-stop switching equipment for packet based communication links
When packets reach from the 0 system and the 1 system, the packet selecting means 21 determines, based on the sequence numbers held in the packet output record register 22, whether or not the corresponding packet has passed, interrupts passing of the corresponding packet to the output side if passed, and allows the corresponding packet to pass to the output side if not passed. When the packet selecting means 21 selects a packet and allows the packet to pass to the output side, the packet output record register 22 holds the sequence number of the corresponding packet as a packet output record. Phase adjusting means that absorbs an average difference in delay for transmission between the systems may be provided at a stage before the packet selecting means 21. |
| US07843932B2 |
Secure ATM-based distributed virtual tandem switching system and method
Narrowband signaling from a transfer node for a call originating at an end office is received at a centralized control and signaling interworking function device in an asynchronous transfer mode switching network. The received narrowband signaling is converted to broadband signaling. The broadband signaling is provided to a plurality of trunk interworking function devices via the asynchronous transfer mode switching network, to establish a connection across the asynchronous transfer mode switching network, when the centralized control and signaling interworking function device and the plurality of trunk interworking function devices are determined to be members of a closed user group. |
| US07843931B1 |
iSCSI switching method and apparatus
A method for identifying and prioritizing iSCSI traffic in an IP network. At least one iSCSI-aware switch which receives information identifying an iSCSI session, e.g., its iSCSI target port or IP address, may multicast such identifying information to let a second iSCSI-aware switch in the IP network know the information about the iSCSI session. The second iSCSI-aware switch may update its memory, software and hardware, so as to track the iSCSI session when the iSCSI session passes through it and give it priority over other network traffic. |
| US07843926B1 |
System for providing virtualization of network interfaces at various layers
A network system which includes a plurality of separate processing entities, an input output bus, and a network interface unit shared among the plurality of separate processing entities is disclosed. The network interface unit is coupled to the plurality of separate processing entities via the input output bus. The network interface unit has a plurality of memory access channels and each memory access channel is assigned to one processing entity. |
| US07843925B2 |
Ethernet differentiated services architecture
A network includes an edge node configured to define per hop behaviors using a set of bits in an Ethernet header of a frame and a core node configured to receive the frame and to forward the frame according to the per-hop-behaviors. The network can also include a defined set of differentiated service classes, each differentiated service class associated with the set of per hop behaviors, indicated in the set of priority bits. The network classifies the Ethernet frame based on at least one of a set of priority bits or information in at least one protocol layer in the frame header of the Ethernet frame and determines a per hop behavior based on the classification. |
| US07843924B2 |
Method and system for sending return messages in MPLS networks
A method for sending a message via a label switch telecommunications network, in particular an MPLS network. The method comprises identifying at a first router an input label attached to the message and using the first label to identify a output label that defines a forward path for the message. This is done by reading the label table in the router. Once the output label is identified, the input label is replaced with the output label and the message and the output label together are sent to another node of the network. When a return message is to be sent, input labels for the forward message path are used as output labels for the return message path. |
| US07843923B2 |
Methods and apparatus for determining the port and/or physical location of an IP device and for using that information
Methods and apparatus for providing location and other customer information corresponding to an IP addresses, including dynamically assigned IP address, are described. A port of an edge router is assigned to serve as a customer's point of access to an IP based network. Customer information including the location of the customer premises from which the IP network is accessed through the assigned edge router port is stored in a database associating edge router and port information with customer information. When information about a customer using an IP address is desired a database associating IP addresses with edge routers, e.g., edge which acted as proxies to facilitate IP address leasing is consulted. The edge router corresponding to the IP address of interest is then contacted to determine the port number associated with the IP address. Recovered edge router and port number information is then used to access the customer information database. |
| US07843921B2 |
Method and device for routing data packets in a communication networks
A method and a device for optimizing the routing of data packets, in which method data packets are received, data flow is detected on the received data packets, a feedback request is transmitted in response to the detected data flow, feedback information is received, feedback information is generated and added to the received feedback information, feedback information is transmitted and the data packets belonging to the data flow are directed on the basis of said feedback information. |
| US07843919B2 |
Ethernet virtualization using a network packet alteration
A method of Ethernet virtualization using network packet alteration. The method comprises receiving network packets from a host destined for transmission over a network, checking whether the network packets have headers, if the packets do not have headers, forming a first portion of the header using firmware, storing the formed packet and header to a first memory; and forming a second portion of the header using programmable logic. |
| US07843914B2 |
Network system having an extensible forwarding plane
A platform for seamlessly hosts a plurality of disparate types of packet processing applications. One or more applications are loaded onto a service card on the platform. A programmable path structure is included that maps a logical path for processing of the packets through one or more of the plurality of service cards according to characteristics of the packets. Multiple path structures may be programmed into the platform to offer different service paths for different types of packets. |
| US07843907B1 |
Storage gateway target for fabric-backplane enterprise servers
Storage gateway remote and local access to storage devices is provided in part via a target implementing bandwidth-controlled access to the devices. The target may be iSCSI-compatible, and may also optionally implement protection, security, and performance features. The protection and security features include any combination of VLANs, zoning, Logical Unit Number (LUN) masking, and encryption. The performance features include any combination of HW-accelerated Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA), prioritized I/O operations, and service priority (such as strict priority and straight or weighted round-robin priorities). An initiator may be implemented in a Processor Memory Module (PMM) coupled to a switch fabric that is in turn coupled to a target implemented in a Fibre Channel Module (FCM). Storage traffic may be communicated as Small Computer System Interface (SCSI)- and SCSI over Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (iSCSI)-compatible information (data and commands) on the switch fabric via cellifying input/output interface devices. |
| US07843902B2 |
Interception of multimedia services
A method in a telecommunication system for monitoring a communication by a Law Enforcement Monitoring Facility (LEMF). The LEMF sends a request for monitoring of a first party to a Call Session Control Function (CSCF) in a service domain of the telecommunication system. When the CSCF detects a SIP session event due to a setup of a media-flow connection between the monitored party and a second party, the CSCF sends Interception Related Information (IRI) toward the LEMF, and sends a resource setup message to a Multimedia Resource Function (MRF), also in the service domain. A Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) routes the Communication Content (CC) to the MRF. The MRF copies the CC and routes one copy back to the GGSN and routes the other copy to the LEMF via a Delivery Function utilizing a SIP session with the LEMF. |
| US07843901B2 |
Call flow system and method for use in a legacy telecommunication system
A method of operating a network server, such as a mobile application gateway, connect devices on a cellular or carrier network with individual networks, such as enterprise voice and data networks or residential networks. The effects of the present invention are far reaching in terms of transferring effective call control from the cellular network into the control of the individual network, such as the enterprise, and enabling new business models for the purchase of cellular service from a public cellular carrier by an enterprise. |
| US07843900B2 |
Mechanisms to extend UMA or GAN to inter-work with UMTS core network
Mechanisms to extend UMA (Unlicensed Mobile Access) or GAN (General Access Network) to inter-work with a UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) core network. A UMA network controller (UNC) is provided to interface between a UMA network and a UMTS core network using the standard Iu-CS and Iu-PS interfaces. From the viewpoint of the UMTS core network, the UNC appears as another Radio Network Controller (RNC). Protocol layer schemes are disclosed for mobile stations, UNCs, SGSNs and MSCs to support signaling and data messaging in both the packet-switched and connection-switched domains. The mobile stations provide dual-mode operation, such that they are able to access the UMTS core network via unlicensed service when in a UMA access area, and to access the UMTS core network via licensed service when outside of a UMA access area and in a UTRAN service area. |
| US07843898B1 |
Selective bandwidth connectivity through network line cards
Public communication networks increasingly need to provide customers with a range of communication services, from baseband voice service, to computer data communications, to high speed digital data communications for multimedia and the like. Many such services would be blocked by existing telephone network line cards, which provide coding and decoding (CODEC) between analog and digital signals and process digital signals only at a relatively low, fixed bit rate. In accord with the invention, intelligent signal detection and control added to a line card selectively bypasses the CODEC and the associated connection to a time slot limited telephone exchange. The selective bypass connection provides a connection to an alternative network functionality capable of providing higher bandwidth digital services. In the preferred embodiment, the bypass provides a connection through an adaptive digital signal processor with a programmed controller. The digital signal processor provides coding and decoding functions, adapted to the particular communication service requested and the physical level signal protocol used over the customer's line. The digital signal processor also provides a two-way digital communication link to a relatively fast data switch, such as an edge device of an asynchronous transport mode (ATM) network. The data switch and associated data network provide a full range of digital communication services of various bandwidths or bit rates as may be requested by individual. |
| US07843890B2 |
Downlink synchronization channels transparent to shared channel users
The specification and drawings present a new method, system, apparatus and software product for locating synchronization channels (SCH) in a downlink which are received by a user equipment (UE), such that the downlink synchronization channels are transparent to shared channel users (or UE) which can be used, e.g., in evolving and future systems such as EUTRAN, 4G, 3GPP2, etc. The synchronization channels are arranged so that they are transparent to the UE in a normal active operation state. For that, the resources given to the SCH are chosen to be one or more allocatable resources (resource units) in a sub-frame or in a plurality of sub-frames. In an allocation table, these resources may not be allocated to the UE and in the active state the UE sees that and discards these resources just as it discards any other resource that is not allocated to it. |
| US07843889B2 |
Apparatus and method for power allocation in a space division multiple access system
Provided is an apparatus and method for power allocation in a Space Division Multiple Access (SDMA) system. The apparatus includes an encoder, an antenna weighting calculator, and an antenna. The antenna weighting calculator divides a transmission power of a Base Station (BS) by number of Mobile Stations (MSs), fixedly distributes the divided transmission powers to the MSs, calculates a surplus power of each MS, sums up the calculated surplus power to thereby calculate a total surplus power, calculates a power per MS needed for an MPR one level higher, determines whether there is an MS whose power needed for a next level MPR is smaller than the total surplus power, and additionally allocates the total surplus power when there is the MS. |
| US07843888B1 |
Methods and apparatus for turbo space-time trellis coding
Space-time diversity using a plurality of transmit antennas is provided with a turbo coding arrangement comprising two recursive systematic convolutional coders, to one of which input bits are supplied directly and to the other of which the information bits are supplied after interleaving of bit groups for respective symbol intervals. Symbols produced by the coders and comprising systematic and parity information are supplied to paths to the antennas alternately in successive symbol intervals to provide the space-time diversity. Arrangements are described for 2 and 4 antennas and for various convolutional codes, and an iterative decoder is also described. |
| US07843886B2 |
Methods, mobile stations, and systems for determining base station identifier codes for handover candidates in a network
A method of providing a toplist of neighboring base stations for a mobile station in a communications network can include determining a base station identifier code for a neighboring base station in a toplist at a rate that varies based on a quality indication of communications with the neighboring base station. |
| US07843879B2 |
Method for configuration of a compressed mode in a mobile radiocommunication system
In a method for configuration of a compressed mode in a mobile radiocommunication system, a configuration of a compressed mode defined using the parameters for the compressed mode. The parameters include a transmission gap length (TBVL) and a transmission gap pattern length (TGPL). The transmission gaps are defined in a first transmission time structure specific to a first system and determined relative to a second transmission time structure specific to a second system to permit measures for the second system to be taken in the first system. For each reference configuration, if the duration of the TPGL is such that the transmission gaps occur periodically with fixed position in said second structure, then the TGL is selected to be sufficiently large so that two transmission gaps occur in two of the positions, the closest of which overlap each other with an overlap duration long enough to carry out a measure. |
| US07843878B2 |
Method and apparatus to control handoff between different wireless systems
A wireless communications network includes a first base station system that performs wireless communications according to a first protocol (e.g., 1xEV-DO protocol) and a second base station system that performs wireless communications according to a second, different protocol (e.g., IS-2000). A link is provided between the first and second base station systems to enable a network-initiated handoff procedure. If a source base station system detects that a handoff of a mobile station to a target base station system is required, the source base station system exchanges messaging over the link with the target base station system to perform the handoff. In one example, the handoff is a hard handoff. |
| US07843877B2 |
Method for transmitting response information in mobile communications system
A method for transmitting radio resources in a mobile communication system is disclosed. The method includes receiving a random access channel (RACH) preamble from a plurality of UEs and transmitting response information associated with the received preambles over a common channel wherein the plurality UEs can access the common channel and receive corresponding information. If a HARQ scheme is used when a UE transmits data to the eNode-B using uplink radio resources allocated over the RACH, the eNode-B does not pre-allocate uplink radio resources required for re-transmission and performs allocation of radio resources for a first transmission of HARQ. If the re-transmission is required, the eNode-B allocates the radio resources required for the re-transmission with the NACK signal. If re-transmission is not required, the present invention can reduce an amount of wasted radio resources. |
| US07843872B2 |
Methods and arrangements to determine a reception of a signal
Methods and arrangements for wireless communications are described. Embodiments include transformations, code, state machines or other logic to receive from a transmitter a signal representing a known sequence of symbols. The signal may be transmitted over a plurality of sub channels. The embodiments may also include determining channel responses at the sub channels and determining a reception of the known sequence. The determining may include treating the channel responses at the sub channels in a differential manner to cancel out channel phase responses and obtain channel amplitudes. In some embodiments, the cancelling may be performed by multiplying frequency domain values representing reception of a sub channel by the complex conjugate of frequency domain values of a neighboring sub channel. Many embodiments may also include calculating a carrier to interference and noise ratio (CINR) of the signal. In several embodiments, the signal may represent the preamble of a wireless frame. |
| US07843870B2 |
Systems and methods of supporting multiple wireless communication technologies
Systems and methods for supporting multiple wireless communications technologies are provided. When a first and second base station operate according to different wireless communication technologies on the same carrier frequency in different cells or on different carrier frequencies in the same cell the frame structure of each base station is controlled in such a way that idle periods of transmissions from one base station are aligned with idle periods of the other base station. When the first and second base stations are located in the same cell and operate on the same carrier frequency the frames of the first and second base stations are time-interlaced. |
| US07843868B2 |
Service quality management device and service quality management method
A service quality management device, preventing deterioration of a quality of a communication service provided on a network while effectively utilizing network resources by managing the quality of the communication, comprises an information acquiring unit acquiring service information containing information about each of sessions for the communication service and the network configuration information, an information generation unit generating a traffic volume of each of the sessions, a route determination unit determining a packet route for each of the sessions based on the respective information, a calculation unit calculating a traffic volume and a load of each of the links based on the traffic volume of each of the sessions and the packet route for each of the sessions, and a quality judging unit judging a quality of service actualized by each of the sessions based on the calculated load of each of the links. |
| US07843867B2 |
Collaborative communication for wireless local area networks
A helper station system is disclosed that can enhance communications in a wireless network having at least one slow or unreliable link. In preferred embodiments, the helper station system includes at least one helper station configured to wirelessly re-transmit an original wireless transmission from at least one sender station to at least one access point without having to re-contend for access to the wireless medium. |
| US07843863B2 |
Subchannel control loop
Independently controlling the transmitted power of each subchannel by a subchannel control loop is described. A transmitting station generates a channel made up of a sum of subchannels wherein each subchannel or group of subchannels is amplified with a unique gain value that is varied in accordance with subchannel power control messages from the receiving station. The receiving station generates each subchannel power control message subsequent to monitoring and calculating metrics based on that received subchannel. |
| US07843860B2 |
Arrangement, nodes and a method relating to services access over a communication system
The present invention relates to an arrangement in a communications system participating in user station (UE; 1) service request and/or access procedures and comprising a number of packet data support nodes (10), a number of charging and/or policy handling nodes (30) and a number of application functions (20) handling mobility management and call control of mobile user stations requesting and/or accessing services. The packet data support node(s) (10) comprise(s) means adapted to send first mobile user station identity related information over a first interface (Gx,Gy; Gx/Gy) to a charging and/or policy handling node (30), at reception of a request for bearer services from a mobile user station (1). The application function(s) (20) comprise(s) means for, at reception of a request for a service session (SIP) from a mobile user station (1), sending second mobile user station identity related information to the charging and/or policy handling node (30), over a second interface (Rx,Rx/Gq). The policy and/or charging handling node (30) comprises verification means (32) adapted to establish whether the request for a bearer service to the packet data support node (10) and the request for a service session to the application function (20) (AF; P/S/I-CSCF) originate from one and the same mobile user station (1). |
| US07843859B1 |
Analog echo canceller with filter banks
A method and system are described for canceling an echo signal in analog domain with adaptive filters working in digital domain. In one embodiment, a system includes an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) sampling at two different phases to generate a first error signal and a second error signal having different phases. The ADC operates at a frequency significantly lower than the frequency at which the individual filters run. The first adaptive filter unit and a second adaptive filter unit are independently trained with the first and second error signals, respectively. The first and second adaptive filter units generate echo estimate signals used to cancel the echo signal. |
| US07843855B2 |
System and method for broadcasting content to nodes on computer networks
A system and method is provided for broadcasting content in two streams to a plurality of nodes using two tree networks. The two tree networks have a plurality of nodes where each node is a repeater node or a leaf node. The first data stream is retransmitted down the first tree network by each repeater node in the first tree network. The second data stream is retransmitted down the second tree network by each repeater node in the second tree network. At least one of the nodes acting as a repeater in the first tree network acts as a leaf node in the second tree network, and at least one of the nodes acting as a leaf in the first tree network acts as a repeater node in the second tree network. |
| US07843852B2 |
Portable device for fibre channel configuration and analysis
Apparatus, method, and computer program product embodiments for analyzing and configuring a fibre channel link and topology using a portable device are provided. A network microchip is programmed to select at least one of an available plurality of operating modes based on a first user input. The plurality of operating modes include a manual speed selection mode for manually selecting a link speed based on a second user input, an auto speed selection mode for automatically negotiating a highest supported link speed, an auto topology negotiation mode for discovering and reporting all possible port configurations, and a manual topology selection mode for selecting a fibre channel topology based on a third user input. |
| US07843848B2 |
Methods and apparatus for round trip time measurements
In a method for measuring round trip time (RTT), an RTT measurement packet is transmitted to a destination node. The RTT from transmission of the RTT measurement packet to reception of a response from the destination node is measured to determine if the RTT is greater than a predetermined time period. If the RTT is greater than the predetermined time period, an RTT measurement packet is repeatedly retransmitted at a different time interval and the RTT is remeasured until either the RTT measurement packet has been transmitted a predetermined number of times or the RTT is not greater than the predetermined time period. |
| US07843845B2 |
Diagnostic tool and method for troubleshooting multicast connectivity flow problem(s) in a layer 2 aggregation network
A diagnostic tool and method are described herein that are capable of diagnosing and localizing a multicast connectivity flow fault within a layer 2 aggregation network. In one application, the diagnostic tool and method can be used by a customer service representative to diagnose why a customer cannot receive a television channel even though they can receive other television channels within an IPTV network. |
| US07843844B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for the adaptive optimization of transport protocols when transmitting images
A method, an apparatus and a system are disclosed for the adaptive and dynamic improvement or even optimization of a transport protocol when transmitting digital image data from a source system to a target system via a network. The apparatus accesses a database and a mapping module in which assignments of image data specific parameters and transport protocol specific parameters are stored. |
| US07843842B2 |
Method and system for initiating a remote trace route
A method for initiating a remote trace route includes establishing a communication session between a first endpoint and a second endpoint. The method also includes detecting at the first endpoint a quality impairment in a communication sent from the second endpoint. In response to detecting the quality impairment, the method includes sending a request from the first endpoint to the second endpoint for the second endpoint to initiate a trace route from the second endpoint to the first endpoint. Upon receiving the request at the second endpoint, the method includes initiating a trace route from the second endpoint to the first endpoint. |
| US07843833B2 |
Detection and handling of lost messages during load-balancing routing protocols
Methods that enable the detection and handling of lost messages during load-balancing routing protocols are disclosed. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, when a candidate intermediate node N receives a routing-protocol message, node N performs: (1) a first procedure that is capable of detecting some lost routing-protocol messages that were previously transmitted by node N, and (2) a second procedure that is capable of detecting some lost routing-protocol messages that were previously transmitted by a neighbor of node N. |
| US07843831B2 |
System and method for routing data on a packet network
A system and method for routing non-real-time content over a packet network. A call request to communicate data packets including non-real-time content over a packet network may be received. A determination of at least one network node over which a call path for a call to be established for the call request is to be routed may be made. Network performance information associated with communications over the network node(s) may be established. A determination as to whether the network node(s) are impaired or congested may be made and, if the network node(s) are determined to be impaired or congested, communications of the data packets including non-real-time content over the network node(s) may be altered. Otherwise, if the network node(s) are not determined to be impaired or congested, the call may be established on the network node(s). In one embodiment, a call control manager may manage the call. |
| US07843829B1 |
Detection and recovery from control plane congestion and faults
One embodiment in accordance with the invention is a method. For example, the method can include receiving a plurality of control plane messages. A determination can be made as to whether a processor card of a router is experiencing sustained congestion from the plurality of control plane messages. Provided the processor card is experiencing sustained congestion, a source of the sustained congestion can be identified. A correction phase can be entered in order to respond to the source of the sustained congestion. |
| US07843824B2 |
Method and apparatus for statistically multiplexing services
One aspect of the invention relates to statistically multiplexing first services and second services in a group. A measure of required bandwidth for the first services is obtained, where the first services comprise pre-encoded services. An available encoding bandwidth for the second services is determined from a group bandwidth for the first and second services using the measure of required bandwidth. An encoding bit rate is allocated to each of the second services based on the available encoding bandwidth. Each of the second services is encoded in accordance with the encoding bit rate thereof. One or more services of the first services and the second services are transcoded and a multiplex is formed. Since the available encoding bandwidth for the second services is determined using the measure of required bandwidth for the first services, transcoding of the second services is minimized, and video quality is maximized. |
| US07843822B1 |
Cognitive adaptive network management areas
A radio network management system, having at least one centralized node is described. The at least one centralized node includes a radio transceiver having more than one adjustable parameter. The centralized node also includes at least one adaptive tuning engine configured to make changes to the at least one adjustable parameter. A weighted analysis function is configured to provide a weighted analysis based on the output of the at least one adaptive tuning engine. Further, a cognitive learning function is configured to provide feedback to make optimally directed adjustments to the at least one adaptive tuning engine. |
| US07843820B2 |
Wi-Fi quality of service signaling
The transmission of signaling frames in a QoS system may be prioritized over the transmission of content frames carrying time-sensitive information. The signaling frames and the content frames may belong to a single communication session. Alternatively, the signaling frames may belong to a different communication session than the content frames. The signaling frames and the content frames may be audio frames, video frames or frames of other time-sensitive information. |
| US07843817B2 |
Congestion control in wireless mesh networks
A congestion control system. In particular implementations, a method includes receiving packets into one or more queues and monitoring the one or more queues for congestion. The method also includes, if a number of packets in the one or more queues exceeds a first threshold, determining a congestion control mode. The method also includes generating a congestion control message indicating the congestion control mode and transmitting the congestion control message to one or more neighboring mesh nodes. |
| US07843816B1 |
Systems and methods for limiting low priority traffic from blocking high priority traffic
A method for processing high priority packets and low priority packets in a network device includes performing arbitration on high priority packets until no high priority packets remain. Arbitration then is enabled on low priority packets. A packet size associated with the selected low priority packet is compared with a programmable threshold. Low priority packets are excluded from subsequent arbitration for a programmable duration when the packet size exceeds the programmable threshold. |
| US07843813B2 |
Managing hierarchically organized subscriber profiles
Apparatus are provided for managing hierarchically organized subscriber profiles. According to one embodiment, a router includes multiple virtual interfaces and a policy engine. The virtual interfaces define connections between the router and corresponding subscribers of a service provider. A first virtual interface is operable to receive packets from a first subscriber and to process the packets in accordance with a first-level profile identifier. The policy engine is coupled with the virtual interfaces and operable to de-reference subscriber profiles of the subscribers on behalf of the virtual interfaces based on a database of hierarchically organized profile identifiers. The database includes multiple lower-level profile identifiers, which explicitly define subscriber services, and multiple first-level profile identifiers, which define service contexts representing combinations of services available to subscribers when connected to the service provider by (i) explicitly defining the subscriber services or (ii) referring to one or more of the lower-level profile identifiers. |
| US07843812B2 |
Relay apparatus capable of preventing mistaken learning of MAC address learning table
A relay apparatus includes a MAC (Media Access Control) address learning table for recording transfer destinations for frames. The relay apparatus is connected to other relay apparatuses to compose a network of a ring redundancy method. The relay apparatus includes a port move detecting circuit for detecting a port move which occurs in a case where a frame arrives from other than a path learned in the MAC address learning table on a path changing on ring redundancy. |
| US07843810B2 |
Keeping modems online upon N+1 switchover in cable modem termination systems
According to a first aspect, in a time period after a line card switchover, a CMTS router makes each ranging opportunity in a bandwidth allocation map effectively wider by padding mute areas, which no modem can use, before and after a ranging opportunity. This is to keep a ranging packet of one modem from colliding with transmissions from other modems that may have incorrect timing offset after a switchover. According to a second aspect, the CMTS router sends a modem affected by a switchover one or more unsolicited requests to adjust its timing offset in an effort to keep the modem from going offline. |
| US07843805B2 |
Method and circuit for frequency offset estimation in frequency domain in the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing baseband receiver for IEEE 802.11a/g wireless LAN standard
A method for frequency offset estimation in frequency domain is provided. The method comprises the following steps. First, a phase angle of a signal field of the input signal after processed by Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT) and channel equalization is calculated. A frequency offset error originated from at least one frequency offset estimation process in time domain is then estimated according to the phase angle. |
| US07843801B2 |
Optimum technique for encoding and decoding physical resource block locations
An apparatus, such as a user equipment, includes a resource unit RU measurement unit coupled to an output of a wireless receiver; an encoder configurable to encode information descriptive of M perceived best ones of N RUs, where each individual RU is assigned a unique number from a set {1,2, . . . ,N}, where there are sets: SM={n=(nm)m=1M:1≦n1 |
| US07843798B2 |
Optical information storage medium having a transition area
An optical information storage medium includes a plurality of areas and at least one transition area. Each transition area is located between two adjacent areas. The transition area allows data to be smoothly reproduced from the optical information storage medium at a low error generation rate. Also, since the optical information storage medium provides standards for the transition area, it is compatible with existing optical information storage media. |
| US07843795B2 |
Storage device and method for operating a storage device
A method of operating a storage device includes storing data in the form of marks in a storage medium; scanning the storage medium with at least one probe operating in a scanning mode; and utilizing a control unit to provide a pulsed reading signal for data detecting in the scanning mode, and providing the probe with oversampling reading pulses in a clock mark scanning mode, wherein the control unit further comprises an input for a response signal to the oversampling reading pulses, and a determination unit for determining the clock dependent on the response signal; wherein the storage medium comprises marks for determining a clock of the pulsed reading signal. |
| US07843792B2 |
Optical information recording /reproducing device and objective lens for the same
There is provided an objective lens including a first optical member and a second optical member which are made of materials different from each other and are cemented together at a cementing surface. The cementing surface includes a first phase shift structure having a plurality of refractive surface zones concentrically formed about an optical axis of the objective lens. The first phase shift structure satisfies conditions (1) and (2): 0.85<Φ2/Φ1<1.15 (1) 0.10<|(Φ3−Φ2)/Φ1|<0.50 (2) where Φ1=m(λ1)×(λ1/(n2(λ1)−n1(λ1))), Φ2=m(λ2)×(λ2/(n2(λ2)−n1(λ2))), Φ3=m(λ3)×(λ3/(n2(λ3)−n1(λ3))), m(λ1), m(λ2), and m(λ3) are diffraction orders at which diffraction efficiencies of the first through third light beams are maximized, respectively, n1 (λ1), n1 (λ2), and n1 (λ3) are refractive indexes of the first optical member, respectively, and n2 (λ1), n2 (λ2), and n2 (λ3) are refractive indexes of the second optical member, respectively. |
| US07843787B2 |
Recording apparatus
A recording apparatus includes a write unit to write information data read from a memory by irradiating a disk medium with a beam in accordance with the information data, and a control unit to, upon the amount of information data stored in the memory reaching a threshold, instruct the write unit to start writing of the information data. In response to the write instruction, the write unit reads the information data stored in the memory and writes the read information data onto the disk medium while it is rotating. Upon the amount of information data in the memory decreasing to a predetermined value, the write unit stops reading and writing of the information data from the memory and onto the disk medium. The control unit sets a value of the threshold in accordance with the number of times the write unit has performed writing of the information data. |
| US07843786B2 |
Discrimination method of optical storage medium
A method for discriminating an optical storage medium is disclosed. A predetermined range of the optical storage medium is read after the light source is focused on; and thereby a plurality of data transition points and transition regions defined by an interval of two neighboring points are obtained. Thereafter, the time-consumption for reading the longest transition region is used to determine the type of the currently accessed optical storage medium. Another physical characteristics according to data storage formats, such as the PLL clock frequency or the distance between the reflection layer and the surface layer of the optical storage medium, may be used as references to discriminate the currently accessed optical storage medium. |
| US07843780B2 |
Write-once recording medium preserving data-recording status, method of preserving data recording status of a write-once recording medium, medium including computer readable code for the same, and recording and/or reproducing apparatus therefor
A method of reproducing a recording medium having finalized recorded data. Data is read from the recording medium and a determination is made whether the recording medium is further recordable based on whether a temporary defect management area includes repetitions of a predetermined value or based on whether another predetermined value is recorded in response to a finalization command previously recorded. |
| US07843774B2 |
Optical information recording and reproducing apparatus capable of coma aberration correction
An optical information recording and reproducing apparatus for performing, using a light beam, recording of information or reproducing of recorded information with respect to a plurality of recording layers of an information recording medium. An objective lens condenses a light beam onto the recording layers. A light beam expander corrects spherical aberration caused by a difference in substrate thickness by changing one of a divergent angle and a convergent angle of a light beam entering the objective lens. A coma aberration correcting device corrects coma aberration caused by tilt of the recording medium. A drive circuit drives the coma aberration correcting device with a drive signal having a value varied depending on an amount of coma aberration caused in accordance with one of a divergent angle and a convergent angle of the light beam expander, which varies for each recording layer, and an amount of coma aberration caused in each recording layer due to a transmission thickness from a light incidence surface of the recording medium to the recording layers. |
| US07843770B2 |
Interval timer
The present invention is directed towards a device and method of use for ensuring that persons who need to stay on a schedule can do so without constantly looking at a clock. The device is a programmable electronic device wherein the user can set a schedule time, an interval time and a sub-interval time and wherein the device alerts the user when one or more of these times are reached. |
| US07843768B2 |
System for communicating location of survivors in mine emergencies
The disclosed system uses seismic signaling to locate survivors in a mine collapse. A separate transmitter with a specific pre-selected frequency or frequencies is placed in pre-positioned safety zones of a mine. The system generates frequency-locked, unmodulated seismic energy, which allows rescuers to identify the safety zone where a transmitter is activated. The transmitter comprises an oscillator that generates the signal. The oscillator drives the transducer. The transducer causes the inertial mass to move. The movement of the inertial mass generates the seismic waves, which are conducted through the pressure plate to the earth. The seismic signal is detected then amplified, filtered, converted and then processed. The use of a continuous signal enables the processing unit to identify the frequency of the signal with a very low error rate, using frequency content identification. The disclosure also describes a method for transmitting seismic waves through the earth using the above described system. |
| US07843762B2 |
RAM control device and memory device using the same
In a RAM control device, an arbiter circuit is means for generating BUSY1 and BUSY2 of exclusive logic with CLK1 and CLK2 so as to give a right to access RAM3 to a host which has transmitted the first access clock and requesting a one-shot circuit to generate RAMCLK for deciding the timing to access the RAM3. The one-shot circuit is means for generating one pulse of RAMCLK with CLKRQ from the arbiter circuit and transmitting it to the RAM3. This configuration suppresses increase of the device size and cost and enables appropriate control of access to the RAM according to the access clocks of two systems inputted asynchronously. |
| US07843758B2 |
Multi-chip package flash memory device and method for reading status data therefrom
A method for reading status data from a multi-chip memory device including pluralities of memory chips is comprised of: providing a command to request an output of the status data to the plurality of memory chips; and accepting the status data of the plurality of memory chips through multiple channels of the multi-chip memory device. The reading method of the status data is helpful to shortening a standby time for accepting the status data of the multi-chip memory device, enhancing an operation rate. |
| US07843757B2 |
Semiconductor memory device including address input path selection circuit
A semiconductor memory device having banks includes an address input path selection circuit in each of the banks, the address input path selection circuit including a signal input unit configured to selectively activate a Y-address input enable signal in response to a bank-specific read/write signal, and a latch unit configured to latch the Y-address input enable signal. The address input path selection circuit reduces circuit area by reducing delay elements and prevents malfunction by operating only in a bank active state. |
| US07843756B2 |
Low current consumption semiconductor memory device having input/output control circuit and control method thereof
A low-current consumption semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of cell blocks, in which each cell block includes a plurality of cell mats; a plurality of input/output line switches which transmit the plurality of cell blocks to input/output lines; and an input/output line control circuit which receives a block address indicating arbitrary blocks among the plurality of cell blocks and an active command to control a drive of an input/output line switch according to an input level of the block address. |
| US07843750B2 |
Semiconductor memory device comprising transistor having vertical channel structure
A semiconductor memory device including a transistor having a vertical channel structure is provided. The device includes a first sub memory cell array including a first memory cell connected to a first bit lines and including a transistor having a vertical channel structure, a second sub memory cell array including a second memory cell connected to a first inverted bit lines and including a transistor having a vertical channel structure, and a plurality of precharge blocks. In addition, first and second precharge blocks are disposed at first and second sides of the first bit line and precharge the first bit line, and third and fourth precharge blocks are disposed at first and second sides of the first inverted bit line and precharge the first inverted bit line. |
| US07843747B2 |
System and method for better testability of OTP memory
A system for testing logic circuits for executing writing and reading operations in a one-time programmable (OTP) memory having an array of memory cells is disclosed, the system comprising a column of testing cells having the same number of cells as that of an entire column of the array of memory cells, a row of testing cells having the same number of cells as that of an entire row of the array of memory cells, wherein both the column and row of testing cells are first written to and then read out from during a testing operation, and can never be accessed during non-testing operations of the OTP memory. |
| US07843741B2 |
Memory devices with selective pre-write verification and methods of operation thereof
A number of read cycles applied to a selected memory location of a memory device, such as a variable-resistance memory device, is monitored. Write data to be written to the selected memory location is received. Selective pre-write verifying and writing of the received write data to the selected memory location occurs based on the monitored number of read cycles. Selectively pre-write verifying and writing of the received write data may include, for example, writing received write data to the selected memory cell region without pre-write verification responsive to the monitored number of read cycles being greater than a predetermined number of read cycles. |
| US07843737B2 |
Device for reading a low-consumption non-volatile memory and its implementing method
The reading device enables a non-volatile memory consisting of a matrix of memory cells (TM) to be read. Once the memory cells have been selected to be read in a read cycle controlled by a microprocessor unit, sense amplifiers (4) activated at the start of each cycle supply a binary data word (dx) representing the reading of the selected memory cells. The reading device also comprises time-lag means (3, MF, TF, Cgap) activated at the start of each read cycle. These time-lag means supply a reference signal (rd_mon) that controls the read time of the cells selected independently of the microprocessor unit. This read time is determined so that it is sufficient for reading all the valid data of the selected memory cells in each read cycle. |
| US07843736B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device and read method thereof
Disclosed is a read method of a non-volatile memory device which includes performing a first read operation in which a first read voltage is applied to a selected word line. If a read fail arises at the first read operation, a second read operation is performed in which a second read voltage lower than the first read voltage is applied to the selected word line. If no read fail arises at the second read operation, the read fail generated at the first read operation is cured by performing a program operation. |
| US07843733B2 |
Flash memory devices having three dimensional stack structures and methods of driving same
Flash memory devices are provided including a plurality of layers stacked vertically. Each of the plurality of layers include a plurality of memory cells. A row decoder is electrically coupled to the plurality of layers and configured to supply a wordline voltage to the plurality of layers. Memory cells provided in at least two layers of the plurality of layers belong to a same memory block and wordlines associated with the memory cells in the at least two layers of the plurality of layers are electrically coupled. |
| US07843732B2 |
Methods of operating multi-bit flash memory devices and related systems
Methods of operating a non-volatile multi-bit memory device can include programming multi-bit memory cells included in one page of the device with page data including an error detection code based on the page data and determining the validity of the page data using the error detection code read from the multi-bit memory cells in response to an error during programming of the multi-bit memory cells, wherein the multi-bit memory cells in the one page are configured to store a single bit of the page data. |
| US07843727B2 |
Memory device and data reading method
A memory device and a memory data reading method are provided. The memory device may include: a multi-bit cell array; a programming unit that stores N data pages in a memory page in the multi-bit cell array; and a control unit that divides the N data pages into a first group and second group, reads data of the first group from the memory page, and determines a scheme of reading data of the second group from the memory page based on the read data of the first group. |
| US07843720B2 |
Phase change memory and method discharging bitline
Disclosed are a phase change memory device in which an active time is reduced and a method of discharging a bitline in the phase change memory device. In the phase change memory device having the reduced active time and the method of discharging the bitline in the phase change memory device, the bitline is either always discharged when the phase change memory device is in standby, is discharged after the active operation of the phase change memory device, or is discharged prior to and after the active operation of the phase change memory device. |
| US07843714B2 |
Inverter, more specifically for photovoltaic plants
On an inverter (1) for converting an electric direct voltage, in particular of a photovoltaic direct voltage source into an alternating voltage with a direct voltage input with two terminals (DC+, DC−) and one alternating voltage output with two terminals (AC1, AC2) and with one bridge circuit including semiconductor switching elements (S1-S6), said bridge circuit comprising one first bridge branch (Z1) including four switching elements (S1-S4) and one second bridge branch (Z2) including two additional switching elements (S5, S6) as well as a freewheeling circuit provided with additional diodes (D7, D8), the efficiency is further increased without high frequency interferences and capacitive leakage currents having the possibility to occur on the generator side. This is achieved in that a respective one of the freewheeling diodes (D7, D8) forms a freewheeling branch together with a respective one of the switching elements (S2, S3) located in the first bridge branch (Z1), said freewheeling branch carrying a freewheeling current in a condition decoupled from the direct voltage. |
| US07843713B2 |
Method of driving DC/DC converter, and DC/DC converter
When the three U-, V-, W-phase arms of a DC/DC converter are turned on, they are alternately turned on by gate drive signals. When the U-, V-, W-phase arms are alternately turned on, an upper arm switching device of the U-phase arm, for example, is turned on, and thereafter a lower arm switching device of the U-phase arm is turned on. Thereafter, an upper arm switching device of the V-phase arm which is next to the U-phase arm is turned on, and thereafter a lower arm switching device of the V-phase arm is turned on. The upper and lower arm switching devices are thus turned on in a rotation switching process. |
| US07843712B2 |
Charge pump for positive pumping and negative pumping
A miniaturized system on a chip that incorporates a positive high voltage charge pump and a negative high voltage charge pump into one pump circuit and shares components. A voltage control apparatus in a semiconductor device may include at least one of the following: First and second input/output units capable of inputting or outputting voltage. A voltage booster that receives and boosts a voltage from one of the first and second input/output unit and outputs the boosted voltage from the other input/output unit. An output selector that receives the boosted voltage from the voltage booster and selects one of the positive or the negative voltage to output. An output controller that receives the boosted voltage from the voltage booster and controls and/or regulates the output voltage. An output unit that outputs the generated output voltage. |
| US07843711B2 |
Switching transistor driver circuit controlling power supply to the load
Of a pair of switching transistors connected in series between a high voltage power source and the ground, when the switching transistor on the high potential side is controlled by an RS flip-flop in response to an input signal, in order to prevent a malfunction caused by the influence of dv/dt transient phenomena of an output terminal for driving a load, a latch circuit is reset using an input signal from a low side input terminal LIN in a period during which the voltage of the output terminal for driving the load abruptly decreases. |
| US07843710B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling power converter
A power converter controlling apparatus that can prevent burnout caused by overcurrent and/or overvoltage generated by low power index operation or output short circuit in a high frequency power converter employing a digital controlling method, and a method thereof. The power converter controlling apparatus includes a digital controller which outputs a gate signal for controlling intermittent operation of a predetermined switch based on inputted control data, a detector which generates a detection signal in response to generation of overcurrent and/or overvoltage, and a registration maintenance unit for maintaining a state where the output of the gate signal is shut off, when the detection signal is generated. |
| US07843707B2 |
Non-contact power supply having built-in coupling detection device and coupling detection method thereof
The configurations of a non-contact power supply and a coupling detection method thereof are provided. The proposed non-contact power supply includes a detachable transformer including a primary side, a current sensor coupled to the primary side and sensing a primary side current and a controller coupled to the current sensor, receiving the current and determining whether the power supply is under a coupling status according to the current. |
| US07843705B2 |
EMI shielding device
An EMI shielding device is set in an electronic device. The electronic device includes a shell, a circuit board set in the shell, and an electrical component set on the circuit board. The shielding device includes a middle board and a shielding cover. The middle board is set inside the electronic device. The shielding cover is set on the middle board and covers an outside of the electrical component. Thus, the EMI shielding device is structured. The material of the shielding cover is widely used, so the cost of the material is markedly reduced. After the shielding cover is opened, it is easy to restore the shielding state. The shielding cover is set inside the electronic device via the middle board, so assembly is easy and it is not limited by changes in the shape or the structure of the shell, so applicability is improved. |
| US07843703B2 |
Multilayer printed circuit board
According to one embodiment, a multilayer printed circuit board having a plurality of wiring layers and an electronic component mounted thereon, includes a spiral wire including a path in a substantial spiral shape configured with a printed wire section of a substantial loop shape provided on each of at least two wiring layers of the plurality of wiring layers, and a plug provided on each wiring layer arranged between a top wiring layer which is a wiring layer on a top on which the printed wire section of a substantial loop shape is provided and a bottom wiring layer which is a wiring layer on a bottom on which the printed wire section of a substantial loop shape is provided. |
| US07843702B2 |
Printed circuit board having embedded RF module power stage circuit
Disclosed herein is a printed circuit board having an RF module power stage circuit embedded therein. Specifically, this invention relates to a printed circuit board having an RF module power stage circuit embedded therein, in which a terminal pad for a resistor, a bead, or an inductor is defined or formed on a power supply plane of a multilayered wired board to connect the resistor, the bead, or the inductor to the power supply plane, and the resistor, the bead, or the inductor is connected in parallel with a decoupling capacitor by using a via hole or by embedding the resistor, the bead or the inductor perpendicular to the power supply plane, thus decreasing the size of the RF module and improving the performance thereof. |
| US07843701B2 |
Electronic component and electronic-component production method
An electronic component and an electronic-component production method in which the magnitude of a stray capacitance produced between adjacent outer electrodes is controllable. The electronic component includes a chip body and first to fourth outer electrodes. In the chip body, first and second coil block are sandwiched between magnetic substrates. Dielectric layers are interposed between the outer electrodes and the chip body such as to be away from exposed portions of coil patterns in the coil blocks. The dielectric layers have a width larger than a width of the outer electrodes, and a dielectric constant of the dielectric layers is set to be lower than the dielectric constant of the magnetic substrates. |
| US07843700B2 |
Semiconductor device
An electric device includes: a first electric element; a second electric element capable of flowing large current therethrough so that heat is generated in the second electric element; a heat sink; and a first wiring board and a second wiring board, which are disposed on one side of the heat sink. The large current in the second electric element is larger than that in the first electric element. The first wiring board and the second wiring board are separated each other. The first electric element is disposed on the first wiring board, and the second electric element is disposed on the second wiring board. |
| US07843698B2 |
Electronic apparatus and enclosure
A cover is coupled to an enclosure body for a relative sliding movement. An opening operating member is attached to the enclosure body. An enclosure includes a sliding mechanism for sliding the cover. When the cover is to be removed, a user operates the opening operating member so as to cause the cover to slide. The user can thus recognize the movable portion of the enclosure. At the same time, the user can recognize the direction of movement of the movable portion, that is, the cover. Even the user who does not remember the operation of releasing can carry out the operation to remove the cover with small force and relatively easily. |
| US07843697B2 |
Vertical adapters and vertical device for mounting to a horizontal service interface
A vertical device for mounting to a host having a horizontal surface with an upwardly oriented host service interface providing a mechanical service and at least one electrical service as well as an adapter for mounting a vertical device to a host of this type. The device or adapter has a main body with a horizontal portion and a vertical portion extending generally downwardly from the horizontal portion. A device service interface extends downwardly from the horizontal portion for engagement with the host service interface. At least one functionality is provided on the vertical portion of the vertical device or the adapter. |
| US07843696B2 |
Heat sink assembly
A heat sink assembly includes a heat sink main body and a contact member attached to a base of the heat sink main body. The contact member includes a container with thermal grease contained therein and a movable cover movably attached to the container. The container includes a bottom plate configured to contact a heat generating component, and a plurality of holes defined in the bottom plate. When the heat sink is attached to the heat generating component, the movable cover is pressed towards the container and impels the thermal grease out from the holes to spread the thermal grease between the bottom plate of the container and the heat generating component. |
| US07843695B2 |
Apparatus and method for thermal management using vapor chamber
An apparatus includes a plurality of islands each carrying multiple cantilevers. The apparatus also includes a fluidic network having a plurality of channels separating the islands. The channels are configured to provide fluid to the islands, and the fluid at least partially fills spaces between the cantilevers and the islands. Heat from the islands vaporizes the fluid filling the spaces between the cantilevers and the islands to transfer the heat away from the islands while driving the cantilevers into oscillation. The apparatus may also include a casing configured to surround the islands and the fluidic network to create a vapor chamber, where the vapor chamber is configured to retain the vaporized fluid. The islands and the fluidic network could be formed in a single substrate, or the islands could be separate and attached together by a binder located within the channels of the fluidic network. |
| US07843693B2 |
Method and system for removing heat
A system for removing heat includes a sealed container, and an evaporator, housed within the sealed container. The evaporator includes an evaporator inlet, a plurality of evaporator outlet ports and a plurality of tubes, each tube connecting the evaporator inlet with a tube outlet to the sealed container. The system further includes a condenser, also housed within the sealed container, having a plurality of condenser inlet ports from the sealed container, a condenser outlet and closed condenser channels connecting the condenser inlet ports with the condenser outlet. The system further includes a conduit joining the condenser outlet to the evaporator inlet. |
| US07843690B2 |
Fixing structure of wiring and image forming apparatus
The object of this invention is, in an electronic device provided with a supporting member that supports a drive member driven with vibration by engaging therewith, to provide the fixing structure of wiring that realizes the following: alleviation of the wobble generated by the vibration at the operating time of the drive member, reduction of unwanted sound and vibration caused by the above wobble, and inexpensive fixing of a wire without additional and specific members for wiring.This invention is constituted as a fixing structure of wiring for fixing a wire wired in an electronic device, wherein a drive member driven with vibration and a supporting member for supporting the drive member by engaging therewith are provided in the electronic device, and wherein the wire is fixed by being interposed in a gap formed between the drive member and the supporting member. |
| US07843689B2 |
Fire resistant and water resistant enclosure for operable computer digital data storage device
A fire resistant and water resistant enclosure for an operable computer digital data storage device is provided. The enclosure has walls made of gypsum or concrete and, in one embodiment, has two small ventilation openings which remain open during normal operation of the digital data storage device and during the presence of fire. This embodiment has no moving parts. In the presence of fire, air and superheated steam from inside the enclosure expand and flow outwardly through the ventilation passageways. As those gases flow outwardly, they simultaneously block or prevent the transfer of heat from the exterior fire inwardly through those passageways. A water resistant pouch or coating surrounding the storage device prevents damage from flood, water, steam generated by the insulation or smoke from passing through said passageways and damaging the storage device. Another embodiment is provided utilizing one or more movable hatches which, in the presence of fire, cannot completely close, allowing superheated steam to escape from the enclosure yet during normal operation allow for better ventilation and cooling. A method is also provided for protecting the data storage device wherein the walls of the enclosure are supersaturated with water. The walls are coated with a vapor barrier such as plastic skin, plastic container or wax to prevent evaporation of water. In the presence of fire, the vapor barrier melts and the excess water stored in the walls absorbs latent heat of vaporization and extends the amount of time over which the enclosure is able to protect the storage device from damage. |
| US07843688B2 |
Latching mechanisms for portable electronic devices
A latching mechanism (10, 20) for a portable electronic device, the latching mechanism comprising one or more of a male/female element (10/20) configured to provide for latching under physical engagement with one or more of a complementary female/male element (20/10), one or more of the male/female elements (10/20) configured to be moved from an unlatched configuration to a latched configuration by inter-engagement, the latched configuration configured to provide for physical inter-engagement of the male and female elements (10, 20) which is configured to provide a bias to the one or more of the male/female elements (10/20) that resists physical disengagement of the male and female elements (10, 20). |
| US07843687B2 |
Latching mechanism
An electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device may include a first side and a second side. The electronic device may also include a lid configured to cover an opening on the first side. The lid may include an interior side. The interior side may be invisible from outside of the electronic device when the lid covers the opening. The electronic device may also include a latching mechanism including a slider configured to slide along at least one of the lid and the first side for latching the lid at the interior side. The electronic device may also include a control unit disposed on the second side and configured to actuate movement of the slider. |
| US07843686B2 |
System for protecting a portable computing device
The invention relates to a system for protecting a portable computing device wherein the system comprises a device housing adapted to protectively encase a portable computing device, a protectively hardened user input device in communication with the device housing, and a protectively hardened display in communication with the device housing. When the portable computing device is encased within the device housing, a user of the portable computing device can operate the portable computing device via the protectively hardened user input device and the protectively hardened display. The device housing may further comprise sealing elements, insulating elements, and shock-absorbing elements. |
| US07843684B2 |
Waterproof and heat-dissipating module mounted for an electronic device
A waterproof and heat-dissipating module mounted on an electronic device includes a housing structure, a compartment structure, and a fan. A first ventilation hole, a second ventilation hole, a first drainage holes, and a second drainage holes are formed on the housing structure. The compartment structure is disposed inside the housing structure and for partitioning an inside space of the housing structure off that includes an inhaling chamber, a fan room, an accommodated space, and an exhausting chamber. The fan is disposed inside the fan room so that airflow is guided from the first ventilation hole to the second ventilation hole via the inhaling chamber, the fan room, the accommodated space, and the exhausting chamber so as to dissipate heat from circuit boards disposed inside the accommodated space away. |
| US07843681B2 |
Solid electrolytic capacitor element and solid electorlytic capacitor
A solid electrolytic capacitor element includes an anode foil, a solid electrolytic layer, a cathode foil, and a connection portion. The anode foil is composed of valve metal and has at least one through hole passing therethrough in thickness direction thereof. The solid electrolytic layer is made of conductive polymer and is provided on a surface of the anode foil. The cathode foil is provided on a surface of the solid electrolytic layer. The connection portion is provided in the through hole and electrically connects a first solid electrolytic layer and a second solid electrolytic layer, the first solid electrolytic layer being a region of the solid electrolytic layer on one face of the anode foil, the second solid electrolytic layer being another region of the solid electrolytic layer on the other face of the anode foil. |
| US07843664B2 |
Electrostatic discharge apparatus for hub and spindle assemblies
An electrostatic discharge apparatus for use with a hub and spindle assembly for a disc drive storage system comprising a spindle; a hub rotatably mounted on the spindle; a capsule formed at least in part from an electrically conductive material that can be placed in electrical communication with the hub and defining a chamber configured to hold an electrically conductive fluid and defining at least one capillary channel in fluid communication with an opening formed in the capsule, the opening configured to permit rotation about the spindle, and to permit a meniscus formed by the conductive fluid proximate to the opening to electrically contact the spindle during rotation of the hub about the spindle. |
| US07843663B2 |
Retaining gate for deep storage slot retention of storage cartridges
A storage cartridge retention device employs a deep storage slot for storing one or more storage cartridge(s) through its front opening and biases the stored storage cartridge(s) in a direction of its front opening. The storage cartridge retention device further employs a retaining gate external to the deep storage slot and movable relative to the front opening of the deep storage slot between a retaining position and a releasing position. The retaining position engages a front storage cartridge to retain the storage cartridge(s) within the deep storage slot based on the bias of the storage cartridge(s) in the direction of the front opening of the deep storage slot, and the releasing position disengages the front storage cartridge to facilitate movement of the one storage cartridge(s) within the deep storage slot based on the bias of the storage cartridge(s) in the direction of the front opening of the deep storage slot. |
| US07843659B2 |
Head IC, read circuit, media storage device and amplifier gain adjustment method for head IC
A head IC adjusts an amplitude level of a read signal of a head and outputs the adjusted signal to a read channel having an AGC amplifier. A head IC includes: a differential amplifier; an AGC circuit; external gain setting sections; and a switch. The AGC amplifier is disposed in the head IC, and the amplitude from the head is automatically adjusted in the head IC. The signal level can be adjusted within the input dynamic range of the AGC amplifier of the read channel. An estimated gain value converted from a result of measuring a resistance value of the head is used as an initial value for the adjustment of the AGC amplifier. It becomes possible attempting to prevent an increase in the lock-in times of the AGC, to guarantee stability, and to prevent judgment errors of the AGC. |
| US07843650B1 |
Monolithic afocal telescope
An afocal monolithic optical element formed of a shallow cylinder of optical material (glass, polymer, etc.) with fast aspheric surfaces, nominally confocal paraboloids, configured on the front and back surfaces. The front surface is substantially planar, and this lends itself to deposition of multi-layer stacks of thin dielectric and metal films to create a filter for rejecting out-of-band light. However, an aspheric section (for example, a paraboloid) can either be ground into a small area of this surface (for a Cassegrain-type telescope) or attached to the planar surface (for a Gregorian-type telescope). This aspheric section of the surface is then silvered to create the telescope's secondary mirror. The rear surface of the cylinder is figured into a steep, convex asphere (again, a paraboloid in the examples), and also made reflective to form the telescope's primary mirror. A small section of the rear surface (approximately the size of the secondary obscuration, depending on the required field of the telescope) is ground flat to provide an unpowered surface through which the collimated light beam can exit the optical element. This portion of the rear surface is made to transmit the light concentrated by the reflective surfaces, and can support the deposition of a spectral filter. |
| US07843644B1 |
Compact free-space WDM device with one-sided input/output ports
Techniques for designing compact free-space optical device with all input/output ports on one side are disclosed. Instead of folding a fiber, a beam folding means is provided to turn a light beam to significantly reduce the size of the device. In one embodiment, there are a first collimator, a second collimator, and a beam folding means to turn a light beam from the first collimator back to the second collimator by two turns so that a first light path from the first collimator to the beam folding means and a second light path from the second collimator to the beam folding means are parallel. A substrate is provided to which the first and second collimators and filters are boned thereto. |
| US07843639B2 |
Light distribution control method, light distribution control device, and greenhouse using the same
A plurality of structures each having a number of ridges and being formed in a long and thin plate shape or a long and thin film shape. The cross section of each of the ridges forms a portion of a substantial circle and a surface thereof is a practically specular surface. The ridges of each structure are parallel to each other and respective adjacent surfaces thereof correspond to each other in parallel and are spaced apart from each other at a predetermined distance. When light is incident on a point of a surface of one of the structures at an incident angle, in either its reflection or transmittance, the light is diffused in a circular conical plane whose vertex is the incident point and whose center axis is a line parallel to the ridges, by a diffraction effect caused by the arrayed ridges. The flux of reflected diffused light is spread in one lengthwise half of the circular conical plane and the flux of transmitted diffused light is spread in the other lengthwise half of the circular conical plane. |
| US07843634B2 |
Automatic focus detection device and microscope system having the same
An AF dark field illumination device and an objective lens are moved in unity. A tissue sample in a Petri dish is illuminated by infrared light incident with an oblique angle from an LED light source. The casting of the infrared light causes scattered light from the tissue sample. A part of the scattered light passes through the objective lens, thereby forming a dark-field microscope image, which is captured by a CCD camera. The sharpness of the dark-field microscope image is dependent upon the position of the objective lens. The position of the objective lens at which the dark-field microscopic image exhibits the highest sharpness is determined to be the focus position. |
| US07843633B2 |
Laser processing apparatus
The present invention relates to a laser processing apparatus which can be miniaturized and has a structure for achieving effective protection of the fiber laser light source. The laser processing apparatus comprises a fiber laser light source, a collimator, a spatial filter, an optical isolator, and a condenser lens. The optical isolator emits laser light from the collimator laser light in parallel to the direction of incidence of the laser light, and emits return light from the condenser lens at a predetermined angle with regard to the direction of incidence of the return light. The spatial filter comprises a pair of condenser lenses disposed such that the focal point is formed therebetween, and a pinhole mask disposed such that the pinhole is located at the focal point. At least, a part of the return light emitted from the optical isolator is blocked by the pinhole mask of the spatial filter. |
| US07843624B2 |
Electro-optic displays, and materials and methods for production thereof
A first sub-assembly useful in an electro-optic display is produced by: providing an electro-optic sub-assembly comprising a layer of electro-optic medium; providing an adhesive sub-assembly comprising an adhesive layer, the adhesive layer being larger than the layer of electro-optic medium and having one or more apertures; adhering the adhesive sub-assembly to the electro-optic sub-assembly so that a part of the adhesive layer adheres to the layer of electro-optic medium but the aperture(s) are spaced from the layer of electro-optic medium. A second sub-assembly comprises a conductive layer and a layer of electro-optic medium. The conductive layer has a main section covered by the electro-optic medium, an exposed section free from the electro-optic medium, and a weak section connecting the main section and the exposed section, so that the exposed section can be manipulated to rupture the weak section, thus separating the exposed section from the main section without substantial damage. |
| US07843623B2 |
Non volatile addressable electronic paper with color capability
In accordance with the invention, there are systems for electronic paper, apparatus for electrophoretic display, and methods of making an electrophoretic display. The apparatus for electrophoretic can include an electret substrate and a plurality of capsules disposed in the electret substrate, wherein each of the plurality of capsules can include a first plurality of charged pigments with a first color and a first charge, a second plurality of charged pigments with a second color and a second charge greater than the first charge, a third plurality of charged pigments with a third color and a third charge greater than the second charge, and a fluid, wherein the plurality of charged pigments are subjected to a non-uniform electric field. |
| US07843622B2 |
Active optical filter controlled by magnetic field
An active optical filter transmits or blocks light according to whether or not a magnetic field is applied, and functions as an optical filter transmitting light having a predetermined wavelength when light is transmitted according to a magnetic field. The active optical filter includes: an optical filter layer for transmitting or blocking light according to whether or not a magnetic field is applied; and a magnetic field applying unit surrounding the optical filter layer for applying a magnetic field to the optical filter layer. The optical filter layer has a multi-layer thin layer structure which is formed of two kinds of thin layers having different respective refractive indices and sequentially and periodically stacked on a substrate. |
| US07843621B2 |
Components and testing methods for use in the production of electro-optic displays
A laminate comprising a solid electro-optic medium and an electrically conductive layer is tested by passing it over a pair of electrodes at different potentials, with the electrically conductive layer lying on the opposed side of the electro-optic medium from the electrodes. An article which can be tested by this method, and which is useful in the manufacture of electro-optic displays, comprises a layer of a solid electro-optic medium and a release sheet comprising an electrically conductive layer. |
| US07843616B2 |
Background suppression in a multi-function color scanning system
What is disclosed is a novel system and method for background suppression in the image path. In one example embodiment, an image is scanned and RGB color values generated for each pixel. Each of the pixels is converted into a Lab color space to obtain luminance and chrominance values. A background luminance and a luminance variation are determined for the scanned image. For each pixel, a determination is made whether that pixel is a white pixel or a non-white pixel based. If the pixel is a white pixel, an adjustment chrominance value for that pixel is determined. The value of the chrominance adjustment is modulated as a function of a difference between the white pixel's luminance and the background luminance. The modulated chrominance adjustment is applied to the white pixel. Adjusted and non-adjusted pixels are stored in a memory. A printer controller converts the pixels to an output space. |
| US07843612B2 |
Image sensor unit and method of manufacturing the image sensor unit, and image-reading apparatus
An image sensor unit includes a frame storing a linear illuminator that linearly illuminates a document, a rod lens array is used to form an image of light reflected from the document irradiated by the linear illuminator, and a printed circuit board on which a light-receiving sensor that converts light whose image has been formed by the rod lens array into an electrical signal is mounted. In the frame, a lens storage compartment, a linear illuminator storage compartment, and the linear illuminator are adjacently arranged substantially in parallel to each other in a longitudinal direction, with an inter-compartment portion formed in the frame interposed therebetween. At least one pin insertion opening is formed that extends from an inner wall of the lens storage compartment opposing the inter-compartment portion into an outside of the frame and through which a pressing pin is inserted, and in the inter-compartment portion, a face defining the lens storage compartment is formed as a vertical reference face with which a side plate of the rod lens array is brought into close contact for fixing. A notch used for applying an adhesive to the side plate of the rod lens array is disposed corresponding to the pin insertion opening and is formed to be open from the lens storage compartment to the linear illuminator storage compartment. |
| US07843610B2 |
Document reading apparatus and an image formation apparatus
A document reading apparatus is disclosed. The document reading apparatus includes a scanner; an energy-saving power supply unit; an energy-saving control unit; a clock IC; an output compensation unit for updating digital conversion parameters including image signal amplification gain such that image data of a reference white board read by a CCD of the scanner are made into a proper value; andan output compensation controlling unit. The output compensation controlling unit reads time data when an operation mode is shifted from pause mode to waiting mode, stores the digital conversion parameters updated by the output compensation unit in a non-volatile memory, updates operation time with the present time if the elapsed time from a previous operation time stored in the non-volatile memory is equal to or greater than a setup value, and uses the digital conversion parameters stored in the non-volatile memory as they are, if the elapsed time from the previous operation time stored in the non-volatile memory is less than the setup value. |
| US07843606B2 |
Color converter, color converting method, and computer readable medium
A color converter has a setting section, a determining section, and a converting section. The setting section sets the ratio between plural color rendering intents. The determining section determines a color conversion function for converting a first image signal in a first color space into a second image signal in a second color space different from the first color space, based on the ratio between the color rendering intents. The converting section converts the first image signal into the second image signal based on the color conversion function determined by the determining section. |
| US07843605B2 |
Color processing apparatus and method thereof
Implementation of color matching with a high accuracy between a device of luminous type and a device of non-luminous type is demanded. Hence, a combination of the device type of a source device and the device type of a destination device is discriminated. If a device of luminous type and a device of non-luminous type are combined, colorimetric values of the device of non-luminous type measured by a contact colorimeter into those of a non-contact colorimeter, and color conversion in accordance with a predetermined color matching method is performed using colorimetric values of the device of luminous type measured by the contact colorimeter and the transformed colorimetric values of the device of non-luminous type. |
| US07843604B2 |
Image correcting device, image forming apparatus, and image correcting method
A pattern generating unit generates correction patterns on a transfer belt. Detection sensors detect the correction patterns, and amounts of magnification correction, amounts of misregistration in the main- and the sub-scanning direction are calculated. The amount of skew between each of colors is then calculated, and a position where an image is divided and a direction for shifting a divided image are determined. Possible dividing-positions are also determined, and a calculated dividing position and each of the possible dividing positions are compared with one another. Then, a possible dividing position closest to the calculated dividing position is set as an actual dividing position. |
| US07843601B2 |
Method for forming a color image
A method for forming a color image that allows a color image forming device to detect print chromaticity by an actually used print medium and automatically perform an optimal color balance adjustment in consideration of the chromaticity of the print medium. At a first step of the method, it is determined whether a feeder is selected for a subsequent printing operation. If selected, the process proceeds to a second step. If not selected, it is determined that the printing operation is not performed for some time and the process is completed without color balance adjustment. At the second step, a print medium for printing a test pattern is fed from the feeder selected for a subsequent printing operation, which is determined at the first step. A color sensor detects the chromaticity of the test pattern transferred and fused on the print medium, and the color balance is then adjusted. |
| US07843600B2 |
Information processing apparatus
In an information processing method, input color data indicating a plurality of color components including a black color component is converted into output color data that indicates a plurality of color components including a black color component. A relationship between lightness levels and simple black colors is determined for an output device based on the characteristics of the output device. When input color data indicates a simple black color, output color data for the simple black color having a lightness level equivalent to the lightness level of the input color data is determined based on the relationship between lightness levels and simple black colors. |
| US07843599B2 |
Image processing method and image processing apparatus
For each combination of color material signals corresponding to an input image signal, a total color material use amount is calculated. On the other hand, on the basis of a predetermined target color, total color material use amounts are set which vary smoothly in accordance with a variation in the target color. Then, a determination is made as to which one of all the combinations of color material signals determined as described above corresponds to one of the set total color material use amounts which is the same as the total color material use amount corresponding to the input image signal. This combination is outputted to a printer as the optimum combination of color material signals corresponding to the input image signal. |
| US07843592B2 |
Editing and browsing images for virtual cameras
Digital imaging including creating, in a virtual camera, an unedited image request for an unedited digital image; editing the unedited image request, producing an edited image request for an edited image; communicating the edited image request to a web site for imaging for virtual cameras; receiving, in the virtual camera, the edited digital image from the web site; and displaying the edited digital image on a display device of a user interface of the virtual camera. Digital imaging including identifying a browsing image request data element from among image request data elements of an image request data structure; and creating, in dependence upon the identified browsing image request data element, a multiplicity of image requests for digital images, wherein values of the browsing image request data elements vary among the image requests. |
| US07843590B2 |
Information management method and information management system
Provided is an information management method for use in an information management system that includes a coordinate pointing device for identifying a paper medium, and a contents server for managing a digital document, and holds an attribute of the digital document and an attribute of a paper document obtained by printing the digital document on the paper medium, the information management method comprising: judging whether a paper document identified by the coordinate pointing device is a master of a document by referring to an attribute of the paper document; and permitting, when it is judged that the identified paper document is the master of the document, to update information annotated to the identified paper document in a digital document corresponding to the paper document to which the information has been annotated. |
| US07843589B2 |
Image forming system and image forming apparatus
An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus and a user interface device. The image forming apparatus accepts a print command and forms an image according to the print command. The user interface device communicates with the image forming apparatus. Power control and power supply are performed for the image forming apparatus and the user interface device separately. The image forming apparatus includes a detection section, a storage section, a re-establishment section and a mode control section. The detection section detects as to whether or not communication between the image forming apparatus and the user information device is disconnected. The storage section stores modes of the image forming apparatus and user interface device when the detection section detects disconnection. The re-establishment section re-establishes the communication. The mode control section controls modes, after the re-establishing, of the image forming apparatus and user interface device based on the stored modes. |
| US07843586B2 |
Systems and methods for facilitating direct scanning to network destinations by clients
In an exemplary embodiment, a scan destination profile request may be received. The scan destination profile request may include scanner-side settings. It may be determined whether the scanner-side settings are supported by a scanner. If it is determined that at least some of the scanner-side settings are not supported by the scanner, a scan destination profile may be split into a first part and a second part. The first part of the scan destination profile may include the scanner-side settings that are supported by the scanner. The second part of the scan destination profile may include the scanner-side settings that are not supported by the scanner. The first part of the scan destination profile may be uploaded to the scanner. |
| US07843585B2 |
Interface module, printing device, program, and printer maintenance method
An interface module connected to a host device for generating print data and to a printing device for printing the print data, comprises a reception unit having at least two interfaces for receiving print data from the host devices connected to the interfaces, a parameter data acquisition unit for analyzing the received print data and acquiring parameter data for calculating the printing cost incurred by printing the print data, a parameter data storage unit for storing the acquired parameter data in predetermined categories including a category for each interface. |
| US07843581B2 |
Creating and sharing digital photo albums
A system (1321) for accessing an image album comprising a plurality of source images over a network (1305) is disclosed. A representation of the image album is stored on a server (1301). The system (1321) comprises means (1304) for downloading, from the server (1301), the representation of the image album. The means (1304) accesses a reduced resolution version of a said one of the plurality of source images dependent upon the representation of the album, and retrieves, from a storage device (eg 1302) located remotely from the server (1301), the source image corresponding to the reduced resolution version. |
| US07843577B2 |
Image displaying system, image displaying method, image printing system, and image printing method
An image displaying system comprises a display unit displaying an image, an extracting unit extracting an image based on a predetermined rule from among images which are recorded on a recording medium, and attached with shooting information and obtained by shooting, and a representative image display unit making the display unit display the image extracted by the extracting unit as a representative image. |
| US07843576B2 |
Means for measuring a diameter
A diameter measuring instrument that comprises a straight-edge and two legs or jaws, wherewith the distance between the legs can be read-off. The invention is characterized in that the straightedge (2) is provided with a leg (3) which is fixed in relation to the straightedge and a leg (4) which is movable relative to the straightedge, or alternatively with two legs that are movable relative to the straightedge; in that each leg (3, 4) includes a laser (5, 6) which is designed to emit a visible laser beam (7, 8) in a direction that coincides with the length direction of respective legs (3, 4); and in that the laser beams (7, 8) are parallel to one another. |
| US07843571B2 |
Sensing system
A sensing system using a sensing element being constituted by a transparent body sandwiched by first and second reflectors one or each of which is in contact with a specimen, and exhibiting an absorption characteristic varying with the specimen. The first reflector is a partially transparent reflective, and the second reflector is completely reflective, or partially transparent reflective. A light injection unit injects light onto the first reflector, and a light detection unit detects the intensity of light outputted from the sensing element in response to the injection. The light injection unit has a wavelength stabilizing arrangement and injects laser light, or injects light at two wavelengths. In the latter case, the light detection unit detects the intensities of outputted light at the two wavelengths, and a calculation unit obtains the difference between the intensities. |
| US07843566B2 |
Device for detection and measurement of a target compound such as a food toxin
Apparatus comprising a holder for a sample which comprises a packing or coating capable of immobilising or isolating a target compound in a layer or band, an excitation unit that emits radiation that excites fluorescence in a target compound or derivatised target compound immobilised or isolated in the packing or coating, or in another moiety stimulated by the target compound, a detection unit that is sensitive to radiation emitted by a fluorescing target compound, derivative or target compound-stimulated moiety and outputs a signal proportional to the amount of radiation detected, means for relatively moving the sample cartridge and the detection unit whereby the radiation may be sensed and a processing unit that converts the output of the detector unit into a readable value related to the amount of target compound immobilised in the layer or band. |
| US07843561B2 |
Optical system for a flow cytometer with an interrogation zone
The optical system of the preferred embodiments includes a first light source that creates a first beam of a first wavelength, a first collimating element that collimates the first beam, a second light source 102 that creates a second beam of a second wavelength, a second collimating element that collimates the second beam, a beam combining element that combines the collimated beams, and a focusing element that focuses the combined collimated beam to a single point. |
| US07843560B2 |
Stable turbidity calibration standards
The present invention relates to a turbidity calibration standard comprising: a number of from 1 to 5 sequentially-interfaced layers, wherein each layer independently comprises a light-permeable polymer or light-permeable interpolymer; a measured light transmission modulating amount of at least one light transmission modulator, which is distributed in any one or more of the layers; and a light-permeable container, which contains the layers and the at least one light transmission modulator. Also, the invention relates to methods of making and using the standard, and kits comprising the standard. |
| US07843559B2 |
System for detection of wafer defects
Fast on-line electro-optical detection of wafer defects by illuminating with a short light pulse from a repetitively pulsed laser, a section of the wafer while it is moved across the field of view of an imaging system, and imaging the moving wafer onto a focal plane assembly, optically forming a continuous surface of photo-detectors at the focal plane of the optical imaging system. The continuously moving wafer is illuminated by a laser pulse of duration significantly shorter than the pixel dwell time, such that there is effectively no image smear during the wafer motion. The laser pulse has sufficient energy and brightness to impart the necessary illumination to each sequentially inspected field of view required for creating an image of the inspected wafer die. A novel fiber optical illumination delivery system, which is effective in reducing the effects of source coherence is described. Other novel aspects of the system include a system for compensating for variations in the pulse energy of a Q-switched laser output, methods for autofocussing of the wafer imaging system, and novel methods for removal of repetitive features of the image by means of Fourier plane filtering, to enable easier detection of wafer defects. |
| US07843558B2 |
Optical inspection tools featuring light shaping diffusers
An optical inspection system or tool can be configured to adjust the distribution of light by using one or more diffusers. The diffusers can be variable in some embodiments. For example, the angular or spatial distribution of the illumination can be adjusted to minimize intensity of illumination outside of an imaged area to thereby reduce illumination loss. The angular or spatial distribution may additionally or alternatively be adjusted so that the illumination across an illuminated area is substantially uniform. The use of one or more diffusers may aid in the inspection of semiconductor objects including, but not limited to, semiconductor wafers and the like. |
| US07843557B2 |
Method and system for detecting retroreflectors
An optical device that may include a sighting portion including an optical axis; an electromagnetic beam source coupled to said sighting portion, electromagnetic beam source facilitates generating a source beam including an axis that is substantially parallel to said optical axis; an optical surface coupled to said electromagnetic beam source; and a frequency filter coupled within said sighting portion. |
| US07843555B2 |
Thermoplastic plastic and method for producing the same
A method for producing thermoplastic plastic capable of grasping information concerning the production process even after distribution. In a plurality of production processes including fusion of thermoplastic plastic 90, an information presenting substance 91 is added to the thermoplastic plastic sequentially and dispersed therein in each of the production process, wherein the information presenting substance is associated with information concerning each of the production process and radiates fluorescence upon an irradiation of an electromagnetic wave in a specified wavelength region. |
| US07843554B2 |
High dynamic range sensor system and method
A high dynamic range sensor assembly includes a plurality of sensing sets that are organized into a sensing array. Each of the sensing sets includes a set of sensing elements for sensing physical phenomena. Each set of sensing elements has a locally selectable integration time. An analog-to-digital (A/D) converter operatively connected to the set of sensing elements acquires and converts an analog signal from each of the sensing elements into a digital signal. A processor operatively connected to the A/D converter and to the set of sensing elements manages the selectable integration time for the set of sensing elements and analyzes the digital signals from each of the sensing elements in the set of sensing elements. The digital signals from each of the sensing elements are measured by the processor and an integration scaling factor for the set of sensing elements is computed and controlled by the processor to adjust the integration time. The integration scaling factor for the set of sensing elements is mathematically combined with a value of the digital signal from the A/D converter to form a larger data word than what is generated by the A/D converter. The larger data word is utilized to represent a magnitude of each of the sensing elements. If a substantial number of A/D values have saturated, the integration time is decreased; and, if a substantial number of A/D values are below a predetermined threshold, the integration time is increased. |
| US07843552B2 |
Lithographic apparatus, device manufacturing method, and mask having a pellicle attached hereto
The mechanical properties of a pellicle frame and/or the pellicle are optimized so that the mechanical effect of the frame and pellicle on the mask shape in use is optimum for imaging. In particular the pellicle frame assembly may be arranged to be mechanically neutral, i.e., the mask adopts the same shape with pellicle attached as it would without the pellicle. |
| US07843550B2 |
Projection optical system inspecting method and inspection apparatus, and a projection optical system manufacturing method
In the inspection apparatus of this projection optical system, a folding glass member, comprising a flat surface part and a reflecting spherical surface part opposing to the flat surface part, is disposed on the image plane side of the projection optical system so that the flat surface part opposes to the projection optical system. Further, in a state wherein a liquid is supplied between the projection optical system and the folding glass member, a measuring beam emitted from an interferometer unit enters the projection optical system; the measuring beam that transmitted through the projection optical system and the liquid, and entered the folding glass member is reflected by the reflecting spherical surface part, and once again passes through the liquid and the projection optical system; and the interference fringes obtained from the measuring beam and the reference beam generated within the interferometer unit are detected. |
| US07843549B2 |
Light attenuating filter for correcting field dependent ellipticity and uniformity
Ellipticity in an illumination beam may be corrected by measuring an ellipticity of the illumination beam and substantially eliminating the ellipticity using a light attenuating filter at a defocus position of the illumination beam, wherein the light attenuating filter has a two-dimensional pattern that compensates for ellipticity variations in the illumination beam. The light attenuating filter may stand alone, or the filter may be combined with a uniformity correction system, such that it corrects both uniformity and ellipticity. In one embodiment, the light attenuating filter is printed with an assembly of microscopic dots according to the two-dimensional pattern. |
| US07843541B2 |
Transflective liquid crystal device and electronic equipment having first and second electrodes each with first and second branch electrodes
A liquid crystal device including a liquid crystal layer having liquid crystal which demonstrates an optically isotropic property when no electric field is applied and demonstrates an optically anisotropic property which is proportional to the square of the electric field strength when electric field is applied, and a pair of substrates which sandwich the liquid crystal layer, including sub-pixel areas each including a reflective display area for reflective display and a transmissive display area for transmissive display; and first and second electrodes provided in both of the reflective display area and the transmissive display area, wherein the liquid crystal layer is driven by an electric field generated between the first electrode and the second electrode, and wherein the distance between the first electrode and the second electrode in the transmissive display area is smaller than the distance between the first electrode and the second electrode in the reflective display area. |
| US07843539B2 |
Thin film transistor substrate and liquid crystal display having the same
A thin film transistor (“TFT”) substrate includes: gate lines extending along a first direction; data lines extending along a second direction intersecting the first direction; and a pixel electrode formed to extend at an angle from a first gate line toward a second gate line adjacent to the first gate line. A portion of the pixel electrode at least partially overlaps a portion of the second gate line. Each data line includes a source electrode and a drain electrode spaced apart from the source electrode. |
| US07843536B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and projector
A liquid crystal display device includes: a liquid crystal cell including liquid crystal operating in a twisted nematic mode; a first quartz plate optically compensating for the liquid crystal cell; a second quartz plate optically compensating for the liquid crystal cell; and a pair of polarizing elements disposed with the liquid crystal cell, the first quartz plate, and the second quartz plate interposed therebetween. Here, the thickness d [μm] of the first and second quartz plates, the polar angle θ [°] of the optical axis of the first and second quartz plates, and the cell gap CG [μm] of the liquid crystal cell satisfy the following conditional expressions: 0.7(16 cos2 θ−23.6 cos θ+14.6)(1+0.32(CG−3.0)) |
| US07843535B2 |
Reflective liquid crystal display assembly
The present invention provides a reflective liquid crystal display assembly, which includes a first substrate, a second substrate and a liquid crystal layer sealed between them. The present invention designs a specific surface structure of at least one of the first and second substrates relative to the liquid crystal layer so that the helical axes of the cholesteric liquid crystal molecules can incline in different directions as desired in the liquid crystal layer. The reflective spectrum can be broadened and the viewing angle is widened. |
| US07843534B2 |
Image display system
An image display system includes a first polarizer, a first substrate, a liquid crystal (LC) layer and a second substrate. The first polarizer is disposed on the first substrate. The LC layer has a plurality of LC cells each having an optical axis parallel to an absorbing axis of the first polarizer. The second substrate has a plurality of light transmitting zones and a plurality of light reflecting zones. A plurality of reflectors is disposed within the light reflecting zone. The LC cells are horizontally disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The LC cells corresponding to the light reflecting zones are driven in a normally white mode, while the LC cells corresponding to the light transmitting zones are driven in a normally black mode. |
| US07843530B2 |
Liquid crystal-containing composition and liquid crystal display device using the same
A liquid crystal-containing composition includes a first cholesteric liquid crystal having a peak wavelength of selective reflection in the range of from 600 nm to 800 nm and encapsulated in a microcapsule and a second cholesteric liquid crystal having a peak wavelength of selective reflection in the range of from 400 nm to 500 nm as the only liquid crystals, and the content of the second cholesteric liquid crystal with respect to the entire cholesteric liquid crystal content is from about 5 weight % to about 40 weight %. |
| US07843529B2 |
Stacked multi-panel LCD device comprising a first driving signal for driving at least one of said stacked LCD panels and a second driving signal for driving another of said stacked LCD panels being obtained by applying an averaging processing to said first driving signal
A LCD unit (116) has a first and a second LCD panels (261, 262) which are stacked one on another. The first LCD panel (261) includes a color filter layer (251), and is configured as a color LCD panel for performing a color display. The second LCD panel (262) is configured as a monochrome LCD panel for performing a monochrome display based on an image source. The first LCD panel (261) displays an image, which is obtained by averaging the image data of the image source by using an arithmetic unit, which averages the image data pixels disposed within a range specific distance apart from a central pixel. |
| US07843527B2 |
Display device with illumination light source
A display device includes a lower substrate, comprising reflective display pixel electrodes, an upper substrate and a liquid crystal layer provided between the substrates. A light source is provided on the upper substrate for illuminating the display electrodes through the liquid crystal layer. This arrangement provides a top light as an integrated structure within the liquid crystal display structure. The illumination can be efficiently provided to the pixel electrodes. This means that a light source pattern used can provide small light source areas. |
| US07843524B2 |
Mold frame and liquid crystal display having the same
A mold frame formed integrally with a lamp holder for holding a lamp and a LCD having the mold frame. The mold frame includes a receiving unit provided with a predetermined receiving space therein, and a pair of lamp holders formed on a side of the receiving unit to hold a lamp. Each of the lamp holders includes a contact surface reducing member reducing a contact surface between the lamp and the lamp holder. The receiving unit and the pair of lamp holders are integrally formed. |
| US07843510B1 |
Method and system for combining video sequences with spatio-temporal alignment
Given two video sequences, a composite video sequence can be generated which includes visual elements from each of the given sequences, suitably synchronized and represented in a chosen focal plane. For example, given two video sequences with each showing a different contestant individually racing the same down-hill course, the composite sequence can include elements from each of the given sequences to show the contestants as if racing simultaneously. A composite video sequence can be made also by similarly combining a video sequence with an audio sequence. |
| US07843507B2 |
Image capturing apparatus, power controlling method and medium storing a program for executing the method
An image capturing apparatus includes a power source controller for controlling a power supply to the image capturing apparatus to be in one of: (i) an on state, and (ii) an off state. A detector detects when any one of a plurality of operation members of the image capturing apparatus is operated when the power supply is in the off state. A brightness acquiring section controls an image capturing unit of the image capturing apparatus to acquire a brightness of an environment of the image capturing apparatus, when the detector detects that one of the operation members has been operated when the power supply is in the off state. A determining section determines whether or not the acquired brightness is above a predetermined level. And an image capturing controller permits the image capturing unit to capture an image of a subject only if the determining section determines that the acquired brightness is above the predetermined level. |
| US07843505B2 |
Image-capturing device, image processing device and image processing program product for image composition processing
An image-capturing device includes: an image-capturing element that includes a first color filter that allows first color component light corresponding to a first color component to be transmitted and a second color filter that allows second color component light corresponding to a second color component different from the first color component to be transmitted, each formed in correspondence to one of light receiving pixels, and captures an image of a subject; an image-capturing control unit that engages the image-capturing element in a first image-capturing operation while the subject is illuminated with the first color component light and engages the image-capturing element in a second image-capturing operation while the subject is illuminated with the second color component light; and a pixel signal generating unit that generates a pixel signal corresponding to the first color component or the second color component at each pixel position based upon spectral characteristics of the first color filter, spectral characteristics of the second color filter, a pixel signal obtained through the first image-capturing operation and a pixel signal obtained through the second image-capturing operation. |
| US07843504B2 |
Camera cap with a white balance insert
A dual-purpose camera cap functions as a camera lens protector and a white balance filter. The camera cap includes a camera cap body having a locking mechanism or a flexible member to engage with or fitted over a camera lens housing. The camera cap body also includes a ring-shaped area to be placed in front of a camera lens to partially cover the camera lens. The ring-shaped area defines a center cut-out region. A translucent piece is fitted into the center cut-out area of the camera cap body to protect the camera lens and provide the white balance filtering function. |
| US07843503B2 |
System and method for reading information in a set of electronic components connected to a communication bus, and application to reading a matrix of pixels
A device for reading information in a set of electronic components connected to a communication bus in order to send that information over the communication bus includes means for reading values held in at least some of the electronic components holding a value to be sent and an arbiter circuit for successively sending the read values over the communication bus. The arbiter circuit includes means for circulating between the electronic components holding a value to be sent a single token authorizing sending of the read values. |
| US07843502B2 |
Programmable boost signal generation method and apparatus
An apparatus and method for generating a programmable boost signal. A first input receives at least one programming control signal. A second input receives a reference signal. The programmable boost signal generation circuit receives the programming control signal and the reference signal and generates a boost signal with at least two programmable levels based on the reference signal. The level of the boost signal is selected by the programming control signal. |
| US07843498B2 |
Image signal processing apparatus for setting a noise component attenuation characteristic
An image signal is input to two LPFs having different transmission characteristics. A selector chooses one of outputs of the respective LPFs and delivers the chosen output to a gamma correction circuit. The switching of the selector is controlled by a filter control circuit. In the filter control circuit, a comparator compares an exposure time E of a current frame with a threshold value R. The selector is controlled so as to select an output of one of the LPFs that has a lower cutoff frequency and a greater noise component elimination effect than the other LPF does if the exposure time E is longer than or equal to the threshold value R. |
| US07843493B2 |
Image sensing apparatus and image processing method
An image sensing apparatus includes: an image sensing section for sensing an image of a subject; a detector for detecting a luminance of the subject; a compressor for compressing a dynamic range of the subject image; and a controller for controlling a compression characteristic to be used in compressing the dynamic range based on a detection result of the detector. |
| US07843491B2 |
Monitoring and presenting video surveillance data
A method of displaying video surveillance system information is disclosed. Video clips associated with events are represented by event cards. The event cards include frames selected from the video clips associated with the events. Event cards include metadata, and can be annotated. Display of overlapping event cards causes a compressed event card to be displayed. Selection of a compressed event card dynamically expands the compressed event card to display a paneled event card. |
| US07843488B2 |
Vision thermalization for sightless and visually impaired
A Vision Thermalization, “VT” light-to-heat transducer, versatile video transformation system, via Biophysics Resonance of forehead cells with thin film transistors infrared “display” (1 k×0.0015 C×640×480 VGA) and alternative image processing methodology thereof to convert, for the sightless and visually impaired, light waves, or TV received signals or 2D/3D video camera signals into infrared patterns of sensible heat waves such as produced by the product of voltage and current in an active matrix of thin film transistors (AM-TFT), typically used with liquid crystal displays, in order to exploit the viper-like thermal vision sensibility of 10 parts/million (0.003 C/305K) and biophysics resonance of thermo regulating amino acids. |