| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07979913B2 |
Home network system and method therefor
A home network system allowing a user to directly control joining or removing of member devices in a domain using a user interface and to effectively control a status change of the member devices of the domain and a management method therefor. The home network system includes: a master device, which forms a domain with more than one controlled device, transmits a predetermined domain key to the controlled devices included in the domain, generates a new domain key whenever a configuration of the domain is changed, and transmits the new domain key to the controlled devices remaining in the domain; and a control point, which provides a user interface allowing a user to directly change the configuration of the domain. |
| US07979909B2 |
Application controlled encryption of web browser data
A browser cache-securing component facilitates online communication of confidential data, such as for financial information, purchasing transactions, or user identification. Caching webpages for subsequent presentation enhances user productivity and efficiency while reducing burdens on network resources. Yet, the security risks of intrusions into cache memory are mitigated by retaining encrypted data in cache memory without prior decryption. A modest overhead in decrypting when and if the webpage is to be presented again gains a security and privacy advantage without taking away functionality. Decrypted versions of confidential data can thereby be relegated to volatile memory. Upon termination of a session, a session key shared by a network server is deleted, preventing subsequent decryption. Executing the browser cache-securing component in a virtual machine environment allows multiple browser types to benefit from the security feature. |
| US07979908B2 |
Method and system of verifying and authenticating background and consumer records
A method and system of verifying and authenticating the accuracy of public or private background reports. These reports contain information about consumers, such as aggregated data about criminal history, security clearance qualifications, security access authorization, credit, insurance and medical claims, and other public and private information wherein applicants, employees, individuals, credit reporting agencies, background screening entities, and consumers self-authenticate the accuracy of the records. The consumer report and a self-authentication questionnaire is delivered to the consumer by hand, email, facsimile, securely online, mail, overnight express, courier, or other delivery means, which is returned by similar methods with the completed questionnaire. |
| US07979907B2 |
Systems and methods for detection of new malicious executables
A system and methods for detecting malicious executable attachments at an email processing application of a computer system using data mining techniques. The email processing application may be located at the server or at the client or host. The executable attachments are filtered from said email, and byte sequence features are extracted from the executable attachment. The executable attachments are classified by comparing the byte sequence feature of the executable attachment to a classification rule set derived from byte sequence features of a data set of known executables having a predetermined class in a set of classes, e.g., malicious or benign. The system is also able to classify executable attachments as borderline when the difference between the probability that the executable is malicious and the probability that the executable is benign are within a predetermined threshold. The system can notify the user when the number of borderline attachments exceeds the threshold in order to refine the classification rule set. |
| US07979902B2 |
Using object based security for controlling object specific actions on a surface based computing device
The present invention discloses a solution for object level security on a surface based computing device that includes software objects and behavior tokens. The behavior tokens can control an extent that users are able to manipulate the software objects using the surface based computing device. Different levels of control can be established on an object-by-object basis for different users. The extent users are able to manipulate the software objects can also depends upon set of users proximate to the surface based computing device. |
| US07979900B2 |
Method and system for logging into and providing access to a computer system via a communication network
A method and system for logging into and providing access to multiple computer systems via the Internet or other communications network using a single authenticating process (e.g. username and password). |
| US07979898B2 |
System and method for monitoring and controlling software usage in a computer
Methods and systems for providing real-time reporting of software usage includes an agent running on a local computer. The agent identifies new processes started on the computer and checks the new process against a restricted list. If the new process is on the restricted list, the agent automatically performs one or more restriction actions associated with the executable name of the process. The restricted list is contained in a configuration file stored on the local computer. A master configuration file for the local computer is stored on a server and replaces the configuration file when the configuration file is outdated. An authorized administrator may edit the master configuration file by adding or removing executable and DLL names from the restricted list and by adding or removing restriction actions associated with the executable and DLL names on the restricted list. |
| US07979897B2 |
System and article of manufacture for bidirectional data transfer
Provided are a system and article of manufacture for bidirectional data transfer. In certain embodiments a link layer login is sent from a first port to a second port. Subsequently, an application layer login is sent from the first port to the second port to establish a first data path, wherein the first data path is from the first port to the second port. Subsequently, another application layer login is sent from the second port to the first port to establish a second data path, wherein the second data path is from the second port to the first port. In certain other embodiments, a first data path is established from a first port to a second port. A determination is made at the first port, whether the second port has a second data path established from the second port to the first port. An application layer logout is sent from the first port to the second port, in response to determining that the second port has the second data path established from the second port to the first port. The first data path is terminated from the first port to the second port in response to receiving the application layer logout at the second port. |
| US07979896B2 |
Authorization for access to web service resources
A web service includes a protected resource. A requester requests access to the protected resource by sending a request to the web service. The web service prevents access to the web service until the request has been authorized by an authorizer. After the request has been authorized by the authorizer, the web service allows the requester to access the protected resource. |
| US07979892B2 |
Peripheral device
A peripheral device having one or more functions comprises: an input unit letting a user input identification information; function selection buttons each of which is previously associated with one of the functions and can be operated for selecting the associated function; a usage permission information storing unit previously storing usage permission information (indicating whether the use of each function has been permitted or not) while associating it with the identification information on each user; and a notification unit notifying the user whether the user is permitted to use each function or not when the identification information is inputted, by displaying the function selection buttons regarding functions that the user has been permitted to use and the function selection buttons regarding functions that the user has not been permitted to use in different styles discriminable from each other based on the usage permission information associated with the inputted identification information. |
| US07979883B2 |
Digital broadcasting system and method of processing data thereof
A digital broadcasting system and data processing method are disclosed, which are highly resistant to channel changes and noise. The present invention includes receiving a broadcast signal having mobile service data and main service data multiplexed with each other from at least one parade, demodulating the broadcast signal, acquiring program table information describing at least one service included in at least one ensemble from the demodulated broadcast signal and decoding the mobile service data associated with a first service using a program table information transport unit in the acquired program table information. |
| US07979881B1 |
System and method for identifying audio/visual programs to be recorded
A token schema is provided for identifying a broadcast audio and/or visual program to facilitate recording of the identified program. The token schema includes program criteria for identifying a corresponding audio/or visual program, which is sufficient to enable a recording system that receives the token to record the identified program based on the token. A token also represents an audio and/or visual program in a form that may be sent to one or more recipients, such as part of an email message or by other data transport mechanisms. |
| US07979877B2 |
Advertising methods for advertising time slots and embedded objects
Disclosed is a process for an advertising bidding system in which advertisers can bid on advertising time slots or enhanced ads that can be inserted in either prerecorded or live television programming. A high degree of flexibility is provided by allowing embedded ads to be purchased and displayed in a very short time period. This allows TV broadcasters to increase revenues and allows advertisers to have more flexibility in advertising. Objects can be inserted in the display video broadcast using enhancements such as by using mark-up language overlay pages or by video combination techniques. The effect of these ads can be evaluated for advertising campaigns. |
| US07979875B2 |
Optical disk having protective coating
An optical disk having a recording layer on a substrate, a bonding layer which is made of an ultraviolet cured resin bonding the recording layer, a transparent layer which is bonded to the bonding layer, and an overcoating layer which is formed on the transparent sheet and is made of the ultraviolet cured resin further has a mixed layer which is formed by mixing the ultraviolet cured resins of the bonding layer and the overcoating layer. Consequently, the bonding layer, the overcoating layer, and the mixed layer are integrally cured, so that the substrate is entirely covered with the ultraviolet cured resin having transparency, which allows a light transmitting layer A to be protected with sufficient strength. |
| US07979873B2 |
Chucking device for removably holding a disk with a central opening, brushless motor with the chucking device and disk drive apparatus with the brushless motor
A chucking device for removably holding a disk with a central opening, includes a shaft coaxially arranged with a specified center axis; a turntable fixed to the shaft, the turntable having a disk support surface for supporting the disk; and a resin-made cone arranged axially above the turntable, the cone including a shaft-fixed portion fixed to the shaft, a disk holding portion having an annular disk holding surface inclined radially outwardly and axially downwardly, and an arm portion for radially interconnecting the shaft-fixed portion and the disk holding portion. Herein, the arm portion includes a support portion extending radially outwardly from the shaft-fixed portion and an elastically deformable portion joined to the support portion for being elastically deformed to axially downwardly move the disk holding portion as the disk comes into contact with the disk holding portion. |
| US07979869B2 |
Method and system for performing I/O operations using a hypervisor
A method for installing a device driver for a device in a guest domain, that includes obtaining a first device driver for the device by a hypervisor, installing, by the hypervisor, the first device driver into memory allocated to the guest domain, and notifying an operating system in the guest domain of the first device driver after installing the device driver, wherein the operating system communicates with the device using the first device driver. |
| US07979866B2 |
Monitoring messages in a distributed data processing system
Methods, systems, and products are provided for monitoring messages in a distributed data processing system. Embodiments typically include putting a message containing a monitoring token on a queue on a server; receiving a call to get the message from the queue on the server; determining, with an API exit running on the server, whether the call to get the message is made by a process running on a remote client or by a process running on the server; and if the call to get the message is made by a process running on the server, removing the monitoring token from the message with the API exit. Many embodiments also include removing the monitoring token from the message with a channel exit running on the remote client, if the call to get the message is made by a process on the remote client. |
| US07979865B2 |
Identifying separate threads executing within a single process
A computer-readable medium bearing computer-executable instructions which, when executed on a computer, carry out a method for handling a request for an operating system service is presented. The method comprises receiving a request for execution of an operating system service. The corresponding operating system service is then identified. A unique service identifier that corresponds to the requested operating system service is obtained. A service thread is generated, the thread being associated with an executing process. Storage associated with the service thread is initialized with the unique service identifier. Thereafter, the execution of the service thread is initiated. |
| US07979864B2 |
Apparatus for setting used license of executing job into unused license state and allocating the set unused license to a to be executed job based on priority
A job management apparatus includes a detection section that detects the number of unused licenses, a determination section that determines whether or not the number of unused licenses is sufficient to cover the number of licenses necessary for execution of a first job to be executed, and a job control section that sets a used license that is used by a second job into an unused state, in which a priority rank assigned to the second job is lower than a priority rank assigned to the first job, when the determination section determines that the number of unused licenses is not sufficient to cover the number of licenses necessary for execution of the first job, and allocates the used license set into the unused state to the first job. |
| US07979860B2 |
Method for estimating cost when placing operations within a modulo scheduler when scheduling for processors with a large number of function units or reconfigurable data paths
A process for scheduling operations using a cost function is provided. A number of scheduling options are determined for an operation and a cost is computed for each scheduling option. The process then schedules the operation based on a computed cost. |
| US07979859B2 |
Managing automated resource provisioning with a workload scheduler
The present invention provides a method, system, and computer program product for managing automated resource provisioning management systems. In an embodiment, the method begins by receiving a plurality of provisioning operations from a resource provisioning management system. Each of these provisioning operations is linked to a specific job. A determination is then made as to which jobs are to be managed. The jobs are then grouped together and job dependencies are identified. The jobs are then scheduled for execution. At the appropriate time, the jobs are invoked. The jobs are audited as they are being performed. |
| US07979858B2 |
Systems and methods for executing a computer program that executes multiple processes in a multi-processor environment
Systems and methods are provided for executing a computer program that performs multiple processes in a multi-processor environment. A client computer may be used to execute a process manager software application for generating computer instructions that identify a plurality of the processes that may be run in parallel on separate processors. A metadata server may be used to store metadata that identifies whether the multi-processor environment is available to execute the plurality of processes. The computer program may be stored on a computer-readable medium and may be configured to execute on the client computer, and when executed by the client computer may cause the client computer to query the metadata server to determine if the multi-processor environment is available to execute the plurality of processes. The computer program may be further configured to use the computer instructions to cause the plurality of processes to be executed in the multi-processor environment. The computer instructions may enable the computer program to execute the plurality of processes in parallel. |
| US07979855B2 |
Image processing apparatus, management system, and computer program product
An image processing apparatus, a management system and a computer program product are disclosed that enable firmware that controls operations of the image processing apparatus to be updated appropriately, even when, for example, an initial setting in the image processing apparatus has been changed. Firmware in the image processing apparatus is stored in a rewritable storage device such as a flash ROM, and is updated by transmitting a new firmware to the image processing apparatus and rewriting the contents of the storage device. The new firmware is transmitted together with a control program (including script) that describes processing to be executed in the image processing apparatus before and/or after updating the firmware. |
| US07979851B2 |
System and program product for providing computing-environment control of a resource to be accessed by program code
A system and program product for facilitating computing-environment control of a resource to be accessed by existing program code is provided which includes transparently replacing an uncontrolled resource referenced by existing program code with a resource controlled by a computing environment. The protocol also includes transparently interposing at least one resource management service of the computing environment between the existing program code and the resource controlled by the computing environment, wherein the at least one resource management service provides computing-environment control of the resource to be accessed by the existing program code. The replacing of the uncontrolled resource prevents the existing program code from directly accessing the resource. |
| US07979838B2 |
Method of automating creation of a clock control distribution network in an integrated circuit floorplan
The process of laying out a floorplan for a clock control distribution network in an integrated chip design is simplified and the efficiency of a staging network created is improved. Rather than manually create the staging network in HDL or as a network description table while looking at a picture of the chip floorplan in a Cadence Viewer, an automated method which runs in the Cadence environment uses an algorithmic approach to the problem of maximizing the utilization of staging latches, eliminating unnecessary power and area usage. Efficiency is maximized by updating the Physical Layout directly with the staging solution arrived at by the algorithm. |
| US07979835B1 |
Method of estimating resource requirements for a circuit design
A method of estimating resource requirements for a circuit design is disclosed. The method comprises identifying intermediate circuit modules of a netlist associated with the circuit design; accessing a library of resource requirements for intermediate circuit modules of netlists for circuit designs; selecting intermediate circuit modules of the library according to predetermined parameters for the circuit design; and generating an estimate of resource requirements for the circuit design based upon resource requirements of the selected intermediate circuit modules. |
| US07979832B2 |
Process variation tolerant memory design
Methods and systems for designing process variation tolerant memory are disclosed. A memory circuit is divided into functional blocks. A statistical distribution is calculated for each of the functional blocks. Then, the distributions of each block are combined to verify a credibility of the circuit. The credibility is verified if the circuit meets a predetermined yield. |
| US07979830B2 |
Layout design method for a semiconductor integrated circuit
A method of designing a layout of a semiconductor integrated circuit having a hard macro includes acquiring a condition for permitting wirings with respect to a given region within the hard macro, and searching a passing wiring that passes through the given region among the wirings that are arranged on the semiconductor integrated circuit. The method further includes allowing a normal passing wiring that satisfies the condition to pass through the hard macro, and wiring a defaulting passing wiring that does not satisfy the condition so as to bypass the hard macro among the searched passing wirings. |
| US07979829B2 |
Integrated circuit cell library with cell-level process compensation technique (PCT) application and associated methods
A layout of cells is generated to satisfy a netlist of an integrated circuit. Cell-level process compensation technique (PCT) processing is performed on a number of levels of one or more cells in the layout to generate a PCT processed version of the one more cells in the layout. An as-fabricated aerial image of each PCT processed cell level is generated to facilitate evaluation of PCT processing adequacy. Cell-level circuit extraction is performed on the PCT processed version of each cell using the generated as-fabricated aerial images. The cell-level PCT processing and cell-level circuit extraction are performed before placing and routing of the layout on a chip. The PCT processed version of the one or more cells and corresponding as-fabricated aerial images are stored in a cell library. |
| US07979822B2 |
Apparatus and method for performing a sequence of verification tests to verify a design of a data processing system
An apparatus and method are provided for performing a sequence of verification tests to verify the design of a data processing system. The apparatus comprises a system under verification representing the design of the data processing system, the system under verification including a component model representing at least one hardware component of the data processing system. The component model includes an interface module through which the component model interacts with other portions of the system under verification during performance of the verification tests. An alternative model is provided for representing the hardware component for selected verification tests, and the interface module comprises a verification interface module which is responsive to switch criteria specified by the alternative model to switch in the alternative model in place of the component model. Accordingly, by such an approach, the alternative model can take the place of the component model during performance of the selected verification tests. This maintains system integrity of the system under verification, whilst providing a simple and effective mechanism for enabling the alternative model to take the place of the component model for certain specific verification tests, for example when testing corner cases in the design. |
| US07979819B2 |
Minterm tracing and reporting
Disclosed are a method, a system and a computer program product for determining and reporting minterms to aid in implementing an engineering change order (ECO). A Minterm Tracing and Reporting (MTR) utility, which executes on a computer system, receives two or more timing points of an optimized netlist, where one or more of the two or more timing points are received from one or more of a user, a memory medium, and/or a network. For example, a timing point is a primary input, a primary output, or a latch point. After receiving the two or more timing points of the optimized netlist, the MTR utility determines two or more minterms of the optimized netlist. In determining the minterms, from one timing point to a next timing point: a polarity at the timing point may be determined, and a forward trace from the timing point to the next timing point is performed to determine the two or more minterms of the optimized netlist. In the forward trace from the timing point to the next timing point, the MTR utility determines two or more logical cones and one or more intersections of the logical cones. The MTR utility reports (e.g., communicates) each of the determined minterms, the determined polarities, and the one or more intersections of logical cones to one or more of a computer-executable application, a network, a memory medium, and/or a display. |
| US07979818B1 |
Packet processing validation
Approaches for validating a design for a packet processing circuit. A method inputs a high-level language specification of a first format of an input packet. From the input specification, a plurality of high-level input packets having the first format are generated, with each field of each input packet having a value consistent with the packet specification. The packet processing circuit is simulated using a first model with input of the high-level input packets, and a first plurality of high-level output packets are output. The high-level input packets are translated into low-level input packets. The packet processing circuit is simulated using a second model with input of the low-level input packets, and a plurality of low-level output packets are output and translated into a second plurality of high-level output packets. The first and second pluralities of high-level output packets are compared to corresponding expected output packets, and comparison results stored. |
| US07979817B2 |
Net list producing device producing a net list with an interconnection parasitic element by hierarchical processing
A memory cell information producing unit obtains physical terminal coordinates, physical terminal names and logical terminal names of a memory cell and layout data, and operates based on them to specify parasitic elements parasitic on interconnections of the memory cell, and to produce memory cell information including the physical terminal names and representing physical properties and a connection relationship of inner elements of the memory cell and the parasitic elements. Memory cell array information producing unit obtains connection information determining the connection relationship of physical terminals of the memory cell, assigns node names to the physical terminals of the memory cell based on the connection information, and produces memory cell array information representing the node names of all the memory cells. A memory cell array net list producing unit produces a net list of the memory cell array formed of the memory cell information and the memory cell array information. |
| US07979813B2 |
Chip-scale package conversion technique for dies
A method is described for converting an existing die, originally designed for a non-chip-scale package, to a chip-scale package die, where the die's bonding pads are located in positions within a defined grid of candidate positions. In the first step, the die's layout, comprising its outer boundaries and areas needed to be electrically connected to bonding pads, are shifted relative to a grid of candidate positions for the bonding pads until an optimal alignment is identified. Bonding pads positions on the die are then selected corresponding to optimum grid positions within the outer boundaries of the die. The die is then fabricated using the original masks to form at least the semiconductor regions and using a new set of masks for defining the new locations of the bonding pads for the chip-scale package. The chip-scale package is then bonded to a PCB using chip-scale package technology. |
| US07979812B2 |
Method and apparatus for correcting assist-feature-printing errors in a layout
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that adjusts assist features in a layout to prevent assist features from printing. During operation, the system receives a layout. The system then identifies an assist-feature (AF)-printing hotspot in the layout, wherein the AF-printing hotspot includes a set of assist features and one or more target patterns in proximity to the set of assist features. At least one assist feature in the set of assist features is expected to print during a lithography process. Next, the system modifies the AF-printing hotspot by: (1) modifying the set of assist features; and (2) performing optical-proximity-correction (OPC) on the one or more target patterns. The system then performs a lithography simulation on the modified AF-printing hotspot to determine if: (1) a through-process-window associated with the modified AF-printing hotspot is acceptable; and (2) no assist feature in the modified set of assist features is expected to print. If so, the system replaces the AF-printing hotspot with the modified AF-printing hotspot. |
| US07979808B2 |
Navigational tools for large trees
This disclosure describes, generally, tools for navigation of tree structures. For example, a software application comprising a user interface for allowing a user to navigate a tree structure is described. The user interface comprises a graphical element including the tree structure. The tree structure comprises multiple nodes which represent a hierarchical view of data within the structure. One of the nodes is set as the active node. The computer software application also includes a storage element to store a list of previous active nodes. The graphical element is in conjunction with a first navigational element configured to step backward through the list of previous active nodes, and to set the stepped to node as the active node. The graphical element is further in conjunction with a second navigational element configured to step forward through the list of previous active nodes, and to set the stepped to node as the active node. |
| US07979807B2 |
Method and system for communicating and exchanging data between browser frames
Browser frames residing on different domain servers may exchange information indirectly without compromising security that ordinary restricts frame to frame communication. The first browser frame causes the browser to generate a notification of a change of state of the browser frame. The browser sends the notification, together with data values from the content of the first browser frame, to a domain server that hosts the second frame. The server software running on the domain server receives and interprets the notification and data values, and updates the content of the second frame according to the interpretation. The domain server then sends the updated content back to the browser that issued the notification. The browser displays the updated content in the area allocated to the second frame. |
| US07979804B1 |
Cross-view undo/redo for multi-view editing environments
An editing environment is disclosed having both a design and code views, each with its own undo/redo stacks. The editing environment includes logic to form an object that encapsulates the edits and changes made during a code view editing session. The object is associated or pointed to an element in the design view undo/redo stack. When the editing environment receives an undo/redo command in which a code view edit block is to be undone, the design view takes the specific object, which is then translated back into the proper format for code view execution. The code view then executes the undo/redo entries and returns any remaining code view edits that were not undone or redone, to the design view to place back into a code view edit block in either of the design view undo/redo stacks, along with the new related object. |
| US07979803B2 |
RSS hostable control
The embodiments described above utilize and leverage RSS to enable a user to interact more easily with different types of data, or data from different sources that are available over the web. In accordance with at least some embodiments, a hostable and/or customizable control is provided and gives the user the ability to interact with RSS feeds to store and further manipulate collections of items from different RSS feeds. |
| US07979801B2 |
Media presentation driven by meta-data events
A presentation application provides for authoring and playback of multi-media presentations. Each page of the presentation may contain one or more types of media, including video, text, images and other media. A user may interact with the presentation during playback by selecting different instances of the media. Media elements of the presentation may be tagged with meta-data. Tagged media elements may generate a tag event associated with meta-data in response to being selected, perform an action when a tag event with a particular meta-data occurs, or both. When a user selects a tagged media instance during presentation playback, the tagged media generates a tag event with a particular meta-data. The application detects the tag event, determines one or more other media instances (if any) configured to perform an action upon detection of the tag event with the particular meta-data, and carries out the corresponding action. |
| US07979799B2 |
Image display apparatus and display method for an image display apparatus
A computer connectable image display apparatus for presentation is provided. The image display apparatus has a candidate information obtaining unit, a selection screen display unit, a presentation execution instruction unit, and a drawing screen display unit. The candidate information obtaining unit obtains selection candidate information generated by the computer relating selection candidates for a presentation subject file. The selection screen display unit generates and displays a selection screen for selecting the presentation subject file based on the selection candidate information. The presentation execution instruction unit makes the computer to execute the selected presentation subject file by sending selection results with the selection screen. The drawing screen display unit captures and displays a computer drawing screen drawn by the computer. The image display apparatus displays the selection screen without displaying the computer drawing screen when a connection with the computer is established, and displays the computer drawing screen when drawing by the computer executing the selected presentation subject file is started. |
| US07979798B2 |
System and method for providing user help tips
In a system and method for providing user help tips, the system may determine a relevance to a user of a plurality of tips, may assign priority categories to the tips based on the relevance and may determine which tip to output based on the priority categories of the tips. |
| US07979797B2 |
Device having selective directional tactile feedback capability
Directional haptic feedback for a haptic feedback interface device. A haptic feedback interface device, in communication with a host computer, includes a housing physically contacted by a user operating the interface device, and a plurality of actuators producing inertial forces when the actuators are driven by control signals. Each of the actuators includes a rotatable eccentric mass positioned offset on a rotating shaft of the actuator, where the actuators are rotated simultaneously such that centrifugal forces from the rotation of masses combine to output the inertial forces substantially only along a single axis having a desired direction approximately in a plane of rotation of the masses. |
| US07979796B2 |
Searching for commands and other elements of a user interface
The present invention provides a search capability to allow a user to easily locate a menu command or other user interface element associated with a search result. In one embodiment, a user enters a search term (or a portion thereof) in a search field. A list of results is displayed, for example in a results menu. The user can select or highlight any of the listed results; in response, the corresponding command is brought into view in context within the user interface, and is highlighted. The user can activate the selected command directly from the search results menu. |
| US07979792B2 |
Method and computer-readable medium for providing page and table formatting services
A computer-implemented method and computer-readable medium are provided for providing page and table layout services. According to the method, a layout manager program provides layout services to client application programs. The layout manager receives requests from client application programs to format document content. In response to such requests, the layout manager performs one or more callback operations to the client application to retrieve portions of the document to be laid out. Once the portions of the page to be laid out have been retrieved through the callback operations, the layout manager lays out the portions of the document and notifies the client application that the layout is completed. The client application can then query the layout manager for the formatting result. |
| US07979790B2 |
Combining and displaying multimedia content
A method and system to manage rendering of multimedia content are provided. A theme specifies a collection of layouts defining multimedia content placement. The multimedia content is processed to extract one or more characteristics. The layouts are selected and populated with multimedia content based on the one or more characteristics associated with the multimedia content. The multimedia content is rendered by transitioning through the selected layouts. |
| US07979788B2 |
Document processing apparatus, document processing method and storage medium storing document processing program
A document processing apparatus has an attachment unit and a storage. The attachment unit attaches a comment to an electronic document as additional information. The comment relates to a modification of the electronic document. The storage associates the comment with modified place information and stores them. The modified place information indicates a modified place of the electronic document, when the electronic document is modified based on the comment. |
| US07979784B2 |
Method and system for enhancing transmission reliability of video information over wireless channels
A method and system for enhancing transmission reliability of video information over a wireless channel is provided. The video information includes pixels, each having a plurality of components and each component including video information bits that are placed in sub-packets within a packet. Error detection information is determined for one or more sub-packets, and placed in the packet. Then the packet is transmitted from a transmitter to a receiver a wireless channel, wherein the receiver uses the error detection information per sub-packet to check for transmission errors and request retransmission of erroneous video information bits based on their perceptual importance. |
| US07979783B2 |
Error detection device and method for error detection for a command decoder
An error detection device for a command decoder is described, the command decoder reading out an associated sequence of control signal words from a command memory based on an input word, wherein the sequence of control signal words has at least one control signal word, having: a controller designed to provide the input word at a first time and the input word at a second time for reading out the command memory, wherein the second time is delayed with respect to the first time, to effect a readout of the sequence of control signal words at a first time and a readout of the sequence of control signal words at a second time; and a comparator designed to receive and compare the associated sequences of control signal words read out at the first and second times, and to output a signal indicating an error if the associated sequences of control signal words read out at the first and second times are different. |
| US07979778B2 |
CRC counter normalization
The ability to accurately and efficiently calculate and report communication errors is becoming more important than ever in today's communications environment. More specifically calculating and reporting CRC anomalies in a consistent manner across a plurality of communications connections in a network is crucial to accurate error reporting. Through a normalization technique applied to a CRC computation period (e.g., the PERp value), accurate error identification and reporting for each individual connection can be achieved. |
| US07979775B2 |
Turbo interference suppression in communication systems
Disclosed is a method and communication device for suppressing interference. The method comprises performing, with a turbo decoder (314), at least one turbo decoding attempt (1106) on a received signal (1104). The turbo decoding attempt generates at least one whole word code bit therefrom (1108). The whole word code bit (1108) corresponds to a group of bits comprising a transmitted symbol. The method determines if the whole word code bit (1108) has a confidence level exceeding a given threshold (1110). If the whole word code bit (1108) does have a confidence level exceeding the given threshold, the whole code word bit is selected for use in data symbol recovery (1114). |
| US07979773B2 |
RAID array auto-initialization (RAAI)
A system and method are provided for efficiently initializing a redundant array of independent disks (RAID). The method monitors host write operations and uses that information to select the optimal method to perform a parity reconstruction operation. The bins to which data access write operations have not occurred can be initialized using a zeroing process. In one aspect, the method identifies drives in the RAID array capable of receiving a ‘WriteRepeatedly’ command and leverages that capability to eliminate the need for the RAID disk array controller to provide initialization data for all disk array initialization transfers. This reduces the RAID array controller processor and I/O bandwidth required to initialize the array and further reduces the time to initialize a RAID array. In a different aspect, a method is provided for efficiently selecting a host write process for optimal data redundancy and performance in a RAID array. |
| US07979772B2 |
Method and system for providing a contention-free interleaver for channel coding
A method for operating a contention-free interleaver for channel coding is provided that includes generating a sub-table based on a data block size, N, and an offset vector, v, of length x and generating an interleave table based on the sub-table. For a particular embodiment, the interleave table is generated based on the sub-table by generating a plurality of multiplets that together form the interleave table. In addition, the sub-table may be generated based on the data block size and the offset vector by (i) rounding the data block size up to a nearest multiple of the length, x, of the offset vector to generate a modified block size, N′, and (ii) generating the sub-table of a size equal to N′/x. |
| US07979771B2 |
Erasure coding technique for scalable and fault tolerant storage system
A method for encoding a block of data to allow it to be stored or transmitted correctly in the face of accidental or deliberate modifications, the method including constructing a number n greater than one of original components, each of which is derived from the block and each of which is smaller than the block, and combining original components to construct a number m greater than one of new components, wherein each of the new components is smaller than the sum of the sizes of the original components combined to produce it, wherein the block can be reconstructed from any set of n different components selected from the original components and new components, and wherein a set of n different components selected from the original components and new components contains more redundant information about the block than the set of n original components. |
| US07979764B2 |
Distributed test compression for integrated circuits
A method for testing integrated circuits is provided. The method provides for incorporating compression and decompression logic into each sub-component of an integrated circuit, developing test modes that target different sub-components of the integrated circuit, selecting one of the test modes, applying a test pattern to one or more sub-components of the integrated circuit targeted by the one test mode, comparing a response from application of the test pattern to a known good response, and diagnosing the response to determine which part of the one or more sub-components targeted by the one test mode failed when the response does not match the known good response. |
| US07979763B2 |
Fully X-tolerant, very high scan compression scan test systems and techniques
Scan testing and scan compression are key to realizing cost reduction and shipped quality. New defect types in ever more complex designs require increased compression. However, increased density of unknown (X) values reduces effective compression. A scan compression method can achieve very high compression and full coverage for any density of unknown values. The described techniques can be fully integrated in the design-for-test (DFT) and automatic test pattern generation (ATPG) flows. Results from using these techniques on industrial designs demonstrate consistent and predictable advantages over other methods. |
| US07979762B2 |
Integrated circuit board with JTAG functions
In an integrated circuit board, a plurality of integrated circuits to be checked are connected together in a star shape. Operation clock data for JTAG of each integrated circuit and check data for checking each integrated circuit are stored. When an integrated circuit to be checked is specified, operation clock data for JTAG and check data for the specified integrated circuit are determined. With an operation clock for JTAG according to the determined operation clock data for JTAG, the determined check data is input to the specified integrated circuit. Based on the check data and output data output from the integrated circuit to which this check data is input, the integrated circuit board determines a malfunction in the integrated circuit, and then stores the determination result in a storage device. |
| US07979759B2 |
Test and bring-up of an enhanced cascade interconnect memory system
A memory hub device with test logic is configured to communicate with memory devices via multiple hub device ports, and is also configured to communicate on one or more busses in an upstream and downstream direction. The test logic includes a built-in self test apparatus providing logic to simultaneously and independently test the memory devices interfaced to one or more of the hub device ports using read and write data patterns. The test logic also includes configuration registers to hold fault and diagnostic information, and to initiate one or more tests. The memory hub device can further include command collision detection logic, a trace array, buffer transmit mode logic, trigger logic, clock adjustment logic, transparent mode logic, and a configured command sequencer, as well as additional features. |
| US07979755B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit device for display controller
The present invention is directed to repair a defective bit included in a memory in a semiconductor integrated circuit device for a display controller. The semiconductor integrated circuit device has a display memory capable of storing display data in a storage area, and a repair circuit capable of repairing a defect by replacing an area including a defect in the display memory with a spare storage area provided on the outside of a regular storage area for storing the display data. The device further includes a selector circuit provided on a transmission path of output data from the display memory and selectively replacing output data from the regular storage area with output data from the spare storage area in accordance with a control signal from the repair circuit. By selectively replacing the output data from the regular storage area with output data from the spare storage area in accordance with a control signal from the repair circuit, a defective bit is repaired. |
| US07979748B2 |
Method and system for analyzing memory leaks occurring in java virtual machine data storage heaps
A plurality of heap dump requests associated with an operating virtual machine (VM) program is received from a VM profiler interface module at a heap dump request processing module. In response to receipt of each heap dump request at the heap dump request processing module, a dynamic modifiable library identified within a dynamic modifiable configuration file is loaded into a memory, where the dynamic modifiable library comprises instructions associated with processing a current heap dump request. The instructions associated with processing the current heap dump request are executed. The dynamic modifiable library is unloaded from the memory. A plurality of heap dump files and a plurality of object movement event files generated by execution of the instructions are analyzed. A memory leak associated with the operating VM program is automatically identified based upon the analyzed plurality of heap dump files and the plurality of object movement event files. |
| US07979747B2 |
Interactive problem resolution presented within the context of major observable application behaviors
A system, method, and article of manufacture are disclosed for monitoring and resolving problems detected in the application stack. The application stack may include multiple, interpedently application components which collectively provide a unified service. An interactive problem resolution program may monitor and assist users in troubleshooting an application stack installed on a separate computer system. Generally, when a problem in the application stack is detected, the IPR Program may alert users to the problem and provide information about the problem to guide users in taking steps to correct the problem. |
| US07979745B2 |
On-chip debug emulator, debugging method, and microcomputer
An on-chip debug emulator is capable of connecting to the target device and the host device for remotely debugging the program in the target device. The on-chip debug emulator contains a debug communication control unit. This debug communication control unit contains a plurality of serial communication circuits, the plurality of serial communication circuits are commonly provided with a clock signal. The debug communication control unit controls communications with the target device based on commands output from the host device. Each of The plurality of serial communication circuits contains a data buffer and serially transmits data stored in the data buffer to and from the target device while synchronized with the clock signal. Namely, the plurality of serial communication circuits communicate in parallel while operating synchronized with the same clock. The on-chip debug emulator can in this way be made utilizing a low-cost microcomputer not containing any parallel communication circuits. |
| US07979739B2 |
Systems and methods for managing a redundant management module
Systems and methods for managing a redundant management module are provided. In this regard, a representative system, among others, includes first and second management modules that are configured to manage a computing device; and a programmable logic device that is configured to: instruct the first management module to manage the computing device responsive to detecting that the first management module is ready to manage the computing device, and instruct the second management module to manage the computing device responsive to detecting that the first management module failed to manage the computing device. |
| US07979738B2 |
Virtual tape library backup systems, and a method of hard disk drive power control
The present invention discloses a virtual tape library (VTL) backup system, and a method of hard disk drive (HDD) power control in VTL devices. In the VTL backup system, a disk control module (DCM) is added to the VTL device and an agent module is added to the backup server. When a backup or disaster recovery (DR) operation is triggered, the agent module in the backup server can inform the disk control module (DCM) in the VTL device to trigger the VTL device to power on all the HDDs before the operation starts, and to power off all the HDDs after the operation ends. Power saving in the VTL device is achieved through power control over the HDDs. |
| US07979737B2 |
Method for accessing a Flash memory, and associated memory device and controller thereof
A method for accessing a Flash memory including a plurality of blocks includes: selectively programming a page in a first block of the blocks; when a status of the Flash memory is abnormal, determining whether a number of error bits is less than a predetermined value; and when the number of error bits is not less than the predetermined value, moving the first block. An associated memory device and a controller thereof are also provided, where the controller includes: a read only memory (ROM) arranged to store a program code; and a microprocessor arranged to execute the program code to control the access to the Flash memory. In addition, when the number of error bits is not less than the predetermined value, the controller that executes the program code by utilizing the microprocessor moves the first block. |
| US07979733B2 |
Health check monitoring process
A health check monitoring process embedded in a client system provides automation of monitoring processes of system and application components and creates and pushes incidents and/or administration tasks to a user or user interface if a critical situation or event, such as a monitored status of a component exceeds a predetermined threshold value or state, is detected. The creation of an incident includes automatically collecting context data associated with the event, generating a incident report associated with the collected diagnostic data and generating an incident service request based on the incident report. The context data may include technical and application information that is usually required to resolve the incident. The user interface includes various views depicting different levels of information related to the service request, such as an incident work list, details of a particular incident and details of the context data associated with an incident. |
| US07979729B2 |
Method for equalizing performance of computing components
A performance measure (e.g., processor speed) for computing components such as servers is optimized by creating models of power consumption versus the performance measure for each server, adding the power models to derive an overall power model, and calculating an optimum set point for the performance measure which corresponds to a power limit on the servers using the overall power model. The set point is then used to set power budgets for the servers based on their power models, and the servers maintain power levels no greater than their respective power budgets. The server power models are preferably created in real time by monitoring power consumption and the performance measure to derive sets of data points for the servers, and performing regression on the sets of data points to yield power models for the servers. Multiple server power models may be created for different program applications. |
| US07979722B2 |
Flash memory distribution of digital content
Methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable media for distributing digital content. One embodiment comprises an apparatus comprising: a device (100) communications bus; coupled to the device communications bus (150), a bi-directional communications controller (110) capable of communicatively interfacing with a computer (710); coupled to the device communications bus (150), an integrated processor (130) capable of executing (270) computer-executable instructions; and coupled to the integrated processor (130), a storage module (140) capable of storing computer-executable instructions. |
| US07979720B2 |
Data security for digital data storage
A computing system includes data encryption in the data path between a data source and data storage devices. The data encryption may utilize a key which is derived at least in part from an identification code stored in a non-volatile memory. The key may also be derived at least in part from user input to the computer. |
| US07979715B2 |
Replaceable print cartridge
A replaceable print cartridge includes a container and a memory coupled to the container. The memory is configured to limit use of printing material that is to be contained in the container. |
| US07979714B2 |
Authentication and access control device
Authentication and access control device (104) includes a first security key sub-system (110, 112, 114, 116, 118). The first security key sub-system is responsive to an input signal for providing a first key code required for permitting a user access to a controlled resource. The device advantageously also includes a second security key sub-system (110, 112, 114, 116, 118) for providing a second key code different from the first key code. The second key code is useful for authenticating the user or facilitating secure use of a particular controlled resource (102). |
| US07979712B2 |
Network system, server and information terminal for list matching
A method, apparatus and system to ensure the security in the information exchange and to provide list matching with higher efficiency and practicality. In a particular embodiment, each of lists to be subject to list matching is represented as a polynomial having roots equivalent to the items of the list. Then, polynomials generated for the lists to be subject to list matching are added according to a distributed secret computation. A list containing an item equivalent to a root of a polynomial resulting from the addition is created and output as the list of a common item. |
| US07979710B2 |
Film fingerprinting
A technique for film marking includes coding a print identifier into a binary-coded bit-complement serial number; identifying particular frames that will be used to convey the bits of the binary-coded bit-complement serial number and marking these bit frames in accordance with the particular bit values of the binary-coded bit-complement serial number. The presence of a predefined mark on a bit frame is representative of a binary digit having a value of one, while the absence of the predefined mark on a bit frame is representative of a binary digit having a value of zero. |
| US07979706B1 |
Systems and methods for queuing an action in industrial automation systems
The subject invention relates to a system and methodology facilitating automated manufacturing processes in a regulated industrial controller environment, wherein operator commands are tied to one or more signature requirements before the requested commands take effect in a batch system. In one aspect, a system is provided for signature processing in an industrial control environment. The system includes a queuing component to hold a pending request for an action. A signature component then determines when an electronic signature is completed for the action, wherein a batch processor executes the action from the queuing component after the electronic signature is completed. A policy component can be provided to define one or more conditions for completing the electronic signature. |
| US07979704B2 |
Authentication system
An authentication system determines if a counterfeit ineligible unit is installed in a main device. When connected with a battery pack, a notebook PC generates and combines a random number and a function determination signal using a signal combining unit and transmits same to the battery pack. A first function calculation unit calculates the function of the random number. The battery pack has a signal separation unit to separate the combined signal into the random number and function determination signal, and a second function calculation unit to calculate the function of the random number for transmitting back to the notebook PC. A comparison unit compares the calculation results by the first and second function calculation units to determine whether the connected battery pack is an authorized one and denies connection if the pack is an unauthorized one. |
| US07979702B2 |
Protecting privacy of networked devices containing management subsystems
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a decommission command from a management console, determining that the decommission command is authentic, and disabling the manageability functions of a management subsystem on a managed device. |
| US07979701B1 |
Cross mapping graphical interface to show encryption relationships between hosts and storage devices
The invention operates in connection with a secure storage compartment feature of a storage security appliance to allow users to see the encryption and permission relationships between hosts and storage in one view. The invention also provides a user tool that enables users to manage secure storage compartments (encryption/key relationship) easily and access permissions between them. The invention also provides a user tool that helps users find missing relationships/permissions easily when troubleshooting a host's missing storage after a storage security appliance is installed. The invention further provides a user tool that overlays cross mapping/relationship information on top of a topology view, thereby making it easy for a user to see missing or extraneous relationships between hosts and storage. |
| US07979698B2 |
Apparatus and method for proving authenticity with personal characteristics
The present invention encrypts authentication information into an image, document or recording. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment is a method comprising generating the original work; generating authentication data when the original work is generated, the authentication data comprising at least location information identifying the location where the original work is generated, the location information provided by a received signal from a remote device, date and time information identifying when the original work is generated, the date and time information provided by a received signal from a remote device, and biometric information identifying an originator of the original work; and encrypting the original work with the authentication data using a secret private key when original work is generated. |
| US07979692B1 |
Device-to-device and client server based video monitoring and video teleconferencing/server networking technology for remote monitoring
Integration of the components of video monitoring, audio messaging, IP telephony, and video conferencing on a single infrastructure platform is provided. Data communications enable voice and video devices to communicate directly with compatible platforms at unlimited geographical locations supported by common wired and wireless networking standards and telecommunications protocols. Completely software driven encryption methods are used to ensure a portable, private, encryption-secure device-to-device and client server based video monitoring and teleconferencing system. Voice biometrics are also used as an authentication method to access the integrated system. |
| US07979685B1 |
Multiple instruction execution mode resource-constrained device
A resource-constrained device comprises a processor configured to execute multiple instruction streams comprising multiple instructions having an opcode and zero or more operands. Each of the multiple instruction streams is associated with one of multiple instruction execution modes having an instruction set comprising multiple instruction implementations. At least one of the multiple instruction implementations is configured to change the processor from a first instruction execution mode to a second instruction execution mode. The processor comprises an instruction fetcher configured to fetch an instruction from one of the multiple instruction streams based at least in part upon a current instruction execution mode. |
| US07979675B2 |
Pipelined microprocessor with fast non-selective correct conditional branch instruction resolution
A microprocessor includes a register that stores a state and a fetch unit that fetches instructions of a program. The program includes a first instruction followed non-immediately by a second instruction. The first instruction instructs the microprocessor to update the state in the register. The second instruction is a conditional branch instruction that specifies a branch condition based on the register state. The fetch unit dispatches the first instruction for execution but refrains from dispatching the second instruction for execution. Execution units receive the first instruction from the fetch unit and responsively update the register state. The fetch unit non-selectively correctly resolves the conditional branch instruction based on the register state when the execution units have updated the register state. The fetch unit also non-selectively refrains from sending the conditional branch instruction to the execution units to be resolved regardless of whether the execution units have updated the register state. |
| US07979673B2 |
Method and apparatus for matrix decompositions in programmable logic devices
A processor is adapted for performing a QR-decomposition. The processor has a program memory, a program controller, connected to the program memory to receive program instructions, and at least one processing unit. The processing unit includes a CORDIC calculation block, and has a distributed memory structure, with separate memory blocks for storing respective parameter values. |
| US07979672B2 |
Multi-core processors for 3D array transposition by logically retrieving in-place physically transposed sub-array data
A method and system for transposing a multi-dimensional array for a multi-processor system having a main memory for storing the multi-dimensional array and a local memory is provided. One implementation involves partitioning the multi-dimensional array into a number of equally sized portions in the local memory, in each processor performing a transpose function including a logical transpose on one of said portions and then a physical transpose of said portion, and combining the transposed portions and storing back in their original place in the main memory. |
| US07979668B2 |
Method and system for automatically distributing real memory between virtual memory page sizes
A method, system and computer program product for allocating real memory to virtual memory page sizes when all real memory is in use is disclosed. In response to a page fault, a page frame for a virtual page is selected. In response to determining that said page does not represent a new page, a page is paged-in into said page frame a repaging rate for a page size of the page is modified in a repaging rates data structure. |
| US07979667B2 |
Memory array search engine
Systems and/or methods that facilitate a search of a memory component(s) to locate a desired logical block address (LBA) associated with a memory location in a memory component are presented. Searches to locate a desired LBA(s) in a memory component(s) associated with a processor component are offloaded and controlled by the memory component(s). A search component searches pages in the memory array to facilitate locating a page of data associated with an LBA stored in the memory component. The search component can retrieve a portion of a page of data in a block in the memory component to facilitate determining whether the page contains an LBA associated with a command based in part on command information. The search component can search pages in the memory component until a desired page is located or a predetermined number of searches is performed without locating the desired page. |
| US07979666B2 |
System and method for context-independent codes for off-chip interconnects
A system and method for context-independent coding using frequency-based mapping schemes, sequence-based mapping schemes, memory trace-based mapping schemes, and/or transition statistics-based mapping schemes in order to reduce off-chip interconnect power consumption. State-of-the-art context-dependent, double-ended codes for processor-SDRAM off-chip interfaces require the transmitter and receiver (memory controller and SDRAM) to collaborate using the current and previously transmitted values to encode and decode data. In contrast, the memory controller can use a context-independent code to encode data stored in SDRAM and subsequently decode that data when it is retrieved, allowing the use of commodity memories. A single-ended, context-independent code is realized by assigning limited-weight codes using a frequency-based mapping technique. Experimental results show that such a code can reduce the power consumption of an uncoded off-chip interconnect by an average of 30% with less than a 0.1% degradation in performance. |
| US07979664B2 |
Method, system, and article of manufacture for returning empty physical volumes to a storage pool based on a threshold and an elapsed time period
Provided are a method, system and article of manufacture for return processing in storage pools. A plurality of physical volumes are allocated to a first storage pool. A determination is made whether the first storage pool has more than a threshold number of empty physical volumes. If the first storage pool has more than the threshold number of empty physical volumes, then at least one empty physical volume is returned to a second storage pool. |
| US07979660B2 |
Paging memory contents between a plurality of compute nodes in a parallel computer
Methods, apparatus, and products are disclosed for paging memory contents between a plurality of compute nodes in a parallel computer that includes: identifying, by a master node, a memory allocation request for an application executing on the master node, the memory allocation request requesting additional computer memory for use by the application during execution; requesting, by the master node from a slave node, an available memory notification specifying to the master node the computer memory available for allocation on the slave node; allocating, by the master node, at least a portion of the computer memory available for allocation on the slave node in dependence upon the memory allocation request and the available memory notification; and transferring, by the master node, contents of a portion of the computer memory on the master node to the allocated portion of the computer memory on the slave node. |
| US07979654B2 |
Method and system for restoring a volume in a continuous data protection system
A system for synchronizing a secondary volume with a primary volume in a continuous data protection system includes scanning means for scanning a region of the primary volume; comparing means for comparing the scanned region with a corresponding region of the secondary volume; storing means for storing an identification of the scanned region in a compare delta map when the comparing means returns a discrepancy between the scanned region and the corresponding region; copying means for copying data from the primary volume to the secondary volume, using the compare delta map as a guide to locate the data to copy; and revising means for revising the compare delta map by removing any changes made to the primary volume during a scan interval, which is a period of time required to scan the primary volume. |
| US07979650B2 |
Discovering data storage for backup
A method for enhancing computer data backup is disclosed. The method includes storing identifications and corresponding functionalities for a plurality of storage devices in a database. A storage device that is in data communication with a computer that is to be backed up is selected. An identification of the storage device selected for use in the backup is determined. If functionalities for the selected storage device are contained in the database, then at least one of the functionalities for the selected storage device is used to enhance a data backup to the selected storage device if functionalities for the selected storage device are stored in the database. If functionalities for the selected storage device are not contained in the database, then the selected storage device can be queried in an attempt to match it to one of the storage devices contained in the database, so that functionalities for the storage device contained within the database can be used to enhance data backup. |
| US07979649B1 |
Method and apparatus for implementing a storage lifecycle policy of a snapshot image
A method and apparatus for managing a lifecycle of a snapshot image using a storage lifecycle policy is described. In one embodiment, the method comprises recording a snapshot image of a volume and creating a copy of the snapshot image, wherein the copy is to be used to implement a storage lifecycle policy for the snapshot image. |
| US07979646B2 |
External memory controller node
A memory controller to provide memory access services in an adaptive computing engine is provided. The controller comprises: a network interface configured to receive a memory request from a programmable network; and a memory interface configured to access a memory to fulfill the memory request from the programmable network, wherein the memory interface receives and provides data for the memory request to the network interface, the network interface configured to send data to and receive data from the programmable network. |
| US07979640B2 |
Cache line duplication in response to a way prediction conflict
Embodiments of the present invention provide a system that handles way mispredictions in a multi-way cache. The system starts by receiving requests to access cache lines in the multi-way cache. For each request, the system makes a prediction of a way in which the cache line resides based on a corresponding entry in the way prediction table. The system then checks for the presence of the cache line in the predicted way. Upon determining that the cache line is not present in the predicted way, but is present in a different way, and hence the way was mispredicted, the system increments a corresponding record in a conflict detection table. Upon detecting that a record in the conflict detection table indicates that a number of mispredictions equals a predetermined value, the system copies the corresponding cache line from the way where the cache line actually resides into the predicted way. |
| US07979638B2 |
Method and system for accessing data using an asymmetric cache device
A system configured to receive a first request for a first datum, query the cache metadata to determine whether the first datum is present in the main memory or the asymmetric cache device (ACD), retrieve the first datum from the main memory when the first datum is present in the main memory, retrieve the first datum from the ACD when the first datum is present in the ACD and not present in the main memory, store a copy of the first datum in the main memory when the first datum is present in the ACD and not present in the main memory, update the cache metadata to indicate that the copy of the first datum is stored in the main memory when the first datum is present in the ACD and not present in the main memory, and retrieve the first datum from the disk when the first datum is not present in the ACD and is not present in the main memory. |
| US07979635B2 |
Apparatus and method to allocate resources in a data storage library
A method to allocate resources in a data storage library comprising a plurality of data storage devices configured as a RAID array, by establishing a normal operation resource allocation, a RAID failure resource allocation, and a multiple storage device failure resource allocation. The method receives host I/O requests, and enqueues those host I/O requests. If the system is operating without any storage device failures, then the method processes host I/O requests using the normal operation resource allocation. If the system is operating with a storage device failure, then the method processes host I/O requests using the RAID failure resource allocation. If the system is operating with multiple storage device failures, then the method processes host I/O requests using the multiple storage device failure resource allocation. |
| US07979634B2 |
Apparatus and method for preventing double allocation, and medium for recording its allocation program
An allocation apparatus of the present invention provides the mechanism that another logical volume of temporary number is automatically made in the storage system shared with plural servers, when it is recognized that the targeted logical volume is doubly allocated. By the present invention, the data destruction can be prevented by making the target server accessing another logical volume allocated automatically when the double allocation is detected. And the processing of a temporary allocation is continued until the alert message to the effect that the logical volume required from the target server is overlapped in the logical storage area is transmitted to the operator, the allocated another logical volume is approved by the operator, and the cancellation of overlapping allocation is confirmed. |
| US07979633B2 |
Method for writing contiguous arrays of stripes in a RAID storage system
The invention features a method for controlling storage of data in a plurality of storage devices each including storage blocks, for example, in a RAID array. The method includes receiving a plurality of write requests associated with data, and buffering the write requests. A file system defines a group of storage blocks, responsive to disk topology information. The group includes a plurality of storage blocks in each of the plurality of storage devices. Each data block of the data to be written is associated with a respective one of the storage blocks, for transmitting the association to the plurality of storage devices. |
| US07979628B2 |
Re-flash protection for flash memory
A method for storing data includes providing a memory package including an integrated circuit containing a non-volatile memory and counter circuitry. The data is written to the non-volatile memory. The counter circuitry is operated to maintain a count of write operations performed on the non-volatile memory. The data and the count from the memory package are received at a controller, separate from the memory package, and the data is authenticated in response to the count. |
| US07979625B2 |
SPI bank addressing scheme for memory densities above 128Mb
Systems and methods of addressing two or more banks of memory utilizing a single-bank serial peripheral interface and an at least three-byte address protocol are provided. In one embodiment, a serial peripheral interface comprises a serial processing component configured to address one of the memory banks using the three-byte addressing scheme, and to write data to or read data from the addressed bank, and a bank register pointer component coupled to the serial processing component, the pointer component comprising two or more bank register pointers associated with respective memory banks, and configured to select one of the memory banks based on the two or more bank register pointers, wherein the bank register pointer component selects one of the two or more memory banks, and the serial processing component writes data to or reads data from the selected bank of memory according to the three-byte addressing scheme. |
| US07979623B2 |
Multi-channel integrated circuit card and method of controlling the same
A system and method for controlling a memory card are provided. The system may include a memory card and a host. The memory card may have a plurality of data transceiving channels, and the host may selectively activate the data transceiving channels in the memory card and transmit a plurality of commands to the activated data transceiving channels. |
| US07979620B2 |
Method, system and computer program for monitoring activities on computers connected through a hardware switch
A technique for monitoring computers connected to a hardware switch. The switch is used to selectively connect a single set of peripheral units to the central unit of a selected one of the computers. In the proposed solution, status information of each non-selected computer is transmitted from the corresponding central unit to the switch. For this purpose, it is preferably exploited a corresponding bi-directional input port—such as of the USE type. The switch routes the status information of the different non-selected computers to the central unit of the selected computer. The central unit of the selected computer aggregates the status information with its output information, and then transmits this aggregated information to the switch for its display on a monitor. For example, the output information is shown in a main area of the screen, while the status information is shown in a reserved strip on top of it. |
| US07979619B2 |
Emulating a line-based interrupt transaction in response to a message signaled interrupt
Methods, systems, apparatuses and program products are disclosed for managing interrupt services in hypervisor and hypervisor-related environments in Message Signaled Interrupts are emulated as other type(s) of interrupt.According to an aspect of the present invention, a method of executing a program includes receiving a MSI (message signaled interrupt). Responsively, a virtual interrupt is generated and an ISR (interrupt service routine) is invoked that handles a line-based virtual interrupt transaction. A surrogate or virtual peripheral device status may also be provided and may be associated with the virtual interrupt. A single device interrupt event may, in certain circumstances, be serviced both as a line-based interrupt and also as an MSI, or as either responsive to run-time context.Embodiments of the present invention enable superior tradeoffs in regards to the interrupt sharing to a greater and more flexible extent than with previous implementations. Moreover, it makes possible interrupt sharing using an ISR that was not expressly designed for interrupt sharing. |
| US07979618B2 |
Image forming apparatus and control method thereof
An image forming apparatus and a control method thereof. The image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image processors which process an image to be formed on a printing medium corresponding to a plurality of colors, a processor which executes an interrupt routine with respect to the plurality of image processors, and a controller which generates an interrupt signal and transmits the interrupt signal to the processor if at least two of the plurality of image processors generate interrupt requests so that the processor executes the interrupt routine. |
| US07979614B1 |
Flash memory/disk drive interface and method for same
A disk controller for coupling a disk drive to a host includes an interface controller and a buffer memory. The interface controller is configured to interface the disk drive to the host using a NAND flash memory interface having a 14-line bus. The interface controller includes a flash controller configured to emulate data transfer protocols of the disk drive, including interpreting flash commands received from the host via the 14-line bus of the NAND flash memory interface, and generating control signals to control the disk drive. The control signals are generated based on the interpreted flash commands. The buffer memory is configured to store data received from the host and the disk drive. |
| US07979609B2 |
Control system and communication system for digital mixer
In a control system of a digital mixer, first class devices are connected via a first class bus, and second class devices are connected to each first class device via a second class bus. The number of first class devices, which require a specific function for adding source and destination addresses to data, can be reduced by the number of the second class devices. Moreover, the second class device which does not require the specific function for adding source and destination addresses to data input/output operations is cheaper than the first class device, resulting in the implementation of simplified configuration and reduced production costs. |
| US07979608B2 |
Lane to lane deskewing via non-data symbol processing for a serial point to point link
Multiple symbol sequences that have been transmitted in parallel using the same transmit clock over a serial point to point link are received. Each symbol sequence includes an instance of a first, non-data symbol. The multiple symbol sequences are buffered and the number of times an instance of a second, non-data symbol that occurs in one of the symbol sequences is changed. A first deskew process is performed, followed by a second deskew process. The first deskew process aligns an instance of the first non-data symbol in every one of the buffered symbol sequences. The second deskew process equalizes the number of instances of the second non-data symbol that follow an instance of the first non-data symbol in every one of the symbol sequences. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US07979606B2 |
Method for storing data
A method for storing data is disclosed. The method is used for storing data into a program memory used for storing program codes. The program memory is divided into a first buffer storage area and a second buffer storage area. By alternate accessing of the first buffer storage area and the second buffer storage area, instantly accessible data can be stored in the program memory, such that the conventional data memory can be replaced by the program memory of the present invention and the cost of the product can be reduced. |
| US07979587B1 |
Apparatus and method for automatic speed downshift for a two pair cable
A physical layer of a device is connected to a plurality of twisted pairs of wire. The physical layer includes an autonegotiation controller that initially advertises a plurality of operating speeds associated with the device and receives a request for the device to operate at a first operating speed. A cable detector determines whether the physical layer is connected to a sufficient number of twisted pair wires to support the first operating speed. A speed adjuster alters the plurality of operating speeds advertised by the autonegotiation controller in response to the physical layer not being connected to a sufficient number of twisted pair wires to support the first operating speed. The speed adjuster alters the plurality of operating speeds advertised by the autonegotiation controller by masking one of the plurality of operating speeds corresponding to the first operating speed. |
| US07979586B2 |
Information processing system, information processor, server, information processing method and program
An information processor (1) comprises: a history packet transmitter (11) for transmitting a history packet; a request packet transmitter (12) for transmitting a request packet requesting transmission of a return packet; a packet transmission controller (13) for controlling transmission of a request packet by using a binary search method; a return packet receiver (14) for receiving a return packet transmitted from a server (3); and a port keeping time detector (15) for detecting the port keeping time of a communication processor (2) based on reception of a return packet by the return packet receiver (14). The server (3) includes: a request packet receiver (31) for receiving a request packet; and a return packet transmitter (32) for transmitting a return packet to a port of the communication processor (2) where a history packet passed when the request packet receiver (31) received a request packet. This configuration provides an information processing system for detecting the port keeping time of the communication processor. |
| US07979582B2 |
Communication device provided with ARP function
A communication device includes: an address administration unit that manages data link layer addresses; and an ARP processing unit that processes an ARP protocol. The ARP processing unit includes an ARP receiving unit, an ARP transmitting unit, a duplication detecting unit, a duplication notification generating unit and an update GARP generating unit. The update GARP generating unit transmits a GARP and thereby updates the ARP tables of the communication devices on the same network, in order to solve a problem in which communication is interrupted. |
| US07979581B2 |
Apparatus and method for proper name resolution
An image processing apparatus to be coupled to a DNS server through a network includes a name registration requesting unit configured to transmit a registration request to the DNS server to request registration of a correspondence between a host name and address information of the image processing apparatus, and an alias registration requesting unit configured to transmit a registration request to the DNS server to request registration of a correspondence between a uniquely defined alias and the address information of the image processing apparatus. |
| US07979580B2 |
Content delivery and global traffic management network system
A content delivery and global traffic management network system provides a plurality of caching servers connected to a network. The caching servers host customer content that can be cached and stored, and respond to requests for Web content from clients. If the requested content does not exist in memory or on disk, it generates a request to an origin site to obtain the content. A DNS Server load balances network requests among customer Web servers and directs client requests for hosted customer content to the appropriate caching server. The customer pays a service that provides the content delivery and global traffic management network system a fee for usage of the content delivery and global traffic management network system. |
| US07979572B1 |
Data storage system having operation code in address portion for atomic operations
A data storage system having protocol controller for converting packets between PCIE format used by a storage processor and Rapid IO format used by a packet switching network. The controller includes a PCIE end point for transferring atomic operation (DSA) requests, a data pipe section having a plurality of data pipes for passing user data; and a message engine section for passing messages among the plurality of storage processors. An acceleration path controller bypasses a DSA buffer in the absence of congestion on the network. Packets fed to the PCIE end point include an address portion having code indicating an atomic operation. An encoder converts the code from a PCIE format into the same atomic operation in SRIO format. Each one of a plurality of CPUs is adapted to perform a second DSA request during execution of a first DSA request. |
| US07979571B2 |
Method and system for providing load sensitive throttling
An approach is provided for shaping traffic of a communication system. Resource usage of a network element of the communication system is determined. The usage is compared with thresholds that are established according to loading of the communication system; these thresholds correspond to various transmission states that limit usage of the resources of the communication system (e.g., bandwidth). Further, based on the comparison, the resource usage of the network element is controlled according to a particular transmission state, thereby ensuring fair access. This approach as particular applicability to shared capacity systems, such as a satellite communication system. |
| US07979569B2 |
System and method for exchanging information among exchange applications
In a system and method for processing messages, from one or more applications, in a gateway, an application payload is obtained from an application. A raw message is created from the obtained application payload, the raw message including a raw message header and a payload, the raw message header including a message type block, the payload including content of the application payload. A gateway message is created from the raw message in accordance with the message type provided in the message type block, the gateway message including a gateway message header and the payload, the gateway message header including a unique message identifier block, a target block identifying where the gateway message is going, and a history block providing a log of what has happened to the gateway message. Each block includes one or more values. |
| US07979566B2 |
Streaming object instantiation using bookmarks
Bookmarking of tokens in a set of streaming tokens, each representing an instantiation instruction or instantiation context. A navigator receives a set of streaming tokens, and provides the tokens to the instantiation manager. However, if the navigator receives an instruction to bookmark a particular token, the navigator buffers the set of streaming instructions at least beginning at the bookmarked token (and possible even earlier if there were prior bookmarks). The navigator replays the set of streaming tokens beginning at a bookmark in response to an instruction from an instantiation manager. The instantiation manager receives the set of streaming tokens. If the instantiation manager is not presently capable of handling the instruction of a particular token, the instantiation manager instructs the navigator to bookmark the particular token. When the instantiation manager later receives a token that permits the instantiation manager to return to the bookmark, the instantiation manager returns to the bookmark to replay the instantiation instructions beginning at the bookmark. |
| US07979565B2 |
System and method to provide a network service
A method of providing a network service includes accepting an incoming transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) connection from a user device at a point of presence (POP) proxy server. The TCP/IP connection corresponds to a particular application that is not stored at the POP proxy server. The method also includes relaying the TCP/IP connection from the POP proxy server to a remote application server that stores the particular application via an accelerated network link. Further, the method includes streaming data between the user device and the remote application server after relaying the TCP/IP connection to the remote application server. |
| US07979564B2 |
Traffic differentiated network services
A method, system, and computer-readable medium are provided for efficiently providing network services to client devices based on the network traffic to be communicated between the device and the network. A system is provided that includes a number of home agents configured to provide network services to mobile nodes. The system is configured in such a way that at least one of the mobile nodes may be served by more than one of the home agents. Thereby, for example, a certain mobile node may be provided voice service via one home agent and email messages via another. |
| US07979560B2 |
Method of providing push service to mobile terminal in a mobile communication system for high-speed data transmission and push server apparatus using the same
A method of providing a push service to an AT and a push server apparatus using the same to facilitate a data receiving service comprising reception of paging messages at the AT in a mobile communication system for high-speed data transmission are provided. The mobile communication system comprises at least one DLR for allocating a UATI to the AT when a communication is connected to the AT, a home DLR for storing the ID of the AT with respect to the identification information of the DLR, a PDSN for establishing a PPP session with the AT, a DNS, and a push server for buffering push data for the AT received from a CN and requesting paging of the AT for push data transmission to the AT from which the PPP session has been terminated. |
| US07979550B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for adjusting bandwidth allocation during a collaboration session
In one embodiment, the systems and methods determine an initial bandwidth at a client device; allocate an allocated bandwidth to the client device between a first server and a second server; monitor the allocated bandwidth; and adjust the allocated bandwidth based on a target bandwidth from the first server to the client. |
| US07979541B2 |
Method, apparatus and program product for managing composite resource models used to monitor composite resources
A mechanism and model are provided for representing and managing composite resource models. When a resource monitor is deployed for a resource, the resource monitor scans for information that indicates that the resource under monitoring is part of a cluster, grid, or other composite configuration. The resource monitor then determines whether monitoring information for the resource should be reported differently because of the composite configuration. If monitoring information for the resource is to be reported differently, the resource monitor alters the reporting format to reflect the composite resource model. The resource manager may then receive the monitoring information and apply this information to individual resources and aggregates the monitoring information for composite resources. |
| US07979530B1 |
Inventory life cycle management for a computer network
An inventory management system (IMS) is described herein that captures historical data for network elements of a computer network. The IMS maintains the historical data to provide a life cycle view of the elements as utilized within the computer network. For example, the IMS may include a network scan module that receives current inventory information from at least one of the network devices, wherein the current inventory information lists elements currently deployed within network device. An event generator compares the current inventory information with the stored inventory information. A database manager updates the database to store historical data for the network devices based on the comparison. |
| US07979526B2 |
Connection management system and method for a transport offload engine
A system and method are provided for establishing network connections. Initially, an attempt to establish a connection on a network is identified. A portion of memory is then allocated for storing data associated with the connection. |
| US07979525B2 |
Method and apparatus for configuring and modeling server information in an enterprise tooling environment
A computer implemented method, an apparatus, and a computer usable program product are provided for configuring and modeling server connection and deployment information in an enterprise tooling environment. A software model is provided that comprises a connections object, which includes a plurality of connection objects and deploy spec objects. Each of the connection objects is specific to a backend server type. A deploy controller is provided at run time to examine the connections object for a connection object. A backend resource manager is loaded for a specific application server. If a connection object is present, the backend resource manager loads a connection interpreter, which transforms development time connection information in the connection object to the run time connection information in corresponding deploy spec object and connection factory spec object. The backend resource manager then writes the deployment information to the configurations files of the application server. |
| US07979524B2 |
System and method for disclosing relations between entities in support of information technology system visualization and management
A relationship visualization system provides a user interface by which a user may select from among entities, elements, and sub-elements as an initial point in a desired relationship for display. The system designates the selected entities, elements, and sub-elements originating endpoints for the desired relationship. The system displays the relationship between entities, elements, and sub-elements to facilitate visualization and management of the information technology system. The relationship comprises a data path. The display of the relationship comprises a graphical view and a tabular view. |
| US07979523B2 |
Deferred invocation of communication services
In one embodiment, a network device determines one or more conditions for invoking one or more real applications to the network device for a session. This determination may be made at the initiation of the session, such as when a SIP INVITE message is received. The one or more conditions allow real applications to be invoked when a future event satisfies the condition. When it is determined that a condition is satisfied, a real application associated with the condition is then invoked. Accordingly, conditions may be set for real applications that may be tested against future events that have not yet occurred. This allows deferred invocation of real applications. Accordingly, if real applications are not needed for a session, then they are not invoked. But, when a real application is needed, it can be invoked. |
| US07979520B2 |
Prescriptive architecture recommendations
A prescribed system architecture is recommended to an entity that desires to implement a system supporting distributed applications. A performance scenario is created based on anticipated usage, devices employed by servers running the distributed applications, and topology of locations using the servers. An optimized scenario may be provided by determining device optimization, different use load, and if possible consolidation of distributed applications on servers. |
| US07979519B2 |
System for providing information between different protocol environments cooperative with each other and a method therefor
The service providing system uses cooperation managers both in SIP and Web systems to process information of the SIP and HTTP protocols with SOAP/CORBA and the like as a communication protocol that can be handled in common. The service providing system thereby facilitates cooperation between the SIP and Web systems through the SPAP/CORBA network, thereby accomplishing information transfer on a real time basis. |
| US07979517B1 |
System and method for failover using virtual ports in clustered systems
A system and method for utilizing virtual ports associated with a physical port in a Fiber Channel adapter for use in a clustered storage system is disclosed. A plurality of virtual ports are created and associated with a physical port on a storage system. One of the virtual ports is utilized as a standby port to be used to assume the identity of a port associated with a failed storage system in the cluster. In the event of a failover operation, the standby port is activated and assumes the identity of the failed storage systems port. Data access requests previously directed to the failed storage system are received by the activated virtual port and processed by the surviving storage system. |
| US07979513B2 |
Method and system for determining a management complexity factor for delivering services in an environment
Method and system for determining a management complexity factor for an environment, such as an information technology (IT) environment, is disclosed. A management complexity factor represents the needless complexity, inefficiencies and waste in an environment. An IT environment includes different platforms, systems, and components that have an effect on changes and upgrades within the environment. The impact of the changes or upgrades is reduced if the environment has increased coordination, few single points of failure, high information availability, a high level of automation and the like. The management complexity factor is determined by evaluating several metrics according to objective criteria and weighing the metrics according to their importance. Using the management complexity factor, strategies and targets are identified to lower the complexity and inefficiencies within the environment. |
| US07979504B2 |
Systems and methods for providing resource allocation in a networked environment
Systems and methods are described for adjusting an item characteristic. An illustrative system includes a first network interface, a database storing information regarding a plurality of items, a load balancer, a web proxy processor configured to selectively block or route an inbound user browser request, a cache cluster system configured to cache data and states for access by other system components, and program code stored in computer readable memory, which, when executed is configured to receive a plurality of requests for items from corresponding users, wherein the plurality of requests are associated with corresponding offer amounts and determine what the users are to provide for the items based at least in part on how many requests were received, how many items are allocated to users, and/or how many unallocated items are available, wherein at least a portion of the users are to provide an amount different than their corresponding offer amount. |
| US07979501B1 |
Enhanced message display
Informational items are displayed in a scrollable area of a message display. The informational items may be any number of type of items (e.g., RSS feeds, new items, images, application tips, and so on). A user is provided the ability to scroll forward and backward through the informational items. A user may choose the informational item (e.g., by clicking) and more detailed information about the informational item is presented to the user. Depending on the display view of the message application (e.g., InBox, conversation), different informational item types will have different probabilities of display. A user may customize the types of informational items to be displayed. |
| US07979492B2 |
Time decayed dynamic e-mail address
Various embodiments of a method, system and computer program product provide e-mail from a user with a primary e-mail address. A temporary e-mail address is generated. The temporary e-mail address is associated with a time decay attribute and the primary e-mail address. The e-mail is sent using the temporary e-mail address as a sender e-mail address. |
| US07979490B2 |
Method for combatting the illicit distribution of protected material and computer system for carrying out said method
The invention relates to a method for hindering or preventing the illegal distribution of protected data in a peer-to-peer network comprising at least one peer operating an exchange program designed for distribution of data to at least one client according to a selective exchange protocol permitting the peer to operate a selection of clients to which the data is transferred, said selection being carried out as a function of one or more characteristics of the clients. In said method bogus data is sent to the peer such as to influence the selection of clients served by the peer, such that the peer is made to favor the transfer to authorized clients. |
| US07979486B2 |
Methods and apparatus for extracting integer remainders
Methods and apparatus to determine a remainder value are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves, during a compilation phase, causing a processor to multiply a dividend value by a first value to generate a second value associated with a product. The first value is associated with a scaled approximate reciprocal of a divisor value, and the scaled approximate reciprocal of the divisor value is determined using a compound exponent value. During a runtime phase, the processor is caused to multiply a third value from the second value. The third value is generated using at least a subset bitfield of the second value. During the runtime phase, the processor is caused to determine a remainder value based on the third value. The processor is caused to store the remainder value in a memory. |
| US07979485B2 |
Circuit for fast fourier transform operation
A circuit for a fast Fourier transform (FFT) operation is provided. The FFT operation circuit includes a plurality of butterfly operation units connected in series. Each of the plurality of butterfly operation units reads a signal in the order in which the plurality of butterfly operation units perform complex multiplication, addition, and subtraction, performs complex multiplication of each sequentially read signal by a complex coefficient corresponding to an FFT length and the stage number of the butterfly operation unit, and performs complex addition and subtraction with the complex multiplied signal. In this way, without disposing a plurality of operation circuits corresponding to a radix, FFT operations corresponding to a plurality of FFT lengths can be performed. |
| US07979483B1 |
Multiplexed proportional-integral-derivative filter architecture (Mux-PID) for control-loop applications
A multiplexed digital proportional-integral-derivative filter receives error signal samples and operates in different states during sub-cycles of a single system cycle. A single multiplier and a single adder within the filter calculate at least portions of a proportional control signal, an integral control signal and a derivative control signal for one error signal sample during successive sub-cycles. The calculated control signal portions are aggregated to produce a filtered error signal for the respective error signal sample. The original resolution at lower cost, or increased resolution at the original cost, are achieved, as well as full programmability of loop gain with only negligible increase in loop latency. |
| US07979481B2 |
Random number generating circuit
Provided is a random number generating circuit having a simple circuit structure, for generating a physical random number based on a noise. The random number generating circuit includes a reference voltage section, an inverting amplifier section having a threshold voltage equal to a reference voltage level, and a semiconductor switch provided between an output terminal of the reference voltage section and an input terminal of the inverting amplifier section. A thermal noise produced from the reference voltage section is held by the semiconductor switch and a capacitor and amplified by the inverting amplifier section to generate the physical random number. |
| US07979479B2 |
Transaction-controlled graph processing and management
A method, system, and computer program product for transaction-controlled graph processing and management are provided. The method includes notifying an external component of a database management system (DBMS) controlled transaction including multiple operations, and acquiring a DBMS transaction identifier associated with the transaction at the external component. The method further includes storing the DBMS transaction identifier as an external component transaction identifier, and receiving notification at the external component of events associated with the operations. The method additionally includes monitoring the events for an end-of-transaction operation, and passing notification of the end-of-transaction operation to an external routine. |
| US07979478B2 |
Data management method
A data storage or management method is provided which allows both a content object-based access and a file-based access. A first request for storing a content object in accordance with the processing of an application program executed in a host is sent to an object archive control functionality executed in the host, an intermediate server, or a storage apparatus. The object archive control functionality generates an object identifier corresponding to the content object received in response to the first request, a directory name corresponding to the object identifier, and a plurality of file names corresponding to a plurality of fields contained in the content object. The storage apparatus stores a directory having the directory name and the plurality of files having the plurality of file names in accordance with the second request. |
| US07979473B2 |
Association rule extraction method and system
An association rule is extracted by processing a database partitioned into record units in which the same attribute is missing, from a database including missing values. The association rule is extracted from the database including the missing by means for partitioning a database so that a database including a missing analysis object becomes record blocks in which the same attribute is missing, and means for estimating an upper threshold of a support value in the entire database from local support counts in partitioned databases and thereby limiting records for which the support count is counted. |
| US07979466B2 |
Document storage access on an unsolicited transfer basis
Systems and methods of the present invention allow a file owner to upload and store a file to a File Storage Area. Through a series of communications, a file owner may provide an intended file recipient access to the file without a request by a file requester. The file owner may grant permissions to access the file and notify the intended file recipient of the results. |
| US07979464B2 |
Associating rights to multimedia content
A method and software to implement a method comprising receiving digital content such as multimedia content, and either ascertaining whether at least a part of the digital content has previously been associated with one or more matched referenced works or searching a store of fingerprint data of referenced works for a match. The searching includes determining a fingerprint of at least part of the digital content, e.g., multimedia content; and searching the store of fingerprint data of referenced works for a match. In the case that is has been ascertained that the work has previously been associated, or the searching has produced a match to one or more matched referenced works, associating association data to the one or more matched referenced works. Ownership data to the matched referenced works is included in the association such that use of the digital content can take into account such ownership rights. The associating of the association data is carried out in a secure manner. |
| US07979462B2 |
Head-to-head comparisons
Providing a comparison of a set of similar items is disclosed. In some embodiments, a selection of a set of similar items to be included in a comparison is received from a first member of an online community, and the comparison is stored so that the comparison can be presented to a second member of the online community when an indication is received that the comparison is of interest to the second member. |
| US07979461B2 |
Extended index searching
Processing a query involves directing the query to an extended index database, the extended index database comprising a core database and one or more supplemental indexes, wherein the query seeks an item. Directing the query for processing includes determining if the sought item is located within the core database and, if the item is not determined to be located in the core database, then determining if the item is located in one or more of the supplemental indexes, and returns a query result. The returned result may comprise any one of three responses, including a response that indicates the item is located in the core database, or a response that indicates that the item was not located in the core database but was located in one or more of the supplemental indexes, or a response that indicates that the item was not located at all. |
| US07979458B2 |
Associating security trimmers with documents in an enterprise search system
Methods and computer-readable media are provided for associating security trimmers with documents in an enterprise search system. According to one method, a search index is maintained that includes one or more document identifiers corresponding to documents stored at back-end computing systems. Each document identifier in the search index is associated with one or more security trimmer implementations. When a query request is received from a user, the search index is queried to identify documents referenced by the search index that match search terms provided with the query request. For each document that matches the search terms, the associated security trimmer implementations are identified and executed to retrieve the access rights to view the document for the current user from the back-end computing system where the document is stored. |
| US07979456B2 |
Method of managing and providing parameterized queries
Methods, systems and articles of manufacture for managing parameterized queries and making them available to users based on associations between parameterized queries and fields belonging to result sets are provided. By associating fields with parameterized queries, a query manager can be configured to provide users with a contextually appropriate selection of parameterized queries that can be used to obtain data related to objects in a result set. The selection of parameterized queries may be provided to users via a variety of interfaces including graphic interfaces and plug-in components utilized by external applications. |
| US07979454B2 |
Information processing apparatus, and method and system for searching for reputation of content
An information processing apparatus, includes: an acquisition section configured to acquire content-related information; a keyword extraction section configured to extract a search keyword from the content-related information; a site search section configured to perform a search through the Internet for websites with a web page, and acquire information concerning websites; a first site selection section configured to select top N websites from the websites; a second site selection section configured to access each of the N websites to extract a written text from a web page of each of the N websites, and select two or more of the N websites as seed sites; and a reputation result acquisition section configured to collect written texts from the seed sites and subordinate websites linked to the seed sites, and acquire a reputation result of the content from the collected written texts. |
| US07979452B2 |
System and method for retrieving task information using task-based semantic indexes
Described is a method for retrieving task information using task-based indexes. The method includes an act of acquiring task-based categories and documents. Task-descriptive symbols are then associated with each task-based category. The documents are indexed to create an index having index words and pointers. The index words reflect the information in the documents and the pointers connect particular index words to particular documents or subparts of documents. The task-descriptive symbols are correlated with the index words to create an alignment of words having similar meaning such that index words are matched with similar task-descriptive symbols. The task-based indexes are formed by grouping the alignment of words with the respective task-based category. A user may use the task-based index by inputting task descriptive symbols into the task-based index to retrieve a document having task information pertaining to the task-descriptive symbols. |
| US07979451B2 |
Data manipulation command method and system
A data manipulation method and system. The method includes receiving and storing by a computing system, configuration data and a first list comprising first group of data objects. The computing system generates a second list associated with the first list. The second list comprises a second group of data objects associated with the first group of data objects. The computing system compares the first group to the second group to determine if any attribute values associated with the first group are equal to any associated attribute values associated with the second group. The computing system generates a third list based on the comparing and the configuration data. The third list comprises a third group of data objects associated with the first group and of data objects. The computing system stores the third list. |
| US07979447B2 |
Method and apparatus for use in providing information to accessing content
The present embodiments provide methods, apparatuses, and systems for use in identifying one or more sources of content by receiving a request to supply a listing of registered content providers; identifying a first registered content identifier (ID); evaluating a first metadata directly associated with the first registered content ID, and identifying multiple registered content providers; identifying, for each identified content providers, a cost to access the first content, and a link to access the corresponding content provider; generating a listing of content providers comprising a list of each of the identified content providers and their corresponding costs and links; and communicating over the distributed network the listing of content providers. |
| US07979446B2 |
Computer-implemented biological sequence identifier system and method
A method of: submitting reference sequences to a taxonomic database to produce taxonomic results; and reporting a taxonomic identification based on the taxonomic results. The reference sequences are the output of genetic database queries that return a score for each reference sequence. A method for processing a biological sequence obtained from an assay by: converting base calls located in a predetermined list of positions within the biological sequence to N; and determining the ratio of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the biological sequence relative to a reference sequence. Each entry in the predetermined list of positions represents the capability of a substance hybridizing to a microarray used to generate the biological sequence. The substance is not the nucleic acid of a target pathogen. |
| US07979445B2 |
Processes for assessing user affinities for particular item categories of a hierarchical browse structure
A computer-implemented system provides a browse tree in which items represented within a database are arranged within a hierarchy of item categories. Each time a user selects an item, an amount of credit is cumulatively assigned to the ancestor nodes (categories) of the selected item. The amount of credit assigned to a particular category of the browse tree over time for a given user represents the user's predicted affinity for that category. The user's relative preferences for some or all of the categories are predicted by calculating differences between the user's predicted affinities for such categories and the predicted affinities of a population of users for such categories. Scores reflective of these relative category preferences are used to provide personalized recommendations or other personalized content to the user. |
| US07979441B2 |
Method of creating hierarchical indices for a distributed object system
A data management system or “DMS” provides data services to data sources associated with a set of application host servers. The data management system typically comprises one or more regions, with each region having one or more clusters. A given cluster has one or more nodes that share storage. When providing continuous data protection and data distribution, the DMS nodes create distributed object storage to provide the necessary real-time data management services. The objects created by the DMS nodes are so-called active objects. The distributed object store can be built above raw storage devices, a traditional file system, a special purpose file system, a clustered file system, a database, and so on. According to the present invention, the DMS active object store provides an indexing service to the active objects. In an illustrative embodiment, any object property that has a given attribute is indexed and, as a result, the attribute becomes searchable. The DMS provides hierarchical distributed indexing using index trees to facilitate searching in a highly efficient manner. |
| US07979434B2 |
System and method for storing and retrieving digital content with physical file systems
A system and method for retrieving and storing digital documents with physical file storage systems are provided. The disclosed system and methods allow a user to retrieve digital documents from a conventional file storage system and to seamlessly categorize and store the digital documents within the conventional file storage system. The system and method provide for receiving an identifier associated with the physical file folder; and accessing the digital documents of the physical file folder using the received identifier. The system and method further provide for storing digital content in a file folder over a network including uploading and storing the digital content; entering an identification code associated with at least one file folder; and assigning digital content to the at least one selected file folder. |
| US07979431B2 |
System and method for automatically modifying a query within a web based database system
A query enhancer module providing a unique method to modify user submitted queries within a web-based, multi-tier enterprise solution. The user submitted query specifies data to be retrieved from a database. Without any user interaction the query enhancer module rewrites the query to specify a subset of the data specified in the user submitted query. This rewritten query is then executed against the database to retrieve the subset of the data. Generally, the subset set of the data comprises the amount of data that can be displayed on a single web page. |
| US07979430B2 |
Method and apparatus for information exchange
A method and apparatus includes a portable electronic memory storage device and a plurality of exhibitor computers, each having at least one specifically identified electronic uploadable file and a port adapted to selectively interface with the portable device. When a portable device engages a port, electronic content corresponding to the port is uploaded from the computer to the portable device. In another embodiment, data from the portable device, such as demographic data, is also downloaded to the exhibitor computer. |
| US07979427B2 |
Method and system for updating a search engine
A method and a system for maintaining the freshness of a search engine server's database. A popularity parameter is defined, and a popularity value is assigned to each link in the search engine's database. The most popular links are selected for updating the contents stored, or associated with, the site to which the links refer. In one embodiment, popularity is based at least in part on the search results generated by the search engine in response to user queries. |
| US07979426B2 |
Clustering-based interest computation
Data relating to usage patterns of the user are stored. The data includes a context portion having information as to the context in which items were used and an interest rating portion indicative of an interest of the user in one or more objects of interest. The data is clustered into clusters of data points. For each of the clusters, a centroid is determined. The centroid includes a context portion and an interest rating portion. A current context of the user is received. Clusters are selected by comparing a data point representing the current context with the context portion of one or more centroids. Based on the selected clusters, an interest rating is computed. The computed interest rating indicates an interest of the user in one of the one or more objects of interest, given the current context. |
| US07979424B2 |
Dynamic graphical database query interface
A graphical query interface provides visual feedback to a user during the construction of a query. In a first embodiment, the visual feedback helps the user determine the quality of the query as the query is being built. The relationship of columns in the database is graphically displayed to a user. When the user selects a column in the database, a filtered display mechanism displays only those columns or records that satisfy the portion of the query already constructed. In a second embodiment, the visual feedback eliminates some possible selections in the query tree due to previously-made selections that eliminate the eliminated selections as possibilities. In the second embodiment, the visual feedback mechanism may function according to data values in columns, and may also function according to known relationships between columns themselves. |
| US07979420B2 |
Handling silent relations in a data stream management system
A new continuous query to a data stream management system (DSMS) may use a silent relation whose source does not provide any heartbeats. During execution of any given operator, the DSMS processes data from one input (“active input”) using its time stamp as if the same time stamp is received from another input whose relation has fallen silent (“empty input”), if one or more predetermined conditions are met. One predetermined condition is that the empty input's operator has all its own inputs silent. And another predetermined condition is that a maximum time stamp that is currently present among all the inputs of the empty input's operator is equal to a time stamp that was last received from these same inputs. When both conditions are met, previously received data from the empty input is time stamped with the same time stamp as the most recently received data from the active input. |
| US07979417B1 |
Embedded communication of link information
A method of processing documents is described. The method includes the operation of receiving a document in a search engine crawler. The document includes an embedded first link tag. The first link tag includes one or more information pairs. A respective information pair includes a respective parameter and a corresponding value. The parameters in the one or more information pairs may correspond to content at one or more content locations or one or more document locations. The method also includes selecting a method of processing content associated with the first link tag in accordance with one or more of the information pairs. |
| US07979411B2 |
Relating people finding results by social distance
Search results are displayed according to relevance and grouped by the social distance between the person associated with the profile and the user performing the search. Metadata is defined of each of the profiles indicating groups affiliated the profile and a relevance value is determined as a function of the metadata for each of the profiles in the result set. The social distance is determined as a function of a colleague designation associated with the profile. |
| US07979397B2 |
History preservation in a computer storage system
A method for keeping track, in an electronic data processing system, of when references made to an element that is stored in memory have all been removed, the method being designed to deal with failures in a manner that does not falsely conclude there are no references. |
| US07979396B1 |
System and method for performing consistent resynchronization between synchronized copies
A method involves detecting that a first storage device is inaccessible. The information stored on the first storage device is a synchronized copy of information stored on a second storage device. In response to detecting that the first storage device is inaccessible, modification logging is initiated. Modification logging involves detecting modifications to information stored on the second storage device and storing information that indicates an order in which the modifications occur to the second storage device. The stored information can indicate the order explicitly (e.g., by including a timestamp or sequence number) or indirectly (e.g., the order of entries stored in a log can indicate the order of the modifications represented by those entries). The stored information can also include the new values generated by the modifications. The stored information can then be used to resynchronize the information stored on the first and second storage devices. |
| US07979395B1 |
Method and system for determining reclaimable space occupied by a set of snapshots
A storage system, such as a file server, creates persistent consistency point images (PCPI) or “snapshots” that are point-in-time representations of the storage system. The storage system uses persistent consistency point images to backup or mirror data. Using data already found in the data block maps associated with these PCPI, the amount of space used by a set of these consistency points can be determined. |
| US07979380B2 |
Dynamically updated predictive model
Data of at least one of past values and present values of a system is consolidated from a plurality of sources. Virtual data of future values of the system is generated by applying the acquired data to a predictive model. Additional acquired data is received. The virtual data is dynamically updated by applying the additional acquired data to the predictive model. |
| US07979378B2 |
Medical device user interface automatically resolving interaction between programmable parameters
This document discusses, among other things, a user interface capable of resolving interactions between programmable parameters for operation of a personal medical device. Programming these devices is a difficult task when many parameters are involved. The medical device interface attempts to reduce and minimize constraint violations between interdependent parameters using an initial set of parameter values supplied by user (typically a physician) input, and constraint violations describing invalid parameter values. A user is given the option to select one or more parameters to remain constant. If possible, a set of parameter values with less egregious constraint violations is displayed to the user. A user is prompted to accept the set of parameter values and program the medical device. |
| US07979376B2 |
Method and system for adding processes to print production workflows utilizing asset metadata and automated reasoning
A method and system for adding processes to print production workflows utilizing asset metadata and automated reasoning system is disclosed. The asset metadata can be extracted from the resources associated with a print product description such as PDF files and image and artwork files. The asset metadata can be processed through an automated reasoning system in order to infer additional metadata. The inferred metadata can be utilized to add and parameterize a process node in order to build a more effective and useful process network. The reasoning system can be a rule based reasoning system and/or ontology based reasoning system. |
| US07979369B2 |
Classification of digital content by using aggregate scoring
Aggregate scoring is used to help classify digital content such as content uploaded to multi-user websites (e.g., social networking websites). In one embodiment, specific categories are used that relate to a social implication of content. For example, text, images, audio or other data formats can provide communication perceived to fall into categories such as violent, abusive, rights management, pornographic or other types of communication. The categories are used to provide a raw score to items in various groupings of a site's content. Where items are related to other items such as by organizational, social, legal, data-driven, design methods, or by other principles or definitions, the related items' raw scores are aggregated to achieve a score for a particular grouping of items that reflects, at least in part, scores from two or more of the related items. |
| US07979367B2 |
Generalized sequential minimal optimization for SVM+ computations
A system and method for support vector machine plus (SVM+) computations include selecting a set of indexes for a target function to create a quadratic function depending on a number of variables, and reducing the number of variables to two in the quadratic function using linear constraints. An extreme point is computed for the quadratic function in closed form. A two-dimensional set is defined where the indexes determine whether a data point is in the two-dimensional set or not. A determination is made of whether the extreme point belongs to the two-dimensional set. If the extreme point belongs to the two-dimensional set, the extreme point defines a maximum and defines a new set of parameters for a next iteration. Otherwise, the quadratic function is restricted on at least one boundary of the two-dimensional set to create a one-dimensional quadratic function. The steps are repeated until the maximum is determined. |
| US07979366B2 |
System and method for coarse-classing variables in a propensity model
A technique is provided to coarse-class one or more customer characteristics used in a predictive model. A set of functions are used to represent partition points of the customer characteristic into smaller classes. Each of the final classes of the customer characteristic is represented separately in the predictive model. An initial set of functions may be established to provide an initial set of partitions points of the customer characteristic. The set of functions is then processed using a genetic algorithm to evolve the partition points to new values. Processing the set of partitions using the genetic algorithm may continue until a stopping criterion is reached. |
| US07979365B2 |
Methods and systems for interactive computing
Methods and systems for creating a synthetic surrogate fitness function. User decisions are received representing fitness for a plurality of solutions. A partial ordering of the plurality of solutions is provided based on the received user decisions, wherein at least some of the plurality of solutions are represented to have a greater relative fitness than other of the plurality of solutions. A complete order of at least the plurality of solutions is induced based on the normalized partial ordering. A synthetic surrogate fitness function is generated using the induced complete order. |
| US07979363B1 |
Priori probability and probability of error estimation for adaptive bayes pattern recognition
A system and method for estimating the a priori probability of a class-of-interest in an input-data-set and a system and method for evaluating the performance of the adaptive Bayes classifier in classifying unlabeled samples from an input-put-data-set. The adaptive Bayes classifier provides a capability to classify data into two classes, a class-of-interest or a class-other, with minimum classification error in an environment where a priori knowledge, through training samples or otherwise, is only available for a single class, the class-of-interest. This invention provides a method and system for estimating the a priori probability of the class-of-interest in the data set to be classified and evaluating adaptive Bayes classifier performance in classifying data into two classes, a class-of-interest and a class-other, using only labeled training samples, or otherwise, from the class-of-interest and unlabeled samples from the data set to be classified. |
| US07979362B2 |
Interactive data mining system
An interactive data mining system (100, 3000) that is suitable for data mining large high dimensional (e.g., 200 dimension) data sets is provided. The system graphically presents rules in a context allowing users to readily gain an intuitive appreciation of the significance of important attributes (data fields) in the data. The system (100, 3000) uses metrics to quantify the importance of the various data attributes, data values, attribute/value pairs, ranks them according to the metrics and displays histograms and lists of attributes and values in order according to the metric, thereby allowing the user to rapidly find the most interesting aspects of the data. The system explores the impact of user defined constraints and presents histograms and rule cubes including superposed and interleaved rule cubes showing the effect of the constraints. |
| US07979356B2 |
Method for paying invoices
For an organization having a central station and a plurality of distributed outlets, each of the outlets having a cashier's terminal, each of the cashier's terminals coupled to a respective point-of-sale (POS) controller, a method of permitting a billee to pay an invoice issued by a biller is disclosed. |
| US07979353B2 |
Electronic transaction method using an electronic coupon
In an electronic transaction on the Internet, an electronic coupon having pecuniary value information usable in the electronic transaction and owner identification information based on information characteristic of an information terminal is issued to the information terminal, the pecuniary value information and the owner identification information of the electronic coupon are recorded and managed as coupon management information in a transfer management memory, and the owner identification information in the transfer management memory is changed according to a transferee apparatus of the electronic coupon, whereby a settlement in the electronic transaction can be made simply and safely. |
| US07979352B2 |
Centralized check image storage system
Centralized check image storage system. The present invention provides for sharing check images stored in a substantially centralized storage system between and/or among banks in support of the check collection process. In some embodiments, check images are received from the capture bank via a landing zone at the centralized storage facility. These images and information supporting the check collection process can be in the form of load file. A cross-reference file including information supporting the check clearing process such as unique handles identifying the check images is received from a paying bank, possibly also via a landing zone. Check images can be identified based on these unique handles, so that the check images can be made accessible to both the capture bank and the paying bank from the substantially centralized storage system. |
| US07979350B1 |
Method and system for accessing wireless account information
A method for managing wireless account information. A list of applications is presented via a web interface on a computing device. The applications are operable to run on a wireless handheld device and a plurality of billing options are presented. In response to receiving a selection of an application, a wireless account is updated via a link between a web account and a wireless account according to the selected application, such that the selected application is available when a wireless account is accessed via a wireless handheld device. |
| US07979348B2 |
Payment identification code and payment system using the same
A method comprises receiving a payment instruction including a payment system routing number and a unique code associated with a payee, and employing the routing number to determine whether it includes routing information for a specific financial institution. If so, then the payment instruction is transmitted based on the routing number. The transmitted payment instruction includes the unique code associated with the payee. If the routing number is determined to not include routing information for a specific financial institution, then account identification information of the payee and a first system routing number are retrieved based on the unique code, and the unique code included in the payment instruction is replaced with the retrieved account identification information, and the routing number is replaced with the retrieved first system routing number. The payment instruction with the account identification information is transmitted to the payee and/or a financial institution associated with the payee. |
| US07979347B1 |
Automated online sales risk management
The present invention contemplates a risk management system for facilitating an e-commerce transaction wherein the participants to the transaction engage in commerce using different currencies. An automated sales risk management system facilitates a transaction by providing a price of a transaction which incorporates aggregated costs related to the transaction into a price made available to the participants. A currency risk management system can receive an amount relating to a deliverable involved in a transaction and determines an aggregated cost of the transaction. Aggregated cost can include a cost of credit, a cost for exchange of currency, a cost of insurance, processing fees, or other associated costs. Insurance can be monitored and a determination can be made regarding whether a participant has adequate insurance to cover a proposed transaction. The present invention also provides for risk associated with online transactions to be categorized and transferred. |
| US07979342B2 |
Dynamic reallocation hedge accounting
A hedged exposure and an associated hedging instrument can be accounted for to reduce periodic earnings volatility associated with the hedged exposure. The accounting to reduce the earnings volatility includes designating a portion of the value of the financial exposure as being hedged by the hedging instrument. The designated portion is determined based on a price sensitivity of the hedging instrument with respect to changes in market value of an underlying instrument. In each of a number of sequential periods, the portion of the financial exposure is redesignated based on changed price sensitivity of the hedging instrument. Periodic earnings volatility associated with a hedged exposure also can be reduced by dividing (for accounting purposes) the hedging instrument into a first part (also referred to as a designated part) and a second part (also referred to as a residue part). This division is made in a way that ensures that changes in the value of the first part substantially offset changes in value of the financial exposure. The method also includes designating a portion of the first part as a hedge of the financial exposure such that the remainder of the first part offsets the delta of the second part. In each of a plurality of sequential periods, the portion of the first part is redesignated to maintain the relationship between the first part and the second part whereby the remainder of the first part offsets the delta of the second part. |
| US07979341B2 |
Dealer to dealer sales lead system and method
A system and method of creating a market for sales leads and financing amongst merchants of like wares that includes a central registry for receiving information about prospective buyers and their finances for compiling and communicating an anonymous sales lead including the prospective buyer's finances to merchants in the same line of business. The leads are auctioned or sold anonymously to interested merchants that receive the contact information for the prospective buyer but not the identity of the initial merchant. |
| US07979336B2 |
System for pricing financial instruments
A method of determining an estimate of the market value of a traded unit of a financial instrument, and apparatus for carrying out the method, said instrument comprising a fund of individually priced securities and the exact composition of said fund being withheld from the market, said method comprising selecting a plurality of mutually independent risk factors, each risk factor being representative of market behaviour estimated to be significant to the price behaviour of the traded unit, obtaining information from a third party holding information regarding the composition of said fund regarding the actual significance of said risk factors to the value of said traded unit, and calculating a value for said traded unit on the basis of said significances. |
| US07979333B2 |
Method for creating and delivering customized compliance information
A method and system to create personalized investor information packages, based on investor information, to be delivered to the investor to satisfy both compliance regulations and investor preferences. The method and system may deliver information in a paper or electronic format. |
| US07979321B2 |
Merchandising items of topical interest
Various embodiments are described herein that provide one or more of a systems, methods, software, and data structures within an Internet marketp lace context that are useful to promote products that may be associated with an event occurrence. Some embodiments further utilize collaborative filtering to augment event-based product recommendations. |
| US07979320B2 |
Automated acquisition and configuration of goods and services via a network
A computer performs a method of communicating with a referral server to identify configurables available to the computer based on the computer's location and at least one other factor. The computer receives a list of provider servers selected by the referral server for referring to the computer because the provider servers on the list auto-configure configurables in the computer's location and according to the at least one other factor. The method communicates with a provider server selected from the list to purchase a selected configurable and to auto-configure the computer's computing environment to operate the selected configurable. The method communicates with the referral server to provide a metric about the provider server's performance during purchase and auto-configure. |
| US07979316B2 |
System and method for facilitating mobile commerce
A system and method for facilitating the purchase of goods and/or services between the holder of a wireless communications device and a commerce system is disclosed. The system enables consumers who wish to participate in promotional sales offers to register with a mobile commerce system. Consumers may further define the types of items that they are interested in purchasing. Prior to the start of a promotion, the system sends a text message alert to registered consumers, giving them an opportunity to opt-in via text message from a wireless communications device. When the promotion is activated, the opted-in consumers are alerted via text message and are given an opportunity to send a text message back to the system indicative of a desire to purchase the promotional item. If defined conditions are met, the consumer's financial account is debited in the amount of the purchase and the consumer is instructed as to how to acquire their purchase. |
| US07979311B2 |
Payment transfer strategies for bandwidth sharing in ad hoc networks
Systems and methods for compensating lenders of bandwidth in an ad hoc network and, more particularly, to systems and methods for providing payment strategies for bandwidth sharing in an ad-hoc network. The method comprises establishing an ad-hoc network between a borrower and at least one lender of bandwidth, and providing compensation instructions to compensate the at least one lender of bandwidth for lending the bandwidth to the borrower. The system may be a computer infrastructure for implementing the steps of the method. |
| US07979308B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for sorting lists for presentation
Methods and apparatuses for sorting seller listings or advertisements of a seller network. In one embodiment, a method includes: determining an indicator of potential revenue for a first party from price information of a list of entities, wherein revenue generated according to the price information of at least some of the list of entities is to be split among a plurality of parties; and, sorting the list of entities into a first list based at least partially on the indicator of potential revenue. |
| US07979306B2 |
System and method for redemption of awards by award program participants
A system and method for maximizing airline award program participant's use of the accumulated award miles even in light of mileage shortfalls for the redemption of mileage awards is described. The system and method not only a benefit to the award program participant, but also provides financial benefits to the airline offering the award program, and these financial benefits are ones that the airline would not ordinarily obtain. |
| US07979303B2 |
System and method for analyzing an operation of an organization
A method for analyzing an operation of an organization, especially in the context of an outsourcing. The method includes decomposing the operation along a value chain containing a plurality of processes, associating a process of the value chain with an element that is subject to the process, and designating a characteristic of the associated process and element. As an example, the element is a device (e.g., PC workstation) that is subject to processes (e.g., customer relationship management). As an example, the characteristic is an actor (e.g., an organization or an outsourcer) responsible for performing at the intersection of the associated process and element. |
| US07979302B2 |
Report generation method and system
A report generation method and system. The system comprises a computing system comprising data. The computing system presents a first list comprising process categories for a plurality of processes. The computing system receives first selection of a process category from the first list. The computing system presents a second list comprising peer group options associated with the process categories. The computing system receives a second selection of at least one peer group option from the second list. The computing system retrieves a portion of from the data. The portion is associated with the first selection and the second selection. The computing system calculates a plurality of values for attributes associated with the first selection and the second selection. The computing system generates a report comprising the plurality of values. |
| US07979298B2 |
Method and apparatus for operational risk assessment and mitigation
Risk in business management is analyzed based on a probabilistic network approach which quantifies the impact of operational risk on financial metrics such as Value-at-Risk (VAR) and/or Potential Losses (PL). This approach provides further capability to determine the optimal placement of one or more countermeasures within a system to minimize the impact of operational risks. |
| US07979295B2 |
Supporting user interaction with a computer system
User interaction with a computer system is supported by maintaining, in a computer system, a model comprising several concepts having properties associated therewith and any relationships existing between the several concepts. A current state of the several concepts, properties and relationships reflects a real-world situation that involves a user of the computer system. An output is made to the user that identifies at least a subset of several predefined goals, the model indicating the subset as being possible to accomplish based on the current state. At least a first action of several predefined actions in the computer system is performed, the model associating the several predefined actions with accomplishing respective ones of the several predefined goals. The first action is identified as associated with accomplishing a first goal that the user selects from the subset. The current state is updated based on performing at least the first action. |
| US07979293B2 |
System and method for production system operations timing
Disclosed is a system and method for managing operations of a system. The method includes partitioning the system into a plurality of subsystems. The method further includes, for each subsystem, creating an agent to associate with the subsystem, providing to the agent one or more goals for the subsystem, and providing to the agent an overall objective function for the system. The method also includes using an optimization algorithm involving the agents to manage system operation based on the goals and the overall objective function. The system includes an agent module for providing a set of agents associated with the subsystems, a throughput target module for providing a throughput target for each agent, an objective module for providing, for each agent, a common production throughput objective, and a sampled fictitious play module for providing instructions of a sampled fictitious play algorithm. |
| US07979292B2 |
Travel fee rate setting based upon travel mode and convenience
Methods, including service methods, articles of manufacture, systems, articles and programmable devices are provided for charging a travel fee as a function of an ease of access to a travel option. A plurality of travel options is provided and ranked as a function of different environmental-friendliness values. Each of a plurality of different rates are set for each of the travel options, the rates set progressively lower as a function of a ranking of the travel option environmental-friendliness values. In response to a traveler selecting and using one of the travel options, an ease of access of the traveler to the selected travel option is determined and a travel fee charged as a function of the rate set for the selected travel option and the determined ease of access of the traveler to the selected travel option. |
| US07979291B2 |
Computer-implemented systems and methods for resource allocation
Systems and methods are described for processing queue data and for providing queue messaging over a network. An illustrative queuing system includes a first queue configured to hold resource requests from a plurality of users, and program code stored in computer readable memory configured to determine or estimate whether a resource requested by a first resource request submitted by a first requester will be available when the first resource request will be serviced, and to transmit a message over a network to the first requester indicating that the requested resource will not be available when the queued request is serviced if it is estimated or determined that the requested resource will not be available when the first request is serviced. |
| US07979288B2 |
Automated interpretation of medical prescription text
The present disclosure relates to a device, system and method of automated interpretation of medical prescription text. Prescription text may be entered into a user interface that may be analogous to a paper prescription entry such as manually written text. The system may then provide parsing, prompts and/or hints along with validity feedback as the prescription information is entered by the user. |
| US07979287B2 |
Radiation image radiographing system, control apparatus, radiation image detecting apparatus and management apparatus
The console selects one radiographing order information item from the radiographing order information list stored in the storing section. A step is taken to determine whether or not the one selected radiographing order information item has a predetermined relationship with the other radiographing order information, and the permission of additional selection is granted only to the radiographing order information having a predetermined relationship. |
| US07979283B2 |
System and method for selecting healthcare management
The present invention is directed to a system and method which allows a prospective insured to make an informed decision on healthcare insurance or a specific health care management decision by using a current medical profile to assist in their selection. Based on past medical care, as obtained from payor data, a number of different plans, each having different providers, different deductibles, different maximums, different reimbursement policies, etc., a person can make an informed decision. When a family has different payors for different family members, a proper blend of payors can be more easily selected since the payors (or a single payor) has a medical profile of each family member and also has information on providers in the network, prescription policies, deductibles, maximums, etc. |
| US07979281B2 |
Methods and systems for creating a second generation session file
The present disclosure provides a speech editor for creating a session file having text segments synchronized with an audio file. The editor receives a text segment and a first file that has tag information lines associated with the text segment. Each tag information line has a portion of original text transcribed from the audio file and a corresponding audio length value. The editor stores the audio length of a current line in a new tag information line for the second file, determines whether the original text portion of the current line is found in the text segment, and if the original text portion of the current line is not found in the text segment, identifies a corrected text of the text segment adjusting the audio length of the new tag information line of the session file to correspond to the corrected text. |
| US07979280B2 |
Text to speech synthesis
An input linguistic description is converted into a speech waveform by deriving at least one target unit sequence corresponding to the linguistic description, selecting from a waveform unit database for the target unit sequences a plurality of alternative unit sequences approximating the target unit sequences, concatenating the alternative unit sequences to alternative speech waveforms and presenting the alternative speech waveforms to an operating person and enabling the choice of one of the presented alternative speech waveforms. There are no iterative cycles of manual modification and automatic selection, which enables a fast way of working. The operator does not need knowledge of units, targets, and costs, but chooses from a set of given alternatives. The fine-tuning of TTS prompts therefore becomes accessible to non-experts. |
| US07979279B1 |
System and method for monitoring communications
A system and method for providing enhanced security through the monitoring of communications. In one embodiment, the monitoring process is aided through an automatic speech recognition process that is focused on the recognition of words from a limited vocabulary. |
| US07979277B2 |
Speech recognition circuit and method
A speech recognition circuit comprising a circuit for providing state identifiers which identify states corresponding to nodes or groups of adjacent nodes in a lexical tree, and for providing scores corresponding to said state identifiers, the lexical tree comprising a model of words; a memory structure for receiving and storing state identifiers identified by a node identifier identifying a node or group of adjacent nodes, said memory structure being adapted to allow lookup to identify particular state identifiers, reading of the scores corresponding to the state identifiers, and writing back of the scores to the memory structure after modification of the scores; an accumulator for receiving score updates corresponding to particular state identifiers from a score update generating circuit which generates the score updates using audio input, for receiving scores from the memory structure, and for modifying said scores by adding said score updates to said scores; and a selector circuit for selecting at least one node or group of adjacent nodes of the lexical tree according to said scores. |
| US07979276B2 |
Speech recognition apparatus and speech recognition method
Voices are prevented from being recognized with poor accuracy when a speaker is not close to a sound pickup device. A speech recognition apparatus (10) includes a sound pickup device (16) picking up sounds, a photographing device (18) photographing images of a speaker making voices into the sound pickup device (16), a voice recognition function unit (132) recognizing voices on the basis of the picked-up voices, and a recognition/learning determination unit (142) restricting the voice recognition function unit (132) from recognizing voices when the photographed images do not contain speaker images showing at least part of the speaker. |
| US07979275B1 |
Distortion measurement for noise suppression system
The present technology measures distortion introduced by a noise suppression system. The distortion may be measured as the difference between a noise-reduced speech signal and an estimated idealized noise reduced reference (EINRR). The EINRR may be determined from a speech component and noise component that are pre-processed, and the EINRR may be used with masks associated with energies lost and added in the speech component and noise component. The EINRR may be calculated on a time varying basis. |
| US07979273B2 |
Method and apparatus for the digitization of and for the data compression of analog signals
The invention is based on the idea of providing a method for high-resolution, waveform-preserving digitization of analog signals, wherein conventional scalar logarithmic quantization is transferred to multi-dimensional spherical coordinates, and the advantages resulting from this, e.g., a constant signal/noise ratio over an extremely high dynamic range with very low loss with respect to the rate-distortion theory. In order to make use of the statistical dependencies present in the source signal for an additional gain in the signal/noise ratio, the differential pulse code modulation (DPCM) is combined with spherical logarithmic quantization. The resulting method achieves an effective data reduction with a high long-term and short-term signal/noise ratio with an extremely small signal delay. |
| US07979260B1 |
Simulating PXE booting for virtualized machines
The operating system agnostic PXE network booting environment is simulated, such that the VMs boot “virtually” from a network boot image, which is actually provided by the hypervisor. More specifically, the network traffic of VMs is filtered, and PXE requests are detected. Responsive to a detected PXE request, the hypervisor simulates the PXE server, and returns an invalid IP address to the VM for PXE communication. This invalid IP address is configured for only internal communication on a virtual network. The hypervisor intercepts PXE related communication sent by the VM to the invalid address, and returns expected PXE responses to the VM, including a boot image. This allows the hypervisor to provide, inspect and/or modify the boot time environment of VMs. |
| US07979255B2 |
Method, system and computer program product for the optimization of power system architectures at the aircraft level during pre-design
In an aircraft power system architecture, power requirements stem from functional top-level aircraft requirements and from the interrelationship among many systems. Thus, to balance power in the overall aircraft power system architecture or at least a portion of the power system architecture at the aircraft level, these interrelationships are considered. A method, system and computer program product are provided for the management of power system architectures at the aircraft level during pre-design. The designer can specify top-level aircraft parameters, and power values in all the systems of the aircraft at varying levels of complexity can be displayed. |
| US07979249B2 |
Computer-readable recording medium which stores fabric model generation program, fabric model generation apparatus and fabric model generation method
A fabric model generation program, apparatus and method generate a napped fabric model that reproduces the realistic structure of each napped part. A placement portion (130) calculates an initial shape of three-dimensional napped models of the napped parts based on a degree of defiberation, minimum radius and height information, and places the napped models having the calculated initial shape on the base texture model. A flexure energy calculation portion (141) calculates a flexure energy representing the energy of the napped models attempting to flex, on the basis of a yarn stiffness coefficient. A repulsion energy calculation portion (142) calculates repulsion energy between the napped models attempting to repel each other, on the basis of a repulsion coefficient. A final shape calculation portion (143) calculates the final shape of the napped models so that a sum energy obtained by adding the flexure energy and the repulsion energy becomes minimum. |
| US07979248B2 |
Model independent simulation
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to event driven simulation and provide a method, data processing system and computer program product for mapping a process model for use in a generic simulation engine. In an embodiment of the invention, a generic model simulation method can include mapping a specifically formatted process representation into a generic process model, and providing the generic process model to a simulation engine. The method further can include executing a simulation on the generic process model in lieu of executing the simulation on the specifically formatted process representation. |
| US07979244B2 |
Method and apparatus for aperture detection of 3D hearing aid shells
A method identifying apertures of ear impressions is disclosed. A plurality of contour lines associated with an ear impression are determined and a difference value between a value of a characteristic, such as the diameter, of each contour line and that characteristic of an adjacent contour line is determined. The aperture is identified as being that contour line having the greatest difference value. The contour lines are determined by identifying where a plane intersects the surface of the graphical representations. In another embodiment, the contour lines are assigned a weight. A contour index is then calculated for each contour line as a function of the difference value and these weights. According to this embodiment, the aperture is identified as being a contour line that is adjacent to that contour line having the greatest contour index. |
| US07979241B2 |
Optimized method for LID biosensor resonance detection
An optical interrogation system is described herein that can interrogate a label-independent-detection (LID) biosensor and monitor a biological event on top of the biosensor without suffering from problematical parasitic reflections and/or problematical pixelation effects. In one embodiment, the optical interrogation system is capable of interrogating a biosensor and using a low pass filter algorithm to digitally remove problematic parasitic reflections contained in the spectrum of an optical resonance which makes it easier to determine whether or not a biological event occurred on the biosensor. In another embodiment, the optical interrogation system is capable of interrogating a biosensor and using an oversampling/smoothing algorithm to reduce oscillations in the estimated location of an optical resonance caused by the problematical pixelation effect which makes it easier to determine whether or not a biological event occurred on the biosensor. |
| US07979237B2 |
Fracture prediction for crystalline microstructures
A method for predicting failures in crystalline microstructures is described. Fracture stress distribution data obtained from test samples prepared according to the same manufacturing process as a contemplated device is used to characterize the strength of surfaces in a numerical stress analysis of the device. The reliability is then calculated for surface nodes on the device. The product of all such reliabilities yields the overall reliability (or 1—the overall failure probability) of the device. |
| US07979235B2 |
Method and device for detecting anomalous events for an electronic apparatus, in particular a portable apparatus
Detection of an anomalous event in an electronic apparatus includes detecting accelerations acting on the electronic apparatus, establishing a normal-mode range of accelerations that corresponds to normal operation of the apparatus, and detecting the anomalous event when a level of acceleration of the electronic apparatus exits the normal-mode range and remains outside the normal mode range for more than a defined duration. The method includes displacing the normal-mode range toward a current level of acceleration of the electronic apparatus while the level of acceleration remains outside the normal-mode range. Additionally, the normal-mode range is increased toward a maximum size while the level of acceleration remains outside the normal-mode range, and is decreased toward a minimum size while the level of acceleration is within the normal-mode range. |
| US07979233B2 |
Rotor assembly system and method
A method and system are disclosed for use in assembling a plurality of rotatable elements in the assembly of a turbine engine. The system and method include an initialization unit, a measurement unit, and a processing unit. The initialization unit receives and stores initialization data in a computer datastore. The initialization data includes a first set of initialization data that is representative of characteristics of a first rotatable element, and a second set of initialization data that is representative of characteristics of a second rotatable element. The measurement unit receives measured data including a first set of measured data characteristic of measured features of the first rotatable element, and a second set of measured data characteristic of measured features of the second rotatable element. The processor unit determines an optimal order and rotational arrangement of the first and second rotatable elements with respect to one another responsive to the first and second sets of initialization data and the first and second sets of measured data. |
| US07979232B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for determining configuration of SAS and SATA cables
Apparatus, systems, and methods for testing SAS cables by applying a signal to one end of a SAS cable, receiving the signal from another end of the SAS cable, and generating an output of information relating to the testing. The testing apparatus may test one or more configuration characteristic of the SAS cable, including, for example a crossover status, a polarity status of transmit (“TX”) wires, and a polarity status of receive (“RX”) wires. |
| US07979231B2 |
Method and system for estimation of inertial sensor errors in remote inertial measurement unit
A method and system for estimation of inertial sensor errors is provided. The method includes receiving first inertial output data from a master inertial measurement unit (IMU) mounted on a host platform, with the first inertial output data comprising a change in velocity (delta V) and a change in angle (delta theta), and receiving second inertial output data from a remote IMU mounted on the host platform at a predetermined fixed distance from the master IMU, with the second inertial output data comprising a delta V and a delta theta. The first inertial output data is compared with the second inertial output data to determine a difference between the delta V of the first inertial output data and the delta V of the second inertial output data, and to determine a difference between the delta theta of the first inertial output data and the delta theta of the second inertial output data. The determined differences are applied to estimate inertial sensor errors in the remote IMU. |
| US07979228B2 |
High resolution time measurement in a FPGA
Various techniques are described for high resolution time measurement using a programmable device, such as an FPGA. The timing may be triggered by any event, depending on the applications of use. Once triggering has occurred, a START pulse begins propagating through the FPGA. The pulse is able to propagate through the FPGA in a staggered manner traversing multiple FPGA columns to maximize the amount of time delay that may be achieved while minimizing the overall array size, and thus minimizing the resource utilization, of the FPGA. The FPGA timing delay is calibrated by measuring for the linear and non-linear differences in delay time of each unit circuit forming the staggered delay line path for the timing circuit. The FPGA achieves nanosecond and sub-nanosecond time resolutions and is used in applications such as various time of flight systems. |
| US07979222B2 |
Short-term load forecasting based capacity check for automated power restoration of electric distribution networks
A method of forecasting loads on a distribution network is disclosed. The method employs load profiles in combination with short-term load estimations to forecast expected loads on a distribution network. The predicted loads may then be used by power restoration controllers when performing back-feed capacity checks. |
| US07979220B2 |
System and method for monitoring power damping compliance of a power generation unit
A system and method for monitoring the power damping compliance of a power generation unit comprises a measurement unit that is configured to be coupled to a power generation unit to identify the voltage, current, and frequency values associated with power output therefrom. A processing system maintaining a model-based filter processes the voltage, current, and, frequency values to estimate the total amount of damping provided by the power generation unit. The estimated total damping is compared to prior historical values maintained in a database using various statistical techniques to determine if a power system stabilizer (PSS) provided by the power generation unit is being operated in a manner complying with predetermined guidelines. |
| US07979218B2 |
Test apparatus, test method and computer readable medium
Provided is a test apparatus for testing a device under test, the test apparatus including: a pattern generating section that inputs a test pattern to the device under test; a judging section that judges whether the device under test is defective or not, based on an output signal outputted from the device under test; a power supply apparatus that supplies a source power to the device under test; and a setting section that detects a fluctuation amount of the source voltage resulting when the test pattern is inputted to the device under test, and sets, based on the detected fluctuation amount, a current range within which a compensation current that is in accordance with a fluctuation of a consumption current consumed by the device under test is generated at a predetermined number of levels so as to compensate a fluctuation of a source voltage to be applied to the device under test attributable to the fluctuation of the consumption current. |
| US07979217B2 |
Method and system for spectroscopic data analysis
A method of analyzing spectroscopic data, the method comprising collecting spatially resolved measurement spectroscopic data of a sample for a series of measurements spots, assigning the measurement spots into a predefined set of spectral categories, based on characteristics of the spectroscopic data of the respective measurement spots, identifying groupings of the measurement spots based on their respective spectral categories and their spatial relationships, and assigning each grouping of measurement spots to a fundamental sample unit data object. |
| US07979213B2 |
Selective resonance of chemical structures
A blood therapy device includes an energy input component, adapted to be placed on or in a human or animal body, that directs a set of differing energy inputs towards a blood vessel, wherein the set of differing energy inputs selectively resonates a plurality of resonant structures in a target composition in the blood. |
| US07979212B2 |
Method and system for morphology based mitosis identification and classification of digital images
A method and system for morphology based mitosis identification and classification of digital images. Luminance parameters such as intensity, etc. from a digital image of a biological sample (e.g., tissue cells) to which a chemical compound (e.g., a marker dye) has been applied are analyzed and corrected if necessary. Morphological parameters (e.g., size, elongation ratio, parallelism, boundary roughness, convex hull shape, etc.) from individual components within the biological sample are analyzed. A medical conclusion (e.g., type and count of mitotic cells) or a life science and biotechnology experiment conclusion is determined from the analyzed luminance and morphological parameters. The method and system may be used to develop applications for automatically obtaining a medical diagnosis (e.g., a carcinoma diagnosis). |
| US07979209B2 |
Temporal mapping and analysis
A compositing process for selecting spatial data collected over a period of time, creating temporal data cubes from the spatial data, and processing and/or analyzing the data using temporal mapping algebra functions. In some embodiments, the temporal data cube is creating a masked cube using the data cubes, and computing a composite from the masked cube by using temporal mapping algebra. |
| US07979208B2 |
Mobile terminal with position measurement function
A mobile terminal according to this invention includes the first calculation module which autonomously calculates its own position based on a GPS signal, and the second calculation module which calculates its own position based on a acquired auxiliary information from a server and the GPS signal. A first control module causes a timer to start a time counting if the second position calculation module accesses the server. When the auxiliary information which satisfies a predetermined condition is not acquired in the time of the timer, the calculation module changes from the second calculation module to the first calculation module. The second control module determines the connection state with the server within the time of the timer. At the time point if the second control module determines that the connection state is an auxiliary information unobtainable state, the calculation module changes from the second calculation module to the first calculation module. |
| US07979207B2 |
Systems and methods for detecting a vehicle static condition
Systems and methods for detecting a vehicle static condition are provided. In this regard, a representative system includes a sensor operative to detect at least one of acceleration and angular rate of a vehicle. The sensor is further operative to generate a vehicle vibration profile based on the at least one of the detected acceleration and angular rate of the vehicle. The system further includes a computing device operative to receive the vehicle vibration profile from the sensor, the computing device being further operative to determine whether the vehicle is stationary or moving based on the vehicle vibration profile. A representative method for detecting a vehicle static condition includes detecting at least one of acceleration and angular grade of a vehicle; generating a vehicle vibration profile based on at least one of the detected acceleration and angular grade of the vehicle; receiving the vehicle vibration profile; and determining whether the vehicle is stationary or moving based on the vehicle vibration profile. |
| US07979204B2 |
Electronic guide system, contents server for electronic guide system, portable electronic guide device, and information processing method for electronic guide system
Tour guide contents stored in a tour guide apparatus carried by a user at a tour destination are provided with points of interest information and map data. This information includes latitude and longitude information for the site of each point of interest, and information on the providers of the information and the categories of information. The latitude and longitude information is provided for each site in relation to map data. By matching these pieces of latitude and longitude information to the map data, points of interest information can be laid out on the map and displayed. This makes it possible to select interesting site information to be displayed on the map based on the information provider, for example, points of interest information provided by provider A for restaurants and another set of information provided by provider B for hotels. |
| US07979202B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing a locator service
Methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing a locator service are provided. A method includes receiving object identification information and location identification information from a vehicle. The location identification information indicates the presence of the vehicle at a parking space. The method also includes creating an occupancy record that includes the object identification information and the location identification information. The method further includes receiving a request to locate the vehicle during an exiting process, the request including at least a portion of the objection identification information. The method further includes retrieving the location identification information from the occupancy record associated with the object identification information, and presenting the location identification information of the parking space to the operator. The location identification information is received at the computer system via a radio frequency identifier associated with the parking space. |
| US07979200B2 |
Managing an air-ground communications network with air traffic control information
Systems and methods that coordinate assignments of aircraft operating within a controlled airspace to ground radios are provided. In one embodiment, such a system includes an air traffic control (ATC) facility (12), a plurality of ground radios (16A-16C), and a network manager (20) communicatively coupled to the air traffic control facility (12) and the ground radios (16A-16C). The air traffic control facility is responsible for controlling aircraft (14A-14I) operating within the airspace (10) and providing ATC information to the network manager (20). The ground radios (16A-16C) are operable to provide communications between the air traffic control facility (12) and the aircraft (14A-14I). The network manager (20) is operable to assign each aircraft (14A-14I) to one of the ground radios (16A-16C) based on network management considerations using the ATC information. |
| US07979199B2 |
Method and system to automatically generate a clearance request to deviate from a flight plan
A method to generate a clearance request to deviate from a flight plan comprising receiving input from at least one flight-plan-relevant source, determining a revised flight route based on the received input, and generating a preconfigured clearance request message to deviate from the flight plan for a user based on the determining. The method further comprises prompting the user for one of approval and rejection of the clearance request to deviate from the flight plan. The preconfigured clearance request message is downlinked when an approval of the clearance request to deviate from the flight plan is received from the user. |
| US07979198B1 |
Vehicular traffic congestion monitoring through inter-vehicle communication and traffic chain counter
Methods and systems are disclosed for monitoring vehicular traffic congestion through the use of inter-vehicle communication and traffic chain counters. Data packets including counter, vehicle identification, direction, location, and speed information are transmitted between vehicles via short-range wireless communications. A receiving vehicle edits a data packet if the data packet reflects that the receiving vehicle has not yet edited the packet and is traveling in substantially the same direction as the vehicle which transmitted the packet to the receiving vehicle. If a receiving vehicle is the last vehicle to edit a packet, the receiving vehicle transmits a reporting packet to a traffic monitoring server via long-range wireless communications. |
| US07979197B2 |
Airport traffic management
Airport ground traffic management methods, program products and systems provided for a plurality of tags or tag readers distributed throughout an airport each spaced greater than a tag reader scanning distance. A traveling apparatus brings a tag proximate to a tag reader and a traffic manager in communication with the tag reader receives tag data and determines an apparatus location characteristic and formats the characteristic into a presentation provided to an apparatus operator or an airport ground traffic controller. Campus regions are identified in response to an airport campus function characteristic, and an apparatus location is plotted within a region on a graphic representation. In response to location, speed, historic data, data from other read tag and the location of another apparatus, a determined course of action is determined including entering a movement directive into an auto-pilot component. |
| US07979196B2 |
Exhaust gas recirculation system
A power system including an exhaust producing engine, an exhaust system and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system is provided. The EGR system may include an EGR flowpath and an air intake system. The EGR system may also include an EGR valve configured to regulate the flow of exhaust gases through the EGR flowpath. The power system may also include a monitoring system configured to monitor operating parameters of at least two components of the EGR system. The power system may also include a controller configured to determine, based on the monitored operating parameters, a maximum flowrate value for each of the components. Each of the maximum flowrate values may represent the maximum EGR flowrate for that component. The controller may be configured to control the EGR valve, based on the maximum flowrate values, to result in an EGR flowrate no greater than the lowest of the maximum flowrate values. |
| US07979194B2 |
System and method for controlling fuel injection
The operation of a fuel injector for an internal combustion engine is controlled, wherein the fuel injector has an on time that includes a pull-in time during which injector current increases to a pull-in current followed by a hold time during which the injector current is limited to a hold current that is less than the pull-in current. A control circuit receives a pressure signal from a pressure sensor that corresponds to a pressure of fuel supplied to the fuel injector for injection into the engine, correlates the pressure signal with fuel pressure, and decreases the pull-in time with increasing fuel pressure. |
| US07979192B2 |
Aircraft-engine trend monitoring system
Methods and systems for aircraft engine trend monitoring include periodically recording the outputs of engine-condition sensors and analyzing the results to examine piston-engine performance trends and predict the need for engine maintenance. Various analyses can be performed, separately or in parallel, including comparing the current parameter values with values recorded for that parameter in previous instances of similar operating conditions; comparing parameter values to predetermined nominal ranges; and detecting parameter values that exhibit trends over time that if followed would result in out-of-bound readings. Sensed parameter values can also be used to detect when recommended engine operating conditions are being exceeded. By using the results of the analyses to inform engine maintenance scheduling and provide alerts to the pilot and maintenance staff regarding recommended engine performance trends and/or operating condition exceedances, the methods and systems contribute to enhancing the level of safety that can be achieved despite significant maintenance-budget reductions. |
| US07979187B2 |
Method for engaging a clutch
A method for coupling a load to a power source by means of a clutch, the method having the steps of initially increasing the pressure of the actuator to bring the pressure plates of the clutch into contact with the clutch plates gradually increasing the pressure of the actuator even further to allow the clutch plates to be engaged with the pressure plates while decreasing at least ones the pressure during a short time to create pressure dips such that the torque generated over the load is at least temporarily decreased, and levelling the pressure of the actuator to maintain the engagement of the pressure plates with the clutch plates to allow the load to be driven by the power source. |
| US07979185B2 |
Method for determining the mass of a motor vehicle
A method for determining a motor vehicle mass which is implemented in conjunction with shifting an automated shift transmission from a current gear to a desired gear. In determining the mass, a value force and movement parameters are determined partly before or after the shift operation and partly during it. For the more rapid and accurate determination of mass, the drive-wheel-related traction force of the drive engine before and after the shift F_zug_vor, F_zug_nach, the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle before and after the shift, a_zug_vor, a_zug_nach, and the acceleration a_roll determined in the traction-force-free phase during the shift are determined, and from these and in accordance with the equation m=F_zug/(a_zug−a_roll), a first mass value m_vor=F_zug_vor/(a_zug_vor−a_roll) is calculated for the beginning of the shift and a second mass value m_nach=F_zug_nach/(a_zug_nach−a_roll) is calculated for the end of the shift. |
| US07979184B2 |
Automatic transmission solenoid control system and method
An automatic transmission controller system and method are disclosed. In particular, disclosed is a system and method for controlling solenoid pressure control valves associated with an automatic transmission. The automatic transmission controller system comprises a controller which is configured to receive one or more electrical signal inputs for attributing each solenoid pressure control valve with one of a set of I-P calibration curves. |
| US07979183B2 |
Method and device for controlling power output of engine for working machine
An engine control device detects the state of work of a working vehicle such as a construction machine or the like, and controls the power output capacity of an engine automatically. A determination is made as to whether excavation or uphill traveling is being performed, based upon the detection signals from a hydraulic oil pressure detector for a hydraulic cylinder of an arm, detectors for arm and bucket operation commands, a shift operation detector for a transmission, a pitch angle detector for the vehicle body, a traveling acceleration detector, and an accelerator opening degree detector. When the result of this determination is that excavation or uphill traveling is being performed, the engine is controlled to operate at a high power capacity, while at other times it is controlled to operate at a low power output capacity. |
| US07979181B2 |
Velocity based control process for a machine digging cycle
A method and machine with an automated digging cycle is provided. The method includes moving an implement system of the machine through a work cycle, including interacting with a material. The method further includes sensing values associated with a bucket velocity parameter, such as bucket tip velocity, during interacting with the material, and controlling the velocity parameter via commands which control a sequence of bucket orientations whereby an implement system of the machine interacts with the material, responsive to the sensed values. The machine includes an electronic controller configured via a control algorithm to execute the automated digging cycle. A velocity based control system for an excavating machine includes an electronic controller configured to receive velocity signals from at least one sensor, determine a bucket tip velocity, and output control commands to move a bucket of the excavating machine through a material via a sequence of bucket orientations that is based on the determined bucket tip velocity. |
| US07979176B2 |
Serpentine belt useful life monitor
A control module of a vehicle comprises a drive diagnostic module and a power determination module. The drive diagnostic module determines a slip power of a belt based on engine speed, motor speed, and motor torque. The power determination module determines an accumulated power of the belt based on the slip power, the motor speed, and the motor torque. The control module diagnoses a condition of the belt based on the accumulated power. |
| US07979174B2 |
Automatic planning and regulation of the speed of autonomous vehicles
An autonomous vehicle comprises one or more sensors configured to obtain data regarding conditions which affect movement of the autonomous vehicle; a speed planner coupled to the one or more sensors and configured to calculate a desired speed based, at least in part, on the data obtained from the one or more sensors; and one or more actuators responsive to signals from the speed planner and configured to adjust the speed of the autonomous vehicle based on the desired speed calculated by the speed planner. |
| US07979172B2 |
Autonomous vehicle travel control systems and methods
Method and system for enabling semi-autonomous or autonomous vehicle travel includes creating dedicated travel lanes for vehicle travel, determining the location of vehicles in the dedicated travel lanes, and providing instructions to the vehicles in the dedicated travel lanes to enable them to travel in a manner which maximizes speed. To determine the location of the vehicles, a vehicle travel management system may be arranged in each vehicle to determine the location of that vehicle, e.g., using a GPS-based positioning system or similar system, and which also optionally receives travel instructions which can be implemented by a vehicle control system to control the direction and speed of the vehicle. The vehicle control system can be designed to assume control of vehicle travel without requiring driving by an occupant of the vehicle and control vehicle travel based on the provided instructions. |
| US07979171B2 |
Permanent magnet temperature estimation
A method of controlling a vehicle including a permanent magnet (PM) synchronous motor is provided. The motor is controlled based on direct-axis (d-axis) and quadrature-axis (q-axis) current commands. The method includes estimating permanent magnet flux linkage based on q-axis voltage and electrical angular speed, and estimating permanent magnet temperature based on permanent magnet flux linkage and the temperature coefficient of the permanent magnet. The vehicle is controlled based on the estimated permanent magnet temperature. |
| US07979167B2 |
System and method for controlling operation of a solar power generation system
A system, a method, and an article of manufacture for controlling operation of an electrical power generation system are provided. The electrical power generation system has a plurality of electrical generators electrically coupled to an electrical grid. The method includes obtaining a first output parameter value associated with the electrical power generation system. The method further includes determining an error value indicative of a difference between the first output parameter value and a desired output parameter value. The method further includes determining a first gain value based on at least one of the first output parameter value and a time-varying operational parameter of the electrical power generation system. The method further includes determining a first power value based on the error value and the first gain value. The method further includes determining a second gain value based on at least one of the first output parameter value, the time-varying operational parameter, and a reference value. The method further includes determining a second power value based on the error value and the second gain value. The method further includes generating a desired power command for the electrical power generation system based on the first and second power values. |
| US07979165B2 |
Mass flow rate control apparatus, its calibration method and semiconductor-producing apparatus
A method for calibrating a mass flow controller comprising a calibrating valve disposed on the most upstream side of a path, a mass flow rate control valve mechanism, a tank provided at the path on the upstream side of the mass flow rate control valve mechanism, a mass-flow-rate-sensing means, a pressure-sensing means, a means for controlling the mass flow rate control valve mechanism, and a mass flow rate calibration control means, the method comprising the steps of (1) permitting a fluid at a set mass flow rate to flow through the path, (2) setting the mass flow rate control valve mechanism at a degree of opening that the mass flow rate of the fluid is equal to the set mass flow rate, (3) closing the calibrating valve, (4) measuring the pressure and mass flow rate of the fluid after a fluid flow from the tank is stabilized, (5) determining a variation ratio of the pressure and mass flow rate to reference pressure and mass flow rate measured by the same procedures in an initial state, and (6) performing calibration depending on the variation ratio. |
| US07979164B2 |
Low voltage power line communication for climate control system
A system for controlling one or more components of a climate control system is provided that includes one or more controllers in connection with low voltage power lines for powering the one or more controllers. The controllers are further capable of transmitting one or more communication signals via the low voltage waveform. The system includes a thermostat controller, at least one system controller for a heating or cooling system, and a controller for a circulating air blower. The thermostat controller, system controller and circulating air blower controller are connected to each other only through each controller's individual connection to the hot and common low voltage power transmission lines. Each controller is capable of transmitting one or more signals that are superimposed onto the low-frequency low-voltage waveform and include information identifying a destination controller that the signals are intended for. |
| US07979161B2 |
Device, program, recording medium and method for correcting taught point
A taught point correcting device for correcting a taught point in an operation program of a robot. The device includes a judging section judging whether position data of any of a plurality of different taught points, previously taught and included in an operation program, has been corrected or not; and a data correcting section correcting, when the judging section judges that position data of a first taught point among the different taught points has been corrected, position data of a correlative taught point having a relative positional relationship with the first taught point, in accordance with a taught-point rule previously prescribing the relative positional relationship between the different taught points. The device may also include a storing section storing the taught-point rule. The taught-point rule may include a rule prescribing a distance between any two taught points among the different taught points. |
| US07979160B2 |
System and method for robotic accuracy improvement
A system and method for sensing and compensating for unintended joint movement of a robotic arm caused by application of a load. The system may have a plurality of external encoders each in intimate contact with an external edge portion of one of a plurality of robotic arm joints to sense joint movement caused by application of the load, and a computing device configured for calculating a compensation amount based on the sensed joint movement and sending the calculated compensation amount to a corresponding robot motor encoder to correct the position of the joint by the compensation amount. The method may comprise applying the load one portion at a time, such that a portion of the load is applied, the compensation amount is calculated, the position of the joint is corrected, and then the process repeats, with another portion of the load applied to the robotic arm. |
| US07979159B2 |
Method and system for determining the relation between a robot coordinate system and a local coordinate system located in the working range of the robot
The present invention relates to a method and a system for determining the relation between a local coordinate system located in the working range of an industrial robot (1) and a robot coordinate system. The method includes attaching a first calibration object (10) in a fixed relation to the robot and determining the position of the first calibration object in relation to the robot. Then, locating at least three second calibration objects (14,15,16) in the working range of the robot, a reference position for each of the second calibration objects in the local coordinate system can be determined by moving the robot until the first calibration object is in mechanical contact with each second calibration object. By reading the position of the robot when the calibration objects are in mechanical contact the relation between the local coordinate system and the robot coordinate system can be calculated. |
| US07979157B2 |
Multi-purpose robotic operating system and method
A dynamically configurable robotic system and method for performing surgical operations using a plurality of robotic arms remotely controlled by at least one operator console. The system comprises a track system configured for mounting to a patient support table, such that the track system provides a stable operating platform for the robotic arms and for facilitating placement of a proximal end of each of the arms at a selected position about a periphery of the patient support table. the system and method also have a plurality of base stations for operatively coupling each of the robotic arms to the track system, such that each of the base stations include a housing, a first connector for coupling the housing to the track system, the first connector configured for facilitating movement of the housing along the track system while coupled thereto, and a second connector for coupling the housing to the proximal end of at least one of the robotic arms, the second connector configured for providing at least one of power supply, control signalling, and data communication with respect to the coupled robotic arm. The system and method also have a control unit for coupling to at least two of the base stations and configured for dynamically connecting operative remote control between the coupled base stations and a first operator console of the at least one operator console. |
| US07979154B2 |
Method and system for managing semiconductor manufacturing device
A management system includes a variable-period setting unit that sets a variable period in which quality-control values vary. Then, a retrieving unit retrieves events sandwiching the variable period. The events can be a maintenance of the semiconductor manufacturing device and/or a change of a correction value. An analysis-period setting unit sets an analysis period for analyzing a cause of variation of the quality-control values between the events retrieved by the retrieving unit. |
| US07979151B2 |
Run-time dispatch system for enhanced product characterization capability
Disclosed herein are embodiments of an automated manufacturing system that is used to process multiple jobs in a product fabrication environment, where such processing comprises performing the same multiple consecutive process steps for each job and where each process step can be accomplished using one or more different available processing tools. The manufacturing system incorporates a unique run-time dispatch system. This dispatch system schedules the order in which jobs will be processed and further randomly assigns a particular combination of process steps and tools to each job in such a way that the processing tools are evenly distributed across the jobs. Ensuring even distribution of processing tools allows a statistical process control system to not only detect, for a given process step, product variability outside desired specifications, but also to efficiently de-convolve such product variability. |
| US07979150B2 |
Biodegradable/bioresorbable tissue augmentation/reconstruction device
A method of manufacturing biodegradable/bioresorbable tissue augmentation/reconstruction devices by defining material density distributions at selected time points during a material degradation lifecycle. These different density distributions are then superposed using general linear and/or nonlinear functions that could include both time and degraded base stiffness weighting factors. The material density distribution may be created using topology optimization, image-based design or computed aided design methods to create a degradable device that retains sufficient physical properties (ie modulus, strength, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity) through the material degradation lifecycle process. Thus, any bulk degrading material can be designed using this process for any tissue augmentation/reconstruction application. |
| US07979146B2 |
System and method for automatically producing haptic events from a digital audio signal
The system and method described is directed to receiving digital audio files and automatically converting the received files into haptic events. In an embodiment, the received files are of sampled digital or digitized analog audio files. The system and method separates the audio signal into a plurality of sub-band signals and segments the sub-band signals into a plurality of events. The system and method then assigns haptic effects to the events to produce haptic event signals which are to be output by an actuator. The system and method utilizes clipping and minimum time separation parameters along with physical parameters of the actuator and frequency characteristics in the audio signal to analyze and provide discrete haptic events which correspond with the audio. |
| US07979137B2 |
System and method for nerve stimulation
A system and method for stimulating a nerve, wherein the system includes a first waveform generator adapted to generate a first waveform having a frequency capable of stimulating a predetermined nerve of the mammal, a second waveform generator adapted to generate a carrier waveform having a frequency capable of passing through tissue of the mammal, a modulation device electrically coupled to the first and second waveform generators and adapted to modulate the first and carrier waveforms to create a modulated waveform, and an electrode electrically coupled to the modulation device and positioned substantially adjacent to skin of the mammal, and adapted to apply the modulated waveform thereto. |
| US07979131B2 |
Method of neurostimulation of distinct neural structures using single paddle lead to treat multiple pain locations and multi-column, multi-row paddle lead for such neurostimulation
In some embodiments, a paddle lead is implanted within a patient such that the electrodes are positioned within the cervical or thoracic spinal levels. An electrode combination on a first row of electrodes can be determined that is effective for a first pain location with minimal effects on other regions of the body. The first pain location can be addressed by stimulating a first dorsal column fiber due to the relatively fine electrical field resolution achievable by the multiple columns. Then, another electrode combination on a second row of electrodes can be determined for a second pain location with minimal effects on other regions. The second pain location could be addressed by stimulating a second dorsal column fiber. After the determination of the appropriate electrodes for stimulation, the patient's IPG can be programmed to deliver pulses using the first and second rows according to the determined electrode combinations. |
| US07979129B2 |
Deep brain stimulation of the zona incerta
That deep brain stimulation can be used in the treatment of movement disorders and for identifying an area of the brain to be targeted by DBS in the treatment of movement disorders. |
| US07979128B2 |
Device and method for gradually controlling breathing
A device and method is provided for controlling breathing of a subject by electrically stimulating tissue associated with the diaphragm or phrenic nerve of the subject. |
| US07979124B2 |
Method and system for detecting capture using a coronary vein electrode
A method and device provide for determining capture in multiple chambers of a patient's heart using an electrode inserted into a coronary vein of the patient's heart. The coronary vein electrode is positioned adjacent to multiple heart chambers and is responsive to cardiac signals originating in the multiple chambers. The coronary vein electrode may be coupled to a single sense amplifier to detect the cardiac signals. Pace pulses may be applied to multiple heart chambers simultaneously or according to a phased timing sequence. Cardiac signals responsive to the pace pulses sensed using the coronary vein electrode may be used to verify capture in the multiple chambers of the heart. |
| US07979123B2 |
Intermittent stress augmentation pacing for cardioprotective effect
A device and method for delivering electrical stimulation to the heart in a manner which provides a protective effect against subsequent ischemia is disclosed. The protective effect is produced by configuring a cardiac pacing device to intermittently switch from a normal operating mode to a stress augmentation mode in which the spatial pattern of depolarization is varied to thereby subject a particular region or regions of the ventricular myocardium to increased mechanical stress. |
| US07979118B2 |
Low frequency generation poultice
A low frequency generating poultice includes a poultice sheet; a contact fabric that is adhered to a non-medicated surface of the poultice sheet; a release sheet that is attached to a medicated surface of the poultice sheet; a low frequency oscillator; a pair of left and right first through holes; a pair of left and right second through holes that are formed in the poultice sheet, the contact fabric, and the release sheet; and a left clip portion and a right clip portion that have one end fixed to a bottom surface of the low frequency oscillator and the other end passing through the pair of left and right first through holes to be coupled to the poultice sheet through the pair of left and right second through holes and electrically connected to the low frequency oscillator. |
| US07979116B2 |
Body composition measuring instrument for recognizing changes in body composition
A body composition measuring instrument includes a body composition calculating unit for calculating the body composition of a user by using a plurality of electrodes, a reference value storage region for storing information of a reference value related to the past body composition of the user, a display control unit for performing a control to display a position of the body composition during the time calculated by the body composition calculating unit in reference to a line showing the reference value on a predetermined graph, and a display section for providing a display corresponding to the output from the display control unit. |
| US07979114B2 |
Apparatus for assuming information on the amount accumulated visceral fat of a human body
Disclosed is an apparatus for assuming the information on the amount accumulated visceral fat in a human body with a high degree of accuracy. It comprises: at least a unit for collecting pieces of information on the identification of the human body and a unit for collecting pieces of information on breathing function, thereby making the visceral fat accumulation calculating unit provide the information on the amount accumulated visceral fat based on the so collected pieces of information. |
| US07979109B2 |
Needle driver for magnetic resonance elastography
The present invention is directed toward an acoustic, piezoelectric, electric, electro-mechanical or pneumatically driven surface drum driver, in mechanical engagement with a biopsy or acupuncture needle device and a method for its use for diagnosis of small e.g. 100 microns, tumors via the production of magnetic resonance elastographic images (MRE), without artifact production, in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine. In a second embodiment, the invention is directed toward an acoustically, pneumatically, piezoelectrically, electrically and/or electro-mechanically driven acupuncture needle, useful for simulating manual single-needle acupuncture treatments via a non-manually manipulated acupuncture needle; and further to a device and process for determination, using twin pneumatically driven surface drivers, of organ stiffness, e.g. brain stiffness, which can be quantified so as to be useful in elucidating and quantifying brain cognitive state, e.g. normal, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer's dementia (AD). |
| US07979106B2 |
System and method for positioning medical devices
In order, despite a plurality of terminals, to enable their freedom of movement on the one hand and an unimpeded treatment process on the other hand to be guaranteed, there is provision in accordance with the invention, for recording the devices in their envisaged spatial distribution, especially by at least one camera, to check this distribution as regards a sufficient freedom of movement of the devices, especially by a processing or control unit, and to feed back a corrected distribution, especially by at least one video projector. |
| US07979098B1 |
Receiver scheduling in ad hoc wireless networks
A wireless network (100) includes a communications node (120) configured to periodically generate and transmit at least one reception definition. Each reception definition indicates a time and manner in which the node will operate to receive information messages. |
| US07979097B2 |
Power management for multimode wireless communication device
A multimode wireless communication device comprising a Wi-Fi module, a cellular communication module, and an integrated power management module is described. The integrated power management module or power management means is configured to manage power for the Wi-Fi module and the cellular communications module. The integrated power management module comprises a Wi-Fi power save mode, a Wi-Fi sleep mode, a Wi-Fi power down mode, a cellular power save mode, and a cellular low power mode. In the Wi-Fi power save mode a timer switches the Wi-Fi module between a Wi-Fi power save awake state and a Wi-Fi power save sleep state. |
| US07979096B1 |
Energy efficient forwarding in ad-hoc wireless networks
A system for conserving energy in a multi-node network (110) includes nodes (205) configured to organize themselves into tiers (305, 310, 315). The nodes (205) are further configured to produce a transmit/receive schedule at a first tier (310) in the network (110) and control the powering-on and powering-off of transmitters and receivers in nodes (205) in a tier adjacent (315) to the first tier (310) according to the transmit/receive schedule. |
| US07979095B2 |
Wireless in-band signaling with in-vehicle systems
This invention pertains to methods and apparatus for data communications from vehicles, to obtain emergency, concierge and other services, using a voice channel of a digital wireless telecommunications network. Signaling is described for commencing data sessions after establishing a voice channel call. The call may be initiated from the vehicle automatically, and the call taker location may be unattended. Signaling methods are selected for traversing both newer and legacy vocoders for ubiquitous operation. |
| US07979093B2 |
Portable terminal and method for displaying preference item therein
A portable terminal and a method for displaying a preference item in the portable terminal that provides a distinguishing view of the preferential item(s). The method includes: displaying, upon receipt of a request to display an item list, the item list; checking, while searching the item list, whether a preference is set for an item to be displayed; and applying, if a preference is set for an item to be displayed, an event to the preference item and displaying the preference item. Applying an event to the preference item and displaying the preference item may include: determining the event that is set for the preference item, and applying the event to the preference item and displaying the preference item. |
| US07979089B2 |
Wireless data communication card with compact antenna
A wireless data communication card configured in accordance with an example embodiment of the invention includes a low profile antenna arrangement that does not protrude from the housing of the computing device when the wireless data communication card is inserted into the housing. The low profile design is achieved without compromising the radio frequency (“RF”) characteristics and performance of the wireless data communication card by tuning the antenna arrangement to account for conductive ground structure located within the housing of the computing device. In accordance with one practical embodiment of the invention, the wireless data communication card is compliant with IEEE Standard 802.11(b) and compliant with PCMCIA specifications. |
| US07979087B2 |
Task switching between two computing devices
A method is provided to enable the person to switch use of computing devices when working with records and/or documents. A method such as described may be implemented for an individual operating two (or more) computing devices that share and synchronize sets of records. One or more operations may be performed to update and maintain correspondence between the two sets of records. A switchover event may be detected, where the event corresponds to the individual using a second computing device while already using a first computing device. Once the switchover event is detected, state of use information may be received on the second computing device. This information indicates the state of use of one or more records on the first computing device. This information may be used to affect the state of use of corresponding records on the second computing device. In particular, the corresponding records on the second computing device may be placed in a state of use, or in a selected state for subsequent use. |
| US07979086B1 |
Virtual visitor location register for a wireless local area network
A multi-mode mobile station is able to wirelessly communicate with a wireless wide area network (WWAN) and with a wireless local area network (WLAN). The WLAN includes a “virtual” visitor location register (VVLR) for storing information about multi-mode mobile stations being served by the WLAN. The VVLR communicates with a home location register (HLR) in the WWAN in order to facilitate roaming between the WWAN and WLAN by the multi-mode mobile station. |
| US07979084B2 |
Method and apparatus relating to power control
The present invention pertains to power control in cellular networks (1). A power control algorithm (201) is operated to control transmission powers on radio links (downlinks and/or uplinks). An information collector (203; 127) is adapted to collect power distribution information indicating how the transmission powers of a selected plurality of radio links are distributed in a dynamic power range extending from a minimum power level Pmin to a maximum power level Pmax. A feedback generator (205; 129) is adapted to generate feedback for modifying the operation of the power control algorithm (201) based on the power distribution information. The feedback makes the operation of the power control algorithm (201) less sensitive to initial settings of operational parameters and varying conditions in the radio environment. The burden on the operator to select optimal settings for operational parameters is therefore lowered. The invention can be achieved using conventional measurement reports from user terminals. |
| US07979083B2 |
Reducing interference from closely proximate wireless units
A wireless device may include two or more wireless interfaces capable of transmitting and/or receiving signals over separate wireless networks. To reduce the likelihood of interference, a processing unit may determine whether to permit a transmission under one wireless network when a reception under another wireless network is already in progress. |
| US07979082B2 |
Method and apparatus for message identification
A method and apparatus for identifying an unwanted short message service (SMS) message from SMS messages received by a cellular mobile communication system, which comprises at least a history database (HB) for storing a set (H) of the messages received by the cellular mobile communication system. The method includes the steps of: measuring a difference in an information content between a SMS message (m) received by the cellular mobile communication system and the set (H) of messages stored in the history database (HB), and marking the SMS message (m) as being an unwanted SMS message if the difference that is measured is less than or equal to a predefined threshold value. |
| US07979081B1 |
Method and system for distributed distance-based paging
A distance-based paging system distributes the decision as to which base stations should send a page to a terminal. The Radio Network Controller (RNC) simply stores the location information and paging range (e.g., the route update radius) of the reference sector for each terminal. When a page message needs to be sent to the terminal, the RNC sends the location information and paging range to each base station in a broadcast or a multicast message that includes the location coordinates and route update radius of the reference sector in the message header, and the information to be sent in the over the air page in the message payload. Each base station determines whether one or more of its sectors is located within the paging area, and broadcasts a page based on the payload of the message to the terminal if it is within the paging area or discards the paging message if it is not. |
| US07979077B2 |
Sequence allocating method, transmitting method and wireless mobile station device
It is an object to provide a sequence allocating method that, while maintaining the number of Zadoff-Chu sequences to compose a sequence group, is configured to make it possible to reduce correlations between different sequential groups. This method comprises the steps of setting a standard sequence with a standard sequence length (Nb) and a standard sequence number (rb) in a step (ST101), setting a threshold value (Xth(m)) in accordance with an RB number (m) in a step (ST103), setting a sequence length (N) corresponding to RB number (m) in a step (ST104), judging whether |r/N−rb/Nb|=Xth(m) is satisfied in a step (ST106), including a plurality of Zadoff-Chu sequences with a sequence number (r) and a sequence length (N) in a sequence group (rb) in a step (ST107) if the judgment is positive, and allocating the sequence group (rb) to the same cell in a step (ST112). |
| US07979075B2 |
Generation, deployment and use of tailored channel quality indicator tables
Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) tables are tailored to one or more cells of interest. Tailoring CQI tables to individual cells permits devices such as radio base stations to more reliably and accurately allocate radio resources to those cells since channel conditions vary from cell to cell. According to one embodiment, a table of CQI values is composed by analyzing information indicating channel quality in a cell of interest and generating at least one table of CQI values tailored to the cell of interest based on the information analyzed. The tailored CQI table may be deployed to another device for use in reporting channel quality information. The device may report channel quality by accessing the tailored CQI and identifying the range of CQI values that includes a channel quality estimate derived by the device. The device generates a channel quality information message based on the identified range of CQI values. |
| US07979073B2 |
Apparatus and method for solving congestion in wideband code division multiple access system
Provided is an apparatus and method for solving congestion in a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) system. A WCDMA node B broadcasts a congestion occurrence information message over a cell area when congestion is sensed. A mobile communication terminal then checks the type of service to receive in the WCDMA node B and, when the mobile communication terminal receives a circuit service and there is a Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM)/General Packet Radio Services (GPRS) cell available with which the mobile communication terminal can communicate, it switches its service cell mode from a WCDMA cell into the GSM/GPRS cell. |
| US07979072B2 |
Method and system for soft handoff in mobile broadband systems
The present invention provides a method and system for facilitating efficient handoff and data throughput in mobile broadband communication systems. Methods implemented by a system constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention include selectively enabled soft handoff, performing Layer 2 bearer functions at the base station and using the mobile device to coordinate soft handoff and interference avoidance without the need for a centralized coordination function. |
| US07979071B2 |
User apparatus, base station, and method in mobile communication system
A disclosed user apparatus includes a random access channel generating unit configured to generate a random access channel; a control channel generating unit configured to generate a control channel in accordance with scheduling information received from a base station; and an uplink transmission signal generating unit configure to generate an uplink transmission signal including the random access channel or the control channel. Further, the purpose ID indicating at least whether there is a user ID uniquely allocated by the base station is included in the random access channel or the control channel. |
| US07979069B2 |
Mobile device and base station for a communication protocol with normal login and temporary login
A mobile device communicates with a base station according to a communication protocol, the communication protocol having a first message for signaling a readiness of the base station for a normal login operation of the mobile device with the base station and a second message for signaling a readiness of the base station for an ad-hoc login operation of the mobile device with the base station, so that the ad-hoc login information of the ad-hoc login operation can be distinguished from the normal login information of the normal login operation. To this end, the mobile device has a receiver, an interpreter and a processor, which is formed so as to perform the ad-hoc login operation when the readiness of the base station for an ad-hoc login operation is signaled. |
| US07979068B2 |
Method and device for traversing a scan list in a communication system
A wireless communication device accesses a scan list that includes a plurality of scan members sorted at least by receive frequency and attempts to detect whether a call of interest exists on a receive frequency by performing a group scan for a group of scan members that are marked scan undone and that have the same corresponding receive frequency, wherein the group includes a first scan member and at least one other scan member. The group scan includes inspecting the receive frequency to obtain inspection results; using the inspection results to determine that there is no signal on the receive frequency having signal attributes that match a set of attributes for the first scan member; and using the inspection results to evaluate at least one of the other scan members in the group to determine whether there is a corresponding signal of interest on the receive frequency. |
| US07979065B1 |
System and method for facilitating multi-media communication
A system and method are provided with a computing system, capable of binding SMS, voice and other media transactions into a continuous, stateful messaging process that maintains awareness of the communications event over time delays and media transitions. Communications events between two or more communicators over one communications medium are bridged by the system to a second communications medium, according to the needs of the communicators. Various applications of the system permit selective or automated bridging of the communications event based on predetermined events and timeline formulae. |
| US07979064B2 |
Methods and systems for providing application level presence information in wireless communication
Methods and apparatus for determining and maintaining user presence information include capturing user presence data with an application presence server. The application presence server can be configured to update user presence data as a user initiates or exits an application. Applications associated with user presence data are configured to query an application proxy client concerning user presence data of a selected user and, based on a returned user status, deliver, discard, or redirect a message intended for the user. User presence data is stored in a user presence repository and can be provided via Internet-based or other connections to applications executed on external networks. User activity status can be used to select or update user presence data. In some examples, an application server of an external network is configured to receive user presence data from the presence server. |
| US07979063B2 |
System and method for reshaping customer areas of a telecommunications carrier
A system and method for changing area boundaries that encompass customers serviced by a telecommunications carrier may include an electronic display configured to display graphical images and a storage unit configured to store information associated with the customers serviced by a telecommunications carrier and area boundaries. A processing unit may be in communication with the electronic display and storage unit, and be configured to execute software. The software may display indicia representative of a geographic area of the customers serviced by the telecommunications carrier. Adjacent area boundaries may be displayed on the geographic area, where at least two of the area boundaries share at least one common point along the boundaries. The processing unit may further enable a user to selectively reposition a common point along at least two area boundaries of different types and reshape the area boundaries based on the repositioned common point. |
| US07979056B2 |
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for providing information related to virtual environments to wireless devices
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are disclosed for providing information related to virtual environments. One such method includes receiving user input identifying an event related to the virtual environment for which a notification is to be provided to a mobile wireless communication device. User input is also received identifying an output to be provided by the mobile wireless communication device in response to receipt of the notification. A determination is then made that the event related to the virtual environment has occurred. In response to determining that the event occurred, the mobile wireless communication device is provided with the notification, and the output identified by the user input is provided by the mobile wireless communication device. |
| US07979053B2 |
Security system and method for a mobile phone
A security system for a mobile phone is disclosed for securing private information of the mobile phone. The system may set at least two PIN numbers for a super user and a general user, encrypt a phone book system of the mobile phone by setting a security status for each contact in a phone book system of the mobile phone. The system also may start a secure work mode if a user of the mobile phone is a super user and starting a non-secure work mode if the user is a general user of the mobile phone. A security method for a mobile phone is also disclosed. |
| US07979046B2 |
Transceiver development in VHF/UHF/GSM/GPS/bluetooth/cordless telephones
A digital communication circuit can be implemented can be implemented in a CMOS, or other IC structure. The digital circuit can utilize negative frequency removers or image frequency removers in the digital domain. The circuit can include mixers, switches, a complex filter, a low noise amplifier and summers. The image frequency can be removed digitally. |
| US07979039B2 |
Pre-distorting a transmitted signal for offset cancellation
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a pre-driver to receive data of a first clock phase and to pre-drive the data, a driver coupled to the pre-driver to drive the data onto a link operable to be coupled to a receiver, and an offset driver to drive an offset value associated with the first clock phase onto the link with the data. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US07979037B2 |
Frequency modulation circuit, transmission circuit, and communication apparatus
A bandpass type delta sigma modulation section performs delta sigma modulation on an inputted modulation signal such that quantization noise is reduced in a frequency band which requires low noise. A low pass filter removes a noise component in a high frequency region from the signal on which the delta sigma modulation has been performed. A frequency modulation circuit reduces noise in the frequency band which requires low noise with the bandpass type delta sigma modulation section and the low pass filter, and reduces noise in the vicinity of a direct current component DC with a feedback comparison section and a loop filter. |
| US07979035B2 |
Communication device with multiple detachable communication modules
A wireless communication device has a docking cavity, a short-range transceiver, and a long-range transceiver for long-range wireless communication with a wireless network. A wireless communication module includes a speaker and a microphone, and a short-range transceiver for short-range wireless communication with the device's short-range transceiver. The module is configured to operate in first and second modes. In the first mode, the module is separated from the communication device. In the second mode, the module is mounted in the cavity. In both modes, communication between a user and the network is conducted through the module's microphone and speaker, both short-range transceivers and the long-range transceiver. |
| US07979030B1 |
Circuit for transmitting a RFID signal
A circuit for transmitting a RFID signal while conserving the battery power for a circuit in continuous operation is disclosed herein. The circuit includes a RFID component, a microprocessor, an accelerometer and a battery. The battery preferably has no more than 225 milliamp hours of power. The accelerometer is preferably a multiple axis accelerometer. The circuit is preferably utilized with a device for shot tracking. |
| US07979027B2 |
Method and system for selecting, transmitting, and receiving an unused carrier frequency and transmitting over the unused carrier frequency
In some embodiments, a method of transmitting electrical signals over at least one unused first frequency includes: (a) using a first electrical device to receive information identifying the at least one unused first frequency; (b) selecting a first transmission frequency from the at least one unused first frequency; (c) communicating the first transmission frequency to a user; and (d) using the transmitter of the first electrical device to broadcast the electrical signals over the first transmission frequency. Other embodiments are disclosed in this application. |
| US07979022B2 |
Method and system for generating switching timing signal for separating transmitting and receiving signal in RF repeater of mobile telecommunication network using TDD and OFDM modulation
Disclosed are a method and system for generating switching a timing signal for separating a transmitting and receiving signal in a RF repeater of a mobile telecommunication network by using a TDD scheme and an OFDM modulation scheme, which transmits a part of a RF signal extracted from a coupler of a RF repeater to a switching timing signal generating circuit when a RF signal transmitted from an Access Point (hereinafter, referred to as “AP”) is transmitted to a RF repeater, locates a frame start position of a RF signal by correlating a reference signal generated in a switching timing signal generating circuit and a RF signal extracted from a coupler, and is capable of transmitting a RF signal by distinguishing between a downlink signal and a uplink signal by using a switching timing signal in a switch when calculating a starting point of a downlink signal and a uplink signal which is included in an RF signal by using an AP's frame standard on the basis of a frame starting location, and transmitting to a RF repeater's switch generating a switching timing signal by using it. |
| US07979019B2 |
Image forming apparatus, image forming method, control program, and computer-readable program
The present invention provides an image forming apparatus capable of restricting copying using, as a master copy, a copy of a produced work such as a book. An MFP is provided with a printing permission/prohibition judging section and an output paper sheet selection section. The printing permission/prohibition judging section judges whether or not restriction information for restricting image formation is contained in either (i) an information tag provided in a document, or (ii) image data acquired by an image scanning section. The output paper sheet selection section selects a regulatory-information-containing recording paper sheet (i.e., a recording paper sheet on which a copy restriction code/pattern has been formed in advance, or a recording paper sheet having a wireless tag in which regulatory information has been stored in advance) as a recording paper sheet to be subjected to the image formation, which regulatory-information-containing recording paper sheet contains the regulatory information for prohibiting or restricting an image forming process based on the recording paper sheet on which an image has been formed. |
| US07979018B2 |
Image forming apparatus for controlling the occurrence of residual images
An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes: an image carrier on whose surface is formed a latent image; a developing unit that forms a developer image with a developer including toner, carrier and additive; a transfer unit that transfers the developer image onto a recording medium; a recovery member that recovers the developer remaining on the surface of the image carrier after the developer image is transferred; a supply member that supplies, to the image carrier, a recovery promoter; and a voltage application unit that applies, to the supply member, an alternating-current voltage whose amplitude is changed in accordance with a change in the percentages of the amount of toner and the amount of carrier per unit area of a developer image forming portion of the developing unit. |
| US07979012B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method
Provided is an image forming apparatus including: a latent image carrier; a charging unit; a latent image forming unit; a developing unit; a transferring unit; and a control unit that performs an image forming process by controlling the latent image carrier, the charging unit, the latent image forming unit, the developing unit and the transferring unit, wherein, during execution of the image forming process, the latent image carrier circulates by passing through the charging position, the developing position and the transferring position in a state in which at least one of toner, which is charged with a polarity opposite to the regular charging polarity, and external additive agent, which is separated from the toner and charged with a polarity opposite to the regular charging polarity, is distributed and adhered to the surface of the latent image carrier. |
| US07979011B2 |
Image forming apparatus having a photoconductive drum
An image forming apparatus that includes: a photoconductive drum; a developing roller that is arranged opposite the photoconductive drum and that carries toner; a detecting portion that detects an occurrence of electrical discharge between the developing roller and the photoconductive drum; a control portion that controls the apparatus, that receives an output of the detecting portion and then recognizes the occurrence of the electrical discharge; a direct voltage applying portion that is connected to the developing roller; and an alternating voltage applying portion is disclosed herein. |
| US07979004B2 |
Electrophotographic belt, production method of electrophotographic belt, and electrophotographic apparatus
The electrophotographic belt of the present invention is characterized that, in the electrophotographic belt composed of the thermoplastic resin composition containing thermoplastic resin, with respect to a flake-shaped portion having an arc length of 5% of the inner peripheral length of the electrophotographic belt, when the thickness of the flake-shaped portion is measured at intervals of 1 mm in the peripheral direction, the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the measured value is 2% or more and 20% or less of an arithmetic average value. |
| US07979001B2 |
Fixing device, image forming apparatus and adjustment of fixing device
A fixing device includes: a fixing member that is driven to rotate; a pressurizing member that is rotated in accordance with rotation of the fixing member while pressing the fixing member, and that forms a pressing portion through which a recording medium passes, the pressing portion being formed between the pressurizing member and the fixing member; and a surface shape adjusting member that has a surface including plural spherical projections and that rotates with the surface being in contact with the fixing member. |
| US07978998B2 |
Image forming apparatus for transferring transfer residual toner onto image bearing member
There is a charge member which charges secondary transfer remaining toner on an intermediate transfer member to a polarity opposite to a normal charge polarity. The transfer remaining toner charged by the charge member is moved in the direction opposite to that of normal toner by a transfer bias and moved from the intermediate transfer member onto an image bearing member. A BK station is arranged on the downstream of other stations. In a continuous BK monochromatic mode, by applying a reverse bias to transfer portions of the other stations and applying the transfer bias only to the BK station, waste toner can be collected into the BK station (simultaneously with the transfer). In a full-color mode, since each transfer bias is applied to all stations, the waste toner is collected into the station on the uppermost stream. Thus, the image bearing member for collecting the transfer remaining toner on the intermediate transfer member is made different according to the mode, thereby suppressing that the collection of the waste toner is concentrated on one image bearing member. |
| US07978997B2 |
Developer cartridges, process cartridges, and image formation devices
When a developer cartridge is not attached to an image formation apparatus body frame, a developer electrode included with the cartridge is disposed at a retract position at which the developer electrode does not protrude outside the cartridge. This protects the developer electrode from damage possibly caused by interference or contact with other components. After the developer cartridge is attached to the body frame, when the developer roller is rotated, the developer electrode is displaced to a connection position at which the developer electrode protrudes outside the cartridge (and is connected to a power supply electrode provided with the body frame). |
| US07978995B2 |
Image forming apparatus for image density adjustment
An image forming apparatus having a process correction mode wherein when a temperature of a fixing device in an image formation system in a power-on state is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the image forming apparatus increases the fixing temperature to the predetermined value. The apparatus sets the process correction mode based on power-on information output from a first detector which detects presence of the power-on state for the fixing device and fixing temperature information output from a second detector which detects a fixing temperature in the fixing device, and sets a priority level for performing a correction processing of the color misregistration to be lower than a correction processing comprising an image density adjustment. |
| US07978986B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method for monitoring the degree of consumption of consumable components
Upon generation of an image forming request, a control unit sets a request flag in a nonvolatile rewritable memory. A toner consumption monitoring unit calculates amount of toner consumption during a process of image formation based on the image forming request and the request flag. Upon completion of the process of image formation, the control unit deletes the request flag from the memory unit. Thus, it becomes possible to determine whether the amount of toner consumption is correctly updated based on the request flag and accurately monitor the amount of toner consumption. |
| US07978979B2 |
Methods and systems for implementing a universal set top box
A system is disclosed. The system has a first receiver, a second receiver, and an input device configured to transmit a command signal in response to user input. The system also has an input waveguide having a first end in communication with the input device and terminating at the first receiver, and a second end in communication with the second receiver. The input waveguide is arranged to receive and route the command signal to the second receiver. The system also has an output waveguide having a first end in communication with the first receiver, and a second end in communication with the second receive. The second receiver is configured to determine whether the command signal is directed to the first receiver and/or the second receiver based a code contained in the command signal. The second receiver is further configured to execute the command signal when it is determined that the command signal is directed to the second receiver, and relay the command signal through the output waveguide to the first receiver for execution when it is determined that the command signal is directed to the first receiver. |
| US07978976B2 |
Optical data transmission system
An optical data transmission system having a hub, an optical router, and a plurality of optically pumped sources at a curb location, and a plurality of optical network units (ONUs). The ONUs generate and transmit respective data modulated pumping light to the curb location where it is received by the optically pumped sources, which convert it into the wavelength channels having predefined wavelength ranges assigned to respective ONUs. The optical router routes the wavelength channels for transmission to the hub. |
| US07978973B2 |
Transmission system
A wavelength division multiplexing transmission system, the system comprising: a plurality of channels at different wavelengths, each channel comprising a transmitter, a receiver, and one or more amplifiers, the system further comprising an encoder for encoding data with a coding, and; a decoder for decoding transmitted data; prioritizing means for prioritizing the data on each channel; monitoring means for monitoring directly or indirectly, raw (uncorrected) bit errors on each channel; power adjusting means for, varying the power on a channel in response to the bit error rate. |
| US07978972B2 |
Optical line terminal and optical network terminal
The optical line terminal has a PON transceiver including an error correction code decoder. The error correction decoder includes: a shortening compensation parameter table; and a syndrome calculator for calculating a syndrome by referring to the shortening compensation parameter table, or an error search part for calculating an error position or an error value by referring to the shortening compensation parameter table. Also the optical network terminal has a PON transceiver including an error correction code decoder. The error code decoder includes: a shortening compensation parameter table; and a syndrome calculator for calculating a syndrome by referring to the shortening compensation parameter table, or an error search part for calculating an error position or an error value by referring to the shortening compensation parameter table. |
| US07978970B2 |
Systems and/or devices for providing diffuse light
Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a method comprising: from an angled first end region of a substantially cylindrical beam splitter, reflecting incident light striking from any of a first set of predefined directions and to substantially transparently convey through said beam splitter and to a camera lens incident light traveling in any of a second set of predefined directions, the beam splitter defining a longitudinal central axis. |
| US07978969B2 |
Camera module
A camera module (22) that is advantageous in increasing the endurance and impact resistance is provided. The camera module (22) includes a barrel unit (66), a lens holding unit (68), springs (70), an image pickup element (29), and a driving unit (72). The barrel unit (66) includes a front barrel (78) and a rear barrel (80). The driving unit (72) moves the lens holding unit (68) along an optical axis of an imaging optical system (34), and includes magnets (74) and coils (76). The two magnets (74) are disposed on the lens holding unit (68) at positions having the optical axis therebetween and extend parallel to a single imaginary plane which passes through the optical axis. The coils (76) are respectively disposed on the barrel unit (66) at two positions where the coils (76) face the magnets (74). |
| US07978967B2 |
Camera body, interchangeable lens, and imaging apparatus
An interchangeable lens includes an obtaining unit for obtaining first control information and second control information from the camera body, the first control information being an instruction to control the first drive unit (diaphragm), the second control information being an instruction to control the second drive unit (focus lens, etc), a storage unit for storing the obtained second control information, and a controller for controlling the first drive unit and the second drive unit based on the first and second control information obtained. The second control information (reservation control information) is an instruction to control the second drive unit when the obtaining unit receives the first control information after receiving the second control information. When the obtaining unit obtains the first control information after obtaining the second control information, the controller drives the first drive unit and the second drive unit in parallel based on the obtained first control information and the stored second control information. |
| US07978962B2 |
Method for controlling an optical pick-up for reading data streams for simultaneous reproduction
A method for optimizing a scheduler for an optical pick-up reduces the pick-up jump frequency and the initial start-up time for reproduction. The pick-up reads data streams from different files on an optical storage medium, e.g. Blu-Ray disc, and buffers the data streams in separate buffers, e.g. for video, audio and subtitles. Buffer sizes are optimized when the video buffer is as small as possible, i.e. large enough to bridge the pick-up access and read times for the other streams, and the buffers the lower rated streams are extended such that the pick-up access frequency for lower rated streams is an integer multiple of the pick-up access frequency for the highest rated stream, usually the video stream. Initial start-up time is minimized by filling the buffers initially only to a minimum required level. |
| US07978961B2 |
Disk reproducing apparatus
Disclosed a disk reproducing apparatus including: a reproduction control unit; a repeat section setting unit; a repeat reproduction control unit; a special reproduction control unit; and an on-screen display unit, wherein the repeat section setting unit sets time information at the repeat starting point and the repeat ending point, and stores image data at the repeat starting point and/or the repeat ending point; the special reproduction control unit performs special reproduction by skipping I pictures included in the image data at a predetermined time interval; and when the special reproduction reaches the end point of the repeat section, the special reproduction control unit makes the on-screen display unit display the image based on the image data at the repeat starting point or the repeat ending point. |
| US07978957B2 |
Information processing apparatus and method, and program
Disclosed herein is an information processing apparatus that controls reproduction of a plurality of recorded contents recorded when distributed from a predetermined one of a plurality of distribution sources to each of which a predetermined channel is allocated, including reproduction control means for controlling so that, where reproduction starting absolute time indicative of reproduction starting time is designated by a user and besides a reproduction object channel is designated by the user, that one of the recorded contents of the reproduction object channel whose reproduction starting absolute time is included in a recording time zone is reproduced from a position thereof corresponding to the reproduction starting absolute time. |
| US07978956B2 |
Information recording method, information recording medium, and information reproducing method, wherein information is stored on a data recording portion and a management information recording portion
With this invention, at least one of a video file containing video information, a still picture file containing still picture information, and an audio file containing audio information and a management file having management information on a control method of reproducing the information in the file are recorded on an information storage medium. This realizes a data structure that causes the recording and deleting places on the information storage medium to correspond spuriously to places on a single tape, such as a VTR tape. Use of the data structure provides users with an easy-to-use interface. |
| US07978954B2 |
Rotation speed control apparatus for disk recorder and method thereof
A rotation speed control apparatus for a disk recorder is provided, which includes a buffer monitor and a rotation speed decision maker. According to the amount of data in the buffer, the buffer monitor outputs a buffer data. According to the buffer data, the rotation speed decision maker outputs a disk-rotation-speed signal. According to the disk-rotation-speed signal, the disk recording speed of an optical storage system is adjusted by the rotation speed control apparatus to avoid disk recording interruption due to lack of buffer data. |
| US07978951B2 |
Bulkhead with angled openings and method
A bulkhead adapter plate that mounts to a face panel of a cable management panel, and a method of making the bulkhead adapter plate. The plate including angled adapter mounting openings formed by performing a minimum number of bending operations. |
| US07978949B2 |
Optical fibers and optical transmission systems
Optical fibers and optical transmission systems, which are capable of broadband and large capacity single-mode optical transmission, and have low macrobends are provided.The optical fiber made from pure silica comprising a core region, a cladding region at the circumference of the core region a coating layer made from a resin at the circumference of the cladding region, and having a cutoff wavelength of shorter than 1530 nm, and positive dispersion at 1550 nm, bending loss of less than 10 dB/m at a bending diameter of 20 mm, and an effective core area of 120 μm2. |
| US07978948B2 |
Optical fiber and optical fiber ribbon
The present invention relates to an optical fiber accommodated in an optical fiber cable, and more particularly, to an optical fiber which optimizes optical fiber coating resin and color resin and restrains an increase in transmission loss of the optical fiber due to an operating environment and aged deterioration and provides an optical fiber and optical fiber ribbon without any increase of transmission loss irrespective of the operating environment and aged deterioration, and especially when exposed to water or high humidity.The optical fiber is an optical fiber coated with at least two layers of coating resin, wherein the outermost coated coating resin is a colored layer made of color resin and when the optical fiber is immersed in water which is heated to 60° C. for 168 hours, an extraction rate of the coating resin of the optical fiber is set to 1.5 mass percent or below. |
| US07978947B2 |
Photonic bandgap fiber
A photonic bandgap fiber includes a first core having a refractive index equal to or smaller than a refractive index of a cladding, a second core that is provided to surround the first core and has a refractive index smaller than the refractive index of the first core, the cladding that surrounds the second core, and a periodic structure portion that is provided in the cladding around the second core, and in which high-refractive index portions having a refractive index larger than the refractive index of the cladding form a periodic structure. The periodic structure is configured such that at least the propagation constant of the fundamental mode at a wavelength to be used is in a photonic bandgap, and the propagation constant of a higher-order mode at the wavelength to be used is outside of the photonic bandgap. |
| US07978945B2 |
Nonlinearity compensation in a fiber optic communications system
An optical communications link is described, comprising first and second fiber lines in substantial scaled translational symmetry by a common scaling factor with respect to a second-order dispersion coefficient profile (oppositely signed) and with respect to at least one of a loss/gain coefficient profile and a nonlinear coefficient-power product profile for facilitating progressive compensation along the second fiber line of at least one nonlinearity introduced along the first fiber line. |
| US07978943B2 |
Monolithic pump coupler for high-aspect ratio solid-state gain media
In one or more embodiments, an optical fiber coupler for coupling pump radiation into a rectangular optical fiber includes a fiber section and a pump fiber. The fiber section includes a core having a high aspect ratio cross-section and an interface section. The core is positioned in contact with first and second signal claddings to form reflective boundaries at fast-axis boundaries of the core. The pump fiber is side coupled to the fiber section via the interface section, and configured to couple the pump radiation into the fiber section. |
| US07978937B2 |
Using photographic images as a search attribute
Method and computer program product including executable instructions on a computer readable medium for using a photographic image in a component search. A plurality of attributes for searching a component information source is gathered, including a photographic image of space available for receiving a component. The photographic image is analyzed to determine the physical dimensions of the space available. A component information source may then be searched to identify components that satisfy the plurality of attributes. The attribute of the photographic image is satisfied with respect to a particular component if the physical dimensions of the space available are determined to allow proper installation of the particular component. Search results are communicated to a user, wherein the results include the identification of at least one component from the information source satisfying each of the plurality of attributes. |
| US07978931B2 |
Optimized video stitching method
The invention discloses an optimized video stitching method, comprising: inputting predefined pattern images; proceeding with a transformation which combines planar and cylindrical transformation; proceeding with a merging calculation which combines linear difference merging and alpha blending calculation; and proceeding with a horizontal stitching processing by putting the processed images horizontally together into one seamless wide-angle image. The optimized video stitching method according to the invention further comprises a camera position calibration flow comprising: finding a planar matrix by using predefined pattern images; proceeding with a planar transformation of image; proceeding with an image registration by using a block matching method to find out the stitching points on the planar surface; and proceeding with a cylindrical transformation by transforming the stitching points from the planar surface to cylindrical surface. |
| US07978929B2 |
Device and method for outputting a private image using a public display
Disclosed are a device and a method for displaying a private image on a public display device. Image sequence pattern is generated for the private image and the corresponding masking image. The masking image is made from the dynamic inverse image of the private image, based on the refresh rate of the display device and the image sequence pattern. The masking image can screen the private image more effectively. The private image and the masking image is displayed on the display device according to the image sequence pattern. |
| US07978923B2 |
Method, system and computer program product for optimization of data compression
A sequence of n coefficients is compressed by determining a cost-determined sequence of n coefficient indices represented by a cost-determined sequence of (run, index derivative) pairs under a given quantization table and run-index derivative coding distribution, wherein each sequence of (run, index derivative) pairs defines a corresponding sequence of coefficient indices such that (i) each index in the corresponding sequence of coefficient indices is a digital number, (ii) the corresponding sequence of coefficient indices includes a plurality of values including a special value, and (iii) each (run, index derivative) pair defines a run value representing a number of consecutive indices of the special value, and an index-based value derived from a value of the index following the number of consecutive indices of the special value. This involves (a) using the given quantization table and run-index derivative coding distribution to formulate a cost function for a plurality of possible sequences of (run, index derivative) pairs; (b) applying the cost function to each possible sequence in the plurality of possible sequences of (run, index derivative) pairs to determine an associated cost; and, (c) selecting the cost-determined sequence of (run, index derivative) pairs from the plurality of possible sequences of (run, index derivative) pairs based on the associated cost of each of the plurality of possible sequences of (run, index derivative) pairs; and encoding the corresponding selected cost-determined sequence of (run, index derivative) pairs using entropy coding based on a run-index derivative coding distribution. |
| US07978916B2 |
System and method for identifying a vascular border
A system and method is provided for using a first vascular image, or more particularly a plurality of control points located thereon, to identify a border on a second vascular image. Embodiments of the present invention operate in accordance with an intra-vascular ultrasound (IVUS) device and a computing device electrically connected thereto. Specifically, in one embodiment of the present invention, an IVUS console is electrically connected to a computing device and adapted to acquire IVUS data. The IVUS data (or multiple sets thereof) is then provided to (or acquired by) the computing device. In one embodiment of the present invention, the computing device includes a plurality of applications operating thereon—i.e., a border-detection application, an extrapolation application, and an active-contour application. These applications are used to (i) identify a border and control points on a first IVUS image (i.e., any IVUS image), (ii) extrapolate the control points to a second IVUS image (i.e., another IVUS image), (iii) identify a border on the second IVUS image, and (iv) adjust the border on the second IVUS image in accordance with at least one factor. In one embodiment of the present invention, the at least one factor is selected from a group consisting of gradient factor, continuity factor, and curvature factor. |
| US07978915B2 |
Harmonic edge synthesizer, enhancer and methods
An edge enhancer for enhancing edges within a video image, forms an edge enhancement signal of odd harmonics of a sinusoid representative of the edge content in an incoming signal. The edge enhancement signal may be added to a version of the incoming signal, thereby sharpening the edge in the incoming signal. This allows edges to be enhanced, increasing the image's rise-time without adding overshoot. Sharper edges are thus produced in much the same way as a square wave may be formed of odd harmonics of a sinusoid. |
| US07978912B2 |
Image sensing apparatus and image sensing method
An image sensing apparatus is configured such that the level of each of first and second output signals obtained by exposing a color image sensor by using mutually differing first and second photoelectric conversion properties is compared with one of threshold values to thereby select output signals to be used as signals for constituting an image from among the first and second output signals for individual color components thereof. The threshold values are set for the individual color components based on the first and second output signals. |
| US07978910B2 |
Method and apparatus for adaptively filtering input image in color domains
A method and apparatus for adaptively filtering an input image are provided. The method includes dividing an input image into a plurality of color domains according to a distribution of colors in the input image, respectively calculating a plurality of filter coefficients for the color domains, and adaptively filtering the color domains using the respective filter coefficients. The apparatus includes a domain classification unit which divides an input image into a plurality of color domains according to a distribution of colors in the input image, a filter coefficient calculation unit which respectively calculates a plurality of filter coefficients for the color domains, and a filtering unit which respectively filters the color domains using the filter coefficients. Accordingly, it is possible to enhance picture quality by addressing the problem of limited texture representation capabilities of existing filtering methods and apparatuses especially for memory color domains. |
| US07978909B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, computer program, and storage medium
An image processing apparatus includes a calculating unit configured to calculate an evaluation amount of poor color tone for every pixel in an image and an extracting unit configured to extract a candidate pixel having the poor color tone on the basis of the evaluation amount. The evaluation amount is calculated from red and green components of the image. |
| US07978908B2 |
Color signal interpolation system and method
A color signal interpolation system and method, which performs a green sample interpolation on a signal with a cross color sample. The method includes: (A) providing neighboring color samples on an interpolation sample; (B) computing a luminance respectively of the interpolation sample and the neighboring color samples; (C) computing an edge value of the interpolation sample based on the luminance computed; (D) determining if the edge value is smaller than a predetermined threshold; (E) computing an average of the neighboring color samples that have the same color with the interpolation sample when the edge value is smaller than the predetermined threshold, and using the average as a first color output of the interpolation sample. |
| US07978906B2 |
Capturing long-range correlations in patch models
Systems and methodologies for modeling data in accordance with one or more embodiments disclosed herein are operable to receive input data, create data patches from the input data, obtain long-range correlations between the data patches, and model the input data as a patch model based at least in part on the data patches and the long-range correlations. Various learning algorithms are additionally provided for refining the patch model created in accordance with one or more embodiments disclosed herein. Further, systems and methodologies for synthesizing a patch model created in accordance with various aspects of the present invention with a set of test data to perform a transformation represented by the patch model on the test data are provided. |
| US07978901B1 |
Centralized processing of checks for distributed merchant locations
According to one embodiment of the invention, a system can be provided to detect fraudulent activity occurring during check processing. Such fraudulent activity can be detected for example by monitoring the electronic check imaging process and performing checks on the data to determine anomalous occurrences that are indicative of fraudulent transactions. |
| US07978894B2 |
Fully automatic rapid microscope slide scanner
Apparatus for and method of fully automatic rapid scanning and digitizing of an entire microscope sample, or a substantially large portion of a microscope sample, using a linear array detector synchronized with a positioning stage that is part of a computer controlled microscope slide scanner. The invention provides a method for composing the image strips obtained from successive scans of the sample into a single contiguous digital image. The invention also provides a method for statically displaying sub-regions of this large digital image at different magnifications, together with a reduced magnification macro-image of the entire sample. The invention further provides a method for dynamically displaying, with or without operator interaction, portions of the contiguous digital image. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, all elements of the scanner are part of a single-enclosure that has a primary connection to the Internet or to a local intranet. In this embodiment, the preferred sample type is a microscope slide and the illumination and imaging optics are consistent with transmission mode optics optimized for diffraction-limited digital imaging. |
| US07978892B2 |
3D photogrammetry using projected patterns
A structured light pattern digitizing method is combined with photogrammetry to determine a 3D model of an object. The structured light digitizing operation generates a 3D model of the object being scanned, and this model is then used to compute a higher accuracy model using photogrammetry. |
| US07978891B2 |
Method and processor for generating a medical image using stored pan/zoom preferences
In a method for generation of a medical image, starting from an acquired data set of an organ to be depicted, a magnification factor and/or an image section to be depicted are automatically determined dependent on the organ to be depicted. Based on this a medical image is generated from the data set. A data processing unit for medical images is fashioned for implementation of such a method and computer software implements such a method when it is executed on a data processing unit. |
| US07978890B2 |
Apparatus and method of displaying image scanning report
An extraction unit extracts observation information and site information of a sample associated with the observation information from at least information on an image scanning report including an image scanning result of a medical image of the sample obtained by inspection. A display control unit controls a display unit to display a schema imitating the shape of the sample and at least the observation information extracted corresponding to a position of the site in the schema. |
| US07978882B1 |
Scoring items
A system identifies an image and determines whether the image contains inappropriate content based on first data associated with the image, second data associated with a document that contains the image or refers to the image, and/or third data associated with a group of documents with which the image is associated. |
| US07978880B2 |
Continuous extended range image processing
Methods and systems for image processing are provided. A method for processing images of a scene includes receiving image data of a reference and a current frame; generating N motion vectors that describe motion of the image data within the scene by computing a correlation function on the reference and current frames at each of N registration points; registering the current frame based on the N motion vectors to produce a registered current frame; and updating the image data of the scene based on the registered current frame. Optionally, registered frames may be oversampled. Techniques for generating the N motion vectors according to roll, zoom, shift and optical flow calculations, updating image data of the scene according to switched and intermediate integration approaches, re-introducing smoothed motion into image data of the scene, re-initializing the process, and processing images of a scene and moving target within the scene are provided. |
| US07978874B2 |
Digital watermarking for workflow by tracking content or content identifiers with respect to time
Digital watermarking provides a chain of custody for video in movie studios. Several novel improvements in workflow processes for digital watermarking provide chains of custody. In a first implementation, a digital watermark payload includes an embedder ID and time stamp. The embedder ID is associated with a controlling PC user log, including, e.g., the user log being linked to a biometric of the user. In a second implementation, a video player is forced to run a video digital watermark embedder based upon a rights command, where an ID embedded in a watermark payload is determined solely by the embedder. A third implementation encrypts a conglomerate of watermarked segments of video so that a rendering device can decrypt the segments in a manner to produce different results in each usage dependent upon the key. A fourth implementation embeds digital watermarks in DVD disk images during delivery to a duplication house. |
| US07978872B2 |
Driver for a speaker
A driver for a speaker including: an upper housing, a lower housing and a vibration device, wherein said upper housing combines with said lower housing to form a chamber therein. The vibration device is received in the chamber. The vibration device is basically constituted with an acoustic phase equalizer, a diaphragm, a flux guiding plate, a magnet and a yoke. By the design of the flux guiding plate, the magnet and the yoke in present invention, the disadvantage of highly concentrated heat in prior art can be improved and extends the operation period. |
| US07978868B2 |
Adaptive dynamic range optimization sound processor
In one embodiment, an apparatus for processing sound includes a means (401) for analyzing a sound signal into a number of frequency bands and a means (403) for applying variable gain to each frequency band independently. Gain in applied under control of a number of gain comparator means (409) each of which generates a number of statistical distribution estimates in respect of each signal and compares those estimates to predetermined hearing response parameters stored in memory (411). The numerous gain compensated frequency bands are then combined (415) in order to generate a single sound signal. The apparatus may be implemented in dedicated hardware embodiment or by software running on a microprocessor. |
| US07978862B2 |
Method and apparatus for audio signal processing
A sampled digital audio signal is displayed on a spectrogram, in terms of frequency vs. time. An unwanted noise in the signal is visible in the spectrogram and the portion of the signal containing the unwanted noise can be selected using time and frequency constraints. An estimate for the signal within the selected portion is then interpolated on the basis of desired portions of the signal outside the time constraints defining the selected portion. The interpolated estimate can then be used to attenuate or remove the unwanted sound. |
| US07978861B2 |
Method and apparatus for continuous noise exposure monitoring
A method for continuously monitoring noise exposure level of a person via measuring sound level within an ear canal of the person using a sound measurement means linked to a sound level recording device external to the ear canal, wherein the sound measurement means may be shielded from the environment by a hearing protective device, and wherein the cable does not interfere with the ability of the hearing protective device to reduce noise exposure level in the ear canal. Also provided are a system comprising a sound measurement means mounted within an ear canal of the person, an external sound level recording means and a linking cable. Further provided is a system for providing continuous noise exposure monitoring level of a person, and for providing radio communication in a noisy environment, said system comprising the above sound monitoring system linked to a radio signal transmission means, and is switchable between said sound level recording means in a recording mode and said radio signal transmission means in a communication mode. |
| US07978857B2 |
Secure device having key management function and information processing apparatus
A secure device has an input unit for dividing content into a plurality of blocks and inputting the plurality of blocks, a key generating unit for sequentially generating keys for encrypting one or plural blocks, a content encrypting unit for encrypting the one or plural blocks by using the generated key, a key information generating unit for generating key information for restoring the generated key used for the encrypting by the generated key, and a storage control unit for outputting contents of each of the blocks encrypted by the content encrypting unit and the key information generated by the key information generating unit to an external storage. The key sequentially generated by the key generating unit is newly generated when a predetermined condition is satisfied, and varies by every one or plural blocks. |
| US07978855B2 |
Method for allocating authorization key identifier for wireless portable internet system
The present invention relates to a method for allocating an authorization key identifier in a wireless portable Internet system. In a privacy key management version 2 (PKMv2) of the wireless portable Internet system, a base station generates PAK identifier, PMK identifier, and authorization key identifier for distinguishing a primary authorization key (PAK) shared by the base station and the subscriber station in an RSA-based authorization, a pairwise master key (PMK) shared by the base station and the subscriber station in an EAP-based authorization, and authorization keys generated by the PAK and the PMK. The base station transmits PAK identifier, PMK identifier, and authorization key identifier to the subscriber station and shares them with the subscriber station. Therefore, the base station and the subscriber station may easily distinguish more than 2 authorization-related keys. In addition, it is possible to transmit the signal message efficiently in the radio channel by reducing the sizes of the PAK identifier, PMK identifier, and authorization key identifier. |
| US07978854B2 |
Asymmetric key generation
In asymmetric cryptography, initially-set public key and private keys are updated as a function of the chosen prime number pair, a host sending an updated public key exponent and a unique prime-pair key associated with the chosen prime number pair to the client, the client using the unique prime-pair key to look-up and retrieve the chosen prime number pair and determine the updated public key and the updated private key as a function of the retrieved chosen prime number pair, the host and the client encrypting and decrypting exchanged messages with the updated public key and the updated private key without executing another handshake. In one aspect, a large even integer is used by host and client to generate a plurality of prime number pairs, and the unique prime-pair key may be a distance between each prime number of an associated prime number pair. |
| US07978849B2 |
Image forming apparatus, and control method thereof
An image forming apparatus of the invention includes a key generating unit to change an encryption key and to generate an encryption key different from the previous encryption key at each time of change, an encryption unit to encrypt image data using the encryption key generated by the key generating unit, a first storage unit to store the encrypted image data, a second storage unit to store the encryption key and a table to correlate the image data encrypted by the encryption key with the encryption key, and a decryption unit to decrypt the data stored in the first storage unit by using the encryption key correlated in the table. According to the image forming apparatus of the invention, the read data can be stored with high security into a storage apparatus such as an HDD, while an operation burden is not imposed on a user. |
| US07978847B1 |
System using data compression and hashing adapted for use for multimedia encryption
A system and method is disclosed for multimedia encryption. Within the system of the present invention, a data compression module receives and compresses a media signal into a compressed data stream. A data acquisition module receives and selects a set of data from the compressed data stream. And, a hashing module receives and hashes the set of data into a keyword. The method of the present invention includes the steps of compressing a media signal into a compressed data stream; selecting a set of data from the compressed data stream; and hashing the set of data into a keyword. |
| US07978846B2 |
Scale-invariant barrett reduction for elliptic-curve cyrptography
The computation time to perform scalar point multiplication in an Elliptic Curve Group is reduced by modifying the Barrett Reduction technique. Computations are performed using an N-bit scaled modulus based a modulus m having k-bits to provide a scaled result, with N being greater than k. The N-bit scaled result is reduced to a k-bit result using a pre-computed N-bit scaled reduction parameter in an optimal manner avoiding shifting/aligning operations for any arbitrary values of k, N. |
| US07978844B1 |
Selective telephone ringing-signal interruption
Systems and methods are disclosed which allow a person to pre-set preferred calling times for receiving incoming calls. During these pre-set times (which could vary from day to day) calls that arrive are interrupted such that ringing tone is not applied to at least some of the telephones at the user's premises. The caller is informed that the user prefers not to receive calls until the pre-set time. In one embodiment, the caller is given the option of leaving a message or, if the caller desires, completing the call. The system can be implemented by a call answer machine at the customer's premises while in another embodiment the interrupt occurs at a central switching point. |
| US07978839B2 |
Communication system, server equipment and terminal equipment
PoC server has an audio data receiving section 305 that receives the audio data transmitted from a cellular phone, an audio data transmitting section that transfers the audio data to individual cellular phones other than the speaker's one, of two or more cellular phones, a receiving user storage section that stores therein receiving association data indicative of the association between the cellular phone having the speaker right and the cellular phones of the receiving users, and a receiving user grasp section that causes the audio data transmitting section to transfer the audio data with designation of the cellular phone of the receiver. |
| US07978838B2 |
Conference endpoint instructing conference bridge to mute participants
Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and devices for improved audio, video, and data conferencing. The present invention provides a conferencing system comprising a plurality of endpoints communicating data including audio data and control data according to a communication protocol. A local conference endpoint may control or be controlled by a remote conference endpoint. Data comprising control signals may be exchanged between the local endpoint and remote endpoint via various communication protocols. In other embodiments, the present invention provides for improved bridge architecture for controlling functions of conference endpoints including controlling functions of the bridge. |
| US07978836B2 |
Methods, systems, and products providing advanced intelligent services
Methods, systems, and products provide advanced intelligent services. A dialed number is associated to an advanced telephony service. The advanced telephony service is associated to a virtual number in a service providing network. A call to the dialed number is received in a native transport network having limited or no capability of providing advanced telephony service. When the advanced telephony service is required, then the call is routed to the virtual number in the service-providing network to receive the advanced telephony service from the service-providing network. |
| US07978835B2 |
System and method for automatically notifying a customer via phone of service restoration
An automated IVR apparatus for notifying entities of customer-specific information. An automated IVR application that enables subscribers to check the status of their DSL line and to report problems in real time. A “Service Restoration Callback” application enables a service provider to automatically contact a customer via telephone when service is restored after an outage. The customer can configure parameters concerning the received callback. An outage detection module checks all available systems for the status of a customer's service on a real-time, customer-by-customer, call-for-call basis. |
| US07978834B2 |
Call control
Described herein is a method of controlling calls for packet switched networks, each network including at least two local area networks (50, 60) and a connecting network (70). The method comprises the steps of determining an acceptable packet loss rate for a call to be established between two of the local area networks, comparing actual packet loss rate to the acceptable packet loss rate, and dropping the call if the actual packet loss rate is greater than the acceptable packet loss rate determining for how long a period the actual packet loss rate has been happening and utilising that period in deciding to drop the call. A recorded announcement may be played when the call is to be dropped. Alternatively, the priority of the transmission of the continuous stream of data can be changed when the actual packet loss rate is not acceptable and the above steps are repeated. Ideally, data relating to dropped calls is stored for future use. |
| US07978833B2 |
Private caller ID messaging
Methods, systems, and apparatuses for caller identification messaging are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a calling party uses a Caller ID Messaging Device that supplants the incoming calling line identification (ICLID) signal with a Caller ID Messaging Signal and transmits the Caller ID Messaging Signal to a destination communications address. An alternate embodiment provides that the calling party may use a conventional telephone to access a communications network, activate Caller ID Messaging Services, compose or retrieve a stored Caller ID Message of the Caller ID Messaging Signal, and transmit the Caller ID Messaging Signal to the destination communications address. The Caller ID Message and Caller ID Messaging Signal may include text, video, voice, and/or digital data. |
| US07978832B2 |
Communicating apparatus, control method of communicating apparatus, and control program of communicating apparatus
In a communicating apparatus which makes speech and image communication, a proper communication path is selected by a simple construction of a low cost, thereby enabling data communication of a high-speed and high reliability to be performed. If a telephone number of an opponent station corresponds to an VoIP network, a communicating apparatus obtains an IP address of the opponent station from an SIP proxy server and sends and receives communication data on an IP network to/from the opponent station by a file sending/receiving protocol such as FTP, HTTP, or the like. If the telephone number of an opponent station does not correspond to the VoIP, image data is facsimile-modulated, a digital encoding method (64 kbps PCM encoding) suitable for a facsimile modulating method is selected, and an analog facsimile signal obtained by the facsimile modulation is digitally encoded and sent to the opponent station through a media gateway for executing analog/digital signal conversion between the IP network and a public line network. |
| US07978829B2 |
Voice file retrieval method
A voice file retrieval method comprising the steps of: inputting a word; determining if voicing of the word is needed or not; obtaining a storage home address of a voice file corresponding to the word from a voice field of the word if the voice of the word is needed; and retrieving the voice file from the storage home address. By providing a voice field of the word, the storage home address of the voice file can be directly obtained. Hence, the retrieval speed can be increased, and the time to wait for an articulation of the word can be shortened. |
| US07978827B1 |
Automatic configuration of call handling based on end-user needs and characteristics
A computational component for establishing a communication between a contactor and a contactee is provided that includes a user configuration agent 324 operable to (a) determine a network configuration requirement resulting from a disability of at least one of the contactor and the contactee, (b) incorporate the disability network configuration requirement in a communication set-up message; and (c) forward the communication set-up message to a communication device associated with the contactee. |
| US07978826B2 |
Response advisor for a call handling system
Systems and methods are presented for handling calls. In one embodiment of the invention, a call handling system is configured for handling a variety of emergency and/or non emergency related calls. The call handling system may enable recognition of and response to received call information. The call handling system comprises a call interface configured for receiving the call information. A processor is communicatively coupled to the call interface and configured for processing the call information to initiate a protocol. This protocol may, as it progresses, be used to generate data for use in a CAD system. The CAD system may subsequently dispatch responders based on the generated data. The call handling system includes an advisory component that recommends a type of dispatch and a risk assessment. The call handling system also includes a build component that allows for the generation of protocols. |
| US07978821B1 |
Laue crystallographic orientation mapping system
A device for measuring crystal orientation with an x-ray source using the Laue method and includes an apparatus for mapping a polycrystalline surface having a grain orientation. The apparatus including an x-ray source creating an x-ray beam, the beam having polychromatic photons, the beam collimated to a point on the polycrystalline surface. A two-dimensional x-ray detector with an aperture, the x-ray beam passing through the aperture, the detector detecting and collecting polychromatic photons diffracted from the polycrystalline surface and onto the detector. A means for moving the polycrystalline surface with respect to the x-ray source to collect a plurality of diffracted x-rays which define a Laue pattern. A data processing means to collect Laue patterns of the polycrystalline surface based upon the plurality of diffracted x-rays, the Laue patterns identifying a plurality of crystallographic orientations and a plurality of grain surface areas on the polycrystalline surface. |
| US07978816B2 |
Radiographic imaging control apparatus using multi radiation generating apparatus
A control apparatus for controlling a multi radiation generating apparatus having a plurality of radiation generating devices which irradiate a two-dimensional sensor with radiation sets the intensity of radiation with which the plurality of radiation generating devices irradiate the two-dimensional sensor based on information about a part or physique of a patient, which is input by an input device. |
| US07978815B2 |
Compact gammameter
This invention relates to a compact density measuring instrument for measuring density of fluids in a volume in a container, especially in a fluid flow in a pipe, the instrument comprising a radiation source in the gamma range positioned on one side of the fluid and a detector positioned on the opposite side of the fluids for receiving said radiation, and the fluid being contained in the container, wherein the source is positioned in a source housing, said source housing being at least partially fitted into a corresponding recess in the container wall, said source housing comprises a source holder containing the gamma source positioned in the holder axis and comprising a coaxial opening from the source through one end of the holder, said one end adapted to be aimed toward the fluid. |
| US07978811B2 |
Radiographic apparatus
In a radiographic apparatus of this invention, when obtaining a long image in a longitudinal direction, an image composing unit combines a plurality of radiographic images in the longitudinal direction based on detected radiation, and a setting unit sets a length of a radiographic image to be composed in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, with the setting unit setting the length of the radiographic image to be composed in the longitudinal direction, the length can be set without requiring an expansion or reduction of the radiographic image of a site of concern. The site of concern is constantly maintained on the same scale to reduce the chance of inducing errors. |
| US07978809B2 |
Shift register of a display device
A shift register includes a plurality of shift register units each including an input circuit, a pull-up circuit and a pull-down circuit. The shift register unit receives an input voltage at an input end and provides an output voltage at an output end. The input circuit controls the signal transmission path between a first clock signal and a first node according to the input voltage. The pull-up circuit controls the signal transmission path between a second clock signal and the output end according to the level of the first node. The pull-down circuit includes a pull-down unit and a control unit. The pull-down unit maintains the level of the first node or the output end according to the level of the second node. The control unit maintains the level of the second node according to the first clock signal, the second clock signal and the level of the first node. |
| US07978804B2 |
Low power neutron generators
A neutron generator and method of constructing the same. The generator includes a grid configured to produce an ionizable gas when heated by electrons impinging thereon. A cathode emits electrons to heat the grid and to collide with produced ionizable gas atoms to generate ions. Neutrons are generated from a collision of ions impinging on a target in the generator. A tool for subsurface use incorporating the neutron generator. |
| US07978801B2 |
Clock and data recovery method and corresponding device
A clock and data recovery method comprising the following steps: an oversampling step wherein an oversampled stream of samples is generated from an input data stream at a data rate by using reference clock signal at a clock rate, the clock rate being higher than the data rate, and a tracking step of the input data stream realised by locating transitions between adjacent samples of the oversampled stream and by moving a no transition area within the oversampled stream wherein no transitions between adjacent samples are found a recovered data signal being obtained as a central portion of the no transition area and a recovered clock signal being obtained by dividing the reference clock signal. A clock and data recovery device is also described. |
| US07978798B2 |
Spatial multiplexing detection apparatus and method in MIMO system
Provided are a spatial multiplexing apparatus and method in a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) system. The spatial multiplexing detection method includes estimating channels of a received signal, and sorting the estimated channels in descending order according to a scheme; generating a subsystem of a minimum unit by nulling an arbitrary channel among the sorted channels; performing a modified maximum likelihood (MML) in the subsystem of the minimum unit to calculate a number of transmission signal vectors; and calculating Euclidean distances of the number of the transmission signal vectors, and selecting a transmission signal vector having a minimum Euclidean distance. Accordingly, the receiver exhibits a performance level similar to a Maximum Likelihood (ML) and can obtain the complexity similar to successive interference cancellation (SIC). |
| US07978796B2 |
Recovering symbols in a communication receiver
Methods of recovering symbols and corresponding communication receivers including dual receivers configured to perform the method, where the method comprises: sampling a received signal that includes interference to provide received samples; determining a plurality of high power symbols and determining alternate symbols for a portion of the plurality of high power symbols based on the received samples and based on known training symbols; and deriving a sequence of recovered symbols corresponding to the received samples based on the received samples and augmented training symbols, the augmented training symbols comprising the known training symbols augmented by the plurality of high power symbols with one or more alternate symbols replacing a corresponding one or more high power symbols. |
| US07978790B2 |
Method and circuit for carrier control in a quadrature demodulator
The invention relates to a method and a circuit for carrier control in a quadrature demodulator, wherein a complex-value input signal (I, Q) is supplied to a mixer (1) to perform mixing with a mixing frequency (fm) to create a mixed signal (Ir, Qr), the mixed signal (Ir, Qr) is supplied to a processing section (s) to generate a processed signal (Ie, Qe), the processed signal (Ie, Qe) is supplied to phase measurement device (3) in order to measure a phase (φm) of the processed signal (Ie, Qe) and the measured phase (φm) is supplied to a phase controller (4) in order to control the mixing frequency (fm); wherein an idle time (z−d) is created at least during the processing in the processing section (2). To enable a fast switching-on transition, the mixing frequency (fm) is summed or integrated to create a mixing phase (φc), the mixing phase (φc) is used for the mixing operation, as well as fed back to the phase control (4, 23), and an error created by the feedback is compensated for with a time-delayed second feedback of the mixing phase (φc). |
| US07978789B2 |
Frequency shift keying modulator and applications thereof
An FSK modulator and applications thereof are disclosed. The FSK modulator comprises a phase-locked loop, a frequency divider module, an image rejection mixer and a summing module. The phase-locked loop is operably coupled to generate a first oscillation from a reference oscillation. The frequency divider module is operably coupled to divide the first oscillation to produce a second oscillation. The image-rejection mixer is operably coupled to mix the second oscillation with a low intermediate oscillation to produce a mixed data signal, and the summing module is operably coupled to sum the mixed data signal with the first oscillation to produce an FSK modulated signal. |
| US07978785B2 |
Quadrature frequency doubler with adjustable phase offset
The present invention provides an improved frequency doubling circuit, with adjustable phase offset. Briefly, rather than using the traditional equations cos (2ωt)=cos 2(ωt)−sin 2(ωt) and sin(2ωt)=2 sin(ωt)cos(ωt), the quadrature output signals are generated utilizing mixers, each having two input signals, separated in phase by the same offset. This minimizes the effects of the non-linearities introduced by the mixer, which therefore reduces amplitude mismatch between the quadrature signals. Also, the phase offset of the quadrature output signals can be tuned and calibrated using a phase shifting circuit. This phase shifting circuit realizes a tuning range of approximately 5° in programmable steps. This combination of circuits can be used to minimize the amplitude mismatch and phase errors, thereby reducing the amplitude of and interference caused by transmission of the image frequency to the receivers input. |
| US07978782B2 |
Method and system for polar modulation using a direct digital frequency synthesizer
Methods and systems for polar modulation using a digital direct frequency synthesizer (DDFS) are disclosed and may comprise generating a phase modulated signal in a DDFS, amplitude modulating the generated phase modulated signal in a non-linear device and transmitting the signal via a wireless medium. A processor may control the generation of the phase and amplitude modulated signals. The non-linear device may comprise a non-linear power amplifier or a mixer. The method may also comprise generating a first phase modulated signal in a first DDFS and generating a second phase modulated signal in a second DDFS, or in a single DDFS with two integrated digital-to-analog converters, and upconverting and combining the first and second phase modulated signals and amplitude modulating the combined upconverted signals in a non-linear device. A processor may be enabled to control the generation of the first and second phase modulated signals. |
| US07978778B2 |
Receiver structures for spatial spreading with space-time or space-frequency transmit diversity
A receiving entity obtains received symbols for a data transmission having at least one data symbol stream sent with space-time transmit diversity (STTD). The receiving entity derives an overall channel response matrix in accordance with the STTD encoding scheme used for the data transmission, derives a spatial filter matrix based on the overall channel response matrix, and performs spatial matched filtering on a vector of received symbols for each 2-symbol interval to obtain a vector of detected symbols for the 2-symbol interval. The receiving entity may perform post-processing (e.g., conjugation) on the detected symbols if needed. Alternatively, the receiving entity derives a spatial filter matrix based on an effective channel response matrix, performs spatial matched filtering on the received symbols for each symbol period to obtain detected symbols for that symbol period, and combines multiple estimates obtained for each data symbol sent with STTD. |
| US07978765B2 |
Context-adaptive macroblock type encoding/decoding methods and apparatuses
Macroblock types of macroblocks of a video picture are encoded by adaptively employing codewords of codeword tables, based at least in part on one or more macroblock type related characteristics of one or more neighboring macroblocks of interest. The codewords may be variable in length. The one or more macroblock type characteristics may include a most common macroblock type characteristic of the neighboring macroblocks of interest. The adaptive employment of the codeword tables may be further based on a picture type of the picture of which the macroblocks are members. Decoding may be performed in an inverse manner. |
| US07978764B2 |
Method of video encoding for handheld apparatuses selecting best prediction function according to optimal rate-distortion value
The present invention relates to a method of encoding a sequence of pictures, a picture being divided into blocks of data, said encoding method comprising the steps of:—computing a residual error block from a difference between a current block contained in a current picture and a candidate area using of a prediction function,—computing an entropy of the residual error block,—computing an overall error between said current block and said candidate area,—estimating a power consumption of a video processing device adapted to implement said prediction function,—computing a rate-distortion value on the basis of the entropy, the overall error and the estimated power consumption of the video processing device,—applying the preceding steps to a set of candidate areas using a set of prediction functions in order to select a prediction function according to the rate-distortion value. |
| US07978762B2 |
Transcoder device for transcoding compressed and encoded bitstream of motion picture in syntax level and motion picture communication system
A transcoder device includes means for receiving encoding information transmitted from a motion-picture encoding and transmitting device and decoding information transmitted from a motion-picture receiving and decoding device, referring to the encoding information and the decoding information to determine whether the syntax in a video packet transmitted from the motion-picture encoding and transmitting device is transcoded, and outputting transcoding control information, and means for transcoding an encoded bitstream that is input in the syntax level on the basis of the transcoding control information and transmitting the transcoded encoded bitstream to the motion-picture receiving and decoding device. |
| US07978759B1 |
Scalable equalizer for multiple-in-multiple-out (MIMO) wireless transmission
Systems and techniques relating to processing information received from a spatially diverse transmission. In some implementations, a method comprises: obtaining a received signal that was transmitted over a wireless channel using spatially diverse transmission, the received signal comprising multiple subcarriers; and recursively computing a signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) of the received signal while receiving channel response information of the wireless channel derived from the received signal; wherein the recursively computing comprises recursively updating a diagonal kernel matrix, the method further comprising generating an equalization matrix from the recursively updated diagonal kernel matrix, the equalization matrix being useable in equalizing the received signal across the multiple subcarriers. |
| US07978755B2 |
Methods and systems for detecting defects in serial link transceivers
Methods and systems for detecting defects in serial link transceivers. Defect detection includes detecting open circuits in one or more of the transmission lines, detecting short circuits between one or more of the transmission lines and a power supply, detecting short circuits between the transmission lines, or detecting short circuits across optional AC-couplings in the transmission lines. The detection can include direct or indirect detection of voltage or current. |
| US07978751B2 |
Interpolating GRAKE with two step delay hypothesis testing
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for adapting a current path delay estimate for path delay tracking. In order to determine the path delay an operating mode is selected and a set of hypothesized path delays are determined based on said operating mode. A metric for each hypothesized path delay is determined, and a current path delay estimate is adapted based on the computed metrics for the hypothesized path delays. |
| US07978750B2 |
Microcontroller
A microcontroller is disposed on a receiving part of a wireless system in order to process a demodulation signal generated by a receiver circuit, and includes a memory and a CPU. The memory stores a control program of the microcontroller. The control program thereof includes a dual loop routine for an operation in reception standby mode. The dual loop routine has a first loop and a second loop included in the first loop. The CPU has an instruction set consisting of a plurality of instructions, and executes the instructions according to the program stored in the memory. The CPU executes an instruction irrelevant to an operation when the microcontroller is in reception mode during the second loop a number of times. The number of times is at least such that noise caused by the repetition of the second loop is lowered below a desired level. |
| US07978748B2 |
Synchronization band selection of a frequency hopping wireless receiver
Methods and systems of a receiver selecting a subset of plurality of frequency hopping bands for synchronization of the receiver are disclosed. One method includes the receiver determining a receive signal quality metric for each band of the plurality of frequency hopping bands, and selecting at least one synchronization band as a subset of the plurality of frequency hopping bands for synchronization based on the receive signal quality metric of each of the plurality of frequency hopping bands. |
| US07978747B1 |
Waveform design hopping system and method
A method of transmitting a spread spectrum signal in a single communication session between a transmitter and a receiver, stores a series of N unique waveform designs and a hopping sequence in a transmitter memory. A signal is transmitted to a receiver according to the hopping sequence using the plurality of N unique waveform designs. Preferably, each waveform design is characterized by a unique composite spreading code that is formed by at least some of a plurality of constituent code segments. Alternatively or additionally, the waveform designs may differ by any one or more of code length, symbol or chip timing or phase, frame or burst structure, chip offset, modulation, error control coding, encryption scheme, or scrambling code. A transmitter and receiver are also disclosed, as is the concept of appending chips between symbols to expand the universe of unique spreading codes without incurring an increase in processing gain. |
| US07978746B2 |
Unstable laser disk resonator
An unstable laser disk resonator combines the output laser power of multiple laser disks to produce a high power, single transverse mode laser output beam, which is near diffraction limited. |
| US07978745B2 |
Two-dimensional photonic crystal surface-emitting laser
Two-dimensional photonic crystal surface-emitting laser comprising a two-dimensional photonic crystal, having media different in refractive index arrayed in a two-dimensional cycle, disposed in the vicinity of an active layer that emits light by the injection of carriers, wherein the two-dimensional photonic crystal consists of square lattices having equal lattice constants in perpendicular directions, and a basic lattice consisting of a square with one medium as a vertex has an asymmetric refractive index distribution with respect to either one of the two diagonals of the basic lattice to thereby emit light in a constant polarizing direction. |
| US07978743B2 |
Driver circuit for loads such as LED, OLED or LASER diodes
A driver circuit for driving loads such as LED, OLED or LASER diode devices includes a switching converter that has a switching element and reactive elements to provide an output switching voltage by sequential switching operations of the switching element. The load is connected to the output switching voltage. A linear current driver circuit is connected in series to the load and includes an amplification element and a feedback circuit with a current control input. In order to enable the circuit to be easily used, a control unit is provided with a sensing input for a current or voltage at the linear current driver. A microcontroller executes a control program for processing the sensing input and providing both a current control output and a switching control output, set in accordance with a set current value. |
| US07978741B2 |
Optical transmitter with a shunt driving configuration and a load transistor operated in common gate mode
The invention provides an optical transmitter that prevents the high frequency components in the driving signal from leaking to the external power supply in a wider frequency range. The transmitter provides a shun driving configuration with a switching transistor connected in parallel to the laser diode and a load transistor connected in serial to the parallel circuit of the switching transistor and the laser diode. The load transistor operates in the common base configuration, or the common gate configuration, by which the input impedance viewed from the laser diode becomes large, while, the output impedance viewed from the external power source becomes small. Thus, the high frequency components in the driving signal applied to the switching transistor can be suppresses to appear in the external power source. |
| US07978740B1 |
Ultralow noise mode-locked laser and RF sinewave source
Systems, devices and methods of generating both a precision electrical timing signal as well as a precision optical timing signal. A novel, modified opto-electronic loop oscillator is used to drive a harmonic mode-locked laser. A novel opto-electronic loop has a larger “Q” factor by increasing the electrical loop oscillating frequency ω0 by using a beat note created by the selection of two optical longitudinal modes from the mode-locked laser. The beat note is detected and divided down to drive a modulator that mode-locks the laser. The frequency division stage also reduces the noise. |
| US07978739B2 |
Surface emitting laser element, surface emitting laser array, optical scanning device, and image forming apparatus
In a surface emitting laser element, on an inclined substrate, a resonator structural body including an active layer, and a lower semiconductor DBR and an upper semiconductor DBR sandwiching the resonator structural body are stacked. A shape of a current passing-through region in an oxide confinement structure of the upper semiconductor DBR is symmetrical to an axis passing through a center of the current passing-through region parallel to an X axis and symmetrical to an axis passing through the center of the current passing-through region parallel to a Y axis, and a thickness of an oxidized layer surrounding the current passing-through region is greater in the +Y direction than in the +X and −X directions. An opening width of a light outputting section in the X axis direction is smaller than another opening width of the light outputting section in the Y axis direction. |
| US07978730B2 |
Controlling software distribution or file transfer
An example of a solution provided here comprises automatically measuring bandwidth of a network connection; comparing results of the measuring, with bandwidth parameters; preventing a transfer of a file via the network connection, if measured bandwidth is less than a minimum acceptable value; providing to an end user an option of transferring a file via the network connection, if measured bandwidth is not less than a minimum acceptable value, but is less than an optimal value; and automatically transferring a file via the network connection, if measured bandwidth is greater than or equal to an optimal value. |
| US07978726B2 |
Local area network of serial intelligent cells
A serial intelligent cell (SIC) and a connection topology for local area networks using Electrically-conducting media. A local area network can be configured from a plurality of SIC's interconnected so that all communications between two adjacent SIC's is both point-to-point and bidirectional. Each SIC can be connected to one or more other SIC's to allow redundant communication paths. Communications in different areas of a SIC network are independent of one another, so that, unlike current bus topology and star topology, there is no fundamental limit on the size or extent of a SIC network. Each SIC can optionally be connected to one or more data terminals, computers, telephones, sensors, actuators, etc., to facilitate interconnectivity among such devices. Networks according to the present invention can be configured for a variety of applications, including a local telephone system, remote computer bus extender, multiplexers, PABX/PBX functionality, security systems, and local broadcasting services. The network can use dedicated wiring, as well as existing wiring as the in-house telephone or electrical wiring. |
| US07978722B2 |
Host digital terminal tools for voiceport redistributions
Communication capacity of a node served by a host digital terminal is managed by redistributing communication lines among headend modems for the node in the host digital terminal. Each node has a plurality of communication lines connected to one or more headend modems, and the communication lines are distributed among one or more voiceports. A voiceport list build module is responsive to a line distribution input for headend modems connected to the node served by the host digital terminal. The voiceport list build module builds a voiceport redistribution list for redistributing the communication lines connected to the headend modems for the node. A voiceport redistribution module is responsive to the voiceport redistribution list and moves one or more voiceports from the voiceport's current headend modem to another headend modem whereby the communication lines for the node are redistributed among headend modems communicating with the node. |
| US07978721B2 |
Multi-serial interface stacked-die memory architecture
Systems and methods disclosed herein substantially concurrently transfer a plurality of streams of commands, addresses, and/or data across a corresponding plurality of serialized communication link interfaces (SCLIs) between one or more originating devices or destination devices such as a processor and a switch. At the switch, one or more commands, addresses, or data corresponding to each stream can be transferred to a corresponding destination memory vault controller (MVC) associated with a corresponding memory vault. The destination MVC can perform write operations, read operations, and/or memory vault housekeeping operations independently from concurrent operations associated with other MVCs coupled to a corresponding plurality of memory vaults. |
| US07978715B2 |
Network connection device and collection/distribution device
A network connection device for connecting an asynchronous network having a link aggregation function to a synchronous network comprises: a first mapping/demapping unit which maps asynchronous network frames, flowing from the asynchronous network to the synchronous network on a plurality of links redundantly configured using the link aggregation function, into synchronous network frames, and which demaps asynchronous network frames mapped into synchronous network frames flowing from the synchronous network to the asynchronous network on the plurality of links into synchronous network frames; and a collection/distribution unit which collects the asynchronous network frames, mapped into the synchronous network frames on the plurality of links, into an asynchronous network frame mapped into a synchronous network frame on a single link, and which, in accordance with a prescribed rule, distributes an asynchronous network frame, mapped into a synchronous network frame on the single link and flowing from the synchronous network to the asynchronous network, among the asynchronous network frames mapped into the synchronous network frames on the plurality of links, and supplies the thus mapped asynchronous network frames to the first mapping/demapping unit. |
| US07978709B1 |
Packet matching method and system
A method of constructing a hierarchical database from an initial plurality of rules. A first rule of the initial plurality of rules is added to: a first sub-database if a first bit of the rule is a logic ‘0’ value; a second sub-database if the first bit is a logic ‘1’ value; or a third sub-database if the first bit is in a masked state, ‘X’, indicating that the first bit may be either a logic ‘1’ or a logic ‘0’ value. |
| US07978706B2 |
Combining multiple DSL transceivers for a high data rate connection
At a transmitter, an ATM cell stream is received from the ATM layer and is distributed on a cell-by-cell bases across multiple DSL PHY's. At the receiver, the cells from each DSL PHY are re-combined in the appropriate order to recreate the original ATM cell stream, which is then passed to the ATM layer. |
| US07978705B2 |
Self-healing link sequence counts within a circular buffer
Methods and apparatus that allow recovery in the event that sequence counts used on receive and transmit sides of a communications link become out of sync are provided. In response to receiving a packet with an expected sequence count from a receiving device, a transmitting device may adjust pointers into a transmit buffer allowing the transmitting device to begin transmitting packets with the sequence count expected by the receiving device. |
| US07978704B2 |
Frame buffer monitoring method and device
In a frame buffer monitoring method and device, information concerning a received frame is extracted, and a monitoring frame added to a start of the frame is written in a FIFO buffer. When the monitoring frame is read from the FIFO buffer, expectation information is generated from the information concerning the frame added to the start of the monitoring frame read, the expectation information is compared with the information concerning the frame included in the frame within the monitoring frame read, and whether or not the expectation information is consistent with the information concerning the frame is determined. As a result of the comparison, when it is determined that the expectation information is not consistent with the information concerning the frame, e.g. bits of an FCS within the frame which is determined to be inconsistent are inverted to be transmitted to a subsequent stage as a discarded frame or the frame is discarded. Also, a write destination address and a read source address for the FIFO buffer are initialized. |
| US07978703B2 |
Intelligent ALG functionality in networks supporting endpoints performing network address translation
In one embodiment, a signaling message is received from an endpoint. It is determined from the signaling message whether, prior to sending the signaling message, the endpoint performed network address translation on the body of the signaling message. If it is determined from the signaling message that, prior to sending the signaling message, the endpoint did not perform network address translation on the body of the signaling message, application layer gateway functionality is applied to the body of the signaling message such that a modified signaling message is generated. |
| US07978696B2 |
Redundant media packet streams
This invention concerns the transmitting and receiving of digital media packets, such as audio and video channels and lighting instructions. In particular, the invention concerns the transmitting and receiving of redundant media packet streams. Samples are extracted (556) from a first (904) and second (906) media packet stream. The extracted samples are written to a buffer (910) based on the output time of each sample (556). Extracted samples having the same output time are written to the same location in the buffer. Both media packet streams are simply processed all the way to the buffer without any particular knowledge that one of the packet streams is actually redundant. This simplifies the management of the redundant packet streams, such as eliminating the need for a “fail-over” switch and the concept of an “active stream”. The location is the storage space allocated to store one sample. The extracted sample written to the location may be written over another extracted sample from a different packet stream previously written to the location. These extracted samples written to the same location may be identical. |
| US07978695B2 |
Hardware-enforced loop and NPIV hard zoning for fibre channel switch fabric
Hardware-enforced zoning is provided in Fiber Channel switches to protect against breaching of assigned zones in a switch network which can occur with software-based zoning techniques. The invention provides logic for performing a hardware-based validation of the Source ID S_ID of frames both at the point where the frame enters the Fiber Channel fabric, and at the point where the frame leaves the fabric. The S_ID is verified against an inclusion list or table of allowable S_IDs, which can be unique for each fabric port. The invention provides a way to increase the range of sources an inclusion table can express, by implementing wild cards, on an entry-by entry basis. If the S_ID is valid, it will enter the fabric and route normally. If invalid, the frame will not be routed but will be disposed of by the fabric according to FC rules. This prevents incorrect S_IDs from breaching the table-driven zoning at the point where frames exit the fabric, to prevent unauthorized access to devices connected to the switch network. |
| US07978690B2 |
Method to operate a crossbar switch
A method is described to operate a crossbar switch comprising a crossbar fabric with N sending and M receiving ports, with port cards connected to at least one sending and/or receiving port each of the crossbar fabric, said crossbar switch further comprising a control unit connected with the port cards via discrete control channel links, wherein C ports are clustered on a single receiving port card so that such a receiving port card in a single time-step can receive up to C data cells from C sending port cards simultaneously. According to said method the control channel links are used to relay up to C acknowledgements between at least one receiving port card and at least one sending port card. |
| US07978684B2 |
Session set-up for time-critical services
A session set-up for communicating data via a data network is disclosed. First, a session establishment between a communication apparatus and a serving entity is requested for a service from the serving entity supporting the service. Then, when a requirement of a user connection for the service is determined, an association with a data network for the service is activated via a core network. |
| US07978682B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for optimizing the communication of data packets in a data network
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for optimizing the communication of data packets in a data network. Network devices, such as routers, in the data network may be optimized to automatically calculate current latency values for a network path in real-time or near real-time and intelligently forward data packets based on the calculated values. The network devices may further optimally forward prioritized data traffic over network paths selected based on the calculated latency values. |
| US07978681B2 |
Network apparatus, system and method for discovering path MTU in data communication network
An apparatus, system, and method for discovering a path MTU in a data communication network, wherein a path MTU option header is included in a signal message or first data packet and thus a MTU suitable for a routing path can be determined. A network apparatus for discovering a path MTU maximum transmission unit (MTU) in a data communication network, including a MTU-comparing unit MTU-comparer detecting a path MTU recorded on a predetermined packet transferred over a routing path between a source node and a destination node and comparing the detected path MTU with an internal MTU stored in the MTU-comparing unit MTU-comparer; and an event-processing unit event-processor updating the path MTU recorded on the predetermined packet to contain the internal MTU if the detected path MTU is larger than the internal MTU. |
| US07978678B2 |
Communicating control information in mobile communication system
The present invention relates to communicating control information in a mobile communication system, by which new control information can be transmitted more quickly. The present invention comprises transmitting a first data block comprising control information for transmitting first data when no resources for the transmission of the first data are available, receiving second data from an upper layer to be transmitted, wherein the second data has a higher priority than the first data, and transmitting a second data block comprising updated control information for transmitting the first and second data when no resources for the transmission of the first and second data are available. |
| US07978676B2 |
Radio relay apparatus, radio terminal apparatus, method, and recording medium for performing radio communication based on beacon
A radio relay apparatus to periodically transmit a beacon to a radio terminal apparatus, comprises: a control section for generating a beacon including group identification information indicating a group to which a radio terminal apparatus of a reception object of the beacon belongs; and a transmission section for transmitting the generated beacon to the radio terminal apparatus. |
| US07978670B2 |
Method and apparatus to facilitate bandwidth allocation management in integral combination with memory capacity information
A method and apparatus to facilitate managing communications with at least one wireless node (102, 103) having an outbound payload memory in a severely resource-constrained wireless network (100) can provide for a coordinator node (101) for that network providing (201) information regarding remaining capacity of those outbound payload memories and then automatically using (202) that information in integral combination with a bandwidth allocation management process to control allocation of at least one wireless communication resource by which the wireless nodes can transmit items contained in the outbound payload memory. |
| US07978657B2 |
Multi-radio mesh network system supporting at least two different wireless communication standards and method of controlling the same
In a multi-radio mesh network system supporting at least two different wireless communication standards and a method of controlling the same, a wireless access switching module determines whether user data en-queued in the queue of a first wireless link and retained on standby cannot be transmitted. The wireless access switching module switches the user data, en-queued in the queue of the first wireless link and retained on standby, to an available second wireless link. The wireless access switching module changes a frame structure according to different wireless access techniques. When access is possible through the second wireless link, a forwarder searches for a local neighbor directly connected to a transmitting node and a receiving node, and forwards the user data. According to the invention, and in contrast to conventional techniques, available multi-wireless resources can be used more efficiently, flexibly and optimally up to the last moment, thereby reducing re-transmission and packet drop. Thus, each hop supports fast data forwarding so as to improve network performance. |
| US07978655B2 |
Secure and seamless WAN-LAN roaming
Systems and methods are described for secure and seamless roaming between internal and external networks. Double and triple tunnels may be used to connect a mobile node to a correspondent host. A mobile node may include the ability to connect to two networks simultaneously to enable seamless roaming between networks. |
| US07978654B2 |
Method for connecting mobile station to base station, mobile station, base station, multi-carrier mobile communication system, and random access channel mapping method
As a random access channel (RACH), two types of RACHs, a synchronous RACH and an asynchronous RACH are prepared, condition of a mobile station is classified depending on whether there is temporal synchronization in the mobile station and whether a resource is allocated, and depending on each case, any one of the synchronous RACH/the asynchronous RACH/uplink shared control channel (USCCH) is adaptively selected to carry out connection processing. |
| US07978652B2 |
Wireless communications environment overlay
A method is provided, wherein the method comprises identifying nearby wireless communication access points (APs) to which a client computing environment can cooperate with to communicate and receive data through a subscription to a neighborcast group from indentified nearby cooperating access points such that illustratively the neighborcast group comprises a communications overlay between cooperating client computing environments employing the identified nearby wireless communications access points. In an illustrative implementation, a wireless communications environment comprises at least two client computing environments comprising a communications overlay engine operable to process at least one instruction from an exemplary instruction set to perform one or more wireless communications operations over the exemplary communications overlay comprising scanning for cooperating client computing environments and/or wireless access points and/or RSS servers, subscribing to the communications overlay group, and publishing data for consumption by cooperating components of the wireless communications overlay. |
| US07978650B2 |
Apparatus and method for supporting multicast/broadcast service in broadband wireless access system
An apparatus and a method for processing media data so that an MBS is supported in a BWA communication system. A traffic processing method supports an MBS in a broadband wireless access communication system having a number of base stations and at least one contents server for transmitting various media traffics to the base stations. The method includes reserving a resource for MBS burst assignment with regard to the base stations; requesting the contents server to provide a traffic to be transmitted to the base stations when the resource has been successfully reserved; shaping a media traffic transmitted by the contents server; and transmitting the media traffic to the base stations. |
| US07978646B2 |
Hybrid contention-based and schedule-based access to a communication link
One or more embodiments taught herein provide a hybrid access arrangement using a contention-based channel and a scheduled channel on a communication link. As a point of significant efficiency, given users transmit autonomously on the contention-based channel, without need for scheduling overhead. However, if a contention overload occurs on the contention-based channel, the involved users are identified from unique signature sequences included in their user transmissions. The identified users are temporarily managed as scheduled users on the scheduled channel, which supplements the contention-based channel and therefore may use limited communication link resources in comparison to the contention-based channel. Users not involved in the contention overload generally continue operating on the contention-based channel. |
| US07978644B2 |
Method of fair scheduling channel access in a wireless network
A method of fair scheduling for channel access in a wireless network comprising a plurality of nodes including a first node and at least one second node is described, the method comprising the steps of: arranging (RICP) a packet to be transmitted at the first node; calculating (COMP) a waiting time (ta) for the first node; the first node attempting (ATTX) the transmission of the packet on the channel at least after the calculated waiting time; characterised in that said calculation step includes an evaluation step of a first size representative of the ratio between a real use of the channel by the first node and a real use of the channel by a group of the plurality of nodes, during the transmission on the network of further packets preceding said packet. |
| US07978638B2 |
Method of transmitting network information in broadband wireless access system
A method of transmitting network information in a broadband wireless access system is disclosed, in which a base station transmits mobile IP information received from a HA or FA to a mobile station in an idle mode. The present invention includes the steps of receiving a request for entering an idle mode from a mobile station, transmitting information of an admission for entering the idle mode to the mobile station, receiving the network information from a mobility agent, and transmitting a paging message including the network information. |
| US07978637B2 |
Power-saving mechanisms for 802.11 clients
The station does not wake up for the beacon TIM if there is periodic uplink data with period less than or equal to the tolerance for downlink delay. If the station has no uplink data for at least a service interval (period of the stream), it wakes up to listen to the TIM. It continues to do so until either uplink or downlink data arrives. If the TIM indicates downlink data buffered, and if the station continues to have no uplink data, it starts waking tip at the service interval and sends null frames uplink, in order to signal that it is awake and ready to receive downlink data. If uplink data is generated, the station will send the uplink frame instead of the null frame. |
| US07978633B2 |
Method and system of updating routing/establishing paths in a hierarchical network
A system and method of establishing and routing paths in a network hierarchy is disclosed. A radio base station updates a path from a mobile terminal to a lowest-layer router. The lowest-layer router establishes a path in which a network address to the mobile terminal exists in the radio base station and transfers path information to an intermediate-layer router serving as an upward router. The intermediate-layer router establishes a path in which the network address to the mobile terminal exists in the lowest-layer router and transfers path information to the highest-layer router. The highest-layer router, when having received path information notification from the intermediate-layer router, establishes a path in which the network address to the mobile terminal exists in the intermediate-layer router. |
| US07978632B2 |
Wireless mesh network transit link topology optimization method and system
A method and configuration manager generates a routing topology for a wireless mesh network. The wireless mesh network has a plurality of internal nodes, at least one edge node, and at least one originating device. A plurality of potential routing solutions is determined which contain a plurality of paths through the wireless mesh network from the at least one originating device to the at least one edge node such that data communicated from the at least one originating device reaches the at least one edge node in no more than a predetermined number of hops. Each potential routing solution is based on at least one measured wireless communication parameter between internal nodes. Metric calculations for each potential routing solution are computed to determine a preferred routing solution. The wireless mesh network is configured to route traffic using the preferred routing solution. |
| US07978623B1 |
Channel rank updates in multiple-input multiple-output communication systems
Embodiments of the disclosure provide a system and method for providing channel feedback information (CFI) from a user equipment device to a base station. CFI is transmitted from the user equipment device on first and second communication channels. The user equipment device is operable to measure the channel rank of a downlink channel and to select a preferred channel rank that is used to configure the CFI that is transmitted to the base station. The base station is operable to use the preferred channel rank to interpret the CFI transmitted by the user end device. |
| US07978620B2 |
Dynamically troubleshooting voice quality
In an example embodiment, a method for dynamically troubleshooting voice quality. The method comprises generating a request to intercept a predetermined data stream on a network, acquiring a replicated copy of the intercepted data stream responsive to the request and analyzing the replicated copy of the intercepted data stream. |
| US07978614B2 |
Techniques for detecting non-receipt of fault detection protocol packets
Techniques that assist in processing of failure detection protocol (FDP) packets. Techniques are provided that assist a CPU of a network device in processing incoming FDP packets. In one embodiment, a module is provided in a network device for detecting and flagging the non-receipt of FDP packets by the network device for one or more FDP sessions. In this manner, the task of detecting non-receipt of FDP packets is offloaded from the CPU of the network device. This enables the network device to support newer FDPs with shorter periodic interval requirements. |
| US07978613B2 |
Test signalling
The degree of degradation imposed on signals transmitted over a communications link from a transmitter to a receiver is tested. A predetermined test signal is transmitted using spare capacity detected by a voice activity detector when no speech is to be transmitted over the communications link. The test signal received by the receiver is compared with the reference signal, and a measure of the degradation of signals caused by the communications link is generated therefrom. |
| US07978607B1 |
Source-based congestion detection and control
Congestion control techniques based upon resource utilization information stored by a network device. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a network device is configured to identify a data source causing congestion based upon information stored by the network device identifying a set of data sources, and for each data source, information identifying the amount of a resource of the network device being used for processing data received by the network device from the data source. |
| US07978605B2 |
Methods and apparatus for directory enabled network services
Methods and apparatus for controlling the rules of engagement between a telecommunication carrier and a customer whose network is managed by the telecommunication carrier are provided. A computer system interviews a customer by determining a set of specific questions tailored to the customer's needs, the set of specific questions based on previously stored customer information. Answers to the asked questions are stored as an entry in a master user profile. The master user profile defines the rules of engagement of how the telecommunication carrier shall operate on behalf of the customer on each subsequent transaction without the need of the customer's direct involvement on each element of the transaction. The entry has an associated event and a corresponding action to perform in response to the occurrence of the associated event. Upon receipt of an event occurrence, the corresponding action which includes interoperating with existing telecommunication carrier systems is performed. |
| US07978604B2 |
Optimising resource usage in a packet switched network
A method of optimising the bandwidth usage on a Real-Time Protocol managed link transporting media from a Media Resource Function of a cellular telecommunications network to User Equipment. The method comprises monitoring properties of the link and, as a result of said monitoring, adapting the sending rate over the link by re-packetising media, received at the Media Resource Function from third party nodes, to increase or decrease the size of packets sent over the link. |
| US07978603B2 |
Traffic optimization in a heterogeneous wireless cabin network
A method for transmitting signals, consisting of receiving a plurality of signals generated in an isolated region, the signals encoding respective individual payloads and payload envelopes. At least two of the signals operate under different protocols. The method includes deriving information from the signals on respective connections of the signals, and aggregating the payloads into one or more aggregated payloads. The method further includes transmitting the one or more aggregated payloads and the information via a satellite link to a receiver outside the region, the one or more aggregated payloads and the information amounting to less data than an aggregated amount of data in the individual payloads and payload envelopes. The method also includes reconstituting the plurality of signals at the receiver using the one or more aggregated payloads and the information. |
| US07978600B2 |
Electronic control unit with a plurality of control circuits
In an ECU, a level adjusting unit communicable to first and second control circuits and a bus transceiver installed in the ECU receives first data and second data respectively transmitted from the first and second control circuits. The bus transceiver is communicable to a communication bus. When the first data and the second data are simultaneously received, the level adjusting unit merges the first data and the second data such that a first electric level of the first data wins with a second electric level of the second data. The level adjusting unit outputs the merged data to the bus transceiver. |
| US07978583B2 |
Apparatus and method for forming reflective layer of optical disc
Improved techniques for forming a reflective layer of an optical disc are provided. One improvement includes forming the reflective layer over an information layer of the disc by utilizing a metallizer and a masking device having an angled lip configured to align to an outer edge of the information layer. The masking device allows the applied reflective layer to extend to the outer diameter edge of the information layer, and shields plasma generated by the metallizer from reaching internal components of the metallizer. The masking device may include a pusher having a spring mechanism attached to an inner masking portion of the masking device. When the disc and the pusher are brought into relative contact with each other by application of a first force to at least one of the masking device and the disc towards the other, the pusher is spring-loaded and is pushed up into a recess of the inner masking portion, and when the first force is removed, the spring-loaded force of the pusher pushes the disc away from the masking device. |
| US07978582B2 |
High-density recording medium and method and apparatus for controlling data playback thereof
Disclosed herein are a high-density recording medium and a method and apparatus for controlling data playback thereof. Playback control information, such as channel bit length information, is recorded in a burst cutting area (BCA) of a high-density optical disc in a wobble type. When the high-density optical disc is reproduced, the playback control information is detected in a push-pull signal detection mode and the optimum data playback operation corresponding to the recording capacity of the optical disc is performed on the basis of the detected playback control information. Alternatively, bit error rates (BERs) are calculated while a plurality of predetermined bit detection modes are sequentially performed, one of the bit detection modes corresponding to the smallest one of the calculated BERs is selected and the data playback operation is performed in the selected bit detection mode. Therefore, it is possible to perform a data playback operation optimal to the recording capacity of a BD-ROM (Blu-ray Disc-ROM) even through disc information (DI) is recorded in a PIC (Permanent Information & Control data) zone of the BD-ROM in a recording format necessitating a decoding process and the recording capacity is any of different values such as 23 Gbytes, 25 Gbytes, 27 Gbytes, etc. |
| US07978578B2 |
Optical disc device and defect detection method for optical disc medium
An optical disc device includes an optical head section and a regularity monitoring circuit. The optical head section generates a wobble signal indicating wobbling of a track formed on a recording surface of an optical disc medium based on a reflected light reflected by the optical disc medium. The regularity monitoring circuit judges an existence or absence of a defect on the optical disc medium based on a difference between the wobble signal and a signal indicating the wobble under a normal condition. |
| US07978574B2 |
Optical information recording method, optical information recording apparatus, and optical information recording medium
A laser drive circuit is utilized to record data with a good signal quality over a wide range of linear velocities to an optical information recording medium. Specifically, the laser drive circuit of an optical information recording apparatus sets a ratio of a recording power to a power at which a reproduction signal quality reaches a threshold value to be relatively low at low velocities, and relatively high at high velocities. |
| US07978572B2 |
Device and method for reproducing digital signal and device and method for recording digital signal
A technique capable of realizing a power saving in a device for reproducing/recording digital signals by properly controlling a frequency of a clock. The device for reproducing/recording digital signals (device for reproducing an optical disk) includes: a difference comparing circuit for comparing a first parameter (demodulating block counter) updated each time a process for one correcting block is done in a demodulating circuit with a second parameter (error correcting block counter) updated each time a process of one correcting block is done in an error correcting circuit; and a circuit (clock controlling circuit etc.) for switching a frequency of a master clock (MCLK) depending on a comparison result of the difference comparing circuit. Thereby, the frequency of the clock can be switched both of when the demodulation for one correcting block is ended and when the correcting process for one correcting block is ended by using the switched master clock. |
| US07978570B2 |
Driving apparatus and method, program, and recording medium
A driving apparatus includes: a driving mechanism slider-driving a head including a first optical pickup and a second optical pickup, the first optical pickup and the second optical pickup having a same specification; a calculating mechanism performing predetermined calculation using a first slide-error signal obtained by filtering a signal from the first optical pickup and a second slide-error signal obtained by filtering a signal from the second optical pickup; and an outputting mechanism outputting a signal from the calculating means as a slider control signal for driving the driving mechanism. |
| US07978568B2 |
Optical head, diffraction device, objective lens, and optical disc apparatus
An object of the present invention is to reduce the influence of a stray light incident on a light receiving device by reflection of an unnecessary diffraction light not contributing to write or read on a disc surface at write or read of an optical disc having a large surface reflectivity with respect to an information recording surface. A position in which a diffraction light with an n-order in an advancing path and the n-order in a returning path, reflected on the information recording surface of a first information recording medium, is focused by a condensing lens is different from a position in which a diffraction light different from the n-order diffraction light in at least one of the advancing path and the returning path, reflected on a surface of the first information recording medium, is focused by the condensing lens. |
| US07978567B2 |
Optical disc recording and reproducing apparatus
The present invention provides an optical disc recording and reproducing apparatus having a function of communicating with a noncontact IC. The apparatus includes a chassis, an external antenna arranged for communication with a noncontact IC outside the chassis, an internal antenna arranged for communication with a noncontact IC included in an optical disc loaded in the chassis, a control section performing a search operation of searching for the noncontact IC outside the chassis and the noncontact IC in the optical disc, and a switching section changing conduction state between the external antenna and the control section and that between the internal antenna and the control section under the control of the control section. |
| US07978562B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device operates by using a fixed power and a variable power. The device includes a plurality of word lines which select rows of a memory cell array, a plurality of word line drivers each of which is connected to a corresponding one of the word lines and includes a first CMOS gate, a first cutoff switch which is connected between a fixed power terminal and a power terminal of the first CMOS gate and cuts off the fixed power in a sleep mode, a switching circuit which is connected to the plurality of word lines and connects the plurality of word lines to a ground terminal in the sleep mode, and a power control circuit which generates the variable power by using the fixed power and sets the variable power to 0 V in the sleep mode. |
| US07978559B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method of operating the same
A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of word lines, a plurality of pairs of bit lines and complementary bit lines that cross the word lines, and a plurality of memory cells, each memory cell being disposed at a region where a respective word line and a pair of a bit line and a complementary bit line cross each other. A voltage control unit includes a plurality of elements connected in series between a power voltage source and the memory cells and are switched on/off in response to a control signal that controls an operation of the plurality of memory cells. The voltage control unit controls the voltage of the power voltage source to a predetermined level, thereby obtaining a controlled voltage to be supplied to the memory cells. |
| US07978555B2 |
Semiconductor memory
Dummy memory cells are disposed on an outside of real memory cells positioned on a peripheral part of a matrix. First contacts coupling between two wiring layers laminated on a semiconductor substrate are disposed around each of the real and dummy memory cells, and are shared by an adjacent real or dummy memory cell. Number of the first contacts disposed in each of the dummy memory cells is set to be smaller than number of the first contacts disposed in each of the real memory cells. Accordingly, even when a well region is not formed normally due to a variation in manufacturing conditions, it is possible to prevent an abnormal power supply current from being flown into the dummy memory cells, and an occurrence of latch up can be prevented. |
| US07978554B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method of operating the same
A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of word lines, a plurality of pairs of bit lines and complementary bit lines, and a plurality of memory cells, each memory cell being disposed at a region where a respective word line and a pair of a bit line and a complementary bit line cross each other. A voltage control unit controls a power voltage to obtain a controlled voltage appliable to the memory cells in response to a control signal that controls an operation of the memory cells. At least one dummy cell is disposed between the voltage control unit and the memory cells and is configured to reduce the controlled voltage to a predetermined level. |
| US07978552B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
A memory includes memory cells, wherein during a first write operation in which first logical data is written in all memory cells connected to a first word line, a source line driver and a word line driver, the source line driver shifts a voltage of a selected source line corresponding to the first word line in a direction away from the voltage of the first word line and the word line driver shifts a voltage of a second word line in a same direction as a transition direction of voltage of a selected source line, and during a second write operation in which second logical data is written in a selected cell connected to the first word line, the source line driver and the word line driver shift voltages of the selected source line and the second word line in a direction approaching the voltage of the first word line. |
| US07978549B2 |
Fuse circuit and semiconductor memory device including the same
The fuse circuit includes a first program unit, a second program unit and a sensing circuit. The first and second program units are programmed simultaneously. The first program unit is programmed in a program mode in response to a fuse program signal and outputs a first signal in a sensing mode, such that the first signal increases when the first program unit is programmed. The second program unit is programmed in the program mode in response to the program signal and outputs a second signal in the sensing mode, such that the second signal decreases when the second program unit is programmed. The sensing circuit generates a sensing output signal in response to the first and second signals, such that the sensing output signal indicates whether or not the program units are programmed. |
| US07978548B2 |
Block decoding circuits of semiconductor memory devices and methods of operating the same
A block decoding circuit of a semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of block decoders, a plurality of repair address check circuits, a dummy repair address check circuit and a block selection signal generation circuit. The plurality of block decoders are configured to decode a received block selection address. The plurality of repair address check circuits are configured to generate second output signals based on whether a received block selection address and word line selection address are repair addresses. The dummy repair address check circuit is configured to generate a control signal in response to the block selection address and the word line selection address. The block selection signal generation circuit is configured to generate block selection signals based on the first output signals from the plurality of block decoders, the control signal from the dummy repair address circuit, and the second output signals from the repair address check circuits. |
| US07978543B2 |
Semiconductor device testable on quality of multiple memory cells in parallel and testing method of the same
A semiconductor device includes: first and second input/output terminals; a first input/output line connected to the first input/output terminal; a second input/output line connected to the second input/output terminal; and a first by-path route that connects the first input/output line and the second input/output line. When in normal operation mode, the first by-path route is set in a non-conductive state. When in a test mode, the first by-path route is set into a conductive state so that a first data inputted to the first input/output terminal is outputted as a first data to the second input/output line, in correspondence with a transition of a clock signal in the first direction, and so that a second data inputted to said first input/output terminal is outputted as a second input data for said first input/output line, in correspondence with a transition of said clock signal in the second direction. |
| US07978539B2 |
Semiconductor device having resistance based memory array, method of reading, and systems associated therewith
In one embodiment, the semiconductor device includes a non-volatile memory cell array. Memory cells of the non-volatile memory cell array are resistance based, and each memory cell has a resistance that changes over time after data is written into the memory cell. A write address buffer is configured to store write addresses associated with data being written into the non-volatile memory cell array, and a read unit is configured to perform a read operation to read data from the non-volatile memory cell array. The read unit is configured to control a read current applied to the non-volatile memory cell array during the read operation based on whether a read address matches one of the stored write addresses and at least one indication of settling time of the data being written into the non-volatile memory cell array. |
| US07978538B2 |
Setting memory device termination in a memory device and memory controller interface in a communication bus
A memory device and memory controller are coupled during driver training to reduce mismatches. The impedances of the system are controlled through a termination at the memory device to yield improvements in timing margins. The coupling of the components on a shared electrical bus through adjustment of the termination values during training removes known offset issues. |
| US07978536B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method of operating the same
Semiconductor memory device and method of operating the same includes an enable signal generator configured to generate first and second enable signals having activation timings determined in response to activation of an active command, the first enable signal being deactivated after a first time from a deactivation timing of the active command, and the second enable signal being deactivated after a second time longer than the first time from the deactivation timing of the active command. Internal voltage generators are configured to generate internal voltages. At least one of the internal voltage generators is turned on/off in response to the first enable signal, and at least one other of the internal voltage generators is turned on/off in response to the second enable signals. |
| US07978535B2 |
Data input/output circuit and method of semiconductor memory apparatus
A first timing control unit controls an active timing of a first control signal to output a first driving control signal. A first data input/output unit transmits write data from a data input/output buffer to a global input/output line or transmits read data from the global input/output line to the data input/output buffer, in response to the first driving control signal. A second timing control unit controls an active timing of a second control signal to output a second driving control signal. A second data input/output unit transmits the write data from the global input/output line to a local input/output line or transmits the read data from the local input/output line to the global input/output line, in response to the second driving control signal. |
| US07978534B2 |
Memory device and method having programmable address configurations
A memory device includes a configurable address register having a first set of input buffers coupled to a first set on address bus terminals and a second set of input buffers coupled to a second set of address bus terminals. In a first addressing configuration, address signals are simultaneously applied to the address bus terminals in the first and second sets, and they are simultaneously stored in respective address registers. In a second addressing configuration, a plurality of sets of address signals are sequentially applied to the address bus terminals in only the first set of address bus terminals. Each set of address signals is then stored in a different address register. |
| US07978533B2 |
NAND flash memory with a programming voltage held dynamically in a NAND chain channel region
Operating voltages to a group of memory cells in an array are supplied via access lines such as word lines and bit lines. The capacitance of associated nodes of the memory cells can latch some of these voltages. Memory operation can continue using the latched voltages even when the access lines are disconnected. In a memory have an array of NAND chains, the capacitance of the channel of each NAND chain can latch a voltage to either enable or inhibit programming. The bit lines can then be disconnected during programming of the group and be used for another memory operation. In one embodiment, the bit lines are precharged for the next verifying step of the same group. In another embodiment, two groups of memory cells are being programmed contemporarily, so that while one group is being programmed, the other group can be verified with the use of the bit lines. |
| US07978531B2 |
Nonvolatile memory, verify method therefor, and semiconductor device using the nonvolatile memory
Provided is a nonvolatile memory that realizes a high-speed verify operation. During verify writing/erasing, the writing/erasing and reading are performed at the same time. As to a circuit that performs a verify operation, for instance, there is obtained a construction where the output from a sense amplifier (102) that performs reading is connected to a switch which switches an operation voltage applied to a memory cell in accordance with a verify signal Sv, and the verify operation is finished concurrently with having the verify signal Sv switched. By obtaining such circuit construction and simultaneously performing writing/erasing and reading, it becomes possible to perform high-speed verify writing/erasing. |
| US07978527B2 |
Verification process for non-volatile storage
When erasing non-volatile storage, a verification process is used between erase operations to determine whether the non-volatile storage has been successfully erased. The verification process includes separately performing verification for different subsets of the non-volatile storage elements. |
| US07978525B2 |
Data flow scheme for low power DRAM
Circuits and methods to minimize power required for sensing and precharge of DRAMs have been achieved. A control circuit ensures that during READ operations the duration of sensing of DRAM cell and precharging is kept to a minimum. A test DRAM cell is used to determine the exact time required for data sensing. Furthermore no precharging is performed during WRITE-operations. In case data is changing from “1” to “0” or vice versa data lines are inverted accordingly during WRITE operation. |
| US07978524B2 |
Semiconductor device
A dummy cell includes a plurality of first memory cells MC for storing “1” or “0”, arranged at points of intersection between a plurality of word lines WR0 to WR7 and a plurality of first data lines D0 to D7, a plurality of first dummy cells MCH for storing “1” or “0”, arranged at points of intersection between the word lines WR0 to WR7 and a first dummy data line, and a plurality of second dummy cells MCL for storing “0”, arranged at points of intersection between the word lines WR0 to WR7 and a second dummy data line DD1. |
| US07978521B2 |
Memory device and method of programming thereof
The method of programming data in a memory device includes applying a plurality of pulses to a plurality of memory cells, at least one of the plurality of pulses being a positive pulse having a positive voltage and at least one of the plurality of pulses being a negative pulse having a negative voltage, and a temporal interval existing between subsequent pulses of the plurality of pulses, and controlling at least one of a width of at least one of the temporal intervals and a magnitude of at least one of the plurality of pulses. |
| US07978518B2 |
Hierarchical common source line structure in NAND flash memory
Each memory cell string in a generic NAND flash cell block connects to a Common Source Line (CLS). A value for applying to the CSL is centrally generated and distributed to a local switch logic unit corresponding to each NAND flash cell block. For source-line page programming, the distribution line may be called a Global Common Source Line (GCSL). In an array of NAND flash cell blocks, only one NAND flash cell block is selected at a time for programming. To reduce power consumption, only the selected NAND flash cell block receives a value on the CSL that is indicative of the value on the GCSL. Additionally, the CSLs of non-selected NAND flash cell blocks may be disabled through an active connection to ground. |
| US07978513B2 |
Semiconductor storage apparatus, control apparatus and control method
A semiconductor storage apparatus comprising: a plurality of cells that store data; a threshold determination section that determines, based on management information that is used to manage data, a binary or multiple-valued form by which values are written to a plurality of the individual cells and determines a threshold based on the determined form of values that are to be written to a plurality of the individual cells; and a write section that writes the data to a plurality of the cells on the basis of the threshold determined by the threshold determination section. |
| US07978511B2 |
Data line management in a memory device
Methods for programming a memory device, memory devices configured to perform the disclosed programming methods, and memory systems having a memory device configured to perform the disclosed programming methods are provided. According to at least one such method, multiple pages of memory cells are inhibited during a programming operation such that memory cells enabled for programming are separated by two or more inhibited memory cells of the same row of memory cells regardless of the intended pattern of data states to be programmed into that row of memory cells. |
| US07978509B2 |
Phase change memory with dual word lines and source lines and method of operating same
A phase change memory device includes a memory cell, first word line conductor and a second word line conductor, and first and second access devices responsive to the first and second word line conductors respectively. Control circuits are arranged to access the memory cell for read operations using only the first word line conductor to establish a current path from the bit line through the memory cell to a source line through the first access device, and to access the memory cell for operations to reset the memory cell using both the first and second access devices to establish a current path from the bit line through the memory cell to two source lines. |
| US07978506B2 |
Thin film logic device and system
Thin film logic circuits employ thin-film switching devices to execute complementary logic functions. Such logic devices operate, as complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) logic devices do, in a manner that does not provide a direct conduction path between a system supply and a system return. Complementary logic circuits may employ three-terminal threshold switches as switching elements. |
| US07978505B2 |
Heat assisted switching and separated read-write MRAM
A MRAM structure is described that has a dedicated data storage layer formed between first and second electrodes and a dedicated data sensing layer between second and third electrodes to enable separate read and write functions. A diode between the storage layer and first electrode allows a heating current to flow between first and second electrodes to switch the data storage layer while a field is applied. A second diode between the sensing layer and third electrode enables a sensing current to flow only between second and third electrodes during a read process. Data storage and sensing layers and the three electrodes may be arranged in a vertical stack or the sensing layer, second diode, and third electrode may be shifted between adjacent stacks each containing first and second electrodes, a storage layer, and first diode. Second electrode and the sensing layer may be continuous elements through multiple MRAMs. |
| US07978497B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device comprises a memory cell array including first and second mutually crossing lines and electrically erasable programmable memory cells arranged at intersections of the first and second lines, each memory cell containing a variable resistive element; a data write circuit operative to apply a voltage required for data write to the memory cell via the first and second lines; and a current limit circuit operative to limit the value of current flowing in the memory cell on the data write at a certain current limit value. |
| US07978489B1 |
Integrated power converters
A power supply adapter is provided. The power supply adapter includes a power converter circuit configured to generate a regulated voltage signal. The power converter circuit includes a rectifier coupled with AC power blades. A regulator circuit is coupled with the rectifier. A transformer is coupled with the regulator circuit. The transformer includes a primary and a secondary. The transformer is coupled with the regulator circuit via the primary. An output circuit is coupled with the secondary of the transformer. The output circuit includes an output capacitor. A flexible contact is coupled with each of a first and a second printed circuit board and flexibly biased to couple with a proximate end of the AC power blades. The adapter includes an EMI shield substantially surrounding a connector receptacle. The power converter circuit can include a forward or a flyback power converter. The transformer can include a planar format transformer coupled with the first or the second PCB. The transformer can include a metallic core of a ferrite material. The transformer core can be coupled with the EMI shield to provide thermal spreading. The adapter can include an enclosure for housing the power converter circuit. The enclosure includes a thermally conductive potting material substantially filling an empty space of an interior of the enclosure. |
| US07978482B2 |
Modular high-power fuse carrier
A modular fuse carrier provides an insulating housing of standard form factor incorporating adapter bus bars having multiple mounting points for different fuse brackets at different separations. The adapter bus bars may be attached to connectors and/or bus bars in fixed configurations to allow standardization and pre-manufacture of electrical assemblies that remain amenable to a wide variety of different fuse types and capacities. |
| US07978481B2 |
Harness routing structure
A harness routing structure comprises: a battery case that defines an internal space which houses a battery and an electric appliance on a hybrid motor vehicle, and that is formed of a first member; a reinforcement that is provided in the battery case, and that is formed of a second member having a greater strength than the first member and that reinforces the battery case; and a harness routed at a position along the reinforcement. |
| US07978479B2 |
WLAN SiP module
The present invention provides a SiP module for wireless local area network comprising a base. A control unit is formed on a first surface of the base and a RF front end components is formed on a second surface of the base and coupled to the control unit through the base. A plurality of group of bumps is arranged on the first surface and coupled to the control unit, and separated with one another to reduce the interference. |
| US07978478B2 |
Printed circuit board
A chip capacitor 20 is provided in a core substrate 30 of a printed circuit board 10. This makes it possible to shorten a distance between an IC chip 90 and the chip capacitor 20 and to reduce loop inductance. Since the core substrate 30 id constituted by provided a first resin substrate 30a, a second resin substrate 30b and a third resin substrate 30c in a multilayer manner, the core substrate 30 can obtain sufficient strength. |
| US07978477B2 |
Dual-channel optical navigation device
A dual-channel optical navigation system with vertically aligned sensors. The dual-channel optical navigation system includes a circuit board, a contact navigation sensor, and a free-space navigation sensor. The circuit board mechanically supports and electrically connects multiple navigation sensors on opposing sides of the circuit board. The contact navigation sensor is coupled to a first side of the circuit board. The contact navigation sensor generates a contact navigation signal based on contact navigation images of a contact navigation surface approximately adjacent to the dual-channel optical navigation system. The free-space navigation sensor is coupled to a second side of the circuit board. The free-space navigation sensor generates a free-space navigation signal based on free-space navigation images of an operating environment of the dual-channel optical navigation system. |
| US07978476B2 |
Electronic system with non-parallel arrays of circuit card assemblies
An electronic assembly for housing circuit cards of different types, which communicate with one another at high speed. Circuit cards of a first type plug into a backplane side-by-side. Circuit cards of a second type are arranged perpendicularly to the circuit cards of the first type. The arrangement allows cards of the first type to communicate with cards of the second type over short distances, thus improving system throughput. It also allows cards of different types to be cooled differently, thus promoting efficient cooling. |
| US07978475B2 |
Strain reduction fixing structure
A strain reduction fixing structure includes a counterbore formed around a through-hole on a printed circuit board through which a fixing shaft for fixing the printed circuit board to a protection plate member penetrates. |
| US07978474B2 |
Liquid-cooled portable computer
Embodiments of a computer system are described. This computer system includes a power source that is coupled to a heat pipe, where the power source includes an integrated circuit. This heat pipe may contain a liquid coolant that has a density greater than a first pre-determined value at room temperature. A pump is coupled to the heat pipe is configured to circulate the liquid coolant through the heat pipe. Furthermore, a heat exchanger coupled to the heat pipe is configured to transfer heat from the heat pipe to an environment external to the computer system. |
| US07978470B2 |
Electronic apparatus
A body flow path in a first housing having an MPU element communicates with an inner flow path and outer flow path formed in an inner heat-dissipating board and an outer heat-dissipating board, respectively, and a pump drives a cooling liquid to circulate in these flow paths. A beam is arranged between a pivot provided in a second housing and a pivot provided in the inner heat-dissipating board, a beam is arranged between the pivot of the inner heat-dissipating board and a pivot provided in the outer heat-dissipating board, and the inner heat-dissipating board and the outer heat-dissipating board are movable to the second housing. According to the operation of opening the second housing, a distance between the second housing and the inner heat-dissipating board, and a distance between the inner flow path and the outer flow path are increased. |
| US07978467B2 |
Key sheet, press switch and electronic device provided with the press switch
It is an object of the present invention to provide a key sheet and the like which can suppress local elevation of temperature, and effectively diffuse heat loss from electronic circuits. The key sheet includes: a viscoelastic sheet 16b having a viscoelastic property, and having a first surface and a second surface; a button section 16a located on the side of the first surface of the viscoelastic sheet 16b; a thermally-conductive sheet 14 located along the first surface or the second surface of the viscoelastic sheet 16b, the thermally-conductive sheet 14 having a thermal conductivity equal to a specific value; and a contact section 16d projected from the second surface of the viscoelastic sheet 16b, the contact section occupies a position corresponding to the button section 16a. |
| US07978459B2 |
Electrical junction box
To provide an electrical junction box that has a simple construction and an improved waterproof capability. An electrical junction box 10 comprises a circuit casing 30 and a circuit board 20 contained in the circuit casing. The circuit casing includes two cover bodies 31 and 51, which are opposite each other and include base plate sections 32 and 52 and peripheral walls 41 and 61 provided on the base plate sections. Portions of the peripheral walls 41 and 61 are cut off to define drainage apertures 45 and 65, which is oriented downwards. Bus bars B to be electrically connected to electrical conductive paths on the circuit board 20 are insert-molded in connectors 110 to 160 and arranged downward. Contacting portion K between the peripheral walls 41 and 61 is sealed through the entire periphery with the exception of the drainage aperture 45. |
| US07978457B2 |
All-solid-state electric double layer capacitor
Disclosed is an all-solid-state electric double layer capacitor comprising a solid electrolyte and a current collector, wherein the solid electrolyte is an inorganic solid electrolyte. Such a capacitor has high capacity and is free from any fear of leakage of an electrolytic solution, and also ensures high heat resistance and enables a low process cost. |
| US07978454B1 |
ESD structure that protects against power-on and power-off ESD event
An electrostatic discharge protection circuit (ESD protection circuit) provides ESD protection to all NMOS/PMOS transistors that are connected to the pins of a CMOS integrated circuit (IC). The ESD protection circuit will protect the CMOS IC against an ESD event, regardless of whether the CMOS IC is powered up, or powered down. |
| US07978445B2 |
Systems and apparatus relating to wind turbine electrical control and operation
An electrical system for connecting a wind turbine to a power grid that includes: a frequency converter that converts electric power produced by a generator of the wind turbine into electric power that is synchronized with the electric power of the power grid; a transformer that steps up the voltage for connection to the power grid, the transformer being disposed between the frequency converter and a connection to the power grid; and a grid-side crowbar circuit; wherein the grid-side crowbar circuit is configured to apply a short circuit to the electrical system upon the detection of a fault. |
| US07978444B2 |
Detection of magnetic beads using a magnetoresistive device together with ferromagnetic resonance
A method and apparatus for detecting the presence of magnetic beads is disclosed. By providing both a static magnetic field and a magnetic field that alternates in the MHz range, or beyond, the bead can be excited into FMR (ferromagnetic resonance). The appearance of the latter is then detected by a magneto-resistive type of sensor. This approach offers several advantages over prior art methods in which the magnetic moment of the bead is detected directly. |
| US07978442B2 |
CPP device with a plurality of metal oxide templates in a confining current path (CCP) spacer
A novel CCP scheme is disclosed for a CPP-GMR sensor in which an amorphous metal/alloy layer such as Hf is inserted between a lower Cu spacer and an oxidizable layer such as Al, Mg, or AlCu prior to performing a pre-ion treatment (PIT) and ion assisted oxidation (IAO) to transform the amorphous layer into a first metal oxide template and the oxidizable layer into a second metal oxide template both having Cu metal paths therein. The amorphous layer promotes smoothness and smaller grain size in the oxidizable layer to minimize variations in the metal paths and thereby improves dR/R, R, and dR uniformity by 50% or more. An amorphous Hf layer may be used without an oxidizable layer, or a thin Cu layer may be inserted in the CCP scheme to form a Hf/PIT/IAO or Hf/Cu/Al/PIT/IAO configuration. A double PIT/IAO process may be used as in Hf/PIT/IAO/Al/PIT/IAO or Hf/PIT/IAO/Hf/PIT/IAO schemes. |
| US07978441B2 |
CPP with elongated pinned layer
CPP magnetic read head designs have been improved by increasing the length of the AFM layer relative to that of both the free and spacer layers. The length of the pinned layer is also increased, but by a lesser amount, an abutting conductive layer being inserted to fill the remaining space over the AFM layer. The extended pinned layer increases the probability of spin interaction while the added conducting layer serves to divert sensor current away from the bottom magnetic shield which now is no longer needed for use as a lead. |
| US07978439B2 |
TMR or CPP structure with improved exchange properties
An insertion layer is provided between an AFM layer and an AP2 pinned layer in a GMR or TMR element to improve exchange coupling properties by increasing Hex and the Hex/Hc ratio without degrading the MR ratio. The insertion layer may be a 1 to 15 Angstrom thick amorphous magnetic layer comprised of at least one element of Co, Fe, or Ni, and at least one element having an amorphous character selected from B, Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, Si, or P, or a 1 to 5 Angstrom thick non-magnetic layer comprised of Cu, Ru, Mn, Hf, or Cr. Preferably, the content of the one or more amorphous elements in the amorphous magnetic layer is less than 40 atomic %. Optionally, the insertion layer may be formed within the AP2 pinned layer. Examples of an insertion layer are CoFeB, CoFeZr, CoFeNb, CoFeHf, CoFeNiZr, CoFeNiHf, and CoFeNiNbZr. |
| US07978438B2 |
Thin-film magnetic head with shield layer profile having obtuse or rounded corners, magnetic head assembly, magnetic disk drive apparatus and manufacturing method of thin-film magnetic head
A thin-film magnetic head provided with at least one MR read head element includes a lower shield layer, an upper shield layer, and an MR layer formed between the lower shield layer and the upper shield layer. A profile of the upper shield layer, appeared at an ABS, has obtuse or rounded upper corners at end edges of the upper shield layer along a track-width direction. |
| US07978435B2 |
Magnetic head slider having multiple step portions
According to one embodiment, a head of a disk device has a slider and a head portion disposed on the slider. The slider has a facing surface opposed to a surface of a rotatable recording medium and is flown by an airflow. The facing surface of the slider has a first direction extending in a direction of the airflow and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The slider includes a negative-pressure cavity, a leading step portion, a leading pad which protrudes from the leading step portion, a recess which is formed in that part of the leading step portion which is situated on an upstream side of the leading pad with respect to the airflow and defines a first step portion and a second step portion which individually extend in a direction across the first direction and are spaced in the first direction, and a trailing step portion. |
| US07978432B2 |
Thin-film magnetic head structure
A thin-film magnetic head structure has a configuration adapted to manufacture a thin-film magnetic head configured such that a main magnetic pole layer including a magnetic pole tip on a side of a medium-opposing surface opposing a recording medium, a write shield layer opposing the magnetic pole tip so as to form a recording gap layer on the medium-opposing surface side, and a thin-film coil wound about the write shield layer or main magnetic pole layer are laminated. The magnetic pole tip of the main magnetic pole layer includes an even width portion having a substantially even width along an extending direction. |
| US07978431B2 |
Method to make a perpendicular magnetic recording head with a bottom side shield
A perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) head is fabricated with a pole tip shielded laterally by a separated pair of bottom side shields and shielded from above by an upper shield. The bottom side shields surround a lower portion of the pole tip while the upper portion of the pole tip is surrounded by non-magnetic layers. The bottom shields and the non-magnetic layer form wedge-shaped trench in which the pole tip is formed by a self-aligned plating process. The wedge shape is formed by a RIE process using specific gases applied through a masking layer formed of material that has a slower etch rate than the non-magnetic material or the shield material. A masking layer of Ta, Ru/Ta, TaN or Ti, formed on a non-magnetic layer of alumina that is formed on a shield layer of NiFe and using RIE gases of CH3OH, CO or NH3 or their combinations, produces the desired result. A write gap layer and an upper shield is then formed above the side shields and pole. The resulting structure substantially eliminates track overwrite while maintaining good track definition. |
| US07978429B2 |
Low track pitch write module and bidirectional tape head
A low track pitch write module and bidirectional tape head for writing and/or reading data on a magnetic recording tape. The write module and tape head have a tape bearing surface for engaging the magnetic recording tape and plural write elements. The write elements are arranged so that the write gaps of adjacent write elements are spaced from each other by not more than approximately one write gap width, while being generally aligned along an axis that is perpendicular to a direction of movement of the magnetic recording tape. The write elements may have a planar or vertical construction comprising plural thin film layers oriented in generally parallel or perpendicular relationship with the tape bearing surface. One or more read element arrays may also be provided. |
| US07978428B2 |
Method of reading data stored in a data storage device and data storage device that performs a data read retry operation
A disk drive includes a disk having a track that includes a data sector divided by a servo sector so that a first data sector portion is on a first side of the servo sector, and a second data sector portion is on a second side of the servo sector. The disk drive reads data by: positioning the head at a first offset position with respect to the track and reading data from the data sector. When a read error occurs between the first and second data sector portions, the disk drive: stores the data from the first data sector portion in memory, moves the head to a second offset position with respect to the track, reads data from the second data sector portion with the head at the second offset position, and stores the data read from the second data sector portion in the memory. |
| US07978426B2 |
Prism and optical device
A prism (10) is in the form of a polygonal prism and has a first optical surface (11), a second optical surface (12) and a third optical surface (13) formed on different surfaces of the prism. A light entrance region (11a) is provided at the center of the first optical surface (11), a light exit region (12a) is provided at the center of the second optical surface (12) and a substantially flat light reflecting region (13a) is provided at the center of the third optical surface (13). Suppose that there is a virtual surface between the light reflecting region (13a) and the first optical surface (11), the virtual surface is positioned more inward in the prism than a peripheral region of the third optical surface (13) extending from the light reflecting region (13a) to an edge (14) between the third optical surface (13) and the first optical surface (11). |
| US07978425B2 |
Adjustable lens mounting assembly
A lens barrel is mated with a lens mount through use of a screw thread whereby relative rotation adjusts lens focus. The lens barrel and lens mount are additionally provided with an interengaging formation that is interposed between an optical axis of the lens barrel and the screw thread. This formation provides a cylindrical sliding contact which isolates any particles produced by operation of the screw thread from reaching the optical components at or near the optical axis. |
| US07978423B2 |
Objective optical system for endoscopes
An objective optical system includes, in order from the object side, a first unit having two lenses with negative refracting power and positive refracting power, a stop, and a second unit with positive refracting power to satisfy the following condition: 3.0 |
| US07978422B2 |
Incident-light controlling apparatus
An incident-light controlling apparatus has a first aperture in a substrate, a diaphragm blade which rotates around an axis, and controls light passing through the first aperture, by the diaphragm blade rotating alternately between a first stationary position coinciding with the first aperture, and a second stationary position retracted from the first aperture, a permanent magnet joined directly to the diaphragm blade, at a position of the axis of rotation of the diaphragm blade, and magnetized in a direction of a plane of rotation of the diaphragm blade, and a pair of coils having a winding around cores disposed such that an end portion of each coil faces the magnet. The diaphragm blade rotated alternately between the first and second stationary positions due to an interaction between a generated magnetic field upon passing an electric power, and a magnetic field generated due to the magnet. |
| US07978421B2 |
Camera module
Disclosed is a camera module with a hinge spring which can stably support a lens barrel which is driven in a vertical direction for automatic focusing and which is made of lightweight resin, the camera module including a cylindrical lens barrel with lenses disposed therein for collecting images of external objects, a housing encasing the lens barrel in a manner such that the lens barrel vertically moves in an optical axis direction of the lenses, an automatic focusing actuator installed in the housing to cause linear motion of the lens barrel in the optical axis direction, and a ring-shaped hinge spring extrusion-molded using resin having elasticity to support an upper portion of the lens barrel and guide the linear motion of the lens barrel. |