Document Document Title
US08015616B2 Contents transmission method and contents transmission system
Mobile unit 16 which can activate Java-AP software receives SDF (Security Descriptive File) 204 from administering server unit 18 which a trustworthy organization (a communication provider which administers mobile packet communication network 15) administers, and obtains ADF 205 from IP server unit 13 by using URL contained in the SDF, and obtains Jar file 206 from IP server unit 13 by using ADF 205, and installs in itself Java-AP containing these files. Java-AP, which is achieved by activating the installed Java-AP software, operates within the range of authorization expressed by policy information contained in SDF 204.
US08015612B2 Addressing security in writes to memory
A computer includes a processor. When an instruction to be executed by the processor involves writing to memory, the write can be redirected to a temporary page of memory. The correct amount of data can then be copied from the temporary page to the original target memory address. The advantages of the invention can be achieved, among other possibilities, via re-compiling the program or modifying instructions before execution.
US08015603B2 Method and mobile node for packet transmission in mobile internet protocol network
A method for packet transmission in an MIP network is disclosed. A mobile node sends to a Home Agent (HA) a first Firewall Detection (FD) packet encapsulated with IP security (IPsec) protocol and a second FD packet encapsulated with the IPsec protocol and User Datagram Payload (UDP) protocol. The mobile node determines whether there is a firewall blocking an IPsec packet between the mobile node and the HA according to a Firewall Detection Reply (FDR) packet from the HA. If there is a firewall, packets are encapsulated with the UDP protocol and binding update and packet exchange are performed; otherwise, binding update and packet exchange are performed. A mobile node for packet transmission is also provided. Embodiments of the present invention enables the mobile node to exchange a packet with a correspondent node when there is a firewall not supporting the IPsec protocol between the mobile node and the HA.
US08015597B2 Disseminating additional data used for controlling access
Issuing and disseminating a data about a credential includes having an entity issue authenticated data indicating that the credential has been revoked, causing the authenticated data to be stored in a first card of a first user, utilizing the first card for transferring the authenticated data to a first door, having the first door store information about the authenticated data, and having the first door rely on information about the authenticated data to deny access to the credential. The authenticated data may be authenticated by a digital signature and the first door may verify the digital signature. The digital signature may be a public-key digital signature. The public key for the digital signature may be associated with the credential. The digital signature may be a private-key digital signature. The credential and the first card may both belong to the first user. The credential may be stored in a second card different from the first card, and the first door may rely on information about the authenticated data by retrieving such information from storage. The authenticated data may be first stored in at least one other card different from the first card and the authenticated data may be transferred from the at least one other card to the first card. The authenticated data may be transferred from the at least one other card to the first card by first being transferred to at least one other door different from the first door.
US08015595B2 Methods and apparatus for negotiating communications within a gaming network
A gaming system may include a gaming security arbiter, and first and second network gaming devices, each including a processor and a memory operatively coupled to the processor. The arbiter controller may be programmed to receive a request from the first network gaming device for a communication session between the first network gaming device and the second network gaming device, to provide a first encryption key to the first network gaming device and to provide a second encryption key to a second network gaming device. The first controller may transmit the request to the gaming security arbiter, receive the first encryption key, encrypt a message using the first encryption key and transmit the encrypted message to the second network gaming device. The second controller may be programmed to receive the second encryption key, receive the encrypted message and decrypt the encrypted message using the second encryption key.
US08015589B2 Distributed presentation software for multiple instantiations in home network
One and only instance of a video service model component (for example, an electronic program guide (EPG) model description) is executed in a home network gateway, with multiple instantiations of a view/controller module associated with the model module being generated, one for each display device seeking to simultaneously display the video service. In this way the functionality of a single video service model is shared in the network without requiring the underlying model module itself to be replicated.
US08015588B2 Method of managing auxiliary programs and a corresponding receiver and system
A method of managing auxiliary programs broadcast with main programs in a digital data stream, wherein the method is implemented by a receiver, involving receiving several digital data streams including the aforementioned digital data stream, detecting data identifying all the auxiliary programs contained in said digital data stream, extracting all the auxiliary programs identified in the stream, and storing all of the auxiliary programs identified and extracted from the digital data stream, wherein the extraction is followed by analyzing execution commands associated with the extracted auxiliary programs.
US08015586B2 Image display method, image display device, and image display program
An image reproduction function for reproducing effectively reproducing image recorded in a storage device in diversified forms is provided. A moving picture obtained from one image pickup device is recorded in a plurality of systems at different frame rates. The recorded moving picture is formed of a plurality of still picture data. When reproducing the recorded moving picture, the still picture data forming a moving picture of either one of the systems are reproduced according to a time axis serving as reference for reproduction of the recorded moving picture.
US08015580B2 Customizing virtual channels in a discovery interface
A unified discovery interface presents broadcast discovery data relating to broadcast content available via a broadcast channel and non-broadcast discovery data relating to non-broadcasting content available via a virtual channel of the unified discovery interface. In one implementation, the virtual channel is customizable via a discovery interface relationship parameter that indicates a relationship of the virtual channel within the unified discovery interface. The unified discovery interface allows a user to select between broadcast media content available via a broadcast channel and non-broadcast media content available via the virtual channel.
US08015576B2 Optical disk drive with protection design against broken disk
An optical disk drive with a protection design against a broken disk comprises the following devices of: a chassis; an upper cover mounted above the chassis; a tray mounted between the chassis and the upper cover for supporting an optical disk; a faceplate mounted on the front end of the upper cover and having a first inclined plane; a door mounted on the front end of the tray and having a second inclined plane with a gap opposite to the first inclined plane for forming an inclined directed channel between the faceplate and the door.
US08015573B2 Input/output device with configuration, fault isolation and redundant fault assist functionality
An I/O device is provided for use in a process control system having a controller operating under a particular version of communication software. The I/O device has a storage device for storing a plurality of potential versions of I/O communication software. An I/O device processor determines the particular version of I/O communication software utilized by the controller and configures the I/O device to operate using a compatible version of I/O communication software stored in the storage device. Further, an I/O device is provided for use in a process control system including a plurality of I/O devices and a controller in communication using a bus. The I/O device has an interface for communicatively linking the I/O device with the bus, where a device processor, upon detection of a potential I/O device fault, severs the communication link provided by the interface with the bus. Additionally, a process control system is provided having a plurality of I/O devices in communication using a bus. A primary redundant device and a secondary redundant device are coupled to the bus, where the secondary redundant device is programmed to detect a primary redundant device fault. The secondary redundant device, upon detecting the primary redundant device fault, publishes a primary redundant device fault message on the bus. The controller may deactivate the primary redundant device and activate the secondary redundant device responsive to the primary redundant device fault message.
US08015572B2 Systems and methods for an extensible software proxy
A system and method for creating a proxy object capable of communication with an external entity, comprising specifying a proxy object definition for the proxy object wherein the proxy object definition defines a first function for communicating with the external entity, specifying at least one implementation class for the proxy object definition, wherein the at least one implementation class does not implement the first function, and wherein the at least one implementation class includes functionality to support one of: proxy object design, software compilation and software execution.
US08015567B2 Advanced processor with mechanism for packet distribution at high line rate
An advanced processor comprises a plurality of multithreaded processor cores each having a data cache and instruction cache. A data switch interconnect is coupled to each of the processor cores and configured to pass information among the processor cores. A messaging network is coupled to each of the processor cores and a plurality of communication ports. In one aspect of an embodiment of the invention, the data switch interconnect is coupled to each of the processor cores by its respective data cache, and the messaging network is coupled to each of the processor cores by its respective message station. Advantages of the invention include the ability to provide high bandwidth communications between computer systems and memory in an efficient and cost-effective manner.
US08015565B2 Preventing livelocks in processor selection of load requests
A method, and apparatus are provided for preventing livelocks in processor selection of load requests in a multiprocessor (MP) system. On random occasions a selection mechanism is changed for first holding up all requests and then a random selection is made. Then a round robin selection mechanism is used for further requests. A livelock-preventing selection mechanism includes a pair of linear feedback shift registers (LFSRs), each LFSR for generating pseudo random values.
US08015562B2 Process for managing virtual machines in a physical processing machine, corresponding processor system and computer program product therefor
A process for managing virtual machines in a physical machine includes the generation of virtual machines and executing operating systems in the virtual machines on top of the physical machine. A virtual machine monitoring function includes the operations of running in privileged mode, operating multiprogramming functions and providing a plurality of virtual machines identical to the physical machine for executing the operating systems.
US08015561B2 System and method for managing memory of Java session objects
A method for managing a session with a client is described in which the method receives from the client a request for the session. The session is handled with a first virtual machine. The method places the session state information for the session into an object located in the first virtual machine's local memory. The method writes into a shared memory an object that contains the session state information. In response to a failure that renders the first virtual machine unable to handle the session, the method reads the object in the shared memory from the shared memory and places it into a second virtual machine's local memory. Lastly, the method receives from the client another request for the session, and handles the another request with the second virtual machine and the session state information.
US08015551B2 Software operation modeling device, software operation monitoring device, software operation modeling method, and software operation monitoring method
The software operation modeling device includes a function call order obtaining unit and a model generator. The function call order obtaining unit obtains or estimates an issuing order of function calls executed in each of specific events in the course of executing software. The model generator statistically grasps a co-occurrence relationship between the specific event and the issuing order of the function calls obtained or estimated by the function call order obtaining unit, and to record the grasped co-occurrence relationship as an operation model of the software.
US08015550B2 Systems and methods for hazards analysis
A system for hazards analysis includes: a memory device for storing a program; a processor in communication with the memory device, the processor operative with the program to: access the memory device to obtain information specifying a system to be analyzed; build functional block diagrams using the information specifying the system to be analyzed; receive user-input hazards analysis elements; and use the functional block diagrams, the user-input hazards analysis elements and tree fault analysis for hazards analysis.
US08015548B2 Method for obtaining context of corresponding Xlet while playing BD-J title
The present invention is to provide a method for enabling Blue-ray Disc Java (BD-J) to effectively obtain context of a corresponding application, namely an Xlet, while playing BD-J title, which comprises the steps of setting up source file attribute of each class by adding an Xlet context ID as an unique code to the class when loading all classes into a cache of the BD-J; looking up back onto a call stack to search for Xlet class of the current BD-J title when searching for Xlet context; and then obtaining the Xlet context through the Xlet context ID according to the source file attribute. Thus, the method of the present invention enables BD-J to normally play the BD-J title in the Blue-ray Disc Read Only Memory (BD-ROM) and, at the same time, effectively improves the playing performance.
US08015545B2 Method for configuring an adapter software component to selectively access software objects and object editor using instance of same
An object editor capable of displaying a set of application software objects, which may include objects with a dynamic reflection capability (“reflective objects”), includes an object oriented configuration model instance (CMI), a generic adapter, and a UI framework. The CMI is particular to the set of application objects to be edited and defines a particular view of these objects to be provided by the editor. The CMI is external to the generic adapter and includes settings that control which application objects will be accessed and the manner of access. The generic adapter reads the de-serialized CMI's current settings, selectively accesses the set of application objects to be edited and their attributes as dictated by the CMI settings, and passes the accessed information to the LII framework for display.
US08015544B1 Model and subsystem function signatures
A system and method enable a user to specify function signatures for automated code generators to generate code based on a model representation. The method for automatically generating a function based on the model representation includes providing at least a portion of the model representation. A function signature is received for the model representation. The function signature is generated by a user. The function is generated based on the model representation and the function signature. A user interface can be provided to enable the user to enter the function signature and also to present a preview of a function that results from the function signature as modifications are made to the function signature. The user can enter the function signature using regular expressions, if desired.
US08015537B1 Automated rate realization for circuit designs within high level circuit implementation tools
A computer-implemented method of automatic rate realization for implementing a circuit design within a programmable integrated circuit can include comparing data rates of clock domains of the circuit design with frequencies of available clock sources of the circuit design and determining which clock domains have data rates that match frequencies of clock sources. For each clock domain that has a data rate matching a frequency of a clock source, loads of the clock domain can be clocked using a multiple synchronous clock technique with the matching clock source. For each clock domain having a data rate that does not match a frequency of a clock source, loads of the clock domain can be clocked using a clock enable technique. The circuit design specifying the clock circuitry for each clock domain can be output.
US08015534B2 Method and apparatus for estimating core size in designing semiconductor integrated circuit
A method, apparatus, and recording medium including computer instructions for estimating the size of a core section of a semiconductor integrated circuit are provided. The method includes calculating a total net length of wires of nets and usable channel length of the core section by referring to circuit information and a layout parameter that are used to design the semiconductor integrated circuit. The method includes determining a size of the core section that satisfies conditions based on total net length and usable channel length.
US08015533B1 Method for matching timing on high fanout signal paths using routing guides
A method, algorithm, software, architecture and/or system for routing signal paths or connections between circuit blocks in a circuit design is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of routing can include: (i) determining a signal path between at least three circuit blocks; (ii) placing a routing guide; and (iii) routing the signal path through the routing guide such that a timing of a signal along the signal path at two or more the circuit blocks is substantially matched. The circuit blocks can include standard cells configured to implement a logic or timing function, other components, and/or integrated circuits, for example. The routing guide can include a splitter configured to branch the signal path into at least two associated segments. Embodiments of the present invention can advantageously improve signal timing for high fanout signal paths between circuit blocks in an automated place-and-route flow.
US08015528B2 Enhanced verification by closely coupling a structural satisfiability solver and rewriting algorithms
A method, system and computer program product are disclosed. The method includes initializing a first variable to limit a rewrite time for rewrite operations with respect to an initial design by a rewriting module, a second variable to limit a time for satisfiability solver operations with respect to said initial design by a satisfiability solver module and a third variable to limit a maximum number of rewrite iterations with respect to said initial design. A timer is called to track said rewrite time and a local logic rewriting operation is run on said initial design with said rewrite module. In response to determining that all of all targets for said initial design netlist are not solved, whether a rewrite time is expired is determined. In response to determining that said rewrite time is not expired, AND refactoring is run. In response to determining that said rewrite time is not expired, XOR refactoring is run.
US08015527B2 Routing of wires of an electronic circuit
The invention relates to a delay calculation method for wiring nets of an electronic circuit, wherein a net within an electronic circuit comprises a driver pin and a receiving pin being coupled by at least one loop, the loop comprising a first branching path and a second branching path electrically parallel to the first branching path, wherein at least a first and a second branching point connect the branching paths. The method comprises the steps of disconnecting each branching path once at a time at a specific point in said the at least one loop which connects a driver to at least one specific receiving pin; calculating a delay value of a signal connection between the driver pin and each of the receiving pin for each of the disconnected branching paths of each loop; storing maximum and/or minimum calculated delay values; and applying at least one of the delay values for static timing analysis of the electronic circuit.
US08015524B1 Method and apparatus for performing incremental delay annotation
A method for designing a system on a target device includes identifying components and routing connections impacted by incremental design changes made to a system design. New information is computed to annotate delays for the components and routing connections identified. Delays previously computed for components and routing connections are utilized to annotate delays for components and routing connections that have not been impacted by the changes made to the system design.
US08015519B2 Verification supporting apparatus, verification supporting method, and computer product
In a verification supporting apparatus, a recording unit records a DIRW matrix in which a state transition possibly occurring in a register of a circuit to be verified and information concerning validity of a path corresponding to the state transition are set and an acquiring unit acquires a control data flow graph that includes a control flow graph having a data flow graph written therein. When a register is designated for verification, a data flow graph having described therein the designated register is extracted from the control data flow graph. From the data flow graph extracted, a path indicating the flow of data concerning the register is extracted. The state transition of the path extracted is identified and if the state transition is determined to be is set in the DIRW matrix, information concerning the validity set in the DIRW matrix and the path are correlated, and output.
US08015518B2 Structures for electrostatic discharge protection for bipolar semiconductor circuitry
A design structure for electrostatic discharge protection comprises a first data representing a first electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit and a second data representing a second ESD protection circuit. A parallel connection of two ESD protection units, each providing a discharge path for electrical charges of opposite types, provides ESD protection circuit for positive and negative voltage swings in the circuit. Each of the multiple emitter-base regions are cascaded such that the base of one emitter-base region is directly wired to the emitter of an adjacent emitter-base region. The first data represents a first ESD protection unit providing protection on one type of voltage swing, and the second data represents a second ESD protection unit providing protection on the other type of voltage swing.
US08015516B2 System and method for creating a logical representation of a functional logic system from a physical representation
A system and method for transforming a physical representation of a functional logic system or sub-system to a logical representation of the same functional logic system or sub-system. One embodiment provides a method comprising loading a physical hardware description language (HDL) representation of the system or creating a physical HDL representation from a physical schematic of the system, identifying the power nets and component blocks, identifying initial conditions on the power nets and component blocks, converting connector blocks to hierarchical IO logical HDL representations, converting appropriate component blocks to logical HDL representations, deleting component blocks appropriate for deletion, and converting resistor components to logical HDL representations.
US08015514B2 Random personalization of chips during fabrication
Disclosed are embodiments of a method for randomly personalizing chips during fabrication, a personalized chip structure and a design structure for such a personalized chip structure. The embodiments use electronic device design and manufacturing processes to randomly or pseudo-randomly create a specific variation in one or more instances of a particular electronic device formed on each chip. The device design and manufacturing processes are tuned so that the specific variation occurs with some predetermined probability, resulting in a desired hardware distribution and personalizing each chip. The resulting personalized chips can be used for modal distribution of chips. For example, chips can be personalized to allow sorting when a single chip design can be used to support multiple applications. The resulting personalized chips can also be used for random number generation for creating unique on-chip identifiers, private keys, etc.
US08015512B2 System for designing mask pattern
The invention is directed to a method for designing an assistant pattern of a mask pattern on a mask. The mask pattern has an assistant pattern arrangement region around a main pattern. The method comprising defining a reverse pattern of the main pattern. The reverse pattern is shrunken to be a first shrunken pattern with a first shrinking proportion and a first margin placed within the assistant pattern arrangement region. The reverse pattern is shrunken to be a second shrunken pattern with a second shrinking proportion and a second margin placed within the assistant pattern arrangement region. The first shrunken pattern and the second shrunken pattern are merged to define an assistant pattern of the mask pattern, wherein the assistant pattern entirely surrounds the main pattern.
US08015508B2 Method for executing user command according to spatial movement of user input device and image apparatus thereof
A method for executing a user command based on spatial movement of a user input device and an image apparatus having the same are provided. According to the method for executing a user command, a user command which is determined based on the spatial movement of the user input device is executed. Accordingly, a method for inputting a user command becomes more diverse and convenient to use, and a more compact user input device may be provided.
US08015505B1 Management of commands generated through user interface dialogs
Systems and techniques manage commands generated through user interface dialogs. In general, in one implementation, commands resulting from interaction with controls of a dialog are received, and first and second commands are distinguished. The first command is held upon receipt to be performed later, and the second command is passed through the dialog to be performed upon receipt. Both of the commands are retained in a command sequence managed by a cancel control of the dialog. The dialog can include a preview control operable to specify whether effects of interaction with the controls are to be previewed. The first command can be subject to the preview control, while the second command is not subject to the preview control. Distinguishing between the commands can involve performing the second command but not the first command when the preview control specifies the effects of interaction are not to be previewed.
US08015504B1 System and method for communicating information over a network
A system and method displays information for a multiple programs, each containing zero or one agent, an application, and zero or more pods. The agent communicates with another device such as a network to retrieve or provide information. Information to or from the agent is displayed by an application in a window that is used by other applications, one application at a time. Information to or from the agent is also displayed in one or more windows, each window dedicated to a single pod, and such window being much smaller than the window displaying information from the application.
US08015498B2 Information display device and image forming apparatus
A display control section 77 causes meta-information (attribute information 73 and function information 75) related to an icon 79 read out at step S14 to be dynamically switching-displayed in a space 81 equivalent to two icons, i.e., a display area of unselected icons, said display area not being required to display thereof any longer, as a result of selecting an icon that fits the intent of a user. Thereby, it becomes possible to display with good visibility the meta-information related to the icon selected by the user, out of a plurality of icons list-displayed on the display screen, while effectively utilizing resources related to the display screen.
US08015495B2 Centrifugal communication and collaboration method
A method of facilitating communications and collaboration of a group of plural remote participants comprises steps of receiving information over an information communications network from a first group participant; pushing, over the network to at least one other group participant, an access via an access channel; and allowing the other group participant to access at least some of the received information via said access channel in response to selective activation of the access channel by the other group participant.
US08015492B2 Icon label placement in a graphical user interface
To improve the art of graphical user interfaces, the present invention introduces a system that displays iconic resource representations having a salient dimension in a manner that provides the user with an indication of where the user is within that resource. The system of the present invention achieves this goal with the use of a novel system of icon label placement for that resource icon. Specifically, the system of the present invention uses the position of a label on an iconic resource representation that extends beyond at least one edge of a window to convey a proportional position within than iconic resource representation. Thus, a user is given an understanding of the current proportional location within an iconic resource representation from where the graphical interface system renders the label on the iconic resource representation.
US08015489B2 Method for adding marks in the page rasterizing process
This invention relates to the field of computer image processing technology, particularly, to a method for adding marks in the process of page rasterizing, which in detail is the method for adding marks on the output medium when description files of pages are output in raster imaging devices. The description files of pages are generally PostScript file, i.e. PS file, and Portable Document Format (PDF) files, i.e. PDF file. The prior art has disadvantages of poor compatibility, slow speed and the like. The present recognizes adding various marks to description files of pages in the process of page rasterizing in an RIP, thereby it is possible to add marks to any of PS files and PDF files without pre-scanning the description files of pages, and obtain good flexibility and compatibility substantially without effects on speed.
US08015481B2 Method for generating source code in a procedural, re-entrant-compatible programming language using a spreadsheet representation
A method for operating a computer which has access to data of a database, is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: creating a spreadsheet using a table calculation program; defining logic operations between various cells of the spreadsheet; defining an assignment of the data from the database to the cells of the spreadsheet; and generating a source code of a procedural, re-entrant-compatible programming language from the spreadsheet, which when called, reads data from the database, executes a logic operation on it and outputs the result of the logic operation. Also disclosed is a method for generating source code in a procedural, re-entrant-compatible programming language from a spreadsheet representation, wherein a source code is generated from a representation of algorithms and/or data in one or more spreadsheets in such a way that cell areas with the same formula structure are mapped onto one or more methods of the programming language.
US08015478B2 Data processing
A non-transitory computer readable medium includes a computer program, which when executed by a processor performs a method, the method including processing a data message to extract segments of data and computing a checksum by applying gray code conversions to one or more of the data segments, wherein only one bit changes on each count when consecutive integers are represented as bits. The method further includes extracting remaining data segments and adding bitwise to the previously calculated gray code checksum to provide the next checksum, converting the next checksum to gray code, and adding a final gray code conversion to a final data message including all remaining data segments and transmitting the final data message.
US08015475B2 Erasure decoding for receivers
A system comprising communication logic capable of receiving data signals from a network. The signals comprise both erasure error and random error. The system also comprises processing logic coupled to the communication logic and adapted to partition parity check bytes of the received signals into a first portion and a second portion. The processing logic uses the first portion for random error correction and the second portion for erasure error correction.
US08015470B2 Apparatus and method for decoding bursts of coded information
A decoding circuit includes a mixed modulation memory access circuit responsive to burst rejection information. The mixed modulation memory access circuit selectively accesses burst memory locations containing a valid burst of coded bits. The mixed modulation memory access circuit selectively avoids accessing burst memory locations containing a rejected burst of coded bits based on the burst rejection information. In one example, the mixed modulation memory access circuit accesses the valid burst when the burst rejection information indicates that the memory location contains valid bursts. In one example, the mixed modulation memory access circuit generates zero confidence information when the burst rejection information indicates that the memory location contains rejected bursts.
US08015468B2 Channel estimation and fixed thresholds for multi-threshold decoding of low-density parity check codes
A method and apparatus are provided for error correction of a communication signal. A multiple fixed threshold scheme for iteratively decoding a received codeword includes making a comparison with a threshold to generate a reconstructed version of the received codeword. The threshold has at least two different values that at used during different iterations. The values of the threshold are fixed having been determined prior to decoding. In an embodiment, the fixed thresholds may be based on values for channel parameters and may be selected by a decoder that receives information regarding the channel parameter from a channel estimation unit monitoring the communication channel. Embodiments include decoding methods and apparatus using a threshold having two of more fixed values during the iterative decoding.
US08015464B2 Segmented scan paths with cache bit memory inputs
Scan and Scan-BIST architectures are commonly used to test digital circuitry in integrated circuits. The present disclosure improves upon low power Scan and Scan-BIST methods. The improvement allows the low power Scan and Scan-BIST architectures to achieve a delay test capability equally as effective as the delay test capabilities used in conventional scan and Scan-BIST architectures.
US08015460B2 Test mode for parallel load of address dependent data to enable loading of desired data backgrounds
One or more embodiments of the invention enable a memory device to load its memory array with desired background data, such as to reduce total test time and costs associated with testing. A background data loading circuit according to one embodiment of the invention includes a buffer, a data loading circuit, and a pattern generating logic. The buffer is coupled to the array of memory cells. The data loading circuit is coupled to load data into the buffer to be transferred to a respective row of the memory cells. The pattern generating logic is coupled to the data loading circuit. The pattern generating logic applies a pattern generating algorithm corresponding to a test mode when the memory devices is in the test mode and generates patterns of data each for a respective row of the memory cells according to the pattern generating algorithm. The pattern generating logic further causes the data loading circuit to load each of the generated patterns of data into the buffer for transferring to a respective row of the memory cells.
US08015458B2 Fault isolation in interconnect systems
A loopback connector for a system can include a connector arrangement connectable to connector of a system component and/or a cable. The loopback connector can include loopback logic for simulating cable and/or system component functionality. In an example implementation the loopback connector can also operate to protect a system component and/or cable connector during shipping.
US08015457B2 Redundancy circuit and semiconductor memory device
Disclosed is a circuit for deciding whether or not a plural number of redundancy ROM circuits have been programmed in a preset order, with regards to addresses. In at least one of first to n-th redundancy memory circuits, an address to be substituted by a redundant address is recorded and a redundancy selection signal is output when an access address is coincident with the programmed address. It is presupposed that repair addresses are programmed from the first to the n-th redundancy ROM circuits in an ascending order with regards to address. If it is detected under this condition that a redundancy selection signal has been output from the i+1'st redundancy memory circuit while no redundancy selection signal is being output from the i-th redundancy memory circuit, an SR flip-flop is set and the sequence of the substitution decision outputs is decided to be a reversed sequence.
US08015453B2 System and method for correcting errors in downloading web pages
A system and method for correcting errors in downloading web pages provides a historic error resolving procedure and a common error resolving procedure. The historic error resolving procedure is for storing a download error and debugging solutions corresponding to the download error. The download error includes error positions and error types. The common error resolving procedure stores predefined error types and corresponding debugging solutions. If the download error of an error does not exist in the historic error resolving procedure, the common error resolving procedure is searched for the error types and corresponding debugging solutions. If the error type does not exist in the common error resolving procedure, an administrator is prompted to provide a new debugging solution to solve the error, and the new debugging solution is stored into the historic error resolving procedure.
US08015452B2 Flexible bus architecture for monitoring and control of battery pack
The present invention provides a control system which is used for a stacked battery of a plurality of battery packs. Each battery pack has a plurality of battery cells coupled in series. The control system is capable of reconfiguring communication among the battery packs in the stacked battery, and comprises a plurality of processors, a plurality of controllers, and a monitoring unit. The processors are coupled to the battery packs. Two adjacent processors among the processors are able to communicate with each other though a first bus. The controllers are coupled to the battery packs. Two adjacent controllers among the controllers are able to communicate with each other through a second bus. The processors are capable of communicating with the controllers through a third bus. The monitoring unit is used for monitoring communications among the plurality of processors and communications among the plurality of controllers. The monitoring unit is capable of detecting communication problems on the first bus and/or the second bus. The monitoring unit further is capable of reconfiguring communication paths among the plurality of processors and communication path among the plurality of controllers.
US08015451B2 Controlling an unreliable data transfer in a data channel
Controlling an unreliable data transfer in a data channel from a transmitting unit to a receiving unit. A bypass mode or a buffer mode is activated depending on the error rate in the data channel. If bypass mode is selected, data packets are directly transferred in probation from the transmitting unit to the receiving unit by a bypass line. The data packets are error checked after the data transfer. If buffer mode is selected, data is transfer from the transmitting unit to the receiving unit by a buffer line via an error detecting and correcting unit and a buffer unit. The errors are detected and corrected during the data transfer.
US08015450B1 Systems and methods for detecting and automatically installing missing software components
Computer-implemented methods and systems for detecting and automatically installing missing software components are disclosed. In one example, an exemplary method for performing such a task may comprise: 1) detecting a failed attempt by a process to load a shared object, 2) identifying the shared object requested in the failed attempt, 3) automatically obtaining the shared object from a network-accessible storage device, 4) installing the shared object on the computing device, and then 5) successfully loading the shared object.
US08015449B2 Computer, and method for error-detecting and booting of BIOS thereof
A computer has a first BIOS unit, a second BIOS unit, a bus, a detecting unit, and a first delay unit. The detecting unit is connected to the bus, the first BIOS unit, and the second BIOS unit operationally. In addition, the first delay unit is electrically connected to the detecting unit for controlling the detecting unit to check a status of a bus signal on the bus after a predetermined delay time. Accordingly, the detecting unit may enable the first BIOS unit or the second BIOS unit to boot the computer system according to the state of the bus signal.
US08015445B2 Fault location device, communication device, and fault location method
A fault location device detects a communication device connected to a broken communication line from among communication devices that carry out communications between each other through a two-wire communication line. The communication device, when detecting a communication error, stores communication error time and a communication error counter accumulated value indicating accumulated counts of the communication error, changes into a bus off state on the basis of the communication error counter accumulated value, and, after a predetermined period of time, returns from the bus off state. The fault location device includes an acquisition unit that acquires the communication error time and communication error counter accumulated value, stored in each communication device; and a detection unit that detects a communication device connected to a broken communication line on the basis of variations in the communication error counter accumulated values while any one of the communication devices is in a bus off state.
US08015440B2 Apparatus, system, and method for data storage using progressive raid
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for data storage with progressive redundant array of independent drives (“RAID”). A storage request receiver module, a striping module, a parity-mirror module, and a parity progression module are included. The storage request receiver module receives a request to store data of a file or of an object. The striping module calculates a stripe pattern for the data. The stripe pattern includes one or more stripes, and each stripe includes a set of N data segments. The striping module writes the N data segments to N storage devices. Each data segment is written to a separate storage device within a set of storage devices assigned to the stripe. The parity-mirror module writes a set of N data segments to one or more parity-mirror storage devices within the set of storage devices. The parity progression module calculates a parity data segment on each parity-mirror device in response to a storage consolidation operation, and stores the parity data segments. The storage consolidation operation is conducted to recover storage space and/or data on a parity-minor storage device.
US08015439B2 Method for handling more than a maximum number of supported drives in a raid configuration
The present invention is a method for handling disk drives in a Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks (RAID) configuration. The method may include detecting a disk drive received via insertion of the disk drive in a disk drive slot of an enclosure of the RAID configuration. Prior to the disk drive being received, it may be that fewer than a maximum number of supported disk drives are configured. It may also be the case that, after the disk drive is received, no more than the maximum number of supported drives are in-place within the enclosure of the RAID configuration. In such instances, and when the insertion is a cold insertion into an empty disk drive slot, the method may further include marking the disk drive as Un-configured good alias Ready. Further, if the disk drive is inserted into a missing disk drive slot and has a smaller storage capacity than that of the replaced disk drive previously in place within the missing disk drive slot, the method may further include marking the disk drive as FAIL. Still further, if the disk drive is inserted into a missing disk drive slot and has the same storage capacity or larger storage capacity than the replaced disk drive, the method may further include marking the disk drive as FAIL or RBLD based on an Auto Rebuild flag.
US08015435B2 Data writing method
According to an aspect of an embodiment, a method for controlling a controller connected to a plurality of storage units storing data, the controller including a cache and a buffer, the method comprising the steps of: storing data in the cache; generating parity data corresponding to the data and storing the parity data in the buffer; writing the data and the parity data into the plurality of the storage units; comparing the parity data stored in the buffer with the parity data written into and read out from at least one of the storage unit; deleting, when the parity data stored in the buffer is different from the parity data read out from the storage unit, the parity data from the buffer; and regenerating parity data from data stored in the cache and rewriting the regenerated parity data into at least one of the storage unit.
US08015434B2 Management apparatus, storage system, and storage apparatus management method
There is provided a management apparatus of a storage apparatus. The management apparatus includes an acquisition determination section that determines whether predetermined identification information can be acquired or not from a mounting apparatus that mounts at least one storage apparatus and has at least one predetermined identification information assigned thereto, and a failure determination section that determines, based on a determination result of the acquisition determination section, an access failure to the storage apparatus mounted in the mounting apparatus has been caused due to a failure of the storage apparatus itself or an interruption of a power supply to the mounting apparatus.
US08015430B1 Using asset dependencies to identify the recovery set and optionally automate and/or optimize the recovery
In one embodiment, a computer accessible medium stores a plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed: track dependencies among a plurality of assets; and responsive to an identification of an asset for potential recovery (the “selected asset”), identify an asset dependency set corresponding to the selected asset. The asset dependency set comprises at least a subset of the plurality of assets, wherein each asset in the subset has a dependency with the selected asset. In some embodiments, one or more of the following may be provided: tracking asset dependencies and presenting the asset dependency set to the user; pruning the asset dependency set to a recovery set identifying the asset dependency set; generating the recovery order (optionally optimized); initiating the recovery according to the recovery order; performing recovery steps; generating the recovery plan and/or executing recovery plans.
US08015427B2 System and method for prioritization of clock rates in a multi-core processor
A system and method for prioritization of clock rates in a multi-core processor is provided. Instruction arrival rates are measured during a time interval Ti−1 to Ti by a monitoring module either internal to the processor or operatively interconnected with the processor. Using the measured instruction arrival rates, the monitoring module calculates an optimal instruction arrival rate for each core of the processor. For processors that support continuous frequency changes for cores, each core is then set to an optimal service rate. For processors that only support a discrete set of arrival rates, the optimal rates are mapped to a closest supported rate and the cores are set to the closest supported rate. This procedure is then repeated for each time interval.
US08015426B2 System and method for providing voltage power gating
A system and method for providing voltage power gating. The system includes a device for providing voltage power gating. The device includes logic circuitry, a mechanism for receiving a control signal associated with the logic circuitry and a selector. The control signal indicates an active state or an idle state of the logic circuitry. The selector enables a power source to the logic circuitry in response to the control signal indicating the active state. The selector also disables the power source to the logic circuitry in response to the control signal indicating the idle state. Thus, the power source is dynamically eliminated from the logic circuitry on the device when it is in the idle state.
US08015424B2 Portable information processing apparatus and method of the same
The present invention relates to a portable information apparatus which can realize electrical power for a longer period of time. Under the condition that the suspending mode is set, when an exclusive key is manipulated, a switch monitoring circuit detects this condition and issues an interruption to the CPU. In this timing, the CPU supplies the necessary electrical power to the CD-ROM controller, CD-ROM drive and audio circuit which are required for reproduction of CD. Thereby, a CD can be reproduced under the suspending mode.
US08015421B2 Power saving apparatus and method for a portable appliance
A power saving apparatus for a portable appliance includes a sensor unit and a control unit. When the portable appliance is raised up, the sensor unit presents a first sensor mode, and then the control unit outputs a first control signal to command the portable appliance to enter into power saving mode which prevents the damages of electronic elements and of the data caused by the vibration from the raise of the portable appliance.
US08015420B2 System and method for power management of a storage enclosure
A system and method for power management of storage enclosures are disclosed. A system may include a storage enclosure and a host communicatively coupled to the storage enclosure. The storage enclosure may include at least one storage resource and a management module. The host may be configured to: (a) communicate data to the at least one storage resource via a particular transmission protocol; (b) communicate a power down command via the particular transmission protocol to the storage enclosure, the power down command operable to transition the storage enclosure from a high-power state to a low-power state; and (c) communicate a power up command via the particular transmission protocol to the storage enclosure, the power up command operable to transition the storage enclosure from the low-power state to the high-power state.
US08015412B2 Authentication of an object
A method of authenticating an object is disclosed. Coded data portions are provided on a surface of the object. Each coded data portion encodes a position of coded data portion on the surface, an identity associated with the object and a signature fragment. The signature fragment is a fragment of a digital signature of at least part of the identity associated with the object. Next, indicating data is received from a sensing device in response to the sensing device sensing coded data portions. The indicating data is representative of the data encoded in the coded data portions sensed by the sensing device. From the indicating data the identity associate with the object, a plurality of signature fragments encoded in respective coded data portions, and the position of respective coded data portions are determined. A signature fragment identifier for respective signature fragments is determined from the respective positions. Also, a determined signature is determined by arranging the signature fragments according to their respective signature fragment identifiers. The determined signature is decrypted to obtain a determined identity. The object is authenticated by comparing the identity to the determined identity.
US08015411B2 Active watermarks and watermark agents
Techniques for protecting the security of digital representations and of analog forms made from them, including a technique for authenticating an analog form produced from the digital representation, an active watermark that contains program code that may be executed when the watermark is read, and a watermark agent that reads watermarks and sends messages with information concerning the digital representations that contain the watermarks. A watermark agent may be a permanent resident of a node in a network or of a device or it may move from one network node to another. The watermark agent executes code which examines digital representations residing in the node or device for watermarked digital representations that are of interest to the watermark agent. The watermark agent then sends messages which report the results of its examination of the digital representations. If the watermarks are active, the agent and the active watermark may cooperate.
US08015409B2 Authentication for licensing in an embedded system
An industrial automation system is provided. This includes at least one license component that is granted by a third party to permit access to a portion of an industrial control component. At least one protocol component that is based in part on a private key exchange facilitates authentication and access to the portion of the industrial control component.
US08015405B2 Proving apparatus and verification apparatus applied to deniable zero-knowledge interactive proof
The present invention enables deniable zero-knowledge interactive proof to be performed with low amounts of communications and calculations by utilizing a method of a special honest verifier zero-knowledge interactive proof when such method is given. The verification apparatus generates a commitment of a challenge value with respect to a predetermined relationship and transmits the commitment of the challenge value to the proving apparatus, which determines whether or not a required relationship using the commitment of the challenge value holds, and stops its operation if such relationship does not hold. The proving apparatus causes the proof commitment generation apparatus to generate a proof commitment and transmits the proof commitment to the verification apparatus, which transmits a challenge value and a random number to the proving apparatus. The ladder transmits a response to the verification apparatus which determines acceptance or non-acceptance of the proof through communications with the interactive proof verification apparatus.
US08015404B2 System and method for collecting traffic data using probe vehicles
A system and method for authenticating the source and ensuring the integrity of traffic data collected from probe vehicles while maintaining the privacy of the data's source. This is accomplished by dividing the traffic analysis functionality into two distinct responsibilities: data collection, including authentication and verification, and data processing, and assigning each responsibility to a different entity, such the first entity has access to authentication information which identifies the data's source but not to traffic information such as the source's location, and the second entity has access to the traffic information but not to the authentication information which identifies the data's source.
US08015403B2 Method and system indicating a level of security for VoIP calls through presence
In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention, a method for providing security information associated with a prospective communication session to a user includes providing at least one communication network for the establishment of a prospective communication session between a first network device and a second network device. A security rating is assigned to the prospective communication session, and security information is provided to a user associated with the first network device that includes the security rating.
US08015401B2 Authentication of data transmitted in a digital transmission system
A method of authenticating data transmitted in a digital transmission system, in which the method comprises the steps, prior to transmission, of determining at least two encrypted values for at least some of the data, each encrypted value being determined using a key of a respective encryption algorithm, and outputting said at least two encrypted values with said data.
US08015400B2 Certificate management and transfer system and method
A method and system for Certificate management and transfer between messaging clients are disclosed. When communications are established between a first messaging client and a second messaging client, one or more Certificates stored on the first messaging client may be selected and transferred to the second messaging client. Messaging clients may thereby share Certificates. Certificate management functions such as Certificate deletions, Certificate updates and Certificate status checks may also be provided.
US08015395B1 Computer having reconfigurable field programmable gate array
A personal computer and methods of reconfiguration are described. An implementation of a personal computer may comprise a processor portion running a diagnostic application. A field programmable gate array in communication with the processor portion may be provided. A configurable non-volatile computer memory in communication with the field programmable gate array and wherein the field programmable gate array is programmed to reconfigure the non-volatile computer memory may be provided. Methods of reconfiguration of a personal computer are provided.
US08015391B2 Simultaneous multiple thread processor increasing number of instructions issued for thread detected to be processing loop
A processor simultaneously issues instructions to multiple threads in a same instruction execution cycle. An instruction issuer controls issuance of an instruction for each of the multiple threads. A detector detects, for each of the multiple threads, whether a loop processing is currently being executed. A unit causes the instruction issuer to increase a number of instructions to be issued when the detector detects that the loop processing is currently being executed.
US08015386B1 Configurable memory manager
A configurable memory manager is configurable with various configuration parameters. The configurable memory manager has client ports for receiving requests for accessing memories and memory ports for accessing respective memories. The client and memory ports are each independently configurable to specify the parameter of a data width of the port. The configurable memory manager includes a switch and a translator. The translator translates a virtual address in each of the requests into an identifier of one of the memories and a physical address in the memory. The switch transfers each request from the client port receiving the request to the memory port for accessing the memory identified by the identifier for the virtual address in the request.
US08015384B2 Memory hub architecture having programmable lane widths
A processor-based system includes a processor coupled to a system controller through a processor bus. The system controller is used to couple at least one input device, at least one output device, and at least one data storage device to the processor. Also coupled to the processor bus is a memory hub controller coupled to a memory hub of at least one memory module having a plurality of memory devices coupled to the memory hub. The memory hub is coupled to the memory hub controller through a downstream bus and an upstream bus. The downstream bus has a width of M bits, and the upstream bus has a width of N bits. Although the sum of M and N is fixed, the individual values of M and N can be adjusted during the operation of the processor-based system to adjust the bandwidths of the downstream bus and the upstream bus.
US08015381B2 Computer system, data migration monitoring method and data migration monitoring program
A management computer monitors an allocated capacity of a source virtual volume and an allocated capacity of a virtual pool having a storage area allocated to a destination virtual volume in a storage, judges whether the allocated capacity of the source virtual volume can be covered in the virtual pool or not, and informs the user of a result that data migration fails when the allocated capacity of the source virtual volume cannot be covered. When the allocated capacity of the source virtual volume cannot be covered, the management computer uses another storage area to increase the capacity of the virtual pool. Accordingly, when data migration is performed between the virtual volumes, capacities of physical areas allocated to the source virtual volume and the destination virtual volume can be grasped so that the data migration can be performed accurately between the source virtual volume and the destination virtual volume.
US08015380B2 Launching multiple concurrent memory moves via a fully asynchronoous memory mover
A data processing system has an asynchronous memory mover, which includes multiple sets of registers for storing addressing and control parameters utilized to generate one or more asynchronous memory move (AMM) operations. The memory mover detects a receipt of a first set of parameters in a first set of registers from the processor. The processor forwards the parameters after the processor initiates a data move in virtual address space, utilizing a source effective address and a destination effective address. The memory mover responds to receiving the first set of parameters by generating and launching a first asynchronous memory move (AMM) operation. When the memory mover receives a second set of parameters in a second set of registers before the first AMM operation completes, the memory mover generates and launches a second AMM operation concurrently with the first AMM operation if no address conflicts exist.
US08015378B2 Updating memory contents of a processing device
A method of updating memory content stored in a memory of a processing device, the memory comprising a plurality of addressable memory blocks, the memory content being protected by a current integrity protection data item stored in the processing device, the method comprising determining a first subset of memory blocks that require an update, and a second subset of memory blocks that remain unchanged by said updating; calculating, as parallel processes, a first and a second integrity protection data item over the memory blocks; wherein the first integrity protection data item is calculated over the current memory contents of the first and second subsets of memory blocks; and wherein the second integrity protection data item is calculated over the current memory contents of the second subset of memory blocks and the updated memory block contents of the first subset of memory blocks.
US08015369B2 Updating data entries stored on a data storage unit from an authority
A method of updating a data entry stored on a data storage unit, the data entry including data elements that are unique to the data storage unit and the data entry, may begin with generating, at the data storage unit, an update request that includes the data entry for transmission to an authority authorized to update the data entry. The authority then extracts extracting at the authority the unique data elements from the update request and verifies the authenticity of the data storage unit and data entry from the unique data elements. The authority then generates an updated data entry including a further data element unique to the updated data entry and derived from the updated data. The authority then transmits the updated data entry to the data storage unit. The method may then include storing the updated data entry on the data storage unit.
US08015361B2 Memory-centric page table walker
The page table walker is moved from its conventional location in the memory management unit associated with the data processor to a location in main memory i.e. the main memory controller. As a result, an implementation is provided wherein the processing of requests for data could selectively avoid or bypass cumbersome caches associated with the data processor.
US08015359B1 Method and system for utilizing a common structure for trace verification and maintaining coherency in an instruction processing circuit
An instruction processing circuit for a processor is disclosed. The instruction processing circuit is adapted to provide one or more sequence of operations, based on one or more sequence of instructions, to an execution unit of the processor. The instruction processing circuit comprises at least one cache circuit and the processing circuit includes a sequencer and a page translation buffer coupled to the sequencer for trace verification and maintaining coherency between a memory and the at least one cache.
US08015358B2 System bus structure for large L2 cache array topology with different latency domains
A cache memory which loads two memory values into two cache lines by receiving separate portions of a first requested memory value from a first data bus over a first time span of successive clock cycles and receiving separate portions of a second requested memory value from a second data bus over a second time span of successive clock cycles which overlaps with the first time span. In the illustrative embodiment a first input line is used for loading both a first byte array of the first cache line and a first byte array of the second cache line, a second input line is used for loading both a second byte array of the first cache line and a second byte array of the second cache line, and the transmission of the separate portions of the first and second memory values is interleaved between the first and second data busses.
US08015357B2 Storage array tile supporting systolic movement operations
A tile for use in a tiled storage array provides re-organization of values within the tile array without requiring sophisticated global control. The tiles operate to move a requested value to a front-most storage element of the tile array according to a global systolic clock. The previous occupant of the front-most location is moved or swapped backward according to the systolic clock, and the new occupant is moved forward according to the systolic clock, according to the operation of the tiles, while providing for multiple in-flight access requests within the tile array. The placement heuristic that moves the values is determined according to the position of the tiles within the array and the behavior of the tiles. The movement of the values can be performed via only next-neighbor connections of adjacent tiles within the tile array.
US08015355B1 System and method for managing hard lock state information in a distributed storage system environment
Apparatus and method are disclosed for managing lock state information in a distributed file system. A set of data containers storing data is maintained. The data containers are striped across a plurality of volumes, where each volume includes one or more data storage devices. A metadata volume is maintained with the plurality of volumes, the metadata volume configured to include a lock state database that stores lock state information for the plurality of volumes. The lock state information is communicated between the metadata volume and the plurality of volumes.
US08015354B2 Information processor, virtual disk managing method, and computer-readable recording medium that records device driver
The present invention claims and discloses an information processor comprising: an auxiliary storing unit that has at least one and preferably two auxiliary storage devices in which at least three distributable virtual disks are formed so as to be distributed; a disk array control unit that controls the at least three distributable virtual disks that designate one of disk control modes; a CB storing unit that stores a control block in each virtual disk that includes but is not limited to first designation information for designating the disk control mode and second designation information for designating an auxiliary storage; and a device driver unit that generates control information of the disk array control unit including but not limited to the first designation information and the second designation information and that transmits the control information to the disk array control unit based on a request for accessing any of the at least three distributable virtual disks and a control block corresponding to the requested virtual disk.
US08015353B2 Method for automatic RAID configuration on data storage media
A method of configuring a virtual disk for an information handling system is disclosed. The method comprises embedding a data structure onto a data storage medium prior to installing the medium into an information handling system. The data structure makes up a default policy for configuration of a RAID container using the data storage medium and is recognizable by a controller. When the controller identifies the data structure the controller will read the data structure and configure the medium having the structure into a virtual disk such as a RAID container.
US08015350B2 Block level quality of service data in a data storage device
Method and apparatus for using block level quality of service (QOS) data in a data storage device. A memory space is provided with a plurality of physical data storage blocks, such as data sectors on a magnetic disc. The QOS data identify at least one QOS characteristic for each of the available blocks. Transfers of user data between the blocks and a host device are preferably carried out in relation to the QOS data. In some preferred embodiments, the QOS data identifies a certification state for each of the blocks. In this way, the device is manufactured with less than all of the blocks having been successfully certified, and the remaining blocks are certified by the device during field use. In other preferred embodiments, the QOS data include a virus scan status, an access history, a write status, or an overlapped track indication for each said block.
US08015346B2 Memory system having hybrid density memory and methods for wear-leveling management and file distribution management thereof
The present invention discloses a memory system having a hybrid density memory. The memory system includes a plurality of storage spaces whereby the storage spaces have respective levels of endurance and each storage space has a plurality of blocks and pre-determined weighting factors corresponding to the levels of endurance of the storage spaces. After executing a command of erasing a specific block, the system records the erase in accordance with the weighting factor of the storage space to which the specific block belongs. Whereby, the erase counts of all the blocks of different storage spaces are able to reach respective levels of endurance as simultaneously as possible.
US08015345B2 Optimized flash memory access method and device
A method for accessing a non volatile memory device including at least one group or sector of memory cells divided into regions programmable with two different data storage densities and accessible with at least two reading modes, for example a two-level mode and a multilevel mode. The memory regions are being organized into pages including a sub-group of memory cells for storing error correction codes of the data stored in the multilevel mode. The method includes providing at the beginning of each page at least one first cell wherein the information concerning the ECC protection or not of the whole page is to be stored. In the sub-group of cells at least one second cell intended for the storage of information concerning the programmed or erased state of the same page is provided. The content of the first and of the second cell is read before accessing, in programming, the corresponding page of the memory region.
US08015344B2 Apparatus and method for processing data of flash memory
Provided are an apparatus and method for processing data of flash memory. The apparatus includes a user requesting unit to request a data operation using a predetermined logical address, a transformation unit to transform the logical address into a physical address, and a control unit to record count data counting the number of predetermined bits of data, in an index region to indicate whether the data is valid when conducting the data operation.
US08015342B2 Method of managing and restoring identifier of storage device and apparatus therefor
A method of managing and restoring an identifier of a storage device and an apparatus therefor are provided. The method includes the operations of generating a storage device identifier; recording the storage device identifier in a non-volatile memory of a host; generating an identifier file including the storage device identifier and a host identifier; and recording the identifier file in the storage device. By doing so, the method and apparatus can efficiently and securely manage the storage device.
US08015338B2 Electronic device with card interface
When initializing a card-shaped device inserted in a card interface, operation mode acquiring means incorporated in an electronic device acquires operation mode information, stored in a register file incorporated in the card-shaped device, by a predetermined procedure using a predetermined pin. Operation mode setting means incorporated in the electronic device executes signal assignment on a plurality of data pins peculiar to an operation mode indicated by the acquired operation mode information, thereby switching a data transfer width, and allowing the card-shaped device to operate in the operation mode.
US08015328B2 Information storage device, information processing system, and setting method of data transfer mode of information processing device
An information storage device includes a storage that stores transfer data from an information processing device, the information storage device being removably connected to the information processing device, a switch unit that switches a data transfer mode of the information processing device in accordance with manipulation by a user, and a controller that controls the information processing device to transfer data in a mode in which data temporarily stored in a data storing area is transferred to the storage or in a mode in which data is transferred to the storage without being temporarily stored in the data storing area in accordance with the selection of the data transfer mode by the switch unit.
US08015326B2 Central processing apparatus, control method therefor and information processing system
A plurality of system controllers 300 each comprising a memory medium 400 and an I/O device 500 under the control of the system controller 300 are connected to a CPU node 100 by way of a plurality of system buses 200. The CPU node 100 executes a memory interleave for distributing memory accesses to the system buses 200 (i.e., the system controllers 300). In performing an I/O access to the I/O device 500, the CPU node 100 firstly inquires from a representative system controller 300 (SC0) as to which system bus 200 (i.e., a system controller 300) has a target I/O device 500 and then executes an actual I/O access to the system bus 200 returned in a response from the SC0. Even when the CPU node 100 executes a memory interleave in the case of a memory-mapped I/O, the CPU node 100 is not required to manage the location information of the I/O device 500.
US08015317B2 Method, system and computer-readable medium for conducting domain name service
A method for conducting Internet domain name service to users connected to the Internet comprises an automated procedure for transferring Internet domain name service from a domain name owner to a domain name manager. This method further comprises Internet sub-domain name services to prospective buyers based on domain names transferred to the domain name manager. Messages requesting domain name service, including requests from domain name owners to sub-license their particular domain name to prospective sub-domain name buyers and from prospective sub-domain name buyers to license available sub-domain names, are received and responded to by an automated domain name management system. This automated domain name management system further comprises an interactive website which includes a database, search engine, and Web server.
US08015307B2 System and method for streaming media
The system and method for streaming media to a viewer and managing the media comprises and an enhanced service routing processor (ESRP), a real time switch management system (RTSMS), a name routing processor (NRP), and a managed media switch (MMS). The system and method operate with a reservation server. The ESRP receives media from an owner, manages the media according to media rules and order rules defined by the owner, and distributes the media to one or more switches, such as the MMS, according to the media rules and the order rules. The RTSMS is configured to receive the media rules and to receive a viewer's media request via the reservation server. The RTSMS processes the media request according to the media rules and builds a reservation for the requested media. The RTSMS generates the reservation to the viewer and to the NRP. The NRP receives the reservation data from the viewer and from the RTSMS. The NRP processes the reservation data and locates an MMS that can stream the media to the viewer. The NRP transmits the IP address of the MMS to the viewer and transmits the reservation data to the MMS. The viewer initiates a session or connection with the MMS using the reservation number. If the reservation data from the viewer matches the reservation data from the NRP, the MMS streams the media to the viewer.
US08015306B2 Method and apparatus for synchronizing playback of streaming media in multiple output devices
A method and apparatus for synchronizing streaming media with multiple output devices. One or more media servers serve media streams to one or more output devices (i.e., players). For playback synchronization, one output device is the “master”, whereas the remaining output devices are “slaves”. More data is requested from the media server by the “master” device to maintain a nominal buffer fill level over time. The “slave” devices receive streamed data from the media server at the rate determined by the master device's data requests, and the average rate of data flow over the streaming network is thus controlled by the frequency of the single “master” device's crystal. “Slave” devices make playback rate corrections to maintain respective buffer fill levels within upper and lower threshold levels. For slow networks, each media data packet timestamp is calculated from the time the master's buffer reaches nominal level.
US08015305B1 System and method for implementing a session initiation protocol feature
A method for implementing a SIP feature includes, in particular embodiments, establishing a communication session via a communications platform between a first and second user and receiving a request from a third user to join the communication session. The second and third users are from a plurality of users using a shared line. The method further includes integrating communications of the third user into the communication session. In particular embodiments the method includes establishing a communication session between a first and second user via a communications platform. The method also includes receiving a select request that locks the communication session so that a third user cannot resume the communication session with the first user. In particular embodiments the method includes receiving a request from a first user of a shared line to enable a privacy feature that reduces call information generated by the communications platform in remote state notifications.
US08015304B2 Method to distribute speech resources in a media server
A method and a system for distributing media processing resources. A first request formatted in accordance with a first protocol can be received from a client requesting a media processing resource. The first request can be morphed into a second request that is formatted in accordance with a second protocol. Further, a media processing resource can be selected from a plurality of available media processing resources, and the second request can be forwarded to the selected media processing resource in accordance with the second protocol.
US08015303B2 High data rate stateful protocol processing
A method, system, and apparatus for processing messages according to one or more stateful protocols in a data communication system. Messages belonging to various communication flows (such as TCP transport layer “connections”) are processed according to a selected stateful protocol. Messages belonging to a single unified flow are distributed among different protocol processing cores (PPCs) at different times. Assignment of flows to PPCs is typically modifiable at the level of specific individual flows, permitting flexible load balancing between PPCs. The architecture of the system facilitates the method by providing a mix of pipelined and parallel processing structures.
US08015301B2 Policy and attribute based access to a resource
Techniques are provided for controlling access to a resource based on access policies and attributes. A principal issues a request to a service for purposes of accessing a resource. The principal is authenticated and a service contract for the principal, the service, and the resource is generated. The service contract defines resource access policies and attributes which can be permissibly performed by the service on behalf of the principal during a session. Moreover, the session between the service and the resource is controlled by the service contract.
US08015298B2 Load-balancing cluster
A load-balancing cluster includes a switch having a plurality of ports; and a plurality of servers connected to at least some of the plurality of ports of the switch. Each server is addressable by the same virtual Internet Protocol (VIP) address. Each server in the cluster has a mechanism constructed and adapted to respond to connection requests at the VIP by selecting one of the plurality of servers to handle that connection, wherein the selecting is based, at least in part, on a given function of information used to request the connection; and a firewall mechanism constructed and adapted to accept all requests for the VIP address for a particular connection only on the server that has been selected to handle that particular connection. The selected server determines whether it is responsible for the request and may hand it off to another cluster member.
US08015295B2 Communication system, communication device, program and communication method
In a communication system comprising a communication device and a reproduction device capable of carrying out data communication with the communication device, the reproduction device includes a first storage unit in which content data are stored and a first communication unit engaged in data communication with the communication device, whereas the communication device in the communication system includes a second storage unit in which content data are stored, a second communication unit engaged in data communication with the first communication unit and a priority ranking determining unit that, based upon information obtained through the data communication and a priority ranking criterion, determines priority rankings for individual sets of content data in a content data group that includes both the content data stored in the first storage unit and the content data stored in the second storage unit.
US08015292B2 System and method for connecting consumers with a diverse set of consultants and experts
It is the objective of the current invention to provide a system that will allow Users to contact Service Providers in specific fields. The User will choose a Service Provider via an Internet-based icon from within any one of a broad base of Internet interfaces maintained by the system or the Service Provider. Once a Service Provider is chosen, a pop-up window will appear telling that User if the Service Provider is available. If the Service Provider is available the system will connect the User with the Service Provider. If the Service Provider is unavailable the system will prompt the User to try again later or send an e-mail to the Service Provider.
US08015291B2 Monitoring network usage
A method of determining whether a user has complied with a service level agreement (SLA) with a network operator, comprising collecting a set of data values representative of the user's service usage and comparing the set of data values to the service level agreement. The data values collected provide the operator with sufficient information so that it can determine whether a SLA is being complied with and to plan provision of network services. A method of monitoring a user's usage of a network service and a service usage indicator is also disclosed.
US08015289B2 System and method predicting and managing network capacity requirements
A system and method for maintaining capacity of a network. Instructions are adapted to define future times at which a capacity of the network is evaluated. In addition, instructions are adapted to determine a total capacity of the network (TNC) and a total demand of users (TUD) for the network at each of the future times. As a function of the total capacity of the network (TNC) and the total demand of users (TUD), instructions are adapted to determine a predicted utilization (PU) of the network at each of the future times. By comparing the predicted utilization (PU) to a defined acceptable utilization of the network at each of the future times, instructions are adapted to determine a change in network capacity (DCNC) to be applied to the network at each of the future times in order to increase or decrease the capacity of the network.
US08015284B1 Discerning use of signatures by third party vendors
Bait files and signatures allow security software vendors to track both authorized and unauthorized usage of the security vendor's signatures/products by third party security vendors. A bait file providing module anonymously provides a bait file to a third party security vendor for security detection, where the bait file is a non-malware file. A signature providing module provides a bait signature corresponding to the bait file that is included in a signature database which is made publicly available. A scanner monitoring module monitors security detections made over a period of time by a security scanner operated by the third party vendor. A determination module determines whether the scanner positively detected the bait file following the release of the bait signature for the bait file. A use detection module detects, in response to a positive determination, that the third party vendor used the bait signature provided to detect the bait file.
US08015281B2 Dynamic server flow control in a hybrid peer-to-peer network
Technologies are described herein for providing dynamic flow control of requests to a server in a hybrid peer-to-peer network. The server collects a number of metrics related to its current stability and the throughput of requests from peer-to-peer devices. These metrics, along with associated trend data, are used by the server to calculate a current stability rating and a current throughput rating. The server then imposes flow control on a proportional number of the peer-to-peer devices based upon the current ratings. This operation is run periodically, with ratings re-calculated from current metrics, and new flow control measures imposed in each cycle.
US08015276B2 Method to identify performance and capacity bottlenecks of complex systems
Systems and methods are described that analyze complex systems and identify potential performance bottlenecks that may affect capacity and response time. The bottlenecks are identified to resolve problems originating at a specific subsystem(s).
US08015275B2 Computer product, method, and apparatus for managing operations of servers
A resource coordinator manager automatically sets a LAN and a SAN for a server to be add according to an increase in load. An ASCC satellite executes a boot script to boot up a user application on the server. The ASCC satellite executes a stop script to stop a user application executed on a server to be returned to a server pool according to a decrease in load. The resource coordinator manager automatically releases a LAN and a SAN set for the server to be returned.
US08015272B2 Integrated application management system, apparatus and program, and integrated session management server, system, program, and apparatus
Disclosed here is an integrated application system for enabling a new application to be added and a user to select an optional application easily. The integrated application system includes a plurality of clients for receiving services from a plurality of application servers for supplying a plurality of services and a management apparatus for controlling services supplied by the application servers to the clients according to an integrated service starting request from any of clients. Each of the clients includes a client management unit for controlling participation of a plurality of application clients corresponding to a plurality of services in an integrated service. The client management unit selects each application used in the integrated service and a client that participates in the integrated service respectively and sends an integrated service starting request to the management apparatus while the management apparatus instructs each of the selected application servers to start a service according to the integrated service starting request from the client management unit.
US08015268B2 Methods, systems, and computer readable media for synchronizing device state
A synchronization scheme is provided that includes querying a managed device to obtain an initial device state, synchronizing the device state in a plurality of management processes, detecting a change in the initial device state, and maintaining a synchronized current device state between the managed device and the plurality of management processes.
US08015263B2 System and method for creating and posting media lists for purposes of subsequent playback
A method and apparatus for creating and posting media is provided. For example, the invention allows a user to quickly create, signal process, encode, and transfer media files to a server for storage, posting, distribution, and retrieval. Thus, media such as audio, video, display, photo, spreadsheet, Web Clips, and HTML pages can be combined into a media file for uploading to a server and accessed from listings posted at web sites. In accordance with embodiments, a user downloads and installs a plug-in at the user's client computer. The user then registers and logs onto the server to perform various tasks. For example, the user can create a combined audio and photo media file at the client computer, in accordance with server based control parameters received from the system server. The plug-in then allows the user to perform digital signal processing and encoding of the media file at the client computer. After the file is encoded, it may be uploaded to a server for storage, posting, distribution, and retrieval. A file management system provides copies and listings of the file to other servers and web sites as permitted. Thus, other user having access to the database or web site lists via other client computers may select the file for retrieval. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an information management system provides file and file list rankings based upon selection or click through of files and file listings.
US08015262B2 Stateless core service transaction patterns
A connection handler can receive a service request, initiate a temporary proxy state in the connection handler, open a first connection to a service provider from the connection handler to request fulfillment of the service request, and populate the temporary proxy state with a copy of original content received at the connection handler from the service provider in fulfillment of the service request. The populating can include creating a temporary proxy state content. The connection handler can tag the original content object on the service provider with an activity indicator that specifies that the original content has been accessed by the connection handler and then terminate the first connection between the connection handler and the service provider. Related systems, apparatus, methods, and/or articles are also described.
US08015261B2 Information processing apparatus with first and second sending/receiving units
An information processing apparatus comprising a first sending/receiving means for a first information processing apparatus; a second sending/receiving means for a second information processing apparatus; a first recording means for recording normal content data and restricted content data; a second recording means for recording information required for selecting data; an updating means for updating the information recorded; and a selection means for selecting data to be sent to said first information processing apparatus from the first content data and the second content data recorded by said first recording means based on the information recorded by said second recording means in response to a request signal from said first information processing apparatus received by said first sending/receiving means.
US08015258B2 Method and apparatus for accessing variable sized blocks of data
A method and apparatus are provided for accessing data. The method includes defining a first portion of a memory for receiving data and providing a memory request to transfer data from a source to the first portion of the memory defined to receive the data. The method further includes transferring a portion of data from the source to the first portion of the memory, wherein the size of the portion of the data substantially corresponds to the size of the first portion of the memory.
US08015257B2 Image storage program and image processing apparatus
Multiple user boxes are created beforehand in the hard disk drive of the MFP. The user specifies his own user box and saves image data therein. If the user extracts the image data from his user box and moves it to a folder on his own personal computer, the MFP 1 detects this action. When this user box is specified during a subsequent reading of image data, the storage destination for the image data is automatically deemed to be the folder on the personal computer to which the image data was previously moved.
US08015256B2 Method and apparatus for parallel sequencing of messages between disparate information systems
A system and method are provided for coordinating concurrent processing of messages communicated over a network. The messages include a pair of related messages having a common first unique identifier and an unrelated message having a second unique identifier different from the first unique identifier. A sequencer module determines which of the plurality of messages are the pair of related messages and which of the plurality of messages are the unrelated message. The sequencer module identifies a sequence order for the pair of related messages by determining a first position in the sequence order for a first message of the pair of related messages and a second position in the sequence order for a second message of the pair of related messages. The sequencer module inhibits the progression of processing of the second message until the first message is no longer pending while facilitating concurrent processing of the unrelated message.
US08015249B2 Mitigating data usage in messaging applications
Data usage of a messaging application is mitigated based on a location of the application on the display screen or a mode of a device. If the location of the application is in the foreground of the display, presence update information of a contact is periodically received or requested. If the application is in the background of the display longer than a predetermined interval, the presence update information of the contact is stopped. In some embodiments, if the device is in an OFF or a SUSPEND mode, contact presence updates are not received. When the device is in an ON mode or state, the presence updates are received or requested from a server or presence agent.
US08015245B2 Personalized information communications
A personalized information communications system enables a source user to provide personalized information in a datastore for access and display by a communications device of a recipient user. An aggregation server records user settings of the source user in a datastore, and collects personalized information of the source user into the datastore based on the user settings. The user settings specify at least one element of personalized information specified by the source user. In response to request from the recipient user, the aggregation server accesses and provides the personalized information of the source user to the recipient user. In one implementation, the communications device periodically polls the aggregation server for updated information associated with the source user. Alternatively, the aggregation server pushes the information to the communications device. Accordingly, the recipient user gains access to the personalized information of the source user.
US08015244B2 Domain name acquisition and management system and method
A preferred embodiment of the present invention can accept an indication of a domain name or set of domain names from interested entity. The desired domain names are names that an interested entity desires to register through a domain name registration system or systems, such as that operated by a registry-accredited registrar. The system can closely monitor the domain name registry or registrar databases used to provide domain name resolution or registration over a distributed network, such as the Internet, and determine the expiration or availability of the name or names supplied by the interested entity. When a desired domain name appears to be available, the system can register or re-register the domain name through a domain registration service. If there is more than one interested entity for a domain name, the system can also facilitate an auction for the domain name.
US08015241B2 Apparatus and method for notifying of the posting of a web logging message via a dispatch communication
A system for posting web logging (blog) messages, retrieving blog messages, and being notified of the posting of blog messages by way of dispatch communications. The system includes a wireless communication system capable of setting up dispatch communications links between subscriber units and a dispatch server. The dispatch server interfaces with a blog server. Using dispatch communications, subscriber units may send messages to the blog server for posting by way of the dispatch server, may receive notification of the posting of messages from the blog server by way of the dispatch server, and may retrieve messages from the blog server by way of the dispatch server.
US08015234B2 Methods and systems for administering imaging device notification access control
Aspects of the present invention relate to systems, methods and devices for imaging device event notification administration and subscription. Some aspects relate to selective imaging device event notification based on user credentials and/or the occurrence of a specific event. Some aspects may limit notification subscription to authorized credential holders. Some aspects relate to conditional event notification based on the occurrence of a specific event identified in the notification request.
US08015233B2 Method for handling asynchronous database transactions in a web based environment
A method for handling asynchronous database transactions in a web based environment is disclosed. The method comprise providing a first ID from a device via a dedicated persistent connection and generating a second ID in an application server upon receipt of the first ID. The method also include utilizing the first ID and second ID to obtain the appropriate data from a database system and to send the appropriate data to the device. A method in accordance with the present invention uses a database resource adapter, which runs inside an application server, to generate a socket ID internally for every input transaction running with the dedicated persistent socket connection and also saves the customer-specified client ID for database queue creation and legacy application. This operation is transparent to the customers' client application.
US08015229B2 Apparatus and method for performing efficient multiply-accumulate operations in microprocessors
An apparatus for performing multiply-accumulate operations in a microprocessor comprising operand input registers for receiving data to be operated on an adder and a multiplier for performing operations on the data, a result output port for presenting results to the microprocessor, a multiplexer for storing results, an accumulator cache for storing an accumulator value internal to the apparatus, and control circuitry for controlling the operation of the apparatus.
US08015219B2 Computer system storage device and date updating method
Data stored in a plurality of snapshots that can be updated is efficiently updated.A computer system includes a computer that provides a plurality of storage areas and a storage device that stores data read and written in the storage areas. The storage device provides a first volume that stores data shared by the storage areas respectively and a second volume that stores data held in the storage areas respectively. The computer stores storage area management information and a storing flag that shows a storing part of updated data and sets the storing flag in accordance with a request. When the computer receives the update of the data stored in the first volume and the storing flag is set to the second volume, if a second area corresponding to a first area is not allocated to the second volume, the computer updates a second area newly allocated to the second volume to store the location information of the newly allocated second area in the storage area management information correspondingly to the first area.
US08015218B2 Method for compressing/decompressing structure documents
The invention concerns a method for compressing and decompressing a structured document, associated with at least a tree diagram structure defining a document structure and comprising nested structure elements, associated with a type of information, and representing sets of data, the method comprising steps which consists in: performing a syntactic analysis of the structure diagram and standardizing it so as to obtain a single predefined sequence of the elements of the diagram; compiling the standardized diagram to obtain finite automata, each automaton comprising states interconnected by transitions respectively representing the elements of the structure; and compressing the document, and executing at least a compression algorithm associated with a type of information, when a set of data having the type of information is encountered in the document.
US08015211B2 Secure peer-to-peer object storage system
A peer-to-peer (P2P) networking system is disclosed that provides a large, persistent object repository with the ability to easily scale to significant size. Data security is provided using a distributed object data access mechanism to grant access to data objects to authorized users. Data objects stored within the object repository are provided a plurality of security options including plain text data, objects, encrypted data objects, and secure, secret sharing data objects. A data object query processing component permits users to locate requested information within the P2P networking system.
US08015210B2 Method and system for generating string-based addresses
A method and system are described that may generate and process address strings, for example, for database entities such as objects. An example method may include generating a first address string representing a first relational path associated with a first database query retrieval of a first object, and storing the first address string in association with the first object. Another example method may include receiving a query requesting information associated with an entity related to one or more objects included in a database. The method may further include retrieving a first address string based on a search of address strings to determine address strings that indicate the entity, the first address string representing a first relational path associated with a database query retrieval of a first object, and retrieving the first object based on the retrieved first address string.
US08015208B2 Systems and methods for processing regular expressions
A method for reducing the size of a DFA associated with a regular expression separates the functions of locating subexpressions within the DFA and determining if the located subexpressions satisfy a regular expression. For example, the functions of (1) locating subexpressions in a range asserting expression and, (2) determining whether the subexpressions satisfy the range of the range asserting expression are partitioned. In one embodiment, a first component may locate the subexpressions in a data stream using one or more DFAs, while a second component determines if the located subexpressions satisfy the range. In this embodiment, because the DFAs are not configured to determine a relationship between subexpressions, such as a range between subexpressions, the size of the resultant DFA may be significantly reduced.
US08015206B2 Document analysis and retrieval
A computer program product including stored program code adapted to implement a method for document analysis and retrieval. A document that includes text is received from a host. Document keys associated with the text are generated. In first embodiments, a document taxonomy is provided. The taxonomy has categories and associated category keys. The category keys of each category are compared with the document keys to determine a distance between the document and each category as a measure of how close the document is to each category. A subset of the categories is returned to the host, wherein the subset of the categories reflects the determined distances. In second embodiments, a search string is created as a logical function of a subset of the document keys. The search string is submitted to a search engine. Links to related documents are received from the search engine and returned to the host.
US08015204B2 Scoped access control metadata element
Methods, systems, and data structures for communicating object metadata are provided. A generic metadata container is presented that allows object metadata to be described in an extensible manner using protocol-neutral and platform-independent methodologies. A metadata scope refers to a dynamic universe of targets to which the included metadata statements correspond. Metadata properties provide a mechanism to describe the metadata itself, and metadata security can be used to ensure authentic metadata is sent and received. Mechanisms are also provided to allow refinement and replacement of metadata statements. The generic metadata container can be adapted to dynamically define access control rights to a range of objects by a range of users, including granted and denied access rights.
US08015203B2 Document recognizing apparatus and method
A document recognizing apparatus includes a display control unit which displays a document data including a character string related to a character string selected by a user, and an area that includes at least a character string of the document data.
US08015201B1 Servicing daemon for live debugging of storage systems
A servicing daemon is described herein for providing servicing of a running computer system (such as a filer). The servicing daemon resides and executes on the operating system of the filer and communicates across a network with a debugger that resides and executes on a remote administering computer. A debugging session is performed that complies with a protocol relating to the remote accessing of files. The debugging session provides live servicing of an application executing on the filer without requiring an actual corefile (having copied filer memory data) to be created. Rather, the servicing daemon creates a simulated corefile header that is sent to the debugger, receives requests from the debugger, and maps addresses specified in the requests to filer memory addresses. The servicing daemon then reads and retrieves data directly from filer memory at the determined filer memory addresses and sends the data to the debugger for analysis.
US08015195B2 Modifying entry names in directory server
The present invention provides a system and a computer-implemented method for modifying an entry name in a directory database. The method comprises the steps of: modifying, in response to a request for modifying operation of entry names, entry mapping information in accordance with the modification that is requested for modifying operation of entry names, wherein each piece of entry mapping information is used for indicating the correspondence relation between pre-modification entry name information and post-modification entry name information; asynchronously performing modifying operation of a corresponding entry name in accordance with respective pieces of entry mapping information when a predetermined condition for updating the directory database is met.
US08015193B2 Method and system for accessing a file system
A method for accessing a file system including computing a first numerical similarity score for a first stored document and a second numerical similarity score for a second stored document by comparing a plurality of weighted active terms with a plurality of weighted indexed terms, determining a document order of the first stored document followed by the second stored document based on the first numerical similarity score exceeding the second numerical similarity score, generating a list of similar documents including the first stored document followed by the second stored document based on the document order, and displaying, in a file system interface and on the computer display, the list of similar documents while an active document is open in an active document interface.
US08015190B1 Similarity-based searching
Pairs of similar vectors (or objects) in a set of vectors (or objects) are identified. A comparison vector x in a set of vectors is identified; a size threshold is determined such that if a similarity between the vector x and a vector y in the set of vectors is equal to or greater than a similarity threshold, then the vector y has a size at least equal to the size threshold, the size of the candidate vector y being determined based on a number of non-zero features in the vector y. A vector having a size less than the size threshold is removed from the set of candidate vectors.
US08015188B2 System and method for thematically grouping documents into clusters
A system and method for thematically grouping documents into clusters is provided. Concepts are extracted from a plurality of documents. The concepts include nouns or noun phrases. A number of occurrences for each concept are determined within each document. A bounded range is applied to the concepts and a subset of the concepts is selected by removing the concepts that fall outside the bounded range. The bounded range includes upper edge conditions and lower edge conditions. Themes are generated from the subset of concepts by identifying two or more concepts with common semantic meaning. Clusters of the documents are generated based on the themes.
US08015186B2 Information processing apparatus and method, recording medium, and program
An input unit supplies a logic operation expression made up of a plurality of retrieval keys and logic operators between the retrieval keys, entered by the user, to a control unit. A similarity calculating unit calculates similarities between key contents designated by the retrieval keys and a plurality of retrievable contents, based on feature quantities of contents that are supplied from a feature quantity extraction unit and a feature quantity database. A combining unit performs logic operations using the similarities between the key contents and the retrievable contents, calculating combined scores for the respective retrievable contents. The retrievable contents which have large combined scores are presented as contents best suited to the user. The present invention is applicable to an information processing apparatus for retrieving contents, for example.
US08015184B2 Method and apparatus for a search-enabled remote control device
A search-enabled remote control device to facilitate viewers' ability to search through programming and/or content options and view results. In one embodiment, a viewer is able to use a traditional remote control interface to navigate through menus or selections and to display search results on screen. In another embodiment, a viewer's watching behavior and/or searching habits are tracked by the search-enabled remote control and used to develop a viewer profile, which may in turn be used to target advertisements, information and/or future programming options.
US08015182B2 System and method for appending security information to search engine results
A system for appending security information to search engine results, including a search engine for locating, in a computer network, web pages that include at least one designated search term, for issuing a security analysis request to a content security scanner to assess at least one designated web page for potential security risks, and for preparing a search results summary that includes links to the located web pages and security assessments for the located web pages, a client computer communicatively coupled with the search engine for issuing a search request with at least one user designated search term, to the search engine, and for receiving the search results summary from the search engine, and a content security scanner communicatively coupled with the search engine for assessing security of content in at least one designated web page. A method and computer-readable storage media are also described and claimed.
US08015179B2 Method of pattern searching
Structural join mechanisms provide efficient query pattern matching. In one embodiment, tree-merge mechanisms are provided. In another embodiment, stack-tree mechanisms are provided.
US08015178B2 System and method to determine a single SQL BOM solve
A system, method, and computer program for storing a plurality of usage conditions to a data set for retrieval by a single query statement, comprising the steps of converting a usage condition into a first normal form representation, minimizing said first normal form representation, transforming said minimized first normal form representation into a second normal form representation, and storing said second normal form representation in said data set. The method wherein the steps comprising said storing step are repeated until each said usage condition is stored in to said data set and appropriate means and computer-readable instructions.
US08015176B2 Method and system for cleansing sequence-based data at query time
A method and system for cleansing anomalies from sequence-based data at query time. Sequence-based data such as RFID data is loaded into a database. One or more cleansing rules are received at a cleansing rules engine. The cleansing rule engine converts the cleansing rule(s) to a template that includes logic to compensate for anomalies in the sequence-based data. A query to retrieve the sequence-based data is received by a query rewrite engine. The query rewrite engine rewrites the query by applying the template logic. The rewritten query is executed at query time. The result of the rewritten query execution is identical to the result of executing the original query on a data set generated by applying the cleansing rule to all of the sequence-based data.
US08015169B1 Method and an apparatus to request web pages and content rating information thereof
A method and an apparatus request web pages and content rating information thereof have been disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a request from a user for a web page, retrieving content rating of the web page in response to the request, and fetching the web page substantially simultaneously with the retrieving of the content rating in response to the request. Other embodiments have been claimed and described.
US08015166B2 Method for characteristic character string matching based on discreteness, cross and non-identical
The present invention discloses a method for characteristic string matching based on discreteness, cross and non-completeness, comprising the steps of: A. a user setting discrete number, cross number and non-complete number in the user interface, or an information processing device automatically setting the discrete number, cross number and non-complete number, and inputting the retrieval keywords; B. the information processing device performing the characteristic string matching based on the three characters, with the discrete number, cross number and non-complete number set in step A as matching constraints, for a designated text according to the keywords input by user, and output the matching result of one of the eight retrieval modes, including precise retrieval, discrete retrieval, cross retrieval and cross and discrete retrieval, non-complete retrieval, discrete and non-complete retrieval, cross and non-complete retrieval, discrete and non-complete retrieval. With simple, flexible and convenient operations, the method consistent with the invention realizes a novel operation of information retrieval and provides eight information retrieval modes capable of qualitative retrieval, error tolerant retrieval, and automatic parameter setting retrieval.
US08015162B2 Detecting duplicate and near-duplicate files
Near-duplicate documents may be identified by processing an accepted set of documents to determine a first set of near-duplicate documents using a first technique, and processing the first set to determine a second set of near-duplicate documents using a second technique. The first technique might be token order dependent, and the second technique might be order independent. The first technique might be token frequency independent, and the second technique might be frequency dependent. The first technique might determine whether two documents are near-duplicates using representations based on a subset of the words or tokens of the documents, and the second technique might determine whether two documents are near-duplicates using representations based on all of the words or tokens of the documents. The first technique might use set intersection to determine whether or not documents are near-duplicates, and the second technique might use random projections to determine whether or not documents are near-duplicates.
US08015161B2 Method and mechanism for determining life intervals for a key in an index
Disclosed is a mechanism, system, interface, and process to determine one or more life intervals when given a key. In addition, one or more life intervals can be determined for each key within a range of keys. This type of process is useful for auditing purposes or if it is desire to implement a query upon past versions when a key or range of keys is specified for the data for which past versions is desired. This facilitates algorithms, mechanisms, and processes to implement a query upon past versions.
US08015158B1 Copy-less restoring of transaction files of a database system
A mechanism is provided for archiving and restoring transaction files of a database system without requiring the copying of the transaction files. A server system executes a host application that implements the database system comprising a set of database files and a set of transaction files that contains updates to the set of database files, the files being stored in a storage system. A backup engine interacts with the host application to archive a transaction file having an original filename in an original directory by creating a corresponding archive filename to the transaction file in an archive directory. The archive transaction files may be used later to perform a copy-less restore process of the database system that does not require copying of any transaction files. The copy-less restore process restores any altered original filenames by replacing, in the original directory, an altered original filename with its corresponding archive filename.
US08015152B2 Web based client/server notification engine
Various technologies and techniques improve the updating of client content in a client/server arrangement. A client notification engine of a user interface subscribes to receive notifications from a central server side notification engine. The client notification engine polls the server side notification engine at a specified interval. The server side notification engine receives and aggregates notifications about and/or from one or more sources and aggregates them into a collection of relevant notifications. These notifications are sent to the client where the different subscriptions originated and are then used by the user interface in the client to update part of the content being displayed as appropriate.
US08015149B1 Asset repository
Techniques for an asset repository are described, including storing an asset from a system in a repository, where the asset remains stored in a repository when power is removed from the system, the system including an application configured to access the asset and the repository, and configuring the repository to be accessed by the system and another system.
US08015147B2 Feature extraction method and apparatus
This method includes: identifying, for each child log having a job type identifier in a message to a lower-layer server and a start time and end time of a processing executed in the lower-layer server, an inclusive parent log that is a parent log having a start time and end time of a processing executed in an upper-layer Web server, wherein the start time and end time of the inclusive parent log define an interval containing a period from the start time to the end time of the child log, and registering the job type identifier in the child log and a path of URI in the inclusive parent log, into a table, and registering a frequency for each combination of the identifier and the path of URI into the table. By using this table, features in the path of URI are extracted for each job type identifier.
US08015145B2 System for providing healthcare operation specific user interface display images
A system provides a user interface for viewing nursing problems with multiple levels of granularity in a knowledge base and rendered in an application that are dependent on context of problems, patient demographic information and information needed by a user interface image. A user interface system presents patient medical problem information to a user. The system includes a first search processor for automatically searching a knowledge base of information associating multiple different medical problems with corresponding attributes to find an attribute indicating a particular characteristic of a particular medical problem, in response to occurrence of an event. A display processor initiates generation of data representing a display image. The display image includes, a first image area for including data indicating candidate medical problems and associated attributes and a second image area for including data representing assigned medical problems of a particular patient and enabling a user to select a medical problem for transfer from the first image area to the second image area.
US08015143B2 Knowledge discovery agent system and method
A system and method for processing information in unstructured or structured form, comprising a computer running in a distributed network with one or more data agents. Associations of natural language artifacts may be learned from natural language artifacts in unstructured data sources, and semantic and syntactic relationships may be learned in structured data sources, using grouping based on a criteria of shared features that are dynamically determined without the use of a priori classifications, by employing conditional probability constraints.
US08015142B1 Decision support systems and methods
In one aspect, the invention is based on a process that combines information present in a joint distribution of the predictor variables and the variable (or variables) to be predicted. This information may be captured in the form of a table or other like data structure that includes a set of vectors (referred to as a “TAB”). The process uses the information in the TAB in conjunction with one or more rules. In one embodiment, a set of different rules are applied to the TAB to determine which rule in the set produces the most accurate predictions. The RULE that produces the most accurate predictions is then used in conjunction with observed information to make predictions.
US08015141B2 Rule-based programming languages for entities in environments
A rule-based programming language may be devised for programming an entity in an environment. Computer systems may therefore be configured to program the entity with at least one rule comprising at least zero language conditions representing an action condition, at least one language verb representing an action, and at least zero language verb parameters representing an action object. The computer system may also be configured to facilitate entry by a user of a rule set according to the rule-based programming language by receiving user selections of language conditions, language verbs, and language verb parameters. By facilitating the programming by users of entities within environments, the computer system may facilitate individuals (such as non-technical individuals, aspiring programmers, and children) in understanding programming concepts, encourage the development of experience with computer programming, and permit the generation of useful computer programs by non-proficient programmers.
US08015140B2 Method and apparatus for recommendation engine using pair-wise co-occurrence consistency
The invention, referred to herein as PeaCoCk, uses a unique blend of technologies from statistics, information theory, and graph theory to quantify and discover patterns in relationships between entities, such as products and customers, as evidenced by purchase behavior. In contrast to traditional purchase-frequency based market basket analysis techniques, such as association rules which mostly generate obvious and spurious associations, PeaCoCk employs information-theoretic notions of consistency and similarity, which allows robust statistical analysis of the true, statistically significant, and logical associations between products. Therefore, PeaCoCk lends itself to reliable, robust predictive analytics based on purchase-behavior.
US08015139B2 Inferring candidates that are potentially responsible for user-perceptible network problems
Candidates that are potentially responsible for user-perceptible network problems may be inferred. In an example embodiment, a system includes an inference engine to produce a list of candidates that are potentially responsible for user-perceptible network problems, with the candidates being network components that may include both services and network elements. A response to a service request may be a non response, an incorrect response, an untimely correct response, or a timely correct response. The user-perceptible network problems may include the untimely correct response as well as the non response and the incorrect response. In another example embodiment, a method includes monitoring a network and producing a list of candidates that are potentially responsible for user-perceptible network problems. The candidates of the list may include both services and network elements of the monitored network.
US08015133B1 Computer-implemented modeling systems and methods for analyzing and predicting computer network intrusions
Computer-implemented systems and methods for analyzing activities associated with accesses of a computer network. A computer-implemented method can be configured to receive data related to the activities associated with the accesses of a computer network. The network activities data are segmented into a plurality of network activities segments. For each of the network activities segments, an anomaly detection predictive model is generated. The generated predictive models are for use in analyzing the activities associated with the computer network.
US08015131B2 Learning tradeoffs between discriminative power and invariance of classifiers
Systems and methods are described for learning the discriminative power-invariance tradeoffs for classification of input data (“tradeoff learning system”). In various embodiments, the tradeoff learning system receives multiple classifiers (“base classifiers”) and employs a learning technique to produce a combined classifier. Each received base classifier achieves a different level of tradeoff. The learning technique then decreases a function of kernel weights associated with each of the received classifiers to produce the combined classifier. By decreasing the function of kernel weights, the tradeoff learning system computes a combined classifier that classifies input data more accurately than the received multiple classifiers.
US08015128B2 Biometric security using neuroplastic fidelity
A system, method and program product for providing biometric security using neuroplastic fidelity. A method is disclosed that includes: receiving biometric data; analyzing the biometric data with a probabilistic neural network and outputting a chromosome containing a binary string; mapping the binary string to a selected extractor and a selected matcher; apply the selected extractor to the biometric data to generate a template; using the selected matcher to compare the template to a set of stored templates to identify a match; and outputting a result.
US08015127B2 System, method, and computer-accessible medium for providing a multi-objective evolutionary optimization of agent-based models
Agent-based models (ABMs)/multi-agent systems (MASs) are one of the most widely used modeling-simulation-analysis approaches for understanding the dynamical behavior of complex systems. These models can be often characterized by several parameters with nonlinear interactions which together determine the global system dynamics, usually measured by different conflicting criteria. One problem that can emerge is that of tuning the controllable system parameters at the local level, in order to reach some desirable global behavior. According to one exemplary embodiment t of the present invention, the tuning of an ABM for emergency response planning can be cast as a multi-objective optimization problem (MOOP). Further, the use of multi-objective evolutionary algorithms (MOEAs) and procedures for exploration and optimization of the resultant search space can be utilized. It is possible to employ conventional MOEAs, e.g., the Nondominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) and the Pareto Archived Evolution Strategy (PAES), and their performance can be tested for different pairs of objectives for plan evaluation. In the experimental results, the approximate Pareto front of the non-dominated solutions is effectively obtained. Further, a conflict between the proposed objectives can be seen. Additional robustness analysis may be performed to assist policy-makers in selecting a plan according to higher-level information or criteria which is likely not present in the original problem description.
US08015123B2 Method and system for interacting with a user in an experiential environment
Methods and systems for providing lyric information for a song within an audio signal. This may be done, for example, to allow a user to sing along with a song the user hears on a radio. To provide the lyric information, an interactive service may be accessed. A sample of an audio signal that includes at least a portion of the song may be captured. The sample of the audio signal may provided to the interactive service. Lyric information may then be received for the song at a user device. The user device may also display the lyric information in synchrony with the rendering of the song within the audio signal to, for example, allow the user to sing along with the song.
US08015122B2 Control of use of ink cartridge
Postage metering apparatus is provided with a removably mounted print head module such as an inkjet cartridge with an integral ink supply. The module includes means responsive to the number of printing operations performed by the print head and to terminate operation of the print head when a predetermined number of operations have been performed. Upon termination of operation of the print head, a signal is sent to a microprocessor of the postage meter which then transmits information relating to use of the print head, and if desired postal register information, to a remote data center. The remote data center may then send an authorization signal permitting further operation of the print head.
US08015115B2 System and method for providing controlled access to a funds dispensing device from external processors
Systems and methods for providing controlled access to value dispensing devices are described and in certain examples, systems including those for providing controlled access to a postage meter from multiple programs executing on an external collocated processor are described.
US08015114B1 Systems and methods for encouraging renewal of security-software subscriptions
A computer-implemented method for encouraging the renewal of security-software subscriptions may comprise: 1) determining that a security-software subscription for a computing system has expired, 2) after determining that the security-software subscription has expired, continuing to at least periodically retrieve vendor-supplied security updates and to monitor the computing system for potential security threats, 3) detecting at least one security threat to the computing system, 4) notifying a user of the computing system of the security threat, and then 5) prompting the user to renew the security-software subscription. Corresponding systems and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US08015113B2 Administering contracts over data network
A method for administering performance of a contract over a data network includes storing a lien waiver and receiving an application for payment over the data network from a contract participant based on performance under the contract. The stored lien waiver is retrieved and sent to the participant via the data network upon approval of the application for payment. The at least one data tag may be included in the lien waiver prior to storing the lien waiver.
US08015110B2 System and method of aggregating multiple transactions over network-based electronic payment transaction processing system
A system and method of aggregating multiple transactions over a network-based electronic payment transaction processing system is provided. The system includes a transport-aggregating clear-text Internet transaction (TACIT) server designed to allow conventional electronic payment transaction processing systems to work over networks which rely on the Internet Protocol, and to still support the fault-tolerance and load balancing. In one embodiment, the system aggregates multiple transmission control protocol sockets into a single socket to a back-end payment processing system in a single application. The transport-aggregating, cleartext Internet transaction (TACIT) server resides on an intermediate system that is positioned between the Internet endpoints and a payment transaction processing system (TPS).
US08015109B2 Data processing system for complex pricing and transactional analysis
The present invention provides methods and systems for defining financial transaction components; defining mapping rules for taking individual financial transactions and breaking them down into their components, such as production services, billing services and settlement services. A data processing system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, creates a transaction instance corresponding to a financial transaction, creates a production service instance linked to the transaction instance by a first relation instance, and creates a billing service instance linked to the production service instance by a second relation instance. The data processing system, may also create other production service instances linked to the transaction instance using other relation instances, as well as, other billing service instances linked to the production service instances.
US08015103B2 Auction with interest rate bidding
A method and system are provides for an auction with interest rate bidding. The system receives a starting interest rate and a maximum interest rate for an interest-paying (IP) item at a computer. The system publishes the IP item for sale at the starting interest rate, initiates a declining auction and receives bids in the declining auction for the IP item. The system terminates the declining auction based on a predetermined period of time and identifies one or more bids that respectively include an interest rate that is lower than the maximum interest rate. Finally, the system selects a lowest interest rate bid from the one or more bids as a winning bid.
US08015101B2 E-commerce transaction facilitation system and method
A method of operating a computer to facilitate a commercial transaction involving a plurality of negotiable trading parameters where the facilitation of activities that occur within a real economic trading system is accomplished by providing a mechanism by which the structure, dynamics and business process requirements of real economic processes and emulated and thereby contributing to efficiently functioning markets and optimal transactional outcomes.
US08015098B2 Sell-side benchmarking of security trading
A benchmark price reflective of trading in a financial instrument for benchmarking sell-side traders performance is provided by calculating based on received trades a buy volume weighted average price and a sell volume weighted average price for every contra-side party trading in a selected security during a period of time. Ineligible contra-parties are filter out from the determined buy and sell volume weighted average prices and the remaining contra-parties are ranked based on the determined volume weighted average prices from best price to worst to produce ranked, buy volume weighted average prices and ranked sell volume weighted average prices.
US08015090B1 Systems and methods for retirement asset distribution
The present disclosure describes systems and methods for distributing retirement assets. One or more embodiments include receiving personal data related to an individual, the personal data including a number of projected income sources and a value of projected expenses of the individual, and receiving retirement asset allocation data of the individual, the retirement asset allocation data including current fund allotments to a number of money classes each having disparate tax treatment. One or more embodiments include calculating a value of projected after-tax income of the individual, calculating a deficit amount when the value of projected expenses exceeds the value of projected after-tax income, and using orthogonal sampling to calculate a distribution schedule for funding the deficit amount, the distribution schedule including, for each of the number of money classes, a recommended sum for the individual to withdraw from the money class in order to fund the deficit amount.
US08015087B2 System and method for submitting an offer to purchase over a network-based commerce facility
A system and method to facilitate a transaction in a network-based commerce facility is provided. The method includes presenting a plurality of listings to a user, and monitoring selection of one of the plurality of listings by the user. Thereafter, the user is provided with an indication of an equivalent periodic payment of a plurality of periodic payments associated with an offer to purchase. In one embodiment, the user is provided with an option to conclude the transaction for the selected listing based on a plurality of periodic payments. In certain embodiments, the network-based commerce facility is a web-based auction facility where the offers are in the form of bids. Accordingly, in this embodiment, the periodic payment may be a monthly payment and the products are movable goods such as motor vehicle, motorcycles, watercraft, or the like.
US08015085B2 System for distributing funds
A system is described allowing the transfer of funds, for example, from an employer to a third-party intermediary which can distribute the funds via a payroll card to an employee. The system allows a portion of the population such as that which does not use traditional bank accounts to receive funds via a payroll card at a variety of locations without the necessity of visiting the bank location of the employer to cash a check. Other embodiments of the invention allow funds to be distributed from a first party to a second party via an intermediary party.
US08015083B1 Method and apparatus for client-specific notification service
Method and apparatus for an automated, client-specific notification service for reporting return preparers. A notification mechanism may be implemented as a part or component of a return preparation program or as a separate application. The notification mechanism may generate customized notifications for clients based at least in part on the clients' previous return information, for example information from previously filed tax returns. The notification mechanism may customize both the content of the notifications and the timing of the notifications based on each client's particular return information. The notifications generated by the notification mechanism may include or indicate any information related to the return preparation and filing process. The information in a particular notification may be tailored to the specific client's reporting situation. The notifications may be provided to the client(s) via one or more other communications channels or mechanisms.
US08015082B2 Terminal device, accounting system and data processing method
This invention relates to a terminal device capable of communicating with an accounting center, an accounting system, and a data processing method. A point memory 45 of a recording/reproducing device 10 stores accounting point information. An HDD 15 stores information distributed from an external source. A CPU 11 updates the accounting point information stored in the point memory 45 and updates attributes of the distributed information when the distributed information is stored onto the HDD 15. Thus, such inconvenience that communication with a distribution/accounting center 1 is carried out every time information is distributed to the recording/reproducing device 10 is avoided.
US08015076B2 Interactive internet shopping and data integration method and system
A method and system for interactively shopping for groceries, especially on an Internet web site, where the user may create a shopping list, shop for items from the list at a selected grocery store, arrange for pick up or delivery of the selected items, and provide payment. A user may also download a created shopping list to a handheld computing device (e.g., PDA) or print the list with reference to the layout of a particular grocery store. Users are required to register and provide specific demographic information (useful to manufacturers and stores) to be eligible to receive the benefits of use of the web site, such as menu creation, coupon downloads, menu planning, and recipe input. Shopping lists may be created from a single input screen using standard language text. Products may be automatically suggested to the user based on best regular price or retailer's specials. Recipes may be altered to meet numbers of servings or to comply with dietary requirements.
US08015073B2 Increasing market efficiency of ticket supply systems
The present invention describes a configurable risk-driven contracting service for limited capacity advanced-scheduled events for which tickets are sold. In the invention, multiple batches of tickets can be released in a time-sequenced fashion. Some of the batches can be auctioned. Dynamic per-batch pricing can be implemented that is based upon a relative market value of the tickets, which can be determined in part by captured auction data. Auction data can include, but is not limited to, bid price, bid volume, bidder diversity, ticket quantities per bid, and bidding frequency. Auction parameters and ticket prices can vary over time in accordance with seller risks and opportunity costs, which can dynamically change as tickets for an event are sold and as the time of the event approaches. Auction bids can be adjusted for bidder selectable constraints, each having a constraint specific value. The invention can utilize one or more Web services.
US08015066B2 POS system, POS server, local terminal, method of dealing management, and recording medium
To provide the POS server which can respond immediately against request from local terminals, the POS server 100 according to this invention, which controls dealings of products at a plurality of stores, includes a plurality of control apparatuses 210 connecting with a plurality of local terminals 300 provided at a plurality of stores. Each of the plurality of control apparatuses 210 a dealing database 116 storing information of dealings of the products at the local terminals 300, a receiving device 152 receiving the database operating instruction for updating the dealing database 116 with the dealing of the products from the local terminal 300, and a database updating device 162 updating the dealing database 116 according to the received database operating instruction. Each receiving device 152 of the plurality of control apparatuses 210 receives the same database operating instruction which is transmitted to the control apparatuses from the local terminal 300.
US08015062B2 Marketing profile store
A method and a system for providing content on a computer having a memory, a display having at least a viewable position and networking capabilities for communicating with other computers in a networked system is provided. A storepath establishes the relationship amongst related stores having various marketing assets. Each marketing asset has its display attributes as defined by a global marketing campaign. When viewing a store profile, marketing assets are displayed in the viewable position on the display in accordance with those attributes.
US08015061B2 File export channel
Data may be exported from a media campaign to an external processing device using a specifically designated communication channel within the media campaign application. When the media campaign application is executed, the campaign is directed to contacting various business partners using one or more communication means. With this media campaign application, a channel selection command may be received, where the channel selection command indicates the selection of an export channel selection. When the channel selection is the export channel selection, the application provides for the compilation of the business data and writing the data to an export file. The business data is compiled into an open format that is readily usable by an external application. After the file is generated, the export file is thereupon transmitted to a storage device.
US08015060B2 Method and system for managing limited use coupon and coupon prioritization
A system for managing coupon redemption and prioritization is provided. According to one aspect of the system, the system allows an electronic coupon or reward to be redeemed a specific number of times. The specific number of times may range from one to infinity. According to another aspect of the system, the system automatically resolves any redemption conflict associated with the concurrent redemption of electronic coupon(s) and paper-based coupon(s) by using certain predefined rules and logic.
US08015058B2 User-maintained contact information data system
There is provided a method and system to maintain published contact information. The system includes a storage facility to store contact information of a first entity at the system. The system further includes an interface to electronically publish, via a communications network, the contact information of the first entity to a plurality of users of the system and receive, at the system, information relating to validity of the contact information of the first entity. The information is received via the communications network from a first user of the plurality of users. The system further includes a stored value module automatically to provide a reward to the first user responsive to the receipt of the information relating to the validity of the contact information of the first entity.
US08015052B2 Methods and systems for generating a demand plan for a configurable product
The invention relates to a method of generating a demand plan for a configurable product in a managed supply chain using a computer, wherein the product comprises an assembled component. The method comprising: providing a processor device; accessing master data in a primary profile planning table for the configurable product, wherein the table includes data relating to the product, accessing master data in a secondary profile planning table for an assembled component of the configurable product including a header characteristic identifying the configurable product of which the assembled component is a component and data relating to the assembled component, processing the data in the primary profile planning table and the secondary profile planning table to generate transactional data as the demand plan taking into account the assembled component and controlling the supply of the product in accordance with the demand plan.
US08015051B2 System and method for business process integration
Embodiments of the present invention relate to an automated way for a non-technical person to create or modify software functionality in support of a business process without needing expertise in software. According to the invention, an automated matching tool may apply user input expressed semantically to a database of semantic information associated with syntactic information, to match the user input with a service (e.g., an application program) capable of performing a business process step corresponding to the input.
US08015045B2 Method for optimizing net present value of a cross-selling marketing campaign
The present invention applies a novel iterative algorithm to the problem of multidimensional optimization by supplying a strict, nonlinear mathematical solution to what has traditionally been treated as a linear multidimensional problem. The process consists of randomly selecting a statistically significant sample of a prospect list, calculating the value of the utility function for each pair of an offer and selected prospects, reducing the original linear multidimensional problem to a non-linear problem with a feasible number of dimensions, solving the non-linear problem for the selected sample numerically with the desired tolerance using an iterative algorithm, and using the results to calculate an optimal set of offers in one pass for the full prospect list.
US08015044B2 System and method for determining a promise date for a demand in a business environment
The present invention provides a method and a system for determining a promise date for a demand whose supply depends on constraints in a business environment. According to the present invention, information related to the business environment is stored within a data storage means. The present invention provides a processor coupled to the data storage means from which it requests and retrieves data. The processor also determines a plan date for each supply in the supply structure. The plan date is determined, from a highest level to a lowest level in the supply structure, based on existing and planned supply in the supply structure. After determining a plan date, the processor determines an available date for each supply in the supply structure. The available date is determined, from the lowest level to the highest level in the supply structure, based on the availability of each supply in the supply structure, and the plan date determined for each supply. Finally, the processor generates a promise date for the demand for the item based on each available date determined for a corresponding supply in the supply structure. The present invention advantageously generates promise dates based on information available in real-time on both the supply structure and the capacity constraints for a given item.
US08015040B2 Methods, systems, and computer program products for product randomization and analysis in a manufacturing environment
Methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing product randomization and analysis in a manufacturing environment are provided. A method includes processing products for a plurality of lots, at process equipment, using a randomization technique for selecting each product in the lots. The method further including generating an operation identification record for each operation in the process recipe that includes mapping, for each operation, a slot identifier associated with a randomly selected product to a process variable identifier, a process tool, and the operation. The method also includes defining slot groupings using slot identifiers for a product carrier and identifying product yield patterns by analyzing historical yields for each of the slot groupings. The method also includes determining the frequency of occurrence of one or more product yield patterns for each operation in the process recipe by analyzing product yields from the operation identification records corresponding to the plurality of lots.
US08015034B2 Care plan update management
A care plan management system (10) includes a server (12) including a content database (14) containing care management-related content including multiple revisions of at least some said content. Each content revision is tagged with temporal content revision information. A care plans storage (18) stores a plurality of patient care plans (21, 22, 23) associated with corresponding patients. Each patient care plan includes a selection of care management-related content to be presented to the patient, and a revision policy indicating which temporal revision of said content should be presented. User interfaces (31, 32, 33) are operatively connected with a communication interface (28) of the server (12) to receive and present the selected care management-related content.
US08015029B2 Method and equipment configured for verifying presence of a medical implant within a patient
A system comprises means for authenticating an identity of a medical implant patient using at least a portion of information provided on an identification card and means for displaying an image showing a medical implant as actually implanted within the medical implant patient and an image showing an implant operation scar of the medical implant patient resulting from actual implantation of the medical implant therein thereby allowing the displayed image of the medical implant to be visually compared against a corresponding image provided on the identification card and allowing verification that the medical implant patient has a scar thereon appearing the same as the image showing the implant operation scar of the medical implant patient resulting from actual implantation of the medical implant. Displaying the images is performed in response to successfully authenticating the identity of the medical implant verification patient.
US08015027B2 Method for recommending disposable absorbent incontinence articles
The present invention is directed to a method for recommending a disposable absorbent incontinence article to be used by an incontinent person. The method comprises the steps of: (a) receiving information, from a user, about incontinence devices which are currently used by the incontinent person; (b) receiving information about the situation which is experienced by the user; and (c) selecting at least one article, based on the information received, among predetermined disposable absorbent incontinence articles. By this method, an appropriate disposable absorbent incontinence article(s) to be used are recommended depending on the user's situation. The present invention is also directed a method for evaluating the quality of life of a caregiver who takes care of an incontinent person.
US08015026B2 Health management system for people and pets
A system, apparatus and method for simultaneously managing health of different individuals and pets over a network are provided. The present invention provides a strategy to motivate an individual to exercise. In one embodiment of the invention, the pet is being used as a means of monitoring the pet-owner's compliance with the exercise regimen. A healthcare provider is provided for transmitting health and physical exercise related scripted content into communication devices of the individuals and the pets. Data related to physical activities of the pets and the individuals are collected and are sent to the remote server. The healthcare provider linked with the remote server is accessed by physicians and the veterinarians for analyzing the data related to the physical activities and providing feedback messages accordingly.
US08015017B2 Band based audio coding and decoding apparatuses, methods, and recording media for scalability
Audio coding and decoding apparatuses and methods which support fine granularity scalability (FGS) using harmonic information of a high-band audio signal or wideband error audio signal when performing wideband audio coding and decoding, and recording mediums on which the methods are stored. The audio coding method includes detecting harmonics of a high-band audio signal or wideband error audio signal of an input audio signal; determining an order of the detected harmonics; and coding the detected harmonics based on the determined order.
US08015016B2 Automatic translation method and system based on corresponding sentence pattern
Provided are an automatic speech translation system and a method for obtaining accurate translation performance with a simple structure. Because input and output sentences are written in different languages, automatic speech translation requires techniques for processing different languages. Repetition of text processing like morpheme analysis or sentence parsing in conventional automatic speech translation can complicate the overall translation process. Meanwhile, although input and output sentences are written in different languages, they have to have the same meaning and a corresponding sentence form and words. Accordingly, the corresponding words and sentence forms of the two languages can be expressed with a simple structure and utilized in the automatic speech translation process, thereby maintaining consistency during the process and avoiding unnecessary process repetition, which reduces errors and improves performance.
US08015013B2 Method and apparatus for accessing a digital file from a collection of digital files
There is provided a method for accessing at least one digital file from a collection comprising more than one digital file in an electronic device, including: generating one index comprising of information entries obtained from each of the more than one digital file in the collection, with each digital file in the collection information being linked to at least one information entry; receiving a speaker independent speech input in at least one language during a speech reception mode; determining a language of the speech input; and setting the speech reception mode to the language of the speech input; comparing the speech input received during the speech reception mode with the entries in the index. The file may advantageously be accessed when the speech input coincides with at least one of the information entries in the index. The digital files may be stored in the electronic device, any device functionally connected to the electronic device or a combination of the aforementioned. The at least one digital file may be received from a source selected from: a memory device, a wired computer network or a wireless computer network. An apparatus that is able to carry out the aforementioned method is also disclosed.
US08015012B2 Data-driven global boundary optimization
Portions from segment boundary regions of a plurality of speech segments are extracted. Each segment boundary region is based on a corresponding initial unit boundary. Feature vectors that represent the portions in a vector space are created. For each of a plurality of potential unit boundaries within each segment boundary region, an average discontinuity based on distances between the feature vectors is determined. For each segment, the potential unit boundary associated with a minimum average discontinuity is selected as a new unit boundary.
US08015010B2 Vehicle communication system with news subscription service
A vehicle communication system facilitates hands-free interaction with a mobile device in a vehicle or elsewhere. The invention also provides remote access to information such as existing news sources (i.e. existing RSS feeds) and supported websites. This also includes subscription to value-added services including: weather, custom alerts (i.e. stock price triggers), traffic conditions, personalized news, e-books (not limited to audio books, but any e-book), personalized audio feeds, and personalized image or video feeds for passengers. The system obtains, translates, and provides personalized news content in audible form within a vehicle without explicit user requests. An individual may set their preferences by selecting from a set of common sources of information, or by specifying custom search criteria. When new information is available and relevant to the individual's preferences, it is read out loud to the individual when appropriate. Appropriate instances can be specified by the individual using a combination of in-vehicle presence detection, time-of-day, and importance of the information relative to other personal events including email, phone calls, meetings and text messages.
US08015009B2 Speech derived from text in computer presentation applications
A computer system comprising hardware and software elements; the hardware elements including a processor, a display means and a speaker, the software elements comprising a speech synthesizer, a database platform and a software application comprising a methodology of inputting and tabulating visual elements and verbal elements into the database, links for linking the visual elements and verbal elements; operations for manipulating the database and for enunciating the verbal elements as the corresponding visual elements are displayed on the display means.
US08015007B2 Speech recognition apparatus and method thereof
A speech recognition apparatus includes a first grammar storage unit configured to store one or more grammar segments, a second grammar storage unit configured to store one or more grammar segments, a first decoder configured to carry out a decoding process by referring to the grammar segment stored in the second grammar storage unit, a grammar transfer unit configured to transfer a trailing grammar segment from the first grammar storage unit to the second grammar storage unit, a second decoder configured to operate in parallel to the grammar transfer unit and carry out the decoding process by referring to the grammar segment stored in the second grammar storage unit, and a recognition control unit configured to monitor the state of transfer of the trailing grammar segment carried out by the grammar transfer unit and activate the both decoders by switching the operation thereof according to the state of transfer of the grammar segment.
US08015005B2 Method and apparatus for voice searching for stored content using uniterm discovery
A method, system and communication device for enabling voice-to-voice searching and ordered content retrieval via audio tags assigned to individual content, which tags generate uniterms that are matched against components of a voice query. The method includes storing content and tagging at least one of the content with an audio tag. The method further includes receiving a voice query to retrieve content stored on the device. When the voice query is received, the method completes a voice-to-voice search utilizing uniterms of the audio tag, scored against the phoneme latent lattice model generated by the voice query to identify matching terms within the audio tags and corresponding stored content. The retrieved content(s) associated with the identified audio tags having uniterms that score within the phoneme lattice model are outputted in an order corresponding to an order in which the uniterms are structured within the voice query.
US08015000B2 Classification-based frame loss concealment for audio signals
An audio decoding system performs frame loss concealment (FLC) when portions of a bit stream representing an audio signal are lost within the context of a digital communication system. The audio decoding system employs two different FLC methods: one designed to perform well for music, and the other designed to perform well for speech. When a frame is deemed lost, the audio decoding system analyzes a previously-decoded audio signal corresponding to previously-decoded frames of an audio bit-stream. Based on the results of the analysis, the lost frame is classified as either speech or music. Using this classification, other signal analysis, and knowledge of the employed FLC methods, the audio decoding system selects the appropriate FLC method which then performs FLC on the lost frame.
US08014998B2 Electronic device
A storing unit stores therein a plurality of different display language data that is switchable according to a use environment of a user. A selecting unit selects a display language data from the storing unit in response to display language specification information supplied from a main unit at a time of starting the electronic device. A displaying unit displays an operation screen with selected display language data. When there is no display language specification information from the main unit, the selecting unit selects a predetermined display language data according to a difference between stored display language data and display language data set in a factory setting.
US08014996B1 Computer processes for analyzing and improving document readability by identifying passive voice
Disclosed are systems and methods for analyzing and improving document readability. For example, a computer-implementable method of improving authored text is disclosed that can identify passive voice text within authored text by performing the following steps: scanning for a “to be” verb in the text; identifying from the scan an occurrence of a “to be” verb; scanning for a past participle in the text; identifying from the scan an occurrence of a past participle in the text; and providing information to a user regarding a proposed edit to improve the text. Various other rules for improving text are also disclosed.
US08014995B2 Virtual device interactive recording
The present invention provides a mechanism for recording interactions with a Mobile Device to create a map of the structure of the menu system, Mobile Applications, and Mobile Service available on the device. A Recording/Control Environment is integrated with a physical Mobile Device, controls the Mobile Device, and records the resulting data from the Device. The Recording/Control Environment then saves the data as a map of the system structure. Once this graph has been created with a state representing every page available on the device, and with links representing every way of navigating between the individual states of the device, the graph can be used to re-create the experience of interacting with the device. A user may then virtually interact with a representative device through a Run-Time Environment, which uses the map structure to replay the interactions of the mobile device.
US08014994B2 Simulation business object for service oriented architecture
Methods and apparatuses enable creating a stateful simulation process with stateless messages. A stateless message instantiates a simulation object for a system to be simulated. The simulation object is identified by an identifier. Activity request messages, which are stateless, identify the simulation object identifier and can thus be associated with the simulation object. Results of execution of requested activities are stored in the simulation object, and thus persisted in the simulation object. In one embodiment, the persisting of simulation results in the simulation object allows the simulation data to be isolated from the active system data. In one embodiment, results of the execution of the simulation are merged in whole or in part with the active backend data.
US08014990B2 Field-based similarity search system and method
A field-based similarity search system and method includes a database for storing at least one candidate molecule, an input device for inputting a query molecule, and a processor for identifying a candidate molecule which is similar to the query molecule based on a similarity of fragment pair features.
US08014988B2 Method for obtaining resistivity from controlled source electromagnetic data
Method for generating a three-dimensional resistivity data volume for a subsurface region from an initial resistivity model and measured electromagnetic field data from an electromagnetic survey of the region, where the initial resistivity model is preferably obtained by performing multiple ID inversions of the measured data [100]. The resulting resistivity depth profiles are then registered at proper 3D positions [102]. The 3D electromagnetic response is simulated [106] assuming the resistivity structure is given by the initial resistivity model. The measured electromagnetic field data volume is scaled by the simulated results [108] and the ratios are registered at proper 3D positions [110] producing a ratio data volume [112]. A 3D resistivity volume is then generated by multiplying the initial resistivity volume by the ratio data volume (or some function of it), location-by location [114]. A related method emphasizes deeper resistive anomalies over masking effects of shallow anomalies.
US08014986B2 Finite difference algorithm for solving lubrication equations with solute diffusion
A computer implemented method for simulating a final pattern of a droplet of a fluid having a plurality of fluid properties is disclosed. The method includes using lubrication equations to represent solute flow, diffusion and evaporation of a droplet on a substrate. The method further includes solving the lubrication equations through temporal discretization and spatial discretization; and deriving the final pattern of the droplet from results of the solving. The final pattern is stored on a computer readable medium.
US08014983B2 Computer-implemented system and method for storing data analysis models
Computer-implemented systems and methods for processing time series data that is indicative of a data generation activity occurring over a period of time. A model specification hierarchical data structure is used for storing characteristics that define a time series model. A fitted model hierarchical data structure stores characteristics that define a fitted time series model. The characteristics of the fitted time series model are defined through an application of the time series model to the time series data.
US08014976B2 Secure digital forensics
A security module is used to perform an audit of both a computer memory and the computer's processor status. The security module may assert itself as a bus master to read the computer memory without dependence on a program running on the computer. In addition, using a separate hardware path, the security module may access processor register data using a debug port. The security module may collect both memory and processor status information without the use of any of the computer resources being measured, avoiding either alteration of the data by the measurement tool or tampering with the data while being collected.
US08014971B2 Method for validation of thermal solution for an electronic component
In one embodiment a method includes operating a component coupled to the system at a first steady state average power consumption, measuring the temperature of the component to produce a first temperature measurement, operating the component at a second, higher power consumption for a first time period, and measuring the temperature of the component at the end of the first time period to produce a second temperature measurement. A transient thermal metric is calculated based at least in part on the first and second temperature measurements, and the transient thermal metric is used to infer the thermal coupling status of a heat dissipation appliance that is nominally thermally coupled to the component.
US08014970B2 Software enabled video and sensor interoperability system and method
A novel method and software system design are presented for interchanging sensors from different vendors in a plug and play manner to drive mission critical applications within a sensor based architecture, policy based framework, event-based architecture. This technique is applicable to sensors directly attached to a computer, or sensors attached to a network, or sensors attached to a controller node which is attached to a network or directly attached to a computer.
US08014969B2 Test apparatus, test method and manufacturing method
There is provided a test apparatus for testing a plurality of devices under test. The test apparatus includes a signal input section that applies a test signal to the devices under test so as to cause the devices under test to concurrently output response signals, a combining section that generates a single combination signal by using the response signals output from the devices under test, and a judging section that judges whether the devices under test operate normally with reference to the combination signal.
US08014967B2 Low-noise source
In one embodiment, a low-noise source includes: a signal source; a variable amplifier adapted to amplify an output signal from the signal source to provide an amplified signal; a feed-forward amplifier adapted to amplify the amplified signal to provide an amplified output signal; a phase noise measurement system adapted to provide a first feedback signal responsive to phase noise in the amplified output signal; and a processor adapted to control the amplification provided by the variable amplifier responsive to the feedback signal so as to minimize phase noise in the amplified output signal.
US08014955B2 Method of identifying unique target sequence
Described are methods and systems for designing target-specific oligonucleotides of L-length. The method comprises a) parsing a polynucleotide target into overlapping sequences of N-length nucleotides, creating a kernel set; b) performing step a) reiteratively for each target until each it is associated with its own kernel set; c) removing N-length kernels from the kernel sets which are redundant; d) concatenating X-length nucleotide suffixes to each N-length nucleotide kernel to create L-length oligonucleotide sets; e) ordering L-length nucleotides within each set of step d) by their nucleotide position within the target; f) retaining or rejecting an L-length oligonucleotide, based on the presence or absence of each of the X consecutive and overlapping N-length kernels; and g) performing step f) reiteratively. Step g) can be modified to parse L-length oligonucleotide sequences into overlapping Y-length nucleotides to create a set of Y-length kernels; and h) removing certain kernels that meet specified conditions.
US08014954B2 Methods for characterizing agonists and partial agonists of target molecules
In one aspect, the present invention provides methods of determining whether an agent is more like a partial agonist of a target molecule than a full agonist of the same target molecule. In another aspect, the present invention provides methods to select a candidate compound that may reduce blood plasma glucose concentration in a mammal. Populations of genes are provided that are useful in the practice of the present invention.
US08014951B2 Surface pointing techniques
A method for processing seismic data, characterized in that with a view to analyzing them as a function of at least four dimensions. Picking and/or picking propagation is carried out on at least one subset of data which corresponds to a collection of data sampled in three or two dimensions. The quantity or quantities which correspond to the other dimension or dimensions are fixed values. In applying a given projection law to at least one of the points highlighted by the picking and/or picking propagation to determine a point that corresponds to it in another subset corresponding to a collection of data sampled in the same dimensions for a different value of at least one quantity that corresponds to at least one other dimension.
US08014950B2 System and method for seismic trace analysis
Seismic data are processed to reduce or eliminate aliasing due, for example to sparse or irregular sampling. An iterative method includes an inhibiting function used in conjunction with a function evaluating a magnitude of Fourier coefficients that together act to reduce the effects of aliased energies and preferentially select true energies. Computational steps are conducted primarily in k-space, without returning to x-space, thereby reducing computational costs.
US08014938B2 Fuel efficiency determination for an engine
A module that calculates power loss for an internal combustion engine includes an air intake calculation module that determines a final air per cylinder (APC) value. A fuel mass rate calculation module that determines a fuel mass rate value based on the final APC value. A power loss calculation module that determines a power loss value for the internal combustion engine based on the fuel mass rate value.
US08014930B2 System and method for determining oxygen sensor heater resistance
An engine control module includes an exhaust heating module, a temperature determination module, and a resistance measuring module. The exhaust heating module operates an engine at a predetermined speed to generate an exhaust gas having a predetermined temperature. The exhaust gas heats a heating element of an oxygen sensor. The temperature determination module determines, based on the predetermined speed, when the heating element is heated to the predetermined temperature. The resistance measuring module determines a resistance of the heating element when the heating element is heated to the predetermined temperature.
US08014929B2 Method of monitoring a gas turbine engine
Operation of gas turbine engines and in particular gas turbine engines utilised for aircraft, in an efficient manner is a desired objective. Thus engine efficiency is typically determined through use of an engine performance parameter. One such engine performance parameter is with regard to specific fuel consumption. However, such parameters may vary as a result of inherent deterioration with regard to the engine. By utilising a computational model to determine variations in the performance parameter such as the specific fuel consumption changes as a result of such inherent engine degradation can be accommodate. Thus, such degradation may not swamp actual changes in fuel consumption or the engine performance parameter which are indicative of changes of engine efficiency. Generally and initially, computational results are utilised in order to provide a value with regard to degradation changes in the performance parameter, but such changes may be augmented by practical test results in order to tune the off-set constants a, b for an individual engine.
US08014927B2 Antilock brake system control device and method
An object of the present invention is to provide an antilock brake system control device that can realize an accurate constant speed running control by cooperating an ABS control and a constant speed running. The control device includes: an ABS control hydraulic circuit that controls an ABS of each wheel; constant speed running controllers 213, 271 that supply hydraulic pressure to a rear brake 12 when a vehicle runs down a slope; wheel rotation speed detectors 13FL, 13FR, 13RL, 13RR; a monitor 67 that monitors a set speed under constant speed running control; a monitor 61 that monitors actual speed of the vehicle; a judging unit 68 that judges whether running speed is being kept constant or not based on the set speed and the actual speed; and a regulator 69 that regulates decompression by the ABS control when it is judged that the running speed is not being kept constant.
US08014926B2 Vehicle control device
A vehicle control device for executing the following control are provided. When a driving mode is input, a CPU of an ECU outputs an instruction for shifting a power transfer mechanism in accordance with the input driving mode, and controls a power control mechanism in accordance with a stored driving mode. When it is determined that shifting of the power transfer mechanism has been completed, the CPU switches the characteristic of the power control mechanism in accordance with the input driving mode. On the other hand, when it is determined that a predetermined period of time has elapsed without completing the shifting from when the instruction for shifting the power transfer mechanism is issued, the CPU maintains the characteristic of the power control mechanism at a characteristic corresponding to the stored driving mode.
US08014920B2 Methods and systems for providing accessory steering wheel controls
An aftermarket steering wheel control includes a housing that includes a user-operable switch and a control module. The control module is configured to determine whether the user-operable switch has been operated, generate a data frame corresponding to a control signal for operating a vehicle component, and transmit the data frame to a receiver of a control signal interface. Another aftermarket steering wheel control includes a housing with a user-operable switch and a circuit with an output line. The output line is connected to the switch and further connected to a control signal interface. Operation of the user-operable switch changes a resistance on the at least one output line, and the control signal interface is configured to convert the resistance to a control signal for operating a vehicle component.
US08014919B2 Vehicle control device
A vehicle control device and a vehicle are provided with compatibility between high grip performance and fuel efficiency. When a camber angle of a wheel is adjusted as a negative camber, the ground contact pressure on a first tread is increased and the ground contact pressure on a second tread is decreased, thus providing the high grip performance. On the other hand, when the camber angle of the wheel is adjusted as a positive camber, the ground contact pressure on the first tread is decreased and the ground contact pressure on the second tread is increased, thereby reducing rolling resistance and achieving fuel saving. By adjusting the camber angle of the wheel, compatibility can be provided between high grip performance and fuel saving which otherwise conflict with each other.
US08014915B2 Vehicle management system and method using ECU
Disclosed is a vehicle management system using a wireless network system the system comprising, a WCDMA service unit having a specified ID and obtaining access to a network wirelessly, an ECU system associated with the WCDMA service module for controlling all kinds of interfaces in a vehicle, a service provider for providing various services when the WCDMA service module is connected to the wireless network, and a user having the services through non-wireless or wireless communication inside or outside of the vehicle.
US08014914B2 Energy and emission responsive routing for vehicles
Methods, including service methods, articles of manufacture, systems, articles and programmable devices are provided for vehicle route planning as a function of vehicle type. A plurality of different routes for travel by a vehicle from a trip origin to a destination is determined, and the vehicle identified as either an internal combustion engine vehicle type or a hybrid vehicle type. A programmable device is caused to recommend a route of the determined plurality of routes to an operator of the identified vehicle as a function of the identified vehicle type, wherein a route recommended to the identified internal combustion engine vehicle type is different from a route recommended to the identified hybrid vehicle type. In some examples, identifying the vehicle as configured to generate operative energy through a regenerative braking energy component results in recommending a route will cause more breaking over a faster route.
US08014909B2 Control system for vehicles
A system for controlling flight of an aircraft has sensors (37, 43), a receiver (45), and a digital control system (57), all of which are carried aboard the aircraft. The sensors (37, 43) determine the position of the aircraft relative to the earth and the inertial movement of the aircraft. The receiver (45) receives transmitted data (51, 55) communicating the position and movement of a reference vehicle relative to the earth. The control system (57) calculates the position and velocity of the aircraft relative to the reference vehicle using the data from the sensors (37, 43) and the receiver (45) and then commands flight control devices (33) on the aircraft for maneuvering the aircraft in a manner that maintains a selected position and/or velocity relative to the reference vehicle. The system allows use of a graphical or tactile user interfaces.
US08014903B2 Method for suppressing vibration and device therefor
The vibration suppressing device includes vibration sensors, a FFT calculating unit, a store device, a calculating unit, and a NC device. The vibration sensors detect a time-domain vibrational acceleration of a rotary shaft during rotating. The FFT calculating unit calculates a frequency of chatter vibration and a frequency-domain vibrational acceleration in the frequency of chatter vibration on the basis of the detected time-domain vibrational acceleration. The store device stores the frequency-domain vibrational acceleration, the frequency of chatter vibration and the like as machining information. When the calculated maximum frequency-domain acceleration exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the calculating unit stores the maximum acceleration, the frequency of chatter vibration, and the like as current machining information in the store device, and calculates an optimal rotation speed of the rotary shaft, by which the chatter vibration can be suppressed, based on the current machining information and previous machining information stored in the store device. The NC device rotates the rotary shaft at the optimal rotation speed.
US08014901B2 Mobile robot control system
In a mobile robot control system, it is configured such that the robot generates time-series data sequentially at a predetermined time interval and transmits them to the external terminal, and the external terminal receives the transmitted time-series data and adds them to the motion command, such that the motion of the robot is determined based on the generated time-series data and the time-series data added to the motion command. With this, it becomes possible to prevent the robot from suddenly starting to move at the time when the communication between the external terminal which is a transmitting source of the motion command and the robot has recovered from disconnection, thereby enabling to avoid making the operator feel unnatural.
US08014900B2 System and method for detecting traveling state
A system and method for detecting a traveling state. The system includes an image receiving unit acquiring two consecutive images and detecting first traveling information from image information regarding each of the two consecutive images, a traveling information processing unit connected to a driver moving in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the images are acquired, the traveling information processing unit detecting second traveling information from information regarding the driver, and a control unit determining the traveling state based on the first traveling information and the second traveling information.
US08014899B2 Article conveying robot system
An article conveying robot system capable of effectively containing an article in a container conveyed by a conveyor by using a robot. A container detecting part measures the distribution of shading of an image of each containing cell based on a detection result of the container, detects the containing state of each cell, and stores the detection result of each cell. An information managing part of a controller of an upstream side robot receives information from a container detecting part of a controller of a downstream side robot, and then generates containing cell information. An information managing part checks the cell information to be processed, and then transmits the cell information to a task executing part only when an article is not located in the corresponding cell. Task executing part controls the robot so as to locate an article in the selected cell based on the cell information.
US08014895B2 Temperature setting method of heat processing plate, temperature setting apparatus of heat processing plate, program, and computer-readable recording medium recording program thereon
An object of the present invention is to perform temperature setting of a heating plate so that a wafer is uniformly heated in an actual heat processing time. The temperature of a wafer is measured during a heat processing period from immediately after a temperature measuring wafer is mounted on the heating plate to the time when the actual heat processing time elapses. Whether the uniformity in temperature within the wafer is allowable or not is determined from the temperature of the wafer in the heat processing period, and if the determination result is negative, a correction value for a temperature setting parameter of the heating plate is calculated using a correction value calculation model from the measurement result, and the temperature setting parameter is changed.
US08014889B2 Transactional method for building three-dimensional objects
The present invention is a method (10) for manufacturing a three-dimensional object. The method (10) includes receiving (14) digital information of the three-dimensional object over a communication line and building (30) the three-dimensional object based at least in part on the received digital information, where at least part of the three-dimensional object is built by rapid manufacturing, and where the three-dimensional object comprises an exterior surface. The method also includes vapor smoothing (32) at least a portion of the exterior surface of the three-dimensional object.
US08014888B2 Methods and systems for customizing lighting control panels
A design module is a software module that is implemented in a computer system that comprises instructions stored in a machine-readable medium and a processor that executes the instructions. The design module receives inputs from a person to create a custom insert for a lighting control panel. The inputs identify the content and locations of labels and a decorative background of the insert. Each label is associated with a corresponding input device. Each input device is associated with an optical configuration or “scene” of an environment associated with the lighting control panel. Each label includes alphanumeric text and/or graphics that identify the scene of the label's corresponding input device. The design module causes the insert to be generated by instructing a printer to print the labels and background on a sheet of material, at the specified locations.
US08014885B2 Mobile paint system utilizing slider attribute prompts and reflectance memory storage
What is disclosed is a plurality of prepaints which are used in any combination to produce base paints and/or colored paints of varying end-use application characteristics. Additionally, a mobile paint factory for producing a plurality of lines of paints from a plurality of prepaints en route to and/or at various locations is disclosed, which may include a vehicle having a paint production system, a spectrometer and a gloss meter. Furthermore, a method of producing a plurality of lines of user-selected paints from a plurality of prepaints en route to and/or at various locations is disclosed. The method may include: providing a mobile paint factory; prompting a user to select a value for a paint attribute on a slider; and automatically dispensing predetermined amounts of appropriate prepaints. The method may also comprise storing information about the reflectance of produced paints in a local data storage device.
US08014884B2 Audio conversation apparatus
An audio conversation apparatus includes an assignment section for individually assigning units of spatial information which are different from each other, either to parties-to-talk-with each belonging to one of a plurality of predetermined groups, respectively, or to the plurality of predetermined groups, respectively; and a localization section for localizing, in accordance with the units of spatial information assigned by the assignment section, audio data transmitted from outside, and one of a reproduction section connected to the audio conversation apparatus and a reproduction section included in the audio conversation apparatus outputs an audio in accordance with the audio data having been localized by the localization section.
US08014883B2 Templates and style sheets for audio broadcasts
An audio broadcast creation client applies the concept of style sheets to audio data intended for audio broadcasts. The creation client associates style sheet elements to sections of the audio broadcast. An audio broadcast rendering engine applies the style sheet elements at runtime to alter or enhance sections of the audio broadcast. Different style sheets may be applied to the same raw audio broadcast data to alter the end result. A template is provided for generating audio broadcasts. The user may record the appropriate audio files and refer to these audio files in fields of the audio broadcast template.
US08014869B2 Pixel re-mapping for visual prosthesis
A method and apparatus for adjusting a visual image provided to a patient. In one embodiment, an image may be presented to the patient to obtain the patient's subjective perception of the image, and the patient may either manipulate the image to obtain a desired adjustment, or guide a clinician performing the adjustment. In another embodiment, the clinician may make objective observations of, for example, the position of an electrode array on the patient's retina, and make adjustments accordingly. The adjustment may be a spatial adjustment comprising a re-mapping performed to decreases image distortion resulting from differences in the patient's perception of stimulation of different areas of the retina. Such distortion may result from differences between the patient's perception of stimulation falling within the macula, and stimulation falling within the periphery surrounding the macula. The adjustment may also compensate for translations or rotations of the electrode array on the retina.
US08014866B2 Variable voltage compliance for current output generator
A system for providing stimulation current in implantable medical devices is provided. One aspect of this disclosure relates to an apparatus including a power supply terminal adapted to be connected to a power supply. The apparatus embodiment also includes circuitry connected to the power supply terminal and adapted to detect a parameter dependent on tissue/electrode impedance. The apparatus embodiment further includes a current output pulse generator adapted to deliver electrical therapy. The current generator includes an adjustable compliance voltage source connected to the power supply terminal. The compliance voltage source has a programmable amplitude and is adapted to provide different potentials for different tissue/electrode interface impedances. According to various embodiments, the apparatus embodiment also includes at least one stimulating electrode, and the current generator is adapted to deliver electrical therapy using the electrode. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.
US08014862B2 Anterior active housing subcutaneous positioning methods
A subcutaneous cardiac device includes a subcutaneous electrode and a housing coupled to the subcutaneous electrode by a lead with a lead wire. The subcutaneous electrode is adapted to be implanted in a frontal region of the patient so as to overlap a portion of the patient's heart.
US08014859B2 External defibrillator enclosure with accessory storage slot
An external defibrillator enclosure for use in conjunction with a defibrillator accessory, such as an electrode pad assembly, includes a front panel and a rear panel which are mated together and secured by a coupling means. The enclosure also includes a plate secured by a coupling means to the second panel. The plate and second panel are positioned relative to each other to form a slot that is sized to receive a portion of the electrode assembly. The enclosure also includes a connector port that allows for the electrode pad assembly to be pre-connected to the electronics within the enclosure. The electrode pad assembly includes a cable and a connector at the end of the cable, and the exterior face of enclosure rear panel includes a groove that is sized to receive and retain the cable. The groove holds the cable in place against the surface of the enclosure while the cable is connected to the connector port.
US08014858B1 Shockless defibrillation
Apparatus (18) is provided for defibrillating a heart (20) of a person. The apparatus (18) includes one or more electrodes (100) that are adapted to be coupled to the heart, and a control unit (90) that is adapted to drive the electrodes to apply electrical pulses to the heart at a rate which is typically greater than about 10 Hz. The control unit terminates the electrical pulses, so that the heart beats without fibrillation. Other embodiments are also described.
US08014856B2 Induced current measurement systems and methods
In an embodiment, the invention includes a measurement system for measuring induced currents within an implantable medical device undergoing magnetic resonance imaging. The measurement system can include a resistor connected in series with a conductive loop and electronic circuitry configured to generate a signal representative of a voltage differential across the resistor. In some embodiments, the measurement system includes a fiber optic cable configured to transmit the signal away from the area subject to magnetic resonance imaging. In some embodiments, the measurement system includes a transmitter to wirelessly transmit the signal away from the area subject to magnetic resonance imaging. In an embodiment, the invention can include an implantable medical device including a measurement system for measuring induced currents. In an embodiment, the invention can include a method of measuring an induced current in an implantable medical device undergoing magnetic resonance imaging. Other embodiments are described herein.
US08014854B2 Method and device for treating abnormal tissue growth with electrical therapy
This invention relates generally to the electrical treatment of malignant tumors and neoplasms by applying a voltage to affected tissue. Devices and various adaptations therein are described for use in electrical therapy. Additionally, various chemotherapeutic agent and radiation therapies are described which may be advantageously used in conjunction with electrical therapy to ameliorate cancer.
US08014852B2 System, method and apparatus for detecting a cardiac event
A system, method and apparatus for detecting a cardiac event in a subject, may include at least one electrode attached to the subject for obtaining an electrocardiogram of the subject's heart, and determination means for determining a size of an area under a QRS complex of the electrocardiogram. The at least one electrode may be attached to the subject's skin or to the subject's heart. Preferably, the determination means for determining the size of the area under the QRS complex of the electrocardiogram is either visual or quantitative. The subject may be a human being or an animal. The size of the area under the QRS complex of the electrocardiogram determined by the determination means is directly proportional to the mass of a viable myocardium in the subject's heart. The cardiac event that may be detected may be degenerative cardiomyopathy, acute myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, myocardial ischaemia, or compromised ventricular function.
US08014851B2 Signal analysis in implantable cardiac treatment devices
Methods and devices for cardiac signal analysis in implantable cardiac therapy systems. Several signal processing and/or conditioning methods are shown including R-wave detection embodiments including the use of thresholds related to previous peak amplitudes. Also, some embodiments include sample thresholding to remove extraneous data from sampled signals. Some embodiments include weighting certain samples more heavily than other samples within a sampled cardiac signal for analysis.
US08014846B2 Methods of using magnetic fields to uniformly induce electric fields for therapeutic purposes
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for delivering an electric field to a body by delivering a first magnetic field from a first coil in a first orientation to a body and directed at a desired target within the body, and delivering a second magnetic field from a second coil in a second orientation directed at the desired target within the body to induce an electric field across the desired target, wherein only one magnetic field is delivered to the body at any one time.
US08014844B2 Electromagnetic sliding mechanism and electronic device
An electromagnetic sliding mechanism and an electronic device are provided. The sliding mechanism includes a fixing base, a sliding piece, and an elastic piece. The fixing base and the sliding piece are respectively provided with an electromagnetic element and the two electromagnetic elements correspond to each other. The sliding piece can slide between a first position and a second position with respect to the fixing base. One end of the elastic piece is pivotally connected to the fixing base, and the other end thereof is pivotally connected to the sliding piece to slide synchronously therewith. Via a repulsive magnetic force generated by electro-magnetizing the two electromagnetic elements, the sliding piece slides automatically from the first position to the second position. When the electromagnetic sliding mechanism is applied to the electronic device, two opposite casings of the electronic device can slide with respect to each other.
US08014842B2 Sliding type mobile terminal
A sliding mechanism is provided to couple slidably a first housing having on its surface a vertically long liquid crystal display part long in the vertical direction to a second housing having on its surface an operating part. This slide mechanism includes a rail part which is mounted on the surface of the second housing in a manner of extending in the vertical direction and is configured such that when the first housing has slidingly moved by means of the slide mechanism to the upper end side of the second housing, the operating part of the second housing will appear. Further, by means of the cam mechanism (support mechanism), the first housing is supported relative to the second housing in a switchable manner between the vertically long state and the horizontally long state.
US08014841B2 Mobile terminal
A mobile terminal having a housing, a circuitry supporting substrate located in the housing, the circuitry supporting substrate having an opening formed within the circuitry supporting substrate, and a camera extending into the opening of the circuitry supporting substrate.
US08014839B2 Mobile telephone
A mobile telephone includes a first body, a connecting portion, and a second body. A keyboard is formed the first body. The connecting portion is secured on the first body and rotatable relative to the first body about a first axis. The second body is secured on the connecting portion and rotatable relative to the connecting portion about a second axis. The second axis is substantially perpendicular to the first axis.
US08014838B2 Electronic apparatus formed by no less than two sections
An electronic apparatus includes a first section and a second section which are foldable together in: a first mode in which respective front faces of the first and second sections face each other, and a second mode in which the front face of the first section faces a back face of the second section. A contact protector is provided on the front face of the first section. In the first mode, a first portion of the contact protector contacts the front face of the second section and forms a first clearance between the respective front faces, and a second portion of the contact protector is accommodated in a dent in the front face of the second section. In the second mode, the second portion of the contact protector contacts the back face of the second section and forms a second clearance between the respective front faces.
US08014837B2 Telecommunications chassis and card
A chassis and associated telecommunication circuit card are disclosed. The chassis has heat dissipation structures and may accommodate a high density of the circuitry cards. Embodiments may include one surface with one or more ridges for rigidity and ventilation and fin slots for receiving circuit card guide fins. Embodiments may include a surface with knockouts for receiving circuit card guides. Embodiments may also include multiple bracket hole patterns for mounting brackets for different racks or for a single multi-rack bracket having more than one mounting hole pattern. The circuit card includes conductor structures such as multiple board layers with paired and segregated conductors. The circuit card also includes some components positioned to cooperate with the ventilation structures of the chassis and includes some components chosen for low-power consumption or reduced flammability.
US08014836B2 Telephone apparatus
Telephone apparatus in that a front cover 3 and a rear cover 4 are combined with each other to form a main body 2, and various components are provided in the main body 2. The front cover 3 includes a transmitter 5, an operating unit 6, a display unit 7, and a receiver 8 from the bottom of the main body 2. In the front cover 3, a main tone hole 85 is provided in the vicinity of a speaker 82, and a sub-tone hole 86 is provided below the speaker 82.
US08014834B2 System and method to conduct idle mode paging channel monitoring within a cellular wireless network
A method and system to determine when a wireless terminal has been paged by a servicing base station. An encoded paging burst is received on a paging channel and then decoded to produce a decoded paging burst. The decoded paging burst is processed to determine if it is a null page. When the encoded paging burst is a null page, it is processed to produce a null page pattern. The wireless terminal may then enter a sleep mode or reduced functionality mode for a predetermined period of time. The wireless terminal awakes from the sleep mode to receive additional encoded paging bursts. Processing the additional encoded paging bursts produces a processed encoded paging burst, which is compared to the null page pattern. When compared favorably, the encoded paging burst is considered a null page, allowing the wireless terminal to re-enter the sleep mode without fully decoding the paging burst.
US08014825B2 Network participant status evaluation
Methods and apparatus for obtaining and providing status information for network devices. In one implementation, a wireless device includes: an antenna; a wireless communication interface connected to said antenna and supporting wireless communication across a wireless connection provided by said antenna; a memory supporting storing data; and a controller connected to said wireless interface and to said memory, supporting an application service and a network evaluation service; wherein said application service provides execution and management of one or more application programs accessible by said controller using application data stored in said memory, said network evaluation service provides evaluation of status information of other devices available for wireless communication through said wireless interface and provides status information of the wireless device to another device upon request, and status information provided by said network evaluation service includes information indicating at least one application program for which application data is stored in said memory.
US08014824B2 Article of manufacture integrated with music and telephonic communication devices
An article of manufacture, such as a jacket or backpack, integrates the services of an audio delivery device, such as an MP3 player, with the services of a two-way communication device, such as a mobile phone, or a two-way radio such as a walkie talkie, citizen band radio, HAM radio, marine or aviation radio, and the like. The article integrates the reception and provision of input and output signals from both the audio devices within the article, thereby enabling a user to listen to music or to receive and place phone calls while engaged in activity. In one implementation, the article provides these functions by holding one or more devices for communicably connecting and switching the audio and communication devices, mixing signals received therefrom, and optionally enabling a user to reduce the volume or mute the signals as desired.
US08014822B1 Accessorized cellphone apparatus
The accessorized cellphone apparatus combines three typically separate devices into one. The cellphone device of the apparatus features a cellphone view window with accompanying keypad located proximally below. The top of the apparatus, which optionally includes an antenna, also features an activation button for operating the heating element, disposed in the combustion chamber within the top of the apparatus. The combustion chamber houses the piezoelectric igniter. The heating element maintains gas ignition within the combustion chamber such that inclement conditions do not extinguish the flame. The LED lighted flashlight is disposed within the bottom of the apparatus and features a reflector grid implanted with a plurality of LED's, offering maximal lighting with low voltage power of the cellphone battery.
US08014819B2 Intelligent connectivity framework for the simultaneous use of multiple interfaces
A system and method comprising a framework configured to enable wireless devices to intelligently and simultaneously use multiple wireless interfaces of the wireless devices.
US08014818B2 Methods and systems for providing efficient operation of multiple modes in a WLAN system
A method and system applies MAC transmission opportunity (TXOP) protection for multiple mode operation in a WLAN system. In particular, MAC mechanisms are defined to support multiple mode CTS frames, and multiple mode CF-End frames sent by the AP, each in a format appropriate for the corresponding mode which also applies to a single mode as a trivial case. MAC mechanisms permit truncation of TXOP duration for releasing the unused portion of the TXOP when no further data for transmission is available. Release of unused protected TXOP is possible for both protected AP transmissions and STA transmissions.
US08014811B2 Communication system, communication device and communication rate modification method
A communication system includes: an RF/IF/BB unit (21) for receiving, in a mobile station device (20), a transmission signal from a base station device; a received power calculation unit (221) for obtaining received power thereof; a communication rate modification unit (23) for changing a communication rate by changing a modulation scheme used by the base station device to modulate the transmission signal in a predetermined case; and a communication rate increase limit unit (27) for limiting the communication rate to be increased by the communication rate modification unit (23), according to received power required for the mobile station device (20) to demodulate the transmission signal and according to the received power obtained when receiving the transmission signal after the communication rate is changed by the communication rate modification unit (23) and predicted based on the received power obtained by the received power calculation unit (221) and based on a decrease amount of a transmission power of a transmission signal decreased by the base station device according to increase of the communication rate by the communication rate modification unit (23).
US08014807B2 Transmission power control apparatus, propagation path estimating apparatus, transmission power control method, and propagation path estimating method
A transmission power control apparatus capable of reducing unnecessary transmission power that is consumed in transmission of pilot symbols. In the apparatus, a power control part establishes, based on a repetition number of a data signal, a transmission power value of a pilot signal. For example, the power control part establishes, based on an improved reception quality when data signals as replicated in accordance with the repetition number of a data signal are combined, a transmission power value of a pilot signal at a level required and sufficient for meeting a target value of the reception quality of the other end of communication. A power amplifying part amplifies the pilot signal in accordance with the established transmission power value.
US08014798B2 High-capacity paging method, and associated apparatus, with further reduced probability of false page match
Apparatus, and an associated method for facilitating paging of an access terminal operable in a radio communication system. A paging message is formed that includes partial identities of access terminals that are to be paged. The partial identities are arranged into groups of partial identities. And, the groups are ordered. Ordering of the groups conveys additional information bits.
US08014794B2 Mobile terminal and schedule management method using the same
A mobile terminal and schedule management method using the same. The method includes: setting a schedule, the schedule including an alarm time, planned event time, planned event and a destination; and information about the location of the scheduled destination from a map search feature. A current location of the mobile terminal can be computed at an alarm time of a current schedule, using global positioning system (GPS) satellite signals. A first estimated travel time from the current location of the mobile terminal to a destination of the current schedule is provided. An alarm is output in which at least the computed first estimated travel time and the current schedule are displayed. The schedule management function integrates location and traffic information to provide effective schedule guidance to a user.
US08014791B2 Method and system for determining position of a wireless electronic device within a volume
A method for determining a position of a wireless electronic device within a volume includes detecting a signal transmitted by the wireless device during two-way communication to and from a first known position within the volume. The method further includes detecting the signal from at least three additional known positions within the volume, where the at least three additional known positions are spatially independent of each other. The method further includes determining a phase difference between the signal detected at the first position and the signal detected at each of the at least three additional positions, determining the position of the wireless electronic device using the phase differences, and at least one of displaying and storing the position of the wireless electronic device.
US08014787B2 System and method for discriminating radar transmissions from wireless network transmissions and wireless network having radar-avoidance capability
For use in a wireless network, systems and methods for identifying radar signals and for giving the wireless network a radar-avoidance capability. The system for identifying radar signals includes: (1) a pulse analyzer, associated with a wireless device, configured to make a determination whether a received pulse is a radar pulse and not a wireless network pulse and (2) a pulse reporter configured to generate, if the determination is positive, a report thereof for transmission over the wireless network. Another system gives the wireless network a radar-avoidance capability and includes: (1) a report receiver configured to receive reports via the wireless network from wireless devices thereof and (2) a report analyzer, associated with the report receiver, configured to analyze relationships among the reports to make a determination whether a sequence of radar pulses exists and, if the determination is positive, generate a radar transmission alert.
US08014785B2 Method and system for collecting and reporting interference source information
Method, and system for collecting and reporting interference source information, the method includes: each terminal receives broadcast message containing NBS identification information sent by NBS when initializing, terminals which can demodulate and check accurately contain the broadcast message and receiving time information in interfered reporting message and send the interfered reporting message to the operating base station OBS, and terminals which can't demodulate and check in error contain receiving time information in reporting message; OBS records the receiving time information reported by each terminal, and records the NBS identification information contained in the broadcast message reported by terminals which check accurately as the interference source of the terminals which report the broadcast message; then, searches and records the interference sources for the other terminals from the recorded interference sources according to the relationship between the receiving time information.
US08014783B2 Bearer selection and negotiation in autonomous dynamic spectrum access systems
Communicating between a plurality of nodes includes sensing spectrum activity on at least one channel; generating spectrum awareness data based at least in part on the sensed spectrum activity; determining at least one selected bearer based on the spectrum awareness data; negotiating among nodes to select at least one bearer based on various spectral use criteria.
US08014782B2 Fast setup of physical communication channels
The present invention relates to improvements for a fast setup of physical communication channels in a CDMA-based communication system. A Node B of a telecommunication network is permitted to manage and assign a certain share of the downlink transmission resources of a radio network controller without inquiry of said radio network controller. On reception of a resource request message from a user equipment, the node B derives and specifies a certain amount of said resources that can be allocated to the user equipment. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention said resources are only assigned temporarily until the ordinary RL setup procedure, which involves the RNC, has been successfully finished.
US08014780B2 Method for transmitting the identity of a calling subscriber to a called subscriber in a mobile communication system
The invention relates to a method and a mobile communication system for transmitting the identity of a calling subscriber to a called subscriber in a mobile communication system comprising a home location register for permanent storage of subscriber data on mobile stations registered in the network, and at least one visitor location register for temporary storage of subscriber data on mobile stations located in the geographical area monitored by the visitor location register. The identity of subscriber A is transmitted to the mobile services switching center of subscriber B via signaling that is unrelated to the speech connection.
US08014775B2 Method and system for implementing messaging services and a message application server
A method for implementing messaging services includes receiving a message body sent by a calling user, determining whether the calling user and a called user are in the same IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) domain according to user registration information, and sending the message body to the called user if the calling user and the called user are in the same IMS domain. An IMS messaging service system includes a Message Application Server (MAS), a Call Session Control Function (CSCF) entity, a calling User Equipment (UE) and a called UE. A MAS includes a user registration information storing unit, a receiving unit, and a determining unit adapted to determine whether the calling user and the called user are in the same IMS domain according to the user registration information stored in the user registration information storing unit when the receiving unit receives the message body from the calling user, and a sending unit. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, when the calling user and the called user are in the same IMS domain, the information interaction process and the message body transmission time may be shortened.
US08014771B2 Method of sharing a satellite communication system having a hub with common equipment
A method of sharing a satellite communication system having a common equipment includes billing a first user for sending a first message using the common equipment over a first satellite link, billing a second user for sending a second message using the common equipment over a second satellite link, wherein the first satellite link is different than the second satellite link, billing a first network operator for billing the first user, and billing a second network operator for billing the second user.
US08014770B2 System and method for managing data to be pushed to a wireless device when the device may be outside of a coverage range
A push proxy server for pushing data to a wireless device having a coverage state of online or offline. The push proxy server comprises a coverage state detector, memory, a data store, and a transceiver. The coverage state detector determines the coverage state of the wireless device. The memory stores a coverage state indicator for indicating the coverage state of the wireless device. The data store stores the data to be pushed to the wireless device when the coverage state indicator indicates the wireless device is offline. The transceiver transmits the data to the wireless device when the coverage state indicator indicates the wireless device is online. A method for implementing the push proxy server is also described.
US08014764B2 Interrogate-response communication system with privacy indication
A method of and apparatus for obtaining information about a product or service offering having an associated receiver responsive to an information request or query. The method comprise providing a portable subscriber device linked with a communication network, presenting at least one selectable query for information to a subscriber via the subscriber device, selecting the at least one query for information, providing a desired privacy status of the subscriber utilizing the subscriber device, transmitting the query and the privacy status and, at the associated receiver, processing the privacy status and responding to the query by providing the requested information to the subscriber. A corresponding apparatus is also disclosed.
US08014759B2 Information processor
The invention provides an efficient transfer of video/audio contents recorded by a server in advance for a user to view the contents with a mobile terminal, whereby the user is relieved of troublesome operations. The information processor includes two record means for recording coded video/audio data, the second record means controls already played back data having already been viewed by the user of the data transferred from the first record means, and when data is newly transferred from the first record means, the retransfer means is provided which erases only the already played back data, and transfers the data corresponding to a capacity evacuated by the erasing from the first record means.
US08014753B2 Distributed base station test bus architecture in a wireless network
A distributed test architecture of transmitting boundary scan Test Access Port (TAP_signals over a serial channel is disclosed. The architecture facilitates the system testing and remote field update of distributed base stations in a wireless network. The distributed test architecture enables system testing as if the distributed units are on a backplane within the same chassis by creating a plurality of logical connections between the distributed unit and the test bus using a single bit fiber line and a five bit TAP test bus.
US08014750B2 Reducing call setup delays from non-call related signaling
Methods and apparatus are provided for reducing call setup delays resulting from non-call related signaling. In session initiation protocol (SIP) messaging, SIP session setup messaging can have the same priority for placement on the airlink to a mobile phone as other non-call session setup messaging. Method and apparatus for providing priority to call session setup messaging are providing, and in some cases, emergency call setup messaging. By providing priority to call setup messaging, delays that might result from being stuck in a queue behind non-call setup messaging can be reduced.
US08014743B1 Methods and apparatus for calibrating received signal strength indicators
This disclosure discloses methods and apparatus for calibrating received signal strength indicators.
US08014739B2 Radio terminal and transmission power control method
A radio terminal includes a first part that has a first gain switchable between first and second levels, a second part that continuously controls a second gain, and a control part. A first range of the combined gain of the first and second gains obtained by the second part with the first gain set at the first level and a second range of the combined gain obtained by the second part with the first gain set at the second level have at least an overlap. The control part switches the first gain from one to the other of the first and second levels if the combined gain is within the overlap and a change in the combined gain exceeds a predetermined value, or if the combined gain is within the overlap and the radio terminal is in a period of no transmission or reception in intermittent transmission or reception.
US08014735B2 RF power amplifier controlled by estimated distortion level of output signal of power amplifier
A radio frequency (RF) power amplifier system is provided, in which a distortion of the RF output signal from the power amplifier is estimated by comparing the RF output signal with reference modulation information. The supply voltage to the power amplifier is adjusted so that the estimated distortion of the RF output signal corresponds to a predetermined distortion level. The predetermined distortion level is set to represent an acceptable distortion level at the RF output signal.
US08014727B2 Signal processing in electronic apparatus
A method, apparatus, and computer program for estimating a rank, i.e. the number of uncorrelated spatial channels, of a radio channel are provided. The rank estimation is carried out by examining mutual proportions of a first eigenvalue and a second eigenvalue of a two-by-two channel matrix representation with a test function including elements of a solution of roots of a quadratic characteristic equation of the two-by-two channel matrix representation, wherein the test function comprises a discriminant of the solution of the roots of the quadratic characteristic equation without a square root operation.
US08014726B1 Method and system for collecting wireless information transparently and non-intrusively
A method of collecting information on a wireless device. A wireless device may comprise a processor, a transceiver, a memory and a data collecting component. The data collecting component is operable to monitor the wireless device and collect information (e.g., wireless network information, wireless device information and wireless device usage information). In one embodiment, at least a portion of the data collecting component is installed within and/or below the operating system. For example, at least a portion of the data collecting component may be embedded within the operating system, the kernel, the firmware and/or on top of the firmware, the kernel or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, the collected information may be processed, stored and transmitted. Accordingly, the data collector component operates in a non-intrusive/transparent manner by utilizing less memory space and produces fewer errors without causing a system slowdown while maintaining high level of privacy and security.
US08014725B2 Method and device for a safety-orientated wireless signal transmission
A method for safety-directed wireless signal transmission is provided. The method includes duplicating an input signal; supplying each copy of the duplicated input signal within a source unit to a transmitter module over separate, independent software paths; transmitting the copies using the transmitter module over a common wireless transmission link to a receiver module of a sink unit; supplying each transmitted copy within the sink unit over an independent software path to a comparator module; and using the comparator module to test the output copies for consistency with an output signal corresponding to the output copies being generated by the comparator module.
US08014723B2 Wireless transceiver and method for use therewith
A wireless transceiver includes a first integrated circuit and a second integrated circuit. The first integrated circuit includes a memory module that stores a plurality of operational instructions for implementing a plurality of protocol layers of a wireless protocol, a processing module that executes the plurality of operational instructions, and a first interface module. The second integrated circuit includes a second interface module that couples data to and from the first interface module, an RF transceiver that modulates a first baseband signal to produce a transmitted RF signal, and that demodulates a received RF signal to produce a second baseband signal, and a baseband module that generates the first baseband signal based on data received from the first interface module via the second interface module, and that generates data based on the second baseband signal to send to the first interface module via the second interface module.
US08014720B2 Service provisioning utilizing near field communication
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, apparatuses, and programming instructions configured to enable a device to receive provisioning data over a Near Field Communication link, and utilize the provisioning data to receive services.
US08014716B2 Information management server and information distribution system
An information management server and information distribution system utilizes a video of the class for creating educational contents matching the learning conditions of the student, and also provides instruction using these same contents. This information server and information distribution system are composed of an accumulator section to store electronic data on the lecture contents, a holding section to hold lecture-related information, a send section to send lecture contents and lecture-related information to the terminal of the student, an analyzer section to analyze electronic data on the lecture contents, and a matcher section to link lecture-related information with lecture contents based on those analysis results, and a control section for selecting lecture contents linked to the lecture-related information based on a reply to the lecture-related information sent from the student terminal, wherein the send section and sends those selected lecture contents to the terminal of the student that sent the reply to the lecture-related information.
US08014715B2 Fixing apparatus using fixing solution and image forming apparatus including the fixing apparatus
A fixing apparatus to fix unfixed toner carried on a surface of a recording medium by attaching a fixing solution capable of softening toner onto the unfixed toner is provided. The fixing apparatus includes a sprayer to spray the fixing solution; a fixing solution charging part to charge the fixing solution; a first electrode to rotate and provided on a same side of the recording medium as the surface carrying the unfixed toner; a second electrode provided on an opposite side of the recording medium to the surface carrying the unfixed toner; and a voltage applying part to generate an electric field between the first electrode and the second electrode so that the fixing solution sprayed by the sprayer and charged by the fixing solution charging part moves toward the second electrode.
US08014714B2 Fusers, printing apparatuses and methods of fusing toner on media
Fusers, printing apparatuses and methods of fusing toner on media are disclosed. An embodiment of a fuser for heating media includes a fuser roll including an outer portion having a first outer surface; a voltage source connected to the outer portion and adapted to supply voltage to the outer portion to heat the first outer surface; a pressure roll having a second outer surface; and a nip between the first and second outer surfaces. The first and second outer surfaces are adapted to contact a medium at the nip.
US08014706B2 Developing device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus
A developing device is disclosed. The developing device includes a developing roller disposed to face an image carrier and a toner carrier capturing roller disposed to face the developing roller for capturing toner carriers adhered onto the image carrier. The developing roller generates a magnetic pole at a side facing the toner carrier capturing roller. A first virtual line, which connects a rotational center of the developing roller to a rotational center of the toner carrier capturing roller, passes through a region between a position where a magnetic flux density of the magnetic pole in the normal line direction is minimum on the developing roller at the upstream side in the rotational direction of the developing roller and a position where the magnetic flux density of the magnetic pole in the normal line direction is maximum on the developing roller.
US08014704B2 Developing agent storage device and image forming apparatus having same in which the chargeability level of the toner, storage device, and carrier have a specific relationship
A developing agent storage device for storing a refill developing agent includes toner particles, carrier particles, an inner layer of the developing agent storage device. The toner particles and carrier particles compose the refill developing agent. The inner layer is provided as a wall contacting the refill developing agent. An electrostatic chargeability level of the toner particles, the carrier particles, and the inner layer is set in an order of toner, inner layer, and carrier from any one of a negative charge side and a positive charge side.
US08014697B2 Cleaning device, and image forming apparatus provided with the same
A cleaning device for cleaning an image forming surface of a rotating image bearing member that bears a toner image includes a cleaning member that faces and cleans the image forming surface. An operating mechanism allows the cleaning member to come in press-contact with and separate from the image forming surface. A controller controls the operating mechanism. A solid lubricant provides lubricity to the image forming surface through the cleaning member. The solid lubricant contacts of cleaning member in a state where the cleaning member is in press-contact with the image forming surface and the solid lubricant separates from the cleaning member in a state where the cleaning member separates from the image forming surface.
US08014695B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet, includes: an image forming section which forms the image on the sheet; a fixing device which fixes the image onto the sheet; a first duct which covers the fixing device and ventilates air heated by the fixing device; a second duct, which covers the first duct and ventilates cool air introduced from outside; and an exhaust fan which exhausts the air that has passed through each of the first duct and the second duct.
US08014692B2 Image forming apparatus
When an instruction reception section receives an image forming instruction from an operator, a detector detects an toner image forming unit which performs an image forming operation in connection with the operator's instruction. A mode determining section determines which one of an image formation preceding mode or a sheet conveyance preceding mode is set for the toner image forming unit detected by the detector, and a drive controller controls drivings of the sheet conveying section and the image forming section according to the determined mode.
US08014689B2 Image forming apparatus, method of gamma correction and storage medium storing gamma correction program
An image forming apparatus is configured to control the density of an output image based on an inherent gamma characteristic of the apparatus. The apparatus includes a patch image forming unit that forms patch images having multiple gradation values, a measuring unit that measures the density or lightness of each patch image, a sample point arrangement unit that arranges sample points representative of measured density or lightness values in a descending or ascending order of the gradation values, an inflection point region detecting unit that detects any specific inflection point region, a straight line region detecting unit that detects any specific straight line region, an interpolating unit that interpolates by adding and/or deleting a specific sample point depending upon whether (i) an inflection point region is detected, (ii) a straight line region is detected, or (iii) neither an inflection point region nor a straight line region is detected.
US08014683B2 Transmitter for an optical communication signal
A transmitter for an optical RZ-DPSK communication signal comprises a source for an optical carrier, an electro-optical modulator which comprises at least one element having an optical path length adapted to be varied by an electrical driver signal for intensity modulating the optical carrier based on the driver signal, and a driver circuit for generating the driver signal from an electrical communication signal. The driver signal is an impulse-type signal having two types of impulses spaced in time by a neutral signal state, wherein in the presence of the neutral state of the driver signal at the modulator, the transmission of the modulator becomes zero, and the two types of impulses each cause a transmission different from zero and a phase which is specific for the type of the impulses in the modulator.
US08014682B2 Free-space optical communication system
A free-space communication system and method of operation includes a first communication device physically coupled to a substrate and having an optical transmitter for communicating information. A second communication device is physically coupled to the substrate and has an optical receiver for communicating information. An adjustable optical beam deflector is physically coupled to the substrate for optically coupling the first communication device and the second communication device via an optical beam including a free-space optical portion. A feedback system includes a non-optical communication link for receiving information regarding the optical beam. The feedback system controls the adjustable optical beam deflector to direct the optical beam to improve the quality of an optical link incorporating the optical beam. At least one sensor is physically coupled to the substrate for monitoring one or more environmental conditions and providing information of the one or more environmental conditions to the feedback system.
US08014676B2 CMOS-compatible tunable microwave photonic band-stop filter
According to one embodiment, a microwave photonic band-stop (MPBS) filter uses an electrical input signal to drive an optical Mach-Zehnder modulator. A modulated optical carrier produced by the modulator is applied to an optical filter having at least two tunable spectral attenuation bands that are located substantially symmetrically on either side of the carrier frequency. The resulting filtered optical signal is applied to an optical-to-electrical (O/E) converter to produce an electrical output signal.
US08014674B2 Method for operating pon user terminal and a pon user terminal
A method for operating PON (passive optical network) user terminal and a PON user terminal equipment, when there is only few data service request in the PON, the PON user terminal operates in power saving manner which maintains low speed connection, the method comprises: a judgment condition that the PON user terminal changes to power saving state is set; the PON user terminal determines whether its own state meet the judgment condition changing to power saving state, if so, it transmits a request to change to power saving state to the OLT (optical line terminal); after the PON user terminal receives the respond that the OLT has accepted the request, it controls parts of the modules therein to change to power saving state, and intermittently switch over between power saving state and normal state. The invention allows saving power under the condition that keeps the low speed service uninterrupted, in the meanwhile alleviates the pressure of ONU terminal thermal design.
US08014673B2 Management method of optical fiber network system
A management method of an optical fiber network system is disclosed. The optical fiber network system includes at least one user apparatus and an optical network unit (ONU), and the ONU is connected with the user apparatus. The management method includes the steps of: adopting at least one information string, which is set by an ONU management and control interface (OMCI), by the optical network unit; packing the information string into a management packet; and transmitting the management packet to the user apparatus by the optical network unit according to an Ethernet protocol.
US08014672B2 Optical wavelength multiplexing access system
According to the present invention, a star-type wavelength multiplexed communication network using optical TX/RX devices capable of assigning the wavelengths can be provided without using the monitoring light. In an embodiment of the present invention, an optical TX/RX device for transmitting and receiving a wavelength-multiplexed signal light comprises an optical receiver capable of varying the RX wavelength and an optical transmitter capable of varying the TX wavelength. The optical TX/RX device detects RX wavelengths not in use via the optical receiver, and assigns the RX wavelength of the optical receiver to one of the RX wavelengths not-in-use, and assigns the TX wavelength of the optical transmitter to a TX wavelength corresponding to the RX wavelength according to a correspondence table of TX and RX wavelengths in the memory. Then, the optical TX/RX device transmits a signal light on this TX wavelength, and detects the response on the RX wavelength. If the response is detected, communication is initiated using the assigned TX wavelength and the RX wavelength. If the response is not detected, the operation is repeated from the detection of RX wavelengths not in use to the transmission of the signal light on TX wavelength again.
US08014671B1 Wavelength division multiplexed optical channel switching
An optical communication system and method for use in communicating data between nodes using wavelength division multiplexing includes an optical backbone to provide an optical pathway between the nodes. Arbitration information on a dedicated arbitration wavelength transmitted during an arbitration cycle is used by the plurality of nodes to select one of a plurality of wavelengths at which to transmit data during a subsequent data cycle.
US08014669B2 In-channel residual chromatic dispersion measurement
A system generates optical pulses, that include two frequencies within one optical channel, at a first end of an optical link, and receives the optical pulses at a second end of the optical link. The system also sets a frequency difference for the two frequencies of the optical pulses, calculates a relative group delay difference for the two frequencies of the optical pulses, and calculates a residual chromatic dispersion of the channel based on the frequency difference and the calculated relative group delay difference.
US08014668B2 Method and system for distributed measurement and compensation of chromatic dispersion in an optical network
A method and apparatus for distributed measurement of chromatic dispersion in an optical network is disclosed. The network comprises optical switching nodes interconnected by optical links. An optical link may comprise multiple spans, each span ending in a transport module which comprises signal-processing components. At least one optical switching node has a probing signal generator transmitting an optical probing signal along a selected path in the network. Probing-signal detectors placed at selected transport modules determine chromatic-dispersion values and send results to a processing unit which determines appropriate placement of compensators or appropriate adjustments of compensators placed along the path. A preferred probing signal has the form of wavelength modulated optical carrier which is further intensity modulated by a periodic, preferably sinusoidal, probing tone. Variation in the phase-shift of the probing tone corresponding to variation of the wavelength of the optical probing signal determines chromatic-dispersion characteristics for different spans of the path.
US08014667B2 Imaging device
An imaging device is provided, in which a front sheet metal casing and/or a back sheet metal casing can be secured to a top sheet metal casing without the necessity of providing any screw holes in the top surface of the top sheet metal casing in order to secure the top sheet metal casing to the front sheet metal casing and/or the back sheet metal casing. The top sheet metal casing includes a top plate and a secured sheet metal casing secured to the top plate such that at least a portion of its perimeter is spaced apart from the top plate at a predetermined distance. A flange provided to the front or back sheet metal casing is inserted between the top plate and the secured sheet metal plate, so that an engagement pin provided to the secured sheet metal plate is fitted in an engagement hole provided in the flange, thereby securing the front or back sheet metal casing to the top sheet metal casing.
US08014665B2 Method, apparatus and software for processing photographic image data using a photographic recording medium
The present invention relates to a method, apparatus or software for processing photographic image data using a photographic recording medium arranged for capturing successive optical images in a series of discrete frames.
US08014658B2 Image stabilizer and camera module having same
An exemplary image stabilizer includes an outer housing, an inner housing, an upper cover and a driving assembly. The inner housing is moveably received in the outer housing. The upper cover is fixedly mounted on the inner housing and moveably supported by the outer housing. The driving assembly includes a first magnetic member and a second magnetic member. The first magnetic member is positioned on the inner housing. The second magnetic member is positioned on the outer housing. The driving assembly is configured for driving the inner housing and the upper cover to move relative to the outer housing in a plane substantially perpendicular to a central axis of the outer housing through interaction between the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member.
US08014656B2 Mount system for attaching camera to a sport board
A camera mount is configured to attach a camera to a sports board. A camera is secured to the mount, which is secured to a sports board. The mount can secure to the sports board via an attachment device such as an embedded plug. The mount can be placed at the front or rear of the sports board. Furthermore, the mount can be configured to face either forwards or backwards to capture images and/or video from different viewpoints while participating in the board activity. Moreover, the mount includes a pivoting joint to allow a user to rotate the camera either upward or downward and then secure the camera at a fixed angle to capture images and/or video from different angles.
US08014652B2 Filament lamp and light-irradiation-type heat treatment device
A filament lamp includes multiple filament assemblies having filaments connected to paired leads, arrayed in order within a light emitting tube and following a tube axis thereof. Each lead is electrically connected in a seal area. Each filament is powered independently. The light emitting tube includes insulating walls or inner tubes between the filaments and leads that have openings through which the leads pass, and located along the tube axis in proximity to the inner wall of the light emitting tube. Multiple lead accommodation spaces corresponding to the number of leads are provided in the light emitting tube by the insulating walls with each lead passing through an opening in the insulating wall and placed without short circuits in its lead accommodation space.
US08014651B2 MPEG-2 decoder, method and buffer scheme for providing enhanced trick mode playback of a video stream
Trick mode playback is implemented by disengaging a frame synchronization signal, and then decoding “I” and “P” frames to two (or more) buffers. Specifically, each buffer has a pointer that is associated with a memory/origin address. The pointers are locked in place by disengaging the frame synchronization signal. Once the pointers are locked in place, the “I” frames and “P” frames are decoded to the two buffers in an alternating fashion based on a continuous swapping of the memory addresses associated with the two pointers. Because both “I” and “P” frames (as opposed to only “I” frames) are decoded and displayed, the trick mode playback appears smoother. In addition, because the frame synchronization signal was disengaged, the frames can be decoded at a rate faster than a single frame time. That is, one frame need not be completely decoded and read out before the next frame is decoded.
US08014649B2 Method of performing time-shift function and television receiver using the same
A method of performing a time-shift function and a television receiver using the same provide the time-shift function for at least one channel that is preferred by a user among a plurality of channels that are not currently viewed as well as for a currently viewed channel. The method includes receiving, in real time via at least one tuner, a first composite video signal of a currently viewed channel and a second composite video signal of at least one different channel preferred by a user; respectively processing the first and second composite video signals; storing the first and second composite video signals in a storage medium enabling the time-shift function; and displaying in a real-time display mode at least one of the first and second composite video signals and displaying in a time-shifted display mode at least one of the stored signals reproduced from the storage medium, the at least one real-time-displayed composite video signal and the at least one time-shifted-displayed composite video signal being simultaneously displayed on different screen areas according to according to a user selection of a display mode.
US08014647B2 Optical guide including nanoparticles and manufacturing method for a preform intended to be shaped into such an optical guide
The invention relates to an optical fiber comprising a gain medium which is equipped with: a core (22) which is formed from a transparent material and nanoparticles (24) comprising a doping element and at least one element for enhancing the use of said doping element; and an outer cladding (26) which surrounds the core. The invention is characterized in that the doping element is erbium (Er) and in that the enhancing element is selected from among antimony (Sb), bismuth (Bi) and a combination of antimony (Sb) and bismuth (Bi).According to the invention, one such fiber is characterized in that the size of the nanoparticles is variable and is between 1 and 500 nanometers inclusive, and preferably greater than 20 nm.
US08014644B2 Optical waveguide, optical waveguide module and method for forming optical waveguide
An optical waveguide comprising a core and a clad characterized in that a desired part is heated and transited to machining strain release state, the part transited to the machining strain release state is curved with a specified bending radius and transited to machining strain state. That part of the optical waveguide is heated to a temperature within a range between the bending point and softening point and transited to machining strain state. The optical waveguide is an optical fiber having the outer diameter not shorter than 50 μm. The optical waveguide has the outer diameter not shorter than ten times of the mode field diameter of the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide has a bending radius of 5.0 mm or less and difference equivalent of refractive index &Dgr;1 between the core and clad falls within a range of 0.8-3.5%.
US08014641B2 Beam coupler
A coupler assembly for a fiber laser is disclosed. The assembly includes a tubular housing having a sidewall with an interior surface, an exterior surface, a first end and a second end. An input collimator unit is also included and configured to be received within the first end of the sidewall of the tubular housing. An output collimator unit received within the second end of the sidewall of the tubular housing. Further included is a compression mechanism configured and arranged to concentrically align the input collimator unit and the output collimator unit about a common central axis. The assembly may further include an alignment mechanism configured and arranged to optically align the input collimator unit and the output collimator unit about a common optical axis. Optionally, a fluid coolant system may also be included.
US08014638B2 Signal transmission device
A signal transmission device includes a base plate and a photoelectric converter-sealed member. The base plate is structured to have an optical waveguide formed internally, an opening formed to expose the optical waveguide, and a mounting surface provided to allow an electronic part to be mounted thereon. The photoelectric converter-sealed member is placed in the opening of the base plate to include a photoelectric conversion module for making conversion between an electric signal and a light signal and provided by sealing at least the photoelectric conversion module with a predetermined material to expose at least part of a wiring from the photoelectric conversion module on a substantially identical plane with an opening end face of the opening of the base plate. The opening is either a recess or a through hole. This arrangement desirably ensures the higher-speed transmission of electric signals between the photoelectric conversion module and the LSI package.
US08014631B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer readable medium for generating a reduced image
An image processing apparatus that generates a reduced image from input image data, which includes: a reducing process dividing section that divides a reducing process applied to get the reduced image from input image data into a first and second reducing process; and an image reducing section that executes the reducing process in compliance with the first and second reducing process.
US08014628B2 Image inspection apparatus, image inspection method and computer program
There is provided an image inspection apparatus capable of reliably removing a noise as a non-detection object and stably detecting a defect as a detection object, in which a first threshold setting device sets a minimum luminance value to be detected in a detection object image as a first threshold, a labeling processing device specifies blobs of pixels having luminance values larger than the first threshold from a multi-valued image acquired by an image pickup device, a second threshold setting device sets a second threshold that is larger than the first threshold, and a deletion device deletes the blob made up solely of luminance values smaller than the second threshold from all the blobs of the pixels specified by the labeling processing device and outputs the labeling processing image.
US08014627B2 Image processing apparatus, imaging apparatus, image processing method, and computer program product
An image-information acquiring unit acquires image information. A component separating unit separates the image information acquired into luminance information and color information. A luminance-component-noise removing unit removes noise from the luminance information using a first noise removing method. A color-component-noise removing unit removes noise from the color information using a second noise removing method different from the first noise removing method used in the luminance-component-noise removing unit.
US08014625B2 Method of performing measurements on digital images
A first and a second image are expressed in a common coordinate system by applying a geometric transformation to the second image so as to map a structure in the second image onto a corresponding structure in the first image in a common coordinate system. Starting from initial values, the parameters of the geometric transformation are updated taking into account the result of an evaluation of a cost function.Measurements are performed in the common coordinate system.
US08014623B2 System and method for efficiently enhancing videos and images
System and method for efficiently enhancing videos and images. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a method for processing videos and/or images. The method includes providing a target pixel that is characterized by a first pixel value. The method further includes obtaining a plurality of surrounding pixels that are positioned within a predetermined area surrounding the target pixel. Also, the method includes selecting a transition pixel from the plurality of surrounding pixels. The transition pixel is characterized by a second pixel value. The transition pixel is associated with a greatest transition value that is a function of the first pixel value and the second pixel value. The method additionally includes determining a first direction, the first direction being parallel to a second direction from the target pixel to the transition pixel.
US08014621B2 Methods and apparatuses for generating and recovering 3D compression data
A method of generating and recovering three-dimensional (3D) compression data and an apparatus to perform the method is described. The method includes generating configuration information of a 3D compression data sequence, generating a plurality of pieces of individual 3D compression data to be included in the 3D compression data sequence, and generating the 3D compression data sequence by combining the plurality of pieces of the individual 3D compression data, combining the 3D compression data sequence with the configuration information, and outputting the combined result. The generating of each of the plurality of pieces of individual 3D compression data includes generating individual configuration information of the piece of individual 3D compression data, generating a start code according to a data type of the piece of individual 3D compression data, and generating the 3D compression data according to the data type.
US08014619B2 Method and apparatus for encoding/decoding an image
A method and apparatus for encoding/decoding an image that divide an image sequence into sub-groups and determine encoding modes applied to bi-directional pictures included in each sub-group using correlations between the bi-directional pictures and reference pictures are provided. The image encoding method includes dividing a group of pictures (GOP) to be encoded according to consecutive B pictures into sub-groups; calculating the correlations between each B picture included in the sub-group and reference picture according to each encoding mode; and applying one of the encoding modes wherein the reference picture having the highest correlation with the B picture are used in each sub-group to encode the image, thereby improving encoding efficiency.
US08014615B2 System and method for decompressing video data and alpha channel data using a single stream
A system and method receives video data and its corresponding alpha channel data using a single stream or file, each of the video data and alpha channel data in the same format, and decompresses each set of data using a single decompression algorithm.
US08014614B2 Method and system for compressing data
A method for compressing imaging data includes acquiring a stream of imaging data, and dividing the stream of imaging data into a plurality of interstices, each interstice including a plurality of detected events. The also includes classifying the detected events within each interstice based on a probability of occurrence of the detected event, and reordering the detected events within each interstice based on the probability of occurrence to compress the image data. The method further includes generating a ring pair identification number for each detected event in the plurality of interstices.
US08014611B2 Image compression method, image compression device, image transmission system, data compression pre-processing apparatus, and computer program
An image compression apparatus and method capable of performing compression with different image qualities within an image. In a mosaic processing unit (16) of the image compression apparatus, a filtering region divider (130) divides input image data into a plurality of filtering areas and at least some of the filtering areas are subjected to unification processing for each of the filtering areas by a filtering unit (131). On the other hand, a JPEG encoder (17) divides the image data after the mosaic processing into a plurality of rectangular block areas and each of the block areas is subjected to DCT processing and quantization processing. Here, the filtering area consists of adjacent one or more sets of rectangular areas each consisting of two or more pixels obtained by equally dividing the aforementioned block area by 2n (n is a natural number).
US08014608B2 Web-based image extraction
Images may be extracted from a site in a network for further processing, such as storing or printing. The extraction process may change depending on the site type or classification. Sites may be categorized as belonging to one or more predetermined types. Sites may be categorized as belonging to a recognized site list. An image extraction process may be associated with each predetermined type or each recognized site. Upon browsing to a site and initiating the extraction process, the site is identified as belonging to one of the predetermined types or recognized sites. Then, one or more images is extracted from the site using the associated extraction process.
US08014607B2 Method and apparatus for creating and editing node-link diagrams in pen computing systems
A method and system provides intelligent node-link diagram creation and editing, including an electronic display device having a surface on which a writing and/or drawing canvas is provided. An input device permits writing and/or drawing of electronic ink strokes, and a computing device is in operative association with the electronic display and the input device, and has stored therein for operation in connection with actions of the input device, a user interface (UI). The UI includes a graphical user interface (GUI) module, which controls input and display of the ink strokes applied to the canvas by the input device, and a recognition module which interprets the ink strokes by performance of structure recognition operations.
US08014603B2 System and method for characterizing handwritten or typed words in a document
A method of characterizing a word image includes traversing the word image stepwise with a window to provide a plurality of window images. For each of the plurality of window images, the method includes splitting the window image to provide a plurality of cells. A feature, such as a gradient direction histogram, is extracted from each of the plurality of cells. The word image can then be characterized based on the features extracted from the plurality of window images.
US08014600B1 Intelligent saturation of video data
The intelligent saturation controller calculates the exact maximum saturation any valid YCbCr pixel can undergo before it becomes invalid in RGB space. The controller models the saturation operation in RGB color space and calculates the maximum saturation level at which the RGB values falls outside the valid range. The saturation operation is performed independently for every pixel of the incoming video frame and ensures that each output pixel is a valid. The controller finds the maximum saturation for each input pixel and checks whether it is less than the input saturation factor. If so, then this calculated maximum saturation value is applied. If not, the input saturation factor is applied. Accordingly, the output RGB pixels are valid, and no clamping is necessary if no other video processing is done in YCbCr space. Increasing the saturation of the video signal results in a more vivid and more colorful picture.
US08014596B2 Methods and systems for background color extrapolation
Aspects of the present invention are related to methods and systems for determining a background color in a digital image. A background color value for a pixel in an image may be determined by summarizing the color values in a color buffer, wherein the color values in the buffer may have been selectively added to the color buffer, from the image data, based on one, or more, criteria which may be related to edge density, image uniformity, non-local color information, a foreground color estimate and other selection criterion. The background color for the pixel maybe determined in a forward scan and updated during a backward scan.
US08014595B2 Display processing system and method
Pixel data is stored in a field corresponding to a pixel of an image. The field includes an opacity bit and a set of bits. If the opacity bit is set to an opaque-indicating state, then a color level value of a component color of the pixel is stored in the set of bits. However, if the opacity bit is set to a transparency-indicating state, then a transparency level value is stored in at least one bit of the set of bits and the respective color level value is stored in other bits of the set of bits.
US08014594B2 Image color discriminating apparatus, image color discriminating method and program
A method for discriminating a color of an object image. Whether unit data showing a color of a part of the object image corresponds to any position on a two-dimensional color plane is discriminated. A distribution value showing a width of a distribution range of the unit data in the color plane is acquired based on the discrimination result. Whether the object image corresponds to a full color image having mixed color expression, a specific color image not having mixed color expression or an achromatic color image is discriminated based on the distribution value.
US08014582B2 Image reproduction apparatus and program therefor
A medical image is reproduced after being subjected to image processing appropriate for conversion into an image suitable for interpreting. Selection of a imaging menu item from a imaging menu being displayed is accepted, and the medical image is reproduced after being subjected to the image processing for converting the image into the image appropriate for the reproduction according to the selected imaging menu item. At this time, an index value representing an anatomical characteristic is calculated from the medical image, and the most appropriate imaging menu item to be selected from imaging menu items is judged based on the index value.
US08014581B2 3D segmentation of the colon in MR colonography
A method for segmenting a tubular structure includes providing a three-dimensional image containing the tubular structure, providing at least one seed point within the tubular structure, fitting an initial cylinder into the tubular structure at the seed point, adding cylinder segments to the initial cylinder in forward and backward directions within the three-dimensional image of the tubular structure by tracking the cylinder model over the tubular structure, modeling each cylinder segment using parameters to account for a three-dimensional orientation, a radius, a length and a curvature, describing an intensity image of the tubular structure using a second model to represent an edge and intensity distribution of the tubular structure, fitting the parameters as the cylinder segment is added to the intensity image, and outputting cylinder segments as a segmentation of the tube.
US08014578B2 Method and system for image segmentation using models
A technique is provided for utilizing a model of an anatomical feature to facilitate the segmentation of the anatomical feature from its background in a medical image. A global alignment of the model with a region in the patient's image data that generally corresponds to the anatomical feature is performed in one embodiment. Internal structural features within the model are then aligned with their corresponding structural features in the patient's image data. The portion of the patient's image data that is aligned with the model of the anatomical feature is then segmented from the remaining portions of the patient's image data that are not aligned with the model.
US08014575B2 Automated neuroaxis (brain and spine) imaging with iterative scan prescriptions, analysis, reconstructions, labeling, surface localization and guided intervention
Automated spine localizing, numbering and autoprescription system enhances correct location of diseased or injured tissue, even allow multi-spectral diagnosis. Externally located this tissue is facilitated by an integrated self adhesive spatial reference and skin marking system that is designed for a variety of modalities to include MRI, CT, SPECT, PET, planar nuclear imaging, radiography, XRT, thermography, optical imaging and 3D space tracking. The device ranges from a point localizer to a more multifunctional and complex grid/phantom system. The specially designed spatial reference(s) is affixed to an adhesive strip with corresponding markings so that after applying the unit to the skin/surface and imaging, the reference can be removed leaving the skin appropriately marked. The localizer itself can also directly adhere to the skin after being detached from the underlying strip. A spine autoprescription process performs image analysis that is able to identify vertebrae and discs even in the presence of abnormalities.
US08014571B2 Multimodal ocular biometric system
A multimodal biometric identification system captures and processes images of both the iris and the retina for biometric identification. Another multimodal ocular system captures and processes images of the iris and/or the from both eyes of a subject. Biometrics based on data provided by these systems are more accurate and robust than using biometrics that include data from only the iris or only the retina from a single eye. An exemplary embodiment emits photons to the iris and the retina of both eyes, an iris image sensor that captures an image of the iris when the iris reflects the emitted light, a retina image sensor that captures an image of the retina when the retina reflects the emitted light, and a controller that controls the iris and the retina illumination sources, where the captured image of the iris and the captured image of the retina contain biometric data.
US08014570B2 Method for improving false acceptance rate discriminating for biometric authentication systems
A method, system and computer program product for improving error discrimination in biometric authentication systems. The error discrimination is set to a predetermined security policy. A plurality of biometric samples are provided and authenticated by a computer system in conjunction with a security token. An alternate embodiment allows inputting of the plurality of biometric samples in a predetermined sequence. The predetermined input sequence is maintained as an authentication secret which may be used to further reduce the authentication transaction error rate. A user may input one or more biometric samples, where a portion of the biometric samples are inputted in a predetermined sequence, selecting from among a plurality of available processing units, a set of processing units which will generate intermediate results from the processing of the biometric samples, processing at least a portion of the biometric samples by the selected set of processing units to provide intermediate results, verifying the predetermined sequence, and arbitrating the intermediate results to generate a final result which at least meets a predetermined security policy. Various embodiments provide for a security token to perform at least a portion of the processing or the arbitration function.
US08014565B2 Labeling used in motion capture
Labeling motion capture volume data includes: receiving a motion capture beat, the motion capture beat including unlabeled body points and unlabeled face points; labeling the unlabeled body points which have a valid fit to a predetermined body model template; verifying the labeled body points using stretch analysis; labeling unlabeled body points using a kinematic skeleton analysis; isolating the unlabeled face points; stabilizing the unlabeled face points; labeling the unlabeled face points; and merging the labeled face points and labeled body points.
US08014562B2 Signal processing of audio and video data, including deriving identifying information
The present invention relates generally to signal processing of media content, e.g., audio or video content. One form of signal processing derives identifying information from media content. One claim recites a method including: upon encountering audio or video content, and using a programmed electronic processor, attempting to derive identifying information from data representing the encountered audio or video content; if a digital watermark is not obtained from the data representing the encountered audio or video content, modifying the encountered audio or video content; and then attempting to attempting to derive identifying information from data representing the modified audio or video content. Of course, other claims are provided too.
US08014560B2 Preserving scanner signature using MRC technology
Systems and methods are described that facilitate encrypting document status information into a scanned image of a document using a mixed raster content document parsing protocol, in accordance with various features described herein. A text string comprising status information can be imaged into a mask layer that overlays the scanned image. Additionally or alternatively, the text string can be encrypted into a binary image that is encoded into the mask layer and overlaid on the image. The image itself is parsed into a background layer and one or more mask layers comprising different portions of the document. The encrypted mask layer comprising the text string and/or binary image can be generated using the same color as the background layer, such that the document status information is invisible and does not cause unwanted artifacts during printing or conversion of the document between formats. The document status information can be scanner signature information, scan-to-file authentication information, object metadata, etc.
US08014555B2 Self-cooling electromagnetic transducer
An electromagnetic transducer includes a housing, a diaphragm, a conductive coil, and a magnetic assembly having a plurality of air passages. The coil communicates with the diaphragm such that a flexible portion of the diaphragm is movable in response to movement of the coil. The coil includes axially spaced first and second coil portions. The magnetic assembly is disposed in the housing and is axially spaced from the diaphragm by an interior region. The coil portions are at least partially disposed in an annular gap formed in the magnetic assembly. Each air passage communicates with the interior region and with a respective aperture of the housing. The air passages provide respective air flow paths between the diaphragm and the ambient environment. Air flow through the passages is affected by movement of the flexible diaphragm portion for transferring heat from the transducer to the ambient environment.
US08014553B2 Ear-mounted transducer and ear-device
The specification and drawings present a new method, apparatus and software product for providing flexible audio communication solutions using ear-devices utilizing, e.g., electrode transducers with one or more sensors comprising a surface resonator cavity sensitive to a predetermined acoustic frequency range for using, for example, in headsets and hearing aids. The ear-device can be configured for inserting it into a human ear for a handsfree operation and the sensors can be configured to detect human tissue vibrations using the surface resonator cavity. The acoustic communication solutions with these ear-devices may include: providing two-way communications in normal conditions as well as in noisy conditions, providing protection of hearing, recording the true sound field bin-aurally, providing a playback capability, providing volume enhancement and equalization for persons with hearing defects, etc.
US08014552B2 Apparatus for communication coupling with a hearing aid
An improved communication coupling device having a coupler coil with about 125 turns of wire about a bar-shaped core for use with a hearing aid having a hearing aid coil to accommodate individuals with various degrees of hearing loss to use a sound generation device such as a telephone.
US08014548B2 Hearing instrument, and a method of operating a hearing instrument
A hearing instrument in accordance with the invention comprises an in-the-ear-canal component to be worn at least partially in the ear of a user. When the hearing instrument is worn, a remaining volume between the in-the-ear-canal component and the user's eardrum is defined. The hearing instrument includes at least one first microphone operable to convert an acoustic input signal incident on the hearing instrument into an electrical input signal, signal processing means operable to convert the electrical input signal into an electrical output signal on a signal path, and an electrical-to-acoustic converter (a receiver or a plurality of receivers with potentially different frequency characteristics). Between the remaining volume and surrounding atmosphere, a duct (such as a vent) is defined. A second receiver is in operative communication with the duct, i.e. an output directly opens out into the duct or to a sound conductor opening out into the duct. The hearing instrument further comprises a second microphone in operative communication with said duct and operable to record an error signal in said duct.
US08014547B2 Piezoelectric speaker and method for manufacturing the same
A piezoelectric speaker comprises a plurality of diaphragms, connecting components, and piezoelectric elements. The plurality of diaphragms are each formed by a laminated material in which a core layer made of an insulating material is laminated to skin layers each made of a conductive material so as to form the skin layers on both surfaces of the core layer. The connecting components each corresponds to a plate-shaped component of the insulating material and connects between at least two of the plurality of diaphragms. Piezoelectric elements are mounted on surfaces of the plurality of diaphragms, respectively. The plurality of diaphragms are insulated from each other such that separate voltages are applied to the piezoelectric elements mounted thereon, respectively.
US08014542B2 System and method of providing audio content
A system, set-top box, and method of providing audio content are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the set-top box device includes an audio input device that is configured to receive a voice command. The set-top box device also includes a display disposed on a visible side of a set-top box housing. Additionally, the set-top box device includes a media control logic module to retrieve audio content identified by the voice command and data related to the audio content. The media control logic module transmits an audio signal corresponding to the audio content to an audio output device. The data related to the audio content is displayable on the display.
US08014541B1 Method and system for audio filtering
A system and method for graphic equalization of audio signals is disclosed. Traditional graphic equalizers provide control over the gains in each of a set of frequency bands. However, the actual band gains vary from the desired gains due to crosstalk between bands. Prior art methods for addressing this difficulty include applying a correction filter to the equalizer, and adjusting the shape of the individual band filters, both of which increase the computational cost. In an embodiment of the present invention, the input gains are processed to produce a set of adjusted gains which take into account the crosstalk, and result in an equalization interpolating the input band gains.
US08014537B2 Frequency-characteristic-acquisition device, frequency-characteristic-acquisition method, and sound-signal-processing device
A frequency-characteristic-acquisition device that inputs a time-stretched-pulse signal to a system to be measured and that acquires information about a frequency characteristic of the system on the basis of a signal output from the system is provided. The frequency-characteristic-acquisition device includes a control unit which performs control so that the time-stretched-pulse signal is expanded in a time-axis direction and output to the system, and an acquisition unit that analyzes the signal output from the system and that acquires the frequency-characteristic information.
US08014533B2 Audio output driver for reducing electromagnetic interference and improving audio channel performance
An audio output circuit includes an on-chip left channel amplifier module, an on-chip center channel amplifier module, and an on-chip right channel amplifier module. A left channel IC pin is operably coupled to an output of the on-chip left channel amplifier module. A right channel IC pin is operably coupled to an output of the on-chip right channel amplifier module. A center channel IC pin is operably coupled to an output of the on-chip center channel amplifier module. A center channel feedback IC pin is operably coupled to an input of the on-chip center channel amplifier module to provide a feedback loop. A left jack connection is operably coupled to the left channel IC pin. A right jack connection is operably coupled to the right channel IC pin. A jack return connection coupled to the center feedback IC pin. An inductor has a first node coupled to the jack return connection and a second node coupled to the center channel IC pin.
US08014532B2 Method and system for processing a sound field representation
A method of processing a sound field representation which can be used to provide a representation which has been modified by at least spatial processing. The method includes: the establishment of an initial representation of the sound field and the establishment of a representation which has been modified by filtering combinations corresponding to the processing operation. The method also includes a step which defines the processing operation and which includes: a step involving the establishment of a set of directivity functions, which is representative of the processing and which takes the form of a set of coefficients corresponding to the spherical harmonic decomposition of the functions; and a step in which the filtering combinations are determined from the decomposition so that another step involving the application of the defined filtering combinations can be performed.
US08014530B2 Method and apparatus for authenticated, recoverable key distribution with no database secrets
A method and apparatus for authenticated recoverable key distribution are described. In one embodiment, an application key is provided to an integrated chip platform. In one embodiment, the integrated chip platform encrypts the application key with a Key Encryption Key, which is stored within the persistent memory on the platform, and outputs a ChipID and the encrypted application key to enable recovery. In one embodiment, the platform can provide the ChipID to a recovery database to replace a lost encrypted application key. In one embodiment, the ChipID is the public key of a public/private key pair, and the application key is provided to the integrated chip platform by encrypting it using this public key. In one embodiment, the ChipID and the Key Encryption Key are derived from a secret random number programmed into the integrated chip. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08014527B2 Apparatus and method for reusing pair of public and private keys
An apparatus and method that reuse a pair of public and private keys. The method includes determining whether a pair of public and private keys that have already been used in a first encryption process are still usable; and reusing the pair of public and private keys in a second encryption process if the pair of public and private keys are determined as being reusable. Accordingly, it is possible to considerably reduce the amount of computation and time that is generally required to calculate a pair of public and private keys, by allowing the pair of public and private keys to be reused.
US08014525B2 Digital broadcasting transmitting system for conditional access and method thereof, and digital broadcasting receiving terminal and method thereof
Disclosed are a conditional access transmission system and method, and a receiving terminal and method. The transmission system transmits scrambled broadcasting signals including a network identification code (NIC) in the digital broadcasting service. A repeating system repeats the broadcasting signals transmitted by the transmission system to a subscriber station. In this instance, the NIC of the repeating system is different from that of a main broadcasting network. A receiving terminal descrambles the scrambled broadcasting signals by using the NIC and a descrambling key. According to the present invention, the charged subscriber can receive broadcasting signals or TPEG messages in the repeating network.
US08014523B2 Key management
The present invention relates to arrangements and methods for generating keys for cryptographic processing of communication between a first communication unit (200) and a second communication unit (300). The first communication unit (200) and second communication unit (300) are adapted to obtain knowledge about a secret function, wherein the first communication unit comprises: -means for selecting a value z (210), means for calculating the secret function as a function of the selected value z (220) means for processing data with the calculated secret function (230), and means for transmitting the processed data in association with the selected z to the second communication unit (240), wherein the secret function is selected from a set of functions that are almost k-wise independent.
US08014519B2 Cross-correlation based echo canceller controllers
Cross-correlation based echo canceller controllers are described herein. By way of example, a system for controlling an echo canceller having one or more adaptive filters can include one or more adaptive filter controllers each corresponding to one of the one or more adaptive filters and each configured to halt adaptation of its corresponding adaptive filter according to the cross-correlation of its corresponding corrupted signal and its corresponding error signal of its corresponding adaptive filter.
US08014515B2 Communication terminal device adapted to physical characteristics of telecommunication network and method for adapting communication terminal device to physical characteristics of telecommunication network
The communication terminal device includes a handset, a central controller, a telephone network adaptor unit for converting analog signals transmitted/received between telecommunication network and the communication terminal device into digital signals, an interface unit physically isolating the central controller from the telephone network adaptor unit, and transmitting/receiving the converted digital signals between the central controller and the telephone network adaptor unit, and a telephone circuit unit which transmits the voice signals generated by processing the digital signals received from the telephone network adaptor unit to a handset through the interface unit and transmits the digital signals generated by processing the voice signals received from the handset to the telephone network adaptor unit through the interface unit. The telephone network adaptor unit is controlled by the central controller and changes the physical characteristics of the analog signals to be adapted to the physical characteristics of the telecommunication network.
US08014512B2 Method and system for user interaction within a queue
A system for providing caller interaction within a queue. In response to receiving a call, it is determined whether a wait time exists before a caller is connected to a customer service representative. In response to determining that the wait time exists, it is determined whether the caller is interested in an interaction. In response to determining that the caller is interested in the interaction, a profile associated with the caller is loaded. In response to detecting a connection with an interactive system, interactive options are loaded from the interactive system and presented to the caller based on the profile. In response to receiving a selection from the interactive options, it is determined whether the selection includes a group interaction. In response to determining that the selection includes the group interaction, the group interaction is loaded based on the profile. Then, the caller is entered into the group interaction.
US08014509B2 Automated telephone attendant
A telephony system (100) includes a user device (110, 130) configured to enable a user of the telephony system (100) to place and receive telephone calls, and a service node (180, 185) configured to communicate with the user device (110, 130) and to thereby provide the user with an automated voice interface to the telephony system (100) upon the user's initiating access to the telephony system (100) via the user device (110, 130). The automated voice interface permits the user to verbally specify a desired objective corresponding to any one of a number of predefined objectives, the predefined objectives including directory assisted call placement and at least one form of information retrieval. Upon receiving the desired objective from the user, the service node (180, 185) acts to implement the desired objective.
US08014508B2 Access code enhancement for caller preview service
By manipulating parameters of call setup messages, calls made with a caller's access code in a caller preview service may be completed to the called party of voice mail box with caller identification information displayed.
US08014505B2 Point-of-sale electronic PIN distribution system
A point-of-sale electronic distribution system for distributing an access code (e.g., a personal identification number (PIN)) is provided. The system allows retailers/distributors to purchase access codes for use with pre-paid products using conventional telephones and without requiring the use of a dedicated terminal or personal computer at the point-of-sale. A telephone call relating to a request for an access code is received at a central server. An access code is obtained from a database of access codes and transmitted to the caller by telephone, facsimile, or e-mail. Reports relating to a pre-paid calling card account can be requested during the telephone call.
US08014504B2 Accumulative decision point data analysis system for telephony and electronic communications operations
A system for generating usage statistics for a communications routing system from data generated at routing points and at end points of the system has a processor having access to the communications routing system for analyzing the data and generating the statistics, and a server having access to the processor for rendering the generated statistics into a format for display. The data used to generate the statistics includes routing path information for events routed through the communications routing system and optionally interaction histories recorded at certain routing points and end points in the communications routing system.
US08014489B2 Radiographic imaging apparatus and method for controlling the same
In a radiographic imaging apparatus capable of performing a first imaging in which radiographic imaging is performed with a first X-ray dose and a second imaging in which radiographic imaging is performed at a second X-ray dose that is less than the first X-ray dose, the timing corresponding to a particular phase of a periodically moving organ as a subject to be imaged is predicted, and the first imaging performed at the predicted timing and the second imaging performed a predetermined number of times before and after the predicted timing are repeated. Through this repetition, a shift between the timing of the particular phase that is recognized from images acquired through the execution of the first imaging and the second imaging and the predicted timing is detected, and the predicted timing is corrected based on the detected shift.
US08014485B2 Techniques for integrated circuit clock management using multiple clock generators
A clock generator system (400) includes a phase locked loop (PLL) (402), a first clock generator (404), and a second clock generator (406). The PLL (402) includes a first output configured to provide a first clock signal at a first frequency and a second output configured to provide a second clock signal at the first frequency. The second clock signal is out-of-phase with the first clock signal. An output of the first clock generator (404) is configured to provide a first generated clock signal whose effective frequency is based on both the first and second clock signals and a first mode signal. An output of the second clock generator (406) is configured to provide a second generated clock signal whose effective frequency is based on both the first and second clock signals and a second mode signal.
US08014484B2 Stream data recording device, stream data editing device, stream data reproducing device, stream data recording method, and stream data reproducing method
When recording stream data, index information and time correction information are recorded in correspondence with the stream data. The index information specifies a position of an invalid section in the stream data. The time correction information specifies a time which, supposing that a PCR included in the invalid section was able to be got, a time clock would have shown in synchronization with the PCR. When reproducing the stream data recorded together with the time correction information and the index information, at a position where the invalid section ends, the time clock can be set to a time intended by a broadcasting system, by referencing the index information and the time correction information.
US08014483B2 Method of acquiring initial synchronization in impulse wireless communication and receiver
A receiver in an impulse wireless communication. The receiver (300) includes a pulse-pair correlator (304) that receives a signal (316) and divides it into two signals for paths. One of the signals is input to signal multiplier (312) while another signal is delayed by a delay unit (310). The signal multiplier (312) multiplies the received signal (316) by a delayed signal (318). An integrator (314) integrates an output signal (322) over a designated period of time. An adding module (306) sums an output signal (324) from the integrator (314). An acquiring module (308) compares an summing-up output (326) from the adding module (306) with a predetermined threshold value to detect the existence of a transmitting-standard preamble.
US08014480B1 Zero-delay serial communications circuitry for serial interconnects
Circuitry and methods for supporting serial communications over serial interconnects between circuit modules are provided. A data recovery circuit receives incoming serial data from the serial interconnect path with zero delay. The data recovery circuit includes a data sampler that samples the incoming serial data using a multiphase clock. Data samples are provided to a multiplexer that selects an optimum sampled data signal to use as a recovered data signal. The multiplexer has a control input that receives a phase pointer signal. Control circuitry in the data recovery circuit analyzes the sampled data signals and a current value of the phase pointer to compute a clock phase shift error. If the clock phase shift error exceeds a predetermined value, the phase pointer signal can be updated. The data recovery circuit may be implemented using hardwired circuitry or programmable logic.
US08014478B2 Method and apparatus for impulse noise detection and suppression for DVB-T
A method and apparatus for adaptive impulse noise detection and suppression (INDS) where information regarding detected impulse noise (IN) pulses is used to adjust detection and suppression parameters. To decrease the rate of false detection, groups of samples, instead of individual samples, of the digitized received signal are used to detect the presence of IN pulses. The method and apparatus for adaptive INDS may be used in communication systems employing single-carrier or multi-carrier modulation schemes, and is preferably used for Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) modulation. The proposed adaptive INDS systems may be used to effectively reduce the effects of impulse noise and improve the quality of received signals.
US08014472B1 Integer frequency offset estimation in wireless systems
Systems and techniques relating to wireless communications are described. A described technique includes receiving a plurality of symbols, observing a plurality of data samples in adjacent symbols, and calculating an estimate of an integer portion of a carrier frequency offset based on a cyclic shift and a phase shift of the data samples between symbols. Calculating the estimate can include calculating sum values corresponding to respective symbol indices. Each of the sum values can be based on a summation of max values that correspond to respective data subcarrier indices, the max values being based on a maximum of an absolute value of a real component of a base value and an absolute value of an imaginary component of the base value, where the base value is based on at least one of the data samples.
US08014471B2 Bit stream conditioning circuit having adjustable input sensitivity
A high-speed bit stream interface module interfaces a high-speed communication media to a communication Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) via a Printed Circuit Board (PCB). The high-speed bit stream interface includes a line side interface, a board side interface, and a signal conditioning circuit. The signal conditioning circuit services each of an RX path and a TX path and includes a limiting amplifier and a clock and data recovery circuit. The signal conditioning circuit may also include an equalizer and/or an output pre-emphasis circuit. The limiting amplifier applies respective gains to the RX path and to the TX path that are based upon respective dynamic ranges of the incoming signals.
US08014470B2 Decoding method for Alamouti scheme with HARQ and/or repetition coding
Systems and methods are provided for decoding a signal vector in a transmission scheme that uses transmit diversity as well as HARQ, repetition coding, or any other protocol that allows a receiver to obtain multiple reception of common transmit information. Information obtained in more than one symbol period are treated as a single received vector, and each of the received signal vectors may be processed to reduce or remove phase rotations caused by the channel. The received signal vectors may be combined by addition and decoded using a maximum-likelihood decoder. In some embodiments, the transmitter and receiver are configured to communicate using the transmit diversity scheme and a spatial multiplexing scheme. The scheme may be chosen based on the quality of the channel through which communication takes place.
US08014464B2 Communication apparatus and communication method used in spectrum sharing environment
A communication apparatus used in a spectrum sharing environment in which multiple communication systems coexist using the same spectrum band is provided. The apparatus includes a transmission pulse shaper that performs bandwidth limitation on a pulse which is used to send data symbols; a monitoring unit that monitors in-band interference conditions from coexisting systems other than a target system to which the communication apparatus belongs, and availability of unused spectrum on adjacent channels of the target system; a controller that controls a pulse transmission period and a pulse width of the transmission pulse shaper based on the monitoring result; and a transmission unit that transmits the band-limited signal.
US08014460B2 Method for multiple-input-multiple-output system demodulation
A MMSE-based deterministic sequential Monte Carlo (SMC) method for MIMO demodulation exhibiting square root complexity in terms of constellation size. Further extensions to the method reduce the search space resulting in significant reduction in computational requirements while minimally impacting performance. As a hard decision algorithm, the methods achieve sphere decoder performance while imposing a much smaller computational load.
US08014457B2 Method of providing a data signal for channel estimation and circuit thereof
A received signal having pilots is converted to a first signal in the frequency domain having the pilots. The pilots are extracted from the first signal to obtain extracted pilots to form a second signal. The second signal is used to provide a first estimate of a channel. The first estimate is converted to the time domain. Noise is removed from the first estimate in the time domain to provide a second estimate of the channel in the time domain. An autocorrelation of the channel in the frequency domain is determined using the second estimate of the channel. Extension signals are determined using the autocorrelation. The extension signals are appended to the first estimate of the channel to obtain a third estimate of the channel. The third estimate is used to provide a data signal in the frequency domain.
US08014456B1 Preamble detection with multiple receive antennas
A system includes a differential demodulation module that differentially demodulates modulated signals received from R antennas. A first summing module sums the differentially demodulated signals to generate a combined signal. A state detection module detects states of X symbols in the combined signal. A second summing module (i) receives Y preamble sequences each comprising X predetermined symbols and (ii) generates X sums for each of the Y preamble sequences by adding each of the states of the X symbols with corresponding states of the X predetermined symbols of each of Y preamble sequences. The states of the X predetermined symbols are generated by inverting states of derived symbols in derived preamble sequences, which are derived from the Y preamble sequences. Each of the Y preamble sequences is different from others of the Y preamble sequences. R, X, and Y are integers greater than 1.
US08014454B2 Multicarrier communication apparatus, multicarrier communication system, and transmission power control method
A multicarrier communication apparatus capable of reducing an amount of information required for feedback, making a range of transmission power fluctuation small, and achieving rapid convergence on a target transmission power is disclosed. With this apparatus, subcarrier pair determination section (1142) puts a plurality of subcarriers contained in a multicarrier signal into pairs, notifies combining section (106) of information pertaining to the pairs of subcarriers, combines received power of each pair of subcarriers, and outputs combined received power obtained in this manner to command producing section (1146). Target power storage section (1144) stores target power for received power in such a manner that SIR at the subject apparatus becomes a desired SIR. Command producing section (1146) compares combined received power for the pairs of subcarriers and target received power, produces a command indicating a difference in power between these two received powers, and generates a control signal containing the produced command.
US08014445B2 Methods and systems for high dynamic range video coding
Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems for high dynamic range (HDR) video coding and decoding that is backwards-compatible with one or more standard dynamic range (SDR) encoding and decoding techniques, through the transmission of HDR residual data used to reconstruct an encoded HDR sequence from an inverse-tone-mapped SDR sequence.
US08014443B2 Non-linear distortion detection method and distortion compensation amplifying device
The present invention provides a non-linear distortion detection method and a distortion compensation amplifying device capable of suppressing increase of the circuit size and the power consumption even if the signal band is widened. A signal obtained by feeding back an output of a power amplifier is sampled by an A/D converter. An equalizer of a distortion detection unit uses an input signal d(n) of a predistorter as a reference symbol to detect an equalization error e(n) of the orthogonal demodulation signal u(n). An absolute value averaging unit outputs an absolute value of the equalization error e(n) which has been temporally averaged to E(n) as a distortion value to a control unit. According to the distortion value, the control unit adaptively controls the predistorter to perform distortion compensation.
US08014439B2 Communication device and communication method
A communication device selects an optimal modulation method even when a propagation path condition is changed. In the communication device, a second communication device has a transmission path condition estimation unit for estimating the propagation path condition change speed and a communication quality estimation unit for modifying the communication quality estimation method according to the speed of the change of the propagation path condition and for estimating the communication quality according to the modified estimation method. The information on the estimated propagation path condition and the information on the communication quality are transmitted from a transmission processing unit, and an adaptive modulation control unit of the first communication device sets a condition for selecting the modulation method and decides the modulation method according to the set condition and the information on the communication quality.
US08014437B2 Low-rate long-range mode for OFDM wireless LAN
A system for implementing an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing scheme and providing an improved range extension. The system includes a transmitter for transmitting data to a receiver. The transmitter includes a symbol mapper for generating a symbol for each of a plurality of subcarriers and a spreading module for spreading out the symbol on each of the plurality of subcarriers by using a direct sequence spread spectrum. The symbol on each of the plurality of subcarriers is spread by multiplying the symbol by predefined length sequences. The receiver includes a de-spreader module for de-spreading the symbols on each of the plurality of subcarriers. The de-spreader module includes a simply correlator receiver for obtaining maximum detection. The correlator produces an output sequence of a same length as an input sequence and the de-spreader module uses a point of maximum correlation on the output sequence to obtain a recovered symbol.
US08014434B2 Multiple cavity etched-facet DFB lasers
A semiconductor chip has at least two DFB etched facet laser cavities with one set of facets with AR coatings and a second set of etched facets with HR coatings that have a different relative position with respect to the gratings. This creates a difference in the phase between each of the etched facets and the gratings which changes the operational characteristics of the two laser cavities such that at least one of the lasers provides acceptable performance. As a result, the two cavity arrangement greatly improves the yield of the fabricated chips.
US08014431B2 Vertical surface light emitting device with multiple active layers
A vertical cavity surface light emitting device (VCSLED) with multiple active layers includes at least one optical resonance unit comprising a highly-doped conduction region (1), an insulating layer (2), a negative electrode (3), confinement layers (4, 6), an active layer (5), and a positive electrode (7). The optical resonance units are stacked repetitively in a vertical thickness of half wavelength to constitute an optical resonant cavity. In the laser produced from the VCSLED with multiple active layers, the VCSLED is sandwiched by reflectors (104, 105) for emitting and receiving laser light. The laser utilizes the ability of photonic crystal to emit coherent light to improve its electro-optical conversion efficiency and eliminate the fabrication of Bragg reflectors.
US08014430B2 Quantum cascade laser
A quantum cascade laser utilizing non-resonant extraction design having a multilayered semiconductor with a single type of carrier; at least two final levels (1 and 1′) for a transition down from level 2; an energy spacing E21 greater than ELO; an energy spacing E31 of about 100 meV; and an energy spacing E32 about equal to ELO. The carrier wave function for level 1 overlaps with the carrier wave function for level 2. Likewise, the carrier wave function for level 1′ overlaps with the carrier wave function for level 2. In a second version, the basic design also has an energy spacing E54 of about 90 meV, and levels 1 and 1′ do not have to be spatially close to each other, provided that level 2 has significant overlap with both these levels. In a third version, there are at least three final levels (1, 1′, and 1″) for a transition down from level 2. Each of the levels 1, 1′, and 1″ has a non-uniform squared wave function distribution.
US08014429B2 Wavelength conversion laser, image display device and laser processing device
A wavelength conversion laser is provided with a pair of fundamental wave reflecting surfaces for reflecting a fundamental wave to define a plurality of fundamental wave paths passing a wavelength conversion element at different angles, and a control unit for controlling wavelength conversion efficiencies so that the wavelength conversion efficiency on a specific one of the plurality of fundamental wave paths extending in different directions between the pair of fundamental wave reflecting surfaces is highest.
US08014428B2 Mode-locked laser
The present disclosure provides in a first aspect a mode-locked laser for generating laser pulses. The mode-locked laser comprises an optical coupler and a first optical path capable of carrying optical signals from and to the optical coupler. The first optical path includes an optical amplifier that is arranged so that saturation of optical amplification causes amplitude modulation of the light. The optical amplifier has a saturation time that is shorter than a pulse transition period of the mode-locked laser and is arranged for recovery of amplifying properties after the saturation within a period of time that is shorter than the pulse transition period of the mode-locked laser. The laser further comprises a second optical path capable of carrying optical signals from and to the optical coupler. The second optical path includes an optical isolator. The first optical path has a non-linear property and is arranged so that, when a light pulse that is received from the second optical path is split by the optical coupler into component light pulses that are directed in opposite directions in the first optical path, the component light pulses experience differing shifts in phase and wherein the mode-locked laser is arranged so that mode-locked lasing is initiated by a light pulse that is amplitude modulated by the optical amplifier.
US08014426B2 Optical device and method of controlling a refractive index profile in the optical device
An optical device includes an optical material comprising active dopant ions and absorber dopant ions spaced apart from the active dopant ions. The active dopant ions are provided to absorb a first radiation and convert a portion of the first radiation into sensible heat. A concentration profile of the absorber dopant ions is selected to absorb a second radiation different from the first radiation and optionally the first radiation in at least one direction of the optical material so as to control a refractive index profile in the at least one direction of the optical material. In another embodiment, a method of controlling a refractive index profile in an optical material includes exciting active dopant ions in the optical material with a first radiation, the active dopant ions converting at least a portion of the first radiation into sensible heat; and exciting absorber dopant ions in the optical material with a second radiation to control a refractive index profile in at least one direction of the optical material.
US08014423B2 Reference time distribution over a network
A reference time distribution system and method use a data transmission network having a plurality of nodes to distribute the House Sync signal. A network-wide time signal is generated using a reference time generator, and the network-wide time signal is then distributed over the network to the plurality of nodes. At each node, the network-wide time signal is converted to a local synchronization signal for use in performing synchronization of the timing of each node. Either network-inherent timing and/or additional time signaling is used to provide the nodes attached to this network with a network-wide notion of time. The time information is converted locally into synchronization signals or time information as required by a respective application. When data is transported over the network, delay compensation is performed to simultaneously output different data streams that have been synchronously input into the network, regardless of the data path.
US08014420B2 Label switching type of packet forwarding apparatus
A label switching type packet forwarding apparatus having a routing information table in which a forwarding type of a reception packet, output port identification information, and output routing information of a specific layer in the OSI reference model determined by the forwarding type are defined in correspondence with routing information which is found upon reception of a packet, for converting a header of a reception packet in accordance with the packet forwarding type and the output routing information obtained by a table search.
US08014413B2 Shared input-output device
In some embodiments, a shared IO device includes a plurality of packet filters associated with a plurality of virtual systems sharing the shared I/O device and a plurality of filter receive queues assigned to the plurality of packet filters. A processor is responsive to a receive packet to determine if the receive packet matches one of the plurality of packet filters and the processor, upon determining that there is a matched packet filter, is adapted to place the receive packet in the filter receive queue assigned to the matched packet filter.
US08014407B2 Distributing personalized content
The invention provides a method and system for distributing personalized content to potentially large numbers of recipients. A pool is selected, from among all content available for distribution, of those content elements that will be made available for simultaneous distribution, and personalized content is selected for distribution from that pool. The content of the pool can change with new selections over time. For each individual recipient, content elements in the pool are examined to determine if they are predicted to be of sufficient interest to that recipient for distribution, and if so, those content elements are distributed. If not, successive content elements in the pool are examined, relaxing the standard for sufficient interest, until at least one content element is found and distributed to the individual recipient.
US08014406B2 System and method of inserting a node into a virtual ring
There is provided a method and system for inserting a second node into a virtual ring, wherein the virtual ring comprises at least a first node, wherein the first node comprises a virtual ring manager for the virtual ring and wherein the first node is linked with a database.
US08014405B2 Upgrading ATM embedded networks to carry IP signals
An Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) signal is phase modulated based on an Internet Protocol (IP) signal to form a combined ATM/IP signal. The ATM signal is phase modulated without exceeding a specified tolerance of symbol period of the ATM signal. The combined ATM/IP signal is communicated on a passive optical network to multiple receiving locations. An ATM stream specific to a receiving location can be extracted from the combined ATM/IP signal by an existing ATM-based optical network termination (ONT). An IP stream can be extracted at a receiving location by phase demodulating the combined ATM/IP signal.
US08014404B2 Method and system for priority based routing
A method and system for routing a data packet, intended for a destination node, from a source node to a first intermediate node in a network is useful for improving the efficiency of the network. The method includes determining a priority level for a user of the source node and a priority level for a user of the destination node (step 505). A priority level is also determined for each of the following: a device associated with the source node, a device associated with the destination node, and a device associated with the first intermediate node (step 510). A routing path is then selected that routes the data packet from the source node to the first intermediate node based on a comparison of the priority level for the device associated with the first intermediate node, the priority levels for the users of the source and destination nodes, and the priority levels for the devices associated with the source and destination nodes (step 515).
US08014402B2 Methods and apparatus for use in forwarding short messages for mobile communication devices
In one illustrative example, when a message forwarding function is enabled for a mobile communication device which operates in a wireless communication network, an address (e.g. an MSISDN) of the mobile device is assigned to “virtual mobile equipment” in the wireless network. The equipment registers with the wireless network with respect to the address, and stores an association in memory between the address and an alternate address of an alternate communication device. Subsequently, the equipment receives a short message having a destination address that matches the address. In response, the equipment forwards the short message to the alternate address for delivery to the alternate device (e.g. a mobile or server) based on the stored association. When the message forwarding function is disabled for and/or by the mobile device, the address of the mobile device is deassigned from the equipment, so that the mobile device is again able to receive short messages having destination addresses that match the address.
US08014399B2 Method and system of operating a network including sending test packets only when needed
A data network, of the type in which a number of inter-connected router devices forward received packets of data towards a destination node in accordance with a routing table associated with each router is operated. The network is operated by: receiving routing information at one of the routers, determining if the information is such that, if it were correct, it would cause the router to update its routing table in respect of one or more entries, and, if so, sending out two test packets, one of which is sent out according to the existing information contained in the routing table and the other of which is sent out according to the information which would be included in the routing table if it were updated in accordance with the received information; comparing the results of the two test sendings; and updating the routing table to reflect the received information if the comparison indicates that the received information is correct, but otherwise ignoring the information and maintaining the routing table unchanged.
US08014396B2 Base station apparatus and transmission method thereof
A base station apparatus that limits the influx of speech data into a packet channel and that enables the service quality of the packet channel to be prevented from degrading. In this apparatus, a protocol detecting section (301) detects a protocol contained in an IP header of a packet. Based on the protocol, a packet type detecting section (302) detects a type of packet. Based on the type of packet, a delay addition control section (303) determines whether or not to add a delay. Specifically, when the packet is of VoIP, the delay addition control section (303) instructs a switching section (304) to output the packet to a delay adding section (103), and further instructs the delay adding section (103) to add a delay. Meanwhile, when the packet is an IP packet, the delay addition control section (303) instructs the switching section (304) to output the packet to a scheduler (104).
US08014394B2 High-speed processing of multicast content requests
A method for communication includes operating a network element, which includes multiple ports and multiple interconnected processing units, such that each processing unit is assigned to process packets that are communicated over a respective set of one or more of the ports. Each processing unit stores a respective list, which indicates one or more multicast packet streams that are permitted for forwarding by the network element, and further indicates a respective subset of the ports over which each of the multicast packet streams is permitted for forwarding. A request relating is disturbed among the multiple processing units, and the respective list in each processing unit is updated responsively to the request. Multicast packets associated with the given multicast packet stream are forwarded selectively by the processing units in accordance with the respective updated lists.
US08014392B2 Method and system for advertising bluetooth multicast feature
Aspects of a method and system for advertising a Bluetooth multicast feature are provided. A master device may provide a multicast service to active slave devices during a Bluetooth piconet connection. A Bluetooth multicast packet addressed to a specific slave device may be transmitted over a point-to-point connection. The multicast packet may be decoded and acknowledged by each of the slave devices on the piconet. The master device may re-transmit the multicast packet addressed to the specific slave device over the same point-to-point connection when an acknowledgment or response indicating a reception of the multicast packet from each of active slave devices may not be detected. The point-to-point connection may be associated with a L2CAP channel identified by a determined unique channel identifier (M-CID). The point- to-point connection may be secured by assigning a common authentication key shared among the slaves of the piconet.
US08014391B2 Method to set setting information in device and device to set setting information
A device obtains network setting information by using a function for obtaining the network setting information used for network communication through a network. The device receives from an apparatus for transmitting setting information to be set in a device to the device, setting information containing information to stop using the function to set the received setting information in the device.
US08014390B2 Policy based routing using a fast filter processor
A network device for processing packets. The network device includes applying specific fields from a packet to an associated memory device and comparing means for comparing input to the memory device with entries in the memory device. The network device also includes enabling means for enabling selection of bits, by the memory device, that are required to match exactly with bits from the input to the memory device. The network device further includes outputting means for outputting an address for a matched entry by the memory device and applying means for applying a match from the memory device to an associated entry in a table for applying actions from the table that are associated with the match to the packet.
US08014382B2 Routing method, transceiver station and computer program for carrying out the method
A routing method, apparatus, and computer readable medium storing instructions to perform the method in a network having a set of communication nodes, to establish a route from at least one source node to a destination node, which includes broadcasting a request from the destination node, examining, in response to reception of the request at an intermediate node, whether the intermediate node previously received the request, and if the request was not previously received by the intermediate node, systematically rebroadcasting the request from the intermediate node with a delay that is a function of a routing metric associated with the intermediate node, and repeating the examining and rebroadcasting until the at least one source node is reached.
US08014377B2 Efficient location updates, paging and short bursts
A mobile terminal in a wireless communication network may be one of several modes of operation. When in an idle mode, the mobile terminal may avoid a lengthy random access procedure normally associated with responding to a page from a base station, if the base station includes in the page an indication of a resource that the mobile terminal may utilize when responding to the page. Additionally, the mobile terminal may transmit an efficient location update MAC header to a base station, whether prompted to by a page from the base station or not. Furthermore, without leaving the idle mode or a sleep mode, the mobile terminal may exchange short data burst messages with a base station.
US08014374B2 System and method for achieving timing compatibility with multi-antenna wireless data protocols
A system and method for maintaining timing compatibility for high rate wireless transceivers employs a cycle stealing technique so that latencies introduced by multi-antenna signal processors in an access point can be masked. A speculative pre-stored, predetermined preamble is issued in response to a data transmission initiation from another access point, so that a responsive packet is sent within an acceptable protocol timing interval.
US08014373B2 Filtered antenna assembly
An antenna assembly for a wireless communications device has an antenna, a filter circuit, and a connector constructed to engage a wireless communications device. A filter circuit includes a band-pass filter and a first notch filter disposed in serial electrical communication with the band-pass filter, the band-pass filter operable to permit the passage of oscillatory electrical signals in a first frequency range, the first notch filter operable to impede the passage of oscillatory electrical signals in a second frequency range, the second frequency range residing within the first frequency range.
US08014370B2 802.11 mesh architecture
A wireless network device comprises a physical layer (PHY) module that sends and receives packets wirelessly, a first media access control (MAC) module that wirelessly communicates with a second wireless network device in an ad-hoc mode via the PHY module, and a second MAC module that wirelessly communicates with an access point in an infrastructure mode via the PHY module.
US08014364B2 Handover process and system with commercialization service
A method for providing information to a first terminal system and/or a second terminal system which connected to each other through a network and are subject to a potential or actual handover, provides convenience information about the execution of the potential or actual handover to at least one of the first and the second terminal systems, prior to or with the start of the handover, and provides in addition to at least one of the first and the second terminal systems a commercial communication relating to a commercial measure, whereby the commercial communication is provided in correlation with the provision of the convenience information.
US08014363B2 Mitigation of link imbalance in a wireless communication system
Techniques to mitigate the effects of link imbalance for the uplink between a terminal (or UE) and multiple base stations (or Node Bs). In one aspect, the serving base station (i.e., the one designated to transmit packet data to the terminal) monitors the uplink received SNR for each terminal designated to receive packet data transmission. The serving base station then determines, based on the uplink received SNR and an SNR threshold, whether or not link imbalance potentially exists for each such terminal. In another aspect, if it is determined that link imbalance potentially exists, then a 3-way handshake is performed to check the reliability of a feedback mechanism used for packet data transmission. Appropriate responsive actions may then be performed based on the result of the check.
US08014359B2 Method and apparatus for assigning radio resources and controlling transmission parameters on a random access channel
A method and apparatus for assigning radio resources and controlling parameters for transmission over a random access channel in wireless communications by enhancing a random access channel is disclosed.
US08014357B2 Method and system for managing address prefix information associated with handover in networks
Method and system for managing address prefix information associated with handover in network. A fast handover process is achieved for point-to-point communication model. A mobile node send a provisional new care-of-address with an aggregate prefix part to its previous access router, which forwards the address to a new access router. The new access router in response generates a modified new care-of-address with a unique prefix part for the mobile node. Alternatively, the mobile node sends a request to the previous access router for a unique prefix. The request is forwarded from the previous access router to the new access router. The new access router assigns a unique prefix for the mobile node.
US08014355B2 Service apparatus, method of controlling switching of connection destination of client apparatus by service apparatus, and storage medium readable by machine
When a service apparatus detects a predetermined state, the service apparatus selects one of a plurality of client apparatuses connected to the service apparatus and selects a client apparatus to which a connection should be cut. The service apparatus determines another service apparatus to be a redirection destination of the client through communication with other service apparatuses which are capable of establishing a connection with the client. The service apparatus gives control information to the other service apparatuses and inhibits transmission of a response, which indicates that connection with the client is possible, corresponding to a probe request from the client apparatus for a given period of time.
US08014349B2 Apparatus and method for transmitting/receiving signal in a communication system
Provided is an apparatus and method for transmitting/receiving signals in a communication system. A base station allocates a quasi-dedicated control channel (QDCCH) to a first mobile station (MS), and allocates the QDCCH allocated to the first MS, to a second MS for a preset time. An MS receives a QDCCH allocated from the base station. If there is data to transmit to the base station, the MS determines whether the QDCCH is allocated to another MS different from the MS. If it is determined that the QDCCH is allocated to the MS itself, the MS transmits the data to the base station over the QDCCH.
US08014348B2 Radio access network system, radio access method, and control apparatus
The object of the present invention is to provide a radio access network system which can adapt to an environment in each network domain, and can carry out the priority transmission control of the IP packets in consideration of traffic requirements. The control apparatus 3 has a priority information setter configured to set priority information for determining a priority of the packet to be transferred in a transfer path set in the network, and a packet processor configured to determine the priority of the received packet in accordance with the priority information, and to add the priority to the received packet.
US08014344B2 Mobile IPv6 route optimization in different address spaces
A route optimization method (300, 600) is described herein which is used by an IPv6 mobile node (402, 702) to communicate with another IPv6 node (404, 704) by transmitting and receiving IPv6 traffic within an IPv4/UDP bi-directional tunnel (407, 707) through an IP network (412, 712) without routing the IPv6 traffic through a home agent (410, 708) of the mobile node, wherein at least one of the IPv6 mobile node and the another IPv6 node is located in an IPv4 access network (406a, 406b, 716a, 718b).
US08014343B2 Method for enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) transmission overlap detection for compressed mode gap slots
A method and apparatus for detecting an overlap of an E-DCH transmission or retransmission in TTIs that overlap with an assigned uplink compressed mode gap is disclosed. More specifically, detecting an overlap of an E-DCH transmission or retransmission in TTIs that overlap with an uplink compressed mode gap assigned by a Node B when a WTRU is configured with a 2 ms TTI is disclosed. After detecting the overlap of the E-DCH transmission or retransmission and the uplink compressed mode gap, the E-DCH transmission or retransmission is paused.
US08014341B1 Method and intermediary device for reporting a civic address during an emergency call
Methods and an intermediary device are disclosed for sending a civic address and other information from the intermediary device to an apparatus associated with a predefined number (such as Public Safety Answering Point). The civic address may include a street number, street name, street type, and postal mailing code, all of which may be associated with a wireless calling access line assigned to the intermediary device. A calling mechanism (e.g., a telephone) operating in an off-hook state initiates a communication with the apparatus. The intermediary device may enter the off-hook state in response to the calling mechanism entering the off-hook state. The intermediary device can continue to operate in the off-hook state so as to send the civic address to the apparatus (e.g., a PSAP) even if the calling mechanism switches to an on-hook state prior to the civic address being sent to the apparatus.
US08014338B2 Apparatus and method for supporting relay service in a multi-hop relay broadband wireless access communication system
An apparatus and method for configuring a subframe to support a relay service in a multi-hop relay BWA communication system are provided. The apparatus includes at least one of a BS-MS link subframe, a primary RS-MS link subframe, and a BS-secondary RS link subframe are configured in a first period of the subframe, and at least one of a BS-primary RS link subframe, an RS-RS link subframe, and a secondary RS-MS link subframe is configured in a second period of the subframe.
US08014337B2 Method and system for wireless multi-hopping communication
A method (400) and system (100) for a wireless multi-hopping communication system is provided, wherein the system (100) includes an access point (102), a source node (CR1), and a plurality of nodes. The source node (CR1) is in communication with the access point (102), and configured to transmit a signal on at least one of a plurality of frequencies. The plurality of nodes are in communication with the access point (102) and the source node (CR1), and configured to transmit a signal on at least one of the plurality of frequencies, wherein the source node (CR1) and the plurality of nodes are adapted to determine a routing path utilizing at least one intermediate node (CR2) of the plurality of nodes and a transmitting frequency of the plurality of frequencies while reducing interference to a primary user of the transmitting frequency.
US08014334B2 Rate control method and apparatus for data packet transmission
Base stations control the transmission rate that is used by UE (user equipment) to forward them information. A UE periodically forwards a rate request to a base station if the UE needs to have its data transmission rate to the base station increased or decreased, and the base station responds with a rate command. An error can occur in the transmission of the rate command, such that a rate Rnb transmitted by the base station and detected by the UE as Rue may not match. Various schemes are proposed for reducing and correcting such transmission errors. A first scheme involves periodically resetting the transmission rate of the base station and UE with a reference rate. Second to fourth schemes involve periodically comparing the transmission rates of the base station and UE, and replacing the rate of the UE if they differ. A fifth scheme involves a filtering of the feedback command in order to reduce the impact of error propagation. A sixth scheme, which may be used separately or in conjunction with any of the foregoing schemes, involves adjusting a power offset with a repetition factor. All of the schemes are modified during a soft handover of the UE from the base station to a new base station.
US08014333B2 Digital broadcasting system and method of processing data in digital broadcasting system
A digital broadcast system and a method of processing data disclose. A receiving system of the digital broadcast system may include a baseband processor, a management processor, and a presentation processor. The baseband processor receives broadcast signals including mobile service data and main service data. The mobile service data configures a RS frame, and the RS frame includes the mobile service data and at least one type of channel setting information on the mobile service data. The management processor decodes the RS frame to acquire the mobile service data and the at least one type of channel setting information on the mobile service data, then extracts position information of an SDP message. Herein, the SDP message includes Codec information for each component in the respective virtual channel from the channel setting information, thereby accessing the SDP message from the extracted position information and gathers SDP message information. The presentation processor decodes mobile service data of a corresponding component based upon the gathered SDP message information.
US08014332B2 Broadcasting receiver and broadcast signal processing method
A digital broadcasting system which is robust against an error when mobile service data is transmitted and a method of processing data are disclosed. The mobile service data is subjected to an additional coding process and the coded mobile service data is transmitted. Accordingly, it is possible to cope with a serious channel variation while applying robustness to the mobile service data.
US08014330B2 Apparatus and method for selecting, releasing, and changing MCBCS channel of mobile station in broadband wireless access system
An apparatus and method for selecting, releasing, and changing a MultiCast and BroadCast Service (MCBCS) of a Mobile Station (MS) in a Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) system are provided. The method includes, upon receiving a request to select a specific channel, transmitting a channel selection request message for selecting the channel; determining whether a DSA request message including a Media Access Control (MAC) layer name tag for the channel is received from an Access Service Network-Gateway (ASN-GW), and, upon receiving the DSA request message, transmitting a DSA response message to the ASN-GW; and receiving a channel selection response message including information indicating a success or failure of the channel selection from an MCBCS server. Accordingly, there is an advantage in that an overall transmission delay is reduced for an MCBCS call process, and a processing capacity can be effectively utilized.
US08014323B2 Systems and methods for facilitating communication between communication devices
Systems and methods for facilitating communication between communication devices are provided. An exemplary method includes: sending an indication signal by a second communication device to a first communication device, the indication signal corresponding to a request to receive buffered data from the first communication device; and sending a data frame by the second communication device to the first communication device.
US08014322B2 Diagnostic tool for troubleshooting multimedia streaming applications
In one embodiment, a method includes correlating, for each intermediate device associated with a Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) application that connects endpoints through a plurality of intermediate devices across a network, one or more first RTP segments input into the intermediate device with one or more second RTP segments output from the intermediate device. The correlation results are then graphically displayed results of the correlating to obtain a full, end-to-end picture of RTP quality from a source endpoint to a destination endpoint of the RTP application. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure.
US08014320B2 Method for discovering the physical topology of a telecommunications network
A method and arrangement for discovering the physical topology of a telecommunication network having switches, routers, and a management node interconnected by links in a spanning tree and links to blocked interfaces. The management node broadcasts a ping message and adds replying nodes to the topology. The management node discovers the spanning tree by retrieving address forwarding tables from the switches, assigning them a ranking value, and connecting from the highest ranked nodes to successively lower ranked nodes. The management node discovers the blocked interfaces by configuring a VLAN to include the spanning tree and disabling the spanning tree protocol. The blocked interfaces are turned on and off while matching link down traps are noted and the corresponding links are discovered. Only basic management features of the switches are needed, and all nodes and links are discovered.
US08014317B1 Next hop chaining for forwarding data in a network switching device
A route for a data unit through a network may be defined based on a number of next hops. Exemplary embodiments described herein may implement a router forwarding table as a chained list of references to next hops. In one implementation, a device includes a forwarding table that includes: a first table configured to store, for each of a plurality of routes for data units in a network, a chain of links to next hops for the routes; and a second table configured to store the next hops. The device also includes a forwarding engine configured to assemble the next hops for the data units based on using the chain of links in the first table to retrieve the next hops in the second table and to forward the data units in the network based on the assembled next hops.
US08014313B1 Network interface with autonegotiation and cable length measurement
A physical layer device includes a transceiver module that communicates with a medium. An autonegotiation module autonegotiates one of N link capabilities with a link partner that advertises one of the link capabilities, where N is an integer greater than or equal to two. The autonegotiation module selects the advertised link capability of the link partner.
US08014310B2 Apparatus and method for visualizing network situation using security cube
An apparatus and method for visualizing a network condition related to a network security are provided. The apparatus includes a traffic feature extracting unit, a network condition displaying unit, and a traffic abnormal condition determining unit. The traffic feature extracting unit extracts information including source address, source port, destination address, and destination port from network traffics, selects two of the extracted information, and calculates unique dispersion degrees of two unselected information. The network condition displaying unit displays a two-dimensional cube expressed using the calculated unique dispersion degrees for the classified traffics. The traffic abnormal condition determining unit determines whether the traffics are in an abnormal condition or not based on the two-dimensional security cube.
US08014306B2 Integration of remote microcell with CDMA infrastructure
A method of interconnecting a CDMA cellsite having signal advancing capabilities with at least one remote microcell without re-synchronization capabilities. The method of the present invention sufficiently advances the signal to compensate for the time delay induced by communication signal travel over a fiber optic connection between a base station cellsite and a remote microcell.
US08014305B1 Wireless LAN using transmission monitoring
Transmission monitoring can be used to determine the optimum data rate for a channel. The transmission monitoring can include sending data packets in the channel using various data rates. At least some data packets are sent using the current optimum data rate, a rate lower than the current optimum data rate, and a rate higher than the current optimum data rate. One of these data rates can be selected as the new optimum data rate. In one embodiment, if the current optimum data rate is less than a predetermined data rate, then the client is triggered to begin scanning for other available access points.
US08014304B1 Method and system for decoding tokenized session initiated protocol packets
The present invention relates to a method of decoding tokenized Session Initiated Protocol. A token from a tokenized Session Initiated Protocol packet is received. A decoding table is accessed and the corresponding entry for the token is determined. The token is executed according to the corresponding entry. This may be done for all tokens in a tokenized Session Initiated Packet. Once the tokens have been executed according to their entries in a decoding table, the decoded tokenized Session Initiated Protocol packet is provided.
US08014300B2 Resource state monitoring method, device and communication network
A resource state monitoring method, device and communication network are provided. The method includes: acquiring network event state information of a node in a network running process, detecting a data plane resource state of the node and a control plane resource state of the node when it determines that the network event state information of the node meets a resource state detection triggering condition, and reporting a detection result to a management plane of the node. The device includes an acquiring unit, a checking unit, a triggering unit, a detecting unit and a reporting unit. The network includes several nodes, a communication control device and a resource state monitoring device.
US08014297B2 Network test apparatus, network test method and network test program
According to an aspect of an embodiment, an apparatus is transmitting/receiving an OAM frame containing kinds of tests indicating one or more tests for Ethernet-OAM to/from a relay apparatus, storing configuration information to generate a network configuration needed for each of the plurality of tests in a pseudo manner, distinguishing the kind of test contained in the relevant OAM frame and obtaining network information of a network to which the relay apparatus that transmitted the OAM frame belongs and obtaining configuration information corresponding to the obtained network information obtained from the stored configuration information.
US08014293B1 Scalable route resolution
A router comprises a route resolution module to maintain routing information in accordance with a topology of a network, and an indirect next hop manager to maintain indirect next hop data that associates protocol next hops with forwarding next hops. The route resolution module invokes an application programming interface (API) of the indirect next hop manager for associating and disassociating protocol next hops and forwarding next hops. In response to a network event, the route resolution module can modify the indirect next hop data to reduce the time and resources necessary to perform route resolution.
US08014291B2 Relaxed constrained shortest path first (R-CSPF)
In one embodiment, a target bandwidth, a lower boundary constraint on bandwidth, and an upper boundary constraint on cost are configured on a path computation device. The device may then compute a set of paths that is within the lower bandwidth boundary and upper cost boundary constraints. If the set of paths contains one or more paths, the device may select a path having a bandwidth value that is closest to the target bandwidth. However if the set of paths contains no paths, the device may search amongst paths that violate either the maximum cost or minimum bandwidth limits, selecting the path closest to the violated constraint (e.g., whose combined violation is minimized). Also, a weighting factor may be configured to establish the relative importance for a cost violation in comparison to a bandwidth violation.
US08014290B2 Traffic flow management through a multipath network
A method for managing traffic flow through a multipath network and systems and apparatuses configured to employ such a method are provided. The method includes forwarding a packet along a first link of the multipath network and tracking a load of the first link subsequent to forwarding the packet. In addition, the method includes preserving the first link for a subsequent packet having the same flow address as the forwarded packet upon determining a desired load change of the first link is less than a predetermined value.
US08014287B2 Communications apparatus
A communications apparatus, enabling an efficient data transfer without an environmental restriction, notifies a transmission-side apparatus connected via a network of data amount in a window size, and receives data as large as the window size, the data which is transmitted from the transmission-side apparatus. The communications apparatus includes: a receiving buffer memory having a region for storing a data packet transmitted from the transmission-side apparatus; a communications protocol processing unit notifying the transmission-side apparatus of the window size larger than a capacity of the receiving buffer memory, receiving the data packet transmitted from the transmission-side apparatus according to the notified window size, and storing the received data packet in the receiving buffer memory; and a central controlling unit retrieving the data packet stored in the receiving buffer memory and processing the retrieved data packet.
US08014286B2 Frame relay switched data service
A new type of data transport service which uses a frame relay layer 2 data link connection identifier (DLCI) to select among various service types, feature sets, and/or closed user groups (CUGs). A layer 3 address may be extracted from a layer 2 frame, and the layer 3 address information may be used to route a data packet over a packet-switched network according to the service classes, feature sets, and/or CUGs selected. At the destination, the layer 3 data packet may again be enclosed in a layer 2 frame with a DLCI indicating the service classes, features sets, and/or CUGs. Because the use of conventional permanent virtual circuits (PVCs) is not required in aspects of the invention, new methods of measuring and managing network traffic are presented.
US08014282B2 Hashing packet contents to determine a processor
The disclosure includes a description of an apparatus having circuitry to determine a first hash value for a first packet tuple of a first packet traveling in a first direction of a duplex connection and determine a processor for the first packet from a set of multiple processors based, at least in part, on the first hash value. The apparatus includes circuitry to determine a second hash value for a second packet tuple of a second packet traveling in a second direction of the duplex connection and determine the same processor for the second packet from the set of multiple processors based, at least in part, on the second hash value.
US08014277B2 Restricting time slots for mesh networks
Systems and methods are described that facilitate controlling transmission/reception time slots in a wireless multi-hop ad hoc network. A node, such as an access terminal or an access point, may select an identifier that corresponds to specific time slots during which nodes with that particular identifier may transmit and/or receive. Nodes that are one hop away from each other may select different identifiers in order to ensure that neighboring nodes do not transmit and/or receive during the same time slots. In this manner, interference caused and/or experienced by a given node may be reduced.
US08014275B1 Devices, systems, and/or methods for monitoring IP network equipment
Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a method, which can comprise, from a central routing device of a plurality of central routing devices, automatically polling each of a plurality of Provider Edge routers with Bidirectional Forwarding Detection protocol messages. The method can comprise automatically determining a suspected failure of a Provider Edge router of the plurality of Provider Edge routers.
US08014269B2 Radio receiver, signal processing method and program product
A radio receiver receives a signal transmitted through a radio transmission path. In the signal, a no-signal interval is inserted between orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) symbols. The radio receiver includes a determining unit to determine an overlap-addition number based on delay characteristics of a received signal, and an adder to add data corresponding to the overlap-addition number determined by the determining unit out of data received in the no-signal interval to a top portion of an OFDM symbol of the received signal.
US08014263B2 Cross-talk cancellation in cooperative wireless relay networks
Cross-talk is canceled in a cooperative wireless relay network that includes a base station (BS), a relay station (RS), and a mobile station (MS). A coupling channel between a transmit antenna and a receive antenna colocated at the RS is estimated. Cross-talk interference determination is based on a previous transmitted signal by the transmit antenna, and the coupling channel. The cross-talk interference is subtracted from a currently received signal by the receive antenna to obtain a residual signal. The residual signal is then transmitted as a next transmitted signal by the transmit antenna.
US08014248B2 Recording medium with a linking area including dummy data thereon and apparatus and methods for forming, recording, and reproducing the recording medium
A recording medium, such as a high-density and/or read-only recording medium including a data area including at least two data sections and a linking area to link neighboring data sections, the linking area including dummy data, and to methods and apparatuses for forming, recording, and reproducing the recording medium.
US08014247B2 Optical disk recording/reproducing apparatus and alternation process method thereof
A disk recording/reproducing apparatus includes a disk rotator which rotates an optical disk, an optical pickup, a slide motor which moves the optical pickup into a radial direction of the optical disk, and a controller which controls at least the disk rotator and the slide motor in accordance with a signal obtained from the optical pickup. The controller determines an alternation destination for recording data at an alternation origin therein or during the alternation process depending on a position of the alternation origin on the optical disk and a reference position on the optical disk, when the optical disk has an alternation area on an innermost periphery and an outermost periphery, and the recording/reproducing apparatus conducts the alternation process upon detection of a defect block within a user data recording area on the optical disk, thereby conducting the alternation process thereon.
US08014243B2 Method and apparatus for performing beta prediction for high-speed writing on unknown recordable optical discs
A method is disclosed for performing Beta prediction for high-speed writing on unknown recordable optical discs. Test recordings are performed in the inner (20) and outer test (40) zones of an unknown recordable optical disc, yielding results expressed as measured beta target values. At least one beta target value is computed in a data zone (30) of the unknown recordable optical disc. Beta (power) is predicted as a function of speed for continuous angular velocity (CAV) speed profiles, or equivalently, as a function of disc radius for CAV writing, for high speed writing on said unknown optical disc by constructing a piecewise linear interpolation of beta versus speed or disc radius using the measured target values and the at least one calculated beta target value.
US08014239B2 Optical tape system
Disclosed herein are aspects of optical tape technology, tape manufacturing, and tape usage. Methods and systems of tape technology disclose optical tape media including: configurations, formulations, markings, and structure; optical tape manufacturing methods, systems, and apparatus methods and systems including: curing processes, coating methods, embossing, drums, testing, tracking alignment stamper strip; optical tape methods and systems including: pick up head adapted for the disclosed optical tape; and optical tape uses including optical storage media devices for multimedia applications.
US08014238B2 Optical pickup device
An optical pickup device to provide a stable operation in both low-speed and high-speed modes by controlling a change in natural frequency, the optical pickup device including: a lens holder to support an objective lens; a supporting unit spaced apart from the lens holder; and a plurality of suspension members each having one end fixed to the lens holder and another end supported by the supporting unit to enable a movement of the lens holder, wherein the supporting unit includes a fixing member, a coupling portion provided in the fixing member to couple each suspension member, magnetic fluid received in the coupling portion, and an excite device to apply a magnetic field to the magnetic fluid.
US08014237B2 Disk device
To provide a disk device, which can reliably lead and house a disk into a disk housing section requiring only a small space.The disk device is provided with: a pick arm 130 which swings and inserts a drive unit for playing a disk D into a space created by splitting a plurality of trays 250; and a loading arm 256 which can move between a leading position for abutting on the disk D inserted/ejected with respect to the tray 250 and leading the disk D, and a withdrawing position for withdrawing from the disk to be played. A pick swing cam plate 138, which controls the drive of the pick arm 130 and the loading arm 256, is provided so as to be slidingly moved by a drive mechanism.
US08014233B2 Satellite signal reception device, timekeeping device, and satellite signal reception method for a satellite signal reception device
A satellite signal reception device having a reception unit that captures a positioning information satellite and receives a satellite signal transmitted from the captured positioning information satellite; a data acquisition unit that can acquire time information and positioning information based on the satellite signal received by the reception unit; and a reception mode control unit that controls the reception mode of the reception unit to at least one of a time information reception mode and positioning information reception mode. The reception unit includes a correlation unit that determines a correlation between a code used for capturing the satellite signal and the received satellite signal. The data acquisition unit includes an operating unit that decodes the received data. The reception mode control unit includes a clock control unit that separately controls the operating clock of the correlation unit and the process clock of the operating unit according to the reception mode.
US08014232B2 Drug delivery management system
The present invention relates to assisting patients in the taking of medication, and to assisting third parties in accumulating information regarding patient medication intake. The invention may be embodied a system including a portable medication monitor used in association with an instrumented medication package to provide intake data acquisition and patient support functions. The system may further be connected to a computer or computer network allowing information distribution between the medication monitor and third parties, such as physicians or pharmacists.
US08014230B2 Adaptive array control device, method and program, and adaptive array processing device, method and program using the same
To provide an adaptive array control device, method, and program adapted to be able to output an enhanced target signal by precisely carrying out a coefficient update control of a plurality of signals input from a group of sensors arranged in an array, the coefficient update control being less influenced by the frequency characteristics of the signals and directions of a target signal and interference.The invention includes: a gain control section 900 having an analyzing section 903 which analyzes characteristics of a target signal and a correcting section 905 which corrects a target signal power estimated value in response to the analysis result; and blocking matrix circuits 310 and 320 which receive and process signals from a plurality of sensors having different intervals.
US08014228B2 Marine seismic sources and methods of use
Marine seismic sources and methods of use are described, one source comprising a first set of source arrays and a second set of source arrays, each source array of the first set alternates in cross-line position with source arrays of the second set, each source member of the first set hangs from a hang plate having a first length, and each source member of the second set hangs from a hang plate having a second length, wherein the first length is sufficiently longer than the second length such that downward traveling acoustic pulses emanating from source members in the first set are substantially deghosted by acoustic pulses emanating from corresponding source members of the second set.
US08014227B2 Burst length control circuit and semiconductor memory device using the same
A burst length control circuit capable of performing read and write operations in high speed according to a burst length and a semiconductor memory device using the same includes a clock signal generating unit for generating first and second internal clock signals from a clock signal in response to a first and second burst signals, a control signal generating unit for driving in response to the first and second internal clock signals, wherein the control signal generating unit for generating first and second control signals, enable sections of the first and second control signals being controlled according to the first and second burst signals at a read operation or write operation, and a burst termination signal generating unit for generating a burst termination signal in response to the first and second burst signals. The first control signal is disabled in response to the burst termination signal.
US08014226B2 Integrated circuit memory with word line driving helper circuits
An integrated circuit memory 2 incorporates a first array of bit cells 4 and a second array of bit cells 6 with word line driver circuitry 8 disposed therebetween. Word line helper circuitry 18, 20 is disposed at the opposite edges of the array 4, 6 to the word line driver circuitry 8. The helper circuitry is responsive to the word line signal on a word line 12 being driven towards an asserted value to switch on and further drive the word line signal towards the asserted value. The helper circuitry is switched off by a global reset signal, which may be a self-timed global reset signal.
US08014225B2 Circuit for voltage pump and a semiconductor memory apparatus using the same
A voltage pump circuit includes a pumping unit configured to include a plurality of pumps and perform voltage pumping and a pumping control unit configured to generate control signals for selectively driving the pumps in response to a mode determination signal.
US08014223B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device including a plurality of semiconductor elements, a substrate on which the plurality of semiconductor elements are mounted, the substrate also having a plurality of terminals for connecting to external equipment, a fuse mounted on the outside of a mounting area of the plurality of semiconductor elements and mounted on a surface of the substrate near a power supply terminal among the plurality of terminals, and the power supply terminal and the plurality of semiconductor elements are connected via the fuse.
US08014221B2 Memory devices including floating body transistor capacitorless memory cells and related methods
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array which includes a plurality of unit memory cells, where each of the unit memory cells comprises complementary first and second floating body transistor capacitor-less memory cells. A logic value written into and read from each unit memory cell is defined by a difference in threshold voltage states of the first and second floating body transistor capacitorless memory cells.
US08014214B2 Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device is provided which includes a voltage detecting unit configured to compare a target voltage level with a fed-back internal voltage to output a detection signal in a normal mode, a driving unit configured to selectively drive an internal voltage terminal to a first or second power supply voltage according to an operation mode in response to the detection signal, and an enable control unit configured to control the driving unit in response to a control signal corresponding to the operation mode.
US08014212B2 Semiconductor device and control method thereof
Disclosed is a memory circuit that includes a plurality of columns of bit line pairs, each bit line pair including True and Bar bit lines, between which at least a memory cell is connected; a sense amplifier that has True and Bar terminals and that performs differential amplification; and a switching circuit that selects one of: a straight connection in which the True and Bar bit lines of a selected column bit line pair are connected to the True and Bar terminals of the sense amplifier, respectively; and a cross connection in which the True and Bar bit lines of a selected column bit line pair are connected to the Bar and True terminals of the sense amplifier, respectively.
US08014211B2 Keeperless fully complementary static selection circuit
Selection circuitry for use in register files, multiplexers, and so forth is disclosed. The selection circuitry includes a plurality of local bit lines coupled to global bit line circuitry. Groups of cells or data inputs are coupled to each of the local bit lines. When a cell or data input of a given group is selected, a group select signal is provided to the global bit line circuitry. The global bit line circuitry drives a global bit line responsive to the group select signal and the data driven on (or provided to) the local bit line associated with the selected cell/input, thus providing a data output. When no cell of a given group is selected, the group select signal is de-asserted, causing the respective global bit line to be held in a predetermined state.
US08014210B2 Non-volatile memory control circuit
An efficient erasure is performed. The voltage of a source line SL is manipulated in units of a sector providing a plurality of memory cells. An erase command is received for the desired memory cells to be erased in a plurality of word line WL units arranged within a sector and all data within the sector, which includes the desired memory cells to be erased, is saved in a separate memory. Erasure is then performed for the entire sector, and among the saved data the data outside the desired memory cells to be erased is returned to the memory cells.
US08014205B2 System for verifying non-volatile storage using different voltages
When performing a data sensing operation, including a verify operation during programming of non-volatile storage elements (or, in some cases, during a read operation after programming), a first voltage is used for unselected word lines that have been subjected to a programming operation and a second voltage is used for unselected word lines that have not been subjected to a programming operation. In some embodiments, the second voltage is lower than the first voltage.
US08014202B2 Non-volatile semiconductor memory device
In a non-volatile semiconductor memory device, variations in voltage applied to a bit line when an erase voltage applying step is repeatedly executed are suppressed, thereby reducing variations in Vt after erasure. A memory array includes memory cells arranged in an array, a plurality of word lines, and a plurality of bit lines and main bit lines. The memory array also includes a usable region which can store data and an isolation region which cannot store data. Each bit line provided in the usable region is connected via a select transistor to the corresponding main bit line. At least one main bit line is connected not only to a bit line of the usable region, but also to a bit line of the isolation region via a select transistor.
US08014197B2 System and method for programming cells in non-volatile integrated memory devices
A system and method for quickly and efficiently programming hard-to-program storage elements in non-volatile integrated memory devices is presented. A number of storage elements are simultaneously subjected to a programming process with the current flowing through the storage elements limited to a first level. As a portion of these storage elements reach a prescribed state, they are removed from the set of cells being programmed and the current limit on the elements that continue to be programmed is raised. The current level in these hard-to-program cells can be raised to a second, higher limit or unregulated. According to another aspect, during a program operation the current limit allowed for a cell depends upon the target state to which it is to be programmed.
US08014195B2 Single transistor memory cell
A semiconductor device along with circuits including the same and methods of operating the same are described. The device comprises a memory cell including one transistor. The transistor comprises a gate, an electrically floating body region, and a source region and a drain region adjacent the body region. Data stored in memory cells of the device is inherently refreshed during hold operations.
US08014194B2 Phase change memory
A phase change memory (PCM) in which the phase change storage element is crystallized by a gradually increasing/decreasing operating current. The PCM comprises a switching circuit, the phase change storage element, a bit select switch, a pulse generating module, and a counting module. The switching circuit comprises a plurality of switches, selectively providing branch paths to an output terminal of a current source. The bit select switch controls the conduction between the phase change storage element and the output terminal of the current source. The pulse generating module outputs a pulse signal oscillating between high and low voltage levels. When enabled, the counting module counts the oscillations of the pulse signal, and outputs the count result by a set of digital data. The set of digital data are coupled to the switching circuit to control the switches therein.
US08014193B2 Magnetoresistance effect element and magnetic random access memory
A magnetoresistance effect element includes: a first ferromagnetic layer having invariable magnetization perpendicular to a film plane; a second ferromagnetic layer having variable magnetization perpendicular to the film plane; a first nonmagnetic layer interposed between the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer; a third ferromagnetic layer on an opposite side of the second ferromagnetic layer from the first nonmagnetic layer, and having variable magnetization parallel to the film plane; and a second nonmagnetic layer interposed between the second and third ferromagnetic layers. Spin-polarized electrons are injected into the second ferromagnetic layer by flowing a current in the direction perpendicular to the film planes between the first and third ferromagnetic layers, precession movement is induced in the magnetization of the third ferromagnetic layer by injecting the spin-polarized electrons, and a microwave magnetic field of a frequency corresponding to the precession movement is applied to the second ferromagnetic layer.
US08014187B2 Method for driving phase change memory device
A method is disclosed for driving a phase change memory device including a phase change resistor. The method includes applying a trigger voltage to the phase change resistor for a first write time to preheat the phase change resistor, applying a first write voltage to the phase change resistor for a second write time to control a first state of the phase change resistor, and applying a second voltage to the phase change resistor for a third write time to control a second state of the phase change resistor.
US08014183B2 Power converter with a feedback controller
A power converter with a feedback controller includes a converter body with an input end for an input voltage, an output end for an output voltage, a controller with a feedback device, and a connector for connection with the output end of the converter body and with an electric appliance. The circuit of the converter body converts an input voltage to an output voltage. A controller is connected in circuit to the converter body and includes a circuit for regulating the voltage for a desired system output. The feedback device connects to the output end of the converter body. The output voltage is adjustable only when the controller receives an output voltage as a feedback from the feedback device. The controller is not triggered and hence an output voltage is not adjustable when the connector is engaged with the output end of the converter body.
US08014181B2 Power conversion control system
A power distribution system comprises a power conversion module for performing power conversion between a DC voltage at a DC side and an AC power at an AC side, and a conversion control system. The AC side of the power conversion module is electrically coupled to a grid. The conversion control system includes a phase-locked-loop circuit for receiving a multi-phase reference signal of a grid voltage and for generating a synchronized signal, a regulator for receiving reference commands, a two-phase grid feedback signal, and the synchronized signal and for generating a control signal for the power conversion module, and a phase compensation circuit for receiving the synchronized signal and the multi-phase reference signal of the grid voltage, for obtaining a phase displacement signal, and for generating a phase compensation signal for compensating the reference commands or for compensating the synchronized signal when the phase displacement signal exceeds a threshold value.
US08014179B2 Multi output voltage regulation of a synchronous generator in a power system
In typical commercial/aerospace applications, synchronous generators provide power to both the high voltage and the low voltage loads. This disclosure describes a method of regulating the output voltage for all of the loads.
US08014175B2 Switching power conversion circuit
A switching power conversion circuit includes a power circuit, a feedback circuit and a control circuit. The power circuit includes a switching circuit and a first magnetic element. The first magnetic element generates a magnetic flux change by alternately conducting or shutting off the switching circuit, so that an input voltage is converted into the output voltage by the power circuit. The feedback circuit generates a feedback signal according to the output voltage. The control circuit is used for controlling an on duration and an off duration of the switching circuit, thereby maintaining the output voltage at a rated voltage. The off duration of the switching circuit is maintained at a constant interval under control of the control circuit. The on duration of the switching circuit is adjusted to be a specified interval smaller than a maximum on duration according to the magnitude of the input voltage.
US08014173B2 Resonant converter for synchronous rectification control
A resonant converter for improving synchronous rectification control is provided. The resonant converter obtains an input power, and through a switch unit, the period of the input power to be transmitted to a resonant circuit can be modified. The resonant converter further includes two transformers electrically connected to the resonant circuit, two synchronous controllers electrically connected to the primary sides of two transformers respectively, and two synchronous rectifiers electrically connected to the secondary sides of two transformers. The input power modified by the resonant circuit is obtained by the primary sides of two transformers, and two induced power are respectively produced at the secondary sides. Then, through sensing the polarity variation of the voltage, the two synchronous controllers individually provide a synchronous driving signal. Furthermore, the synchronous driving signals respectively drive two synchronous rectifiers to conduct alternatively, so as to rectify the induced power to the output terminal.
US08014168B2 Wire form rail adapter
A wire form rail adapter for use in connecting an electrical component to a mounting rail includes a wire form spring clip that is formed to provide both a connection portion and a spring portion. The connection portion is configured to selectively engage the mounting rail and retain the rail against the rail adapter. The spring portion is configured to provide a biasing force that urges the wire form spring clip toward a position in which the connection portion engages the mounting rail.
US08014167B2 Liquid crystal material sealed housing
A hermetically sealed housing having a base deck, a cover member and a seal assembly constructed of a liquid crystal material (LCM), the base deck and cover member forming an enclosure containing an inert gas atmosphere. Various embodiments have the LCM seal bonded to one or both of the base deck and cover member and bonded to seal the enclosure by molding, compression, adhesive bonding, thermoplastic welding or soldering, or a combination of such.
US08014165B2 Panel mount connector
A connector for mounting to a panel is provided that includes a housing that has a front edge configured to be located proximate an opening in the panel. The connector also includes a tab that extends from the front edge of the housing where the tab is oriented to engage an outer surface of the panel. A spring member also extends from the front edge of the housing and is positioned to engage an inner surface of the panel. The spring member is flexible toward and away from the tab.
US08014158B2 Electronic control apparatus
In an electronic control apparatus, a connector mounted on a circuit board accommodated in a casing body constructed with top and bottom casings is partially exposed outside the casing body to be mated with an external connector. A sealant is interposed between the top and bottom casings, between the top casing and the connector, and between the bottom casing and the connector. A sealing part of at least one of the top and bottom casings has a substantially rectangular ring shape with rounded four corners. A sealing part of the connector faces two adjacent corners of the rectangular sealing part and one side of the rectangular sealing part directly connecting the two adjacent corners.
US08014157B2 Circuit board mounting system
A circuit board mounting system has a mounting plate and standoffs. The mounting plate has several parallel slits. The standoffs have a base with an elongated slot and an upright post. Fasteners through the slot mount the standoffs anywhere along the slits. The standoffs can rotate around the fasteners and translate relative to the fasteners before the fasteners are tightened, so that a post can be located anywhere on the mounting plate. Circuit boards are mounted to the tops of the standoff posts.
US08014149B2 Fan module for electronic device
A fan module is disposed in an electrical device. The electrical device has a main board and a casing. The fan module includes a vane module, a fan motor, a circuit board and a fan housing. The vane module has a hub and a plurality of vanes disposed around the edge of the hub. The fan motor is disposed in the hub. The circuit board is used to control the fan motor, so that the vanes rotate related to an axis of the hub for generating an air flow. The fan housing has a main body portion, a protruding portion and a fixing portion, wherein the protruding portion is located in a side of the main body portion, the vane module and the fan motor are disposed in the main body portion and the circuit board is disposed in the protruding portion.
US08014147B2 Foldable electronic apparatus with an enhanced pivotal mechanism
A portable electronic apparatus includes a first casing, a second casing, and an enhanced pivotal mechanism for folding/unfolding the second casing with respect to the first casing. The pivotal mechanism further includes a main pivot to pivot the first casing and the second casing; a combination constructed on the first casing and further including a first driving element driven by the main pivot, a first cam driven by the first driving element, and a first cover pivotally rotated by the first cam; and, another combination constructed on the second casing and further including a second driving element driven by the main pivot, a second cam driven by the second driving element, and a second cover pivotally rotated by the second cam.
US08014146B2 Computer system with airflow blocking plate
A computer system includes a chassis and an airflow blocking plate. The chassis comprising a first chassis sidewall, a second chassis sidewall, and a drive bracket which is used to mount a disk drive. The drive bracket is secured in the chassis and abuts the first chassis sidewall, and the first chassis sidewall defines a first ventilation hole. The air flows into the chassis via the first ventilation hole. The airflow blocking plate secured in the chassis and located between the first chassis sidewall and the second chassis sidewall. The airflow blocking plate prevents the air from flowing back to the drive bracket.
US08014143B2 Protective cover mechanism
A protective cover mechanism includes a cover head and a cover body, the cover head includes a head portion and a connecting portion integrally connecting with the head portion, the connecting portion forms latching members therein, a cover body forms ribs in the inter wall thereof, the cover head fixes to the cover body by latching the latching members with the ribs.
US08014139B2 Compact and light computer casing structure
A protective casing structure of an electronic apparatus capable of keeping the apparatus compact and light is provided. A display-side block includes a display module and a display casing. The display casing is provided with frame edges at a periphery thereof, with projections formed on the frame edges. Grooves engaging with the projections are formed in a system casing. When the display-side block is closed, the projections engage with the grooves to increase rigidity against pressing from the outside in the closed state. The casing structure thereby increases the protective capability of the display module while keeping the apparatus compact and light.
US08014134B2 Electronic device assembly
An electronic device assembly comprises a protecting panel an electronic device, which comprises a shell with a front cover and a back cover and a display panel received in the shell. A plurality of sliding grooves is opened in the shell and extends from the front cover to the back cover. The protective cover is slidably set in the sliding grooves so as to cover the display panel in a first state or expose the display panel in a second state.
US08014129B2 Stacked solid electrolytic capacitor
A stacked solid electrolytic capacitor includes a plurality of stacked solid electrolytic capacitor elements. Each solid electrolytic capacitor element includes an anode formed of a valve action metal, an anode section formed on an end of the anode, a dielectric formed on the surface of the valve action metal and including an oxide of the valve action metal, and a cathode layer formed on the dielectric. The cathode layers and the anode sections of the solid electrolytic capacitor elements are, respectively, connected to each other across the plurality of stacked solid electrolytic capacitor elements. A conductive layer extending in the stacking direction is formed on at least part of a side face of an area where the cathode layers of the solid electrolytic capacitor elements are formed.
US08014127B2 Solid electrolytic capacitor
In a solid electrolytic capacitor, a capacitor element laminate formed by stacking capacitor elements each using a valve metal as an anode body is bonded to a substrate by a conductive adhesive and packaged by a resin portion. The substrate includes a printed substrate made of an epoxy resin. On its mounting surface for the capacitor element laminate, there are provided an anode mounting portion and a cathode mounting portion each made of a copper base material. The anode mounting portion and the cathode mounting portion are electrically connected to an external anode terminal and an external cathode terminal, respectively, formed on the mounting surface of the solid electrolytic capacitor, through anode vias and cathode vias each penetrating through the epoxy resin. A part of the anode mounting portion on the substrate (6) extends to the outside of the packaging resin portion.
US08014121B2 Electrical discharge countermeasure device
The present invention prevents occurrence of electrical discharge on an electrically conductive structure in an environment in which high-energy electrons impinge onto the structure or on an electronic element mounted to a surface of the structure, which electrical discharge would otherwise occur when the potential of the structure or the electronic element increases in the negative direction due to a negative charge flowing thereinto. An insulating tape bonded to the surface of the electrically conductive structure is partially cut-removed; an electrically conductive adhesive is applied to an exposed portion of the surface of the electrically conductive structure; and an insulating film is bonded to the electrically conductive adhesive, such that the electrically conductive adhesive is exposed to the outside. When encountering higher-energy electrons, the insulating film is charged, so that a strong electric field is applied to the electrically conductive adhesive, and electrons are emitted from the electrically conductive adhesive through field electron emission, to thereby prevent the potential of the electrically conductive structure from increasing in the negative direction.
US08014119B2 Energy conditioner with tied through electrodes
The application discloses energy conditioners that include A, B, and G master electrodes in which the A and B electrodes include main body electrodes with conductive paths that cross inside the energy conditioner and which has A and B tabs at one end of the main body electrodes conductively tied together and A and B tabs at another end of the main body electrodes conductively tied together, and the application also discloses novel assemblies of mounting, contacting, integrating those energy conditioners with conductive connection structures.
US08014116B2 Computer system and power control apparatus thereof
A power control apparatus is disclosed. The power control apparatus includes a temperature sensor, a first voltage converter, an over-temperature protection, a reset unit and a second voltage converter. The temperature sensor is for sensing a measured temperature to output a sensing signal. The first voltage converter converts the power voltage of a computer system into a first voltage. The over-temperature protection unit receives the first voltage and decides whether or not outputting the first voltage according to the sensing signal. When the reset unit has received the first voltage from the over-temperature protection unit, the reset unit decides whether or not to produce a reset signal according to the level of the power voltage. The second voltage converter is for producing a start signal to enable the embedded controller according to the reset signal.
US08014114B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit
The invention provides a semiconductor integrated circuit preventing an electrostatic breakdown due to a surge voltage applied to a power supply wiring or a ground wiring and preventing noise interference between a digital circuit and an analog circuit. By providing a first electrostatic breakdown protection diode and a first electrostatic breakdown protection bipolar transistor in a first island region, the first electrostatic breakdown protection diode and the first electrostatic breakdown protection bipolar transistor turn on when a surge voltage is applied to a first ground wiring and protect a digital circuit against an electrostatic breakdown. Furthermore, a first isolation layer is contacted with the first ground wiring in a position that is more adjacent to a first ground pad than the digital circuit, and a second isolation layer is contacted with a second ground wiring in a position that is more adjacent to a second ground pad than an analog circuit. This prevents noise interference between the digital circuit and the analog circuit.
US08014113B2 Protection for proximity electronics against electrostatic discharge
A system of protecting a proximity communication system against electrostatic discharge (ESD). The proximity communication system includes two chips, each having an array of electrical pads at its surface and covered by a thin dielectric layer such that capacitive coupling circuits are formed between the chips when they are joined together. In at least one of the chips, an additional protection pad is formed away from the array, and heavy protection circuitry is connected to it. Its surface is exposed through the dielectric surface over it such that, when an ESD aggressor approaches, the discharge occurs to the protection pad.
US08014112B2 Integrated circuit with device for protection against electrostatic discharges
An integrated circuit includes a substrate of semiconductive material, a first circuit environment made from the substrate which includes an output terminal and a first pair of power supply terminals for receiving a first power supply voltage applicable between the terminals. The integrated circuit also includes a second circuit environment made from the semiconductor substrate which includes an input terminal electrically coupled to the output terminal and also includes a second pair of power supply terminals for receiving a second power supply voltage applicable between the second pair of terminals of said second pair. The circuit further includes a device providing protection from electrostatic discharges which includes an integrated resistive device coupled between the input and output terminals.
US08014111B2 Method and device for preventing fire caused by defects in electric circuits and arrangements
A method for preventing fire in electric circuits and arrangements includes measuring an electric current of a controllable section, separating a high frequency component therefrom, amplifying and rectifying a first harmonic signal, determining a spark current value, forming the first harmonic signal from a measured current signal range, measuring short-circuit and/or overload and/or a leak, and/or measuring the electric circuit voltage, in forming a warning and/or switching off signal of the controllable section. The signal amplitudes and/or other parameters including a spark striking-suppression cycle are measured for determining a spark current. The fire preventing device includes a unit for forming a signal of first and higher harmonics, a unit for determining a spark current quantity, a unit for measuring short-circuit and/or overload and/or leak currents, and/or electric circuit voltage measuring currents, units for forming a warning and/or switching off the controllable section signal. The spark current quantity determining unit has devices for measuring signal amplitudes and/or other parameters including a spark striking-suppression cycle.
US08014110B2 Variable speed drive with integral bypass contactor
Systems and methods for operating a variable speed drive to receive an input AC power at a fixed AC input voltage and frequency and provide an output AC power at a variable voltage and variable frequency. The variable speed drive includes a converter stage to convert the input AC voltage to a boosted DC voltage, a DC link connected to the converter stage to filter and store the boosted DC voltage from the converter stage; and an inverter stage to convert the boosted DC voltage into AC power with variable voltage and the variable frequency. An integral bypass contactor is connected in parallel with the VSD between the AC power source and the AC output power. The integral bypass contactor is arranged to bypass the VSD when the VSD output frequency and voltage are approximately equal with the AC input voltage and frequency.
US08014109B2 Current-perpendicular-to-the-plane (CPP) magnetoresistive sensor with antiparallel-pinned layer containing silicon
A current-perpendicular-to-the-plane (CPP) spin-valve (SV) magnetoresistive sensor uses an antiparallel (AP) pinned structure and has a ferromagnetic alloy comprising Co, Fe and Si in the reference layer of the AP-pinned structure and optionally in the CPP-SV sensor's free layer. The reference layer or AP2 layer is a multilayer of a first AP2-1 sublayer that contains no Si and is in contact with the AP-pinned structure's antiparallel coupling (APC) layer, and a second AP2-2 sublayer that contains Si and is in contact with the CPP-SV sensor's spacer layer. The Si-containing alloy may consist essentially of only Co, Fe and Si according to the formula (CoxFe(100-X))(100-y)Siy where the subscripts represent atomic percent, x is between about 45 and 55, and y is between about 20 and 30.
US08014107B2 Suspension device
A suspension device including a flexure with conductors is provided with an anti-ESD section. The anti-ESD section includes a metal plate, a insulating layer, a first electrically conductive member formed of a pair of read conductors, a second electrically conductive member formed of a pair of write conductors, a heater conductor, semiconductive layers, etc. The semiconductive layers are grounded to the metal plate and electrically isolated from one another by an insulating portion.
US08014105B2 Method and apparatus for modifying the air bearing force of the trailing edge of a slider to increase head to disk interface reliability for contact recording systems
An apparatus and method for modifying the air bearing force of the trailing edge of a slider to increase head to disk interface reliability for contact recording systems. The method provides a suspension for reaching over a disk. A slider having a read/write head element on a trailing edge (TE) portion is also provided, the slider coupled with the suspension. In addition, a shaped TE which minimizes the air bearing force at the TE portion of the slider, to minimize the normal load and friction during contact to reduce slider bounce.
US08014095B2 Mixed format disk drive
A magnetic disk for a hard disk drive comprising a plurality of physical sector sizes is disclosed. The magnetic disk includes a first sector size area physically formatted according to a first physical sector size and a second sector size area physically formatted according to a second physical sector size different from the first sector size by a multiple of the first sector size wherein the second sector size can be presented externally as multiple sectors of said first sector size.