| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07962751B2 |
Method for portability of information between multiple servers
A method for verifying the authenticity of content created by one host for verification and portability to other hosts includes the steps of creating a data set containing data objects, establishing an authentication code system, authorizing the first host to modify the data set; establishing a valid authentication code for the first host in accordance with the authentication code system, modifying the data set by the first host, signing the data set using the authentication code for the first host, transferring the data set to a second host, determining whether the data set was modified by a host having authority to modify the data set by verifying the authentication code used to sign the data set, and then allowing transfer to and use of the modified data set by the second host so long as the data set was modified by a host having a valid authentication code. |
| US07962744B2 |
Terminal communication system
Portable terminal MS downloads coupon data and public key KEYP2 of IP server 20 from IP server 20. Service terminal T obtains from IP server 20, a server certificate to which a digital signature is applied by secret key KEYS2. One to one local communication by infrared radiation is performed between portable terminal MS and service terminal T. At this point, portable terminal MS decrypts a server certificate by utilizing public key KEYP2 of IP server 20. Then, portable terminal MS communicates specified data after authenticating the identity of service terminal T. |
| US07962729B2 |
Dynamic runtime range checking of different types on a register using upper and lower bound value registers for the register
Software defects (e.g., array access out of bounds, stack overflow, infinite loops, and data corruption) occur due to integer values falling outside their expected range. Because programming languages do not include range-checking instructions as part of their language, to detect software defects and ensure that the code runs smoothly, programmers generally use 1) runtime assertions and/or 2) sub-range data types. However, these techniques cause additional conditional branches, incur additional overhead, and decrease processor performance. Processors comprising a range checking hardware feature supported by machine instructions for runtime integer range checking can eliminate the conditional branches generated during runtime integer range checks. Programming language extensions for the range checking hardware can allow dynamic range bounds to be defined during runtime without decreasing the processor's performance. This can allow for easier programming and code that is easier to maintain. |
| US07962723B2 |
Methods and apparatus storing expanded width instructions in a VLIW memory deferred execution
Techniques are described for decoupling fetching of an instruction stored in a main program memory from earliest execution of the instruction. An indirect execution method and program instructions to support such execution are addressed. In addition, an improved indirect deferred execution processor (DXP) VLIW architecture is described which supports a scalable array of memory centric processor elements that do not require local load and store units. |
| US07962717B2 |
Message routing scheme
Each possessor node in an array of nodes has a respective local node address, and each local node address comprises a plurality of components having an order of addressing significance from most to least significant. Each node comprises: mapping means configured to map each component of the local node address onto a respective routing direction, and a switch arranged to receive a message having a destination node address identifying a destination node. The switch comprises: means for comparing the local node address to the destination node address to identify a the most significant non-matching component; and means for routing the message to another node, on the condition that the local node address does not match the destination node address, in the direction mapped to the most significant non-matching component. |
| US07962712B2 |
Method for controlling storage device controller, storage device controller, and program
Disclosed herein is a method for controlling a storage device controller connected to a storage device provided with a plurality of storage volumes for storing data respectively and an information processing apparatus for requesting an input/output of data so as to receive an input/output request from the information processing apparatus and execute an input/output processing of the data for each of the plurality of storage volumes. The method brings one (primary) of the plurality of storage volumes into correspondence with another (secondary) in which a copy of data is to be written when the data is written in the primary volume so as to form a pair group consisting of a plurality of pairs, each having such a primary volume and such a secondary volume. |
| US07962711B2 |
Pre-caching files from removable device to expedite perceived download performance
A method and a processing device may be provided for detecting a device newly connected to the processing device. The processing device may copy files from the device to a cache of the processing device. In some embodiments, the files may include a digital image files and associated files, such as wav files, or other files. Acquisition processing of the files stored in the cache may be initiated at any time after the processing device begins to copy the files from the device to the cache. Via a user interface, a user may preview thumbnail images corresponding to digital image files stored in one or more virtual devices, corresponding to one or more respective caches. The user may be prompted to initiate acquisition processing of a cache, having unprocessed files, after a configurable amount of time has passed since a file was last copied to the cache. |
| US07962708B2 |
Resolving retention policy conflicts
Resolving retention policy conflicts is disclosed. An indication is received that two or more retention policies apply to an item of content. A merged retention policy that is based at least in part on the respective requirements of the two or more retention policies is generated automatically for the item of content. |
| US07962706B2 |
Methods and systems for improving read performance in data de-duplication storage
The present invention is directed toward methods and systems for data de-duplication. More particularly, in various embodiments, the present invention provides systems and methods for data de-duplication that may utilize a data de-duplication system that retrieves data from a data storage device in an order based on the location of blocks on the data storage device. Some embodiments break a data stream into multiple blocks of data and store the blocks of data on a data storage device of a data de-duplication system, wherein a code representing a redundant block of data is stored in place of the block of data. A location for each block of data may be stored. Additionally, the blocks may be read in an order that is determined based on the location of the blocks. |
| US07962704B2 |
Storage system of storage hierarchy devices and a method of controlling storage hierarchy devices based on a user policy of I/O performance and power consumption
A storage control apparatus according to the present invention includes a plurality of connecting units connected to one or more host computers and one or more hard disk drives as storage media for storing data, one or more non-volatile storage media which are of a different type from the hard disk drives and which store data WRITE requested from the host computer, a plurality of processing units for processing WRITE and READ requests from the host computer by using the hard disk drives or the non-volatile storage media and, a plurality of memory units for storing control information to be by the processing units. |
| US07962699B2 |
Concurrent execution of critical sections by eliding ownership of locks
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates avoiding locks by speculatively executing critical sections of code. During operation, the system allows a process to speculatively execute a critical section of code within a program without first acquiring a lock associated with the critical section. If the process subsequently completes the critical section without encountering an interfering data access from another process, the system commits changes made during the speculative execution, and resumes normal non-speculative execution of the program past the critical section. Otherwise, if an interfering data access from another process is encountered during execution of the critical section, the system discards changes made during the speculative execution, and attempts to re-execute the critical section. |
| US07962698B1 |
Deterministic collision detection
An embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method of deterministic collision detection involving at least two ports. The method includes receiving a read/write operation at a first data rate at a first port of a multi-port device, receiving a read/write operation at a second data rate at a second port of the multi-port device, detecting a collision between the first port and the second port if a same address space is accessed by the first port and the second port coincidentally, asserting a busy signal at least one of said first port and said second port a number of clock cycles after detecting said collision, storing an address location of said address space in a memory register, and deterministically report the collision using the address location and the number of clock cycles. |
| US07962697B2 |
Contention detection
A multiple computer system is disclosed in which n computers (M1, M2 . . . Mn) each run a different portion of a single application program written to execute only on a single computer. The local memory of each computer is maintained substantially the same by updating all computers with every change made to addressed memory locations. Contention can arise when the same memory location is substantially simultaneously updated by two or more machines because of transmission delays and latency of the communications network interconnecting all the computers. In particular a method of detecting contention is disclosed which utilizes a count value indicative of the number of the sequence of occasions on which each memory location has been updated. Contention is indicated if the currently stored count value and the incoming updating count value are the same. |
| US07962693B1 |
Cache management system providing improved page latching methodology
A cache management system providing improved page latching methodology. A method providing access to data in a multi-threaded computing system comprises: providing a cache containing data pages and a mapping to pages in memory of the multi-threaded computing system; associating a latch with each page in cache to regulate access, the latch allowing multiple threads to share access to the page for reads and a single thread to obtain exclusive access to the page for writes; in response to a request from a first thread to read a particular page, determining whether the particular page is in cache without acquiring any synchronization object regulating access and without blocking access by other threads; if the particular page is in cache, reading the particular page unless another thread has exclusively latched the particular page; and otherwise, if the particular page is not in cache, bringing the page into cache. |
| US07962691B2 |
Information processing apparatus and computer usable medium therefor
An information processing apparatus capable of executing at least one information processing operation is provided. The information processing apparatus includes a process control system to execute one of the at least one information processing operation to a piece of data stored in a first data storage, which is indicated by a first storage name, when the piece of data in the first data storage is recognized. The information processing apparatus further includes the first storage name including a character string to specify the information processing operation to be performed, and a data relocating system to relocate the piece of data from the first data storage when the data processing operation is completed. |
| US07962690B2 |
Apparatus and method to access data in a raid array
A method to access a data in a RAID array comprising a plurality of data storage media, wherein information is written to said plurality of data storage media using a RAID configuration, wherein the method receives from a requester a command comprising a data access priority indicator. If a RAID rebuild is in progress, the method determines if the data access priority indicator is set. If the data access priority indicator is set, the method executes a command selected from the group consisting of writing information to the target logical block array range, and returning to the requestor information read from the target logical block array range. |
| US07962689B1 |
System and method for performing transactional processing in a striped volume set
A storage system architecture ensures transactional processing of operations directed to one or more data containers stored on a plurality of volumes distributed across a plurality of nodes interconnected as a cluster. The volumes are organized as a striped volume set (SVS) comprising one meta-data volume configured to store a canonical copy of certain meta-data associated with all data containers stored on the SVS, and one or more data volumes configured to store, at least, data content of those containers. In addition, for each data container stored on the SVS, one volume is designated a container attribute volume and, as such, is configured to store a canonical copy of certain, rapidly-changing attribute meta-data associated with that container. Notably, the invention provides a plurality of SVS operations that enables transactional performance in the cluster using persistent storage and/or systematic accesses to the data/meta-data stored on the SVS volumes. |
| US07962684B2 |
Overlay management in a flash memory storage device
The operating firmware of a portable flash memory storage device is stored in the relatively large file storage memory, which is non executable. It is logically parsed into overlays to fit into an executable memory. The overlays can be of differing sizes to organize function calls efficiently while minimizing dead space or unnecessarily separating functions that should be within one or a group of frequently accessed overlays. Eviction of the overlays is preferably carried out on a least recently loaded basis. These features minimize latency caused by calling overlays unnecessarily and minimize fragmentation of the random access memory used for the overlays. |
| US07962683B2 |
Flash memory, and method for operating a flash memory
A method for operating a flash memory is provided. The flash memory comprises a controller, a cache, and a plurality of blocks. By using a cache to preload data from the host, the buffer of the controller can be smaller than the capacity of a single block or omitted entirely. Smooth data transmission is still maintained. |
| US07962679B2 |
Interrupt balancing for multi-core and power
A method and apparatus for balancing power savings and performance in handling interrupts is herein described. When an amount of interrupt activity is above a threshold, a performance mode of interrupt handling is selected. During the performance mode, interrupts and/or interrupt sources are distributed among multiple physical sockets, i.e. multiple physical processors. However, if the interrupt activity is below a threshold for a number of periods, which denotes low interrupt activity, then a power save mode is selected. Here, interrupts and/or sources are primarily assigned to a single processor to allow other physical processors to save power. Furthermore, after interrupts are assigned to a physical processor, the interrupts may be further distributed among cache domains of the processor. In addition, high activity classes, interrupt sources, interrupts, or categories may be further assigned to specific processing elements for servicing. |
| US07962678B2 |
Bus arbitration apparatus and method
A bus arbitration apparatus according to this invention appropriately arbitrates bus rights of use between a plurality of masters and a plurality of slaves so as to efficiently perform requested data transfer. An arbiter A 5 receives data transfer requests with respect to a slave A 3 generated by masters A 1 and B 2. The arbiter A 5 cooperates with an arbiter B 4, and arbitrates a contention of the data transfer requests with respect to the slave A 3 generated by the masters A 1 and B 2. |
| US07962673B2 |
Method and apparatus for accessing a data bus to transfer data over the data bus
A method for intervaled memory transfer access provides periodic authorization signals to a memory access controller. The method cycles between: 1) inhibiting the memory access controller from writing data to a memory until the memory access controller receives a periodic authorization signal to cause the memory access controller to remove the inhibition and write a predetermined amount of data to the memory through a data bus, and 2) releasing the data bus following writing of the predetermined amount of data to the memory by inhibiting the memory access controller from writing further data. |
| US07962670B2 |
Pin multiplexing
A semiconductor device coupled to input/output pins includes a first core to operate a first function and a second core to operate a second function. A multiplexer is arranged to set the input/output pins to the first function or to the second function, and an arbiter is configured to receive requests from the cores to use the input/output pins and to grant use of the input/output pins to a selected core. A register is arranged to store a value indicative of a delay to be applied by the arbiter when granting use of the input/output pins to the second core. |
| US07962663B2 |
Signal input system sets video output based on format of video signal according to voltage value of received format signal
Disclosed is a signal input system to input an image signal from source equipment to sink equipment through a High Definition Multimedia Interface, wherein the source equipment comprises a transmission section to transmit a format signal to the sink equipment through a predetermined first line in the High Definition Multimedia Interface, the format signal having a voltage value corresponding to a format of the image signal and the sink equipment comprises: a reception section to receive the format signal transmitted through the first line by the transmission section; a judging section to judge the format of the image signal based on the voltage value of the format signal which is received by the reception section; and a setting section to set an image output based on a judgment result of the judging section. |
| US07962662B2 |
Configuring multi-bit slave addressing on a serial bus using a single external connection
Unique addresses for a plurality of devices may be programmed through a single external connection (pin) on each device by using a one of a plurality of different analog voltage or current values on the single external pin in combination with a serial clock of a serial data bus for each device requiring a unique binary address. The unique binary address is stored in the device after detection of certain number of clocks on the serial data bus. Once the unique binary address has been stored in the device, the single external connection may be used for another purpose such as a multifunction external connection. This unique binary address may be retained by the device until a power-on-reset (POR) or general reset condition occurs. Address detection and address load commands on the serial bus may also perform the same address definition and storage functions. |
| US07962661B2 |
System and method for determining a bus address for a controller within a network
A system and a method for determining a bus address for a controller within a network are provided. The method includes coupling a first set of pins of a wire harness connector to a second set of pins of a PCB connector of the controller. The method further includes sampling voltages of a portion of the first set of pins of the PCB connector to determine a wire harness ID utilizing a microprocessor. The method further includes accessing a look-up table from a memory device to select the bus address for the controller using the wire harness ID utilizing the microprocessor. The look-up table includes a plurality of bus addresses correspondingly associated with a plurality of wire harness IDs. The method further includes storing the selected bus address in the memory device utilizing the microprocessor. |
| US07962660B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing system, and recording medium
An information processing apparatus is disclosed that is connected to a device and generates data processable by the device based on device information about the device. The information processing apparatus includes a processing content setting unit that specifies, based on the device information, processing content to be executed by the device; a command retrieving unit that, if the processing content specified by the processing content setting unit contains unknown information, retrieves a command corresponding to the unknown information from the device information; and a data generating unit that generates, based on the command retrieved by the command retrieving unit and the processing content, data processable by the device. |
| US07962658B2 |
Image output apparatus using close range radio contact wherein radio contact element is attached to document on which an image is recorded
An image output apparatus includes a receiving unit that receives first information from a first radio contact element that performs a close-range radio contact; an image processing unit that forms image data of an image to be output from the first information; and an image output unit that outputs the image to an output medium from the image data. |
| US07962654B2 |
System and method for implementing application functionality within a network infrastructure
A system and method for implementing functionality within a network on behalf of first and second computers communicating with each other through the network. A front-end computer is provided within the network having an interface for communicating data traffic with the first computer. A back-end computer is also implemented within the network having an interface for communicating data traffic with the second computer. A communication channel couples the front-end computer and the back-end computer. Data traffic is encoded over the communication channel in a first process in the front-end computer. Data traffic is also encoded over the communication channel in a second process in the back-end computer, wherein the first process and the second process implement compatible semantics. |
| US07962653B2 |
Methods for increased tolerance against packet reordering for the secure reference principle in robust header compression
A method for improving the use of a secure reference principle in a header compression scheme over a channel that admits reordering of packets between a compressor and a decompressor includes transmitting a first plurality of non-context updating packets between a compressor and a decompressor over the channel and, in response to a context update, transmitting a second plurality of context-updating packets between the compressor and the decompressor over the channel. The number of packets in the second plurality is greater than or equal to a maximum possible reordering that packets can experience on the channel between the compressor and the decompressor. |
| US07962651B2 |
Peer-to-peer name resolution protocol (PNRP) and multilevel cache for use therewith
A serverless name resolution protocol ensures convergence despite the size of the network, without requiring an ever-increasing cache and with a reasonable numbers of hops. This convergence is ensured through a multi-level cache and a proactive cache initialization strategy. The multi-level cache is built based on a circular number space. Each level contains information from different levels of slivers of the circular space. A mechanism is included to add a level to the multi-level cache when the node determines that the last level is full. A peer-to-peer name resolution protocol (PNRP) includes a mechanism to allow resolution of names which are mapped onto the circular number space through a hash function. Further, the PNRP may also operate with the domain name system by providing each node with an identification consisting of a domain name service (DNS) component and a unique number. |
| US07962649B2 |
Modem prioritization and registration
In one embodiment, a flow control logic facilitates controlling modem prioritization and registration. The flow control logic controls an order in which stored DHCP requests are provided to a DHCP server. The DHCP requests may be stored in a plurality of groups in a data store. DHCP requests may be distinguishable based, at least in part, on priorities associated with cable modems from which DHCP requests are received. The priority may be determined by a value in the DHCP request. The flow control logic may control the rate and order at which stored DHCP requests are provided to the DHCP server. |
| US07962646B2 |
Continuous feedback-controlled deployment of message transforms in a distributed messaging system
The present invention solves the disadvantages of the prior art and provides a distributed messaging system supporting stateful subscriptions. A stateful publish-subscribe system extends the functionality of the content-based approach to include more general state-valued expressions. A plurality of broker machines is provided to deliver messages sent by publishing clients toward subscribing clients based upon the contents of the messages and stateful transformations requested by the subscribing clients. Subscription specifications are analyzed by a compiler and converted into a collection of message transforms and views. A deployment service component deploys tasks to optimize system performance. A monitoring services component detects a possible need to reconfigure. A performance optimization service component computes new assignment of transforms. A continuous deployment service implements a redeployment protocol that installs changes to transform placement while the existing publish-subscribe system continues to operate. |
| US07962645B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for automatically mapping a tape library system
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for automatically and transparently mapping tape drives within tape libraries to IP addresses. In one embodiment, the tape library includes, a DHCP server, a LAN to serial switch, and a library manager configured with the necessary modules to map the tape library devices to the proper IP addresses. The entire process may be transparent to users. The result is that the tape library is configured with the proper IP addressing without costly, time-consuming, and error-prone manual intervention. The tape library can be configured more quickly with accurate IP addressing and is able to operate efficiently and properly. |
| US07962644B1 |
Systems and methods for handling a plurality of communications
A distributed communication center configured to handle a plurality of communications includes a user zone, a web zone, and a network zone. The user zone includes a plurality of remote terminals that enable communication center personnel and end users to remotely interface with the distributed communication center through the web zone. The web zone includes one or more web servers configured and one or more mail servers to interface the remote terminals in the user zone with the network zone. The network zone includes one or more telephony servers and one or more application servers. |
| US07962639B2 |
Media processing technologies
A system and method for a media processor separates the functions of topology creation and maintenance from the functions of processing data through a topology. The system includes a control layer including a topology generating element to generate a topology describing a set of input multimedia streams, one or more sources for the input multimedia streams, a sequence of operations to perform on the multimedia data, and a set of output multimedia streams, and a media processor to govern the passing of the multimedia data as described in the topology and govern the performance of the sequence of multimedia operations on the multimedia data to create the set of output multimedia streams. The core layer includes the input media streams, the sources for the input multimedia streams, one or more transforms to operate on the multimedia data, stream sinks, and media sinks to provide the set of output multimedia streams. |
| US07962637B2 |
Dynamic adjustments of video streams
A method and apparatus for the dynamic adjustments of video streams sent from a server to a client is provided. Using both short term and long term thinning mechanisms, the server reduces its data transfer rate when bandwidth is reduced and increases its data transfer rate when bandwidth is available. In the short term mechanism, the server will dynamically adjust the transmission rate of the video or the quality of the video based on parameters returned by the client. These parameters include currently-buffered data-size, buffered-data duration, and packet loss rate. In the long term mechanism, the server will adjust the current maximum quality level allowed depending upon the round trip times of data packets transmitted. This invention decreases client rebuffering and packet loss and increases the efficiency of available bandwidth. |
| US07962627B2 |
Peer-to-peer network address translator (NAT) traversal techniques
Techniques described herein perform network address translator (NAT) traversal using a peer of a peer-to-peer architecture in lieu of a server. A first peer maintains a list of public domain peers that are not hidden behind a NAT or a firewall and have previously been connected with the first peer. The first peer distributes the list to other peers via a gossip-based protocol. When a second peer desires to connect with the first peer, the second peer initiates a connection with the first peer and sends a request to a public domain peer of the list, requesting that the public domain peer instruct the first peer to initiate a connection with the second peer. By leveraging a public domain peer to establish a connection between the first and second peers, these techniques lessen the burden on the server of the architecture. Furthermore, because different peers may make requests to different public domain peers, the techniques allow for better scalability of the architecture. |
| US07962625B1 |
Managing distributed functional modules using standard management applications
A distributed storage server includes a network module, data module and a management module. The management module receives a data user command for execution on the data module. The data user command is forwarded to the data module and any execution output sent back to the management module. Similarly, the data module receives a management user command for execution on the management module. The management user command is forwarded to the management module and any execution output sent back to the data module. |
| US07962623B2 |
Sustaining session connections
In an embodiment, techniques for sustaining session connections are provided. The techniques send heartbeat messages when not sending a message may cause the session connection to close because of a timeout condition. Heartbeat messages are valid transport layer messages that will be ignored by protocols at higher levels of a data communications stack. As an example, the techniques may send a TCP message containing only a carriage return and line feed (“CRLF”) in its payload. Because the TCP layer considers a message containing only a CRLF to be a valid TCP message, intermediary computing devices such as proxy servers may not interpret heartbeat messages as “keep alive” messages, and may sustain session connections. |
| US07962621B2 |
Policy service system architecture for sessions created using STUN
Described herein are embodiments for setting, managing, and monitoring connection policies for a plurality of network paths from a first endpoint to a second endpoint. In embodiments, a set of candidate addresses from a first endpoint and a set of candidate addresses from a second endpoint are received. Each candidate address of the first endpoint is paired with each candidate address of the second endpoint to create a plurality of candidate address pairs. Each candidate address pair has an associated network path. The network path is the route by which data flows to and from the various endpoints. Once all network paths between each candidate address pair have been determined, a connection policy is set for each network address pair and the associated network path. |
| US07962614B2 |
System and method for forecasting information using collective intelligence from diverse sources
System, method, computer program product, and business operating model. Information processing system comprising: server computer having processor for executing computer instructions and memory coupled to processor for storing instructions and data; communications link for communicating between server and information appliance client entities external to server, communication link enabling receipt of first information from a plurality of external entities and for transmitting second information to second entities, first and second entities may be same entities or different entities; data store defining database for storing first and second information; computer program having plurality of executable command instructions and executing in processor and memory for generating second information from at least some of plurality of first information; wherein first information comprising plurality of individual information items and second information comprising processed collective information generated from plurality of individual information items and having increased value to second entities by virtue of collective contribution and processing applied thereto. |
| US07962611B2 |
Methods, systems and computer program products for detecting flow-level network traffic anomalies via abstraction levels
Methods, systems and computer program products for detecting flow-level network traffic anomalies via abstraction levels. An exemplary embodiment includes a method for detecting flow-level network traffic anomalies in a computer network, the method including obtaining current distributions of flow level traffic features within the computer network, computing distances of the current distributions' components from a distributions model, comparing the distances of the current distributions to distance baselines from the distributions model, determining if the distances are above a pre-determined thresholds and in response to one or more of the distances being above the pre-determined thresholds in one or more distributions, identifying the current condition to be abnormal and providing indications to its nature. |
| US07962607B1 |
Generating an operational definition of baseline for monitoring network traffic data
A system and a method are disclosed for establishing a baseline and the corresponding bands of data for alarming, etc. Historical raw data are aggregated and grouped. For example, the data may be and hourly grouped as 168 groups of data in a weekly frame. Clusters of the groups of data are then formed based on dynamic data window by analyzing statistical similarity among the 168 groups of data. Data in each cluster of groups, originated from the raw data at specific hour(s) of day on specific day(s) of week, are used as historical data to predict a baseline and the envelopes at these associated hour(s) and day(s). Generating a baseline includes determining a mapping function, which transforms data in a cluster to become normal or nearly normal. A mean and standard deviation of the transformed data are calculated. Envelopes are determined using the mean and the standard deviation. An inverse transformation function is uniquely derived. The mean and the envelopes are inversely transformed using the inverse function. This operationally decides a baseline and the corresponding bands for every weekly time frame hour. |
| US07962605B2 |
Distributed device discovery framework for a network
A method and system for discovering resources connected to a distributed network having a plurality of subnets is provided. Resource discovery over a distributed network is facilitated by active simple discover agents (ASDAs), that are selected from candidate simple discovery agents (SDAs) on the subnets. The ASDA discovers ASDAs on neighboring subnets. After determining neighboring ASDAs, an ASDA issues discovery search requests to the neighboring ASDAs. The neighboring ASDAs forward such requests onto their neighboring ASDAs to propagate a device discovery search request throughout a network comprising multiple subnets. |
| US07962602B1 |
Centralized management of quality of service (QoS) information for data flows
Techniques are described for centralized management of quality of service (QoS) characteristics of network data flows. A service management system maintains a database that associates access information, such as a username and password, with QoS information. A router or other network device associates a data flow with access information, and queries the service management system with the access information to obtain the QoS information. The router forwards data of the data flow in accordance with the QoS information obtained from the service management system. As the access information may be a username and password, an existing system, such as a Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) system, may easily be adapted for use as the service management system. As a result, QoS information may easily be centrally managed for numerous routers or other network devices. |
| US07962601B2 |
Intergrated service management system
The present invention provides techniques for creation, operation, management, and access control of network-based storage services. Specific embodiments provide improved efficiency of the service management tasks used for designing, operating and accounting the robust and profitable network services, for example. In representative embodiments, techniques for constructing integrated network and storage services are provided. In a specific embodiment, the service comprises of three major service components: virtual private networks (VPN), application servers and storage area networks (SAN). Each of these service components has its own customer identification information, such as VPN identifier for VPN services, process identifier for application servers and logical unit number (LUN) for storage devices. |
| US07962595B1 |
Method and apparatus for diagnosing host to storage data path loss due to FibreChannel switch fabric splits
A method, apparatus and computer-program product for determining the status of a connection among a plurality of elements in a distributed system is disclosed. The method comprising the steps of determining an initial configuration of the connections among selected ones of the plurality of elements as a relationship of one of said selected elements to another of said elements, wherein at least one of said relationships is associated with a root element of an associated connection, responsive to a stimulus, determining a second configuration of the connections among the selected elements, determining a current condition of the connections among the selected elements is based on at least the second configuration; and providing an indication when at least a significant change has occurred. The device discloses, in one aspect, a processor executing code for implementing the method steps described and the computer product providing code to a processor for implementing the method steps described. |
| US07962592B2 |
System and method for network management
A part of the elements discovered in a network are chosen to be monitored, and a user such as a network administrator is allowed to appropriately monitor desired elements. A network management server collects information on elements in the network, and displays collected information on a GUI screen. The user is allowed to choose an element based on the information displayed on the screen, and the element chosen by the user is then registered as an object to be monitored. Information is collected including elements which are not registered, and displayed on the screen along with a result of comparison to the registered elements. |
| US07962590B1 |
Automated discovery of a multitier compute infrastructure
A topology of a multitier compute infrastructure is automatically discovered. Discovery can be roughly divided into two phases. In one phase, components and physical relationships are discovered. In the other phase, non-physical relationships between the components are deduced. The second phase typically is based in part on information obtained in the first phase. In one application, the components and relationships that are discovered/deduced are used to build a map of the multitier compute infrastructure. |
| US07962587B2 |
Method and system for enforcing resource constraints for virtual machines across migration
In general, the invention relates to a method for migrating virtual machines. The method includes obtaining migration criteria for a first virtual machine (VM) where the migration criteria is a bandwidth constraint for the first VM. The method further includes sending a request comprising the migration criteria to a second computer in the chassis, receiving a response to request from the second computer, where response indicates that the second computer can satisfy the migration criteria. The method further includes suspending execution of the first VM on the first computer and obtaining information to migrate the first VM, migrating the first VM and a first VNIC associated with the first VM, updating a virtual switching table in the chassis to reflect the migration of the first VM; and resuming execution of the first VM on the second computer. |
| US07962585B2 |
Partial item change tracking and synchronization
Embodiments herein change the way item syncing is handled and tracked between two devices. Changes to items are tracked in accordance with well defined property groups and each group is tracked independently of the other. For example, one group could contain large data items, e.g., attachments, while another group could include highly volatile properties like a follow-up flag. The present invention increases the sync rates between a client and a server by syncing only select portions of an item that have changed, without monitoring the change of each individual property within the item. Accordingly, if a change is made to a small data property (e.g., follow-up flag) on a relatively large email message, such change will not trigger a large download to a client running under a cached mode, nor will there be a requirement for high storage and processing for tracking each individual property. |
| US07962582B2 |
Enforcing network service level agreements in a network element
Enforcing network service level agreements in a network infrastructure element comprises receiving, at the network infrastructure element, an application-layer message comprising one or more of the packets; forwarding the application-layer message toward a destination endpoint and concurrently copying the application-layer message without disrupting the forwarding; using the copied application-layer message, discovering one or more applications or services that are using the network; using the copied application-layer message, identifying one or more network-layer condition metrics, and identifying one or more application-layer condition metrics; determining, based on the identified network-layer condition metrics and the application-layer condition metrics, whether one or more conditions of a service level agreement are violated; and in response to determining a violation, performing one or more responsive operations on one or more network elements. |
| US07962573B2 |
Method and apparatus to determine broadcast content and scheduling in a broadcast system
A broadcast system, method and apparatus providing content on demand. In one embodiment, the disclosed broadcast system includes a server that broadcasts meta-data to a plurality of clients. The meta-data describes a plurality of data files that are to be broadcast or potentially broadcast later by the server. Each client receives the broadcasted meta-data from the server and updates and maintains a local meta-data table and a content rating table. Based on the meta-data, previous access habits of the user and optional user classifications, the client system selectively receives and/or stores the data files that are later broadcast by the server. In one embodiment, the client systems transmit back to the server ratings of each one of the data files described by the meta-data based on the user's previously accessed data files and optional user classifications. The server then determines the data files to be broadcast and the broadcast schedule based on the ratings received from the clients. |
| US07962570B2 |
Localization of clients and servers
A data transfer method includes receiving terminal server identification data at a host system from a terminal server, querying a database to obtain localized information service data associated with the terminal server identification data, and sending the localized information service data from the host system to the terminal server. A host system providing localized information system data includes a database system, a network interface, and a processor. The database system includes records to associate terminal server identification data with information service data. The interface couples the host system to a communications link over which the host system can exchange data with a terminal server. The processor is coupled to the interface and to the database and is configured to receive terminal server identification data from the data interface, to query the database for localized information service data associated with the terminal server identification data, and to send the localized information service data obtained by the query to the data interface for transmission to the terminal server. |
| US07962565B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for a mobile web client
A method, system and apparatus for a mobile web client is presented. In one embodiment, the invention is a method of operating a web application. The method includes receiving a request from a client. The method further includes processing the request with a web emulator. The method also includes servicing the request from available data. |
| US07962563B2 |
System and method for managing storage system performance as a resource
A scheduler selects an I/O from a session of a pool and updates token buckets associated with resource limits and reserves for the session and the pool and statistics used in determining fair sharing. To select an I/O, the scheduler identifies sessions with a non-empty queue, identifies head I/Os in the queues, computes for the head I/O a deadline using session and pool reserve buckets and a release time using session and pool limit buckets, and selects a head I/O with an earliest deadline that is past the release time. If the deadline of the selected candidate head I/O is in the past, the scheduler transfers the selected head I/O to the tail of the storage device queue. Otherwise, the scheduler selects the pool with the least amount of I/O traffic according to a session fair share estimator. |
| US07962562B1 |
Multicasting message in a network storage system to local NVRAM and remote cluster partner
A network storage system includes a non-volatile memory to store data including a log of received data access requests, and a cluster interconnect adapter through which to send data to a cluster partner. The nonvolatile memory and the cluster interconnect adapter are implemented in a single device connected to an expansion bus in the network storage system. Communication with the nonvolatile memory is carried out using LDMA, and communication with the cluster partner is carried out using RDMA via the cluster interconnect adapter. LDMA and RDMA functionality are merged in a common software stack. |
| US07962561B2 |
System and method for granting deposit-contingent e-mailing rights
An Email guarantee deposit method, system, and program product, with the method comprising in one embodiment, the steps of: receiving from a sender a request to send to a recipient an Email; receiving a deposit or an authorization to obtain a deposit of something of value; sending the Email to the recipient only if a deposit of authorization for a deposit is received; determining if the recipient has accepted the deposit; and if the recipient has accepted the deposit, then facilitating the disposal of the deposit. In an important alternate embodiment, a deposit can be required before an Email with a auditory or visual enhancement is provided, or before routing to a designated type of device occurs. |
| US07962559B2 |
Multi-community instant messaging system and device
This relates to a mobile instant messaging device for communicating instant messages with different instant messaging communities. The device includes a display that displays community-specific icons, each icon specifying a different one of the instant messaging communities. A database stores characteristics of each of the communities. An instant messaging application is configured to communicate instant messages, with a member of the community of any of the icons selected by a user of the device, in conformity with the characteristics stored in the database for that community. |
| US07962556B2 |
Instant messaging session initiation using a proxy session request
A first user of a collaboration application having IM contact information for target users can set up an IM session through the collaboration application that makes of the first user's preferred IM client. The collaboration application responds to the first user's request for an IM session by generating in IM session request that contains IM contact information for both users. The IM session request is forwarded to the IM server associated with the first user's preferred IM client. The IM server sends a session setup request to the first user. The session setup request identifies the second user as the originator of the request. When the first user responds to the message ostensibly sent by the second user, the message is forwarded to the second user to complete the session setup process. In an alternate embodiment, the server sends the request to the IM server for the second user. When the second user responds with an IM message, the message is forwarded to the first user to complete the session setup process. |
| US07962550B2 |
Managing external data sources in a discussion forum resource
The present invention is a method, system and apparatus for managing external data sources in a discussion forum resource. A discussion forum resource can include at least one topic thread disposed in the discussion resource forum and created for externally sourced content in the discussion forum resource. The discussion forum resource further can include a data aggregator coupled to the topic thread and configured to manage the externally sourced content in the topic thread. Notably, the externally sourced content can include text, audio, imagery or video. |
| US07962546B2 |
Method for transmitting content to at least one recipient with mobile equipment
A method is disclosed for sending content from a mobile sending device belonging to an originator to at least one receiving device associated with a respective recipient. The mobile sending device sends said content to a storage server; the storage server stores the content, associating a content identifier with it; the storage server builds a content page including the content, the content page being associated with a first address, the first address depending at least on the content identifier; the storage server sends the mobile sending device a first message including a second address associated with a recipient-selection page; the mobile sending device accesses said recipient-selection page by the second address; and the originator builds, by the recipient-selection page, a list including an identifier of the receiving device. |
| US07962545B2 |
Dynamic service registry for virtual machines
A traditional registry, such as a global UDDI server, is not designed to accommodate transitory devices, e.g., devices that may frequently attach and detach from a network, often-times without warning, such as virtual machines offering or desiring services that are periodically instantiated and then suspended or destroyed. To accommodate such transitory devices, a dynamic resource/service registry may be implemented that leverages lower-level protocols or state to determine appropriate registry updates to keep the registry state consistent with currently-active virtual machines. For example, a virtual machine monitor (VMM) may track creation and suspension or deletion of a virtual machine (VM), and resources advertised by the VM, where the VMM appropriately adds or removes registry entries for the VM as the state of the VM changes or provides hooks (e.g. notifications) or other instrumentation based on said state or protocols to enable other associated modules or agents (e.g. management modules or the registry) to take appropriate actions. |
| US07962542B2 |
Method and apparatus for inverse discrete cosine transform
A method of implementing a two-dimensional Inverse Discrete Cosine Transform on a block of input data. The method includes 1) generating a performance array for the columns of the input data; 2) performing a column-wise IDCT upon the input data, the IDCT performed in accordance with cases given for each of the columns by the performance array; (3) generating a row performance offset for rows of the input data; and 4) performing a row-wise IDCT upon the result data from the performing of the column-wise IDCT. |
| US07962541B2 |
Optimization of spectrum extrapolation for causal impulse response calculation using the hilbert transform
A causal impulse response function is calculated from a truncated spectrum by extending the real part of the spectrum beyond the truncation frequency and computing the imaginary part with the Hilbert transform to enforce causality. The out of band extrapolation is optimized to reduce the discrepancy between the computed and the original imaginary part in the in band frequency range so that the causal impulse response accurately represents the original spectrum. The technique can be applied to spectral with the delay phase subtracted to enforce delay causality. The Hilbert transform may be employed to maintain causality in S-parameter passivity violation correction. At frequencies where violation happens, the S-parameter matrix is scaled down by the inverse of the magnitude of the largest eigenvalue. Magnitudes at other frequencies are unchanged. An additional phase calculated by the magnitude phase Hilbert transform is added to the scaled spectrum to maintain the causality. |
| US07962540B2 |
Mixed radix number generator with chosen statistical artifacts
A method is provided for masking a process used in generating a number sequence. The method includes generating a first sequence of numbers contained within a Galois field GF[M]. The method also includes performing a first modification to a first number in the first sequence of numbers. The first modification includes summing the first number with a result of a modulo P operation performed on a second number of the first sequence that proceeds the first number. M is relatively prime with respect to P. The method further includes performing a second modification to the first random number. The second modification is comprised of a modulo P operation. This second modification is performed subsequent to the first modification. The method includes repeating the first and second modification for a plurality of numbers comprising the first sequence of numbers to generate a second sequence of numbers. |
| US07962538B2 |
Method of operand width reduction to enable usage of narrower saturation adder
An electronic computing circuit for implementing a method for reducing the bit width of two operands from a bit length N to a reduced bit length M, thus, M |
| US07962536B2 |
System and method for remote monitoring and controlling of facility energy consumption
A method for remote monitoring and controlling of energy consumption of a facility includes receiving energy consumption data associated with the facility at a processor disposed remotely from the facility. The method also includes receiving environmental data associated with the facility. The method includes determining whether an operating parameter of an energy consumption system of the facility requires modification to increase efficiency using the energy consumption data and the environmental data. The method further includes automatically modifying the operating parameter of the energy consumption system corresponding to the required modification. |
| US07962534B2 |
Automatic management of dependencies between physical and logical elements in an application set
A mechanism minimizes the management issues of the participant objects of the logical target set, such as an application set. The mechanism maps the current physical implementation. The mechanism then identifies the target and extraneous object set locations to facilitate isolation. Thereafter, the mechanism optimizes the logical target set placement for best manageability and performance. The mechanism minimizes the management issues by providing a small application footprint. This is accomplished by placing the object set on the fewest necessary volumes to facilitate both application performance and independence of administrative action. |
| US07962533B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, program recording medium, computer program, data structure, and manufacturing method of recording medium
An information processing apparatus includes a reading unit for reading data from a recording medium, a storage unit for storing a variety of types of data, and a control unit for controlling setting of a directory structure when a first data group recorded on a first recording medium and a second data group recorded on the storage unit are recorded on a second recording medium different from the first recording medium. The control unit includes a first detecting unit for detecting the directory structure of the first data group recorded on the first recording medium, a second detecting unit for detecting the directory structure of the second data group stored on the storage unit, and a setting unit for setting the directory structure in accordance with which the first data group read by the reading unit from the first recording medium and the second data group stored on the storage unit are recorded on the second recording medium directory. |
| US07962531B2 |
Multiple concurrent active file systems
A method and apparatus for operating a data storage system is disclosed. An original active file system holds incoming write transactions. Data is written at a selected time to blocks in a data storage device of the original active file system, the data written to blocks which do not hold old data of the data storage system. Pointers to data of the original active file system are written at the selected time to the data storage device, the pointers written to blocks which do not hold old data of the data storage system, the pointers and a previously saved data of the active file system forming a consistency point of the original active file system at the selected time. A new active file system is started using the consistency point of the original active file system at the selected time. |
| US07962528B1 |
System and method for quickly determining changed metadata using persistent consistency point image differencing
A system and method accelerates update of a metadata search database using PCPI differencing. After first populating the search database, a search agent generates a PCPI and utilizes a PCPI differencing technique to quickly identify changes between inode files of first and second PCPIs. The differences are noted as modified metadata and are written to a log file, which is later read by the search agent to update the search database. |
| US07962527B2 |
Custom management system for distributed application servers
Custom management capability is provided through MBeans over a distributed management domain. The management domain is a collection of distributed servers that are managed as a unit, wherein the management system of the present invention presents an API for providing management services across a network. The common management system allows application designers to accomplish a broad range of management goals. The management network is also simple, abstract in that it separates an application author from the implementation, and is scalable. The system of the present invention supports both configuration and monitoring and is Java standards based. The management system is extensible in that a user can add additional types of management objects, schema attributes and extended persistence features. |
| US07962526B2 |
Frequent itemset counting using clustered prefixes and index support
Techniques are provided for (1) extending SQL to support direct invocation of frequent itemset operations, (2) improving the performance of frequent itemset operations by clustering itemset combinations to more efficiently use previously produced results, and (3) making on-the-fly selection of the occurrence counting technique to use during each phase of a multiple phase frequent itemset operation. When directly invoked in an SQL statement, a frequent itemset operation may receive input from results of operations specified in the SQL statement, and provide its results directly to other operations specified in the SQL statement. By clustering itemset combinations, resources may be used more efficiently by retaining intermediate information as long as it is useful, and then discarding it to free up volatile memory. Dynamically selecting an occurrence counting technique allows a single frequent itemset operation to change the occurrence counting technique that it is using midstream, based on cost considerations and/or environmental conditions. |
| US07962523B2 |
System and method for detecting templates of a website using hyperlink analysis
The present invention relates to methods, systems, and computer readable media comprising instructions for detecting templates within one or more web pages comprising a website. The method of the present invention comprises generating one or more groups of hyperlinks within a respective web page of the one or more web pages comprising the website. An in-link score is calculated for a given uniform resource locator associated with the one or more web pages comprising the website. The hyperlink groups in which the uniform resource locators associated with the one or more web pages comprising the website appear are identified. A template score is assigned to the identified hyperlinks groups on the basis of the in-link score associated with the uniform resource locators to which the hyperlinks comprising the hyperlink group correspond. The hyperlink groups with template scores exceeding a given template score threshold are thereafter identified as templates. |
| US07962519B2 |
Method, system, and program product for building hierarchies
In general, the present invention allows one to define both a hierarchy with one or more peers and no parents (e.g., one or more blades and no chassis) and a hierarchy with one or more peers and a parent (e.g., one or more blades and a chassis) as long as the relationships are valid. Rather than relying on a user's a priori knowledge of the hierarchical relationships, this invention allows a user to select any starting point and then drive in any desired direction. Despite this flexibility, the invention still allows rules for permissible relationships to be enforced. Thus, driving is limited by the relationships extant in the underlying data, or the known combining rules. |
| US07962517B2 |
Simultaneous real-time access to financial information
The present invention is defined by the following claims, and nothing in this section should be taken as a limitation on those claims. By way of introduction, the preferred embodiments describe below include a method of simultaneously presenting user specific real-time financial information includes authenticating a user, for example by using a user-id and password. Then receiving an input from the user indicating the shareholder of interest. The user is then presented with a list of the shareholder's account information. The shareholder account information can be retrieved from several different record keeping systems. The record keeping systems can be maintained by different entities and can store the respective account information in different formats. The shareholder account information can be retrieved by broadcasting an account inquiry to the record keeping systems or by using a cross-reference table that indicates which record keeping systems the shareholder has accounts with. A combination of the broadcast and cross-reference table can be used. Once the shareholder account information is presented, the user can select an account, for example by a hyperlink tag, and receive detailed information about that account. |
| US07962516B2 |
System and method for adding multi-level security to federated asset repositories
A system and method for adding multi-level security to federated asset repositories is provided. A multi-level security (MLS) manager receives normalized taxonomies from repository managers, which manage repositories that include assets assigned various security levels. In turn, the MLS manager integrates the taxonomies into a composite taxonomy. When a portal receives a request from a user, the portal sends a taxonomy request to the MLS manager that includes the user's user identifier. The MLS manager retrieves the composite taxonomy, identifies the user's security level, filters the composite taxonomy based upon the user's security level, and provides the filtered composite taxonomy to the portal. In turn, the portal generates a user interface view based upon the filtered composite taxonomy and provides the user interface view to the user, which utilizes the user interface view to request and receive access to assets from one or more federated repositories. |
| US07962512B1 |
Federated system and methods and mechanisms of implementing and using such a system
A federated system and methods and mechanisms of implementing and using such a system is disclosed. In some embodiments, one or more mappings are created between a taxonomy view at a node and one or more taxonomies of one or more data sources. The one or more data sources can then be accessed via the taxonomy view. In other embodiments, one or more mappings are created between content from different data sources and content from those data sources are merged using the one or more mappings. |
| US07962503B2 |
Data query and location through a central ontology model
A data query system including a first storage medium including a data schema having a data schema query language associated therewith, a second storage medium including an ontology model including classes and properties, the ontology model having an ontology query language associated therewith, wherein constructs of the database schema are mapped to corresponding classes, properties or compositions of properties of the ontology model, and an ontology query processor generating a query expressed in the data schema query language corresponding to a specified query expressed in the ontology query language. A method is also described and claimed. |
| US07962501B1 |
System and method of removing duplicate leads
A duplicate lead removal system comprises a matching engine, a vendor duplicates database, and a conflict engine. The matching engine is configured to determine at least one vendor to receive a lead. The vendor duplicates database is configured to store duplicate lead information that is at least partly created by and received from vendors outside of the duplicate lead removal system. The conflict engine is configured to compare information that is at least derived from the lead with information stored in the vendor duplicates database in order to determine if the lead is a duplicate lead for the vendor such that the system can prevent transmission of duplicate leads to the vendor. |
| US07962496B2 |
Migrating personality of computing environment from source platform to target platform
Methods, and systems for migrating personality of a computing environment from a source machine platform to a target machine platform through a CIM-based system management infrastructure. A system includes: database wherein migration rules of CIM objects between a plurality of platforms are recorded; and migration tool for implementing migration according to the migration rules in the database, which includes: migration rule extractor, CIM object extractor, migration task producer and migration task executor. The extractor extracts CIM objects related to personality of the computing environment from source machine platform according to migration rule extracted from the database by rule extractor, and extracts from the target machine platform objects corresponding to the extracted CIM objects of the source machine platform. The migration task producer generates the migration tasks according to extracted migration rules. The migration task executor executes generated migration tasks on the CIM objects of the target platform. |
| US07962494B2 |
Method, information processing apparatus, and program for generating array
A relationship among data in a tree data structure is effectively traced by assigning nodes respective unique node identifiers, a parent-child relationship is represented by a C->P array containing node identifiers for parent nodes associated with node identifiers for non-root nodes that are nodes other than a root node, a list of vertex nodes is provided by storing node identifiers for respective vertex nodes in order to represent one or more node groups, each node group including a particular node, which is the vertex node, and descendant nodes of the particular node, and the node identifier for the vertex node belonging to other vertex nodes are deleted from the list of vertex nodes by referring to the C->P array such that neither vertex nodes nor respective descendant nodes of the vertex nodes duplicate each other across vertex nodes identified by the node identifiers included in the list of vertex nodes. |
| US07962490B1 |
System, method, and computer program product for analyzing and decomposing a plurality of rules into a plurality of contexts
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for analyzing a plurality of rules in a textual rules structure. Further, the plurality of rules are decomposed into a plurality of contexts, based on the analysis. In addition, the plurality of contexts are stored in a table. Furthermore, a database associated with a device and/or any robot equipped with an operating system may be utilized. |
| US07962489B1 |
Indexing using contiguous, non-overlapping ranges
A method of efficiently constructing and using an index for searches in large datasets is provided. In this method, a dataset can be divided into a plurality of “buckets”, i.e. contiguous, non-overlapping ranges of values of a chosen attribute of elements of the dataset. These buckets can be used to construct discrete index segments. Static index segments (associated with “static” buckets including the more frequently occurring values) are always computed, whereas dynamic index segments (associated with “dynamic” buckets including the less frequently occurring values) can be generated on an as-needed basis and based on the availability of system resources. Thus, search time and storage area can be advantageously reduced because less of the complete index needs to be generated and used. |
| US07962484B2 |
LDAP bulk append
Systems and methods for performing a bulk append into an LDAP Server Directory Store. A conversion tool may receive an input file in LDIF format. The conversion tool performs a schema check on each entry in the input file, and creates a plurality of output files in SQL or another LDAP database structured format. One output file is created for each attribute in the input file. In addition, a file for an attribute table and a file for a catalog table may be created. One or more SQL Loading tools then load the output files into the LDAP Server Directory Store in parallel, except for the DN catalog table. After the other output files have been loaded, the DN catalog file is loaded into the LDAP Server Directory Store. |
| US07962482B2 |
Methods and systems for utilizing contextual feedback to generate and modify playlists
Systems and methods of generating and modifying a playlist using contextual information are disclosed. For example, a user may provide an input seed such as a song name or artist name. The input seed is compared to database items and a playlist is generated as a result. In some examples, the contextual information is used to enhance the comparison and to select better content objects for a user's playlist. Meanwhile, in some examples the content objects in the playlist may be arranged in an enhanced order using ranking and/or contextual information. |
| US07962478B2 |
Movement-based dynamic filtering of search results in a graphical user interface
A movement-based filtering mechanism in a graphical user interface allows a user to filter search results by simply moving a pointer, such as a mouse. One or more attributes are displayed to the user in a graphical format. By selecting the pointer (such as clicking on a mouse button), the user may dynamically filter the search results according to the attribute(s) under the pointer. Weighting of multiple attributes may be performed according to the time the pointer spends in each attribute area in the display, or according to a path length of the pointer in each attribute area in the display. In addition, the speed of the dynamic filtering may be directly controlled according to the speed of the movement of the pointer. A timeline may also be displayed that allows the user to go back to any suitable point in time in the filtering process. |
| US07962476B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing a depth-first join in a database
In a database, inner joins are performed in a depth-first manner. Depth-first joins differ from breadth-first joins in that rows are examined a page at a time during execution from every table that is participating in the query. Thus, the depth-first join is a constant-space operation with respect to the size of the data set, with the storage required approximately equal to the sum of the sizes of a page from each table. |
| US07962471B2 |
User profile classification by web usage analysis
Demographic information of an Internet user is predicted based on an analysis of accessed web pages. Web pages accessed by the Internet user are detected and mapped to a user path vector which is converted to a normalized weighted user path vector. A centroid vector identifies web page access patterns of users with a shared user profile attribute. The user profile attribute is assigned to the Internet user based on a comparison of the vectors. Bias values are also assigned to a set of web pages and a user profile attribute can be predicted for an Internet user based on the bias values of web pages accessed by the user. User attributes can also be predicted based on the results of an expectation maximization process. Demographic information can be predicted based on the combined results of a vector comparison, bias determination, or expectation maximization process. |
| US07962470B2 |
System and method for searching web services
Generally, systems and methods for managing and searching web services are provided. Example software comprises computer readable instructions operable to receive a query from a first client for one or more requested web services via a graphical user interface. The software then identifies at least one web service stored in a Universal Description, Discovery, and Integration (UDDI) registry based on the query and an index of web service metadata. Information associated with the one or more identified web services is then presented via the graphical user interface. |
| US07962467B2 |
Systems and methods for recognition of individuals using multiple biometric searches
The search results of a first iteration of a biometric search are used to form a probe for subsequent iterations searches in a biometric database. his enables the search methodology to “drill down” into the database to find matching biometric templates. In addition, the results of a search using a template of first biometric type are used to limit the search applied using a template of a second biometric type to improve the effectiveness of a one to many search for matching data in a biometric database. These search methods are used in various combinations with different types of biometric templates and demographic information of an individual who is subject of the one to many search. |
| US07962462B1 |
Deriving and using document and site quality signals from search query streams
A system analyzes one or more search streams to detect one or more associations between a document and one or more queries in the one or more search streams. The system further derives a value for the document based on the detected associations and uses the derived value in evaluating a quality of the document with respect to one or more subsequent queries. |
| US07962453B2 |
Dynamic redistribution of a distributed memory index when individual nodes have different lookup indexes
Techniques for performing window-by-window remastering are described, in which the mechanism used by nodes to determine the resource-to-window mapping is separated from the mechanism used by the nodes to access resource information. For example, all nodes of a multiple-node system may use the same hash function to determine which resources are involved in a remastering window. However, the resource indexes employed by the nodes to access resource information need not use that same hash function. For example, in nodes where the resource indexes are hash indexes, different nodes may use different hash functions. Further, some or all of the nodes may use mechanisms other than hash indexes to access the resource information. |
| US07962451B2 |
Data gather scatter—redistribution machine
A method, system, and computer program product to transfer data between two application data structures by copying a data gather scatter program (DGSP) from an exporting process address space where a first data structure is located, to a location in shared memory visible to an importing process address space; assembling a parameter set identifying the data structure; starting a data gather scatter-redistribution machine (DGS-RM) in an importing process space where a second application data structure is located; passing the first parameter set, the DGSP copy, and a second parameter set identifying a second application data structure and a second DGSP to the DGS-RM; and creating master and worker stack machines. The master stack machine identifies a contiguous chunk of the first data structure. The worker stack machine identifies contiguous chunks of the second data structure representing the same number of bytes as the contiguous chunk of the first data structure and transferring to (from) one or more identified chunks of the second data structure from (to) the single chunk of the first application data structure. |
| US07962445B2 |
Method and system for importing an application and server map to a business systems manager display
An automated system displays enables a user to observe the activities in a system based on information in the display. From this display, the user can quickly identify the source of problems for the purpose of troubleshooting without the need to manually determine the source and nature of the problem. In this system, data about the system is gathered through a plurality of agents positioned throughout the network. This data is analyzed and a system monitor deployment configuration is developed. This monitor deployment information along with information about the various devices in the system and any relationships of devices in the system are imported to the display system. The display system then displays this information showing the present relationships of the devices in the system. |
| US07962441B2 |
Air conditioner for vehicle and controlling method thereof
An air conditioner for a vehicle includes an air-conditioning unit for supplying conditioned air into a vehicle, an information acquiring unit for acquiring state information indicating a state of the vehicle, a control information modifying unit having at least one probabilistic model for calculating the probability that a passenger will perform a predetermined setting operation, calculating the probability by inputting the state information into the at least one probabilistic model, and modifying the setting information or the control information related to the predetermined setting operation according to the probability so that the predetermined setting operation is performed, and an air-conditioning control unit for controlling the air-conditioning unit according to the modified setting information or modified control information. |
| US07962431B2 |
Automatically controlling in-process software distributions through time prediction of a disturbance
A method and system for controlling an in-process software distribution to computing devices. A time of a disturbance in an environment of a computing device is predicted based on a change in a pressure exerted on the computing device. A checkpoint in a time interval of a distribution of a set of software upgrade increments to the computing device is automatically determined. The checkpoint is prior to the time of the disturbance. The determination of the checkpoint utilizes length(s) of increment(s) of the set of increments. Prior to the checkpoint, the computing device receives the increment(s). The computing device requests an interruption of the distribution beginning at the checkpoint. In one embodiment, the computing device is a buoy-like energy capture and generation device. |
| US07962428B2 |
System and method for joint optimization of cascaded classifiers for computer aided detection
A method for training classifiers for Computer-Aided Detection in medical images includes providing an image feature training set {(xi, yi)}i=1l, wherein xiεRd are input feature variables and yiε{−1,1} are class labels, and a cascade of K classifiers to be trained, minimizing, for each classifier k, a first cost function to initialize an αk0 associated with each classifier k, fixing all classifiers except classifier k and minimizing a second cost function to solve for αkc for a counter value c using the training dataset {(xik, yi)}i=1l, calculating a third cost function Jc(αlc, . . . , αKc) for each classifier k, and comparing Jc with a previous iteration Jc−1, wherein if Jc−Jc−1 is less than a predetermined tolerance, said classifier training is completed. |
| US07962425B1 |
Method and system for responding to an alert
A method and system for responding to an alert pertaining to an event. A unique processor of a first micro grid apparatus of at least one micro grid apparatus detects an alert data packet that includes the alert. Each micro grid apparatus includes at least two processors that contain a unique processor. Each processor of each micro grid apparatus has its own operating system. The unique processor of each micro grid apparatus has a unique operating system. Each unique processor selects at least one processor from each micro grid apparatus. Each selected processor is designated as a macro grid processor of a respective macro grid by altering the operating system of each selected processor. An artificial intelligence is generated for each macro grid. The event is responded to and quenched by implementing the artificial intelligence of each macro grid, after which each macro grid is extinguished. |
| US07962422B1 |
Redirection of deliveries
Disclosed are various embodiments for redirecting orders based on delivery site unavailability. A first delivery site that will be unavailable during an unavailability period is identified, and a coincidence between the unavailability period and a pick-up period of a shipment at the first delivery site is determined, the shipment being currently scheduled to be picked up by a customer at the first delivery site during the pick-up period. A second delivery site is then determined. A notification is sent to the customer of the second delivery site, and a rerouting of the shipment to the second delivery site is initiated. |
| US07962417B2 |
System and method for distributing protected information
A method and apparatus of encouraging distribution, registration, and purchase of free copyable software and other digital information which is accessed on a User's System via a Programmer's Program. Software tools which can be incorporated into a Programmer's Program allow the User to access Advanced Features of the Programmer's Program only in the presence of a valid Password which is unique to a particular Target ID generated on an ID-Target such as the User's System. Advanced features will thus relock if the Password is copied to another ID-target. If a valid Password is not present, the User is invited to obtain one, and provided with the means of doing so, and of installing that Password in a place accessible to the User's System on subsequent occasions. The present invention also provides Programmers with means to invoke business operations as well as computational operations with their programs, and thus to automatically obtain payment from Users who elect to obtain passwords. |
| US07962411B1 |
Atomic deposit transaction
A user may generate a digital image of a negotiable instrument such as a check. The digital image may be transmitted to an institution in a digital image file for deposit of the check. After the user selects to submit the digital image file, the digital image file may be sent from a user computing device to the institution. The user computing device may be decoupled from the transaction once the submission of the digital image file for deposit of the check is made. The transaction is thereafter managed by the institution. Incomplete transactions are avoided by moving the transaction processing to the server side at the institution after the user submits the digital image file. This may be referred to as an atomic deposit transaction. |
| US07962410B2 |
Customizable software agents in an electronic bill presentment and payment system
A customizable electronic bill payment and presentment system whereby the base logic for software agents need not be changed in order to provide customization to different billers. Rather, customization features are stored in data repositories, preferably in XML format. An administrator can select which agents to activate based upon a customized list of available agents. Then the customized parameters for activating and running the jobs with the agent is further loaded from customized repository files at the appropriate time. Accordingly, customization for a particular biller is achieved by changing data stored in a repository, rather than reprogramming core logic. |
| US07962406B2 |
Systems and methods for facilitating transactions
A financial account issuer facilitating transactions between accounts is disclosed. The invention provides sellers with an irrevocable method of receiving funds from a purchaser and for improving purchaser willingness to transact with an unknown party. The invention also includes the options of interest payments, the use of different account issuers, different financial accounts, budget transfers, spend compartmentalization, cost-splitting, adjusting credit limits, loans, gifting, intermediary facilitating the transaction, transaction tracking, rapid funds availability, confidential transfer of funds, immediate initiation of shipment by a seller, releasing funds to a seller only after approval of the goods, services, or other value, demonstrating proof of payment, and recourse against a remote seller. |
| US07962402B2 |
On-line system for buyer seller matching and negotiation
An on-line system for creating an open market for matching buyers and sellers of brand name products. The system enables buyers to achieve the maximum value in the purchased product by engaging in an open ended on-line reverse auction and a negotiation process with multiple sellers of the specified product. The system enables sellers to generate sales leads and engage in the open ended on-line reverse auction bidding and the negotiation process with buyers. |
| US07962401B2 |
Message consolidation
The invention relates to a method and a trading system for consolidating messages in intermediate server layers. It is operated in at least one of a data- and telecommunication network. Message distribution is introduced by collecting and distributing them through hold-back time frames, thereby, eliminating transactional overhead and achieving a substantial gain in message throughput time in the trading system. |
| US07962400B2 |
System and method for wagering based on the movement of financial markets
A system for wagering comprises a memory and a processor. The memory stores a bet regarding a plurality of outcomes associated with financial market indicators. The bet comprises a first bet component indicating whether a value of a first financial market indicator will go up or go down in a first predetermined period of time, and a second bet component indicating whether a value of a second financial market indicator will go up or go down in a second predetermined period of time. The processor is coupled to the memory and is operable to determine an outcome of the first bet component, the second bet component, and the overall bet. |
| US07962395B2 |
System and method for managing investment funds
Method for establishing an investment mandate and for managing institutional investment funds associated with equity-based investments, bond-based investments and other investments. |
| US07962394B2 |
Systems and methods for scheduling contributions to a retirement savings plan
Computer-based systems and methods are described for generating personalized, automated contribution strategies for scheduling contributions to a retirement savings plan or other savings plan. Embodiments of the systems and methods provide visual and other educational displays to assist a client in choosing a suitable savings contribution strategy that may take into account at least one of the set consisting of: details of an employer-sponsored savings fund available to the client which may include opportunities for employer matching-funds, acceptable portion of standard-of-living increases derived from salary raises that the client is willing to contribute to a savings plan, client's current savings behavior and value of savings portfolio, effects of the stochastic nature of future investment portfolio value, and changing federal tax regulations. Clients may use the systems for educational and planning purposes and/or may authorize automated triggering of contributions with scheduled increases and/or decreases as specified by the selected plan. |
| US07962391B2 |
System and method for determining elegibility and enrolling members in various programs
A system and method for determining eligibility of persons and enrolling those persons in various programs. For example, one embodiment is particularly suited for enrolling credit card members in payment programs. A program is selected, after which enrollment information is entered. The enrollment information is checked and verified, and the enrollment application is checked for eligibility. The enrollment may be either accepted or declined. The possibility of reiterative enrollment in more than one program is provided. A system is provided for tracking which payment programs are the most enticing for later feedback analysis. |
| US07962390B2 |
Field 55 data relationships
A data mining device, method, and apparatus configured to associate customer exclusive data from a payment card or device after a financial transaction. A financial transaction processing system comprises a report distribution management system, a data relationship manager, and a customer exclusive data association database. The report distribution management system receives financial transaction data. The data relationship manager determines an issuer associated with the financial transaction data, queries a subscription database for subscription data associated with the issuer and a core database for the issuer processing parameters. The processing parameters are applied to the financial transaction data and the subscription data. A customer exclusive data association database is updated with the financial transaction data once the processing parameters are applied. |
| US07962389B1 |
Method and system for providing financial functions
A method is disclosed for providing financial functions by an agent for each of a plurality of clients. One embodiment includes, relating to a financial function of each client, demonstrating that more than one activity of the agent can be transparent to the client, receiving financial information at the agent, creating risk management information relating to the financial information, analyzing the risk management information in the context of the financial information, determining an action based on the analysis, facilitating implementation of an action on behalf of the client, and communicating with the client one or more activities of the agent. |
| US07962388B2 |
System and method for incorporating mortality risk in an investment planning model
A method for computing possible future values of a portfolio of an investor including (a) receiving user inputs comprising an initial value of a portfolio and a current age of an investor; (b) randomly drawing a number between 0 to 1; (c) determining a mortality rate of the investor in accordance with a mortality table based on the current age of the investor; (d) comparing the randomly drawn number with said determined mortality rate using a preselected logical relation to define the current age as the age of death of the investor; (e) computing a future value of the portfolio using the age of death defined in step (d)(1), a predetermined rate of return, and the initial value of the portfolio; and (f) outputting the computed future value of the portfolio. |
| US07962386B2 |
Enterprise service architecture platform architecture for multi-application computer system
Centralized process context and information context are provided for a computer system having an enterprise service architecture platform. The process context is a centrally accessible object storing and providing status data generated during performance of a process flow. The process context permits firm personnel to review performance of the process flow, for example, to determine its status and to identify any business exceptions that may have occurred therein. The information context caches information generated during performance of the process flow. It provides data on which to assess firm performance parameters, for example, time elapsed during performance of each process step and it provides a detailed set of information describing the process business activity. The process context and information context support higher-level monitoring functions. The process context and information context relieve operators from directly addressing a host of process-specific applications during performance of process flows. |
| US07962385B2 |
System and process for electronic subrogation, inter-organization workflow management, inter-organization transaction processing and optimized web-based user interaction
An intelligent electronic subrogation network (“ESN”) automates intra-organization workflow, inter-organization workflow and collaboration for insurance subrogation. This ESN is facilitated by a novel system architecture and process that includes an inter-organizational workflow management system, an inter-organizational transaction processing system, and a unique mechanism for optimizing and enriching web-based user interaction within any such system. |
| US07962384B2 |
System, method, and computer program product for allocating assets among a plurality of investments to guarantee a predetermined value at the end of a predetermined time period
A system, method, and computer program product for allocating assets among a plurality of investments to guarantee a predetermined value at the end of a predetermined time period. A computer program controls the allocation of assets in the investment vehicle, which allows the investor to initially invest one hundred percent of the initial deposit in non-secure, high risk investments. At the end of the each trading day, the computer program determines if assets should be reallocated from the non-secure investments to the secure investments, from the secure investments to the non-secure investments, or if no reallocation is necessary. |
| US07962380B2 |
Website enabling selection of camps/activities from a plurality of providers
A camp registration website and method for enabling a user to select camps offered by a plurality of providers. The camp registration website allows a user to search for, gather information regarding, and register for camps offered by a plurality of different providers. The camp registration web server may provide a master application to the user that is useable to apply for the various selected camps. The website may also maintain personalized information for a respective user, such as a personalized calendar for a respective user that stores date information regarding the camps selected by the user as well as local current events of interest. The web server may provide calendar information over the network to the user's client computer system to synchronize with a calendar program, such as Microsoft Outlook, Palm, etc., executing on a user device. |
| US07962379B2 |
Business process for increasing win probability in large complex contract competitions
The present invention is directed to a method of increasing win probability of a vendor competing in a complex contract competition. A request is received from a buying organization. The subject vendor calculates a value position of the buying organization, and frames a response to the request based on the calculated value position. The value position is determined by any changes in wealth of the buying-organization. The framed response is then submitted to the buying organization. |
| US07962377B2 |
Computer program product for purchase order processing
A method of processing a purchase order is disclosed. The method includes receiving an electronic purchase order in a current one of a plurality of order periods for a designated delivery period, accessing a budget allocation corresponding to said delivery period, and providing an acceptance or a rejection of the electronic purchase order based at least partially on a budget portion of the current order period. The budget allocation includes a budget portion corresponding to each of the plurality of order periods. |
| US07962376B2 |
System, method, and computer readable storage medium for informing a user about an item that is available via an e-commerce website
A user interface for communicating over a voice channel regarding an item that is available at an e-commerce website is disclosed and includes a speaker to communicate at least one audible voice message and at least one audible non-voice message. The audible voice message can indicate the status of an item and/or the status of an offer to purchase the item. Further, the at least one audible non-voice message can indicate a time period in which user input can be received. Moreover, the at least one audible non-voice message is transmitted concurrently with the at least one audible voice message. |
| US07962373B2 |
System and methods for providing financial account information over a network
A system and method for providing financial account messages to customers while accessing web sites is disclosed. Methods, systems and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention enable a financial account issuer to provide an application to customer's computer system over a network. The application may be configured to provide various messages associated with the customer's financial account provided by the financial account issuer while the customer browses web sites. The financial account messages may be configured to provide interactive and dynamically changing account status information based on attempted purchases of goods and/or services by the customer at merchants' web sites. The application may also be configured to provide rating information associated with web sites accessed by the customer. |
| US07962370B2 |
Methods in a media service system for transaction processing
In one embodiment of the present invention, a media service system provides at least one transaction configuration option that is enabled to be selected by a user. The media service system implements a transaction process in response to a user selection. |
| US07962368B2 |
Purchase sequence browser
The invention provides a purchase sequence browser (PuSB), i.e. a graphical user interface (GUI) that facilitates insight discovery and exploration of product affinities across time, generated by a purchase sequence analysis of a retailer's transaction data. A purchase sequence browser allows the user to browse the most significant product phrases discovered by an exhaustive search of the product affinities across time; explore the retail grammar to create both forward and backward phrase trees or alternate purchase paths starting from, or ending in, a product; generate consistent purchase sequences given some constraints on the products and their order; and profile the value of a product across time with regard to other products fixed in time. |
| US07962365B2 |
Using detailed process information at a point of sale
Techniques for using transactional and visual event information to facilitate loss prevention are provided. The techniques include obtaining video of one or more visual events at a point of sale environment and one or more transaction log entries that correspond to the video, wherein the one or more transaction log entries comprise one or more transactional events, categorizing each event as one of one or more model events, using each categorized event to create a revised transaction log, wherein the revised transaction log comprises a sequence of categorized events, wherein each categorized event is a combination of the one or more transactional events and the one or more visual events, examining the revised transaction log to correct one or more mis-categorizations, if any, and revise one or more model event categories with the one or more corrected mis-categorizations, if any, and using the revised transaction log to facilitate loss prevention. |
| US07962359B2 |
Method and system for collecting and disseminating survey data over the internet
A system and method for collecting and disseminating survey information wherein a verification procedure is performed to determine actual ownership of the product by the respondent being surveyed on that product. |
| US07962351B2 |
Systems and methods for determining cost of insurance rates
According to some embodiments, a current net amount at risk associated with a life insurance policy is determined. The life insurance policy may, for example, have been previously issued to a consumer for a given face death benefit amount. At least one applicable cost of insurance rate may then be automatically selected based at least in part on the determined net amount at risk. The applicable cost of insurance rate can then be applied to the current net amount at risk for the policy. For example, a first cost of insurance rate may be applied to a first portion of the current net amount at risk, and the applicable cost of insurance rate may be applied to a second portion of the current net amount at risk. |
| US07962348B2 |
Apparatus, method and software for developing electronic documentation of imaging modalities, other radiological findings and physical examinations
A system for guiding a user's physical examination of a patient and for generating a transcript. The system comprises: a screen requesting patient identification information, wherein the patient identification information excludes a patient name and further requesting patient medical history information; a screen requesting vital signs information; a screen requesting selection of an anatomical region of the patient for examination, wherein the user selects an anatomical region responsive to the request; a screen providing a plurality of possible observed symptoms related to the selected anatomical region, wherein the user selects one or more of the possible observed symptoms; a screen presenting possible findings that may be observed during the physical examination, wherein the user selects one or more of the possible findings based on the physical examination and a screen displaying a patient transcript responsive to information entered into the previous screens. |
| US07962346B2 |
Social choice determination systems and methods
A system configured for: (A) identifying a first party of a plurality of parties as one of an excluded group of parties; (B) identifying a candidate group that includes each of the plurality of parties other than the excluded group of parties; (C) receiving, from the first party, a first-party utility value that the first party would associate with at least one of a plurality of different outcomes; (D) receiving, from a second party, a second-party utility value that the second party would associate with at least one of the plurality of different outcomes, the second party being part of the candidate group; and (E) determining which particular one of the plurality of outcomes should be selected based primarily on a set of utility values that comprises the second-party utility value. Step (E) may be made without substantially considering the first-party utility value, and Step (B) may be made without substantially considering the first-party utility value. |
| US07962342B1 |
Dynamic user interface for the temporarily impaired based on automatic analysis for speech patterns
In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to reconfiguration of a communication device or other network node based on a determination that a user has a target (altered) physical condition. |
| US07962341B2 |
Method and apparatus for labelling speech
A method for the prosodic labelling of speech including performing a first analysis step using data from an audio file, wherein the audio file is analysed as a plurality of frames positioned at fixed time intervals in said audio file; and performing a second analysis step on said data from said audio file using results of said first analysis step, wherein analysis is performed using a plurality of analysis windows and wherein the position of the analysis windows are determined by segmental information. |
| US07962338B2 |
Speech recognition apparatus, speech recognition method and recording medium having speech recognition software program recorded thereon
When the degree of similarity of the recognition candidates is greater than the second threshold value, the speech verification unit outputs the recognition candidates as a recognition result, and when the degree of similarity of the recognition candidates is smaller than the second threshold value, it outputs the recognition candidates as a recognition result if the degree of similarity of the recognition candidates is greater than the first threshold value and, at the same time, the degree of similarity of the recognition candidates is greater than the degree of similarity of the rejection candidates. It should be noted that the first threshold value is a measure used for rejecting input speech. The second threshold value is larger than the first threshold value and is used as a measure for outputting recognition candidates as a recognition result. |
| US07962337B2 |
Method of operating a speech recognition system
In methods of operating a speech recognition system, a speech signal from a user is analyzed for recognizing speech information contained in the speech signal. When situated in an active receive mode, an acknowledgement of receive activity is produced in response to an inquiry about the receive activity from a user. In another embodiment, before speech data including at least a portion of the speech signal and/or at least a portion of the speech information are transmitted from an internal user-controlled area into an external area, the respective speech data are filtered and/or a message is sent to the user that a transmission of the speech data to the external area is imminent. |
| US07962336B2 |
Method and apparatus for enrollment and evaluation of speaker authentification
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for enrollment and evaluation of speaker authentication. The method for enrollment of speaker authentication, comprising: generating a plurality of acoustic feature vector sequences respectively based on a plurality of utterances of the same content spoken by a speaker; generating a reference template from said plurality of acoustic feature vector sequences; generating a corresponding pseudo-impostor feature vector sequence for each of said plurality of acoustic feature vector sequences based on a code book that includes a plurality of codes and their corresponding feature vectors; and selecting an optimal acoustic feature subset based on said plurality of acoustic feature vector sequences, said reference template and said plurality of pseudo-impostor feature vector sequences. |
| US07962334B2 |
Receiving device and method
A receiving device receives a transmission unit signal that is sent from a sending end and accommodates a result of dividing, the result of the dividing being obtained by quantizing a value based on relative differences between a plurality of sampling values having temporal prior-posterior relationship therebetween, and dividing data produced in a time series in accordance with a result of the quantizing, at the sending end. The receiving device includes a need-of-adjustment determining means which determines whether or not an amplitude adjustment needs to be made in accordance with a value of an amplitude of a signal waveform indicated by a decoding result of the produced data accommodated in the transmission unit signal; and an amplitude adjusting means which transparently passes the signal waveform when the need-of-adjustment determining means determines that the amplitude adjustment does not need to be made, and performs predetermined amplitude adjusting processing to pass the signal waveform when the need-of-adjustment determining means determines that the amplitude adjustment needs to be made. |
| US07962331B2 |
System and method for tuning and testing in a speech recognition system
Systems and methods for improving the performance of a speech recognition system. In some embodiments a tuner module and/or a tester module are configured to cooperate with a speech recognition system. The tester and tuner modules can be configured to cooperate with each other. In one embodiment, the tuner module may include a module for playing back a selected portion of a digital data audio file, a module for creating and/or editing a transcript of the selected portion, and/or a module for displaying information associated with a decoding of the selected portion, the decoding generated by a speech recognition engine. In other embodiments, the tester module can include an editor for creating and/or modifying a grammar, a module for receiving a selected portion of a digital audio file and its corresponding transcript, and a scoring module for producing scoring statistics of the decoding based at least in part on the transcript. |
| US07962325B2 |
Server device, method used in server device, and computer program
A server device which can provide a client device with information in a plurality of languages includes a supportable language recognizing unit recognizing a plurality of supportable languages using language identification information, a requested language recognizing unit recognizing a requested language desired by the client device using the language identification information, an attribute information acquiring unit acquiring attribute information associated with the language identification information, and a language selecting unit selecting one supportable language from the plurality of supportable languages as a support language in which information is provided to the client device, using the attribute information when the language identification information of the requested language does not match with that of any supportable language. |
| US07962320B2 |
Method, apparatus and program for creating a power pin model of a semiconductor integrated circuit
A method of creating a power pin model of an LSI having appropriate analysis accuracy in consideration of information on positions within the LSI is provided. A divided cell size decision unit automatically decides a divided cell size of the LSI from power supply circuit network wire information, transistor structure information, analysis frequency information, size information, and element arrangement information of the LSI as well as from a semiconductor integrated circuit entire power pin model. A model creation unit allocates a model of an active section and a model of an internal capacitance section, including the positional information, within the LSI to the cells at an appropriate proportion, and a model coupling unit couples the models in each cell to create a power pin model of the LSI. Here, the size of each divided cell is determined to be electrically sufficiently smaller than a wavelength corresponding to an upper limit analysis frequency derived from power supply circuit network wire information, transistor structure information, and analysis frequency information. |
| US07962318B2 |
Methods for optimizing system models and the like using least absolute value estimations
Methods are provided for fitting a curve to a set of data values using a least absolute value (LAV) cost function. The set of data values may comprise m sets of data values. The method takes advantage of contraction mapping to determine a number n |
| US07962317B1 |
Analytic linearization for system design
A method and apparatus may linearize a model representing a dynamic system without using perturbation techniques. The model may include a differential-algebraic system of equations to represent the dynamic system. The mass matrix of the model may be singular. The linear model of the system may be generated in a state-space representation using the analytic Jacobians of the model. |
| US07962314B2 |
Mechanism for profiling program software running on a processor
A processor having one or more processor cores includes execution logic that may execute instructions including one or more processes. Each process may include one or more execution threads. The processor also includes a profiling mechanism that includes monitor logic and a monitor process. The monitor logic may monitor the one or more processes and provide access to performance data associated with the one or more processes without interrupting a flow of control of the one or more processes being monitored. The monitor process may gather the performance data. In addition, the monitor process may include program instructions executable by the one more processor cores while operating in user mode. |
| US07962311B2 |
Method using capacitive sensors for morphology discrimination of a passenger seating in an automotive seat
The present invention relates to a method for discriminating the morphology of a passenger seating in an automotive seat, comprising the steps of i) providing a set of a plurality of capacitive sensors (100) covering substantially a transversal cross section of a seat, ii) collecting the outputs of said plurality of capacitive sensors (100) provided on the seat, iii) determining the morphology of a target (10) facing the seat on the basis of measured distance separating the target (10) from the sensors (100) and measured surface of the sensors (100) covered by the target (10), from said outputs, and iv) comparing the determined morphology with at least a reference so as to classify the determined morphology between a plurality of reference ones. |
| US07962308B2 |
Body motion detection device, body motion detection method, and body motion detection program
A body motion detecting method calculates an acceleration-of-gravity vector from acceleration vectors, which are detection outputs of a multi-axial acceleration sensor. The method extracts a vertical component of acceleration, using the acceleration vectors from the acceleration sensor and the calculated acceleration-of-gravity vector. The method further detects peaks in the extracted vertical component of acceleration, and detects body motion in the vertical direction by analyzing the detected peaks. Related body motion detecting device and computer readable medium are also described. |
| US07962307B2 |
Integrated apparatus for measuring static pressure
An apparatus for measuring a static pressure inside a component is provided. The apparatus includes a housing coupled to the component, the housing includes a moveable component disposed therein, the moveable component operably extendable into the component and retractable from the component in response to the static pressure inside the component: and a sensor disposed in the housing and thermally protected from fluids inside the component, the sensor is configured to enable the determination of the static pressure inside the component. |
| US07962305B2 |
Remote witness testing system
A master testing control system includes at least one remote computer with one or more communications lines for communicating over a communications network and a plurality of remote sensors, a two way real-time digital video system, a two-way real-time digital audio system. A set of instructions is on each remote computer for sending and receiving data over one or more data lines and for remote display. A set of instructions is on each remote computer for displaying data. At least one local computer is located geographically distant from the remote computer and able to monitor and control the display, storage, and transmission of data acquired by to the remote computer. The remote computer collects data from the plurality of sensors and transmits this data to the local computer, under the control of the local computer, for permanent recording. |
| US07962300B2 |
Battery state judging method, and battery state judging apparatus
A battery state judging method is provided capable of properly judging a state of a lead-acid battery by measuring voltages without measuring currents. A state of the battery is judged by obtaining, in advance, a DC internal resistance r0 of a same type battery in a new and fully-charged state; calculating, in advance, a load R [R=r0×Vst0/(OCV0−Vst0)] at an engine starting time (S112) from an open-circuit voltage OCV0 (S104) and a lowest voltage Vst0 (S108) at the engine starting time, both measured when the loaded battery is in a new and fully-charged state, and the DC internal resistance r0; calculating a DC internal resistance r [(r=R/(OCV−Vst)/Vst)] of the loaded battery from an open-circuit voltage OCV (S104) and a lowest voltage Vst (S108), both measured when the loaded battery is in a deteriorated/insufficiently-charged state, and the load R; and comparing r and r0. |
| US07962299B2 |
Electricity metering
A power consumption monitoring apparatus, comprising at least one electrical measurement device (210) for generating a signal indicative of the electrical power passing through an electrical power line (300) at the location of the measurement device, and at least one data controller (220) adapted to receive the signal from the measurement device and to convert the signal into a data transmission stream conveying at least one power consumption statistic. The data controller including a transmitter (221) for transmitting the data transmission stream across a communications medium and a display controller (230) including a receiver (231) for receiving the stream from the communications medium, the display controller adapted to convert the stream into one or more data display transmission signals for reception by a variety of display devices (310) to display power consumption statistics. |
| US07962298B2 |
Revenue class power meter with frequency rejection
A power meter for measuring power parameters on one or more electrical power lines/loads is configured to include a revenue class metering module and a power quality metering module. The revenue class metering module and the power quality metering module may use the same measured voltage and current signals to generate revenue accurate power consumption information and power quality information, respectively. The power meter may also include a plurality of filters configured to attenuate high frequency signals included in the voltage and current signals. Each of the filters may be configured with a corner frequency, gain and signal propagation delay that is substantially equal. The filtered current and voltage signals may be received and processed by the revenue class metering module, and the power quality metering module to generate revenue accurate power consumption information and power quality information, respectively. Alternatively, the filtered current and voltage signals may be received and processed by the power quality metering module to generate power quality information, and unfiltered current and voltage signals may be received and processed by the revenue class metering module to generate revenue accurate power consumption information. |
| US07962296B2 |
Module for data acquisition and control in a sensor/control network
A data acquisition and/or control module (101) for interfacing with a device (115) is provided. The module (101) and device (115) form part of a sensor/control network. The module (101) comprises a transceiver (103) for receiving data from and transmitting data to the sensor/control network, a first microcontroller (107) connected to a second microcontroller (109), first and second memories (105a, 105b) external to both the first and second microcontrollers (107, 109), and switching means. The first microcontroller (107) is further connected to the transceiver (103), while the second microcontroller (109) is further for connecting to the device (115). The switching means are operable to connect one of the first and second microcontrollers (107, 109) selectively to one of the first and second memories (105a, 105b), and to connect the respective other of the first and second microcontrollers (107, 109) to the respective other of the first and second memories (105a, 105b). |
| US07962295B2 |
Leakage detection and fluid level prognostics for aircraft hydraulic systems
A method for detecting and predicting total hydraulic fluid level for aircraft hydraulic systems includes determining an estimated value for a parameter indicative of total fluid level or mass. Each new value is combined with an historical indication (e.g., from previous flights) to provide a prediction for the future value of total quantity indication. With the same combination, one can provide an estimated value for total system leakage or level loss. An alert can be generated if hydraulic fluid level or mass is predicted to fall below a predetermined level. |
| US07962294B2 |
Integrated absolute and differential pressure transducer
A method and apparatus integrates differential pressure measurements and absolute pressure measurements to provide a continuous absolute pressure profile over a wide range of pressures on a single integrated scale. The absolute pressure measurements and differential pressure measurements are obtained, and a correlation factor between the absolute pressure measurements and the differential pressure measurements is determined. The correlation factor is used to normalize the differential pressure measurements to virtual absolute pressure values on a common absolute pressure scale with the absolute pressure measurements. An absolute pressure profile over a wide pressure range includes the absolute pressure measurements in a portion of the range where the absolute pressure measurements are accurate, and it includes the virtual absolute pressure values in another portion of the range where the differential pressure measurements are accurate. |
| US07962292B2 |
Sample analyzer and sample analyzing method
A sample analyzer optically measures reaction of a sample mixed with reagent, and obtains optical information therefrom; generates a reaction curve representing change in the optical information over time; determines a first area prior to an evaluation target time (t0) and a second area after the evaluation target time (t0) wherein the first and second areas are formed between a baseline which is parallel to the time axis and a reaction curve from a first time (t1) prior to the optional evaluation target time (t0) to a second time (t2) after the evaluation target time, and determines the reaction end point based on the first and second areas; and obtains a characteristic of a sample based on the determined reaction end point, is disclosed. a sample analyzing method is also disclosed. |
| US07962290B1 |
Identification of pharmacophores from co-crystals of spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) and SYK ligands
The invention comprises for methods of identifying pharmacophores based on the spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) protein or fragment thereof. The invention further provides methods of identifying SYK inhibitors using pharmacophores that are identified from co-crystals of SYK and its ligands. Further, the invention comprises methods of inhibiting SYK comprising contacting the residues lining the binding site with an inhibitor compound identified from pharmacophores. |
| US07962289B2 |
System, method, and computer product for exon array analysis
In one embodiment, a method for analyzing data generated by probe arrays is described that comprises receiving user selections of two or more data files and an identification of one or more subsets of intensity values acquired from a biological probe array. The method includes iteratively opening each data file, identifying the selected subset of intensity values associated with each open data file, determining parameters for processing, storing the parameters and the identified intensity values, and closing the open data file prior to the subsequent iteration. The method then includes processing the stored intensity values using the parameters to identify one or more biological events. |
| US07962288B2 |
Multiple distributed force measurements
Methods, computer programs, and systems for detecting at least one downhole condition are disclosed. Forces are measured at a plurality of locations along the drillstring. The drillstring includes a drillpipe. At least one of the forces is measured along the drillpipe. At least one downhole condition is detected based, at least in part, on at least one measured force. |
| US07962287B2 |
Method and apparatus for optimizing magnetic signals and detecting casing and resistivity
A wellbore tool for optimizing magnetic signals is provided. The wellbore tool has a tool body and an electric current driving device with an insulated gap on the downhole tool body. The electric current driving device generates electric current across the gap. The wellbore tool has a a magnetometer capable of measuring a magnetic field. |
| US07962282B2 |
Link setting system suitable for map matching, method and program thereof
In order to eliminate erroneous map matching, when a link is set on a road, the direction and distance the link is displaced are calculated in accordance with the width of the road and the width of a road paralleled to the road, or the positional relationship of both roads in road network. |
| US07962279B2 |
Methods and systems for alerting an aircraft crew member of a potential conflict between aircraft on a taxiway
Methods and system are provided for alerting an aircraft crew member of a potential conflict between a first aircraft and a second aircraft on a first taxiway. Real-time positioning data related to the first aircraft on the first taxiway is monitored. Data related to real-time positioning of the second aircraft is monitored. A prediction is made as to whether the second aircraft will enter the first taxiway, based on the monitored data related to real-time positioning of the second aircraft. The potential conflict is indicated on the first taxiway, if a prediction is made that the second aircraft will enter the first taxiway. |
| US07962278B1 |
Method for starting an engine
A method for improving starting of an engine that may be repeatedly stopped and started is presented. In one embodiment, the method disengages a starter in response to a first predicted combustion in a cylinder of the engine. The method may reduce one-way clutch degradation of a starter. Further, the method may reduce current consumption during engine starting. |
| US07962277B2 |
Method and device for operating an internal combustion engine
During the operation of an internal combustion engine, a check is made whether the engine functions in an error-free manner in relation to the engine noise. If not, a current value of a cylinder-specific fuel quantity in a cylinder is determined. A check is made whether a current injected cylinder-specific fuel quantity in one of the cylinders is too low or high to check with respect to a cylinder-specific motor speed N_CYL, by comparing a current value of the cylinder-specific injection quantity in the relevant cylinder with a stored reference value of the cylinder-specific injection quantity of the relevant cylinder at the current operating point. A check with respect to the cylinder-specific motor speeds of one of the cylinders is deactivated, if the current injected cylinder-specific fuel quantity in the relevant cylinder is too low or high to check the relevant cylinder with respect to the cylinder-specific motor speed N_CYL. |
| US07962275B2 |
Control device and control method for internal combustion engine
A control device for an internal combustion engine includes a fuel injection device that injects a fuel in accordance with a required injection amount that is required for combustion in a combustion chamber that is performed to produce an output of the internal combustion engine, and a fuel property specific determination device that specifically determines a fuel property of the fuel injected. The control device further includes a control device that performs an output correction process of controlling at least a portion of the internal combustion engine so as to correct the produced output based on a difference in the specifically determined fuel property. According to the control device and a control method thereof, driveability is secured even in the case where a blended fuel is used during a high load region of the internal combustion engine. |
| US07962274B2 |
Vehicle-mounted engine control apparatus
In an vehicle-mounted engine control apparatus according to the present invention, a restart inspection mechanism, which is simpler than an activation inspection mechanism, is provided, and the mechanism to be applied is selected by an initialization determination device. The contents of the restart inspection are limited to malfunction items detected by a periodic code inspector during driving of the vehicle. As a result, the time required to restart a microprocessor when a malfunction occurs is shortened. |
| US07962272B2 |
Method and associated device for sensing the air/fuel ratio of an internal combustion engine
A method of sensing the air/fuel ratio in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine that may be easily implemented by a respective low-cost device includes a pressure sensor and a learning machine that generates a sensing signal representing the air/fuel ratio by processing the waveform of the pressure in at least one cylinder of the engine. In practice, the learning machine extracts characteristic parameters of the waveform of the pressure and as a function of a certain number of them generates the sensing signal. |
| US07962267B2 |
Control apparatus and method for automatic transmission
A control apparatus for an automatic transmission includes a target-value setting section configured to set a target rotational-speed difference between input and output rotational speeds of at least one of first and second friction-engagement elements; a total torque-capacity calculating section configured to calculate a total torque capacity of the first and second friction-engagement elements by adding a transmission input torque to a correction value calculated from a deviation between the target rotational-speed difference and an actual rotational-speed difference; a distribution-ratio setting section configured to set a distribution ratio; an individual torque-capacity calculating section configured to calculate individual torque capacities of both second friction-engagement elements on the basis of the total torque capacity and the distribution ratio; and an engagement control section configured to control engagement states of the both friction-engagement elements in accordance with the individual torque capacities. |
| US07962266B2 |
Method, controller and vehicle for performing agricultural operations on a field with parallel arranged rows
A method, a controller and a vehicle for performing agricultural operations on a field with parallel arranged rows having ends. The operations are performed at positions related to the positions of the rows under control of the controller, based upon stored information about the orientation of the rows, stored information about a distance between adjacent rows, a distance signal related to a distance traveled by the vehicle and a direction signal related to the heading of the vehicle. The invention is particularly suited for providing dams to prevent water from a head ditch to enter into pre-selected, dry furrows on a field with an irrigation arrangement with raised rows and lower furrows between the rows, or dams matching up with adjacent raised rows so that water runs down each furrow. |
| US07962264B2 |
Method and apparatus for adapting a monitoring device of a control unit for a restraint system of a motor vehicle
A method for adapting a monitoring device of a control unit for a restraint system of a motor vehicle, having a redundant detection device and a triggering unit, having the method steps of: providing a first definable threshold value as a timing pattern for the monitoring device in a first operating range of the motor vehicle; detecting at least a second operating range of the motor vehicle by way of the redundant detection device at a first point in time; and transferring data from the redundant detection device to the monitoring device in order to adapt the monitoring device by utilizing at least one second definable threshold value in the second operating range of the motor vehicle, and an apparatus therefor. |
| US07962257B2 |
Power output device, control method for the same, and vehicle equipped therewith
In a vehicle, it is determined whether a driver has requested increased driving force based on an accelerator opening degree. If the driver has requested increased driving force, a vehicle speed at the time of the request for increased driving force is derived. Three-dimensional map which corresponds to different vehicle speed and which shows a predetermined relationship of the accelerator opening degree (Acc), the vehicle speed and a required torque are then used to set the required torque. The maps are set such that the required torque increases with respect to the accelerator opening degree when the vehicle speed is low. Further, the maps are set such that when the vehicle speed is high, (i) even if the accelerator opening degree changes a little, the required driving force does not change a large amount, and (ii) the required driving force remains substantially constant when the vehicle speed is in a high speed region. By adopting this configuration, the driver's request is closely correlated with the vehicle speed at the time of the request for increased driving force, and thus the vehicle can be driven with a driving force that accords with the driver's request. |
| US07962254B2 |
Method and system for assisting flight control of a low-flying aircraft
A system determines a limit angle of climb corresponding to a climb angle of an aircraft for flying over the ground along an avoidance path and displays a characteristic sign representing the limit angle of climb on a display screen. |
| US07962253B1 |
Integrated barometric altitude and satellite altitude-based vertical navigation system
A flight management system (FMS) for an aircraft, that includes an integrated barometric altitude and satellite altitude-based vertical navigation (VNAV) system. The integrated barometric altitude and satellite altitude-based vertical navigation system, includes an altitude blending component for providing a smooth transition from a barometric altimetry source to a satellite altimetry source; and, a satellite altitude containment component operatively connected to the altitude blending component for limiting the difference of a barometric altitude path deviation to within a desired margin of a satellite altitude path deviation. |
| US07962251B2 |
Supervisory control and data acquisition system for energy extracting vessel navigation
A Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) system guides navigation of a vessel enabled to extract energy from wind and/or water currents primarily in offshore marine environments. An exemplary SCADA system could embody server and client software applications running on microprocessor systems at a remote control central service logging and energy distribution facility, and the vessel itself. The remote control service facility runs Human Machine Interface (HMI) software in the form of a Graphical User Interface (GUI) allowing choices to maximize system performance. The central server accesses information to control vessel position based on transmitted Global Position Satellite (GPS) data from the vessel, and weather information from the Geographic Information System (GIS) provided by multiple spatial temporal data sources. A server-side optimization algorithm fed the parameters delivered from vessel aerodynamic/hydrodynamic performance simulation software models, the vessel onboard sensor data, and integrated real-time weather and environmental data determines an optimal navigation through weather systems and presents choices to the HMI. |
| US07962247B2 |
Computer implemented systems and methods for start-up, calibration and troubleshooting of an installed renewable energy system
Systems and methods are provided for collecting, aggregating, and analyzing data associated with the installation and deployment of systems. Energy systems, (500) specifically renewable energy generation systems, are used as examples. The aggregated data serve as the basis for a variety of services that improve the system performance, improve the installation, lower the cost, and provide monitoring and service to maintain optimum performance. Finally, services are provided that improve the start-up, calibration, and configuration of systems. |
| US07962243B2 |
Weapon robot with situational awareness
A mobile, remotely controlled robot includes a turret subsystem, a robot controller subsystem configured to control the robot, control the turret, and fire the weapon, a robot navigation subsystem configured to determine the position of the robot, a turret orientation determination subsystem, and a robot communications subsystem for receiving commands and for transmitting robot position data and turret orientation data. An operator control unit includes a user interface for commanding the robot, the turret, and the weapon. An operator control unit communications subsystem transmits commands to the robot and receives robot position data and turret orientation data from the robot. An operator control unit navigation subsystem is configured to determine the position of the operator control unit. An operator control unit controller subsystem is responsive to the robot position data, the turret orientation data, and the operator control unit position and is configured to determine if the weapon is aimed at the operator control unit within a predetermined fan angle. |
| US07962241B2 |
Method for shipping objects
A method and a system for shipping objects and/or goods which are transferred from a drop-off point (4) constructed as an organized franking system for the application of at least partially coded labels to a delivery service (7-10) for transport of the objects to a remote destination, wherein the delivery or transport of the objects is determined or handled by the franking system or franking machine (3), which is equipped with control functions. In the system for shipping objects and/or goods, which are provided with at least partially coded labels and are sent from a drop-off point (4) equipped with a franking machine (3) to a remote destination by a delivery service (7-10), the franking machine (3) can be connected to an information system (6) which processes the data of a delivery service (7-10) and generates shipping data for the franking machine (3), so that the shipping order can be handled. |
| US07962239B2 |
Sewing machine and sewing machine operating program recorded on computer-readable recording medium
A sewing machine and a sewing machine operating program stored on a computer-readable medium for changing display items displayed on a liquid crystal display of a sewing machine on a page by page basis, when an output signal of an operation of rolling forward or backward a mouse wheel is detected. The sewing machine may include a display device that displays a variety of information related to sewing and a display item storage device that stores display items to be displayed on the display device. The sewing machine may also include an operation device that includes an operating member for performing plural types of operations and a display control device that changes the display item displayed on the display device in response to at least one of the operation type or the operation quantity outputted by the operation device. |
| US07962238B2 |
Process for the production of a three-dimensional object with resolution improvement by pixel-shift
The invention relates to a process or device for the production of a three-dimensional object by layer-wise solidification of a material which is solidifiable under the application of electromagnetic irradiation by means of mask illumination, wherein the mask is produced using an image forming unit having a prescribed resolution, which is formed from a constant number of image forming elements (pixels) being discrete and being arranged in a spatially mutually fixed manner. For the improvement of the resolution along the outer and inner contours of the sectional areas of the object to be generated layer-wise in the sub-pixel range, a multiple illumination per layer is performed, which consists of a series of multiple images that are mutually shifted in the sub-pixel range in the image/construction plane, wherein a separate mask/bitmap is produced for each shifted image. |
| US07962237B2 |
Method and apparatus for optimizing a scanning plan in three-dimensional printing
Embodiments of the present invention may include a method for printing three-dimensional objects, layer by layer utilizing an optimized scheme of predefined passes for each layer based on considerations related to both throughput and quality of printing. Embodiment of the invention may include generating a scanning plan for a layer such that the accumulated length for all the scanning passes in the layer is minimized. The optimization scheme may be performed based on image data parameters, such as sizes, locations, dimensions and shapes of the imaged areas of the layer. |
| US07962232B2 |
Methods and media for processing a circuit board
A method of processing a circuit board including providing a circuit board having disposed thereon a conductive pattern, the pattern comprising a trace terminating at a terminal and depositing conductive material on the terminal and trace to form a land extending away from the terminal on the trace past a projection line. The method also includes applying a soldermask to the circuit board to form a soldermask opening having an opening edge located at and aligned with the projection line, with the opening framing the terminal and a first portion of the land, and to cover a second portion of the land. |
| US07962230B2 |
System including at least one automation unit
A system providing control and communication is provided including at least one automation unit being adapted to run an operation program, and an engineering unit being adapted to modify the operation program, the engineering unit including a code-configurator, which is adapted to project automation functions of the operation program in the form of at least one configured data structure and to modify the configured data structure, the at least one automation unit including an interpreter framework, which is adapted to include a catalogue of necessary automation functions of the operation program and an empty data structure, the interpreter framework being further adapted to interpret the modified configured data structure and to provide a modified operation program on the basis of the automation functions of the catalogue and the modified configured data structure. |
| US07962221B2 |
Pixel re-mapping for visual prosthesis
A method and apparatus for adjusting a visual image provided to a patient. In one embodiment, an image may be presented to the patient to obtain the patient's subjective perception of the image, and the patient may either manipulate the image to obtain a desired adjustment, or guide a clinician performing the adjustment. In another embodiment, the clinician may make objective observations of, for example, the position of an electrode array on the patient's retina, and make adjustments accordingly. The adjustment may be a spatial adjustment comprising a re-mapping performed to decreases image distortion resulting from differences in the patient's perception of stimulation of different areas of the retina. Such distortion may result from differences between the patient's perception of stimulation falling within the macula, and stimulation falling within the periphery surrounding the macula. The adjustment may also compensate for translations or rotations of the electrode array on the retina. |
| US07962216B2 |
Cardiac pacing system, blood pressure regulating system, and cardiac disease treatment system by substituting native biological regulatory function
A medical treating system based on biological activities characterized by biological activity sensing means for sensing biological activity information produced by biological activities and outputting a biological activity signal, calculating means for receiving, analyzing, and processing the biological activity signals from the biological activity sensing means, calculating an organism stimulation signal, and outputting the organism stimulation signal, and organism stimulating means for receiving the organism stimulation signal calculated by the calculating means and stimulating an organism according to the organism stimulation signal. A cardiac pacing system based on the treating system, a blood pressure regulating system, and a cardiac disease treating system are also disclosed. |
| US07962214B2 |
Non-surgical device and methods for trans-esophageal vagus nerve stimulation
A method and apparatus for providing trans-esophageal electrical signal therapy to a portion of a vagus nerve of a patient to treat a medical condition. An implantable medical device comprising at least one electrode is implanted in an inner lumen of the esophagus of the patient. At least one electrode is electrically coupled to the inner lumen of the esophagus. An electrical signal from the IMD is provided to a target portion of the vagus nerve through at least a portion of the wall of the esophagus for treating the medical condition. |
| US07962207B2 |
Method and apparatus for variable capacitance defibrillation
An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) for delivering therapeutic electrical energy to a patient's heart comprising at least one variable capacitance capacitor having a large positive voltage coefficient such that a given amount of energy can be stored at a lower voltage than a traditional fixed capacitor having an equivalent capacitance. Due to the variable capacitance capacitor's ability to store energy at a lower voltage, initial defibrillation current levels are reduced effectively minimizing the risk of tissue damage caused by high initial current levels. In addition, the use of a variable capacitance capacitor reduces the amount of current decay throughout the discharge cycle as opposed to current AED designs utilizing fixed capacitance capacitors which experience an exponential decline in defibrillation current during the discharge cycle. |
| US07962205B2 |
Human subject index estimation apparatus and method
A CPU (170) of a human subject index estimation apparatus (1) computes a waist circumference based on body weight measured by a weight scale (110) and bioelectric impedance measured by a bioelectric impedance measurement unit (200A), and information such as age and height which was input through input unit (150). The computed waist circumference is stored, along with the information such as age and height, in a third storage unit (140) that is a rewritable non-volatile memory. The CPU (170) displays the waist circumference on display unit (160). |
| US07962204B2 |
Method of recommending neurophysiological therapies
A method and system for utilizing neurophysiologic information obtained by techniques such as quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG), electrode recordings, MRI in appropriately matching patients with therapeutic entities is disclosed. The present invention enables utilization of neurophysiologic information, notwithstanding its weak correlation with extant diagnostic schemes for mental disorders, for safer and expeditious treatment for mental disorders, discovering new applications for therapeutic entities, improved testing of candidate therapeutic entities, inferring the presence or absence of a desirable response to a treatment, and deducing the mode of action of one or more therapeutic entities. In particular, methods for effectively comparing neurophysiologic information relative to a reference set are disclosed along with database-based tools for deducing therapeutic entity actions on particular patients such that these tools are readily accessible to remote users. |
| US07962201B2 |
Methods of generating a virtual lead associated with a physiological recording
A method of creating a virtual lead associated with a physiological recording is provided. The method can include obtaining a first physiological signal from a first lead having a first angle and a second physiological signal from a second lead having a second angle, the first lead and the second lead being associated with a subject. The method can also include transforming the first and second physiological signals into a vector representation of the first and second physiological signals and transforming the vector representation to a virtual physiological signal representing a virtual lead having a virtual lead angle. |
| US07962200B2 |
Method and system for free space optical tomography of diffuse media
A method and a system for free space optical tomography provides one or more light source and one or more light sensors spaced, which in one embodiment are spaced apart from and object to be imaged. A surface capture system coupled to a variety of optical models provides the method and system with the ability to render accurate tomographic images though the light has propagated both through a diffuse medium and, in on embodiment, also through free space to the one or more light sensors. |
| US07962198B2 |
System and method for spectral-encoded high-rate hemodynamic tomography
An optical tomography system has a group of lasers for generating light of multiple distinct wavelengths within a first wavelength band. Light from these lasers is directed into mammalian tissue at laser-specific locations on the tissue, and light from the mammalian tissue is collected at a plurality of reception points. Collected light from each reception point is separated according to its wavelength, and received by a photodetector to produce path attenuation signals representing attenuation along paths between the laser-specific locations on the tissue and the reception points. Image construction apparatus generates a tomographic image of heme concentrations in the mammalian tissue from the path attenuation signals. In an alternative embodiment, there is a second group of lasers operating in a second wavelength band, and the image construction apparatus can generate an image of heme oxygenation In the mammalian tissue. |
| US07962197B2 |
Radiation ablation tracking system and method
A system and method for treating a target tissue region (e.g., malignant tissue) is provided. A hyperthermic probe is placed into contact with the target tissue region, and the target tissue region is exposed to a therapeutic x-ray radiation beam. The probe is operated to increase the temperature of the target tissue region, thereby facilitating a therapeutic effect of the radiation beam. Image data of the probe containing a fiducial datum is acquired while in contact with the target tissue region, a position of the target tissue region within a treatment coordinate system is determined based on the fiducial datum, and the radiation beam is spatially adjusted relative to the target tissue region based on the determined position of the target tissue region. |
| US07962191B2 |
Nerve surveillance cannulae systems
An expandable tip cannula system, comprising: a hollow cannula shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; and an expandable tip mounted at the distal end of the hollow cannula shaft, the expandable tip comprising a plurality of generally-triangular shaped petals held together in a radially-inwardly tapered arrangement between adjacent petals, each petal comprising a nerve sensing electrode disposed therein. |
| US07962188B2 |
Robust alarm system
A robust alarm system has an alarm controller adapted to input an alarm trigger and to generate at least one alarm drive signal in response. Alarm subsystems input the alarm drive signal and activate one or more of multiple alarms accordingly. A subsystem function signal provides feedback to the alarm controller as to alarm subsystem integrity. A malfunction indicator is output from the alarm controller in response to a failure within the alarm subsystems. |
| US07962185B2 |
Slide mechanism and slide-type electronic device having the slide mechanism
A sliding type electronic device includes a slide mechanism, and first and second casings coupled slidably to each other through the slide mechanism. The second casing is disposed on the first casing, and includes a frame seat and an auxiliary casing received in the frame seat. The slide-type electronic device further includes a guiding unit and a pivot unit. The guiding unit is provided on the first casing, and the pivot unit is provided on the auxiliary casing. When the second casing slides relative to the first casing, the auxiliary casing flips up relative to the frame seat. |
| US07962183B2 |
Apparatus for and method of managing peak current consumption of multiple subsystems in a mobile handset
A novel and useful mechanism for regulating and managing the peak current consumption of the subsystems in a mobile handset device. The mechanism of the present invention is operative to limit the current consumption at any point in time to a predetermined level that is within the current handling capability of the power management system of the handheld device. The mechanism operates by having the high peak current subsystems advertise in advance their intention to initiate a current peak. An arbitration mechanism considers the advertisements or requests sent from interested subsystems and determines whether a subsystem is either granted permission to initiate or is blocked from initiating a peak current session. |
| US07962178B2 |
Method and system for configuring a communication network, related network and computer program product
An antenna site equipped with reconfigurable antennas in a communication network and having capacity to serve communication traffic in a respective area of competence is configured by partitioning the area the area of competence into a set of cells. The number of cells in the set is optimized by ensuring that the traffic is evenly distributed among the cells. This result is preferably achieved starting from a reference set of cells by locating: —i) areas of superposition between adjacent cells covered jointly by traffic capacity of adjacent cells in the reference set of cells, and—ii) uncovered areas between adjacent cells, that is, areas not covered by traffic capacity of any cells in the reference set of cells. The areas of superposition are removed and the traffic capacity thus made available is assigned to the uncovered areas. If any uncovered areas remain, the number of cells in the reference set of cells is increased and the process repeated. If no uncovered areas between adjacent cells are located, the possibility exists of decreasing the number of cells in the reference set of cells and the process is repeated to check whether the area of competence can be properly covered with a lower number of cells. |
| US07962172B2 |
Print onto a print medium taking into account the orientation of previously printed content
A method is describe in which an orientation indicator on a print medium inserted into a printer is sensed, the orientation indicator identifying the orientation of content previously printed on the print medium, the orientation of the content previously printed on the print medium is determined, and print data is rotated prior to printing the print data onto the print medium by the printer to take into account the orientation of the content previously printed on the print medium. |
| US07962166B1 |
Method for indicating a band plan for a trunked radio communications system
A receiving device in the trunked radio communications system receives an outbound signaling word comprising at least an opcode field and a band plan field, wherein the opcode field indicates that the outbound signaling message is a system status message and the band plan field indicates the band plan in use on the site. In another embodiment, the receiving device receives an outbound signaling word comprising at least an opcode field, a site identification field and a four bit band plan field, wherein the opcode field indicates that the outbound signaling message is an adjacent control channel message, the site identification field identifies a second site, and the four bit band plan field indicates the band plan in use on the second site. |
| US07962165B2 |
Combined global positioning system receiver and radio
A portable GPS/radio unit (10) communicates over a wireless radio network (12) with at least one other such unit. The unit (10) may transmit radio signals over the network (12) indicative of the unit's location. The unit (10) includes a single, push-to-talk button (38) that may be pressed to both transmit a voice communication and to initiate transmission of location data. The unit (10) also includes a “polling” function that requests location data from other units, an auxiliary coding system that codes or encrypts all transmitted data, and an emergency message feature that facilities the transmission and receipt of emergency messages. |
| US07962160B2 |
Method, system and short message service center for getting user equipment information through short messages
A method for getting user equipment information through short messages includes: sending, by a third party service equipment, a request message for inquiring current state information of a user equipment to a short message service center; sending, by the short message service center, a get routing message to a Home Location Register to get the current state information of the user equipment; returning, by the Home Location Register, a get routing message response to the short message service center upon receiving the get routing message, the get routing message response containing the current state information of the user equipment; responding, by the short message service center, to the third party service equipment with the current state information of the user equipment in the getting routing message response. |
| US07962147B2 |
Methods for flexible wireless channel association
A method of receiving information from one or more wireless uplink channels is provided. The method includes receiving information at a media access controller (MAC) from a first set of one or more wireless uplink channels in response to bandwidth allocation map (MAP) messages sent from the MAC and receiving information at the MAC from a second set of one or more wireless uplink channels in response to MAP messages sent by another MAC. |
| US07962146B2 |
Method and apparatus for allocating bandwidth in a wireless communication system
Network resources can be allocated more efficiently to communication sessions in a wireless telecommunications network, by the method of—monitoring the traffic load in the uplink and downlink direction in the network,—for the at least one session, determining the parameters ul_ratio and dl_ratio, given as ul_ratio=ul_throughput/(ul_throughput+dl_throughput) dl_ratio=dl_throughput/(ul_throughput+dl_throughput) wherein ul_throughput is the throughput in the uplink for the at least one communication session and dl_throughput is the throughput in the downlink for the at least one communication session, and—allocate resources to the at least one session in dependence of the traffic load and ul_ratio and dl_ratio, by allocating resources in the uplink in dependence of the dl_ratio and/or allocating resources in the downlink in dependence of the ul_ratio. |
| US07962145B2 |
Antenna system
Embodiments of the invention relate to wireless communications networks, and more specifically to an antenna apparatus for cellular wireless systems. Increasing data capacity of cellular wireless systems places increasing demands on the capacity of the two way connection, known as backhaul, between a cellular base station and a telecommunications network such as the PSTN backhaul, since this is the connection that has to convey the wireless-originating traffic to its destination, often in an entirely different network. Known backhaul links include leased lines, microwave links, optical fiber links or radio resources for relaying backhaul traffic between base stations. The fixed line solutions are expensive to implement and maintain, while the radio solutions antenna configurations that are not ideal for relaying data between base stations. In embodiments of the invention, communication between base stations occurs in a first timeslot by use of a first antenna system and communication between a given base station and a user equipment occurs in a second timeslot using a second antenna system. The benefit of this method is that the first antenna system can be optimized for use in communication between base stations, whereas the second antenna system can be optimized for communication with user equipment which preferably occurs within the area of cellular wireless coverage of the sector served by the second antenna system. |
| US07962144B2 |
Method for network communication allowing for persistent request slots for network nodes as well as separate indentification information to be sent from nodes
A communication system is provided for communication between network nodes and a communication controller. In the network, a reservation request is transmitted from a node to the communication controller in an assigned timeslot. In response the controller provides a grant of permission to the requesting node to transmit packet data containing a message. The timeslot assigned to the requesting node is one of a series of timeslots occurring repeatedly on a separate frequency. The timeslots will be continuously available to receive requests from nodes irrespective of transmission of data from one node to the controller, or transmission of a grant from the controller to a node. |
| US07962142B2 |
Methods and apparatus for the utilization of core based nodes for state transfer
Methods and apparatus for storing, manipulating, retrieving, and forwarding state, e.g., context and other information, used to support communications sessions with one or more end nodes, e.g., mobile devices, are described. Various features are directed to a mobile node controlling the transfer of state from a first access node to a second access node during a handoff operation thereby eliminating any need for state transfer messages to be transmitted between the second access node and the first access node during handoff. Other features of the invention are directed to the use of a core network node to store state information. State information stored in the core node can be accessed and used by access nodes in cases where a mobile node does not send a state transfer message during a handoff, e.g., because communication with the first access node is lost or because such messages are not supported. |
| US07962141B2 |
Methods and apparatus for flexible forward-link and reverse-link handoffs
The disclosed embodiments provide for methods and systems for selecting sectors for handoff in a communication system. According to one aspect, the method includes monitoring an indicia of transmit power on a plurality of RL control channels directed to a plurality of sectors, and selecting one of the sectors as a candidate for a RL handoff. The disclosed embodiments also provide for methods and systems for indicating a selected serving sector for handoff in a communication system. According to one aspect, the method includes sending a first signal to a first sector to indicate the first sector as a serving sector for a forward-link handoff, and sending a second signal to a second sector to indicate the second sector as a serving sector for a reverse-link handoff. |
| US07962138B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing routing area in mobile communication system
A method and apparatus is provided for reducing a signaling overhead in routing area update performed by a mobile station in a mobile communication system. The method includes grouping cells of the mobile communication system into predetermined cell groups by the network entity, wherein each of the predetermined cell groups is a minimum unit for routing area update; determining cell group identifiers of the cell groups by the network entity; and determining metric information for determining a shape of the routing area by the network entity. |
| US07962137B2 |
System and method for developing an application program for wireless devices
A communication system includes a development sector for registering a plurality of wireless devices, a business sector for controlling utilization of an application program and for receiving application data, a service sector for deploying the application program and for providing the application data to the business sector in accordance with communication with at least one wireless device of the plurality; and a mobile sector comprising the plurality of wireless devices, each device for receiving the application program deployed by the service sector, executing the application program in response to the business sector, and communicating with the service sector to support provision of the application data to the business sector. The business sector or service sector may monitor or limit utilization of the auxiliary device. Deployment of application programs may be controlled by the business sector or the development sector by rendering an application program or auxiliary device available for use only after a particular time or after receipt of a message. |
| US07962133B2 |
Method and apparatus for the ordering of carrier links
A method and apparatus for provisioning a physical link to a service provider is disclosed whereby physical link information in a carrier network is store, in one embodiment, in a database within the carrier network or, in another embodiment, in a database shared by a carrier and a service provider. In response to a request from the service provider for the use of the physical link, physical link information and network management information associated is retrieved from that database. In one embodiment, this information is sent directly from the carrier via in-band signaling. In another embodiment, the information is retrieved from the shared database and is transmitted via out-of-band signaling. In accordance with yet another embodiment, messages exchanged between service providers and carriers comprise digital certificates that are used to verify the identity of the providers and carriers. |
| US07962125B2 |
Wireless email communications system providing resource updating features and related methods
A wireless communications system may include a plurality of wireless communications networks and a plurality of mobile wireless communications devices for sending and receiving wireless electronic mail (email) messages over the wireless communications networks. The system may further include a resource deployment server for storing a plurality of resource deployment packages (RDPs), where each RDP includes deployment content and deployment instructions therefor relating to sending and receiving email messages. The resource deployment server may also be for dynamically deploying RDPs to the wireless communications networks to update deployment content thereof based upon the respective deployment instructions. |
| US07962124B1 |
Method and system for multimedia message delivery in a communication system
A method and system of delivering a Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) message is disclosed. In one example, the method includes providing a storage location and time duration for outside content to be indirectly referenced by an MMS message. Receiving and storing the outside content via a transport network is also disclosed. The method may include encapsulating an MMS message in a payload of a transport message with the MMS message indirectly referencing the storage location of the outside content. Delivery of the transport message may occur over a transport network. Confirming receipt of the transport message is also disclosed. |
| US07962118B2 |
Method for transmitting a signal on a power line network, transmitting unit, receiving unit and system
A method for transmitting a signal on a power line network (3) and a corresponding transmitting unit (T), a receiving unit (R) and a system is presented in order to enhance the coverage and throughput of power line communication systems. It is proposed to provide a plurality of transmission channels, with at least one transmission channel in the power line network (3) (S1), generate at least two auxiliary signals from the signal (S2), transmit said at least two auxiliary signals through at least two of the plurality of channels (S3), receive at least two auxiliary signals through at least two of the plurality of channels (S4) and combine said receive auxiliary signals to obtain said signal (S5). |
| US07962117B2 |
Single chip radio receiver with decoder and controllable baseband filter
A single chip receiver is disclosed herein. The chip only requires an external antenna for operation. A decoder is formed on chip for performing logical operations on demodulated digital data. A baseband filter is controlled by external control signals to have one of a plurality of discrete frequency response bandwidths depending on the type of signal to be received. To compensate for process variations in the implementation of the IC, bias currents setting the operating conditions for various amplifiers and other components in the system are adjusted based on frequency control signals in a PLL circuit in the local oscillator. Since the magnitude of the control signal reflects the process variations, the bias currents are adjusted based on the control signal to offset these variations in other portions of the receiver. To further improve the signal to noise ratio of the receiver, the IF filter is tuned within a range so as not to include any integer multiple or integer divisor of the timing reference frequency. Various techniques are described for enabling a complete receiver to be implemented on a single chip which receives an antenna input signal and outputs a digital data signal. |
| US07962115B2 |
Circuit with programmable signal bandwidth and method thereof
A circuit with programmable signal bandwidth is provided. The circuit includes a first charge and discharge device, a first reset device, and a first variable capacitor device. The first reset device is coupled to the first charge and discharge device, and the first variable capacitor device is coupled to the first charge and discharge device. The first reset device is controlled by a discharge enable signal and used to provide a first discharge path. When the discharge enable signal turns off the first reset device, the first variable capacitor device generates a first total equivalent capacitor to the first charge and discharge device according to n reference signals, and n is an integer greater than 0. |
| US07962114B2 |
Drain-pumped sub-harmonic mixer for millimeter wave applications
A sub-harmonic mixer includes a first transistor having a source and a drain and a second transistor having a source connected to the source of the first transistor and a drain connected to the drain of the first transistor. A mixing transistor is configured to be biased in a linear operating region. The mixing transistor includes a drain coupled to the sources of the first transistor and the second transistor. The mixing transistor has its drain driven by a signal at twice a local oscillator (LO) frequency and its gate driven by a radio frequency (RF) signal while the mixing transistor is biased in the linear region such that a process of frequency doubling and mixing are performed simultaneously. |
| US07962112B2 |
Heterodyne receiver
A heterodyne receiver comprising a gain controllable RF mixer (14) which has a first input connected to a first local oscillator (16) and a second input connected to an RF input. The receiver comprises a peak detector (38) which detects a peak value of an input signal at the second input of the HF mixer and generates a digital control signal if it is determined that the peak value of the input signal is above a predetermined level. A digital automatic gain control circuit (34) decreases upon reception of the digital control signal the gain of the RF mixer. |
| US07962111B2 |
Distributed automatic gain control system
A wireless distribution system includes a number of remote units distributed in a coverage area to receive wireless signals and to provide the signals through the distribution system to input ports of a node where the signals are combined, a number of input power monitors operatively connected to one or more of the input ports to determine power levels of signals received at the input ports, variable gain controllers to control signals received at some or all of the input ports, a node to combine a plurality of signals from the plurality of input ports, and a controller to provide control signals to control one or more of the variable gain controllers. |
| US07962110B2 |
Driver circuit and test apparatus
Provided is a driver circuit that outputs a transmission signal according to a reception signal received from outside, including a first driver that outputs a voltage according to an input first signal; a second driver that receives the voltage output by the first driver as a power supply voltage and outputs the transmission signal according to the power supply voltage and an input second signal; and a control section that delays both the first signal and the second signal, according to a change of the reception signal, and causes the transmission signal according to the reception signal to be output from the second driver. |
| US07962109B1 |
Excess current and saturation detection and correction in a power amplifier
A system and method for detecting and correcting over-current and/or over-voltage conditions in power amplifier circuitry in a transmit chain of a mobile terminal are provided. In general, over-current detection and correction circuitry combines a current detection signal indicative of a current provided to or drained by the power amplifier circuitry during ramp-up for a transmit burst and a substantially inverse current ramping profile to provide a first constant value. The first constant value is compared to a current threshold or limit value to determine whether an over-current condition exists. If an over-current condition exists, the over-current detection and correction circuitry operates to reduce the output power of the power amplifier circuitry during ramp-up for the transmit burst to correct for the over-current condition. In a similar manner, over-voltage detection circuitry operates to detect and correct over-voltage conditions during ramp-up for the transmit burst. |
| US07962108B1 |
Adaptive AM/PM compensation
A system and method for calibrating Amplitude Modulation to Phase Modulation (AM/PM) compensation circuitry in a mobile terminal operating according to a polar modulation scheme are provided. In general, during ramp-up for a transmit burst, measurements of a phase error between an input and output of power amplifier circuitry in the transmit chain are obtained. Using the phase error measurements, the AM/PM compensation circuitry is calibrated and used to provide AM/PM compensation for the same transmit burst. By calibrating the AM/PM compensation circuitry using the phase error measurements obtained during ramp-up, the AM/PM compensation circuitry is calibrated for the desired frequency band, sub-band, and power control level setting as well as for the current load conditions at the antenna and ambient temperature. |
| US07962107B2 |
Transmission device
In a transmission device including an RF power amplifier with less number of terminals for monitoring an input/output signal of the RF power amplifier, there are provided with an input signal detector detecting the input signal; an output signal detector detecting the output signal; a first power amplifier switch switching ON or OFF the power amplifier; a monitor terminal; and an RF switch selecting an input signal or output signal of the power amplifier to be transmitted to the monitor terminal, in association with the first power amplifier switch being switched ON or OFF. |
| US07962100B2 |
Data transmission system for wireless communication
This invention relates to a data transmission system for wireless communication of a control device with a field unit via a radio transmission device. The communication between control device and radio transmission device takes place via a field bus protocol. Likewise, the communication of the field unit with the radio transmission device takes place via a field bus protocol. The radio transmission device is capable of transmitting the field bus protocol by a radio protocol. |
| US07962099B2 |
System and method for reducing radio frequency interference between a wireless communication device and a speaker
A device and method are provided that reduce interference between a wireless communication device and a speaker. Generally speaking, a microphone input is monitored for detecting noise created by the interference. If noise is detected, a power transmission level of the wireless device is reduced from a standard power transmission level. |
| US07962098B2 |
Antenna unit and receiving apparatus using the same
To provide a receiving apparatus capable of dealing with various uses with a simple configuration. The receiving apparatus includes an antenna unit and a receiving apparatus main body. The antenna unit includes a receiving antenna that receives a radio signal including image data transmitted by a capsule endoscope inserted in a subject, and the receiving apparatus main body is detachably attached to the antenna unit. The antenna unit functions such that it demodulates the radio signal received via the receiving antenna into a baseband signal. The receiving apparatus main body acquires the image data based on at least the baseband signal. |
| US07962097B2 |
Method and system for identifying device on universal plug and play network and playing content using the device
A method and system for quickly selecting a device desired by a user from among a plurality of devices on a home network and playing content included in a portable device using the selected device are provided. The method includes displaying a device list of the plurality of content player devices based on the received descriptions, receiving selection of an item on the device list from a user, sending a device notification request message to a content player device corresponding to the selected item, and executing device notification using the content player device that has received the device notification request message. |
| US07962092B2 |
Small-sized radio frequency type repeater
A small-sized Integrated Radio Frequency Type Repeater includes first and second Service (transmitting) Antennas, a Junction circuit part with RF type (200) which plays the role of relay, a Shield Box (400) which protects the first and second Service Donor (receiving) Antennas (310, 320) and a Junction circuit part (200) installed inside of the same body. (Cover) (500). The first Service (transmitting) Antenna (110) and the first Donor (receiving) Antenna (310) attached to opposite sides of the Shield Box (400) and the second Service Antenna (120) is separated from the first Service (transmitting) Antenna (110) between the inside of Cover (500) and the first Service (transmitting) Antenna (110), and the second Donor (receiving) Antenna (320) is installed to be separated from the first Donor (receiving) Antenna (310) between the inside of the Cover (500) and the first Donor (receiving) Antenna (310). The Repeater makes good output waveform to transmit even in a state of low isolation margin including minimization of Oscillation volume due to delay reduction of Repeater by application of RF type which possible to use of Filter with low delay, not IF type which used SAW Filter or Digital Filter with a relatively high delay, and it takes effect to expand so much service scope by improvement of output gain with this. |
| US07962091B2 |
Resource management and interference mitigation techniques for relay-based wireless networks
Embodiments of a system and methods for “RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND INTERFERENCE MITIGATION TECHNIQUES FOR RELAY-BASED WIRELESS NETWORKS” are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US07962089B1 |
Method and system of supporting policy based operations for narrowband tactical radios
A radio network having more than one radio node is disclosed having a cell broadcast system configured to broadcast network policies. The network includes a first group of radio nodes configured to receive the broadcast network policies. The first group of radio nodes is configured to both receive and send the network policies. A second group of radios receives the network policies from the first group of radios. |
| US07962088B2 |
Bookmaking apparatus and image forming system using the same
In a bookmaking apparatus, a sheet bundle applied with adhesive in the apparatus when conveyance trouble, i.e., a cover sheet paper jam, occurs, is not left in the apparatus. Furthermore, the apparatus does not leave a cover sheet in the apparatus to be soiled if adhesive from a heated sheet bundle drops. The apparatus includes a sheet holding device for holding a sheet bundle at a predetermined adhesive application position, an adhesive application device for applying adhesive to the sheet bundle at the adhesive application position, and a cover sheet conveyance device for conveying the cover sheet to a binding position arranged at a downstream side of the adhesive application position. |
| US07962087B2 |
Radius profiled vacuum media handling transport
System and methods providing a plurality of fusers, and one or more radius profiled media handling transports for transporting media in a radius, in an image forming device. The system includes one or more of a plurality of fusers, and radius profiled media handling transport devices arranged in a fashion allowing for improved throughput of media while reducing operating costs. The plurality of fusers allows for the use of individual low capacity fusers that are equal to or less than the overall capacity of the image forming device. Media transport devices transport media on stretch belts across a radius of rollers with a means for providing an adhering force for stabilizing the media to the belt. The rollers are arranged along one side of the frame, along which the media is transported, and a frame may contain an air plenum so as to allow for the drawing of a vacuum through the rollers. The media transport device allows for optimizing a configuration of the image forming device. |
| US07962082B2 |
Fixing device, image forming apparatus, and fixing method having an expanding/contracting contacting member
When an infra-red heater is to be taken out from a fixing device for maintenance of the infra-red heater, screw-fastening is first released and one holder is extracted from a holding member. The infra-red heater is then pulled out from the side the holder was extracted from. This process is then reversed when a new or repaired infra-red heater is to be mounted on the fixing device. There is a pressure member in pressure contact with a flexible fixing member. The surface area of the contacting member facing the pressure member is variable. |
| US07962079B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus
A disclosed fixing device includes a fixing member configured to heat and melt a toner image to fix it onto a recording medium; a pressure member abutting the fixing member to form a nip into which the recording medium is fed; a separating member disposed on the downstream side in the moving direction of the fixing member in relation to the nip in a manner to oppose the fixing member, and configured to perform a separating operation to prevent the recording medium from winding around the fixing member; an electrically grounded frame supporting the fixing member, the pressure member and the separating member; and a conductive member inserted between a supporting portion of the frame and a supported portion of the separating member and having a higher electric resistance than the frame. The separating member and the frame are rendered electrically conductive to each other only via the conductive member. |
| US07962078B2 |
Image forming apparatus capable of stably conveying recording medium
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming mechanism, a toner image carrier, a transfer unit, an application member, a pivot around which the transfer unit rotates, and an elongate hole which engages with the pivot and through which the pivot is movable in a longitudinal direction of the elongate hole. The transfer unit includes a transferor which opposes the toner image carrier, a pre-transfer guide, a post-transfer guide, and a first positioning member which positions the transferor with respect to the toner image carrier. The image forming apparatus further includes a second positioning member which engages with the first positioning member. |
| US07962072B2 |
Toner cartridge having locking mechanism for preventing leakage of toner
A toner cartridge includes a casing provided at a bottom side thereof with an outlet, a sliding member slidably mounted on the casing, and a retaining member pivotally mounted on the casing. The sliding member is movable relative to the casing between a first position where the outlet is closed by the sliding member and a second position where the outlet is opened. The retaining member is pivotable relative to the casing between a third position where the retaining member is engaged with the sliding member to lock the sliding member at the first position, and a forth position where the retaining member is disengaged from the sliding member such that the sliding member is moveable to the second position to open the outlet. The toner cartridge has the advantage of preventing leakage of toner due to unintentional movement of the sliding member. |
| US07962069B2 |
Toner container, image forming apparatus, method of recycling toner container
An insertion passage 104Y for inserting a suction nozzle 73Y fixed to an image forming apparatus is provided on a holder 102Y, and a connecting passage 114Y that connects the insertion passage 104Y and a toner storage section 106Y of the holder 102Y is provided After the toner sent from bottle 101Y to the holder 102Y falls towards the connecting passage 104Y, the toner flows into the suction nozzle 73Y through the connecting passage 114Y and is then discharged out of the holder 102Y An airtightness between the insertion passage 114Y and the suction nozzle 73Y inserted into the insertion passage 114 Y is superior than an airtightness between the bottle 101Y and the holder 102Y engaged with the bottle 101Y. |
| US07962065B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes first and second intermediate gears configured to transmit a driving force to a heat roller gear. The first and second intermediate gears are removably assembled to a body frame of the image forming apparatus in an installation space defined in the body frame. When a fixing unit is removed from the body frame, the installation space is open and the first and second intermediate gears can be attached to and removed from the body frame. |
| US07962064B2 |
Toner container and image forming apparatus comprising the same
A hollow cylindrical cap is rotatably attached to a container body opening provided in one end of a hollow cylindrical container body. A seal member around the container body opening forms a seal between the container body and the cap. Once the cap is attached to the container body, pressing chips are circumferentially slidably engaged with a flange, and the seal member is pressure-sealed to a pressure-seal portion. A toner container identification is contiguous with the rear edge of one of the pressing chips. The toner container identification is formed by denting one part of the cap so its outer surface radially protrudes outward, and has a predetermined cross-section. |
| US07962059B2 |
Voltage supplying unit of developing device and image forming apparatus having the same, and a method thereof
An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of developing devices, a voltage generating part to generate a developing voltage, first switching parts to supply the voltage generated in the voltage generating part to a predetermined developing device out of the plurality of developing devices, a second switching part to selectively supply the developing voltage generated in the voltage generating part to the first switching parts, and a controller to control the first switching parts and the second switching part. |
| US07962058B2 |
Image forming apparatus for determining a sheet size, an image forming method for determining a sheet size and a computer program product thereof
A sheet-size decision table indicative of a correspondence of a plurality of sheet sizes and an image size printable on each sheet size is prepared in advance. An acquiring unit acquires image data, and an extracting unit extracts an image size of the image data. A searching unit searches the sheet-size decision table for a sheet size corresponding to the image size. If the searching unit cannot find a sheet size corresponding to the image size, a selecting unit selects a sheet size that can accommodate the image data when printed. Finally, a printing unit prints the image data on a print sheet corresponding to the sheet size selected by the selecting unit. |
| US07962054B2 |
Image forming apparatus having a function of predicting device deterioration based on a plurality of types of operation control information
An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes an acquiring unit that acquires a plurality of types of operation control information of the image forming apparatus that indicate deterioration of a toner in the image forming apparatus or deterioration of a component of the image forming apparatus. An index value calculating unit calculates an index value indicating a state of the image forming apparatus based on the acquired operation control information. An abnormality judging unit judges whether the image forming apparatus abnormality has occurred and predicts an occurrence of a failure that requires maintenance of the image forming apparatus due to deterioration of the toner in the image forming apparatus or deterioration of the component of the image forming apparatus based on the index value. |
| US07962046B2 |
Automated dispersion compensation over a broad wavelength range for coherent optical pulses
The present application is directed to an apparatus and method for the automated compensation of dispersion over a broad wavelength range for coherent optical pulses. In one embodiment, the present application discloses an automatic dispersion compensating optical apparatus configured to change chirp introduced into an optical signal by an optical system in optical communication with the dispersion compensating optical apparatus and includes at least one wavelength-tunable source of coherent optical pulses configured to output at least one optical signal, at least one dispersion compensation device configured to receive the optical signal from the coherent source, and at least one controller in communication with the dispersion compensation device and configured to adjust chirp introduced into the optical signal by the dispersion compensation device as the wavelength of the optical signal is varied. |
| US07962044B2 |
Temperature stabilizing packaging for optoelectronic components in a transmitter module
An optical transmitter is disclosed having a temperature stabilization system for an optical filter for maintaining constant the frequency response of the filter. The filter is mounted within a housing having a substantially higher thermal conductivity. The housing may include a copper-tungsten alloy and extend along the optical axis of the filter. The housing is in thermal contact with a thermo-electric cooler (TEC) and a temperature sensor. The TEC and temperature sensor are electrically coupled to a controller which adjusts the temperature of the TEC according to the output of the temperature sensor. |
| US07962043B2 |
Multichannel optical transport network skew control
A system and method are provided for controlling time delay in a multichannel optical transport network transmission device. The method accepts a pair of 2n-phase shift keying (2nPSK) modulated signals via Ix and Qx electrical signal paths, where n>1, and a pair of 2p-PSK modulated signals via Iy and Qy electrical signal paths where p>1. A voltage V1 on the Ix signal path is compared with a voltage V2 on the Qx signal path, and a VOx voltage in generated, which is minimized by adjusting time delay modules in the Ix and Qx signals paths. Likewise, a voltage V3 (Iy) is compared with a voltage V4 (Qy), and a VOy voltage is generated and minimized. Subsequent to minimizing VOx and VOy, the sum of V1 and V2 (V12) is compared with the sum of V3 and V4 (V34), and a VOxy voltage is generated and minimized. |
| US07962039B2 |
Multiple wavelength light source, and generation method for multiple wavelength light
It is an object of the present invention to provide a multiple wavelength light source capable of generating lights of more wavelengths, and a generation method for multiple wavelength light using a multiple wavelength light source.A multiple wavelength light source of the present invention is a multiple wavelength light source having an optical comb generator for obtaining an input light and a group of lights shifted from the input light by predetermined frequencies; and an optical adjusting portion adjusting lights to be inputted to the optical comb generator; wherein the optical comb generator is composed of an optical fiber loop (105) which is provided with an optical SSB modulator (101), an optical amplifier (102) for compensating a conversion loss at the optical SSB modulator, an optical input port (103) for inputting lights from the light source, and an optical output port (104) for outputting lights, and the optical adjusting portion obtains a plurality of lights having different wavelengths. |
| US07962036B1 |
Fiber optic network adjustment
A number of fiber optic networks, nodes, and methods are disclosed. One fiber optic network embodiment includes a network module including a star coupler for receiving a signal from a number of nodes and outputting a combined signal, including the received signals, to the number of nodes, and the number of nodes optically connected to the network module, the number of nodes including a transmit module including a first adjustable optical amplifier and a number of optical emitters, a receive module including a second adjustable optical amplifier and a number of receivers, and a controller coupled to the transmit and receive modules for adjusting the first and second optical amplifiers in response to the combined signal. |
| US07962032B2 |
Portable composite apparatus and method of controlling photographing modes
A portable composite apparatus and a method of controlling photographing modes. The portable composite apparatus includes a decision unit to decide whether current time information is included in a time range corresponding to a current photographing mode by referring to a prestored time information table, and an operation control unit to change priority levels of photographing modes based on the decision result from the decision unit and the time information table. As photographing modes of the portable composite apparatus are prioritized differently based on the current time information and the time information table, user convenience and expedition of operating (or setting) a desired photographing mode can be enhanced. |
| US07962031B2 |
Pulsed control of camera flash
Input from a user is received, to take a picture. A camera flash is signaled to produce multiple flash pulses during a single shutter cycle of the picture. The amplitudes of at least two of the flash pulses are different relative to each other. The picture is stored, including in its metadata information that describes the variable amplitude of the flash pulses that illuminated the scene when taking the picture. The information describing the variable amplitude of the flash pulses is used to deblur the picture. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US07962026B2 |
Discrete automatic focusing and error correcting method
Provided are a discrete AF control method and an error correcting method of a camera module using a diffraction device. In the method, a focus is moved to a (the number of all positions/m)-th position, and a focusing value at a start position is compared with that at the (the number of all positions/m)-th position. A focus is moved by two positions in a first direction according to the comparison result. If a position having a maximum focusing value is passed, a focus is moved by one position in a direction opposite to the first direction and a location (corresponding to an n-th position) is stored. Focusing values of the n-th position, an (n−1)-th position, and an (n−2)-th position are compared with one another to determine a maximum focus location, m being an integer equal to or greater than 2. |
| US07962024B2 |
Blur correcting device, blur correcting method, and image pickup apparatus
A blur correcting device includes a shake detecting unit configured to detect a shake and output a detection signal indicating a result of the detection; a drive unit configured to displace a relative positional relationship between a lens unit and an image pickup element relative to an optical axis such that a position of an optical image formed on an image pickup surface of the image pickup element is displaced on the image pickup surface; and a control unit configured to increase a displacement range when the amount of shake indicated by the detection signal is larger than a predetermined level, displace the relative positional relationship between the lens unit and the image pickup element within the increased displacement range in accordance with the detection signal, and thereby correct a blur of the optical image on the image pickup surface caused by the shake detected by the shake detecting unit. |
| US07962022B2 |
Photographic apparatus with mechanism to perform inclination correction
A photographic apparatus comprises a movable platform, an acceleration sensor, and a controller.The movable platform has an imager that captures an optical image, and is movable and rotatable in an xy plane. The acceleration sensor detects a first gravitational component and a second gravitational component. The first gravitational component is the component of gravitational acceleration in the x direction. The second gravitational component is the component of gravitational acceleration in the y direction. The controller specifies a holding state of the photographic apparatus, calculates an inclination angle formed by rotation of the photographic apparatus, as measured with respect to a level plane, on the basis of the first and second gravitational components, and performs a movement control of the movable platform for an inclination correction based on the inclination angle. The controller specifies the holding state before an imaging operation, and performs the inclination correction during the imaging operation. |
| US07962021B2 |
Photographic apparatus with image stabilization and controller for calculating and correcting inclination angle
A photographic apparatus comprises a movable platform, an acceleration sensor, and a controller. The movable platform has an imager, and is movable and rotatable in an xy plane. The acceleration sensor detects a first gravitational component and a second gravitational component. The first gravitational component is the component of gravitational acceleration in the x direction. The second gravitational component is the component of gravitational acceleration in the y direction. The controller calculates an inclination angle of the photographic apparatus formed by rotation of the photographic apparatus around the optical axis, as measured with respect to a level plane perpendicular to the direction of gravitational force, on the basis of a magnitude relation between the absolute value of the first gravitational component and the absolute value of the second gravitational component, and performs a first movement control of the movable platform for an inclination correction based on the inclination angle. |
| US07962020B2 |
Imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus includes an imaging device, and an optical system configured to image light from an imaging subject on the imaging device. The optical system includes a group of lenses and an aperture diaphragm. When NP point is defined as a point where an extended linear component in an object space of a principal ray located in a Gauss region and selected from among principal rays passing through a center of the aperture diaphragm of the optical system crosses an optical axis of the optical system, D represents a diameter of a lens at the closest side to the imaging subject, and LN represents a distance from a lens surface of the lens at the closest side to the imaging subject to the NP point, a formula; 0≦LN≦D (1) is satisfied. |
| US07962018B2 |
Humidity controller
A breathing assistance apparatus adapted to deliver humidified gases at a desired level of humidity to a patient including a humidifier and a heated conduit is disclosed. The humidifier includes a controller which controls the humidifier, or the humidifier and the heated conduit to deliver the gases to the patient at the required humidity or temperature, without the requirement for sensors in the gases stream. The controller uses information already available to the controller, without the requirement for additional information to be provided by sensors in the gases stream. This means the need for sensors in the gases stream is dispensed with. A significant benefit is achieved as sensors are not required in the conduit and thus the apparatus is simple and less bulky. |
| US07962017B2 |
Device for the evaporation of volatile substances, in particular of aromatics and/or insecticides
An evaporation device for evaporating volatile substances such as aromatics and/or insecticides comprising a housing; and a receptacle arrangement carried by the housing having two receiving chambers for substances to be evaporated. Wicks inserted into the receiving chambers include wick ends protruding from the receiving chambers. A heater arrangement is carried in the housing for providing heat to the protruding wick ends for producing an evaporated substance. At least one blower is provided for generating a targeted air stream to entrain the evaporated substance. A control unit is provided for controlling the heater arrangement to evaporate the substances and for controlling the blower to be switched on at defined evaporation times. |
| US07962016B2 |
Heating crucible for organic thin film forming apparatus
Provided is a heating crucible for an organic thin film forming apparatus, the heating crucible including a main body in which to contain an organic substance, a cover provided on the main body, the cover formed of an insulating material and having a nozzle through which a gaseous organic substance comes out from the main body, a cover heater formed as a thin film type on the top surface of the cover, and a body heater heating the main body. |
| US07962014B2 |
Apparatus and method for reproducing video contents
A method for reproducing video contents includes the steps of: selecting a reproduction shot from video contents, based on a current location information and a shot index information; determining a reproduction section from the selected reproduction shot; and reproducing the determined reproduction section. After the determined reproduction section is reproduced, the above processes are repeated to next reproduction shots. The repetitive processes are performed all over the video contents until the user requests a reproduction change. |
| US07962011B2 |
Controlling substantially constant buffer capacity for personal video recording with consistent user interface of available disk space
A system manages the allocation and storage of media content instance files in a hard disk of a storage device of a media client device in a subscriber television system. In one embodiment among others, the system includes a memory for storing logic, a buffer space in the hard disk for buffering media content instances as buffered media content instance files, and a processor configured with the logic to track the size of permanent media content instance files and the buffered media content instance files to provide an indication of available free space, such that the indication is independent of the buffer space. |
| US07962010B2 |
Information storage medium and information recording/playback system
There are provided an information storage medium capable of real-time recording/playback of digital moving picture information, and a digital information recording/playback system using this medium. In a medium that records/plays back data including video data and control information, the control information (DA21 in FIG. 4; RTR_VMG in FIG. 30) includes information (VOBU entry in FIG. 31) for accessing a specific portion (VOBU) of the video data. |
| US07962004B2 |
Video reproducing apparatus
According to the invention, a video reproducing apparatus includes: a reading module configured to read out video information and caption information, the video information including control information; a video processing module configured to generate a display image to be displayed on a screen, the display image having an image corresponding to the control information; a caption processing module configured to generate a subpicture based on the caption information, the subpicture including a caption image for a caption and a mask image for masking the image corresponding to the control information when the subpicture is superimposed on the display image; a video synthesizing module configured to generate an overlapped display image by superimposing the subpicture; and a video signal outputting module configured to output the overlapped display image to a control signal extracting apparatus that extracts a control signal from the masked image corresponding to the control information. |
| US07961999B2 |
Optical waveguide distribution device
There is disclosed an optical waveguide distribution device having a distribution panel with splice cassettes removably connected thereto. Fiber optic splices are placed within the splice cassettes, so that removal of the splice cassettes allows improved access to the splices. In addition, the distribution panel includes a front wall upon which are positioned a plurality of couplings. The front wall is removably connected to the distribution panel to allow improved access to the couplings. |
| US07961996B2 |
Coupling device for use in optical waveguides
An optical waveguide device comprises a plurality of mirrors, wherein at least one mirror comprises a first and second reflective end that reflect and transmit light. The plurality of mirrors comprises at least one first material having at least one first refractive index; an axis line; a first cladding comprising a second material having a second refractive index; a second cladding, formed above the first, comprising a third material having a third refractive index; a core comprising a fourth material; and a plurality of core parts formed within at least one of the first or second claddings. The fourth material has a fourth refractive index that is greater than the second and third refractive indices and the core parts have a plurality of core part ends coupled to one of the reflective ends where at least one core part end is approximately parallel to one of the reflective ends. |
| US07961992B2 |
Integrated transceiver with lightpipe coupler
A transceiver on a CMOS chip including optical and optoelectronic devices, and electronic circuitry may be operable to communicate optical signals between the CMOS chip and optical fibers coupled to the CMOS chip via a semiconductor laser and one or more photodetectors. The optical and optoelectronic devices may include waveguides, modulators, multiplexers, switches, and couplers. The photodetector may be integrated in the CMOS chip. The photodetector and the semiconductor laser may be mounted on the CMOS chip. The optical signals may be communicated out of and in to a top surface of the CMOS chip. A transceiver on a CMOS chip including optical and optoelectronic devices, and electronic circuitry, may be operable to communicate optical signals between the CMOS chip and optical fibers coupled to the CMOS chip via grating couplers. The optical signals may be communicated out of and in to a top surface of the CMOS chip. |
| US07961989B2 |
Optical chassis, camera having an optical chassis, and associated methods
A camera including a mount substrate, a detector on a first surface of the mount substrate, a spacer on the mount substrate, the spacer including a hole exposing the detector, a cover on the spacer, the cover covering the hole, the mount substrate, the spacer and the cover together sealing the detector, the cover having a planar surface facing the detector, and an external electrical interconnection for the detector provided outside the sealing, the external electrical interconnection being on a first surface and a second surface, different from the first surface, of the mount substrate, the external electrical interconnection adapted to connect the detector to an electrical contact pad. |
| US07961983B2 |
Generating gigapixel images
A gigapixel image is generated from a set of images in raw format depicting different portions of a panoramic scene that has up to a full spherical field of view. Radiometric alignment of the images creates a set of images in radiance format. Geometric alignment of the radiance format images creates a set of true poses for the images in radiance format. A gigapixel image depicting the entire scene is assembled from the set of radiance format images and radiance format true poses for the images. The set of images in raw format is captured using a conventional digital camera, equipped with a telephoto lens, attached to a motorized head. The head is programmed to pan and tilt the camera in prescribed increments to individually capture the images at a plurality of exposures and with a prescribed overlap between images depicting adjacent portions of the scene. |
| US07961977B2 |
Image processing apparatus, display device, and image processing method for edge-preserving smoothing
According to one embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes an ε filter that compares the difference between a pixel value of a target pixel to be processed and that of a surrounding pixel neighboring the target pixel in each pixel block of an input image with a predetermined threshold. When the difference exceeds the predetermined threshold, the ε filter performs the replacement of the pixel value of the surrounding pixel. The predetermined threshold includes at least two different thresholds, a first threshold and a second threshold larger than the first threshold. When the difference exceeds the second threshold, the ε filter performs the replacement of the pixel value of the surrounding pixel in stages such that the pixel value of the surrounding pixel approaches that of the target pixel. |
| US07961976B2 |
Image data restoration apparatus, imaging apparatus, image data restoration method and computer readable medium storing image data restoration program
A method for restoring still image data acquired by capturing a subject image with an imaging element, includes: acquiring blur information regarding blur in a Y direction of the imaging element upon image capturing; sets a recovery matrix for recovering, from the still image data, image data to be acquired upon capturing the subject image in a state where there is no blur; recovers the image data by multiplying the recovery matrix and the still image data; computes plural types of noises which derive from the recovery matrix and which are periodically superimposed on the recovered image data in the Y direction, based on (i) noise period information regarding a noise superimposition period of each noise, (ii) the recovered image data, and (iii) the still image data; and eliminates the computed noise from the recovered image data. |
| US07961975B2 |
System and method for reduction of speckle noise in an image
The present invention includes methods for the reduction of speckle noise in an image and methods for segmenting an image. Each of the methods disclosed herein includes steps for analyzing the uniformity of a pixel within a plurality of pixels forming a portion of the image and, based on the uniformity of the intensity of the plurality of pixels, adjusting and/or replacing the pixel in order to produce a speckle-noise reduced image, a segmented image, or a segmented and speckle-noise reduced image. The methods of the present invention can employ for example conditional probability density functions, nonlinear estimator functions, convex energy functions and simulated annealing algorithms in the performance of their respective steps. |
| US07961974B2 |
Liquid-crystal-driving image processing circuit, liquid-crystal-driving image processing method, and liquid crystal display apparatus
In a liquid-crystal-driving image processing circuit that encodes and decodes image data to reduce the frame memory size, the present invention has the object of providing a liquid-crystal-driving image processing circuit capable of correcting image data accurately and applying appropriately corrected voltages to the liquid crystal without being affected by encoding or decoding errors, even when moving images are input.To achieve the above object, the liquid-crystal-driving image processing circuit according to the present invention takes a difference between first decoded image data corresponding to the image in the current frame and second decoded image data corresponding to preceding-frame image data, selects either the image data of the current frame or the second decoded image data for each pixel on the basis of the difference, thereby generates preceding-frame image data, and corrects the gray-scale values of the image of the current frame on the basis of the preceding-frame image data and the image data of the current frame. |
| US07961967B2 |
Adaptive density mapping in computed tomographic images
An adaptive density mapping (ADM) method and system automatically identify interface regions between air and material tagged with contrast agents in computed tomographic (CT) image data, then map CT attenuations of voxels outside the identified interface regions, such that voxels that represent tagged material are made to represent air or another gas. |
| US07961963B2 |
Methods and systems for extended spatial scalability with picture-level adaptation
Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems and methods for modification of motion vectors in spatial scalable video coding. Some embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems designed for use with the Scalable Video Coding extension of H.264/MPEG-4 AVC. |
| US07961959B2 |
Methods and apparatus for reducing storage size
Prediction-based compression engines are spoon-fed with sequentially efficiently compressible (SEC) streams of input data that make it possible for the compression engines to more efficiently compress or otherwise compact the incoming data than would be possible with streams of input data accepted on a TV-raster scan basis. Various techniques are disclosed for intentionally forming SEC input data streams. Among these are the tight packing of alike files or fragments into concatenation suitcases and the decomposition of files into substantially predictably consistent (SPC) fragments or segments that are routed to different suitcases according to their type. In a graphics-directed embodiment, image frames are partitioned into segment areas that are internally SPC and multidirectional walks (i.e., U-turning walks) are defined in the segment areas where these defined walks are traced during compression and also during decompression. A variety of pre-compression data transformation methods are disclosed for causing apparently random data sequences to appear more compressibly alike to each other. The methods are usable in systems that permit substantially longer times for data compaction operations than for data decompaction operations. |
| US07961958B2 |
System and method for rendering a binary volume in a graphics processing unit
A system and method for rendering a binary volume in a GPU are provided. The method for rendering a binary volume comprises: storing eight bits of the binary volume along an x-axis in a byte of memory to form a compact representation of the binary volume; generating a two-dimensional decoding table of the compact representation of the binary volume; extracting a byte including a bit of interest from the compact representation of the binary volume; determining a bit coordinate for the bit of interest and extracting a decoded value of the bit of interest from the two-dimensional decoding table; obtaining a gray value of the decoded value of the bit of interest and classifying the gray value; and multiplying the decoded value of the bit of interest by the gray value to form a resultant value. |
| US07961957B2 |
Diffusion bases methods for segmentation and clustering
Methods for dimensionality reduction of large data volumes, in particular hyper-spectral data cubes, include providing a dataset Γ of data points given as vectors, building a weighted graph G on Γ with a weight function wε, wherein wε corresponds to a local coordinate-wise similarity between the coordinates in Γ; obtaining eigenvectors of a matrix derived from graph G and weight function wε, and projecting the data points in Γ onto the eigenvectors to obtain a set of projection values ΓB for each data point, whereby ΓB represents coordinates in a reduced space. In one embodiment, the matrix is constructed through the dividing each element of wε by a square sum of its row multiplied by a square sum of its column. In another embodiment the matrix is constructed through a random walk on graph G via a Markov transition matrix P, which is derived from wε. The reduced space coordinates are advantageously used to rapidly and efficiently perform segmentation and clustering. |
| US07961950B2 |
Image processing apparatus, method thereof, and its control method
It is very important to manage digital documents and documents obtained by printing the digital documents. After completion of a conference, each participant makes an MFP read a document image of a distributed reference. The MFP searches for a data file which matches the read document image with reference to information in a storage unit, and deletes the detected data file. If the number of pages of the read image is short, the data file cannot be detected, or the read document image shows a partial loss, the MFP generates a warning. Upon reception of a collection completion message, the MFP checks with reference to information in the storage unit if all data files associated with the conference are deleted. If a data file to be deleted still remains and that data file is printed, the MFP generates a warning. |
| US07961948B2 |
Computer-readable record medium in which a telop character extraction program is recorded, telop character extraction method and telop character extraction apparatus
A telop character extraction apparatus generates a gray-scale image from a telop region image, and generates an edge region image where an edge is extracted from within the gray-scale image. The apparatus uses the edge region image as a mask image, and creates a luminance histogram of pixels of the gray-scale image. The apparatus divides a luminance of the luminance histogram into luminance classes. The apparatus generates binary images where pixels of luminances belonging to the individual classes are collected for the respective luminance classes, and selects the binary image of the class of maximum area, as a telop character candidate image. The apparatus decides on a character color used in the telop region image, in correspondence with the telop character candidate image, and extracts character pixels corresponding to the character color, from within the telop character candidate image, thereby to eliminate noise pixels and to generate telop character image. |
| US07961943B1 |
Integrated document editor
Methods and systems for incorporating handwritten information into a text or graphics document as text data, image data or command cues received through a positional input digitizing recognizer, such as a digitizer pad. In a data entry mode, a unit of data is inserted and accepted for placement at a designated location. In a recognition mode, the data is recognized as legible text with optional embedded edit or other commands, or it is recognized as graphics and accepted into an associated image frame. Information interpreted as commands can be executed as editing commands to control addition, deletion or movement of text within the document, as well as font or type size change or color change and the like. The invention may take advantage of features native to the particular application. |
| US07961937B2 |
Pre-normalization data classification
Provided are systems, apparatuses, methods and techniques for recognizing a pattern within input data, such as a specific object within an image frame. Prior to normalizing the input data, normalization-independent classification is performed, thereby rejecting a number of potential windows early on and resulting in a corresponding reduction in required processing. |
| US07961931B2 |
Positioning measurement apparatus and method
A positioning measurement method is provided. The method includes the step of: capturing images of a standard object and to-be-measured objects; selecting one or more standard points from the image of the standard object; selecting a general location area and a standard area by taking each standard point as a reference point; generating a script for recording positions of each general location area and capturing a standard image in each standard area; storing the script into the data storage; determining the position of the general location area on the image of the to-be-measured object according to the position of general location area recorded in the script; and determining a measurement area, the image in the measurement area is most similar to the standard image within the general location area. |
| US07961928B2 |
Volumetric data connecting apparatus and method
A volumetric data connecting apparatus, includes a reference point determining device for having an operator determine reference points A, B and C which are not on the same straight line on first volumetric data V; a connection point a determining device for having the operator determine a connection point a corresponding to said reference point A on second volumetric data v; an auxiliary line q displaying device for displaying “a section fb of the second volumetric data v” selected by the operator and a curve q which results from the crossing of said section fb and “a spherical surface Q having the distance between the reference points AB as its radius and the connection point a as its center”. |
| US07961927B2 |
Optimal conversion of 3D image sets between different spaces
A multi-modality system (10) includes a nuclear imaging system (12) and a computed tomography (CT) scanner (14). The nuclear system (12) includes a PET scanner (28) which acquires electronic data that is reconstructed into a PET blob image by a PET reconstruction processor (50). The CT scanner (14) acquires the scanned data which is reconstructed into a 3D CT voxel image by a CT reconstruction processor (56). An interpolation processor (62) interpolates the PET blob image directly into the CT voxel space. Once the PET and CT images are in the same space, they are combined by a combining means (110). A video processor (66) processes the received composite PET-CT data for a display on a monitor (68). |
| US07961926B2 |
Registration of three-dimensional image data to 2D-image-derived data
A method for obtaining registration of a three-dimensional image data set of an anatomical vessel with corresponding two-dimensional image data of the vessel in an X-ray imaging system, where the method comprise the user identifying two points on an anatomical vessel on at least two X-ray image planes, the user identifying two similar points on the surface of the corresponding three-dimensional anatomical image data, determining the orientation direction of the vessel from the two user identified image data surface points, determining the orientation direction of the vessel from the two points obtained from the X-ray image planes, and calculating a transformation of the three-dimensional image data to obtain a best fit registration of the direction derived from the image surface points with the direction derived from the X-ray image data points. |
| US07961923B2 |
Method for detection and visional enhancement of blood vessels and pulmonary emboli
A method for detecting a substantially cylindrical internal structures and dark structures surrounded by bright intensity values (contrast) in a medical image includes acquiring a medical image. A gradient of the medical image is calculated. Local shape index information for the calculated gradient of the medical image is calculated. Gradient information having a local shape index not indicative of a ridge and rut shapes is removed. Diverging gradient field responses (DGFR) are calculated based on the remaining gradient information. The DGFR responses and relative amount of DGFR responses for the rut and ridge areas is used as a discriminative feature in detecting the substantially cylindrical internal structure as well as darker occluding structures within cylindrical structures such as Pulmonary Emboli. |
| US07961922B2 |
Systems and methods for processing medical image data to facilitate comparisons among groups of subjects
Systems and methods for processing medical image data with increased sensitivity to facilitate comparisons among groups of subjects are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving a first three-dimensional image comprising a plurality of voxels, reducing a regional trend within the three-dimensional image, computing a semivariogram for a region of interest, defining at least one block of spatially correlated voxels, calculating voxel weights for each voxel within the at least one block, and determining a block average count and variance for the at least one block. |
| US07961920B2 |
Method for the computer-assisted visualization of diagnostic image data
In a computer-assisted visualization of a three-dimensional anatomical object, two or more diagnostic image data records (1, 3, 4, 5) of the object are recorded. Thereafter, an imaging specification is defined for imaging the image data (1, 3, 4, 5) onto a two-dimensional display plane (8). In order to define the imaging specification, anatomical features (2) of the object are identified in at least one of the image data records (1). Finally, a combined two-dimensional representation is calculated by imaging the two or more image data records (1, 3, 4, 5) according to the previously defined imaging specification onto a common display plane (8). |
| US07961915B2 |
System and method for authenticated and privacy preserving biometric identification systems
A system and method for the identification of users and objects using biometric techniques is disclosed. This invention describes a biometric based identification and authorization systems which do not require the incorporation of an on-line database of stored complete biometrics for the security infrastructure. In order to remove the connectivity requirements, an off-line biometric system is achieved by incorporating an identity verification template (IVT) on a storage device/token (e g, magnetic strip or smart-card) during the user's registration which provides for a reliable storage medium; however, there are no security requirements required of the token even to protect the privacy of the stored biometric. The IVT does not contain complete information of the user's biometric but allows for the verification of the user when that user later provides a biometric reading. To deal with errors that may be introduced into later scans of the biometric (for example at the time of verification) error correcting techniques, well known in the art of communication and error control systems, are incorporated into the system. The system is also usable in the online model. Moreover, it may also be used to enable cryptographic operations by being used to partially compose or encrypt private keys for cryptographic operation. |
| US07961914B1 |
Portable storage apparatus with integral biometric-based access control system
A system and method by which a portable, personal storage container can be secured and protected using the owner's fingerprint is herein disclosed. While the features of the invention can be incorporated into almost any type of physical container, it is most likely to be envisioned to be incorporated into a wallet, purse, sack or eyeglass case. The invention relies on a biometric sensor that recognizes the owner's fingerprint, and unlocks the container when a match is presented. In addition to physical storage and security, the invention also provides electronic storage for computer files such as electronic files, documents, photos and the like via an integral computer connector. Finally, the invention is provided with a proximity sensor that detects when it has been moved more than a preset distance away from the rightful owner. This feature thus provides security against theft. The use of the present invention provides storage and protection for all-important items, whether physical or electronic, in a manner, which is not only quick, easy and effective, but safe and secure as well. |
| US07961912B2 |
Method and apparatus for dynamic space-time imaging system
A method for creating a 3D map of the surface contours of an object includes projecting a variety of patterns onto the object, and imaging the patterns as they fall on the object to encode the topographic features of the object. In one embodiment a three dimensional image is taken in a single flash to avoid blurring due to motion of the object. Thereafter a secondary pattern is projected to detect changes in the initial image. The images are processed in a computer program in a manner such that a complete 3D map of the surface of the object is obtained in digital form. Reiteration of the method can detect motional variation such as a breathing human, flexure of a complex mechanical structure, or a stress-strain testing of an airplane, vehicle, beam, bridge, or other structure. |
| US07961910B2 |
Systems and methods for tracking a model
An image such as a depth image of a scene may be received, observed, or captured by a device. A grid of voxels may then be generated based on the depth image such that the depth image may be downsampled. A model may be adjusted based on a location or position of one or more extremities estimated or determined for a human target in the grid of voxels. The model may also be adjusted based on a default location or position of the model in a default pose such as a T-pose, a DaVinci pose, and/or a natural pose. |
| US07961909B2 |
Computer interface employing a manipulated object with absolute pose detection component and a display
A system that has a remote control, e.g., a wand, equipped with a relative motion sensor that outputs data indicative of a change in position of the wand. The system also has one or more light sources and a photodetector that detects their light and outputs data indicative of the detected light. The system uses one or more controllers to determine the absolute position of the wand based on the data output by the relative motion sensor and by the photodetector. The data enables determination of the absolute pose of the wand, which includes the absolute position of a reference point chosen on the wand and the absolute orientation of the wand. To properly express the absolute parameters of position and/or orientation of the wand a reference location is chosen with respect to which the calculations are performed. The system is coupled to a display that shows an image defined by a first and second orthogonal axes such as two axes belonging to world coordinates (Xo,Yo,Zo). The one or more controllers are configured to generate signals that are a function of the absolute position of the wand in or along a third axis for rendering the display. To simplify the mapping of a real three-dimensional environment in which the wand is operated to the cyberspace of the application that the system is running, the third axis is preferably the third Cartesian coordinate axis of world coordinates (Xo,Yo,Zo). |
| US07961898B2 |
User control for hearing prostheses
A hearing prosthesis whereby the change of a parameter by the user is only possible in discrete maximum steps, with the availability for further increments being dependant upon some conditional event or occurrence (“condition” herein) represented by one or more parameters such as the time which has elapsed since some previous event. In embodiments in which the parameter(s) include an event, such event may be, for example, the initial fitting or adjustment by a clinician, the last user adjustment, the last upward adjustment by the user, etc. In certain embodiments, the condition parameter(s) may include, for example, an elapsed period of time, a certain quantity of stimuli at a particular current level, or some combination of time, stimulation count and stimulation level. In alternative embodiments, there may be a tiered set of increasing increments, of which more gradually are available over time. |
| US07961894B2 |
Engine sound processing system
Microphone are provided to an intake port of an engine and a wall surface of an engine room on the interior side respectively to collect an engine sound. The engine sound is processed by a signal processing portion and output via a speaker provided to an interior of a vehicle. Filters for simulating the noise insulating characteristic in the interior of the vehicle and filters for processing the engine sound to emphasize the driving conditions are provided to the signal processing portion. Filter characteristics of the filters are decided in response to sensed values of an engine revolution sensor 30, an accelerator opening angle sensor, and a speed sensor. The driving conditions are emphasized by filtering the engine sound based on the filter characteristics. |
| US07961892B2 |
Apparatus and method for monitoring speaker cone displacement in an audio speaker
An apparatus for monitoring speaker cone displacement in an audio speaker includes: (a) an electromagnetic coil structure; (b) a ferrous core structure; the ferrous core structure and the electromagnetic coil structure being mounted with the speaker to effect variable electromagnetic coupling between the ferrous core structure and the electromagnetic coil structure as the speaker cone moves; (c) a signal injecting circuit coupled with the electromagnetic coil structure for injecting a predetermined input signal into the electromagnetic coil structure; and (d) a signal monitoring circuit coupled with the electromagnetic coil structure; the signal monitoring circuit receiving an output signal from the electromagnetic coil structure and generating an indicating signal based upon the output signal; at least one signal characteristic of the indicating signal being related with the cone displacement. |
| US07961891B2 |
System and method of audio testing of acoustic devices
A system and method of testing the audio performance of an acoustic device is provided. To test a device microphone, an audio signal is generated, provided to an external speaker, outputted to the device microphone, and routed to an auxiliary input/output device where it is outputted and analyzed. To test a device speaker, an audio signal is generated, inputted to an auxiliary input/output device, routed to the device speaker, outputted to an external microphone, and outputted to an audio analyzer. |
| US07961889B2 |
Apparatus and method for processing multi-channel audio signal using space information
An apparatus for and a method of processing a multi-channel audio signal using space information. The apparatus includes: a main coding unit down mixing a multi-channel audio signal by applying space information to surround components included in the multi-channel audio signal, generating side information using the multi-channel audio signal or a stereo signal of a down-mixed result, coding the stereo signal and the side information, and transmitting the coded result as a coding signal; and a main decoding unit receiving the coding signal, decoding the stereo signal and the side information using the received coding signal, up mixing the decoded stereo signal using the decoded side information, and restoring the multi-channel audio signal. |
| US07961888B2 |
Method and system for enhancing bass effect in audio signals
The quality of music output from audio systems is improved by simulating the effect of low frequency signals in the human ear. This thus allows listeners to perceive the lower frequency signals, even though the speakers may be incapable of providing such low frequency outputs. A method is provided for processing enhancing bass effect in audio signals. The method also results in the bass enhancement being computationally less intensive. The bass effect enhancement techniques are based on the response of sine and cosine transfer functions and on the directional independence of low frequency components. The human ear is unable to resolve directions from low frequency components. The bass effect enhancement technique alternatively is based on response of an exponential transfer function. |
| US07961885B2 |
Encrypted JTAG interface
In one embodiment, a system comprises JTAG functionality that implements at least a portion of a JTAG protocol. The JTAG functionality supports a test data in (TDI) line, a test data out (TDO) line, a test rest (TR) line, a test mode state (TMS) line, and a test clock (TCLK) line. The system further comprises a debug interface to communicatively couple the system to a debug device external to the system. The debug interface comprises a transmit (TX) line, receive (RX) line, and a clock (CLK) line. The system transmits data output by the JTAG functionality on the TDI input on the RX line of the debug interface and receives data from the debug device on the TX line of the debug interface and provides the received data to the JTAG functionality on the TDO line, TR line and the TMS line. |
| US07961881B2 |
Apparatus and methods for including codes in audio signals
Apparatus and methods for including a code having at least one code frequency component in an audio signal are provided. The abilities of various frequency components in the audio signal to mask the code frequency component to human hearing are evaluated and based on these evaluations an amplitude is assigned to the code frequency component. Methods and apparatus for detecting a code in an encoded audio signal are also provided. A code frequency component in the encoded audio signal is detected based on an expected code amplitude or on a noise amplitude within a range of audio frequencies including the frequency of the code component. |
| US07961878B2 |
Imparting cryptographic information in network communications
This specification describes technologies relating to imparting cryptographic information in network communications. In general, aspects of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods that include identifying a location in a pre-defined portion of a network communication to be sent in a client-server environment, wherein the pre-defined portion is reserved for random data, inserting cryptographic information into the pre-defined portion of the network communication at the location, and sending the network communication in the client-server environment to facilitate modifying interactions in the client-server environment based at least in part on a result of processing of the cryptographic information; and on a receiving side, receiving cryptographic information inserted into the pre-defined portion of the network communication in the client-server environment, identifying the location, processing the cryptographic information, and modifying interactions in the client-server environment based at least in part on a result of the processing. |
| US07961877B2 |
Factoring based modular exponentiation
The present disclosure provides a system and method for performing modular exponentiation. The method may include dividing a first polynomial into a plurality of segments and generating a first product by multiplying the plurality of segments of the first polynomial with a second polynomial. The method may also include generating a second product by shifting the contents of an accumulator with a factorization base. The method may further include adding the first product and the second product to yield a first intermediate result and reducing the first intermediate result to yield a second intermediate result. The method may also include generating a public key based on, at least in part, the second intermediate result. Of course, many alternatives, variations and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment. |
| US07961868B2 |
Systems and methods for caller-controlled tune notification of a call
A system and method for a caller to control a tune notification for a telephone call includes a service switching point and a service control point. The service switching point is operable to receive a tune notification service access code and a called directory number, and to issue a query in response to receiving the service access code. The service control point is operable to receive the query and issue a response including a tune notification signal to the service switching point. Upon receiving the response from the service control point, the service switching point processes the call so that the tune notification signal causes the tune notification to be applied to a called telephone line associated with the called directory number. |
| US07961864B2 |
Local number portability cross connect method
A method is provided to implement a subscriber local number portability migration request. The method includes sending a trigger signal to a cross-connect device to cause the cross-connect device to switch between a first communication channel and a second communication channel. The first communication channel is between an originating switch associated with a subscriber's directory number and a distribution frame. The second communication channel is between a porting switch and the distribution frame. The method also includes validating that the cross-connect device switched between the first communication channel and the second communication channel. |
| US07961863B2 |
System and method for major trading area (MTA) routing in a telecommunications network
A method includes determining all telephone numbers to which a selected CLLI can terminate calls, wherein the CLLI is associated with one or more major trading areas (MTAs), creating a FROM-TO relationship between at least a subset of TNs in the one or more MTAs and the TNs to which the selected CLLI can terminate calls, and provisioning the FROM-TO relationship on a core routing engine accessible to a switch. A system includes a local route manager (LRM) configured to receive input designating a CLLI as available for intra-MTA routing, the CLLI being associated with one or more MTAs, a cluster generator configured to create a first set of all telephone numbers (TNs) handled by the CLLI, a second set of selected TNs in the one or more MTAs, and an association between the first set and the second set, and a provisioning module configured to provision the association between the first set and the second set on a core routing engine to identify calls between TNs of the sets as local in jurisdiction. |
| US07961861B2 |
Telephone search supported by response location advertising
A platform for the delivery of dynamic, interactive audio advertisements played in response to a consumer initiated request for information via a telephone. The platform invention provides advertising supported information services that are related to a geographic location associated with a response to a consumer initiated request. In one specific embodiment, at a customer station, a consumer dials an information access number and is connected to a call processing system. The call processing system receives a request for information from the consumer, and determines a response. The response is then further processed to determine a geographic location associated with the response. An advertisement is then selected that is associated with the geographic location of the response (as opposed to the geographic location specified in request, or as opposed to the geographic location of the consumer, which may not necessarily be the same). |
| US07961859B2 |
Method and system for providing enhanced call waiting and caller identification
An efficient and effective method and system for providing to a customer an audible call notification of a current call and a subsequently received call waiting call. The present embodiments notify the customer that a current call is waiting in an effective manner that reduces confusion. Confusion is reduced by the combination of audible call waiting indicators and audible caller identification information associated with the calling telephone station. Additionally, both the indicator and the representation of the information can be provided automatically without significant delay. The indication is provided even when standard caller identification information is not available by prompting the caller to provide spoken caller identification information. The spoken caller identification information is provided to the called party along with call disposition options, such as options to accept or reject the call, route the call to voice mail or send a sales refusal message. |
| US07961856B2 |
Methods, systems, and products for processing responses in prompting systems
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for processing responses in a prompting system. A response is received to a prompt and compared to a set of conditions for interpreting the response. If the response is not interpretable, then an alternative presentation of the prompt is obtained. A supplemental prompt is sent that presents the alternative presentation of the prompt. |
| US07961852B2 |
Method and device for transmitting requests from a requesting machine to a domain name server
A method and device for sending a request (R) from a requesting machine (H) to a domain name server (1, 2, 3). A prior test of the validity of the destination telephone number (NTEL) of the request (R) is executed automatically and locally to the requesting machine (H) relative to a database (BD) local to said requesting machine (H) in order to forward the request (R) from the requesting machine (H) to the domain name server (1, 2, 3) only if its telephone number (NTEL) passes said test. |
| US07961846B2 |
Interface device for testing a telecommunication circuit
An interface device and method for testing a telecommunication circuit by utilizing a test cord that has a first end that is integrated with the interface device and a second end that terminates with a test connector. Upon insertion of the test connector into a test port of a connectivity block, the interface device may be configured to allow for monitoring of the telecommunication circuit, without disrupting the circuit. Similarly, the interface device may be configured to disrupt the telecommunication circuit and allow a user to examine both sides of the circuit. |
| US07961845B2 |
Orthovoltage radiotherapy
A radiosurgery system is described that is configured to deliver a therapeutic dose of radiation to a target structure in a patient. In some embodiments, inflammatory ocular disorders are treated, specifically macular degeneration. In some embodiments, other disorders or tissues of a body are treated with the dose of radiation. In some embodiments, the target tissues are placed in a global coordinate system based on ocular imaging. In some embodiments, the target tissues inside the global coordinate system lead to direction of an automated positioning system that is directed based on the target tissues within the coordinate system. In some embodiments, a treatment plan is utilized in which beam energy and direction and duration of time for treatment is determined for a specific disease to be treated and/or structures to be avoided. In some embodiments, a fiducial marker is used to identify the location of the target tissues. In some embodiments, radiodynamic therapy is described in which radiosurgery is used in combination with other treatments and can be delivered concomitant with, prior to, or following other treatments. |
| US07961839B2 |
Advanced convergence for multiple iterative algorithm
Iterative methods for reconstructing of three-dimensional images based on projection data signals obtained by a computer tomography system often result in wrong absorption coefficients in particular for regions including a hollow space of an object under examination. Furthermore iterative methods show a slow convergence for calculating such absorption coefficients. According to embodiments of the present invention there is provided a method for an advanced reconstruction of three-dimensional images based on modified projection data signals. The modification includes an addition of a constant absorption value to the measured projection data. Advantageously the constant absorption value is an absorption line integral through a virtual body having the spatial constant absorption coefficient of water. The virtual body preferably has a volume which is slightly bigger than the object of interest. |
| US07961838B2 |
Computerized tomography image reconstruction
Systems and methods include coordinated (KV) and megaelectronvolt (MV) computerized tomography (CT) imaging. KV and MV data are combined using a normalization process in order to generate CT images. The resulting CT images can include an improved signal to noise ratio in comparison to CT images generated using either KV or MV imaging alone. The coordinated KV and MV imaging process may be accomplished in significantly less time than using KV or MV imaging alone. This time savings has advantages in treatment verification. The MV projections are optionally generated using MV x-rays configured for x-ray treatment. In these cases the combined projections will reflect the treatment volume. |
| US07961835B2 |
Hybrid integrated energy production process
Disclosed is an advanced process that relates to the enhanced production of energy using the integration of multiple thermal cycles (Brayton and Rankine) that employ multiple fuels, multiple working fluids, turbines and equipment. The method includes providing a nuclear reactor, reactor working fluid, heat exchangers, compressors, and multiple turbines to drive compressors that pressurize a humidified working fluid that is combusted with fuel fired in at least one gas turbine. The turbine(s) provide for electrical energy, processes or other mechanical loads. |
| US07961832B2 |
All-digital symbol clock recovery loop for synchronous coherent receiver systems
A symbol clock (16) associated with a symbol stream (5) in a synchronized communication receiver can be recovered by adjusting the phase of a symbol clock signal (12). The phase adjustment is accomplished by applying a digitally controlled delay (13) to the symbol clock signal based on a timing relationship between the symbol clock and symbol transitions (17) in the symbol stream. |
| US07961829B2 |
Low jitter clock recovery from a digital baseband data signal transmitted over a wireless medium
A system and method of transmitting a data stream from a data source over a baseband wireless communication system to one or more receivers. The receivers simultaneously recover the data and clock signals of the original data stream from the wireless transmitted data so that the data stream can be provided by the receivers to a data sink at the same rate as the original data stream, with low jitter performance. |
| US07961822B2 |
Setting a transmission power level for a mobile unit
A spread signal is produced having an adjustable spread spectrum. A data signal is provided for transmission. The data signal is processed to have a first spread spectrum. The processed first spread spectrum data signal is filtered to have one out of a plurality of spread spectrums. The filtering capable of producing a signal having a spread spectrum of any of the plurality of spread spectrums. The filtered one spread spectrum data signal is transmitted. |
| US07961818B2 |
Method and system for adaptive timing recovery
Timing recovery in partial-response-based magnetic recording systems customarily employs the “decision-directed” method wherein phase error is recovered from the differences between the noise-corrupted received signal samples and their estimated ideal (noise and phase error free) values. The filtered phase error drives a numerically-controlled oscillator which determines the instants at which the signal is resampled, attempting to place said instants at the ideal sampling times. The resampled signal contains errors due to mistiming as well as to the original corrupting noise, and these errors directly influence the success of subsequent detection. However, the noise can be reduced using adaptive linear prediction, having the effect of reducing the output error for a given noise input, or maintaining the same error for a larger noise input. |
| US07961813B2 |
Multi-value modulation/demodulation method and multi-value modulation/demodulation device
N (integer equal to or above 3) quaternary phase shift keying (QPSK) outputs having different amplitude levels, i.e., r2=r1×2−(i−1), i=2 . . . N with respect to a maximum amplitude level r1 are superposed after power amplification to form M(=22N)-valued/quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), and N-1 outputs si except the quaternary phase shift keying QPSK-1 having the maximum amplitude r1 are subjected to power amplification in this formation, then the outputs are combined by a directional coupler to obtain a combined signal, and an output of the quaternary phase shift keying QPSK-1 and the combined signal are transmitted from two systems of antennas to be vectorially superposed and combined in a space. |
| US07961811B2 |
Radio transmitting apparatus and radio transmitting method
A radio transmitting apparatus and method thereof wherein a guard interval (GI) having a variable length allows a radio receiving apparatus to precisely and easily obtain a symbol synchronization. A GI adding part adds a short GI or a long GI to the head of each of a plurality of data parts. In a case of adding the long GI, the GI adding part copies the symbols of a portion of a second data part, which immediately follows a first data part, including the rear of the second data part, and then adds the copied symbols to the head of the first data part, thereby providing a second GI. Moreover, the GI adding part copies the symbols to a portion of the first data part including the rear thereof, and then adds the copied symbols to the head of the second GI, thereby providing the first GI. |
| US07961806B2 |
Power adaptive channel estimation for a multi-path receiving
A multi-path receiving system is provided. The multi-path receiving system includes a multi-path analyzer, a channel estimator and an equalizer. The multi-path analyzer analyzes a channel impulse response (CIR) of the multi-path channel from the received stream. The channel estimator calculates a channel estimation result from the received stream. The channel estimator comprises a frequency domain interpolation filter performing channel estimation. The frequency domain interpolation filter consumes an amount of power according to the CIR result output from the multi-path analyzer. The equalizer equalizes the received stream based on the channel estimation result. |
| US07961805B2 |
Method for the coding of an OFDM/OQAM signal using symbols with complex values, and corresponding signal, devices and computer programs
A method and apparatus are provided for coding an OFDM/OQAM-type multi-carrier signal formed by a temporal succession of symbols comprising a set of data elements. Each of the data elements modulates a carrier frequency of the signal. Each of the data elements is formed by adding two real values in quadrature, which each correspond to a binary word of a source signal, which is modulated using a pre-determined modulation constellation, such as to transmit information over a real channel and an imaginary channel of the OFDM/OQAM symbols. |
| US07961800B2 |
Adaptive radio/modulation apparatus, receiver apparatus, wireless communication system, and wireless communication method
Adaptive modulation part (1) modulates a signal in a modulation scheme selected based on a modulation mode, switch (2) selects a radio scheme congenial to the modulation scheme in which the signal is modulated. When the selected radio scheme is single-carrier scheme, single-carrier generation part (3) generates a single-carrier signal. When the selected radio scheme is a multicarrier scheme, multicarrier generation part (4) generates a multicarrier signal, the generated single-carrier signal or multicarrier signal is converted into a carrier band signal by quadrature modulation part (5), and the converted signal is amplified by transmission amplifier (6). |
| US07961799B2 |
Joint estimation apparatus of channel and frequency offset based on multiband-orthogonal frequency division multiplexing and thereof
The present invention relates, in general, to a joint channel and frequency offset estimation apparatus and method based on a multi-band-orthogonal frequency division multiplexing system, and, more particularly, to a joint channel and frequency offset estimation apparatus and method based on an MB-OFDM system, which uses low-rank LMMSE channel estimation, in which a low-rank is applied to the MB-OFDM system, thus decreasing complexity, and adds a simple structure using the autocorrelation characteristics of an estimated channel, thus joining channel estimation to frequency offset estimation at low complexity.The apparatus includes a channel estimator for receiving a Fourier-transformed OFDM signal, and calculating results of channel estimation using a Linear Minimum Mean Square Error (LMMSE) channel estimation, which minimizes a Mean Square Error (MSE) between an actual channel value and an estimated channel value. An autocorrelation unit calculates an autocorrelation value using the results, which are calculated through the channel estimator, in which a frequency offset is considered. A frequency offset estimator calculates a frequency offset, having a maximum value calculated by the autocorrelation unit, and estimating an actual frequency offset. |
| US07961796B2 |
Apparatus and method for CINR estimation in a wireless communication system
An apparatus and a method for estimating a Carrier to Interference and Noise Ratio (CINR) of an uplink channel in a wireless communication system are provided. The apparatus includes a subcarrier separator for separating subcarrier bundles from a received signal, a detector for calculating squares of correlation values acquired by correlating one or more codewords with signal streams of the separated subcarrier bundles, and a CINR estimator for estimating a CINR using a maximum value and an average value of the correlation value squares calculated at the detector. With the accurate CINR estimated, the channel information delivery and the stable system operation can be achieved. |
| US07961795B2 |
Channel estimation
The channel estimation for a current data block is based on a previous data block, where the two data blocks are based on common information. Data symbol hypotheses of the previous data block can be forwarded to a channel estimator and used as known reference symbols when estimating the channel response for the current block. Alternatively, a combination of the data symbol hypotheses and preliminary data symbol estimates of the current block are used as reference symbols in a refined channel estimation for the current block. Data bit hypotheses of the previous block can also be input as a priori data in a preliminary demodulation of the current block. The demodulator output is used as reference data in a refined channel estimation for the current block. The technology is well-adapted for use in connection with Hybrid ARQ. |
| US07961788B2 |
Method and apparatus for video encoding and decoding, and recording medium having recorded thereon a program for implementing the method
A video encoding method includes generating a primary error image by performing motion estimation and compensation on a current frame with reference to a previous frame, generating a secondary error image by performing motion estimation and compensation on the primary error image of the generated current frame with reference to an error image of the previous frame. The error image of the previous frame is obtained by performing motion estimation and motion compensation on the previous frame when the previous frame is encoded. |
| US07961785B2 |
Method for encoding interlaced digital video data
Interlaced video can be encoded in two layers, base layer and enhancement layer. A method for optimizing the encoding of motion vectors for enhancement layer is proposed. It comprises defining various different ways to encode the motion vectors, estimate the coding costs for each way, and select the way with the lowest coding cost. The various ways to encode enhancement layer motion vectors can be combined. Either motion vectors from base layer are reused, resulting in a scaling factor and an update vector, or new motion vectors are calculated. Either forward or backward or bi-directional prediction can be used. Either one frame or multiple frames can be taken as reference. The reference frame can be from the enhancement layer, base layer or both. Either the complete motion vectors are encoded, or only the difference between the motion vector and the corresponding BL motion vector is encoded. |
| US07961783B2 |
Methods and systems for rate control in video encoder
A method of rate control in a video encoder includes performing a first encoding step to encode macroblocks of a current frame by utilizing a first quantization parameter to thereby generate a residual signal for the current frame; estimating a number of header bits for each macroblock mode to thereby estimate a total number of header bits for the current frame; estimating an available number of texture bits according to the total number of header bits for the current frame; determining a second quantization parameter according to the estimated available number of texture bits; and performing a second encoding step to encode the residual signal for the current frame by utilizing the second quantization parameter. |
| US07961781B2 |
Electronic dispersion compensation utilizing interleaved architecture and channel identification for assisting timing recovery
Embodiments include a system for performing dispersion compensation on an electromagnetic signal received over a communication channel, the electromagnetic signal bearing information at a symbol rate. An interleaved analog to digital converter (“ADC”) block may be used, wherein the interleaved ADC block may be configured to generate a plurality of digitally sampled signals from the electromagnetic signal. An interleaved equalizer block may be configured to digitally process each of the digitally sampled signals generated by the ADC block to generate a plurality of digitally equalized signals. A multiplexer may be configured to aggregate the digitally equalized signals into a composite output signal. |
| US07961780B2 |
Generated set top calibration patterns in manufacturing
Included are systems and methods for performing an internal operations test to a set top terminal (STT). At least one embodiment of a method includes creating a test pattern for testing video functionality of the STT, sending the created test pattern to a digital encoder, and converting the test pattern to an analog signal. |
| US07961779B2 |
Noise-driven recovery of a digital pulse stream
Provided is a method and system for noise-driven recovery of a digital pulse stream. The method includes receiving initial parameters including the base characteristics of a pulse signal, the characteristics including the minimum pulse interval. An incoming analog signal is converted to a digital signal and sampled a predetermined number of times at intervals less than the minimum pulse interval to record a set of minimum signal values. The incoming signal is also sampled a predetermined number of times at intervals less than the minimum pulse interval to record a set of maximum signal values. At least the first greatest value from the set of maximum signal values is discarded. Each set is averaged to provide an average minimum value and an average maximum value. Based on these values at least one threshold value is then determined, and the digital pulse stream is identified based on the threshold values. The method is repetitive, continually re-determining the threshold values so as to adapt to changes in the incoming signal. A system for performing the method is also provided. |
| US07961775B2 |
Method and system for a delta quantizer for MIMO pre-coders with finite rate channel state information feedback
Aspects of a method and system for a delta quantizer for MIMO pre-coders with finite rate channel state information feedback may comprise quantizing a change in channel state information in a MIMO pre-coding system onto at least a first and a second codebook, each of which comprises one or more unitary matrices, using a cost function; and generating the at least first and second codebook based on at least the channel state information. The channel state information may be a matrix V and the cost function may be defined by the following relationship: f ( A ) = ( 1 N ∑ j = 1 N a j j 2 ) where A is a matrix of size N by N and aij is element (i,j) of matrix A. One or more unitary matrices may be generated for the at least first codebook from at least a first set of matrices and a second set of matrices. |
| US07961773B2 |
Weighted open loop power control transmitter
A weighted open loop power control transmitter for controlling transmission power levels using a spread spectrum time division duplex (TDD) technique having frames with timeslots for communication includes a demodulator configured to receive a transmitted signal from the receiver, a channel estimation device, a data estimation device, and a weighted open loop power controller. The weighted open loop power controller includes a power measurement device, a pathloss estimation device configured to receive an interpreted power level from the data estimation device and estimate the pathloss and update a long term average of the pathloss, a quality measurement device, and a transmit power calculation device for determining the transmitter's power level and to control the receiver's amplifier. |
| US07961772B2 |
Optimized pulse pumped laser system using feedback
A laser system according to the invention comprises pump generating means (x02, x03) for generating at least a first and a second, preferably focused, pump beam, and lasing means (x06, x07) for emitting radiation by being appropriately pumped. The lasing means (x06, x07) is disposed in a first resonator so as to receive the first pump beam in order to generate a first beam (x21) having a first frequency, and the lasing means (x06, x07) is disposed in a second resonator so as to receive the second pump beam in order to generate a second beam (x22) having a second frequency. At least one Q-switch (x08; x17, x18) is disposed in the first and the second resonator, so that the first beam and the second beam both pass a Q-switch (x08; x17, x18). The laser system (x01) has an output (x13) generated from said first beam (x21) and said second beam (x22), and at least a part of said output (x13) is fed back to a regulation system (x14), said regulation system (x14) controlling said pump generating means (x02, x03). |
| US07961770B1 |
Optoelectronic module with integrated monitoring photodiode array for a parallel optical transmitter
A power monitoring system uses a low loss reflective element to partially split the output laser beams from an array of laser sources, in a parallel configuration, to produce a monitor beams for each laser source. Each of these monitor beams may propagate within the reflective element in a lossless manner under total internal reflection and into one of a plurality of photodiodes that sense an optical characteristic such as output beam intensity, where this sensed signal is then used as part of a feedback control to control operation of the laser sources in the array. |
| US07961769B2 |
Wavelength tunable semiconductor laser device, controller for the same, and control method for the same
An object is to provide a wavelength tunable semiconductor laser device, a controller for the same and a control method for the same, which prevent wavelength drifts. The wavelength tunable semiconductor laser device includes an active region for oscillating a laser beam, and a wavelength tuning region for shifting a wavelength of the laser beam. In this device, a thermal compensation region for converting most of the inputted electric power to heat is provided adjacent to the wavelength tuning region, and the sum of an electric power inputted into the wavelength tuning region and an electric power inputted into the thermal compensation region is always kept constant. |
| US07961765B2 |
Narrow surface corrugated grating
Narrow surface corrugated gratings for integrated optical components and their method of manufacture. An embodiment includes a grating having a width narrower than a width of the waveguide on which the grating is formed. In accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention, masked photolithography is employed to form narrowed gratings having a desired grating strength. In an embodiment, an optical cavity of a laser is formed with a reflector grating having a width narrower than a width of the waveguide. In another embodiment an integrated optical communication system includes one or more narrow surface corrugated gratings. |
| US07961763B2 |
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. |
| US07961762B2 |
White light-emitting lamp and illuminating device using the same
A white light-emitting lamp (1) includes a light-emitting portion (9) which is excited by light emitted from a semiconductor light-emitting element (2) to emit white light. The light-emitting portion (9) contains a blue phosphor, a yellow phosphor and a red phosphor. The yellow phosphor is composed of a europium and manganese-activated alkaline earth silicate phosphor having a composition expressed by (Sr1-x-y-z-u, Bax, Mgy, Euz, Mnu)2SiO4 (0.1≦x≦0.35, 0.025≦y≦0.105, 0.025≦z≦0.25, 0.0005≦u≦0.02). |
| US07961761B2 |
Network synchronization system and information processing device
In a network synchronization system including plural information processing devices, a first information processing device includes a synchronization-use common storage unit configured to copy and store first information for each user authorized to use the first information processing device, so that the first information can be shared with another information processing device; and a second information processing device includes a setting information unit configured to store second information for each user authorized to use the second information processing device, and a synchronization control unit configured to compare the second information with the first information, and to update the second information to latest information based on a result of the comparison. The synchronization control unit acquires common update information common to the information processing devices, which is stored in the synchronization-use common storage unit. |
| US07961760B2 |
Method and system for network synchronization
A method and a system for network synchronization are provided. In this method, when a node attempts to join a network, a parent node is searched from all other nodes already joined the network per specific time interval. If the parent node can be found, sync-information sent by the parent node is received by the node so as to synchronize with the parent node and enter a working mode. When a sleeping instruction sent by the parent node is received, or a timer determines that a network ending time is reached according to the sync-information, the node switches to a sleeping mode. However, when the timer determines that a network wakeup time is reached according to the sync-information, the node attempts to join the network again. All nodes in the network can work and sleep simultaneously so as to extend the lifetime of the battery. |
| US07961759B2 |
Method and apparatus for synchronized channel transmission
A method and apparatus for synchronized channel transmission are disclosed. One embodiment of the method comprises: generating a first data stream and a second data stream; packetizing the first data stream to produce a first plurality of data packets; packetizing the second data stream to produce a second plurality of data packets; baseband processing the first plurality of data packets to produce a first plurality of symbols for each of the first plurality of data packets; baseband processing the second plurality of data packets to produce a second plurality of symbols for each of the second plurality of data packets; converting the first plurality of symbols into a first radio frequency signal; converting the second plurality of symbols into a second radio frequency signal; and synchronizing at least one of: generating the first and the second data streams, packetizing the first and second data streams, baseband processing the first and second plurality of data packets, and converting the first and second plurality of symbols. |
| US07961755B2 |
Efficient transport of TDM services over packet networks
A method for data communications includes receiving a time-division-multiplexed (TDM) input signal carrying a payload comprising data and determining whether the data comprise synchronous or non-synchronous data. A first encapsulation scheme is selected if the data comprise synchronous data, and a second encapsulation scheme is selected if the data comprise non-synchronous data. The data are encapsulated for transmission over a packet-switched network in accordance with the selected encapsulation scheme. |
| US07961752B2 |
Transmission in a shared medium having different access modes
A method of controlling access in a telecommunication network in which a communication medium, such as a set of frequencies, time slots, or codes, is shared among a plurality of mobile units. Transmissions from the mobile units utilize different access modes, such as a direct access mode and a scheduled access mode. Additionally, the transmissions are divided into different communication types, each having an associated priority. A mode access control unit determines for each priority, which access mode to utilize for the associated communication type. Mobile units having data to transmit access the shared communication medium utilizing the access mode determined for the priority of the communication type to which the data belongs. |
| US07961751B2 |
Multiplexed data stream timeslot map
A network component comprising a processor configured to implement a method comprising promoting the communication of a frame within a synchronization window, wherein the frame comprises a plurality of data types assigned to a plurality of timeslots, and a timeslot map indicating the data type assigned to each timeslot. Also disclosed is a method comprising receiving a data stream comprising a data structure comprising a plurality of timeslots, each timeslot carrying one of a plurality of data types, receiving a timeslot map indicating the data types assigned to each of the timeslots, and processing each timeslot in accordance with the timeslot map. |
| US07961749B2 |
Signaling method and system for channel switching in a wireless local area network
A signaling method and apparatus for channel switching in a WLAN are provided. In the signaling method and apparatus, a data transmission channel is allocated to a receiver and a transmitter. A channel index is set to indicate the allocated channel in a duration field. A current channel is switched to the data transmission channel indicated by the channel index. |
| US07961748B2 |
Distributed router application serialization
A router, which may be a wireless gateway, for routing messages between communications networks, including a persistent storage, and a transport interface for sending outgoing messages to communications devices associated with a first communications network, and receiving incoming messages from the communications devices, and having a storage for storing pending outgoing and incoming messages for subsequent sending by the interface component, the transport interface being coupled to the persistent storage and having an associated shutdown module for serializing at least some of the pending messages to the persistent storage during shutdown of the interface component. The router may include a plurality of the transport interfaces, and a controller coupled to the transport interfaces for directing at least one of the transport interfaces to retrieve from the persistent storage for subsequent sending the pending messages serialized thereto by a further one of the transport interfaces during shutdown thereof. |
| US07961741B2 |
Rapid dissemination of bulk information to widely dispersed network nodes
Bulk information is transferred to nodes in a communication network having a plurality of widely dispersed nodes. The information can be an image, content, or configuration information. The information is uni-cast to a selection of nodes by a central node or server, to seed the information at certain nodes in the network. The information is then distributed by these seed nodes to every other node in the network. A first algorithm selects which nodes should be seeded with information by the central node. A second algorithm distributes information in the network on a query basis. |
| US07961739B2 |
Systems and methods for voice over multiprotocol label switching
A method, system, and computer-readable medium for transmitting voice over multiprotocol label switching is provided. A packet that includes layer 3 and layer 4 headers is received. A label that identifies a label switched path in the packet is inserted, and a stream identifier is generated. The stream identifier is associated with at least a portion of content of the layer 3 and layer 4 headers. The layer 3 and layer 4 headers are removed from the packet, and the stream identifier is inserted into the packet. Additionally, methods, systems, and a computer-readable medium for processing a voice over multiprotocol label switching frame that excludes layer 3 and layer 4 headers are provided. |
| US07961736B2 |
Convergence and classification of data packets in a centralized communication system
A method of converting application data to transport data in a power line communication system includes receiving application data from an application in a device through a service access point. The connection type and connection specification for the application data is then analyzed to determine if a connection exists for the application data. If a connection exists for the application data, mapping the application data is mapped into transport data. |
| US07961735B2 |
Communication apparatus and control method of the same
A communication apparatus functioning as a mobile station may include a message receiver, a communication range determination unit, an existence determination unit, and a management signal output unit. The message receiver receives from a first control station a message that indicates a second control station. The communication range determination unit determines whether the apparatus is in a region within the second control station communication range. If the apparatus is in a region within the second control station communication range, then the existence determination unit determines whether there is another mobile station that belongs to a communication group of the first control station and exists in a region outside the second control station communication range. If the other mobile station is determined to exists, then the management signal output unit outputs a management signal as a third control station for constructing a communication group including the other mobile station. |
| US07961734B2 |
Methods and apparatus related to packet classification associated with a multi-stage switch
In one embodiment, an apparatus can include a policy vector module configured to retrieve a compressed policy vector based on a portion of a data packet received at a multi-stage switch. The apparatus can also include a decompression module configured to receive the compressed policy vector and configured to define a decompressed policy vector based on the compressed policy vector. The decompressed policy vector can define a combination of bit values associated with a policy. |
| US07961727B2 |
Method and apparatus for forwarding packets
An internetworking system operating over an ATM backbone. The physical internetworking devices within the system are shared to provide the internetworking functions while servicing two or more distinct and isolated user networks. This is accomplished by logically partitioning the devices into distinct sub-elements which provide all or part of the internetworking functions. These sub-elements are uniquely allocated to independent realms which are then assigned to specific user networks. |
| US07961726B2 |
Framework for optimizing and simplifying network communication in close proximity networks
A framework capable of providing transparent handling of network traffic in close proximity networks such as home networks is provided. A single virtual network interface is exposed to users/applications on connected devices. A virtual network interface manager determines available physical network interfaces and switches to a different physical network interface or a different configuration on the same physical network interface in a transparent manner to the communicating application(s). This enables the framework to optimize network communications for the communicating applications, devices, and users based on predefined criteria, application requirements such as different data throughput, or changing environment conditions such as interference. Network communication operations are also simplified for users since they are no longer required to have the necessary knowledge for configuring physical network interfaces manually in response to changing conditions. |
| US07961722B1 |
Multiple virtualized operating environments within a VPN appliance
A secure socket layer virtual private network (SSL VPN) network appliance includes a set of virtual systems having respective context information. Each of the virtual systems represents a VPN for a different subscriber network. The network appliance includes a network interface to receive a first network communication associated with a first one of the virtual systems. In response to the network communication, the SSL VPN network appliance sets a context identifier that identifies the first one of the virtual systems. The network appliance further comprises a set of VPN software processes executing on the network appliance to process the first network communication, wherein the set of VPN software processes generate data access requests. A configuration access application programming interface (API) dynamically directs the data access requests from the VPN software processes to the first one of the virtual systems based on the context identifier. |
| US07961720B2 |
Geographic trunk groups
Embodiments of the invention include a method for routing an Internet Protocol (IP)-based call through a first IP-based network to a second IP-based network. The method includes receiving an IP-based call request in the first network; identifying one or more geographic trunk groups that can be used to route the call request out of the first network, wherein each of the one or more geographic trunk groups represents a logical grouping of one or more IP trunk groups between the first IP-based network and the second IP-based network; selecting one of the one or more geographic trunk groups; and routing the received call request via the selected geographic trunk group to an IP address associated with the selected geographic trunk group. Other embodiments are also disclosed. |
| US07961718B2 |
Method for setting up a connection to a terminal via a communication device, and a terminal and a communication device for implementing the method
A connection addressed via a directory number is set up to a terminal by setting up a partial connection to a communication device, with determined additional information being conveyed to the communication device as part of the partial connection. As a result of said partial connection and depending on the additional information conveyed, the partial connection is further switched to the terminal by the communication device. |
| US07961716B2 |
Call signaling approach to user self-provisioning of VoIP using a touch-tone interface
A method for providing self-provisioning of VoIP telephony to a subscriber of a VoIP telephony service is disclosed. An un-provisioned residential gateway that is associated with the subscriber is instructed to collect a subscriber numeric identity that uniquely identifies the subscriber and a Personal Identification Number (PIN) information that are associated with the subscriber. An example of a subscriber numeric identity that uniquely identifies the subscriber is the subscriber's E.164 address. The E.164 address and Personal Identification Number (PIN) information is verified. A source IP address that is associated with one or more Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP) messages that are sent by the residential gateway is used as a residential gateway IP address for the residential gateway. The residential gateway IP address is then used to provision the residential gateway that is associated with the subscriber. According to certain embodiments, the above steps are carried out by a call agent from a self-provisioning system of a provider of the VoIP telephony services. One or more VoIP connections are established between the residential gateway and an announcement server. The announcement server sends VoIP messages through the VoIP connections to the subscriber via the residential gateway. A protocol server offers the residential gateway, via a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server, a limited access IP address, a location of one or more Domain Name System (DNS) servers, and a Media Gateway Protocol (MGCP) endpoint name of the call agent from the self-provisioning system. |
| US07961709B2 |
Secondary synchronization sequences for cell group detection in a cellular communications system
Timing parameters and an identity of a particular one of a number of cell groups are indicated in a signal transmitted in a cellular communication system having a radio frame in a physical layer, the radio frame comprising a number of time slots. In a known one of the time slots, a synchronization signal, S1, is transmitted that comprises a pair of sequences arranged in a first ordering. In another known one of the time slots, a synchronization signal, S2, is transmitted that comprises a pair of sequences arranged in a second ordering. The selected pair of sequences is uniquely identified with the particular cell group, and the first ordering of the sequences is used only for transmission in the known one of the time slots, and the second ordering of the sequences is used only for transmission in said another known one of the time slots. |
| US07961702B2 |
Distributed bandwidth allocation and transmission coordination method for quality of service provision in wireless ad hoc networks
Methods, devices, systems, and computer programs are provided that allow for optimally allocating bandwidth in an ad hoc, wireless network configured to support at least one guaranteed feasible flow allocation. According to some of these methods, devices, systems, Quality of Service guarantees may be provided across the network. Also, in many instances, the methods are iterative and allow for convergence to an optimized bandwidth allocation. |
| US07961698B2 |
Methods and apparatus for controlling interference to broadcast signaling in a peer to peer network
Methods and apparatus related to broadcasting data and interference management in a peer to peer wireless communications network are described. Scheduling of traffic air link resources is performed on a slot by slot basis in a decentralized manner. Wireless devices intending to broadcast traffic signals transmit broadcast request signals, sometimes alternatively referred to as broadcast indicator signals. A priority level is associated with each of the broadcast request signals. A receiver device intending to receive broadcast signals detects the broadcast request signals and makes an interference determination as to whether the higher priority broadcast traffic signal can be successfully recovered in the presence of lower priority broadcast traffic signals. If the determination is that the expected interference from the lower priority broadcast traffic is unacceptable, the receiver device generates and transmits an interference control signal communicating to the lower priority device a command or request not to broadcast. |
| US07961696B2 |
Preambles in OFDMA system
The present invention provides a preamble that is inserted into an OFDMA frame and has a common sequence for all the base stations participating in a transmission. The subscriber station performs fine synchronization using the common sequence on the common preamble, and the resulting peaks will provide the locations of candidate base stations. The base station specific search is then performed in the vicinities of those peaks by using base station specific pseudo-noise sequences. With this two stage cell search, the searching window is drastically reduced. The preamble is matched to known values by a respective receiver to decode the signals and permit multiple signals to be transferred from the transmitter to the receiver. The preamble may comprise two parts, Preamble-1 and Preamble-2, which may be used in different systems, including multioutput, multi-input (MIMO) systems. |
| US07961695B2 |
Radio communication base station device and radio communication method
Provided is a radio communication base station device capable of suppressing degradation of a signal error ratio characteristic for a mobile station in the vicinity of the cell center when a plurality of signals whose transmission power is to be controlled are frequency-multiplexed or code-multiplexed. In the device (100), a classification unit (118) classifies a plurality of DPCCH according to the MCS of SCCH into a plurality of groups based on the transmission power intensity. A spread code is allocated for each DPCCH according to the classification result. A spread code for spreading a response signal (ACK signal/NACK signal) is instructed to spread units (103-1 to 103-n). The spread units (103-1 to 103-n) spread the response signal by the spread code instructed from the classification unit (118). According to the classification result in the classification unit (118), a mapping unit (104) maps the response signal after the spread to one of the subcarriers constituting the OFDM symbol. |
| US07961684B2 |
Fast transitioning resource negotiation
Embodiments of apparatuses, articles, methods, and systems for fast transitioning resource negotiation in wireless networks are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US07961683B2 |
Active session mobility solution for point-to-point protocol
An active session mobility solution for point-to-point protocol (PPP) in accordance with the present invention provides fast and smooth handoff by reducing tunneling overhead on tunneling mechanisms, such as P-P tunneling from a serving Source (e.g., a PPP termination device) to a new serving Target (e.g., a PPP termination device). In the active session mobility solution of the present invention, PPP session can be migrated even if not all phases have been completed (e.g., LCP, PAP/CHAP completed but not IPCP and CCP). In such cases, the incomplete phases will be negotiated at the PPP of the Target PPP. |
| US07961681B2 |
Method, system and apparatus for performing mobile internet protocol deregistering
A method, a system and an apparatus for performing mobile Internet protocol deregistering, includes that the network element in the ASN to which the terminal attaches detects whether the MS terminates unconventionally, and sends the message with the MS identifier of the MS which terminates unconventionally to the ASN GW/DP. The ASN GW/DP instructs the ASN GW/FA to release the link resource with the MS and release the link resource with the HA proving service for the MS. |
| US07961680B2 |
Method for processing NDI in random access procedure and a method for transmitting and receiving a signal using the same
A method for a user equipment (UE) to transmit an uplink signal, and which includes receiving a first downlink control channel identified by a temporary cell identifier (Temporary C-RNTI) from a base station, the first downlink control channel including a first uplink grant signal having a new data indicator (NDI) with a first value; receiving a second downlink control channel identified by a cell identifier (C-RNTI) from the base station, the second downlink control channel including a second uplink grant signal having the NDI with a second value; and determining if the NDI with the second value has been toggled compared to the NDI previously received from the base station. Further, the UE ignores the NDI with the first value received through the first downlink control channel identified by the temporary cell identifier (Temporary C-RNTI). The method also includes transmitting the uplink signal based on the determining. |
| US07961679B2 |
Methods and systems for broadcasting QoS information to assist admission control in wireless communication systems
A base station may broadcast quality of service (QoS) and loading information to mobile stations. When a mobile station determines that there is demand for a new traffic connection, the mobile station may select a base station from which to request the desired traffic connection based on the QoS information and the loading information received from one or more base stations. |
| US07961665B2 |
Terminal aware multicasting
Methods, systems, and devices are described for using adaptive coding and modulation (“ACM”) to adaptively communicate with a plurality of data terminals having different capabilities. Embodiments provide hierarchical communications of content, generated by applying hierarchical pre-coding schemes to the source data and then associating the pre-coding levels with coding and modulation schemes of varying order. The pre-coding and/or coding and modulation may be based on one or more capabilities of the data terminals in the network. In some embodiments, data terminals may be used to cache certain data intended for other data terminals, for example, to allow time-shifted playback of the content on terminals with varying capabilities. |
| US07961663B2 |
Peer-to-peer mobile instant messaging method and device
A technique is provided for establishing peer-to-peer session-based instant messaging between mobile devices without the need for using an instant messaging registration or log-in server to provide presence information. Session-based instant messaging communications between mobile devices are established by transmitting necessary address information through page-based messaging services that utilize the underlying digital mobile network databases and services to resolve the identification and location of the mobile devices. |
| US07961661B2 |
System, method and computer readable medium for re-connecting to a Zigbee network
An end device on a Zigbee network exits a power saving mode and transmits a wake notification message to the network. The network retrieves a cached status flag indicating whether the end device is defined on the Zigbee network and transmits the status flag to the end device. If the end device is undefined on the Zigbee network, the end device attempts to re-join the network. During the power saving mode, the network can cache messages intended for the end device and transmit the messages to the end device when the device exits the power saving mode. |
| US07961658B2 |
Communication system, transmission device and method thereof, and reception device and method thereof
A communication system includes a transmission device and a reception device. The transmission device includes a first software processor that performs, if a first information portion has been updated, software processing on the first information portion, a first hardware processor that performs hardware processing on a second information portion, a generation unit that generates a beacon signal, and a transmitter that transmits the generated beacon signal. The reception device includes a reception unit that receives the beacon signal, a separator that separates the first information portion from the second information portion, a second hardware processor that performs hardware processing on the separated second information portion, a determination unit that determines whether the separated first information portion has been updated, and a second software processor that performs, if the first information portion has been updated, software processing on the updated first information portion. |
| US07961657B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving a packet via high speed downlink packet access
A method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving a packet via high speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) are disclosed. At least one HSDPA medium access control (MAC-hs) service data unit (SDU) is segmented into a plurality of segments. MAC-hs protocol data units (PDUs) are generated from the segments wherein each MAC-hs PDU includes at least one segment. Each MAC-hs PDU may include one segment from a single MAC-hs SDU. The size of the segments may match to the size of the MAC-hs PDUs minus the size of the header of the MAC-hs PDU. The sizes of the segments may be determined based on the number of segments to which the MAC-hs SDU is segmented. Alternatively, each MAC-hs PDU may include a combination of segments from a plurality of MAC-hs SDUs or a combination of at least one segment from one MAC-hs SDU and at least one entire MAC-hs SDU. |
| US07961654B2 |
System and method for concurrent wireless voice and data communications
Unitary transceiving units employ a multiple carrier, time-division-multiple-access (TDMA), time-division-duplex (TDD protocol to conduct concurrent wireless voice and data communications wherein a first transceiving base station unit tethered to a network interface wirelessly communicates to a second, mobile transceiving unit. The mobile transceiving unit wirelessly transmits and receives packetized voice and data information that is separated and routed to respective voice or data networks. The unitary mobile transceiving unit thus functions as a concurrent voice phone and data communications terminal/computer. |
| US07961653B2 |
Relay apparatus and communication system
A home gateway is an apparatus that transmits information, which is received from an intercom slave unit, to a plurality of appliances each having a communication function. The home gateway includes a demultiplexing circuit, a wireless communication circuit, a memory, a video codec circuit, and a CPU. The demultiplexing circuit receives information from the intercom slave unit. The wireless communication circuit communicates with the plurality of appliances. The memory stores profiles and levels. The video codec circuit converts image information received from the intercom slave unit according to a profile and a level. The CPU controls the wireless communication circuit and the video codec circuit. Thereby, various data can be transmitted regardless of structures and performance capabilities of the appliances. |
| US07961650B2 |
Network architecture
The present invention provides a network architecture. An embodiment includes a plurality of nodes interconnected by links. Each node can maintain knowledge of other nodes in a database. The database contains a list of other nodes in the network, and a ‘next-best-step’ for each of those other nodes, pointing to a neighbouring node that is the next best step to that other node. Where a particular node of the network is not in the list, then the next-best-step is assumed to be the next-best-step most commonly identified in the database. Such a network will form a “core” wherein any node in the network can find any other node in the network by first seeking out that other node at the core. Once the nodes locate each other via the core, a more optimum route forms in the network according to the most desirable path between those nodes. |
| US07961644B2 |
Communication node apparatus, communication system, and path resource assignment method
In a communication system, including a plurality of communication node apparatuses, for establishing a path for communication by exchanging a message among the plurality of communication node apparatuses, before establishing a path, an identifier of a path for which reuse of resources of the path to be established is permitted or inhibited is determined, and the determined identification information is included in a control message so that the path is established. A communication node apparatus in which the path has been established determines availability of reuse of resources the path based on the identification information in the control message. When an event such as failure occurrence, occurrence of resource reuse or dissolution of resource reuse occurs, the communication node apparatus executes path priority change processing, so that priority can be changed such that resource reuse can be performed most efficiently. |
| US07961642B2 |
System and method for obtaining network link state information from sequential distance vector routing tables
A method of determining the state of network links based on differences in corresponding distance-vectors in a sequence routing table updates, and a network management system performing the method. The network management system comprises least one monitoring apparatus adapted to determine the state of network links. The monitoring apparatus may be a router in the network adapted to determine link status, or a personal computer or server peered with a router and configured to determine the state of network links based on differences in corresponding distance-vectors in a sequence of routing table updates. |
| US07961641B1 |
Initial ranging power control algorithm for WiMAX mobile stations
A device and method for connecting to a WiMAX network can determine an initial signal strength as a function of an uplink propagation path loss between a mobile device and a base station, a noise and interference level value for the base station, a normalized carrier-to-noise value for ranging, and an offset value. If a connection is not established at the initial signal strength, a signal can be retransmitted at a signal strength equal to the initial signal strength plus a step value, where the step value can be determined by designating a fixed number of steps to be used before reaching maximum transmission power. |
| US07961639B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting data in power line communication network while preventing hidden node problem
A method and apparatus are provided for transmitting data more efficiently between stations in a power line communication (PLC) network while preventing a hidden node problem. The method of transmitting data includes: detecting a hidden node in a network; and transmitting at least one of a request to send (RTS) command and a clear to send command (CTS) to the network before transmitting the data, if a hidden node is detected and a transmitting station a data packet having a size which is larger than a predetermined size. Using the method, interference of data transmissions and a low data throughput caused by the hidden node problem should be prevented. |
| US07961637B2 |
Method and apparatus for monitoring latency, jitter, packet throughput and packet loss ratio between two points on a network
A system for testing a segment of a data-packet-network has a first probe connected substantially at one end of the segment; a second probe connected substantially at the opposite end of the segment from the location of the first probe; and a process application distributed to each probe. The first and second probes collect data from and time stamp data packets as they pass forming first and second records of the individual packets whereupon the second-formed records of each packet are compared with the first records of each packet for record matching, time-stamp comparison and test result processing. |
| US07961636B1 |
Vectorized software packet forwarding
An intermediate network node is configured to forward a plurality of packets concurrently, e.g., as a vector, rather than one packet at a time. As such, the node can load a single sequence of forwarding instructions that may be repeatedly executed for packets in the vector. In addition, the intermediate network node adaptively controls the rate at which it processes data packets through a directed forwarding graph. To that end, the intermediate node is configured to dynamically select the number of packets per vector, i.e., vector size, processed at each node of the forwarding graph. Further, the intermediate node also may be configured to dynamically select timing intervals for one or more “node timers” used to control the rate at which packets traverse through the graph. Illustratively, the vector size and node-timer intervals are selected so that the average latency through the forwarding graph is less than a predetermined target latency, e.g., 50 microseconds (μs). |
| US07961626B2 |
Resilient network
A network resilient to at least two points of failure comprises a plurality of nodes. A first path between a source node and a destination node is determined and a second path between a source node and a destination node is determined. The first and second paths are node-disjoint. |
| US07961625B2 |
Routing under heavy loading
According to the invention, a delivery network for assisting delivery of content objects over an Internet is disclosed. The delivery network includes a network outlet, an interface and a routing function. The network outlet is coupled to a plurality of full-route networks, where each of the plurality of full-route networks is capable of delivering content objects to a plurality of terminal networks. The plurality of terminal networks include a terminal network, where the plurality of terminal networks are coupled to a plurality of end user computers. The interface receives content objects for delivery to the plurality of end user computers. The routing function routes content objects in at least two modes, where a first mode routes content objects based upon a first route path from the network outlet to the terminal network, and a second mode routes at least some content objects using a second route path from the network outlet to the terminal network. The first route path is chosen based upon delivery efficiency. Switching from the first mode to the second mode is triggered when at least of a portion of the first route path reaches a predetermined level of use. The first and second route paths are different, and the second route path is less efficient than the first route path. |
| US07961618B1 |
System, method and computer-readable medium for on-demand dynamic bandwidth allocation in a network of antennas for multiple base transceiver stations
A system, method and computer-readable medium for sharing bandwidth resources among a plurality of antennas in a network of base transceiver stations are provided. According to the method, a bandwidth allocation of each of a plurality of antennas is determined, and a bandwidth demand on each of the plurality of antennas is monitored. If the bandwidth demand of one or more of the antennas exceeds a first threshold, the bandwidth allocation of those antennas is increased, based upon the bandwidth demand. If the bandwidth demand of another one or more of the antennas drops below a second threshold, the bandwidth allocation of those antennas is decreased. Accordingly, the bandwidth resources available to the network of antennas may be dynamically allocated, based upon the bandwidth demand in the network. |
| US07961613B2 |
System and method of monitoring packets in flight for optimizing packet traffic in a network
Systems and methods of optimizing packet flow in a network are disclosed. An internetwork includes plural networks, each network having plural non-router nodes and at least one router node. The non-router node of a first network can be configured to perform congestion control. The non-router node sends a request packet to a node in a second network. The value of a packet-in-flight counter associated with the network is adjusted when the request packet is sent to the second network node and when a response packet is received from the second network node. The non-router node determines whether another request packet can be sent to another network in the internetwork based on a value of the packet-in-flight counter. |
| US07961610B1 |
Method and system for overload control
Methods and systems are provided for overload control in a wireless communication system. An overload control mechanism identifies an instance of use to eliminate from among a plurality of instances of use in a wireless coverage area. In an overload situation, the overload control mechanism may, for each instance of use, determine a respective ratio of the value of instance of use to the quantity of resource consumed by the instance of use. The overload control mechanism may then sort the instances of use in order of determined ratios to produce a sorted order of the instances of use. The overload control mechanism may select as many instances of use as possible, such that the total amount of resources consumed by the selected instances of use is as high as possible without exceeding the threshold load, and then the overload control mechanism may eliminate the remaining instances of use. |
| US07961607B2 |
Marking determining device and related method
The present invention relates to a marking determining method and a related device for determining a packet marking of packets of an incoming packet-flow, in order to keep the packets in conformance with a traffic policy. The determining is based on an actual value of a traffic reservation parameter, while the traffic reservation parameter is a measure of available network resources dedicated to packets of said incoming packet-flow having a pre-assigned priority. The determining further is based on the pre-assigned priority of the packets of the incoming packet flow. The marking method a first steps of holding a threshold value for the traffic reservation parameter, while the threshold value is lying between a minimum and a maximum value of the traffic reservation parameter. A second step is the metering the actual value of the traffic reservation parameter and a last step of determining the packet marking of the packets only based on the actual value of the traffic reservation parameter if the actual value of the traffic reservation parameter exceeds the threshold value for the traffic reservation parameter. |
| US07961606B2 |
Packet flow control in switched full duplex ethernet networks
A method, system, and computer program product for controlling data packet traffic flow into a link partner device such as an ethernet adapter. In one embodiment, an occupancy level of an adapter receive queue is monitored to detect a receive queue overrun or underrun condition or event. The detected overrun or underrun condition or event is utilized as the criteria for adjusting a pause time value within a pause time flow control frame. The pause time flow control frame is transmitted from the link partner device to a corresponding remote link partner device to pause data packet transmission in accordance with the adjusted pause time value. |
| US07961604B2 |
Processing system and method for transmitting data
A method for exchanging data between first and second functional units includes the following steps. In a first handshake procedure, data is exchanged corresponding to a communication thread selected by the first functional unit, while independently in a second handshake procedure, information relating to a status of at least one communication thread is exchanged from the second to the first functional unit. The information enables the first functional unit to anticipate the possibility of exchanging data for the at least one communication thread. |
| US07961602B2 |
Method and device using a backup communication path to transmit excess traffic
An extra traffic is transmitted in a redundant communication network using a backup path. A working communication path and the backup communication path connect two switching nodes. A switching control packet including information representing whether a first traffic passes through the working communication path is transmitted between the two switching nodes via the backup communication path. Under normal conditions, the first traffic passes the working communication path. A backup node that has received the second traffic from outside the backup communication path, determines whether the first traffic is passing through the working communication path based on information included in the switching control packet. If the first traffic is passing through the working communication path, the backup node transmits the second traffic to another backup node along the backup communication path. |
| US07961601B2 |
Lesser disruptive open shortest path first handling of bidirectional forwarding detection state changes
A method and apparatus for processing link down events associated with links between adjacent nodes is described. A node receives link down events associated with a link fault protocol for a link between the node and a neighboring node. In response to receiving the link down event, the node removes a data structure associated with the neighboring node from a forwarding table associated with a routing protocol running on the node. The node reserves the data structure for speedy adjacency recovery. In addition, the node places the neighboring node in the initialize state of the routing protocol. |
| US07961596B2 |
Ring-shaped redundant communication path control method
In a ring redundant communication path control method, each of transfer apparatuses periodically transmits an inspection frame for inspecting a communication path, detects a failure of the communication path when the inspection frame is not received for a fixed time, transmits a non-arrival notification frame for notifying that the inspection frame has not arrived yet, and detects a failure of the communication path when the non-arrival notification frame is received. Each of the transfer apparatuses closes, when a failure is detection, a port in which the failure is detected, transmits an open command frame for commanding to open a normally closed port from the other port other than the closed port, transfers an open command frame when the open command frame is received, and opens the normally closed port when the other port other than the closed port in which the failure is detected, the port in which the open command frame is detected, or the other port configuring a ring redundant communication path same as that of the port is the normally closed port. |
| US07961594B2 |
Methods and systems for history analysis for access paths in networks
A method and system for constructing and analyzing an access path event history in a network is provided. Inconsistencies in the physical and logical access paths when making changes in the network are detected and analyzed. Component events associated with network appliances are recorded and an event sequence is constructed. Root causes for the inconsistencies are identified and the access paths are repaired in conformance with the network access path policy. The method and systems can be applied to networks in general, and more particularly to storage area networks (SAN). |
| US07961586B2 |
Information recording/reproducing device
An information recording/reproducing device according to an example of the present invention includes first and second heads, a recording medium having a data area from which recording data is read by the first head and a servo burst area from which a servo burst signal is read by the second head, a driver which performs positioning of the second head based on the servo burst signal, and a resistor which covers a surface of the servo burst area and does not cover a surface of the data area. The recording data and the servo burst signal are recorded by a pulse signal. |
| US07961578B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating synchronous clock for write operation in a disk drive
According to one embodiment, a disk drive configured to write data to a disk being rotated by a spindle motor has a synchronous clock generator that generates a synchronous clock to use during the write operation. The synchronous clock generator inputs the rotational acceleration of the spindle motor, as feed-forward control value, to the feedback control system provided in the drive disk, thereby generating a clock that is synchronous with the rotational speed of the disk. |
| US07961576B2 |
Optical disc discriminating method and optical disc apparatus
A detection signal is asserted when a surface of an optical disc or an information recording layer is detected. An asserting (masking) time interval of the detection signal is set such that the number of times of asserting the detection signal becomes at most two times when a focal position of the objective lens passes at least the surface of the optical disc. After the objective lens is moved for a prescribed section in a direction along which the objective lens comes closer to the optical disc, a kind of the optical disc is discriminated based on a time interval T1 from a first beginning of assertion to a second beginning of assertion, if the number of times of asserting the detection signal is two times, or based on a time interval which is a longer time interval between the time interval T1 from the first beginning of assertion to the second beginning of assertion and a time interval T2 from the second beginning of assertion to a third beginning of assertion if the number of times of asserting the detection signal is more than two times. |
| US07961572B2 |
System and method for reading micro-holograms with reduced error rates
The present techniques provide methods and systems reading a data bit of interest on an optical data disc with a reduced error rate. The data bit estimation may be improved by reducing deterministic noise resulting from an optical reader system and/or the optical data disc. The reader may adjust the position of a detector to detect light scattered from the disc based on parameters of known noise sources. In one embodiment, the detector may be moved vertically in relation to the data bit of interest on the optical disc. In another embodiment, more than one detector may be used to detect light scattered from a data bit of interest. In embodiments, the positioning of the detector(s) may be based on system or disc parameters, and the detected scatterings may provide a data reading, improved for an optical return from a present micro-hologram. |
| US07961570B2 |
Recording medium having data structure for managing reproduction of multiple audio streams recorded thereon and recording and reproducing methods and apparatuses
A recording medium having a data structure for managing reproduction of multiple audio streams is discussed. The recording medium according to an embodiment includes a data area storing at least multiple audio streams in at least one portion thereof, the multiple audio streams being multiplexed, each audio stream being a transport stream and stored as one or more packets, each packet having a packet identifier, and the packets of a same audio stream having a same packet identifier, and a management area including management information for managing reproduction of the multiple audio streams. |
| US07961564B2 |
Recording medium having a substrate containing microscopic pattern of parallel groove and land sections and recording/reproducing equipment therefor
An information recording medium 1 at least comprises a substrate 13 having a microscopic pattern 20, which is constituted by a shape of continuous substance of approximately parallel grooves formed with a groove section G and a land section L alternately, a recording layer 12 formed on the microscopic pattern 20 and a light transmission layer 11 formed on the recording layer. The microscopic pattern 20 is formed so as to satisfy a relation of P<λ |
| US07961563B2 |
Media processor and control method of media processor
A media processor such as a CD publisher functions as a media library. The CD publisher takes out media from a media storage unit, sets the media in a media drive, performs writing of data, and stores the media in a writing-completed media storage unit if there is a data writing request and/or an additional data writing request. The publisher takes out the target media from the media storage unit on the basis of details stored in the storage unit and sets the media in the media drive if there is a data reference request and a data output request. Data of the media can be referenced from the outside, and media in which data writing has been completed can be used as a media library. When final additional writing is completed or there is a discharge command of the media, printing of a label related to data written on a label surface of the media is collectively performed, and then the media is discharged. |
| US07961552B2 |
Fan beam transducer assembly
A transducer assembly including a fan beam transducer having a beam generation axis for generating a fan shaped acoustic beam along the beam generation axis. The fan shaped acoustic beam can have a generally elliptical cross sectional shape with a major axis and a minor axis across a plane generally perpendicular to the beam generation axis. The transducer can be housed in a housing and have a direction of travel axis. The fan shaped acoustic beam can be rotatable relative to the direction of travel axis. The housing can have a release locking arrangement for rotationally releasing and locking the position of the fan shaped acoustic beam for orienting at least one of the major axis and minor axis of the fan shaped acoustic beam at a desired position relative to the direction of travel axis. |
| US07961550B2 |
Systems and methods of processing impulses including bullet pulses and/or muzzle pulses in association with time domain representations
Systems and method are disclosed for processing signals. In one exemplary implementation, a method may include transforming initial bullet data associated with one or more sensors into a set of discrete pulses, dividing the discrete pulses into pulse subsets, generating, for the subsets, time domain representations of the pulses, wherein the time domain representations include waveforms having pulse features, and processing the time domain representations to determine alignment between one or more of pulse features, pulses, pairs of channels, and/or pairs of sensors. One or more further implementations may include determining identity of pulses in association with a matching process performed as a function of the alignment, as well as, optionally, other pulse processing features/functionality. |
| US07961547B2 |
Memory device using a common write word line and a common read bit line
A one read/two write SRAM circuit of which memory cell size is small, and high-speed operation is possible. The SRAM circuit includes first and second flip-flop circuits which are connected in parallel to a common write word line; a first write control circuit which is connected to said first flip-flop circuit, is conducted by a write control signal supplied to said write word line, and supplies a first write signal to said first flip-flop circuit; and a second write control circuit which is connected to said second flip-flop circuit, is conducted by a write control signal supplied to said write word line, and supplies a second write signal to said second flip-flop circuit. |
| US07961546B2 |
Memory power management systems and methods
Memory power management systems and methods are provided. One embodiment of the present invention includes a memory power management system. The system comprises a first low dropout (LDO) regulator that provides an active operating voltage that is derived from a first supply voltage to power a memory array during an active mode. The system further comprises a second LDO regulator that provides a minimum memory retention voltage that is derived from a second supply voltage to power the memory array in a standby mode, wherein the second supply voltage also powers at least one peripheral circuit for reading from and/or writing to the memory array. |
| US07961543B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and refresh control method
A semiconductor memory device executes a refresh operation on memory banks, and includes: a command decoder that decodes a command from outside the semiconductor memory device, and outputs a refresh instruction when the command is an auto-refresh command; a refresh command generating unit that outputs a refresh command signal by a predetermined number of times corresponding to the number of word lines to be refreshed in response to the refresh instruction; a bank address counter that holds a bank address for selecting a memory bank to be refreshed, counts up the bank address every time the refresh command signal is output, and performs a carry-over action when count-up operations equivalent to the number of the memory banks are performed; and a row address counter that holds a row address for selecting a word line to be refreshed, and counts up the row address in response to the carry-over action. |
| US07961537B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a sense amplifier for sensing input data and a sense amplifier controller for blocking a signal path between the sense amplifier and a memory cell when a test mode signal is activated. |
| US07961536B2 |
Memory device and methods thereof
A device includes a memory configured so that, in the event that one pass-gate transistor associated with a bit cell is determined to be excessively weak such that reading the bit cell could be undesirably difficult, a second pass-gate transistor can be configured to support a read operation. For example, during a manufacturing test procedure, the access speed of each bit cell at a memory device is determined. If a bit cell fails to achieve a desired access speed, the column of the memory that includes the defective bit cell can be configured to access information stored at the bit cell using the second bit line associated with the second pass-gate transistor. |
| US07961534B2 |
Semiconductor memory device for writing data to multiple cells simultaneously and refresh method thereof
A semiconductor memory device includes a read/write bit line configured to supply a cell driving voltage. A selecting unit is connected to the read/write bit line and is controlled by a word line. A plurality of cells are connected between the selecting unit and a source line, and the cells are configured to read and write data according to a cell driving voltage. Each switching element of a plurality of switching elements are connected in parallel with a single cell of the plurality of cells, and the plurality of switching elements are controlled selectively by a plurality of bit lines. |
| US07961527B2 |
Buffering systems for accessing multiple layers of memory in integrated circuits
Embodiments of the invention relate generally to data storage and computer memory, and more particularly, to systems, integrated circuits and methods for accessing memory in multiple layers of memory implementing, for example, third dimension memory technology. In a specific embodiment, an integrated circuit is configured to implement write buffers to access multiple layers of memory. For example, the integrated circuit can include memory cells disposed in multiple layers of memory. In one embodiment, the memory cells can be third dimension memory cells. The integrated circuit can also include read buffers that can be sized differently than the write buffers. In at least one embodiment, write buffers can be sized as a function of a write cycle. Each layer of memory can include a plurality of two-terminal memory elements that retain stored data in the absence of power and store data as a plurality of conductivity profiles. |
| US07961525B2 |
Method for deleting data from NAND type nonvolatile memory
To provide a method of releasing charges which have been injected into charge accumulating layers of nonvolatile memory elements without using a substrate terminal such as a p well or an n well, as a method for deleting data from a NAND-type nonvolatile memory. In the method for deleting data from the NAND-type nonvolatile memory, charges stored in a charge accumulating layer of a first nonvolatile memory element are released by applying a first potential to a bit line and a source line, a second potential to a control gate of the first nonvolatile memory element, and a third potential which is different from the second potential to a control gate of a second nonvolatile memory element. |
| US07961522B2 |
Method and system for minimizing number of programming pulses used to program rows of non-volatile memory cells
A flash memory device programs cells in each row in a manner that minimizes the number of programming pulses that must be applied to the cells during programming. The flash memory device includes a pseudo pass circuit that determines the number of data errors in each of a plurality of subsets of data that has been programmed in the row. The size of each subset corresponds to the number of read data bits coupled from the memory device, which are simultaneously applied to error checking and correcting circuitry. During iterative programming of a row of cells, the pseudo pass circuit indicates a pseudo pass condition to terminate further programming of the row if none of the subsets of data have a number of data errors that exceeds the number of data errors that can be corrected by the error checking and correcting circuitry. |
| US07961506B2 |
Multiple memory cells with rectifying device
Memory devices and methods described are shown that provide improvements, including improved cell isolation for operations such as read and write. Further, methods and devices for addressing and accessing cells are shown that provide a simple and efficient way to manage devices with multiple cells associated with each access transistor. Examples of multiple cell devices include phase change memory devices with multiple cells associated with each access transistor. |
| US07961503B2 |
Magnetic floating gate memory
An apparatus includes at least one memory device including a floating gate element and a magnetic field generator that operably applies a magnetic field to the memory device. The magnetic field directs electrons in the memory device into the floating gate element. |
| US07961501B1 |
Radiation sensors and single-event-effects suppression devices
The present invention provides a Single-Event-Upset (SEU) and Single-Event-Gate-Rupture (SEGR) protection against incident radiation for any bi-stable circuit either in one state, having a 2 transistor, 1 capacitor integrated circuit coupled to a bi-stable circuit's outputs, or in both states, having a 4 transistor, 2 capacitor integrated circuit coupled to the bi-stable circuit's outputs. The protection against SEU and SEGR is achieved by the 2T1C or the 4T2C circuits, by providing the opposite drive to the SEU or SEGR event through capacitive coupling, and shunting electron-hole pair current, created by an ion tracking through the bi-stable circuit, into the power supplies. The 2T1C integrated circuit architecture, which only protects bi-stable circuits in one state, is to allow the bi-stable circuit to be a Single-Event-Upset (SEU) detector by capturing the effect of an incident ion and store that state. The 2T1C architecture, while protecting the bi-stable circuit after it has been affected by incident radiation, can alert the system the bi-stable integrated circuit is embedded in, to compensate or at be aware that an Single-Event-Upset has occurred. The purpose of the 4T2C integrated circuit architecture, which protects bi-stable circuits in both stable states, is to allow for critical data/state retention in any radiation environment, while not effecting speed of operation. |
| US07961493B2 |
Programmable device
A programmable device including a source-drain-gate structure. The device includes two programming electrodes and an antiferromagnetic multiferroic material between the two programming electrodes for switching the spontaneous polarization between a first spontaneous polarization direction and a second spontaneous polarization direction. The programmable device further includes a ferromagnetic material, which is in immediate contact with the multiferroic material. Magnetization of the ferromagnetic material is switchable by a transition between the first switching state and the second switching state of the multiferroic material by an exchange coupling between electronic states of the multiferroic material and the ferromagnetic material. The programmable device also includes means for determining a direction of the magnetization of the ferromagnetic material. A spin valve effect is used for causing an electrical resistance between the source and the drain electrode. |
| US07961491B2 |
Data storage device using magnetic domain wall movement and method of operating the same
Provided are a data storage device using a magnetic domain wall movement and a method of operating the data storage device. The data storage device includes a magnetic layer which has a plurality of magnetic domains, a current applying unit which applies current for a magnetic domain wall movement to the magnetic layer, and a head for reading and writing, wherein the magnetic layer comprises a plurality of perpendicular magnetic layers formed on a substrate in a plurality of rows and columns, and a horizontal magnetic layer formed on the perpendicular magnetic layers to connect the perpendicular magnetic layers. |
| US07961489B2 |
Comparing data representations to stored patterns
A search engine includes a storage module to store a plurality of data patterns, a plurality of busses to receive a plurality of representations of a search word, a selector corresponding to at least one of the plurality of data patterns to select one of the plurality of representations of the search word for comparing to the at least one of the plurality of data patterns, and a logic circuit operatively coupled to the storage module, to the plurality of busses, and to the selector to compare the selected one of the plurality of representations of the search word to the at least one of the plurality of data patterns. |
| US07961486B2 |
Capacitive power supply system
The invention relates to a power supply system (3) intended to supply power to an electrical load (C), the system comprising: two input terminals, namely a negative terminal and a positive terminal, connected to a supply mains (A) delivering an AC voltage; an input capacitor (C1) connected to one of the terminals of the system; a rectifier module (33) for generating a DC voltage on a DC bus from the AC voltage; a bus capacitor (Cb) connected between a positive line (31) and a negative line (32) of the DC bus, and upstream of the input capacitor (C1), two normally-on bidirectional semiconductor transistors (T1, T2) connected in series, fabricated in a wide-bandgap material and able to operate in current-limiting mode. |
| US07961485B2 |
Method of forming a PWM controller and structure therefor
In one embodiment, a PWM controller is configured to inhibit forming a drive signal responsively to an overload sense signal having a value that is no greater than a first value for a first time interval and to form a first duration of the first time interval responsively to the overload sense signal. |
| US07961482B2 |
Bi-directional HEMT/GaN half-bridge circuit
A half-bridge circuit in accordance with an embodiment of the present application includes an input voltage terminal operable to receive an input voltage, a first bi-directional switch, a second bi-directional switch connected in series with the first bi-directional switch, wherein the first and second bi-directional switches are connected to the input voltage terminal such that the input voltage is provided across the first and second bi-directional switches and a controller operable to turn the first and second bi-directional switches ON and OFF such that a desired voltage is provided at an midpoint node positioned between the first bi-directional switch and the second bi-directional switch. The first bi-directional switch and the second bi-directional switch are high electron mobility transistors structured to allow for conduction in two directions when ON and to prevent conduction in any direction when OFF. |
| US07961481B2 |
Pulse width modulation control circuit applied to charge output capacitor
A pulse width modulation (PWM) control circuit is applied to a power converter with a charging capacitor. The PWM control circuit includes a PWM signal generator, a first comparator, and a reference voltage modulator. A PWM signal generator generates a PWM signal to control a power switch in the power converter. Two input terminals of the first comparator respectively receive a first reference voltage and a sensing voltage, which is proportional to a primary-side current of a transformer. When the power switch is turned on and the sensing voltage rises to the level of the first reference voltage, the first comparator outputs a first control signal to the PWM signal generator. Then, the PWM signal generator outputs a signal to turn off the power switch. The reference voltage modulator outputs the first reference voltage according to a feedback voltage relative to the output voltage of the power converter. |
| US07961480B2 |
Device for housing and connection of accessories for switches
The present invention relates to a device for housing and connection of accessories, particularly for low-voltage automatic switches, comprising an integrated wiring support. In particular, the housing and connection device (1) has a shaped structure (10) comprising an integrated wiring bus for electrical connection of the accessories. The shaped structure (10) moreover comprises one or more seats (20, 21, 22, 23, 24) for housing the accessories. |
| US07961478B2 |
Integrated circuit, and a mobile phone having the integrated circuit
In an example embodiment, an integrated circuit comprises an on-chip electronic component. The on-chip electronic component has an active surface in a hermetically sealed cavity and a cover to hermetically seal the cavity. There is an additional electronic component wherein the additional electronic component is fixed on the cover. |
| US07961476B2 |
Stiffening plate for circuit board and switch assembly
This invention is directed to a support plate for reinforcing a portion of a circuit board. The support plate may be coupled to a portion of the circuit board that is subject to forces (e.g., portions of the circuit board having switches) to prevent flexing of the board. The support plate may be coupled to the circuit board. This invention is also directed to a switch constructed from a button, a label plate, and a backer plate. The label plate and the backer plate may include apertures operative to receive a protrusion extending from the button, where the protrusion is welded to the backer plate. Labels may be printed or attached to the bottom surface of the label plate to protect the labels. In some embodiments, the protrusion may be welded to the backer plate. The protrusion may be operative to engage an electrical switch of an electronic device in which the switch is placed. |
| US07961473B1 |
Retention module for toolless heat sink installation
An integrated circuit is disposed on a circuit board. A heat sink retention module includes a bracket, members, and coil springs. The members extend through the coil springs and corresponding holes within the bracket to attach to the board. A heat sink is removably installed within the bracket in a toolless manner, such that the heat sink comes into contact with the integrated circuit. The heat sink and the bracket join together to become a single entity that is permitted to float along an axis perpendicular to a surface of the circuit board. The coil springs are tuned to define a predetermined force at which the heat sink is pushed against the integrated circuit. The module can include a latch having tabs bent at different angles relative to one another to balance forces applied by the tabs against the heat sink while the latter is being installed within the bracket. |
| US07961472B2 |
Electric circuit device, electric circuit module, and power converter
The present invention provides an electric circuit device in which it is possible to achieve simultaneously the improvement of cooling performance and reduction in operating loss due to line inductance.The above object can be attained by constructing multiple plate-like conductors so that each of these conductors electrically connected to multiple semiconductor chips is also thermally connected to both chip surfaces of each such semiconductor chip to release heat from the chip surfaces of each semiconductor chip, and so that among the above conductors, a DC positive-polarity plate-like conductor and a DC negative-polarity plate-like conductor are opposed to each other at the respective conductor surfaces. |
| US07961466B2 |
High voltage bushing, a method of cooling a conductor thereof, and an electric power distribution system comprising such a bushing
A high voltage bushing including an elongated electric conductor, a tubular insulator surrounding the conductor, and cooling mechanism for cooling the conductor. The cooling mechanism includes at least one cooling element extending along a fraction of the length of the conductor and in thermal connection with the conductor. |
| US07961464B2 |
Electronic device
An electronic device that includes a cabinet having a top face, an undersurface, and a side that completely surrounds the top face and the undersurface by connecting the outer edge of the top face and the outer edge of the undersurface together; and an electronic part disposed inside the cabinet, wherein the cabinet has an exhaust hole provided in the undersurface of the cabinet, at a position distant from the side of the cabinet; a fan disposed inside the cabinet, which blows air inside the cabinet from the exhaust hole; and at least one protrusion disposed at the back of the undersurface of the cabinet, protruding from the undersurface of the cabinet and holding the cabinet placed on a flat plate in a state of being lifted. |
| US07961454B2 |
Multi-layered solid electrolytic capacitor and method of manufacturing same
A multi-layered solid electrolytic capacitor and a method of manufacturing the capacitor that improve the product yield drastically by preventing increases in leakage current and defects due to short circuits without increasing manufacturing cost or capacitor size. A multi-layered solid electrolytic capacitor includes: a plurality of capacitor elements, each including an aluminum foil having an anode portion and a cathode portion having a dielectric oxide film and a cathode layer formed in succession on a surface of the aluminum foil, wherein the plurality of capacitor elements are stacked on top of one another, the anode portions of adjacent capacitor elements are welded each other, and the anode portion of one of the outermost capacitor elements is weld-secured to an anode terminal, the multi-layered solid electrolytic capacitor having a first stress alleviating groove and a second stress alleviating groove formed in at least one of weld surfaces of the anode portion. |
| US07961452B2 |
Semiconductor photoelectrode, method for manufacturing the same, and light energy converting device
The semiconductor photoelectrode of the present invention includes a metallic substrate having irregularities in a surface and a semiconductor layer which is formed on the surface of the metallic substrate and composed of a photocatalytic material. This can increase the light absorption efficiency and, furthermore, prevent recombination of charges. |
| US07961451B2 |
Ion generating element, and ion generating apparatus equipped with same
An ion generating element includes a positive ion discharger for generating positive ions and a negative ion discharger for generating negative ions. The ion dischargers are arranged separately from and independently of each other with a distance securing insulation between them. At least one of the dischargers includes a discharging portion for causing electric discharge, and a conducting portion having a voltage same as the discharging portion. The conducting portion surrounds a perimeter or part of the discharging portion. The conducting portion may surround a perimeter or part of the discharging portion so as to partition the ion dischargers from each other. |
| US07961449B2 |
Extended controller keep alive system and method
Methods and systems for supplying auxiliary electrical power to a controller during power loss are described hereinabove. The system is powered by a primary power source, and includes a controller and a winding load that are both powered by the primary power source, and a switching device. When the primary power source is disconnected from the controller and winding load, the winding load continues to residually exercise to generate residual electrical power. The second switching device then channels the residual electrical power to the controller for a period of time at an acceptable level. |
| US07961436B1 |
Disk drive head stack assembly with clip for mounting a flex cable
A disk drive has a novel head stack assembly that includes a flex cable having a width, an actuator body, and a clip. A top portion of the clip includes a first top slot and a second top slot, forming a non-zero acute angle. The bottom portion of the clip includes a first bottom slot that is substantially aligned to face and oppose the first top slot, and a second bottom slot that is substantially aligned to face and oppose the second top slot. A first maximum distance between the first top slot and the first bottom slot equals or exceeds the width. A second maximum distance between the second top slot and the second bottom slot equals or exceeds the width. The slots retain the flex cable. The top portion and the bottom portion are a single monolithic piece. |
| US07961435B2 |
Composite single structured hard disk drive
A composite single structured hard disk drive, comprising: a machine casing having a power port and two signal I/O (input/output) ports at an outer surface thereof; an interior of the machine casing having a driving unit which is electrically connected to the power port; the driving unit being able to rotatably drive at least one recoding disk; two read/write modules (R/W modules) being installed, respectively, each R/W module having a rotatable arm set and a dynamic unit connected to the rotatable arm set; one end the rotatable arm set having at least one R/W head at a front end thereof; another end of the rotatable arm set having no the R/W head is connected to the dynamic unit; the dynamic unit being connected to the power port and being controlled by a processor in the substrate in the machine casing. |
| US07961433B2 |
Air-bearing design for hard disk drive (HDD) applications
A slider is formed with an ABS topography that eliminates the accumulation of lubricant swept from the surface of a rotating disk in an operating HDD. The topography includes air channeling grooves in which are formed backflow blocking elements that prevent the formation airflow patterns that would cause lubricant to be aspirated into the ABS topography of the slider and that create airflow patterns that sweep lubricant away from the ABS of the slider. The topography is first tested to make sure that the slider has the proper flying height and aerodynamic stability, then the backflow blocking elements are added to control the airflow, while maintaining the desired flying height and stability. |
| US07961430B2 |
Tape path control system with precision-aligned conjugated rollers
A tape path control system and related method for controlling the position of a tape medium in the tape drive. The tape path includes a first tape guide roller, a second tape guide roller spaced from the first roller, and a transducing head situated between the first and second rollers. The first and second rollers may be large and closely spaced, with the second tape guide roller being spaced from the first roller at a roller diameter/center-to-center spacing ratio of between approximately 1:1-1:2 while still accommodating the transducing head therebetween. A precision alignment system is associated with the second roller. When operable, the precision alignment system allows the second roller to be adjustably aligned relative to the first roller in order to control lateral tape movement when a tape medium streams across the rollers in operative engagement with the transducing head. |
| US07961426B2 |
Disk device
According to one embodiment, a disk device includes a base having a bottom wall, a motor provided on the base, a disk rotatably supported on the motor, a head, and a head actuator which supports the head for movement with respect to the recording medium. The bottom wall of the base includes a recess opposing a movement region for the head actuator and a first step portion and a second step portion which individually extend from the vicinities of the motor to the vicinities of an outer peripheral edge of the recording medium and define the recess. At least a part of the first step portion is located on the opposite side of the head actuator with respect to a line which connects an outer end portion of the first step portion and a center of rotation of the recording medium. |
| US07961424B2 |
Multilevel pulse position modulation for efficient encoding of information into servo patterns
A storage medium on which servo patterns are encoded to provide lateral and longitudinal position (LPOS) information is provided. Each of the servo patterns includes a servo frame, including first through fourth bursts, which are each independently modulated with multi-level pulse position modulation (PPM) to encode at least one independent bit per burst. |
| US07961420B2 |
Disk drive apparatus and method of adaptively controlling flying height of magnetic head therein
An apparatus and method of adaptively controlling a flying height of a magnetic head above a disk in accordance with a change in a user environment of a disk drive apparatus includes determining if a parameter reset condition related to the flying height of the magnetic head has been set; measuring a temperature of a disk drive if the parameter reset condition has been set, obtaining a flying height profile representing a variation of spacing between the magnetic head and a disk in accordance with a variation of power supplied to a heater controlling the flying height of the magnetic head at the measured temperature, based on a reference flying height profile stored in the disk drive, and determining the power that is to be supplied to the heater of the magnetic head, the power corresponding to a target flying height of the magnetic head from the obtained flying height profile. |
| US07961416B2 |
Using readback signals to estimate radial location on a rotating storage device
Approaches for estimating the operating radius of a head in a hard-disk drive. These approaches may be used in a constant or approximately constant density servo scheme. Statistics, which describe the proportion of high frequency values to low frequency values in a readback signal read by the read/write head of a persistent storage medium, such as a hard-disk drive (HDD), are maintained. An estimated location for the read/write head using the statistics is determined. The estimated location may be expressed as an estimated operating radius, which is an estimated distance from the center of the magnetic-recording medium to a current position of the read/write head. Based on the estimated location of the read/write head, an estimated clock frequency for a readback channel to use in reading the servo data stored on the magnetic recording medium is determined. The readback channel reads the servo data using the estimated clock frequency. |
| US07961415B1 |
Master calibration channel for a multichannel tape drive
In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises two or more slave channels, wherein each one of the slave channels comprises a non-adaptive filter operable to filter an input signal to the slave channel using filter coefficients received from a master channel; and the master channel coupled to each one of the slave channels, wherein the master channel comprises an adaptive filter operable to: for each one of one or more of the slave channels, determine the filter coefficients for the slave channel using the input signal to the slave channel; and send the filter coefficients to the slave channel. |
| US07961411B2 |
Lens barrel and optical device with the same
To easily combine a lens holding barrel with a mobile barrel, or separate the lens holding barrel from the mobile barrel, and to protect the lens holding barrel in an assembling process, a lens barrel and an optical device including the same are provided. The lens barrel includes: a first barrel including: a first cylinder that includes a lens and is cylindrical, and a first flange formed around an outer surface of the first cylinder; and a second barrel including: a second cylinder that is cylindrical and aligned with respect to the first cylinder, a second flange that is formed on an inner surface of the second cylinder and supports one surface of the first flange, and a plurality of supports that protrude from the inner surface of the second cylinder in a direction parallel to a surface of the second flange and support another surface of the first flange. |
| US07961409B2 |
Zoom lens system, optical apparatus, and method for zooming
Providing a zoom lens system having excellent optical performance, an optical apparatus, and a method for zooming the zoom lens system. The zoom lens system includes, in order from an object, a first lens group G1 having negative refractive power, a second lens group G2 having positive refractive power, and a third lens group G3 having negative refractive power. Upon zooming from a wide-angle end state W to a telephoto end state T, each distance between adjacent lens groups is varied. The second lens group G2 includes, in order from the object, a front group G2a having positive refractive power, and a rear group G2b. Focusing on the object is carried out by moving the front group G2a along an optical axis. Given conditional expressions are satisfied. |
| US07961408B2 |
Five-lens image lens system
A five-lens image lens system is revealed. The five-lens image lens system includes a first lens group with a negative power and a second lens group with a positive power. Along an optical axis in order from an object plane to an image plane, the first lens group includes a negative first lens and a negative second lens while at least one of optical surfaces of the first lens and the second lens is an aspherical optical surface. The second lens group includes a positive third lens, a positive fourth lens, and a negative fifth lens from the object plane to the image plane while an image-side lens surface of the positive fourth lens is glued with an object-side lens surface of the negative fifth lens. The image lens system satisfies the following conditions: 2R2>R4>R2, 2|F12|<|F34|, and Vd1>Vd2, Vd4>Vd5; wherein R2, R4 respectively represent curvature radius of the image-side lens surface of the negative first lens and the negative second lens; f12, f34 respectively represent focal length of the negative first lens and the negative second lens; Vd1, Vd2, Vd4, Vd5 respectively are Abbe numbers of the first lens, the second lens, the fourth lens, and the fifth lens. Thus the image lens system has features of wide viewing angle, small Fno, high brightness, high resolution, and effectively minimized length (through the lens, TTL). Therefore, the applications and effects of the image lens system are improved and especially suitable for lens of EDR (Event Data Recorder) of car safety systems. |
| US07961407B2 |
Techniques for steering an optical beam
Reflectors having concave reflecting surfaces (e.g., parabolic reflectors) and electronically controlled beam steering elements are used for rapid, low-diversion, wide-angle, and precision steering of optical beams, including laser beams. |
| US07961396B2 |
Diffractive optical system and optical device
A diffractive optical system including a diffractive optical element has a concave lens component having a first diffractive optical surface, and an optical member having a second diffractive optical surface, the concave lens component and the optical member being arranged so that the first diffractive optical surface and the second diffractive optical surface face each other, and the conditional expression 0.003 |
| US07961395B2 |
Wideband diffraction limited optical receiver
Systems and methods are provided for providing wideband diffraction limited performance in an optical receiver. A first lens is constructed from a first material and has a first surface and a second surface. A second lens is constructed from a second material and having a first surface and a second surface. The second lens is positioned such that a first surface of the second lens faces a second surface of the first lens across a gap of air. A diffraction grating is applied to one of the first and second surfaces of the first and second lenses. |
| US07961389B2 |
Screen and projector
There is provided a screen and a projector using a simple configuration and operation to make speckles less visible. A screen 10 on which light beams are incident includes a lenticular lens 11 as a first layer having viewing angle control means for enlarging the viewing angle and a Fresnel lens 12 as a second layer having angular conversion means for converting the angles of incidence of the incident light beams into the substantially same direction. One of the first and second layers has a diffusion capability that diffuses the incident light beams and has moving means for moving that layer relative to the other. Alternatively, the first and second layers both have the diffusion capability, and at least one of the layers has moving means for moving that layer relative to the other. |
| US07961388B1 |
Inflatable screen with support structure
An inflatable device is provided including an inflatable framework for a projection screen or imaging surface wherein an additional support structure provides increased stability for the inflatable framework and the screen while avoiding contact or interference with the screen or imaging surface, thereby limiting screen distortion. |
| US07961385B2 |
Light microscope
An assistant microscope add-on device for a surgical microscope (1) comprises an objective (22) inclined relative to an object plane (10) with an object field (10′), wherein the objective defines an objective plane (22′) and an objective axis (16′) perpendicular thereto forming an angle α larger than 0° to the surface normal of the object plane (10). A tube (23) and an eyepiece (24) having an eyepiece lens (27) defining an eyepiece plane (27′) and an eyepiece axis (35) perpendicular thereto. Due to the oblique viewing angle, an intermediate image plane (26) to be imaged by the eyepiece (24) is inclined relative to the objective plane (22′). The resulting aberration is eliminated by the eyepiece axis (35) and the objective axis (16′) forming an angle β of larger than 0°, wherein the angle β is so chosen that the eyepiece axis (35) is substantially perpendicular to the intermediate image plane (26). Consequently, the object field (10′) is imaged free of distortion and sharply across the entire image area. |
| US07961383B2 |
Engineered fluoride-coated elements for laser systems
The invention is directed to elements having fluoride coated surfaces having multiple layers of fluoride material coatings for use in laser systems, and in particular in laser systems operating at wavelength <200 nm. In a particular embodiment the invention is directed to highly reflective mirrors for use in wavelengths <200 nm laser systems. The invention describes the mirrors and a method of making them that utilizes a plurality of periods of fluoride coatings, each period comprising one layer a high refractive index fluoride material and one layer low refractive index fluoride material, and additionally at least one layer of an amorphous silica material. The silica material can be inserted between each period, inserted between a stack consisting of a plurality of periods, and, optionally, can also be applied as the final layer of the finished element to protect the element. |
| US07961382B2 |
Mid infrared spectral band continuous zoom system
A mid infrared spectral band continuous zoom system is described herein that can provide a continuous zoom range with a focal length change greater than 25× when thermally imaging a distant object. In addition, a method is described herein for using the mid infrared spectral band continuous zoom system to thermally image the distant object. |
| US07961381B2 |
Combined day and night weapon sight
A combination day/night sight includes an image intensifying sensor/display combination and a daytime optical path length compensator that may be selectively placed within the optical path. Use of the optical path length compensator when the image intensifying sensor/display is not being used eliminates the need for moving optical elements. The night sight therefore requires no change in focus or bore sight adjustment after switching between day and night operations. |
| US07961380B2 |
Fast power transient supression in constant power-mode controlled optical amplifiers
The specification describes an improved approach to suppressing fast transients in optical amplifier systems. The approach relies on operating the amplifier in an automatic power-mode control with an extra loss component. It is applicable to optical amplifiers based on rare earth amplifier media, such as erbium doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs). |
| US07961378B2 |
Wavelength conversion light source apparatus and wavelength conversion method
A wavelength conversion light source apparatus includes a fundamental wave light source configured to emit a fundamental wave, a nonlinear crystal configured to convert a wavelength of the fundamental wave by being irradiated with the fundamental wave and making the fundamental wave pass therethrough, and a movement unit configured to place the nonlinear crystal thereon and continuously move the nonlinear crystal within a plane, where a phase matching condition is not violated, so that a passage path of the fundamental wave passing through the nonlinear crystal is changed. |
| US07961367B2 |
Method and system for producing multiple images in a single image plane using diffraction
Methods create images viewable under different selected angels on optical storage devices and other photosensitive surfaces and optical storage devices with super-imposed images. Generally, a photosensitive surface is exposed with multiple diffraction patterns creating super-imposed images. These diffraction patterns create super-imposed images on the photosensitive surfaces, which can be read by either a human or a computer. |
| US07961363B2 |
Image reading apparatus
In order to provide an image reading apparatus of which a contact glass sheet can be replaced and recycled with ease without damaging the contact glass sheet when removing the same, and further intrusion of particles of dust into the apparatus when operating the apparatus can be prevented, an image reading apparatus having an image reading unit mounted to be able to be reciprocated in a frame body of the apparatus and a contact glass sheet is composed such that; the frame body comprises an upward-open lower frame in which the image reading unit is accommodated to be able to be reciprocated and an upper frame having an opening on the upper face thereof to be covered with the contact glass sheet, the upper and lower frames are assembled detachably by means of fitting portions provided to both frames, the contact glass sheet is attached to said upper frame by means of a strip-shaped adhesive member glued onto the undersurface of the upper frame along the brim part of the opening to be covered with the contact glass sheet, the strip-shaped adhesive member is glued onto the undersurface of the upper frame so that the strip is not continuous but partially interrupted to provide interrupted parts, and the glass sheet supports protruding from the lower frame are positioned to support the contact glass sheet at the position corresponding to the interrupted parts of the strip-shaped adhesive member. |
| US07961360B2 |
Scanning device for scanning interface surface
A scanning device for scanning an interface surface is disclosed. The scanning device includes a beam generator for emitting a beam, a deflector for deflecting the beam to generate a raster scan pattern over a scanning patch, and a sensor for receiving a reflected beam from the scanning patch and sensing from the reflected beam data encoded by coded tags printed on an interface surface. The data encoded by each tag includes an identity of the interface surface and the position of the respective tag on the interface surface. The scanning device further includes a processor for determining a description of the interface surface from the sensed interface surface identity and at least one region of the interface surface from the determined description and the position of the sensed tag on the interface surface. |
| US07961356B2 |
Image processing apparatus including adjustable shading profile and shading method thereof
Embodiments of image processing apparatuses and methods according to the present general inventive concept may generate and/or store shading profile information based on an image characteristic relative to a prescribed condition of that characteristic such as according to brightness equal to or above a prescribed (e.g., minimum or lower) brightness level or the like. An embodiment of an image processing apparatus according to the present general inventive concept may include a scanning unit to scan an inputted image and an image processor to process the inputted image based on shading profile information determined according to brightness equal to or above a minimum brightness level. |
| US07961354B2 |
Image-forming apparatus and method for adjusting total amount of toner in trap
The present invention provides an image-forming apparatus capable of reducing the amount of toner at a position at which the trapping is carried out. The apparatus has an image-deformation processing unit where input image data is processed to deform the image shape or the trapping or overprinting is carried out on the respective color plates. The apparatus determines whether or not the trapping should be carried out to the target pixels on the boundary between color plates in the adjacent different objects, determines the color plate having the trap color, obtains the amount of toner of the trap color, determines based on the amount of toner of the trap color and the target pixels whether or not the total amount of toner of the trap exceeds the limit value, and reduces the total amount of toner if the total amount of toner of the trap exceeds the limit value. |
| US07961351B2 |
Methodology for developing color models and printer sensitivity functions for spot colors and profiles
A method and system is disclosed for developing a printer model from a reduced set of selected test patches. The model corresponds to a spot color editor controller having a sensitivity matrix model developed from a plurality of the patches to define printer operation. The sensitivity matrix is comprised of coefficients computed from an orthogonal disposition of the experimental patches within a selected sub gamut of the color printer gamut. A plurality of replicas of the experimental patches are run for achieving statistical significance. |
| US07961342B2 |
Automated print-related workflow
An automated print prepress workflow, including a memory; a processor communicating with the memory; and a job ticket stored in the memory, is provided. The job ticket includes a plurality of print job related parameters and a set of print job related information. The workflow further includes a conditional branching arrangement defining a plurality of print job prepress development paths, each one of these plurality of paths including one or more print job prepress development operations. Prepress development of the print job may include automatically branching to one of the plurality of print job prepress development paths responsive to the processor reading one or both of the (1) the one or more of the plurality of print job related parameters and (2) at least part of the print job related information set. One or more of the print job prepress development operations may be automatically adaptively processed. |
| US07961338B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method of the same
When a sheet P is jammed after start of a print job, it is determined whether an automatic resumption mode for automatically resuming the print job is set. When a determination result of this determination is affirmative, the print job is resumed after the jam is released. When the determination result is negative, the print job is stopped. |
| US07961335B2 |
Variable spectroscopy device
Desired spectral characteristics are attained by making reflection films close enough. A variable spectroscopy device (1) has a pair of optical substrates (2, 3) opposing each other with an interval therebetween, two reflection films (5) opposing each other which are respectively disposed on opposing surfaces of the optical substrates (2, 3), two sensor electrodes (6) opposing each other which are disposed on the same surfaces as the reflection films (5) and which constitute an interval sensor for detecting an interval between the optical substrates (2, 3), and an actuator (4) which relatively moves the optical substrates (2, 3) and changes the interval between the optical substrates (2, 3). A distance between the opposing surfaces of the two sensor electrodes (6) is longer than a distance between the opposing surfaces of the two reflection films (5). |
| US07961333B2 |
Method for scanning optical interference patterns with line sensors
A method is provided for the electronic scanning of the intensity distribution of an optical interference pattern by means of a linear image sensor, wherein the interference pattern is produced by overlapping two temporally partly coherent beams striking at an arbitrarily predefined angle α in relation to one another and is provided with an interference strip having a carrier frequency greater than the scanning frequency, and amplitude modulation that can be varied slowly in relation to the pixel width, wherein at least one optical grating is disposed in the beam path of at least one of two incident beams and the image sensor is disposed in the diffraction image of the grating(s) such that, at the site of the image sensor, the beams interfere, and the beams enclose an angle β at the site of the image sensor, the angle being smaller than α. |
| US07961328B2 |
Multiple-angle retroreflectometer
A system and method for measuring the photometric retroreflectivity of materials. The system comprises a light source and a first optical pathway along which an illumination light beam travels originating from the light source, and ending at a retroreflective surface to be measured. A second optical pathway is provided along which a retroreflected beam travels back from the retroreflective surface to an aperture array that selects multiple annular areas to be further directed to multiple detectors, one detector for each annular area selected by the aperture. Each detector has a filter for the determination of photometric retroreflectivity. The retroreflected light reaching the detectors produces currents proportion to the intensity of the light. A high-gain current-to-voltage amplifier is used to provide voltage signal to an analog-to-digital converter that converts a voltage to a digital number. A processor is electrically coupled to the analog-to-digital converter with an accompanying memory on which is stored operating logic adapted to determine the photometric intensity of a predetermined pattern of the retroreflected beam incident to the array of apertures and detectors which defines the retroreflected light which propagates from the retroreflective surface at a predetermined observation angle. |
| US07961321B2 |
Applications, systems and methods for identifying and monitoring critical colors in a print job and using an embedded color sensing device to measure critical color test patterns inserted in the print job
Applications, systems and methods for identifying and monitoring critical colors in a print job and using an embedded color sensing device to measure critical color test patterns inserted in the print job are disclosed. The applications permits the user to interact with a print job and select of one or more critical colors from within the print job. In one embodiment, an application is configured to provide a graphical user interface (GUI) to facilitate the user in selecting critical colors. A printing system and method are disclosed for automatically monitoring critical colors in a print job and using an embedded color sensing device to measure critical color test patterns inserted in the print job. In one embodiment, printed critical color test patterns are separated from the printed customer documents and direct to a color sensing device for measurement. |
| US07961320B2 |
Color management system with system-level communications
Color management systems and methods are provided wherein operations associated with an individual color measurement instrument are integrated into system-level operating software. Color measurement-related information associated with or derived from such color measurement instrument, e.g., color measurements, instrument-related messages (e.g., error messages), instrument status and the like, is automatically broadcast to other programs, instruments and/or applications that are adapted/registered to listen for and receive such broadcasts. An operating system program that includes, defines or interacts with an OS notification center facilitates communication with the ancillary programs, instruments or applications. Two way communications by way of the OS notification center are also facilitated. |
| US07961316B2 |
Optical spectrum analyzer with continuously rotating tunable filter
An optical spectrum analyzer is implemented with a detector combined with a tunable filter mounted on a stage capable of 360-degree rotation at a constant velocity. Because of the constant rate of angular change, different portions of the input spectrum are detected at each increment of time as a function of filter position, which can be easily measured with an encoder for synchronization purposes. The unidirectional motion of the mirror permits operation at very high speeds with great mechanical reliability. The same improvements may be obtained using a diffraction grating or a prism, in which case the detector or an intervening mirror may be rotated instead of the grating or prism. |
| US07961315B2 |
Fluorescence detection enhancement using photonic crystal extraction
Enhancement of fluorescence emission from fluorophores bound to a sample and present on the surface of two-dimensional photonic crystals is described. The enhancement of fluorescence is achieved by the combination of high intensity near-fields and strong coherent scattering effects, attributed to leaky photonic crystal eigenmodes (resonance modes). The photonic crystal simultaneously exhibits resonance modes which overlap both the absorption and emission wavelengths of the fluorophore. A significant enhancement in fluorescence intensity from the fluorophores on the photonic crystal surface is demonstrated. |
| US07961307B2 |
Angular spectrum tailoring in solid immersion microscopy for circuit analysis
A structure for locating a fault in a semiconductor chip. The chip includes a substrate on a dielectric interconnect. A first electrical response image of the chip, which includes a spot representing the fault, is overlayed on a first reflection image for monochromatic light in an optical path from an optical microscope through a SIL/NAIL and into the chip. The index of refraction of the substrate exceeds that of the dielectric interconnect and is equal to that of the SIL/NAIL. A second electrical response image of the chip is overlayed on a second reflection image for the monochromatic light in an optical path in which an optical stop prevents all subcritical angular components of the monochromatic light from being incident on the SIL/NAIL. If the second electrical response image includes or does not include the spot, then the fault is in the substrate or the dielectric interconnect, respectively. |
| US07961305B2 |
Optical device components
Embodiments of the invention relate to an internal reflection light funnel, including an internal reflection cone having a first diameter at an entrance end and a second diameter at an exit end, the first diameter being greater than the second diameter; and a light source embedded within the cone. The funnel has a half angle of less than about 25 degrees. |
| US07961303B2 |
Test tape unit for blood tests
The present invention provides a test tape unit suitable for testing blood sugar. The test tape unit comprises an analytical test tape, a feed spool for unwinding unused test tape, a take-up spool for winding used test tape, and a tape guide to expose a section of test tape at a measuring site for receiving an application of body fluid. The tape guide has a flat support frame which stretches the test tape at the measuring site and forms the border of a measuring opening which is kept free from optical elements for producing an optical measurement. |
| US07961301B2 |
Flash LADAR system
The present invention pertains in general to a single, integrated flash LADAR system and method. The system includes data processing hardware and software, a passive two-dimensional camera, a three-dimensional camera, a light source, and a common optical path. One or more star trackers can also be included. In addition, auxiliary components, such as an inertial measurement unit and a global positioning system receiver can be included. The system can be closely integrated with a critical algorithm suite that operates in multiple modes, in real-time to enable landing, docking, and navigation functions, such as Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC), Altimetry, Velocimetry, Terrain Relative Navigation (TRN), Hazard Detection and Avoidance (HDA), and dust penetration. |
| US07961300B2 |
Method and apparatus for a single point scanner
The present subject matter include methods and apparatus for creating three dimensional digitized models of at least one ear impression, the apparatus comprising a frame, a linear axis mounted to the frame, the linear axis having an axis of motion, a first spindle axis mounted to the frame, the spindle axis having an axis of rotation, wherein the axis of rotation of the first spindle axis is parallel to the axis of motion of the linear axis, a first scanner mounted to the linear axis, the scanner includes a laser for projecting a narrowly localized spot of laser light at a target mounted on the first spindle axis and a sensor array for receiving at least a portion of the laser light reflected from the target and a controller configured to communicate with the first scanner. |
| US07961299B2 |
Transfer device
The present invention relates to a transfer device that can feed a work in a stable condition without applying it any excess loads. The transfer device for feeding a tape-shaped work to a process stage standing in an upright position, which is placed on one side of the process stage and which includes a supply reel, a take-up reel and a work feeding mechanism. Specifically, the supply reel, around which the work and a protective sheet are wound, is adapted to feed the work and the protective sheet therefrom. The take-up reel is adapted to wind the work and the protective sheet that have been fed from the supply reel, and it is located below the supply reel. The work feeding mechanism is adapted to forward the work from the supply reel to the take-up reel through the process stage. |
| US07961297B2 |
Method for determining intensity distribution in the image plane of a projection exposure arrangement
A method for determining intensity distribution in the focal plane of a projection exposure arrangement, in which a large aperture imaging system is emulated and a light from a sample is represented on a local resolution detector by an emulation imaging system. A device for carrying out the method and emulated devices are also described. The invention makes it possible to improve a reproduction quality since the system apodisation is taken into consideration. The inventive method includes determining the integrated amplitude distribution in an output pupil, combining the integrated amplitude distribution with a predetermined apodization correction and calculating a corrected apodization image according to the modified amplitude distribution. |
| US07961294B2 |
Imaging device in a projection exposure facility
An imaging device in a projection exposure machine for microlithography has at least one optical element and at least one manipulator, having a linear drive, for manipulating the position of the optical element. The linear drive has a driven subregion and a nondriven subregion, which are movable relative to one another in the direction of a movement axis. The subregions are interconnected at least temporarily via functional elements with an active axis and via functional elements with an active direction at least approximately parallel to the movement axis. |
| US07961290B2 |
Apparatus and method for maintaining immersion fluid in the gap under the protection lens during wafer exchange in an immersion lithography machine
An apparatus and method maintain immersion fluid in the gap adjacent to the projection lens during the exchange of a work piece in a lithography machine. The apparatus and method include an optical assembly that projects an image onto a work piece and a stage assembly including a work piece table that supports the work piece adjacent to the optical assembly. An environmental system is provided to supply and remove an immersion fluid from the gap between the optical assembly and the work piece on the stage assembly. After exposure of the work piece is complete, an exchange system removes the work piece and replaces it with a second work piece. An immersion fluid containment system maintains the immersion liquid in the gap during removal of the first work piece and replacement with the second work piece. |
| US07961288B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel and method of manufacturing the same
A liquid crystal display panel includes a first substrate including a gate line, a data line crossing the gate line, and an insulating layer interposed between the gate line and the data line, defining a pixel, and a thin film transistor disposed at the pixel, a second substrate facing the first substrate, and a cell gap maintaining member disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and including a connecting wall attached to either the first substrate or the second substrate, and a plurality of protrusions protruding from the connecting wall. |
| US07961287B2 |
Liquid crystal display device having spacers overlapped with slits in the common line and gate line
An LCD device is disclosed in which column spacers for a cell gap are arranged between gate and common lines to reduce a contact area between the column spacers and an opposing substrate, and a stable cell gap is maintained over the whole panel by reducing variation of a thickness per area of a thin film transistor (TFT) substrate corresponding to the column spacers. The LCD device includes first and second substrates facing each other, gate and data lines formed on the first substrate to cross each other, and pixel regions, a thin film transistor formed in each portion where the gate and data lines cross, common and pixel electrodes alternately formed in the pixel regions, common lines formed adjacent to the gate lines substantially parallel to the gate lines, a first column spacer formed on the second substrate corresponding to a portion between the gate line and the common line, and a liquid crystal layer filled between the first and second substrates. |
| US07961286B2 |
Liquid crystal display device having rectangular-shaped pixel electrodes overlapping with comb-shaped counter electrodes in plan view
The present invention realizes a bright image display by enhancing a numerical aperture of pixels. At least a portion of a pixel electrode is overlapped to a thin film transistor by way of a first insulation film, the pixel electrode is connected to an output electrode of the thin film transistor via a contact hole which is formed in the first insulation film, the counter electrode is arranged above the pixel electrode by way of a second insulation film in a state that the counter electrode is overlapped to the pixel electrode, the counter electrode is formed at a position avoiding the contact hole formed in the first insulation film as viewed in a plan view, and at least a portion of the counter electrode is overlapped to the thin film transistor. |
| US07961285B2 |
Liquid crystal device and electronic apparatus
A liquid crystal device includes a first substrate and a second substrate disposed opposite the first substrate. The liquid crystal device further has a first light shielding layer of a surface of the first substrate; a first electrode having an electrode portion extending in a predetermined direction; and a second electrode of the surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate. The second electrode is formed such that at least a part thereof overlaps the first light shielding layer in plan view and has an electrode portion extending in a direction along the electrode portion of the first electrode. The device further has a third electrode of the surface of the second substrate; and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first and second substrates and aligned in an in-plane direction of the first or second substrate. |
| US07961283B2 |
Manufacturing method of liquid crystal panel and deuterium, hydrogen deuteride, or tritium treatment of alignment film
In order to improve the state of image irregularities of a liquid crystal panel, a plasma treatment is performed for an alignment film using a treatment gas such as hydrogen and/or deuterium, or a surface treatment is performed in which an alignment film is immersed in deuterium oxide. As a result, moisture contained in the alignment film is removed, and re-adsorption of moisture is also suppressed, thereby reducing image irregularities. |
| US07961279B2 |
Transreflective liquid crystal display apparatus with single cell-gap and reduced power consumption
A transreflective liquid crystal display (LCD) apparatus with a single cell gap is presented, along with a method of driving the apparatus. The apparatus operates with low power consumption because its electro-optical characteristics in a transmissive region and a reflective region are equalized. The transreflective LCD apparatus includes first and second liquid crystal cells formed respectively in transmissive and reflective regions of a first subpixel, first and second thin film transistors connected respectively to the first and second liquid crystal cells, and first and second storage capacitors connected respectively to the first and second liquid crystal cells. |
| US07961278B2 |
Optical sheet stack and liquid crystal display device
There is provided an optical sheet stack which includes a first optical sheet having a large number of irregularities consecutively arranged on one surface thereof, and a second optical sheet stacked thereon. In the optical sheet stack, the second optical sheet has, on a bonding surface thereof, an adhesive layer bonded with apexes of the irregularities, and while assuming pitch of arrangement of the irregularities as P, and width of bonding of each apex of the irregularities bonded to the adhesive layer as Pw, the relation of 0 |
| US07961276B2 |
Circular polarizer, liquid crystal display device, and terminal device
In the liquid crystal display device of the present invention, a circular polarizer is provided to each of a pair of substrates that hold a liquid crystal layer, wherein the circular polarizer on the display surface side is composed of a polarizer, λ/2 plate in which Rth>0, and a λ/4 plate in which Rth<0; and the circular polarizer on the backlight side is composed of a polarizer, a λ/2 plate in which Rth<0, and a λ/4 plate in which Rth>0. Rth is a retardation in the thickness direction of a λ/2 plate or a λ/4 plate. A reduction is achieved in the absolute value of the sum of the Rth between the λ/2 plate for which Rth>0 and the λ/2 plate for which Rth<0, and in the absolute value of the sum of the Rth between the λ/4 plate for which Rth<0 and the λ/4 plate for which Rth>0. A circular polarizer having excellent wavelength characteristics and excellent viewing angle characteristics when viewed at an angle is thereby obtained, and a liquid crystal display device and a terminal device that use the circular polarizer are obtained. |
| US07961268B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device which can enhance display quality and reliability by preventing the intrusion of foreign materials to a display screen of a liquid crystal display panel thus preventing the adhesion of the foreign materials to the display screen of the liquid crystal display panel. On an upper surface of a peripheral portion of a split mold frame housing a liquid crystal display panel, rubber cushions which are split in four are arranged at corner portions of the peripheral portion in an adhesive manner. With respect to the split portions of the rubber cushions at the corner portion, on a long-side mold frame, extending portions formed by extending both end portions of the long-side rubber cushion larger than a predetermined length are integrally formed and are arranged in an adhesive manner. On a short-side mold frame, a short-side rubber cushion having a predetermined length is arranged. A connecting portion is formed at the corner portion in a state that the end portions of the long-side rubber cushion and short-side rubber cushion intersect with each other in an approximately T-shape. |
| US07961266B2 |
Array substrate, a correcting method thereof, and a liquid crystal display device
An array substrate in which a short circuit between a line branch of an auxiliary capacitance line and a pixel electrode can be easily corrected comprises the pixel electrode connected to a switching element arranged near the intersection between a scanning line and a signal line and the auxiliary capacitance line arranged in a layer below the pixel electrode, wherein the auxiliary capacitance line comprises a line trunk arranged substantially parallel to the scanning line and a line branch extending from the line trunk, and the pixel electrode is provided with an aperture which crosses the line branch of the auxiliary capacitance line. |
| US07961265B2 |
Array substrate, display panel having the same and method of driving the same
An array substrate includes first and second gate lines, a data line, a pixel electrode, a domain electrode, first, second and third switching elements, and a voltage-changing part. The domain-dividing electrode divides the first and second pixel parts into a plurality of areas. The first, second and third switching elements are controlled by a first gate signal applied from the first gate line. The first, second and third switching elements apply a data signal received from the data line to the first and second pixel parts and the domain-dividing electrode, respectively. The voltage-changing part is controlled by a second gate signal applied from the second gate line. The voltage-changing part increases a voltage level of the domain-dividing electrode and decreases a voltage level of the second pixel part. |
| US07961257B2 |
Color adjusting apparatus, display apparatus, printing apparatus, image processing apparatus, color adjustment method, GUI display method, and program
A color adjusting apparatus includes a first storage unit for storing information indicating a hue (color phase) range arbitrarily designated in a hue space, a second storage unit for storing an adjustment value for adjusting a degree of color shift in the hue range, and a color conversion unit for performing expansion processing or compression processing on a color component of input image data, the color component being associated with the hue range, in accordance with the degree of color shift determined by the adjustment value. |
| US07961252B2 |
Reduced memory and bandwidth motion adaptive video deinterlacing
A method for motion adaptive video deinterlacing is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) in a first plurality among a plurality of modes, generating a frame by deinterlacing a current field using a plurality of memory bandwidth configurations and (B) in a second plurality among the modes, generating the frame by deinterlacing the current field using a plurality of linestore configurations. |
| US07961251B2 |
Method and apparatus for conversion of video formats to 120 Hz 4 to 1 interlaced formats
A method for converting video data in a first video format to video data in a second interlaced video format comprising: determining a number of frames of the first video format to map into a frame of the second video format, the frame of the second video format having four fields; determining a number of lines from each of the number of frames of the first video format to be mapped into each of the four fields of the frame of the second video format; selecting the determined number of lines from each of the number of frames of the first video format; determining a sequence for mapping the number of selected lines into the fields of the frame of the second video format; and mapping the selected lines from each of the number frames of the first video format into the four fields of the frame of the second video format according to the determined sequence. |
| US07961250B2 |
Photographing apparatus having an exposure mode selection function
A photographing apparatus comprises an imaging sensor, a controller, and an exposure-mode-selecting device. The controller performs a photometric operation on a photographing subject and obtains a luminance value of the photographing subject based on the photometric operation. The exposure-mode-selecting device is used for selecting an exposure mode of the photographing apparatus that has a sensitivity priority AE mode. The photographing operation is performed with a sensitivity of the imaging sensor that is set by a user and a shutter speed and an aperture value that are calculated based on the luminance value and the sensitivity, while the photographing apparatus is in the sensitivity priority AE mode. |
| US07961249B2 |
Digital camera having interconnected image processing units
A digital camera is provided having a memory for digitally storing an image captured by the camera, and a plurality of substantially identical processing elements functionally interconnected to each other via a crossbar switch for processing the stored image. The processing elements are connected to the memory via a bus external to the crossbar switch. The crossbar switch is selectively configurable to pass data of the stored image directly between the processing elements. |
| US07961246B2 |
Blade driving device for use in cameras
A blade driving device for use in cameras that includes a mechanical shutter blade that openably and closably disposed in front of a CCD, and is capable of blocking light passing through an exposure aperture. The blade driving device also includes a motor that drives the shutter blade, and a control means that drive-controls the motor. In this blade driving device, photography is performed such that the storage of an electric charge starts in the CCD and the closing motion of the shutter blade is completed. Opening energization is applied to the motor in order to allow the shutter blade to pre-perform an opening motion before performing a closing motion whenever a still image is photographed. Thus, the shutter blade always reaches an opened state prior to photography even if the shutter blade is closed without permission by receiving an impulsive force from the outside because of, for example, being dropped. Therefore, photography can be reliably performed. |
| US07961244B2 |
Optical filter and optical device provided with this optical filter
Light emitted from a taking lens 20 enters a first birefringent plate 1a to be spatially divided along a first direction extending perpendicular to the direction in which the light advances to achieve two separate rays L10 and L20. The vibrational planes of the two light fluxes L10 and L20 emitted from the first birefringent plate 1a are converted to a circularly polarized light by a phase plate 1c. The two light fluxes L10′ and L20′ emitted from the phase plate 1c are each spatially divided into two by a second birefringent plate 1d along a second direction extending perpendicular to the first direction to achieve four separate rays L11, L12, L21 and L22, to be guided to an imaging plane 15a of an imaging device 15. At least either the first birefringent plate or the second birefringent plate is constituted of lithium niobate, rutile, Chilean nitrate, or the like. |
| US07961239B2 |
CMOS image sensor with interpolated data of pixels
The present invention relates to a CMOS image sensor. According to the present invention, the CMOS image sensor includes a two-dimensional pixel array (110), a row decoder (130), and a column decoder (150). The two-dimensional pixel array (110) includes rectangular unit pixels each having a width to length ratio of 1:2. The row decoder (130) is placed on one side of the pixel array to designate a row address. The column decoder (150) is placed on another side of the pixel array to be perpendicular to the row decoder and is adapted to extract data of respective pixels from a row selected by the row decoder, amplify the extracted data and generate image data including pixel values. As a result, the present invention is advantageous in that it can easily perform interpolation compared to an image sensor having regular quadrilateral unit pixels. |
| US07961238B2 |
Solid-state image pickup device and method for driving the same in a number of modes
A system and method for driving a solid-state image pickup device including a pixel array unit including unit pixels. Each unit pixel includes a photoelectric converter, column signal lines and a number of analog-digital converting units. The unit pixels are selectively controlled in units of rows. Analog signals output from the unit pixels in a row selected by the selective control though the column signal lines are converted to digital signals via the analog-digital converting units. The digital signals are added among a number of unit pixels via the analog-digital converting units. The added digital signals from the analog-digital converting units are read. Each unit pixel in the pixel array unit is selectively controlled in units of arbitrary rows, the analog-distal converting units being operable to performing the converting in a (a) normal-frame-rate mode and a (b) high-frame-rate mode in response to control signals. |
| US07961234B2 |
Electronic equipment and method in electronic equipment for forming image information and a program product or implementation of the method
The invention relates to electronic equipment. The equipment includes camera means for forming data from an object located in the imaging direction, in which case the said camera means include at least two camera units (CAM1, CAM2) and data-processing means, which are arranged to process the data formed using the camera means, in a manner corresponding to the currently selected imaging mode, to form image information. In the equipment, the mutual position of the camera units (CAM1, CAM2) relative to each other is arranged to be altered to correspond to the current imaging mode. |
| US07961230B2 |
Image processing device, image processing program, image processing system, and image processing method
There is provided a configuration including a subject detection section adapted to detect an image of a specific subject in a target image, a ratio information acquisition section adapted to acquire ratio information representing a ratio between a size of the subject captured via a monocular lens used for taking an image of the target image and a size of the subject sensed by both eyes, and a transformation processing section adapted to execute image transformation on an area including the image of the subject on the target image based on the ratio information obtained by the ratio information acquisition section. |
| US07961221B2 |
Image pickup and reproducing apparatus
An image pickup position information acquisition unit acquires, from a position fixing unit, position information of an image pickup location of a moving image being picked up. A preceding image pickup position information storage unit stores position information of a preceding image pickup location as preceding image pickup position information. A change point detector compares the image pickup position information and the preceding image pickup position information. If the position indicated by the image pickup position information is spaced apart from the position indicated by the preceding image pickup position information by a predetermined distance, the change point detector detects the current position as a change point. The change point is recorded onto a change point position information. Thumbnail data generated by a thumbnail generator is recorded as a change point thumbnail. |
| US07961219B2 |
System and method for effectively implementing an electronic image hub device
A system and method for effectively implementing an electronic image hub device includes a peripheral device, such as a digital camera, that may be periodically connected to the image hub device by a system user. The system user may then utilize the image hub device to transfer captured data from the peripheral device to a specific data destination, such as a user service on a distributed computer network. The peripheral device also may utilize the image hub device to recharge batteries that become depleted through operation of the peripheral device. The system user may then subsequently access and utilize the captured data from the data destination in accordance with the present invention. |