Document Document Title
US08146153B2 Method and system for creating and accessing a secure storage area in a non-volatile memory card
In order to create and access a secure storage account in a non-volatile memory device, an account identification value is calculated. A memory identification value is read from a first non-volatile memory device. The memory identification value and the account identification value are transmitted to a second non-volatile memory device, and a calculated credential is received. A command is transmitted to create a secure storage account in the first non-volatile memory device, where the command contains the credential and the account identification value. To access the account, a sequence is transmitted, containing the account identification value and a value based on the credential. A secure storage system contains a first non-volatile memory device that stores a memory identification value and contains a secure partition accessible using a credential, a second non-volatile memory device that can compute the credential, and a host adapted to create and access the secure partition.
US08146148B2 Tunneled security groups
A method for providing security groups based on the use of tunneling is disclosed. The method includes assigning a security group identifier (SGI) to a packet and classifying the packet based on the packet's SGI.
US08146147B2 Combined firewalls
A method of providing a firewall to protect a set of virtual machines on a host node that is one of multiple host nodes that host virtual machines. The method stores a table of allowed connections for each virtual machine on the host node. Upon a particular virtual machine moving from the host node to another host node, the method deletes records of a first set of allowed connections that each identify the particular virtual machine and do not identify any other virtual machine in the set of virtual machines. Also upon the virtual machine moving, the method edits records of a second set of allowed connections, each identifying the particular machine and one other virtual machine in the set of virtual machines on the first host node, to remove an identifier of the particular virtual machine.
US08146145B2 Method and apparatus for enabling enhanced control of traffic propagation through a network firewall
A distributed firewall system is used to implement a network firewall with enhanced control over network traffic to allow policy to be implemented on a per-user basis, a per-application basis, a per-user and application basis, and to allow ports to be dynamically opened and closed as needed by the applications. The distributed firewall system may include application identifiers associated with applications running on a network element, one or more firewall agents instantiated on the network element hosting the applications, and a firewall configured to interface with the firewall agents. Communications between the distributed components are secured to allow the firewall to detect if an agent has been compromised, and to allow the firewall agent to determine if the application has been compromised. The distributed firewall system may work in a VPN environment, such as in connection with a VPN server, to implement firewall policy at the point where VPN traffic enters the protected network.
US08146144B2 Method and system for the transparent transmission of data traffic between data processing devices, corresponding computer program product, and corresponding computer-readable storage medium
The invention relates to a method and a system for the transparent transmission of data traffic between data processing devices, a corresponding program product, and a corresponding computer-readable storage medium, which can be used especially for transparently inserting, modifying, and/or removing data packets into/in/from the data traffic by introducing a second computer system (serially connected computer system) into the network interface of a main computer and processing the network traffic in the inventive manner. Individual packets and/or connections can be affected in a selective manner or all packets and/or connections can be affected as a whole. An important aspect of the invention lies in the fact that the serially connected computer system transmits data traffic between the main computer and a partner, the serially connected computer imitating the address properties of the main computer in relation to the partner and/or the address properties of the partner in relation to the main computer.
US08146138B2 Access unit switching through physical mediation
A plurality of access units may be established with varying levels of privilege and access rights, such that the user may perform tasks carrying with them a high risk of viral infection in an access unit with a low level of privilege and access rights. When an authenticated user desires to perform tasks requiring a higher level of privilege and access rights, the user may switch to an access unit having a higher privilege and access rights level by instigating a physical action. The physical action may include selecting a button (included in either a UI or on a peripheral device), or inputting biometric data to switch among running access units. A signal instigated by the physical action is transmitted along a trusted path between the isolation kernel and where the physical action was instigated.
US08146132B2 Device registration using a wireless home entertainment hub
A method of managing a power state of devices in a home entertainment system using a wireless home entertainment hub comprises obtaining a registration of a plurality of devices, where the plurality of devices includes at least one sink device and at least one source device. A selection of one of the source devices is received for presentation of program content to a user in the home entertainment system. A subset of the at least one sink device is determined for presentation of the program content to the user based on the selection of the source device. Each sink device in the subset of the at least one sink device is ensured to be active.
US08146131B2 Unique production forum
A method of producing an audio/video format recording in a venue includes correlating multiple unique viewing position in the venue to viewers. An event is then recorded the venue that viewers are attending. Multiple custom versions of recordings or productions are created corresponding to the viewers. Such custom versions are then made available to corresponding viewers.
US08146127B2 Apparatus and method for providing data for a carousel
An apparatus and method of providing data for a carousel from which iTV pages may be obtained including defining a plurality of information templates, each information template specifying content for an iTV page, defining a plurality of presentation templates, each presentation template specifying the presentational appearance for an iTV page, assigning a presentation template to an information template, and modifying the information template as required for presentation by the presentation template and outputting, for a carousel, data representing the presentation template and the modified information template, an iTV page being obtained from the carousel by displaying the content specified by the modified information template with the presentational appearance specified by the presentation template.
US08146126B2 Request for information related to broadcast network content
A request for information (RFI) system is provided for use in communications networks including broadcast networks and the internet. In one implementation, a viewer of a cable television network enters an RFI input (1) to a digital set top box using a user remote. Based on this RFI input, the digital set top box transmits a data request (2) to an RFI data center. The RFI data center also receives asset data (3) from an asset database so as to associate the RFI input (1) with a particular asset. An RFI request (4) can then be transmitted to the appropriate asset provider. The asset provider can then provide a report such package of assets or follow-on information (5) back to the RFI data center. The RFI data center may then, in turn, provide the package of assets or follow-on information to a user data terminal, for example, of the cable television network viewer, via access through a web-portal or e-mail (6). The digital set top box may also record inputs from the user to verify consumption of assets and track data requests. Using this information, the RFI data center or an RFI platform may credit value to a rewards account established for the network user based on the user's verified consumption of assets and/or data requests. Further, the RFI data center or RFI platform may be used to collect consumer behavior information, including purchasing decisions made by the user after consumption of assets, and correlate the consumer behavior information with the user's verified asset consumption.
US08146124B2 Camera adapter for remote controlling a camera, control method thereof, and storage medium
An adapter connected to a device and also connected to a client terminal via a network displays an operation window corresponding to the process mode of the device on the client terminal and remote-controls the operation of the device based on an operation signal for the operation window. When the process mode is a remote control mode that allows the client terminal to read out data accumulated in the device, the client terminal displays an image for which open setting is done by the device.
US08146121B2 Systems and methods for processing program content and information in a video broadcast
Embodiments of the present invention significantly decrease the processing requirements as well as the cost of digital television receivers. In an embodiment, processing requirements of both hardware and software components in digital television receivers are lowered by generating the channel map without regard to channel map information present in a Virtual Channel Table (VCT). In another embodiment, significant recurring portions of an ATSC signal can be neglected with no processing power, cost, and time spent thereon. In another embodiment, processing typically used to process channel map information contained in the VCT portion of the ATSC signal is freed and may instead be used to process other information, thereby enabling further enhancements and features in digital television services.
US08146116B2 Disk device having a clamper restricting member
A disk device includes a turntable which is rotationally driven and, for placing a disk thereon, a clamper for rotatably holding the disk between the turntable and the clamper, a loading mechanism for carrying the disk inserted to between the turntable and the clamper, a clamp arm which includes a clamper holder for rotatably holding the clamper by a claw fitted to the hook with a clearance and an arm unit disposed pivotably on a pivot shaft positioned apart from the clamper holder, the clamp arm moving the clamper between a disk pressing position and a retreat position, and a clamper restricting member including a resilient portion capable of contacting a part of the clamper on the side opposite to the side of the clamper moved to the retreat position and on a side apart from the pivot shaft of the arm unit.
US08146115B2 Optical disc drive with resilient member for reducing impact force to optical pick-up unit
An optical disc drive for reducing impact forces in driving an optical pick-up unit is provided. The optical disc drive for driving an optical disc includes an optical pick-up unit, a guide bar, a rack, and a driving unit. The optical pick-up unit is configured for reading data from or writing data to the optical disc. The guide bar penetrates through the optical pick-up unit for supporting the optical pick-up unit. The rack engagably receives a part of the optical pick-up unit. The rack defines a slot therein. The slot extends along a direction substantially parallel with an extending direction of the guide bar. The driving unit is mechanically coupled to the rack. The driving unit drives the rack and the optical pick-up unit to move along a radial direction of the optical disc to track the optical disc.
US08146114B2 Disk playback device including a function of locking and unlocking a vibration insulating mechanism
The present invention relates to a vehicle-mounted disk playback device, and more particularly to a disk playback device having the function of locking and unlocking a vibration insulating mechanism of a playback deck. According to the present invention, the disk playback device can transmit a conveyance force of the disk to a lock member to cause the member to unlock the playback deck by arranging a lever member, a clamp member, and an urging member with a specific feature.
US08146111B2 Calling services from a remote client
Making a service implementation accessible for a client application in a service oriented architecture. The method may include extracting an interface definition language file from the service implementation, which defines the interface information to be provided by the client application to access the service implementation during runtime. The method may further include extracting a server-side mapping file from the service implementation, which defines how the interface information provided by the client application is mapped when accessing the service implementation during runtime.
US08146109B2 Version resiliency for a host application and custom code
A method and architecture for increasing version resiliency between a host application that is unmanaged code and custom code that is managed code is provided. A host application exposes an application-level object and a document-level object. A custom code runtime provides a wrapper for the document-level object within the application domain of the custom code runtime. The custom code runtime also provides a mechanism within the application domain of the custom code runtime for providing to custom code a reference to the application-level object directly, rather than through a wrapper. Custom code can then access functionality of the application-level object directly using the reference without having to use a wrapper provided by the custom code runtime.
US08146107B2 Virtual machine environment for interfacing a real time operating system environment with a native host operating system
A method for transmitting data to a RTOS environment via a virtual machine environment (VME) includes at least one virtual I/O service, and a custom remote procedure call for relaying calls and call responses between the RTOS and the native HOS by invoking HOS services by means of a proxy, to a non-blocking message queue. A notification is generated and transmitted from the I/O to an interrupt emulator. An interrupt is generated and includes an identifier of the I/O and triggers the RTOS to poll the non-blocking message queue to retrieve data. Relaying the interrupt to the RTOS via a hardware exception handler emulator, which makes the interrupts and an exception appear as if they had occurred on the RTOS natively. Relaying the data to the RTOS when a poll for the data is received at the non-blocking message queue. The VME includes a supervisory instruction emulator for emulating instructions.
US08146104B2 System and method for programmatically generating to-do list and creating notification between calendar and other applications
A method, apparatus, and program product are provided for integrating a calendar todo list with information from other applications. The method comprises the steps of: dynamically extracting data for open application processes, and creating task listings using the data for the open application processes. The apparatus comprises a processor adapted to dynamically extract data for open processes and create task listings using the data for the open application processes, and a memory having stored thereon a calendar application with a list of tasks. The program product comprises a machine readable media having encoded thereon, machine executable instructions for dynamically extracting data for open application processes, and creating task listings using the data for the open application processes.
US08146102B2 Development environment for groupware integration with enterprise applications
This disclosure relates to application integration and, more particularly, groupware integration with enterprise applications. Various embodiments herein provide systems, methods, and software to integrate one or more computer applications with one or more groupware applications. Some embodiments include a groupware integration engine that receives, stores, and sends messages between computer applications and groupware clients applications.
US08146101B2 Method of processing notifications provided by a routine, and associated handheld electronic device
An improved handheld electronic device includes an Application Programming Interface (API) that generates various notifications in certain circumstances. Certain predetermined criteria that have been established for a particular routine on the handheld electronic device are employed to ignore certain of the notifications in appropriate circumstances in order to conserve computing and power resources.
US08146098B2 Method and apparatus for interfacing with a computer user via virtual thumbnails
Methods and apparatus of interfacing with a computer user via virtual thumbnails are disclosed. The system determines the number of zones for each virtual thumbnail, the variable to represent in each zone, and the current state of each of those variables. The system then dynamically renders each of the virtual thumbnails accordingly. For example, if the top-left zone of a virtual thumbnail is to indicate the current operating system associated with a virtual machine, and the current operating system for that virtual machine is Microsoft Windows, then the system displays a flying window icon in the top-left zone of that virtual thumbnail. Once the virtual thumbnail are displayed, the system looks for events associated with the virtual thumbnails (e.g., a click in one of the zones) and executes instructions in response to detecting those events (e.g., show virtual thumbnails indicative of the operating system's services if the operating system zone of a virtual thumbnail is clicked).
US08146097B2 Method, apparatus, and system for implementing view caching in a framework to support web-based applications
According to one aspect of the present invention, a system is provided for implementing view caching in a framework to support web-based applications. The system comprising a set of server-side objects managed by an object manager (OM) running on a server. The system further comprises a set of browser-side objects running on a browser running on a client. The system also comprises a remote procedure call (RPC) mechanism and a notification mechanism to facilitate communication and synchronization between the browser-side objects and the server-side objects. The system additionally comprises a cache on the client to store layouts of views, wherein each view is a display panel consisting of a particular arrangement of applets.
US08146096B2 Method and system for implementing built-in web services endpoints
A method and system for processing Web service messages within an object oriented runtime environment is described. In one embodiment, the method includes steps for invoking a single instance of a state-less protocol for processing inbound and outbound flows of Web services messages. After determining Web services messages have been received out of order, processing of the outbound flow of any remaining messages is suspended until a complete set of messages is received. The messages are rearranged into proper order before completing processing of the outbound flows of the remaining messages.
US08146092B2 System and method for selecting and executing an optimal load distribution processing in a storage system
A controller having a plurality of cores extracts, for each logical unit (LU), a pattern showing the relationship between a core having an LU ownership and a candidate core as an LU ownership change destination based on LU ownership management information, measures, for each LU, the usage of a plurality of resources, predicates, for each LU based on the measurement results, a change in the usage of the plurality of resources and overhead to be generated by transfer processing itself, selects, based on the respective prediction results, a pattern that matches the user's setting information, and transfer the LU ownership to the core belonging to the selected pattern.
US08146091B2 Expansion and contraction of logical partitions on virtualized hardware
A method, apparatus, and program product manage a plurality of resources of at least one logically partitioned computing system of the type that includes a plurality of logical partitions managed by a partition manager with an application level administrative console resident in a logical partition of the computing system. Each logical partition is allocated at least a portion of the plurality of resources. A user request to adjust the allocation of at least a portion of the resources using the administrative console is received. The resources of the logically partitioned computing system to adjust in order to satisfy the user request are determined using the application level administrative console. The application level administrative console accesses the partition manager through a resource allocation interface to adjust the determined resources of the logically partitioned computing system in order to satisfy the user request.
US08146088B2 Communication apparatus and method for controlling communication apparatus
A communication apparatus includes a control unit including a controller configured to control the communication apparatus, a first communication unit configured to perform communication under control of the controller, and a second communication unit including a subcontrol unit and configured to perform communication under control of the subcontrol unit, wherein a load condition of the controller is determined, and one of the first communication unit and the second communication unit is selected to perform communication processing based on the determined load condition.
US08146078B2 Timer offsetting mechanism in a virtual machine environment
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a request to transition control to a virtual machine (VM) from a virtual machine monitor (VMM), calculating an offset value, receiving, during operation of the VM, a request for a current value of the timer, adjusting the current value of the timer based on the offset value, and providing the adjusted timer value to the VM.
US08146076B1 Systems and methods for customizing boot disk images using prioritization
The disclosure is directed to systems and methods for customizing boot disk images using prioritization. In one example, a series of source files are copied to a staging area. Earlier received files are overridden by later received files of the same name. Pre-boot operating system files are copied first, followed by a software manufacturer's supplied files, then an original equipment manufacturer's supplied files, and finally user supplied files. Since each file is overridden by a later one, the prioritizing of copies to the staging area presents a prioritized file structure to create a boot disk image. Commands are run to further modify the files. The files are compiled into a boot disk image.
US08146073B2 Updating software while it is running
To avoid extensive time during which servicing of clients' requests is stopped for updating a piece of software or a data structure, various embodiments of the invention update an instance of the piece of software or an instance of the data structure instead of updating the original piece of software or the data structure. This allows the original piece of software or the data structure to service clients' requests without interruption. The updated instance begins to service clients' requests without losing context while the original piece of software or the data structure is terminated from further operation.
US08146070B2 Method and apparatus for optimizing software program using inter-procedural strength reduction
Inter-procedural strength reduction is provided by a mechanism of the present invention to optimize software program. During a forward pass, the present invention collects information of global variables and analyzes the information to select candidate computations for optimization. During a backward pass, the present invention replaces costly computations with less costly or weaker computations using pre-computed values and inserts store operations of new global variables to pre-compute the costly computations at definition points of the global variables used in the costly computations.
US08146063B2 Translation of a series of computer instructions
A series (20) of original instructions for a single processor is translated into implementing instructions for executions distributed over a plurality of processors (12,16) of different type. The series (20) of original instructions is split into successive sections (22a-c,24a,b) assigned to respective ones of the processors (12,16). Operand transfer instructions are added to the sections (22a-c,24a,b) to support data dependencies between the sections (22a-c,24a,b). The assignment includes selecting a location of a boundary in the series of original instructions between successive ones of the sections (22a-c,24a,b) so as to substantially minimize an aggregate of the execution cost factors of the original instructions as implemented and including costs for the operand transfer instructions. Preferably, the locations of the boundaries are determined from a search among different boundaries positions.
US08146062B2 Method and process to automatically perform test builds of translated files for a software product
A method, apparatus, and computer program instructions for automatically performing test builds of natural language translated files for a software product. When a translated file is received from a translator, a test build of the translated file is executed in a translation test build environment, wherein the translation test build environment is separate from the main software product build environment. A determination is made as to whether the test build of the translated file is successful. If the test build is successful, the translated file is submitted to the main software product build environment. If the test build is unsuccessful, a log file containing error information is sent to the translator to allow the translator to fix compile errors identified in the translated file and resubmit the translated file to the translation test build environment.
US08146060B2 Data processing system and method for execution of a test routine in connection with an operating system
In a system or a method for execution of a test routine in connection with a test operating system, the program data for provision of an administration operating system is processed. The test operating system or system configuration specified by a list entry is determined under the provided administration operating system with aid of a list with test operating systems for system configurations to be automatically provided in series. The specified test operating system or system configuration is determined while the administration operating system is provided. Program data for provision of the determined test operating system or system configuration are processed. At least one test routine is executed that is executed automatically by the provided test operating system.
US08146055B2 Generating sequence diagrams using call trees
A software tool is provided to analyze static source code. Source Code files are selected to define the project work space. A class and a method in the class are selected from said selected source code files. The tool generates a Call Tree as an ordered recursive sequence of all method calls in different classes or their instances that are invoked by said selected method in said selected class. A Sequence Diagram is generated from said Call Tree. The tool remembers all updates to the Call Tree used to generate the Sequence Diagram. This information is used when a generated Sequence Diagram is impacted due to changes made to any source code file included in the project.
US08146054B2 Hybrid data object model
Computer implemented method, system and computer usable program code for processing a data object, for example, for searching for, creating or updating a data object. A computer implemented method for processing a data object includes receiving a request for the data object. A static portion and a dynamic portion for the data object are determined, and an instruction for the static portion and an instruction for the dynamic portion are processed separately. To search for a data object, a result from processing an instruction for the static portion and a result from processing the instruction for the dynamic portion are merged to form a hybrid data object. To create or update a data object, a result from processing an instruction for the static portion and a result from processing the instruction for the dynamic portion is saved in a database.
US08146053B2 Graphical programming environment with first model of computation that includes a structure supporting second model of computation
System and method for creating a graphical program that uses multiple models of computation (MoC). A first plurality of graphical program elements is assembled in a graphical program in response to first input, where the assembled first plurality of graphical program elements have a first MoC. A structure is displayed in the graphical program indicating use of a second MoC for graphical program elements comprised within the interior of the structure. A second plurality of graphical program elements is assembled within the structure in response to second input, where the assembled second plurality of graphical program elements have the second MoC. The graphical program is executable to perform a function, for example, by executing the assembled first plurality of graphical program elements in accordance with the first model of computation, and executing the assembled second plurality of graphical program elements in accordance with the second model of computation.
US08146048B2 System and method for removing T-point elements with unused stubs from a PCB layout design
A system and method for removing T-point elements with unused stubs from a printed circuit board (PCB) layout design obtains each signal line including one or more T-point elements in the PCB layout design, divides the obtained signal line into a plurality of lines according to the one or more T-point elements with unused stubs, and obtains properties of each of the plurality of lines. The system and method further deletes the original layout of the signal line and reconnects the plurality of lines according to the properties of each of the plurality of lines to generate a reconnected signal line, and outputs the reconnected signal line on a display device.
US08146046B2 Structures for semiconductor structures with error detection and correction
A design structure including design data describing a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes a first semiconductor chip and a second semiconductor chip. The first semiconductor chip is on top of and bonded to the second semiconductor chip. The first and second semiconductor chips include a first and a second electric nodes. The second semiconductor chip further includes a first comparing circuit. The semiconductor structure further includes a first coupling via electrically connecting the first electric node of the first semiconductor chip to the first comparing circuit of the second semiconductor chip. The first comparing circuit is capable of (i) receiving an input signal from the second electric node directly, (ii) receiving an input signal from the first electric node indirectly through the first coupling via, and (iii) asserting a first mismatch signal in response to the input signals from the first and second electric nodes being different.
US08146043B2 Huygens' box methodology for signal integrity analysis
A method for performing a signal integrity analysis on an integrated circuit (IC) that includes a plurality of scatterers by dividing the scatterers into subgroups using a nested Huygens' equivalence principle algorithm and solving a set of equations realized thereby with a reduced coupling matrix. The method includes decomposing the IC design into a plurality of small non-overlapping circuit sub-domains, wherein each of the sub-domains is formed as a small, enclosed region. Each sub-domain is analyzed independently of the other sub-domains using only electric fields to represent the interactions of each sub-domains with the other sub-domains as equivalent currents on equivalent surfaces of the plurality of sub-domains. Neighboring equivalent sub-domains are grouped together to form larger sub-domains using equivalent currents on equivalent surfaces to represent the interactions of the sub-domains. The steps of analyzing and grouping the sub-domains are repeated until the grouping approaches a box comprising the entire domain, and that the domain interactions between every sub-domain have been analyzed.
US08146041B1 Latch based optimization during implementation of circuit designs for programmable logic devices
A computer-implemented method of implementing a circuit design within a programmable logic device can include selecting at least one circuit element of the circuit design. The selected circuit element can be converted to a latch. A timing analysis can be performed upon the circuit design after conversion of the selected circuit element to a latch. A determination can be made by a computer as to whether the timing of the circuit design improves and the conversion of the selected circuit element to a latch can be accepted when the timing of the circuit design improves. The circuit design can be output.
US08146039B2 Optimal distance based buffer tree for data path and clock
A device development tool selects a source component and identifies a plurality of sink components in a device design layout. The device development tool determines whether the sink components are configured in a single-sided layout, a multi-sided layout, or a multi-distance layout. Next, the device development tool computes a first level center of gravity for the plurality of sink components and also computes an X distance and a Y distance from the source component to the first level center of gravity. The device development tool then groups the plurality of sink components into sets and places buffers in the layout using an algorithm that is specific for the identified layout type.
US08146037B2 Method for generating a deep N-well pattern for an integrated circuit design
A method for the design and layout for a patterned deep N-well. A tile is specified as a fundamental building block for the deep N-well pattern. The tile comprises a first element on a first layer and may comprise a second element on a second layer. A two dimensional region is covered with an array of contiguous tiles, with the elements on each layer connecting with elements of adjacent tiles to form extended shapes. The array may be converted to a collection of sub-arrays through the removal of tiles. The array or collection of sub-arrays may be merged to produce a first layer pattern and second layer pattern. Design rule checks may be applied to verify the pattern. The first layer shapes and second layer shapes may be edited. The first layer shapes and the second layer shapes may then be combined to produce a deep N-well pattern.
US08146030B2 Interactive loop configuration in a behavioral synthesis tool
A behavioral synthesis tool for generating an integrated circuit design is described. The behavioral synthesis tool allows a designer to interactively allocate loop configuration information without having to modify a source code description of the integrated circuit. The behavioral synthesis tool reads the source code description and generates a synthesis intermediate format stored in memory. The synthesis tool searches the in-memory synthesis intermediate format to find loops. The loops are then listed in a graphical user interface (GUI) in hierarchical fashion. The GUI also lists loop configuration information associated with the loops, such as loop frequency, loop unrolling and loop pipelining. The GUI allows the designer to modify the loop configuration information without having to update the source code description. Upon completion of modifying the loop configuration information, the designer saves the changes illustrated in the GUI and such changes are effectuated by automatically updating the synthesis intermediate format.
US08146028B1 Duplicate design flow for mitigation of soft errors in IC operation
An integrated circuit (“IC”) (100) is configured to have two instantiations of a user design (103, 105). Register values from the first instantiation (RA1, RA2, RA3, RA4) are compared (102) to corresponding registers of the second instantiation (RB1, RB2, RB3, RB4). If a register pair does not match, the user designs are halted, re-loaded, and re-started.
US08146027B1 Creating interfaces for importation of modules into a circuit design
A computer-implemented method of incorporating a module within a circuit design can include, responsive to identifying the module to be imported into the circuit design, automatically identifying each port of the module, displaying a list of the ports of the module, and receiving a user input selecting a plurality of ports of the module for inclusion in an interface through which the module communicates with the circuit design. Responsive to a user input specifying an interface type, the interface type can be associated with the plurality of ports. The interface type can be associated with a port list including standardized ports. Individual ones of the plurality of ports can be automatically matched with standardized ports from the port list. A programmatic interface description specifying the interface for the module can be output.
US08146026B2 Simultaneous photolithographic mask and target optimization
A mechanism is provided for simultaneous photolithographic mask and target optimization (SMATO). A lithographic simulator generates an image of a mask shape on a wafer thereby forming one or more lithographic contours. A mask and target movement module analytically evaluates a direction for mask and target movement thereby forming a plurality of pairs of mask and target movements. The mask and target movement module identifies a best pair of mask and target movements from the plurality of mask and target movements that minimizes a weighted cost function. A shape adjustment module adjusts at least one of a target shape or the mask shape based on the best pair of mask and target movements.
US08146023B1 Integrated circuit fabrication process convergence
A method for selecting a process for a new integrated circuit design. Structures that are used in existing integrated circuit designs are identified, as well as the photolithography processes that are used to fabricate integrated circuits that are based on the existing designs. A process window is determined for each structure/process combination by running tests on different combinations of process variables, and a database of the process windows is compiled. The structures that are to be used in the new integrated circuit design are identified, and the process windows associated with the identified structures for the new integrated circuit design are selected from the database. The selected process windows for the identified structures are overlaid, grouped by common process, thereby creating a resultant process window for each process. One of the processes is selected, based at least in part on comparative sizes of the resultant process windows.
US08146016B2 User interface for displaying a gallery of formatting options applicable to a selected object
An improved user interface is provided for displaying a gallery of images showing different formatting options combinations that may be applied to a selected object. When a particular image is selected an associated formatting options combination is automatically applied to the selected object.
US08146015B2 Dynamic configuration of unified messaging state changes
The subject invention relates to systems and methods that enable dynamic programming and execution of an electronic communications dialog. In one aspect, a configurable messaging system is provided. The system includes a configuration file to describe interface options of a computerized dialog session, wherein the configuration file specifies interface activities and state transitions between the interface options within the configuration file. A state controller executes the interface options during communications activities with the dialog session. The configuration file can also describe prompt elements to solicit information from users or applications.
US08146012B2 Method and system for navigating web sites
Presented is a method and system for navigating web sites. The method includes organizing web sites accessed by a user into a plurality of groups and generating a radio-like interface for selecting at least one web site from the web sites organized into the plurality of groups.
US08146011B2 Virtual keyboard input means with multiple input focuses and method thereof
The invention discloses a virtual keyboard input means with multiple input focuses and method thereof, relating to the field of information security. The means includes a control module and a virtual keyboard. The virtual keyboard is a virtual keyboard unit controlled by the control module or a virtual keyboard module communicated with the control module. The method includes that displaying virtual keyboard and multiple simulated input/output unit in the virtual keyboard input mode and setting corresponding focus indicator; if a user clicks simulated input/output unit, the control module sets the current input focus indicator as the focus indicator of the simulated input/output unit, if the user clicks virtual keyboard, virtual keyboard unit controlled by the control module or a virtual keyboard module communicated with the control module determines corresponding character according to the position of the cursor and performs corresponding processing. The invention improves the security of input with the virtual keyboard.
US08146008B2 System using description information to generate control panel for controlling a network device
A control system comprises a plurality of peripheral devices represented as objects, and a controller connectable to the plurality of peripheral devices via a common communication line for unitarily controlling the plurality of peripheral devices. The controller is arranged to be connected to an arbitrary number of peripheral devices selected from among the plurality of peripheral devices, read control information stored in the arbitrary number of peripheral devices via the communication line into a predetermined memory area of the controller in a predetermined format so that the controller can control the arbitrary number of peripheral devices. The controller is also arranged to issue a command and transmit the command to each of the arbitrary number of peripheral devices via the communication line.
US08146007B2 Converting a first graphical program into an intermediate abstract representation for new graphical program generation
System and method for programmatically generating a second graphical program associated with a second programming development environment based on a first graphical program associated with a first programming development environment. The second graphical program may be generated programmatically, without relying on user input, or may prompt for user input to determine various options to use in generating the second graphical program. The second graphical program may implement the functionality of, or a portion of the functionality of, the first graphical program. The method preferably generates the second graphical program such that the second programming development environment is operable to treat the second graphical program identically to a graphical program interactively developed by a user using the second programming development environment. Thus, once the second graphical program has been generated, the user may use the second programming development environment to edit the second graphical program, execute the second graphical program, etc.
US08146005B2 Creating a customized avatar that reflects a user's distinguishable attributes
A capture system captures detectable attributes of a user. A differential system compares the detectable attributes with a normalized model of attributes, wherein the normalized model of attributes characterize normal representative attribute values across a sample of a plurality of users and generates differential attributes representing the differences between the detectable attributes and the normalized model of attributes. Multiple separate avatar creator systems receive the differential attributes and each apply the differential attributes to different base avatars to create custom avatars which reflect a selection of the detectable attributes of the user which are distinguishable from the normalized model of attributes.
US08146004B2 Graphical user interface to facilitate selection of contacts and file attachments for electronic messaging
Selection of contacts and files for electronic messaging are facilitated by displaying a first set of graphical indicia for each of a plurality of contacts on a user contact list, displaying a second set of graphical indicia for each of one or more files stored in a data storage device, detecting a manipulation of a user interface device wherein a first graphical indicia from the first set of graphical indicia and a second graphical indicia from the second set of graphical indicia are made to at least partially overlap, and generating an electronic message for sending to a contact associated with the first graphical indicia wherein the electronic message includes a file associated with the second graphical indicia.
US08146001B1 Enhanced electronic mail delivery system
The present invention relates to an electronic mail (e-mail) delivery system and more particularly to a method and apparatus for selecting a specific e-mail message from a visual list of stored e-mail messages, selecting an advertisement from a plurality of advertisements stored in an associate database, and then downloading the selected e-mail message to a recipient's e-mail receiving device and inserting the selected advertisement into the e-mail message, preferably in the e-mail message header or between the header and body (text) or after the text, as it is downloaded to the e-mail receiving device which receives and displays the downloaded e-mail message with the inserted advertisement in response to receiving a selection signal from the e-mail receiving device indicating that the recipient wishes to read the selected e-mail message.
US08146000B1 Integrated transactional workflows distributed across multiple contact centers
The integration of transactional workflows that are distributed across multiple contact centers is described herein. Respective agent interfaces can execute concurrently with applications running at two or more contact centers. These interfaces enable agents at the contact centers to conduct respective interactions with a customer. As the interactions progresses, the agents can enter data related to the interactions via the agent interfaces. The agent interfaces need not be integrated with the applications or the contact center infrastructure, thereby eliminating the expense of performing such integration. Instead, the agents can use both the application and the agent interfaces concurrently while interacting with the customer. Data entered by one agent via the interface can be made available to the other agent, thereby enabling the agents to cooperate with one another, and integrating the respective interactions into a cohesive transactional workflow.
US08145998B2 System and method for enabling users to interact in a virtual space
The present invention provides a highly scalable architecture for a three-dimensional graphical, multi-user, interactive virtual world system. In a preferred embodiment a plurality of users interact in the three-dimensional, computer-generated graphical space where each user executes a client process to view a virtual world from the perspective of that user. The virtual world shows avatars representing the other users who are neighbors of the user viewing the virtual word. In order that the view can be updated to reflect the motion of the remote user's avatars, motion information is transmitted to a central server process which provides positions updates to client processes for neighbors of the user at that client process. The client process also uses an environment database to determine which background objects to render as well as to limit the movement of the user's avatar.
US08145997B2 Method for simultaneously performing a plurality of handwritten searches
In a personal computer, a personal digital assistant or any other information processing device that includes a display screen and a digitizer tablet, thereby accepting handwritten input from a user, a method for simultaneously performing multiple handwritten searches. From handwritten input provided by the user, the method automatically determines that multiple search commands have been given by the user, detects multiple search items specified by the user and simultaneously performs the searches. For each of the multiple search items, the method may assign a weight to each of the multiple search commands based upon the size and position of the corresponding search command. The method also permits the user to delete one or more of the search commands from the simultaneous performance of the multiple searches.
US08145988B2 Command line testing
Provided are a system, method and article of manufacture for validating an expected data output of an application under test. A first table comprising named columns populated with the expected data output and a second table comprising named columns associated with the expected data output of the named columns of the first table are retrieved. The named columns of the first table are compared with the named columns of the second table. An alert is generated in response to detecting a difference between a characteristic of a named column of the first table and a characteristic of a named column of the second table.
US08145987B2 LDPC (low density parity check) codes with corresponding parity check matrices selectively constructed with CSI (cyclic shifted identity) and null sub-matrices
LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) codes with corresponding parity check matrices selectively constructed with CSI (Cyclic Shifted Identity) and null sub-matrices. An LDPC matrix corresponding to an LDPC code is employed within a communication device to encode and/or decode coded signals for use in any of a number of communication systems. The LDPC matrix is composed of a number of sub-matrices and may be partitioned into a left hand side matrix and a right hand side matrix. The right hand side matrix may include two sub-matrix diagonals therein that are composed entirely of CSI (Cyclic Shifted Identity) sub-matrices; one of these two sub-matrix diagonals is located on the center sub-matrix diagonal and the other is located just to the left thereof. All other sub-matrices of the right hand side matrix may be null sub-matrices (i.e., all elements therein are values of zero “0”).
US08145985B2 Error detection schemes for a unified cache in a data processing system
In a data processing system processing circuitry executes a plurality of data processing instructions. A unified cache memory stores data and instructions processed by the processing circuitry. The unified cache memory has a plurality of sets, each set having a plurality of ways, each with one or more information fields. Cache memory control circuitry has a control register for controlling allocation of each way of the plurality of ways for one of: (1) a first type of information; (2) a second type of information; or (3) both the first type of information and the second type of information. The cache memory control circuitry further individually controls a selection of a type of error detection among a plurality of types of error detection for each way of the unified cache memory based upon the allocation control indicated by the control register.
US08145981B2 Soft bit data transmission for error correction control in non-volatile memory
Data stored in non-volatile storage is decoded using iterative probabilistic decoding. An error correcting code such as a low density parity check code may be used. In one approach, initial reliability metrics, such as logarithmic likelihood ratios, are used in decoding sensed states of a set of non-volatile storage element. The decoding attempts to converge by adjusting the reliability metrics for bits in code words which represent the sensed state. Soft data bits are read from the memory if the decoding fails to converge. Initial reliability metric values are provided after receiving the hard read results and at each phase of the soft bit operation(s). In one embodiment, a second soft bit is read from the memory using multiple subsets of soft bit compare levels. While reading at the second subset of compare levels, decoding can be performed based on the first subset data.
US08145975B2 Universal packet loss recovery system for delivery of real-time streaming multimedia content over packet-switched networks
The Universal Packet Loss Recovery System is capable of recovering end-to-end network packet losses to obtain reliable end-to-end network delivery of multimedia streaming content over Internet Protocol (IP) networks, where packet losses appear above the transport layer. This system incorporates the use of Packet Forward Error Correction Coding (FEC) with packet interleaving processing prior to transport. Packet FEC Coding is an error correction coding method at the packet level which improves link transmission reliability. At the source end of the packet-switching network, the Packet FEC Coding scheme encodes a stream of transport multimedia content packets by including redundant packets to allow for recovery of lost packets by the Packet FEC Coding decoder at the user end of the packet-switching network. Since lost packets appear only above the transport layer in the IP network protocol stack, Packet FEC Coding can be viewed as a transport layer or application layer coding method.
US08145973B2 Data processing apparatus and method, and program
In order to correctly perform error analysis, test, or the like, a 64B/66B converter of a PCS processing unit of a transmitter conforming to 10 GBASE-R PHY performs 64B/66B conversion on data on a block basis that is transmitted over four lanes, the block being formed of two columns. In the conversion, when a control signal inputted via a control signal input terminal indicates a normal operation mode, if an error code in a block to be converted is detected by an error detector, error expansion that replaces all 8 bytes of data in the block with an error code /E/ is performed. In contrast, when the control signal indicates an analysis mode, the error expansion is not performed even if an error code is detected by the error detector.
US08145971B2 Data processing systems and methods for processing digital data with low density parity check matrix
A data processing system for processing digital data with a low density parity check (LDPC) matrix includes: a storage device for storing a plurality of indices representing a plurality of shifting numbers, where the LDPC matrix comprises an array of elements, and at least one element of the LDPC matrix represents a cyclic permutation matrix that is produced by cyclically shifting columns of an identity matrix to the right according to one of the shifting numbers; and a processing circuit, coupled to the storage device, for retrieving at least one index to recover at least one element of the LDPC matrix according to the index and performing data processing according to the LDPC matrix.
US08145964B2 Scan test circuit and scan test control method
A circuit includes a control flip-flop inputting a scan control signal and a scan path chain formed of scan storage elements serially connected. The scan path chain performs a shift operation as a first mode when the control flip-flop outputs a first status value, and performs a normal operation as a second mode when the control flip-flop outputs a second status value. When the scan control signal is switched from the first status value to the second status value, the control flip-flop outputs the second status value to the scan storage elements in synchronization with a first clock pulse, after the switching, of a clock provided to the scan storage elements. When the scan control signal is switched from the second status value to the first status value, the control flip-flop outputs the first status value to the scan storage elements at a timing of the scan control signal switching.
US08145963B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit device and delay fault testing method thereof
A semiconductor integrated circuit device includes a first clock domain having a plurality of first flip-flops which is configured to operate with a high-speed clock; a second clock domain having a plurality of second flip-flops, composed of a third flip-flop and a plurality of fourth flip-flops, which is configured to operate with a low-speed clock; and a test clock supplying section configured to supply, at a time of delay fault test for the second clock domain, a test clock based on the high-speed clock to the third flip-flop to which data from the first clock domain is input, and not to supply the test clock to the plurality of fourth flip-flops.
US08145954B2 System and method for generating a chronic circuit report for use in proactive maintenance of a communication network
A method for generating a chronic circuit report for use in maintaining a communication network is provided. The method comprises the steps of searching a database for information regarding circuit exceptions reported in a communication system, compiling a listing of circuits and circuit exception information, prioritizing the listing of the circuits based on the circuit exception information, and generating a circuit exception report.
US08145950B2 Execution of a plugin according to plugin stability level
Executing a plugin includes obtaining a stability level of the plugin to be executed, determining a plugin execution mode based at least in part on the stability level, and executing the plugin according to the plugin execution mode determined. The plugin execution mode is selected from a plurality of available plugin execution modes.
US08145944B2 Business process error handling through process instance backup and recovery
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for business process error handling through process instance backup and recovery includes the step of creating a backup profile of selected one or more portions of a business process model at modeling stage. The method also includes the steps of deploying the backup profile into a runtime environment, and upon occurrence of an error in execution instances of the business process model, re-executing at least one of the one or more portions of the backup profile to recover from the error.
US08145938B2 Fencing management in clusters
Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to detect a failure in a failed one of a plurality of nodes included in a cluster, and to fence a portion of the plurality of nodes, including the failed one. Membership in the portion may be determined according to an aggregated value of weighted values assigned to resources and/or services associated with the cluster. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08145935B2 Clock signal generator for generating stable clock signal, semiconductor memory device including the same, and methods of operating
A clock signal generator can include a clock signal generation unit that is configured to generate a clock signal. A clock signal control unit is configured to count a number of pulses of the clock signal during a reference time, and to compare the number of pulses with a reference value to provide a comparison result, and to generate a control signal based on the comparison result, where the clock signal generation unit increases or decreases the number of pulses of the clock signal based on the control signal.
US08145933B2 Power control circuit
A power control circuit includes an input/output controller hub (ICH), and first to third metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs). A drain of the first MOSFET is connected to a standby power source through a first resistor. A gate of the first MOSFET is connected to a sleep control terminal of the ICH through a second resistor. A drain of the second MOSFET is connected to the drain of the first MOSFET through a third resistor. A gate of the second MOSFET is connected to a general purpose input/output terminal of the ICH through a fourth resistor. A source of the third MOSFET is connected to the standby power source. A gate of the third MOSFET is connected to the drain of the second MOSFET. A drain of the third MOSFET is connected to a power terminal of an onboard network interface card.
US08145931B2 Imaging device with adaptive power saving behavior and method for use thereon
An imaging device with an adaptive power saving behavior conserves power by establishing reduced power mode entry and/or exit timeout values based on device usage statistics. Such an imaging device in some embodiments comprises at least one interface and a processor communicatively coupled with the interface, wherein under control of the processor the imaging device determines usage statistics for the imaging device based on jobs received on the interface and selects a power save entry timeout value for the imaging device based on the usage statistics.
US08145929B2 Stochastic management of power consumption by computer systems
Embodiments of the present disclosure describe methods, computer-readable media and system configurations for stochastic power management of one or more computer systems. A method may include ascertaining a workload of a plurality of computer systems (e.g., a data center). Additionally or alternatively, a method may include initiating, by a control module operated by a processor of a first of the plurality of computer systems, a stochastic power management process to manage power consumption of the first of the plurality of computer systems. The stochastic power management process may be conditionally initiated based at least in part on the ascertained workload of the plurality of computer systems. The stochastic power management process may include a plurality of virtual machine management actions having corresponding probabilities being taken, one or more of which may result in power savings. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
US08145923B2 Circuit for and method of minimizing power consumption in an integrated circuit device
A method of minimizing power consumption in an integrated device is disclosed. The method comprises providing a plurality of circuit blocks having circuits for performing logic functions, wherein each circuit block consumes power in a static state; coupling one of a plurality of operating voltages to each circuit block of the plurality of circuit blocks; enabling a reduction of power consumed by a first set of circuit blocks by way of a first power reduction signal; and enabling a reduction of power consumed by a second set of circuit blocks by way of a second power reduction signal. A circuit for minimizing power consumption in a device is also disclosed.
US08145921B2 Multi-regulator power supply chip with common control bus
A system and method for implementing a common control bus in a multi-regulator power supply integrated circuit. The integrated circuit may, for example, comprise first and second power regulator modules that control at least one characteristic of respective power signals. The integrated circuit may also, for example, comprise a communication interface module that receives power control information related to operation of the first and second power regulator modules over a shared data bus. An exemplary method may, for example, comprise receiving power control information over a data bus. The method may also, for example, comprise determining which of a plurality of power regulators corresponds to the received power control information. The method may further, for example, comprise determining a regulator control signal, based at least in part on the received power control information, and provide the regulator control signal to the determined regulator(s) to control operation of the determined regulator(s).
US08145918B2 Monitoring system processes energy consumption
A method and system for monitoring power consumption of software applications. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a new feature is inserted in a system availability monitoring product which estimates the power consumption of the system, starting from the measurement of some parameters collected by a monitoring tool. All systems are impacted by energy consumption, by the usage of its resources (hard-disk, CPU, memory, CDROM, etc.); when the usage of these components increases, the energy consumption increases too. The usage of the resources can be calculated through the monitoring tool according to some specific parameters. The calculated metrics of the usage are based on the measurement of the time during which a resource is in a predetermined status. Each resource has an associated table for determining the expected power consumption according to the status.
US08145916B2 Finger sensing apparatus using encrypted user template and associated methods
A finger sensing apparatus may include an integrated circuit (IC) substrate, an array of finger sensing elements on the IC substrate, and encryption circuitry on the IC substrate cooperating with the array of finger sensing elements for encrypting a user template comprising finger template data and at least one user credential. The at least one user credential may enable another device, such as a host platform, to perform at least one protected operation.
US08145914B2 Client-side CAPTCHA ceremony for user verification
A facility for performing a local human verification ceremony to obtain user verification is provided. Upon determining that user verification is needed to perform an action on a computer system, the facility presents a CAPTCHA challenge requesting verification that the user wants the action performed on the computer system. Upon receiving a response, the facility compares the received response to an expected correct response. If the received response is the correct response, the facility authorizes the action to be performed.
US08145912B2 System and method for using a visual password scheme
A system and method for inputting a password. The system and method operates to associate unique non-descriptive graphical features with unique text-based characters. The system and method operates to receive in sequence, a plurality of text-based characters. The system and method operates to display in sequence, in accordance with a sequence scheme, the non-descriptive graphical features associated with the plurality of text-based characters. The system and method also operates to process the plurality of text-based characters as the password. In addition, the system and method operates wherein the password, including text-based characters, may be deciphered from both the display of the non-descriptive graphical features associated with the plurality of text-based characters and the sequence scheme.
US08145911B2 System and method for the electronic management and execution of transaction documents
One aspect of the invention is a method for generating a certified electronic document that includes receiving identification information associated with a signatory user from a computer. From the same computer, identification information associated with a notary user is also received. At least one electronic document that requires certification is identified on a display. A first user command is received from the computer identifying the assent of the signatory user to the execution of the at least one electronic document. A second user command is received from the computer identifying the assent of the notary user to the certification of the at least one electronic document. Official indicia associated with the notary user is applied to the at least one electronic document to create at least one certified document.
US08145910B1 System and method to enforce collaboration rules for timestamps of a collaboration event
A method to enforce collaboration rules, in one example embodiment, comprises receiving a request to report a collaboration event to a collaboration workflow, receiving a reported time of the collaboration event, determining an origin of the reported time, updating the reported time with a central time service time when the origin of the reported time is not a central time service, and based on the updated reported time, selectively reporting the collaboration event into the collaboration workflow.
US08145909B1 Digitally signing an electronic document using seed data
In one example embodiment, a method is illustrated that includes parsing seed data from digital content, the seed data identifying a signing entity, transmitting identifier data to the signing entity identified by the seed data, transmitting content information relating to the digital content to the signing entity, and receiving digitally signed content information relating to the digital content, the digitally signed content information signed by the signing entity. In another example embodiment, a method is illustrated as including parsing seed data from digital content, the seed data identifying a signing entity, transmitting identifier data to the signing entity identified by the seed data, receiving a credential from the signing entity, the credential used to sign the digital content, and signing the digital content using the credential.
US08145906B2 Binding update method in MIPv6
Provided is a binding update method in MIPv6 which includes: a first step of generating, with a mobile node, a HoTI (Home Test Init) message and transmitting the HoTI message to a corresponding node; a second step of generating a CoTI (Care of Test Init) message and transmitting the CoTI message to the corresponding node; a third step of generating, with the corresponding node, a HoT (Home of Test) message and transmitting the HoT message to the mobile node; a fourth step of generating a CoT (Care-of Test) message and transmitting the CoT message to the mobile node; a fifth step of generating, with the mobile node, a BU (Binding Update) message and transmitting the BU message to the corresponding node; and a sixth step of verifying, with the corresponding node, the BU message and transmitting a BA (Binding Ack) message to the mobile node.
US08145900B2 Crypto-pointers for secure data storage
This disclosure relates to pairing of a different cryptographic key with each pointer in a data structure to form a crypto-pointer. The cryptographic key is used to encrypt the contents of all data stored at the physical location on the storage device indicated by the pointer. Preferably the only data accessible in an unencrypted form is contained in cells that are reachable from root-set crypto-pointers. Once the crypto-pointer associated with a particular memory cell is deleted, normally by overwriting or explicitly zeroing the crypto-pointer, the contents of the memory cell become inaccessible because the data stored at that cell is in encrypted form (cipher text) and the crypto-pointer that included the cryptographic key for decrypting the cipher text has been deleted from the system.
US08145892B2 Providing an electronic device security and tracking system and method
A system and method for providing an electronic device security and tracking system and method (ESTSM). A method includes but is not limited to accepting a selection of an opt-in to use the ESTSM service; and making available the ESTSM service.
US08145890B2 Pipelined microprocessor with fast conditional branch instructions based on static microcode-implemented instruction state
A microprocessor includes a memory that stores instructions of a non-user program to implement a user program instruction of the user-visible instruction set of the microprocessor. The non-user program includes a conditional branch instruction. A first fetch unit fetches instructions of the user program that includes the instruction that is implemented by the non-user program. An instruction decoder decodes the user program instructions and saves a state in response to decoding the user program instruction that is implemented by the non-user program. An execution unit executes the user program instructions fetched by the first fetch unit and executes instructions of the non-user program other than the conditional branch instruction. A second fetch unit fetches the non-user program instructions from the memory and resolves the conditional branch instruction based on the saved state without sending the conditional branch instruction to the execution unit to resolve the conditional branch instruction.
US08145889B2 Data processing system with branch target addressing using upper and lower bit permutation
A data processor or a data processing system used in compatible modes among which the number of bits of an address specifying a logical address space varies at the time of referring to a branch address table by extension of displacement of a branch instruction. At the time of generating a branch address of a first branch instruction, the data processor or the data processing system optimizes a multiple with which a displacement is multiplied in accordance with the number of bits of an address specifying a logical address space, adds extended address information to the value of a register, and refers to a branch address table with address information obtained by the addition. The referred information is used as a branch address. A multiple with which the displacement is multiplied can be changed in accordance with the mode.
US08145884B2 Apparatus, method and instruction for initiation of concurrent instruction streams in a multithreading microprocessor
A fork instruction for execution on a multithreaded microprocessor and occupying a single instruction issue slot is disclosed. The fork instruction, executing in a parent thread, includes a first operand specifying the initial instruction address of a new thread and a second operand. The microprocessor executes the fork instruction by allocating context for the new thread, copying the first operand to a program counter of the new thread context, copying the second operand to a register of the new thread context, and scheduling the new thread for execution. If no new thread context is free for allocation, the microprocessor raises an exception to the fork instruction. The fork instruction is efficient because it does not copy the parent thread general purpose registers to the new thread. The second operand is typically used as a pointer to a data structure in memory containing initial general purpose register set values for the new thread.
US08145880B1 Matrix processor data switch routing systems and methods
According to some embodiments, an integrated circuit comprises a microprocessor matrix of mesh-interconnected matrix processors. Each processor comprises a data switch including a data switch link register and matrix routing logic. The data switch link register includes one or more matrix link-enable register fields specifying a link enable status (e.g. a message-independent, p-to-p, and/or broadcast link enable status) for each inter-processor matrix link of the processor. The matrix routing logic routes inter-processor messages according to the matrix link-enable register field(s). A particular link may be selected by a current matrix processor by selecting an ordered list of matrix links according to a relationship between ΔH and ΔV, and choosing the first enabled link in the selected list for routing. ΔH is the horizontal matrix position difference between the current (sender) processor and a destination processor, and ΔV is the vertical matrix position difference between the current and destination processors.
US08145878B2 Accessing control and status register (CSR)
A system may comprise one or more source agents, target agents, and a plurality of directory agents, which may determine the target agent to which one or more transactions generated by the source agents is to be sent. A controller may identify one of a plurality of directory agents to process the transactions. The directory agent may determine the control and status registers of the target agents to which the transaction is to be sent. The target agent may complete the transaction after receiving the transaction from the directory agent. The directory agents may store a memory map to resolve the target agent to which the transactions is to be sent. The directory based distributed CSR access may provide scalability to ever increasing number of heterogeneous agents in the system.
US08145877B2 Address generation for quadratic permutation polynomial interleaving
For address generation, a block size and a skip value are obtained, and at least one address, at least one increment value, and a step value are initialized. For a count index not in excess of a block size, iteratively performed are: selection of an output address for output from at least one phase responsive to at least the at least one address; first update of the at least one address as being equal to summation of the at least one increment and the at least one address modulo the block size; and second update of the at least one increment as being equal to summation of the at least one increment and the step value modulo the block size. The selection and the first and second updates are iteratively repeated responsive to increments of the count index to output a sequence of addresses.
US08145876B2 Address translation with multiple translation look aside buffers
A data processing device employs a first translation look-aside buffer (TLB) to translate virtual addresses to physical addresses. If a virtual address to be translated is not located in the first TLB, the physical address is requested from a set of page tables. When the data processing device is in a hypervisor mode, a second TLB is accessed in response to the request to access the page tables. If the virtual address is located in the second TLB, the hypervisor page tables are bypassed and the second TLB provides a physical address or information to access another table in the set of page tables. By bypassing the hypervisor page tables, the time to translate an address in the hypervisor mode is reduced, thereby improving the efficiency of the data processing device.
US08145875B2 Address translation circuit for a CPU
An address translation circuit includes an area address holding section, an invert flag holding section, a match detection section, and a bit conversion section. The area address holding section holds at least part of a translation target address as an area address. The invert flag holding section holds an invert flag specifying whether or not part of said translation target address is to be inverted. The match detection section detects a match between a predetermined part of at least one bit in an input address on the one hand, and said area address held by said area address holding section on the other hand. If a match is detected by said match detection section and if said invert flag held by said invert flag holding section specifies that part of said translation target address is to be inverted, the bit inversion section inverts a predetermined bit part in said input address before outputting the bit-inverted address.
US08145874B2 System and method of data forwarding within an execution unit
In an embodiment, a method is disclosed that includes, comparing, during a write back stage at an execution unit, a write identifier associated with a result to be written to a register file from execution of a first instruction to a read identifier associated with a second instruction at an execution pipeline within an interleaved multi-threaded (IMT) processor having multiple execution units. When the write identifier matches the read identifier, the method further includes storing the result at a local memory of the execution unit for use by the execution unit in the subsequent read stage.
US08145873B2 Data management method for network storage system and the network storage system built thereof
A data management method for network storage system that said network storage system includes a storage network, a cluster of storage servers that provide data storage services for application servers connecting to the storage network and storage space corresponding to each storage server, setting a core manager in storage server, said core manager centralizing the metadata of all storage servers in a common storage space; separating the metadata from said storage servers to make a storage server become a storage manager and the storage spaces corresponding to each storage server form the common storage space, allocating the storage space of metadata in said common storage space, and managing the corresponding relationship between metadata and said storage manager.
US08145872B2 Autonomic self-tuning of database management system in dynamic logical partitioning environment
Database partition monitoring and dynamic logical partition reconfiguration in support of an autonomic self-tunable database management system are provided by an automated monitor that monitors one or more resource parameters in a logical partition running a database application in a logically partitioned data processing host. The monitor initiates dynamic logical partition reconfiguration in the event that the parameters vary from predetermined parameter values. In particular, the monitor can initiate removal of resources if one of the resource parameters is being underutilized and initiate addition of resources if one of the resource parameters is being overutilized. The monitor can also calculate an amount of resources to be removed or added. The monitor can interact directly with a dynamic logical partition reconfiguration function of the data processing host or it can utilize an intelligent intermediary that listens for a partition reconfiguration suggestion from the monitor. In the latter configuration, the listener can determine where available resources are located and attempt to fully or partially satisfy the resource needs suggested by the monitor.
US08145871B2 Dynamic allocation of virtual real memory for applications based on monitored usage
Mechanisms for dynamic reallocation of memory to an application, the memory being from a pool of virtual real memory allocated to a virtual client that executes the application, are disclosed. In one embodiment, a virtual client is allocated a pool of virtual real memory. A subset of this pool of virtual real memory is a block of memory allocated for use by an application. The allocation may be stated as a range of allocated memory with an upper and lower limit. The application calls a kernel service when it thinks it needs a new allocation of memory. The new allocation is established by a power hypervisor connected to the virtual client. Memory is exported by way of a Paging Space Partition.
US08145869B2 Data access and multi-chip controller
A single data bus to a memory device can be split up into a number of data bus portions, each of which is managed by a different respective controller chip of multiple controller chips. During a memory access to a respective memory device, each of the multiple controller chips controls a different corresponding portion of the data bus to retrieve data from or store data to the memory device depending on whether the access is a read or write. To perform the data access, a synchronizer circuit (internal and/or external to the memory controller chips) synchronizes the multiple memory controller chips such that one of the memory controller chips drives the address bus and/or control signals to the memory device. After setting the address to the memory device, the memory controller chips either read data from or write data to the memory device based on the address.
US08145868B2 Method and system for providing frame start indication in a memory system having indeterminate read data latency
A method and system for providing frame start indication in a memory system having indeterminate read data latency. The method includes receiving a data transfer and determining if the data transfer includes a frame start indicator. The method also includes capturing the data transfer and “n” subsequent data transfers in response to determining that the data transfer includes a frame start indicator. The data transfer and the “n” subsequent data transfers comprise a data frame.
US08145867B2 Non-volatile memory devices for outputting data using double data rate (DDR) operations and methods of operating the same
A non-volatile memory device is operated by outputting data in response to an alternating sequence of first and second edges of a read control signal, respectively. A determination is made whether the read control signal and a write control signal are in synchronization at one of the first edges. Output of the data is stopped at the second edge that follows the one of the first edges of the read control signal if the read control signal and the write control signal are in synchronization at the one of the first edges.
US08145866B2 Selective register reset
The present disclosure includes methods, devices, modules, and systems for storing selective register reset. One method embodiment includes receiving an indication of a die and a plane associated with at least one address cycle. Such a method can also include selectively resetting a particular register of a number of registers, the particular register corresponding to the plane and the die.
US08145865B1 Virtual ordered writes spillover mechanism
Managing data transferred from a local storage device to a remote storage device includes maintaining the data in chunks in cache memory, where data writes to the local storage device begun during a particular time interval are associated with a chunk of data that is separate from other chunks of data and where data is transferred from the local storage device to the remote storage device by transferring a particular chunk after all data writes associated with the particular chunk have completed and after a previous chunk has been acknowledged as being received by the remote storage device and, in response to use of the cache memory exceeding a first threshold, storing data from a first chunk of the cache memory to a local disk. Data writes to the local storage device may be provided by a host coupled to the local storage device.
US08145856B1 Multithreading implementation for register files
A processor circuit including a register file system that has a number of register file elements. Each of the register file elements has an input/output port, a register file cell, and a special memory element. The register file cell and the special memory element are clocked by an advance thread signal. Data stored in the register file cell propagates to the special memory element according to the advance thread signal. In this manner, state information for multiple threads may be stored.
US08145855B2 Built in on-chip data scrambler for non-volatile memory
A non-volatile memory in which data is randomized before being stored in the non-volatile memory to minimize data pattern-related read failures. Randomizing is performed using circuitry on the memory die so that the memory die is portable relative to an external, off-chip controller. Circuitry on the memory die scrambles user data based on a key which is generated using a seed which is shifted according to a write address. Corresponding on-chip descrambling is also provided.
US08145854B1 Method and apparatus for controlling automated food preparation systems
A method and apparatus are presented for automatically generating machine control instructions for controlling automated food preparation systems and equipment from ordinary recipes in natural language. The invention allows the sharing, remote execution, scheduling, and automatic ingredient ordering for such recipes to allow professional food preparation with little or no human intervention.
US08145852B2 Device having shared memory and method for providing access status information by shared memory
A device having a shared memory and a method for providing access status information by the shared memory are disclosed. A digital processing device includes n processors and a shared memory. The shared memory is coupled to each processor though a separate bus, its storage area includes m common sections, and generates and outputs access status information related to whether an arbitrary processor is accessing at least one of the common sections. With the present invention, a control sequence of each processor can be simplified at a maximum by allowing the shared memory to generate and output access status information related to the common sections.
US08145849B2 Wake-and-go mechanism with system bus response
A wake-and-go mechanism is provided for a data processing system. The wake-and-go mechanism is configured to issue a look-ahead load command on a system bus to read a data value from a target address and perform a comparison operation to determine whether the data value at the target address indicates that an event for which a thread is waiting has occurred. In response to the comparison resulting in a determination that the event has not occurred, the wake-and-go engine populates a wake-and-go storage array with the target address and snooping the target address on the system bus without data exclusivity. In response to the comparison resulting in a determination that the event has occurred, the wake-and-go engine issues a load command on the system bus to read the data value from the target address with data exclusivity.
US08145846B2 Memory system having nonvolatile and buffer memories, and reading method thereof
Disclosed is a method for reading data in a memory system including a buffer memory and a nonvolatile memory, the method being comprised of: determining whether an input address in a read request is allocated to the buffer memory; determining whether a size of requested data is larger than a reference unless the input address is allocated to the buffer memory; and conducting a prefetch reading operation from the nonvolatile memory if the requested data size is larger than the reference.
US08145843B2 Deduplication of data on disk devices using low-latency random read memory
Deduplication of data using a low-latency random read memory (LLRRM) is described herein. Upon receiving a block, if a matching block stored on a disk device is found, the received block is deduplicated by producing an index to the address location of the matching block. In some embodiments, a matching block having a predetermined threshold number of associated indexes that reference the matching block is transferred to LLRRM, the threshold number being one or greater. Associated indexes may be modified to reflect the new address location in LLRRM. Deduplication may be performed using a mapping mechanism containing mappings of deduplicated blocks to matching blocks, the mappings being used for performing read requests. Deduplication described herein may reduce read latency as LLRRM has relatively low latency in performing random read requests relative to disk devices.
US08145837B2 Computer storage system with redundant storage servers and at least one cache server
According to one embodiment, a computer storage system includes one or more redundant storage servers coupled to one or more cache servers. A redundant storage server is coupled to each disk server. A disk server comprises at least one mass storage disk operable to store data. The data is segmented according to logical blocks, where each logical block has an associated logical block identifier. The redundant storage servers are operable to replicate each logical block of at least two of the disk servers. The cache servers comprise a cache memory and are coupled to each redundant storage server. Each cache server is operable to access the replicated logical blocks according to the associated logical block identifiers, and cache, in the cache memory, the replicated logical block according to the associated logical block identifier.
US08145834B2 Storage apparatus, disk controller, and command issue control method
The storage apparatus of the present invention includes a disk controller (CM) that issues a command to a disk via a fabric device. The CM controls the number of commands to be issued to the disk based on the structure of the storage apparatus and the operation state of the storage apparatus.
US08145833B1 Compression solution for embedded devices and systems
An embedded device is hibernated by storing state data of the embedded device to a non-volatile data storage medium, and powering off the embedded device. The embedded device is later woken up in response to the detection of a wakeup event from a wakeup source. The state data stored in the RAM of the embedded device comprises one or more registers of a Central Processing Unit (CPU) of the embedded device, one or more registers of a system-on-chip (SOC) of the embedded device, and the system and applications code and data. Waking the embedded device comprises loading, from the non-volatile data storage medium, initial memory sections that are used to run a kernel of the embedded device. State data that is stored in the RAM of a system is compressed by dividing the RAM into a plurality of sections and independently choosing, for each section in the plurality of sections, a compression arithmetic. For each section, a compression arithmetic that has a high decompression speed is selected. The selected compression arithmetic is used to compress data in the section.
US08145832B2 Non-volatile memory devices and control and operation thereof
An improved non-volatile erase block memory device apparatus and method is described that incorporates an improved addressing scheme to provide for extended addressing allowing redundant erase blocks that are not utilized to repair general use erase blocks of the main memory array to be accessed and utilized as additional storage space by an end user. The additional storage space formed by the unused redundant erase blocks and the specified storage space of the main memory array is presented to the end user as a single contiguous address space. Additionally, the redundant erase blocks can be utilized to repair any damaged erase block in the memory array of the non-volatile erase block memory or Flash memory device regardless of bank placement.
US08145830B2 Flash memory and method for a cache portion storing less bit per cell than a main portion
A flash memory device includes a storage area having a main memory portion and a cache memory portion storing at least one bit per cell less than the main memory portion; and a controller that manages data transfer between the cache memory portion and the main memory portion according to at least one caching command received from a host. The management of data transfer, by the controller, includes transferring new data from the host to the cache memory portion, copying the data from the cache memory portion to the main memory portion and controlling (enabling/disabling) the scheduling of cache cleaning operations.
US08145828B2 Flash memory-mounted storage apparatus
In a data center, there is a limit in power capacity supplied to a storage apparatus, and the rated power consumption of the storage apparatus may exceed the power supply capacity by addition of storage capacity. A storage apparatus according to the invention includes one or plural packages mounting plural flash memories and a circuit controlling the flash memories as well as information of power supply capacity. The number of flash memories performing writing, erasing or reading at the same time is designated with respect to each package based on the information of power supply capacity.
US08145827B2 Memory device with non-volatile memory buffer
A memory device includes a nonvolatile memory and a controller. The nonvolatile memory includes a storage area having a plurality of memory blocks each including a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells, and a buffer including a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells and configured to temporarily store data, and in which data is erased for each block. If a size of write data related to one write command is not more than a predetermined size, the controller writes the write data to the buffer.
US08145824B1 Cell-switched inter-partition communications
Pluggable modules communicate via a switch fabric dataplane accessible via a backplane. Various embodiments are comprised of varying numbers and arrangements of the pluggable modules in accordance with a system architecture that provides for provisioning virtual servers and clusters of servers from underlying hardware and software resources. The system architecture is a unifying solution for applications requiring a combination of computation and networking performance. Resources may be pooled, scaled, and reclaimed dynamically for new purposes as requirements change, using dynamic reconfiguration of virtual computing and communication hardware and software.
US08145823B2 Parallel wrapped wave-front arbiter
Embodiments of the present invention provide a system that schedules the transfer of cells in a switch. The system starts by receiving a set of cells to be transferred from a set of inputs of the switch to a set of outputs of the switch. The system includes S subschedulers, wherein each subscheduler processes N scheduling waves in sequence to generate a conflict-free transfer schedule for a given time slot for a matrix of transfer elements in the switch. The system then operates the subschedulers in parallel to generate S transfer schedules to transfer the cells from the set of inputs of the switch to the set of outputs of the switch during S time slots.
US08145817B2 Reader/writer lock with reduced cache contention
A scalable locking system is described herein that allows processors to access shared data with reduced cache contention to increase parallelism and scalability. The system provides a reader/writer lock implementation that uses randomization and spends extra space to spread possible contention over multiple cache lines. The system avoids updates to a single shared location in acquiring/releasing a read lock by spreading the lock count over multiple sub-counts in multiple cache lines, and hashing thread identifiers to those cache lines. Carefully crafted invariants allow the use of partially lock-free code in the common path of acquisition and release of a read lock. A careful protocol allows the system to reuse space allocated for a read lock for subsequent locking to avoid frequent reallocating of read lock data structures. The system also provides fairness for write-locking threads and uses object pooling techniques to make reduce costs associated with the lock data structures.
US08145816B2 System and method for deadlock free bus protection of resources during search execution
A method and system of deadlock free bus protection of memory and I/O resources during secure execution. A bus cycle initiates entry of a bus agent into a secure execution mode. The chipset records an identifier of the secure mode processor. Thereafter, the chipset intercedes if another bus agent attempts a security sensitive bus cycle before the secure mode processor exits the secure mode.
US08145815B2 Data processing system
In a hierarchical bus structure employing a fixed-priority bus access arbitration scheme, accurate arbitration of bus access requests can be carried out even in situations where priority levels are updated according to a system operation mode. In each of a plurality of superordinate hierarchical bus circuits, access requests from respective bus masters included in each corresponding bus master group are arbitrated according to priority levels assigned thereto, and based on the result of the arbitration, a priority communication signal PRA/PRB indicating a priority level of each access-request-permitted bus master is fed to a subordinate bus controller. In a subordinate hierarchical bus circuit, under control of the subordinate bus controller, access request arbitration is carried out according to the priority communication signal PRA/PRB to select a superordinate hierarchical bus circuit or bus master having the highest priority level.
US08145812B1 Line driving and receiving system
A programmable system includes programmable analog and digital components that, when configured by a processing device, implement a line driver to transmit differential signals over multiple drive lines and a line receiver to receive differential signals over multiple receive lines. A system includes a line receiver to receive differential signals from receive lines with multiple input pads and to convert the differential signals into a single-ended signal. The system further includes a digital communication device to receive the single-ended signal from the line receiver and extract received data from the single-ended signal. The system includes a line driver to receive transmission data from the digital communication device, convert the transmission data into differential signals, and provide the differential signals to multiple output pads for transmission over drive lines.
US08145806B2 Storage-side storage request management
Techniques are provided for managing, within a storage system, the sequence in which I/O requests are processed by the storage system based, at least in part, on a one or more logical characteristics of the I/O requests. The logical characteristics may include, for example, the identity of the user for whom the I/O request was submitted, the service that submitted the I/O request, the database targeted by the I/O request, an indication of a consumer group to which the I/O request maps, the reason why the I/O request was issued, a priority category of the I/O request, etc. Techniques are also provided for automatically establishing a scheduling policy within a storage system, and for dynamically changing the scheduling policy in response to changes in workload.
US08145801B2 Computer, storage medium and method for controlling optical disk driver of the computer
A method and system controls an optical disk driver (ODD) of a computer. The method detects whether an eject button connected with an I/O (input/output) chip of the computer has been pressed, and determines if an optical disk exists in the ODD when the eject button has been pressed. Additionally, the method sends a control signal to the ODD, and control the ODD to eject the optical disk when the optical disk exists in the ODD.
US08145799B2 Systems and methods for changing parameters of a controller
Systems and methods for modifying a parameter value of a controller are described. In one embodiment, the method includes verifying a local presence at the controller, modifying a parameter value at a remote device, confirming the identity of the remote device, and storing the modified parameter value in the controller.
US08145795B2 Distributed means of organizing an arbitrarily large number of computers
A technique for organizing a plurality of computers such that message broadcast, content searching, and computer identification of the entire collection or a subset of the entire collection may be performed quickly without the use of a controlling computer. The technique describes the creation, operation, and maintenance of a connection scheme by which each computer in the collection appears to be the top level of a hierarchical array. The maintenance of this hierarchical connection scheme allows one to many communications throughout the collection of computers to scale geometrically rather than linearly.
US08145794B2 Encoding/decoding while allowing varying message formats per message
Encoding and/or decoding of messages. On the encoding end, a composite encoder encodes message from an internal format that is used by internal system components into an external format. However, the composite encoder may encode the outgoing messages into different external formats on a per-message basis. For incoming message, a composite decoder decodes incoming messages from any one of a plurality of external formats into the internal format also on a per-message basis. A per-message report mechanism permits internal system components and the encoding/decoding components to communicate information regarding the encoding or decoding on a per message basis. This permits a higher level of collaboration and complexity in the encoding and decoding process.
US08145792B2 Method for directing data to a user application and related terminal and system
A method, a system and a terminal for processing data, wherein the data is transmitted from the external memory device being part of a system, to the terminal, wherein the data content is recognized by means of the new field added to the application area data file and basing on that, directed to an application area specific handler, where a new media type is generated by concatenating a identification of the data to a public and registered application area specific media type, and used to get the user application for the content and a directory where the content is saved to.
US08145788B1 Distributed ISP load balancer
The present invention relates to a device and method for managing inbound and outbound communications for a multi-homed network. A connection manager is located on a local network that is connected to an external network, such as the Internet, through multiple service provider connections. The connection manager intercepts all communication packets that are inbound to the local network from the external network and all packets that are outbound from the local network to the external network. The connection manager then associates the packets with a particular ISP connection based on the availability and bandwidth load status of the ISP connections.
US08145785B1 Unused resource recognition in real time for provisioning and management of fabric-backplane enterprise servers
Real time provisioning and management of fabric-backplane enterprise servers includes monitoring system status and configuration, displaying monitoring results, accepting user commands, and providing hardware and software management and configuration commands to the system. In one embodiment, an event is generated when a pluggable module is inserted into the system. In response to the event, the availability of the pluggable module is displayed to a system operator, and the operator enters a command to provision a server that includes the pluggable module. The server provisioning command is processed, resulting in a hardware configuration command being issued to the system, and an event indicating a status associated with processing the command is returned. The recognition of the inserted module, the display to the operator, and the processing of the server provisioning command occur in real time.
US08145783B2 Systems and methods for selecting buffering time for media data
The invention is related to methods and apparatus for tailoring an amount of Pre-Data that can be used in media clip streaming applications. A variable-bit-rate encoded media clip can be encoded at an average playback bit rate. When the actual transmission bit rate exceeds the average playback bit rate, a maximum bit deficit computation that uses the average playback bit rate overestimates the amount of Pre-Data that can be used to buffer the media clip. Embodiments of the invention tailor the amount of Pre-Data at least in part to the amount of data used to encode intervals of data and to actual transmission bit rates or to predictions of actual transmission bit rates, thereby decreasing the amount of Pre-Data that can be used and decreasing a latency time before play of the media clip begins.
US08145782B2 Dynamic chunking for media streaming
Systems and methods for chunking a media file for streaming over a network are disclosed. These systems and methods provide for receiving requests for chunks of a media file and responding to these requests by generating the requested chunks dynamically. The chunks can then be provided to the requesting entity. These systems and methods, which can be utilized with a dynamic file index generator, enable a high degree of flexibility in streaming chunked media files and preclude the need to chunk the media files and store the chunks prior to streaming.
US08145777B2 Method and system for real-time seeking during playback of remote presentation protocols
A foreground protocol engine receives a request for rendering the contents of a packet in a recording of a protocol data stream, the protocol data stream comprising a plurality of packets. The foreground protocol engine identifies a state-snapshot having an associated timestamp previous to that of the requested packet. The foreground protocol engine displays the requested packet responsive to the identified state-snapshot.
US08145762B2 Collecting information regarding consumer click-through traffic
A method and system for providing the centralized collection of click-through traffic information. The method includes receiving a DNS query for a domain name at a third party auditing service from a requesting computing resource. The domain name is configured to include click-through information as a subdomain, and wherein a URL associated with the domain name provides content. The click-through information is parsed from the domain name without establishing a connection between said third party auditing server and any web server providing the content. An IP address for the web server associated with the domain name is sent to the requesting computing resource.
US08145757B2 Method for changing service quality of a content adaptively
The present invention relates to a method for changing service quality of a content adaptively. When service quality updating action for a connection is received the present method invokes an action, used for requesting allowance of a new access to a network, to a device conducting traffic transfer services in order that service quality of the connection may be changed. The invoked action carries input arguments including traffic descriptor of the connection, carried by the service quality updating action, which a traffic handle for identifying the traffic descriptor uniquely has been allocated in.
US08145756B2 Dynamic network identity architecture
In an embodiment, a method is provided. The method of this embodiment provides receiving indication of an event at a platform operating in shared address mode, the platform having an auxiliary entity, in response to the indication of the event, switching operation of the platform to multi address mode by acquiring a second address, and assigning the second address to the auxiliary entity, and receiving one or more packets directed to the second address.
US08145754B2 Service for associating IP addresses with user segments
A system is disclosed that maps IP addresses and geographic regions to particular categories or “segments” reflective of user profiles. The mappings may be based on behavioral data reflective of user browsing activities, offline data (e.g., survey data or demographic data), or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the mappings are generated using data collected by a plurality of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) regarding their subscribers. The system also includes a query interface that enables content providers to retrieve segment data associated with particular IP addresses.
US08145752B2 Drift visualization
A system for drift visualization of change data of a datacenter is disclosed. The datacenter includes a plurality of configuration items. The system includes a management server in communication with the data center. The management server includes an agent configured to collect the change data from one or more of the plurality of configuration items. A change data store that is in communication with the management server is provided to store the change data. A data extractor in communication with the change data store is provided to retrieve the change data and providing a filtered subset of the change data to a display. A policy data store in communication with the data extractor is provided to enable the data extractor to filter the change data based on data center policy violations. The visualization depicts multiple dimensions of change-related data for the items in the datacenter in a unique and concise manner.
US08145747B2 Webpage domain monitoring
Webpage domain monitoring is described. In an implementation, one or more web pages are obtained at a client, with each said web page including a plurality of content that is provided, respectively, via a plurality of domains. The plurality of domains that were used to provide the plurality of content is identified and a counter is incremented, respectively, for each identified domain. When the counter for a respective said domain exceeds a threshold, a notification is output by the client that indicates that the respective said domain has a likelihood of tracking the client.
US08145736B1 Fast distributed object lookup for a computer network
A system and method related for performing lookup operations for objects distributed among different nodes in a peer-to-peer network are disclosed. Various nodes in the peer-to-peer network may store objects. Objects stored on a given node may be accessed by other nodes in the peer-to-peer network. To access an object, a node may first perform a lookup operation to determine where the object is stored, i.e., to determine which node in the peer-to-peer network stores the object. The peer-to-peer network may utilize a method to improve the performance of object lookup operations. In one embodiment, the method may allow object lookup operations to be performed with a latency on the order of one hop.
US08145733B1 Identification of computers located behind an address translation server
In one embodiment, a Network Address Translation (NAT) server performs address translation services for client computers in a private computer network. A traffic monitor computer outside the private computer network may receive network data processed by the NAT server. The traffic monitor computer may parse network data to obtain application layer information, from which the traffic monitor computer may obtain identification information of the client computer that originally sent the network data. The identification information may include the private IP address of the client computer. In one embodiment, the traffic monitor computer obtains the private IP address of the client computer by examining trace information appended to an e-mail by a mail client running in the client computer.
US08145729B2 Read-only storage device having network interface, a system including the device, and a method of distributing files over a network
A Read-only storage device having network interface, a system including the device, and a method of distributing files over a network. The storage device comprises a processor communicably connected to a computer interface, a network interface, and a storage means. The processor communicates with a computer and a file server through the computer interface and the network interface, respectively. The computer may request a file from the processor and the processor responds by either (1) providing the requested file to the computer on a read-only basis if the file is cached on the storage means, (2) obtains the file from the file server if the file is available from the file server, caches the obtained file on the storage means, and provides the obtained file to the computer on a read-only basis, or (3) returns a file unavailable notice to the computer.
US08145727B2 Network accessible media object index
A real-time locater for digital media objects, related to one or more creative compositions and accessible over a network, is described. A service-provider maintains a master index of the digital media objects. The master index is organized by considering each media object to be an example of a primary attribute associated with the media object by a multitude of users. The reference is constructed as a data structure of primary attributes and means of locating the media objects as instances of primary attributes. Each such media object may be further categorized by associating it with one or more secondary attributes. The data structure is augmented to provide for efficient location of media objects by relating secondary attributes.
US08145724B1 Method of, system for, and computer program product for providing a data structure for configuring connections between a local workstation file system and a remote host file system
A data structure embodied in a computer-readable storage medium for configuring connections from a local workstation between a file system residing on the local workstation and a file system residing on a remote host system. The data structure provides for such configuration by allowing the user to specify the host system, specify a host directory path within the host file system, and specify a mapping between a file within the host directory path on the host file system and a file on the local file system. After such configuration, the user may access the host file system file in the same manner as a local file system file. The data structure can encode information describing a file system connection between a local system and a host system in a metalanguage format comprising one or more tags, each tag having an identifier and a set of one or more attributes, wherein the encoded information comprises a file system connection descriptor which can be parsed according to the metalanguage tags.
US08145721B2 Bit streams combination of downloaded multimedia files
A method for downloading a multimedia file from a server (101, 201, 300, 701) to a user device (100, 200, 400, 700), at least partly via a bandwidth limited connection (202, 702), a server and a user device adapted therefore. A user device, connected to a server selects a multimedia file to be downloaded via two bit streams. In the server the selected multimedia file is divided and coded into a first, low-quality part, and into a second, high-quality part (503). When certain conditions (505) set up for the first part are fulfilled, this part is streamed via a first bit stream (506), and when certain conditions set up for the second part are fulfilled, the second part is downloaded via a second bit stream (508). In the user device, the first part is received and reproduced (603b) as a limited version, available to be played-up in real time (604), while the second part is reproduced and combined with the first part (610, in order to yield the original multimedia file.
US08145720B2 Validating user information prior to switching Internet service providers
Inconveniences in switching from one Internet service provider (ISP) to another ISP are remedied by providing streamlined approaches that facilitate the migration from one ISP to another ISP. In one embodiment, user information is validated prior to migrating from the old ISP to the new ISP, thereby ensuring proper transfer of information from the old ISP to the new ISP.
US08145718B1 Secure messaging system with personalization information
Personalization images are included in email messages to combat phishing attacks in which an attacker attempts to trick a user into divulging sensitive information over the Internet. When a recipient of an email message receives a message, the recipient can visually inspect the personalization image in the message. If the personalization image is missing or if the personalization image is not valid, the email recipient is alerted to the possibility of a phishing attack. Email message content may be encrypted. A gateway associated with an email message sender may be used to perform encryption operations on the message content. The gateway may create an html version of the email by placing the encrypted message content in an html wrapper. An image reference corresponding to the personalization image may be embedded in the html version of the message.
US08145717B2 System and method for providing presence age information in a unified communication system
A telecommunications system includes a network; a plurality of client devices operably coupled to said network, said plurality of client devices adapted to set one or more time contact parameters for buddies on a contact list; and a presence server including a timer, and adapted to maintain a timing of time contacts for selected contacts responsive to said parameters.
US08145716B2 Method and apparatus for assigning cost metrics to electronic messages
The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for contextualization of electronic messages, for example, by determining at least one cost metric for an electronic mail message based at least in part upon an identified context, automatically generating metadata representing the at least one cost metric, and associating the metadata with the electronic mail message.
US08145715B2 Off-the-record e-mail methods and apparatus
This invention provides for an off-the-record e-mail system that can ensure that messages, particularly sensitive messages, are available only for the intended recipient and never reside on permanent storage media. Control of the existence of the off-the-record e-mail can lie completely with the sender. The sender of the off-the-record e-mail sets the time-to-live (TTL) for the message content. When an off-the-record e-mail message is deleted, there is preferably no trace of the e-mail message on any computer backup system. The sender may also update the e-mail content at any time. The off-the-record e-mail system can include a personal server that combines the functions of a web server and an e-mail transfer server. The personal server may reside on an individual's personal workstation and might serve no one but that particular user. The personal server acts as a broker between the sender and the sender's SMTP server.
US08145708B2 On-line virtual robot (bot) security agent
Various embodiments can provide a virtual online robot (bot) or security agent. The agent or guardian can monitor on line conversations and can act to intervene in an event a conversation's content meets certain definable criteria that indicates that the content might be inappropriate or possibly harmful or risky. In at least some embodiments, the agent or guardian is configured to utilize natural language processing techniques to evaluate the context of a conversation across its span and/or conversations across individual users. Using natural language processing techniques, the agent or guardian can then present notifications or warnings to individual users (or others) when a particular conversation or portion thereof is deemed problematic.
US08145707B2 Sending digitally signed emails via a web-based email system
The present invention provides systems and methods for allowing an Email User to create a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) Email Account and thereafter to digitally sign, send, verify and receive PKI encrypted emails over a computer network, such as the Internet. The systems and methods preferably include a Web-based Email System and a Certificate Authority that coordinate their actions to make the process of creating, maintaining and using the PKI Account as easy as possible for the Email User. In a preferred embodiment, a Keystore System may also be used to enhance the management and use of digital keypairs.
US08145706B2 Method and apparatus for automatic notification and response based on communication flow expressions having dynamic context
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for automatic notification and response based on communication flow expressions having dynamic context. A message is provided from a sender to at least one recipient in accordance with a communication flow having a plurality of potential paths. The communication flow is controlled by a communication flow expression having a dynamic context, wherein the communication flow expression contains at least one primitive keyword indicating how the message should be processed. The dynamic context of the communication flow expression may be established using one or more labels or a context function. A number of primitive keywords are provided that allow a communication flow expression to react to a dynamic context.
US08145704B2 Method and system for providing media programming
A method of generating media programming includes the steps of providing by an aggregator to a client a list of feeds; receiving by the aggregator from the client a selection of one of the feeds; receiving by a publisher from the aggregator the feed selection; and providing to the client media programming based on a publisher-initiated feed responsive to the feed selection and including media elements selected and concatenated with the feed responsive to the client information.
US08145703B2 User interface and method in a local search system with related search results
The invention provides a user interface including a first view transmitted from a server computer system to a client computer system, the first view including a search identifier, interaction with the search identifier causing of a search request from the client computer system to the server computer system, the search request being utilized at the server computer system to extract at least an initial search result from a search data source, the initial search result including information relating to a geographic location to the client computer system for display at the client computer system, and a second view transmitted from the server computer system in response to the user interacting with the search identifier, the second view including the initial search result and the plurality of related search suggestions.
US08145702B2 Method and apparatus for team based strategy planning in computer simulations
A method for use with a computer simulation includes providing an ability to run a simulation in which a plurality of client devices communicate over a network to interact with the simulation, providing an ability to generate a first user interface on each of the plurality of client devices for allowing users associated with the client devices to interact with the simulation, providing an ability to provide information that includes a representation of at least a portion of an environment of the simulation on a subset of the plurality of client devices, and providing an ability to allow users associated with the subset of the plurality of client devices to interact with the information without allowing access thereto by the other client devices. A system for use in running a computer simulation and a storage medium storing a computer program executable by a processor based system are also disclosed.
US08145700B2 Content reproducing apparatus and content reproducing method
A communication system is disclosed which permits data communication between a server apparatus and a client apparatus over a network. The server apparatus includes a time information managing means which manages time information and which transmits the time information to the client apparatus. The client apparatus includes a time storing means which receives the time information from the server apparatus, which stores the received time information, and which is tamper-proof.
US08145698B1 Self organizing peer-to-peer system, method, and/or apparatus
A first and second peer devices can exchange information about a set of additional peer devices capable of providing one or more portions of one or more files. The first peer device can further communicate with the second peer device regarding specific portions of files available from the second peer device. Additionally, a subset of the set of additional peer devices available for communication can be identified based at least in part on the exchanged information. The first peer device can communicate with one or more of the identified subset of additional peer devices, at least in part, to transmit and/or receive one or more portions of one or more files. In addition, an intermittent communication between the first peer device and at least one of the set of additional peer devices can be established, at least in part, to identify another set of additional peer devices available for communication.
US08145696B2 Method for representing complex numbers in a communication system
A method for storage for complex numbers that employs a shared exponent field is disclosed. Rather than each floating point component of an complex number having its own distinct signed mantissa and exponent fields, each component includes a distinct signed mantissa field and shares an exponent field, thereby increasing the possible size of each distinct signed mantissa field by as much as one half the number of bits formerly employed to store a single distinct exponent field.
US08145694B2 Fast Fourier transformation circuit
Provided is a fast Fourier transformation circuit capable of optimizing an operation resource while matching a plurality of communication systems. In this circuit, an FFT circuit (100) comprises a first FFT operation unit (110) for subjecting two-parallel 2 digital signals to FFT operations of (M−1) steps, a second FFT operation unit (120) for subjecting 2 digital signals to FFT operations of (N−M+1) steps, and a third FFT operation unit (130) for subjecting 2 digital signals to an FFT operation of one step. The output signal of the first FFT operation unit (110) is subjected to the FFT operation by the second FFT operation unit (120) and the third FFT operation unit (130) thereby to perform the FFT operations of 2 points and 2 points simultaneously.
US08145690B2 Dynamic legal database providing historical and current versions of bodies of law
Information collections defining a common subject such as a codified or uncodified body of law are stored on a computer readable medium in association with temporal information indicating the state or status with respect to time of parts of the information collection, including different versions of the same part. Parts that are different versions of each other have different temporal information associated therewith and can be accessed based on the temporal information. Thus, the temporal information may be used to control access to and display of parts of the subject in a computer system based on time as a search or request parameter. Parts of the common subject may be organized and stored according to various schemes, including hierarchical schemes such as topic trees, a relational database, a file system or a structured document system (e.g., using XML). Parts of the common subject and temporal and other information may be associated in various ways, including linking (e.g., hyperlinking), with pointers, or by including them in the same file, record or document. A hierarchical arrangement of hyperlinked, structured documents collectively provide a table of contents (TOC) to the subject.
US08145685B2 Object relational mapping layer
An integration server system for mapping data objects on a database schema offers a strongly-typed model API, complex constraint management, and association balancing. The integration server system also has improved performance through optimized handling of ordered associations of data object and of string-valued attributes. The integration server system comprises a database schema configured to store a set of data object instances. A metadata model represents a configuration of the set of data object instances in the database schema. A model application programming interface provides a client application with access to the set of data object instances, and a metadata application programming interface provides a client application with access to the set of data object instances via the metadata model.
US08145682B2 Differentially private data release
A query log includes a list of queries and a count for each query representing the number of times that the query was received by a search engine. In order to provide differential privacy protection to the queries, noise is generated and added to each count, and queries that have counts that fall below a threshold are removed from the query log. A distribution associated with a function used to generate the noise is referenced to determine a distribution of a number of times that a hypothetical query having a zero count would have its count exceed the threshold after the addition of noise. Random queries of an amount equal to a sample from the distribution of number of times are added to the query log with a count that is greater than the threshold count.
US08145680B2 System and method for using an editable lifecycle event distribution list with a service metadata repository
A system and method for creating an editable service metadata asset lifecycle event notification distribution list in a service metadata repository. The system provides the capability for a distribution list owner to create a distribution list of one or more distribution recipients. A sender can send a service metadata asset lifecycle event notification to the distribution list owner, and the members of the distribution list will also receive the service metadata asset lifecycle event notification. The system further provides the capability for the sender to edit the distribution list, prior to sending the message to the distribution list owner and the members of the distribution list.
US08145678B2 Information feeds of a social network
Various embodiments can be configured to provide a social networking computing environment. In an embodiment, a networked computing system can be used to provide informational feeds and commenting functionality to users of a social computing environment. In one embodiment, an enterprise-based social computing system can be configured to provide informational feeds to social networking application users. An informational feed can be populated with events and other information associated with one or more users of interest of an application user, but is not so limited. In one embodiment, a social computing environment can be configured to allow user commenting to feed items or events that are associated with a user or group of users.
US08145670B2 Electronic file system, operating device, approval device, and computer program
An electronic file system includes an operating device for receiving an input for performance of an operation on an electronic file and an approval device used for approving of the operation on the electronic file. The electronic file includes an operation file on which an operation is to be performed and a restriction file indicating a restriction condition (policy) for restricting an operation performable on the operation file and a request destination for approval of the restricted operation. The operating device includes determination means for determining whether the operation to be performed on the operation file is permitted in accordance with the restriction condition described in the restriction file and means for, when it is determined that the operation corresponds to the restriction condition, transmitting to the approval device described as the request destination in the restriction file an approval request for requesting approval of the operation.
US08145668B2 Associating information related to components in structured documents stored in their native format in a database
A system for associating information related to a component of a structured document that is stored in its native format in a database system includes generating a hierarchical node tree comprising a plurality of nodes, where each node represents a component in the structured document, and generating a path associated with each node, where the path follows the hierarchical structure of the structured document from a root node to the node. In each node, an identifier associated with the path is stored. A table is provided that correlates the identifier with information related to the associated path. The information applies to the component represented by the node.
US08145667B2 Schemaless XML payload generation
An XML payload is generated from an XML list irrespective of a schema associated with the XML list. The parent/child relationship paths are collected from the field entries in the XML list. An XML payload node tree is created reflective of the parent/child relationship of data in the paths of the XML list. The XML payload can then be generated from the XML payload node tree and exported as needed to target software applications or web pages.
US08145663B2 Apparatus for processing real-time mobile transactions in a three-tier distributed database system
An apparatus that enables real-time processing of mobile based transactions in a three-tier database by employing pending operation/locks databases at each mirror in the three-tier database and generating a token for each proposed transaction that indicates the operations/locks needed to perform the transaction. The token is passed to each mirror database to compare with the corresponding operation/lock database. When a conflict is detected, a flag indicating such is set.
US08145662B2 Methods and apparatus for generating a data dictionary
There is provided a method and system generate a data dictionary for searching data items stored in an information resource. In one embodiment, the system generates a list of synonyms for keywords entered in search queries to the system. A keyword and synonym form a token pair. Token pairs are evaluated according to a bidirectional divergence value calculated for distributions of search results, wherein the searches are based on the token pairs. Token pairs are then selected based on the divergence value. The selected token pairs are compiled into a data dictionary. In one embodiment, the data dictionary is a synonym dictionary used for user search query expansion to find matching items.
US08145659B1 Real-time communications enhanced search
One embodiment disclosed relates to a method of providing a real-time communications enhanced search service. When a search request from a client application, a search is obtained based on the search request. In addition, information as to relevant real-time communications channels, if any, is determined based on the search request. The results of the search and the information as to the relevant real-time communications channels may be combined and returned to the client application. Upon receiving a request from the client application to initiate opening of a relevant real-time communications channel, the relevant real-time communications channel may be established by communications with a second client application of a third party. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US08145653B2 Using schemas to generate application specific business objects for use in an integration broker
Provided is a method, for using schemas to generate application specific business objects for use in an integration broker. A schema is accessed defining an application specific data structure for one application. A business object is generated including fields corresponding to elements and attributes indicated in the accessed schema. A determination is made of application specific information for the generated business object indicating a correspondence of the fields in the business object to the application specific data structure. The business object is written out with the determined application specific information in a format that is understandable to an integration broker that communicates business objects to a plurality of applications, wherein the business object is capable of being processed by an adapter enabling communication with the application for which the accessed schema is provided.
US08145652B2 Automated propagation of non-conflicting queries in distributed databases
A logical table definition is received in association with a database query within a distributed database system. A determination is made as to whether the received logical table definition matches a local logical table definition. The query is processed in response to determining that the received logical table definition matches the local logical table definition. The query is forwarded to at least one other distributed database node. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
US08145649B2 Method for selecting electronic advertisements using machine translation techniques
A system for selecting electronic advertisements from an advertisement pool to match the surrounding content is disclosed. To select advertisements, the system takes an approach to content match that takes advantage of machine translation technologies. The system of the present invention implements this goal by means of simple and efficient machine translation features that are extracted from the surrounding context to match with the pool of potential advertisements. Machine translation features used as features for training a machine learning model. In one embodiment, a ranking SVM (Support Vector Machines) trained to identify advertisements relevant to a particular context. The trained machine learning model can then be used to rank advertisements for a particular context by supplying the machine learning model with the machine translation features measures for the advertisements and the surrounding context.
US08145648B2 Semantic metadata creation for videos
A computing system creates and stores semantic metadata on content, such as videos, that enables efficient searching of the content. The existing metadata of a video file, for example, is examined and a keyword list is created. The processes used to derive the keyword list may depend on the type and format of the existing metadata. The keywords from the list are compared against external structured knowledge data sources that are topic oriented. Based on these comparisons and the matches found, semantic data, including topic, topic type, and attribute data are inserted into a topic table. This uniform and structured table is stored on the computing system and is efficiently searchable for finding relevant videos and for finding relationships between videos.
US08145647B2 System, method and computer program product for electronically responding to requests for product related data
A method for electronically responding to requests for product related data, the method includes: collecting product related data from feeder systems; organizing the collected product related data into digital libraries within a document management system; receiving a discovery request from legal counsel to identify related documents; searching the product related data for documents; tagging documents identified in the search and placing copies of the documents in a holding queue; and importing the documents in the holding queue to a litigation support system.
US08145646B2 E-mail response system
A method includes receiving, at a message processing system that includes a processor and a memory, a message from an originator. The message includes content related to a particular service of a plurality of services. The method includes selecting a set of potential responses to the message at the message processing system based on the particular service. The method also includes retrieving account information related to the originator of the message at the message processing system. The method further includes filtering the set of potential responses at the message processing system to provide a filtered set of responses. The set of potential responses is filtered based on the account information. When a first response has a confidence level that exceeds a threshold confidence level, the method includes sending the first response from the message processing system to the originator of the message without sending the filtered set of responses to an agent.
US08145641B2 Managing feature data based on spatial collections
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with registering a WFS feature type are described. One example method includes creating a feature instance table and a set of collection item tables to register the WFS feature type. Elements in the feature instance table and a collection item table may be related by a feature instance primary key value. The example method may also include producing an r-tree based spatial index for spatial content collection items stored in the set of collection item tables. The method may also include selectively processing a WFS request to manipulate (e.g., insert, delete, update) a WFS feature instance based, at least in part, on the feature instance table and the set of collection item tables. The method may also include selectively processing a WFS query associated with a WFS feature instance based, at least in part, on the r-tree based spatial index.
US08145640B2 System and method for patent evaluation and visualization of the results thereof
A method for evaluating a patent document is described, which includes the steps of introducing a set of one or more patent indices, characterizing different aspects of the patent document; combining said patent indices into a Patent Quality index (the PQ), characterizing value of the patent document; and visualizing the value of the patent document by using a color coding of the patent document according to the value of the PQ index. Conveniently, a correspondence between the value of the Patent Quality index of the patent document and the wavelength of a selected color of a visible part of the light spectrum is provided. A corresponding method and system for visualizing results of evaluation of a patent portfolio are also described.
US08145639B2 System and methods for patent evaluation
System, methods, computer program product, and web site for evaluating a patent document have been disclosed. The patent document is characterized by patent indices arranged into a hierarchy, each index reflecting a different aspect of the patent document. The indices are transformed into an integral Patent Quality index of the patent document according to a non-linear transformation, which satisfies certain predetermined rules and boundary conditions. A bias associated with an expert, influencing the evaluation of a patent is taken into account. A corresponding method for determining a monetary value of the patent document is also described. The system for patent evaluation comprises a Patent Quality and Monetary Value processing unit for implementing the methods, and respective input and output data means, including graphical user interface. An Artificial Intelligence system for analyzing and interpreting patent indices and a Visualization unit for color-coded visualization of the results of evaluation are also provided.
US08145636B1 Classifying text into hierarchical categories
Systems, methods and program products for classifying text. A system classifies text into first subject matter categories. The system identifies one or more second subject matter categories in a collection of second subject matter categories, each of the second categories is a hierarchical classification of a collection of confirmed valid search results for queries, in which at least one query for each identified second category includes a term in the text. The system filters the identified categories by excluding identified categories whose ancestors are not among the first categories. The system selects categories from the filtered categories based on one or more thresholds in which a threshold specifies a degree of relatedness between a selected category and the text. The selected categories are a sufficient basis for recommending content to a user, the content being associated with one or more of the selected categories.
US08145627B2 Use of connectivity analysis to assist rule-based optimizers
Methods and systems receive a normalized query tree and analyze the tree to collect information about join operators and their children, and tables in an associated query. This information is then made available to a rule based optimizer that is configured to produce, from the normalized query tree, an execution plan. In addition, in at least some embodiments, an extensible framework is provided for join order optimization via the use of a multi-join operator and multi-join rules as part of the general framework of a query optimizer.
US08145620B2 Keyword expression language for online search and advertising
Media and methods are provided for creating and operating a keyword expression language. Syntax is generated as an abbreviation to represent a list of keywords. The syntax is executed as part of the keyword expression language to provide keywords. The syntax includes tokens that substitute for groups of information. Advertisers generate syntax which is subsequently used by a third-party to match to search queries and ads. The third-party may also generate keywords to match to the search queries and ads. The keywords are used to trigger advertising over the Internet.
US08145611B2 Servicing queries in a database system
A system and method for managing SQL queries in a database system. The system and method allocates database sessions to database queries and manages the database sessions and queries to provide improved, near real-time access to a database system.
US08145600B1 Version preview and selection
Techniques for version preview and selection are described, including detecting a plurality of versions of an asset in a compound document, receiving an input indicating selection of a version, wherein the version is one of the plurality of versions, and updating the compound document with the version.
US08145595B2 Method and apparatus for optimization in workflow management systems
Activities within a workflow are either data management activities (DMAs) or non-DMAs. A workflow is typically carried out by a system by executing one activity after the other. This can, however, be very time consuming. A method and system are provided for optimizing a group of activities (GOA) comprising a DMA, whereby the GOA is comprised in the workflow to improve the overall performance. The method determines the DMAs, and for each DMA, a data level statement (DLS). The GOA is determined and a process graph model (PGM) is determined from the GOA so that the DLS is comprised in the PGM and the semantics of the PGM are identical to those of the GOA. The PGM is optimized for which an optimized GOA is determined. The semantics of the optimized GOA are identical to those of the GOA. In the workflow, the GOA is replaced by the optimized GOA.
US08145591B2 Detection of hostile intent from movement patterns
An embodiment of the present invention relates to a method comprising identifying a suspect; determining that the suspect has moved a first distance in a target zone around a target during a first time period; determining a suspect-target distance between the suspect and the target; determining a suspect-potential destination distance between the suspect and a potential destination in the target zone for the suspect; determining that the suspect has moved a second distance in the target zone during a second time period; determining a suspect zone around the suspect; determining a movement characteristic index associated with the suspect zone when the suspect has moved the second distance, and determining, by a computer, a probability of hostility of the suspect, wherein the probability of hostility is obtained from the movement characteristic index and a ratio of the suspect-target distance and the suspect-potential destination distance.
US08145586B2 Method and apparatus for digital forensics
A method and apparatus for digital forensics are provided. The apparatus for digital forensics includes a page file extractor for extracting a page file stored in a target storage medium, a stored-page feature extractor for extracting features of pages stored in the extracted page file, a page classifier for comparing the extracted features of the pages with at least one predetermined classification criterion and classifying the pages according to the comparison results, and a digital forensics unit for performing digital forensics according to the classified pages. According to the method and apparatus, it is possible to perform digital forensics using only information of a page file.
US08145583B2 Tailoring medication to individual characteristics
Disclosed is a medical outcome prediction tool that predicts an individual patient's medical outcomes by identifying patients having a same disease; selecting a set of characteristics unique to an individual; determining the similarities between the individual and other cases; and calculating the expected outcome for the individual that is proportional to a weighted sum of outcomes of similar cases. The similarities can be determined by calculating the number of matches between the individual and cases over the set of characteristics, and using that result to determine a similarity score.
US08145577B2 Next generation visibility package tracking
The present invention involves systems and methods for tracking one or more shipped items that are shipped via a carrier. A set of expected occurrences are established for each item shipped. The items are then shipped and the shipment of the one or more shipped items is monitored for an occurrence of the set of expected occurrences, the occurrence of any non-expected event, and a non-occurrence of any of the set of expected occurrences. If there is the occurrence of any non-expected event or the non-occurrence of any of the set of expected occurrences, then such an event is made available to at least the shipper.
US08145571B2 Content transfer control for wireless devices
A content transfer control system for a wireless device and a method of controlling content transfer from a wireless device are described. The system includes a content transfer control component arranged to (a) detect licensed content and (b) transfer a content source indicating a source of the licensed content responsive to detection of licensed content. The method includes transmitting content from the wireless device if the content is not determined to be licensed content and transmitting a content source from the wireless device if the content is determined to be licensed content.
US08145568B2 Methods and systems for indicating a payment in a mobile environment
Methods and systems for indicating a mobile financial payment utilizing a mobile device such as a mobile telephone (cellphone) or wireless connected personal digital assistant (PDA). A mobile financial transaction system (MFTS) is coupled for wireless communications with a mobile device of a user and is also coupled for electronic communications with one or more payment instruction recipients that can make a payment to a payee in behalf of the user. The mobile device allows for selection of a pre-existing payee or entry of payee information. The user provides input at the mobile device selecting a payee for a payment and a payment source for the payment. A mobile payment instruction comprising information corresponding to the payment to make and a payment source for the payment is wirelessly communicated to the MFTS. The MFTS generates and communicates an MFTS payment instruction to a payment instruction recipient which includes information identifying a selected account at a financial service provider, an amount, and information corresponding to the identified payee. The payment instruction recipient then effects the payment to the identified payee.
US08145564B1 Systems and methods for supporting extended pay date options on an insurance policy
A recurring automatic payment date may be set for an insurance policy premium based on customer preference. A server may receive a customer-specified day of a month and/or a request for bimonthly withdrawals, such as may be entered via a user interface on an insurance company webpage. The customer specified day(s) may be analyzed against data associated with the insurance policies to determine whether the day is disallowed. The day may be disallowed, for example, because it would result in falling behind an earned premium curve and thereby require a double bill or short bill to stay ahead of the earned premium curve.
US08145562B2 Apparatus and method for fraud prevention
The disclosed method and apparatus combine interactions and transactions in order to detect fraud acts or fraud attempts. In one embodiment, one or more interactions is correlated with one or more transactions, the interactions is and transactions features are combined, and features are extracted from the combined structure. The features are compared against one or more profiles, and a combined risk score is determined for the interactions or transactions. If the risk score exceeds a predetermined threshold, a preventive/corrective action can be taken.In another embodiment, behavioral characteristics extracted from one or more interactions associated with a transaction, with a risk score obtained by analyzing the transaction. The behavioral characteristic are used to enhance suspicion level related to a transaction being fraudulent, and to enable the taking of measures related to the transaction or to the person handling the transaction. The combination thus enables better assessment whether a particular interaction or transaction is fraudulent, and therefore provides for better detection or prevention of such activities. In addition, making the fraud assessment more reliable enables more efficient resource allocation of personnel for monitoring the transactions and interactions, better usage of communication time by avoiding lengthy identification where not required, and generally higher efficiency.
US08145559B2 Methods and investment instruments for performing tax-deferred real estate exchanges
Methods and investment instruments for investing in real estate are described wherein a portfolio of investment real estate is divided into a plurality of tenant-in-common deeds of predetermined denominations, and which are subject to a master agreement and master lease to form “deedshares.” Holders of the deedshares receive a guaranteed income stream from the master lease and yearly depreciation, without having to maintain or manage the real estate. The holders of deedshares are subject, under the master agreement, to a mechanism that enables the master tenant to purchase, or arrange for the purchase of the deedshares at fair market value (or some other calculable value) at the end of a specified term. Because the deedshares qualify as interests in investment real estate, they are eligible for tax-deferred treatment under §1031 of the Internal Revenue Code.
US08145558B2 System and method for analyzing and displaying security trade transactions
A system and methods for processing and charting security exchange trading and market information shows security traders if current transactions originated as buy orders or sell orders, and simultaneously indicates traded quantity. Security exchange trading information is received that includes the price, volume and time of each trade. In addition, security exchange market information is received from buyers, specifying bide prices and quantities, and from sellers, specifying asking prices and quantities. The security exchange trading and market information is processed simultaneously and displayed as a continuously updated real-time chart depicting the exchange auction process whereby buyers and sellers agree to trade at specified prices, including details of individual transactions. The chart is formed by plotting each trade at the price traded, and for each plot point shows a distinctive icon indication whether the transaction was initiated by a buyer or seller.
US08145556B2 Online mortgage approval and settlement system and method therefor
A method for automatically fulfilling lending conditions includes the steps of maintaining a database of a plurality of registered service providers, receiving a loan application having one or more conditions to be fulfilled for the loan application to be approved, evaluating the one or more conditions to determine one or more actions to be taken towards fulfilling the one or more conditions, and automatically executing at least one action of the one or more actions to be taken towards fulfilling at least one of the one or more conditions, wherein the at least one action includes automatically requesting information for fulfilling the at least one condition from a registered service provider of the plurality of registered service providers.
US08145554B2 Portfolio synchronizing between different interfaces
An account coordination system includes an Internet-connected server executing software from a non-transitory, machine-readable medium. The software provides direct linking between the server and two or more financial enterprises hosting each at least one financial account for a specific user and having an interactive interface through which the user may interact with his/her account, direct linking between the server and one or more third-party enterprises providing interactive interfaces through which the user may access and interact with one or more of the financial accounts at the financial enterprises, and tracking functionality whereby the server tracks activity by the user at any of the interactive interfaces through which the user may interact with one of the financial accounts. The server propagates any change made in an account by the user at any one of the interactive interfaces to the sites hosting the other interactive interfaces.
US08145549B2 System and method for offering risk-based interest rates in a credit instutment
A system and method for communicating an offer to apply for a credit instrument is provided. A processing allows for processing credit history data. A calculating step allows for calculating a first plurality of interest rates based on the credit history data. A determining step allows for determining a second plurality of interest rates based on the first plurality of interest rates, wherein the second plurality of interest rates corresponds to a plurality of credit risk scores. Finally, a communicating step allows for communicating the offer to apply for a credit instrument in an initial communication with an offeree, the offer disclosing the second plurality of interest rates. An apparatus that calculates the interest rates used in the offer is also provided.
US08145544B2 Method and system for demand and supply map/shopping path model graphical platform and supplying offers based on purchase intentions
Methods and systems allowing a consumer to use a graphical tool that summarizes, compares and browses multiple offers for products or services over a network or communications medium such as via the Internet. In specific embodiments, potential purchasers can make declarations to buy, which sellers can use to generate improved and customized offers.
US08145543B2 Method, system and program product for approving item requests
Under the present invention, an approver will log into a purchase application or the like. Upon logging in, the approver will be presented with a view of all item requests for which he/she must make an approval determination. The approver can also be presented with informational messages for the requested items. In any event, the approver can make an approval determination for the item requests and post comments related thereto. Once the approval determination has been made for a particular item request, an approver list and approval status corresponding thereto is updated. It should be understood that as used herein, the term “item” is intended to refer to goods or services.
US08145540B2 Management platform and associated method for managing smart meters
The present invention relates to a management platform for monitoring and managing one or more smart meters. The management platform comprises means for communicating with smart meters and a workflow handler for executing a workflow. A workflow specifies a process for management of the smart meters.
US08145539B2 Method, medium, and system for auditing rates using different rate requests in a database
Embodiments of the present invention provide a system, method, and computer program product for auditing rates based on server access of databases. In one embodiment, an expected rate is received, and a rate request is sent to a server, wherein the rate request promotes an entry of the rate request to access a database. A rate response is received from the server, wherein the rate response corresponds to the rate request and includes a specified rate. A sale request is sent to the server, wherein the sale request corresponds to the rate request and promotes an entry of the sale request to access the database. A sale response is received from the server, wherein the sale response corresponds to the sale request and includes a sale rate. A message is output based on the expected rate, the specified rate, and/or the sale rate.
US08145537B2 Integrated software network agent
A model for the next generation of software network agents for downloadable software is provided. The software network agent delivers a streamlined user experience that presents the user with options to try or buy. The agent may be co-branded for merchant and affiliate marketing. The agent may be integrated with a number of services, such as ecommerce systems, affiliate marketing network systems, site optimization, web analytics and email marketing systems that enable a merchant to enhance the user experience and improve marketing. A user's actions may be tracked in order to provide OEMs and retailers payout on purchase referrals to the merchant's online store. Code changes and bug fixes can be made at the server and in a timely manner with minimal impact to the various systems supporting the software activation user experience.
US08145532B2 Connecting devices to a media sharing service
Sharing media content between entities. A computing device detects and connects to another computing device within a predefined proximity. Media content items and associated metadata are selected and exchanged between the connected computing devices. A subsequent purchase opportunity is provided to the users to purchase the exchanged media content items.
US08145530B2 Targeting based placement identification
A reservation system can identify available placements based on targeting criteria provided by advertisers and placement inventory data provided by publishers. The reservation system can receive reservation data for the available placements from the publishers and provide the reservation data with the available placements to the advertisers. The available placements and can be ranked and presented to the advertisers based on a first precision with which the placement can satisfy the advertiser's targeting criteria. A second precision can be determined for each placement that has enabled targeting rules. In turn, the reservation system can rank and present the placements based on the first and second precisions.
US08145529B2 System for a multi-media tool bar with advertisements
A system comprised of a Tool Bar equipped with the ability to: a) encrypt emails that are sent to computer users who must download and maintain a copy of the Tool Bar to receive the encryption keys needed to decrypt emails; b) display Advertisements in an area of the Tool Bar designed to support text, graphics and video advertisements; c) display various multi-media sessions that allow the user to watch Internet videos, listen to Internet music, read RSS content and engage in other Internet media applications; d) carry out a process by which the computer user can install the Tool Bar in a number of computer applications. e) carry out a process by which the video, radio and RSS functions of the Tool Bar can be continuously viewed as the user moves between software applications.
US08145526B2 Revenue sharing system that incentivizes content providers and registered users and includes payment processing
The computer-based method and system shares revenue with a content provider and registered users. A web page has supplied electronic content and ads with displays and hyperlinks to a corresponding advertiser designated web site. Associated sales referral fees are tracked based upon user click throughs. The content provider is incentivized because the system shares the associated sales referral fees with him based upon factors such as frequency of posting content, quality rankings by users, gross value referral fees, and page user-visitors. Registered user-visitors are incentivized by providing each with N quality ranking tokens and by sharing the referral fees with users who post tokens on content. The QA ranking formula accounts for the quantity of posted tokens, the sequential order of posting, the number of user-visitors, and the referral fee to the content provider. The fees are paid to debit card, credit card, or cell phone account payment processors.
US08145525B2 Precise measurement of point-of-sale promotion impact
A method for distribution of information includes displaying a sequence of promotional images at known, respective display times on a display terminal facing customers at a point of sale. Sales of different products at respective sale times are recorded on a sales terminal at the point of sale. A relationship between the sales times of at least one of the products and the display times of at least one of the promotional images is measured. Responsively to the relationship, a change is made in the sequence of the promotional images that are displayed on the display terminal.
US08145523B2 Promotional campaign award validation methods through a distributed computer network
Code processing for promotional games and the like. In a preferred application, a lottery ticket holder who has purchased a lottery ticket is encouraged to access a designated Internet site by rewarding access thereat on the condition that information visibly supported on the lottery ticket from a given drawing is input at an Internet site and a test indicates that the information so-input matches lottery numbers that were picked for that drawing. Access to predetermined Internet-based services or sites can also be had as an award to an individual for inputting an iconic code at a machine connected to the Internet if the input code tests as valid, with the code being marked so as to be usable only once. Preferably, the iconic code is input by click-selecting displayed icons one after another in an order that corresponds to that of a code provided to the individual. POS methods for code processing are also described.
US08145516B2 Cross-virtual-world resource scheduling framework
A cross-world framework for providing integrated scheduling and reservation of virtual resources. Users are allowed to access the scheduling application from a website or an in-world interface. According to one embodiment, the framework uses the iCal industry standard calendaring format, and includes user configurable cross-channel notifications.
US08145513B2 Haul road maintenance management system
A haul road maintenance management system has a vehicle diagnostic module located onboard a haul vehicle and a database, which stores historical repair data relating to the haul vehicle. The haul road maintenance management system also has a controller in communication with the vehicle diagnostic module and the database. The controller is configured to analyze data from the vehicle diagnostic module and the database, and recommend road maintenance in response to the analysis.
US08145512B1 Data mining of user activity data to identify sequential item acquisition patterns
A data mining component collectively analyzes item acquisition histories of users of an electronic catalog of items to identify pairs of items that tend to be acquired sequentially. For each such item pair, the data mining component may also determine whether user acquisitions of the two items tend to be spaced apart in time by a characterizing time interval. In addition, the data mining component may calculate one or more conditional probability values reflective of the frequency with which users who acquire the first item in the pair acquire the second item after waiting for a particular interval of time. The item relationship data extracted by the data mining component may be displayed in the electronic catalog in association with corresponding catalog items to assist users in selecting items to acquire, and/or may be used to generate personalized item recommendations.
US08145507B2 Commercial insurance scoring system and method
A quantitative system and method that employs data sources external to an insurance company to generate a statistical model that may be used to more accurately and consistently predict commercial insurance profitability (the “predictive statistical model”). The system and method are able to predict individual commercial insurance policyholder profitability on a prospective basis regardless of the internal data and business practices of a particular insurance company.
US08145506B2 Patient problem data structure and processing system
A patient problem data system stores data representing a plurality of different patient problems for use in providing healthcare to a patient. An acquisition processor acquires data representing a patient problem for storage in a repository. A repository, electrically coupled to the acquisition processor, includes data representing a plurality of different patient problems; an individual patient problem has a patient problem name and is characterized by patient problem attributes; an individual patient problem has a plurality of attribute properties determining how a patient problem attribute is represented. Patient problem attributes include a focus term indicating a topic of a patient problem, a patient problem likelihood term indicating an assessment of likelihood of the associated corresponding patient problem, and a client term indicating at least one target person for care. The attribute properties include a format attribute property indicating a format constraint of a patient problem attribute and a content attribute property indicating a content constraint of a patient problem attribute. A retrieval processor, electrically coupled to the repository, retrieves data representing at least one patient problem from the repository.
US08145503B2 Medical image metadata processing
Enhanced techniques for the extraction and use of metadata from medical images are disclosed herein. Based on the information in the metadata, specific processing may be performed within an image order management system, radiology information system (RIS), or like system involved with healthcare imaging. In one specific embodiment, a radiology read order may be created, pre-populated, and transmitted via a processing system (e.g., a teleradiology image order management system) based on the metadata within the radiology image. For example, this metadata may exist within the header of a DICOM-formatted image data file or a DICOM communication protocol transmission. The processing system may then provide the pre-populated read order back to the source of the medical images for verification and submission. Other processing actions may also occur based on information extracted from the image metadata, such as custom workflows and handling based on an originating facility, or transferring the images to a particular radiologist or location.
US08145498B2 Device and method for generating a coded multi-channel signal and device and method for decoding a coded multi-channel signal
In a multi-channel encoder generating several different parameter sets for reconstructing a multi-channel output signal using at least one transmission channel, the data stream is written such that the two parameter sets are decodable independently of each other. Thus, a multi-channel decoder is enabled to skip a parameter set which is marked as optional and/or has a higher version number when reading the data stream and still to perform a valid multi-channel reconstruction using a data set marked as mandatory or a data set having a sufficiently low version number. This achieves a flexible encoder/decoder concept suitable for future updates characterized by backward compatibility and reliability.
US08145495B2 Integrated voice navigation system and method
An integrated voice navigation system 40 is disclosed. The voice navigation system (40) includes a voice messaging system (44), a speech recognition system (46), a voice channel (50) and a control link (52). A caller is connected to the voice messaging system (44) via PSTN (42). The voice messaging system (44) is in turn connected to the speech recognition system (46). Specifically, the voice messaging system (44) and speech recognition system (46) are connected via both the voice channel (50) and the control link (52). The voice channel (50) provides an audio communications pathway between the caller and the speech recognition system (46), while the control link (52) provides an out-of-band communications pathway between the voice messaging system (44) and the speech recognition system (46).
US08145491B2 Techniques for enhancing the performance of concatenative speech synthesis
When pitch of a speech segment is being modified from a current pitch to a requested pitch, and the difference between these is relatively large, a pitch modification algorithm is used to modify the pitch of the speech segment. When the difference between current and requested pitches is relatively small, the pitch of the speech segment is not modified. After one or the other speech modification techniques are used, then the resultant modified speech segment is overlapped and added to previously modified speech segments. A modification ratio is determined in order to quantify the difference between the current and requested pitches for a speech segment. The modification ratio is a ratio between the requested and current pitches. Low and high ratio thresholds are used to determine when pitch is being modified to a predetermined high degree, and whether pitch of the speech segment will or will not be modified.
US08145487B2 Voice recognition apparatus and navigation apparatus
A voice recognition apparatus recognizes speaker's voice collected by a microphone, determines whether a telephone number is grouped into categories based on an inclusion of vocabulary in the telephone number that divides the telephone number into groups such as an area code, a city code and a subscriber number, and displays the telephone number in a display part in a grouped form of the area code, city code and subscriber number.
US08145484B2 Speech processing with predictive language modeling
The described implementations relate to speech spelling by a user. One method identifies one or more symbols that may match a user utterance and displays an individual symbol for confirmation by the user.
US08145482B2 Enhancing analysis of test key phrases from acoustic sources with key phrase training models
Methods and apparatus for the enhancement of speech to text engines, by providing indications to the correctness of the found words, based on additional sources besides the internal indication provided by the STT engine. The enhanced indications comprise sources of data such as acoustic features, CTI features, phonetic search and others. The apparatus and methods also enable the detection of important or significant keywords found in audio files, thus enabling more efficient usages, such as further processing or transfer of interactions to relevant agents, escalation of issues, or the like. The methods and apparatus employ a training phase in which word model and key phrase model are generated for determining an enhanced correctness indication for a word and an enhanced importance indication for a key phrase, based on the additional features.
US08145481B2 System and method of performing user-specific automatic speech recognition
Speech recognition models are dynamically re-configurable based on user information, application information, background information such as background noise and transducer information such as transducer response characteristics to provide users with alternate input modes to keyboard text entry. Word recognition lattices are generated for each data field of an application and dynamically concatenated into a single word recognition lattice. A language model is applied to the concatenated word recognition lattice to determine the relationships between the word recognition lattices and repeated until the generated word recognition lattices are acceptable or differ from a predetermined value only by a threshold amount. These techniques of dynamic re-configurable speech recognition provide for deployment of speech recognition on small devices such as mobile phones and personal digital assistants as well environments such as office, home or vehicle while maintaining the accuracy of the speech recognition.
US08145480B2 Method and apparatus for implementing speech decoding in speech decoder field of the invention
The present disclosure relates to a decoding method and apparatus. The method includes: receiving data frames from the coder; if any erroneous frame appears, calculating a pitch lag parameter of the erroneous frame; decoding the data frames according to the calculated pitch lag parameter of the erroneous frame, and obtaining decoded data. The process of determining the pitch lag parameter includes: determining the number of continuous erroneous frames and the pitch lag parameter of the previous frame; adjusting the pitch lag parameter of the previous frame according to the number of the continuous erroneous frames and a preset adjustment policy, and calculating and determining the pitch lag parameter of a current erroneous frame, wherein the preset adjustment policy is adjusting the determined pitch lag parameter of the current erroneous frame within a preset value range according to the number of the continuous erroneous frames.
US08145477B2 Systems, methods, and apparatus for computationally efficient, iterative alignment of speech waveforms
Systems, methods, and apparatus described include waveform alignment operations in which a single set of evaluated cosines and sines is used to calculate cross-correlations of two periodic waveforms at two different phase shifts.
US08145471B2 Non-destructive simulation of a failure in a virtualization environment
A method for simulating a hardware failure in a virtualization environment includes determining a location of an instruction pointer for a particular operating system operating in the virtualization environment; determining an address of a memory location containing an invalid instruction; and writing the address of the memory location containing the invalid instruction in the location of the instruction pointer.
US08145469B2 System and method for providing compact mapping between dissimilar memory systems
A memory mapping system for compactly mapping dissimilar memory systems and methods for manufacturing and using same. The mapping system maps a source memory system into a destination memory system by partitioning the source memory system and disposing memory contents within the partitioned source memory system into the destination memory system. In one embodiment, the mapping system factorizes a source data width of the source memory system in terms of a destination data width of the destination memory system to form at least one data sub-width. A source memory sub-region is defined for each data sub-width. The memory contents associated with each source memory sub-region are disposed within the destination memory system in a side-by-side manner across selected destination memory registers of the destination memory system. The mapping system thereby can compactly map the memory contents into the destination memory system without a loss of valuable memory space.
US08145466B1 Clustering of electronic circuit design modules for hardware-based and software-based co-simulation platforms
Approaches for preparing simulation models of an electronic circuit are disclosed. The design is partitioned into first and second clusters. The design includes a source module in the first cluster connected to a destination module in the second cluster. The first cluster is compiled into a first model for a software-based co-simulation platform for simulating behavior of the source module using the first model. The first cluster and the second cluster of the design are compiled into a second model for a hardware-based co-simulation platform that includes a programmable logic circuit configurable for emulating behavior of the design using the second model. An interconnection block is generated and stored in the second model. The interconnection block is switchable between coupling of the destination module in the second model to the source module of the first model or to a source module of the second model.
US08145463B2 Gas reservoir evaluation and assessment tool method and apparatus and program storage device
A Gas Reservoir Evaluation and Assessment Tool utilizes an Analytical Engine to produce predictions of pressure values and other production data at any point in space and at any point in time in a reservoir. A computer system, such as a workstation, stores a Gas Reservoir Evaluation and Assessment software which includes the Analytical Engine and responds to input data (which includes a reservoir description and fluid properties) by generating an output record which represents a prediction of the pressure values and other data at ‘any point in space’ and at ‘any point in time’ in a reservoir. The Analytical Engine will first calculate a pressure value in 1D for a single layer of a reservoir at a single point in space and time; it will then calculate a pressure value in 1D for multiple layers in the reservoir at the single point in space and time; it will then calculate a pressure value in 2D for the multiple layers at the single point in space and time; it will then calculate a pressure value in 3D for the multiple layers at the single point in space and time; and it will then calculate a pressure values in 3D for multiple layers not only at a single point in space but also at any future point in time.
US08145460B2 Information processing method and information processing apparatus
While a recording mode is being set, a manipulation log about a manipulation target virtual object is recorded in a memory (S301, S302). After the recording mode is canceled, a virtual element as a collision determination target with respect to the manipulation target virtual object is selected from a plurality of virtual elements existing in the same virtual space as the manipulation target virtual object based on the manipulation log (S303). Collision between the manipulation target virtual object and each of at least one selected virtual element is determined (S304). The collision determination result is output (S305).
US08145459B2 Computation of radiating particle and wave distributions using a generalized discrete field constructed from representative ray sets
The present system and method for simulating particles and waves is useful for calculations involving nuclear and full spectrum radiation transport, quantum particle transport, plasma transport and charged particle transport. The invention provides a mechanism for creating accurate invariants for embedding in general three-dimensional problems and describes means by which a series of simple single collision interaction finite elements can be extended to formulate a complex multi-collision finite element.
US08145458B1 Method and system for automatic stress analysis of analog components in digital electronic circuit
An automated approach is provided for evaluating stress upon analog components embedded in a digital electronic circuit design. The approach includes establishing a computer readable circuit definition of the digital electronic circuit design. The circuit definition is then partitioned into a plurality of circuit portions, which are re-defined to form a plurality of analog topologies. The analog topologies are adapted for automatic analog simulation one independent of the other, with all digital components substituted by at least one subcircuit including instantiation of a corresponding input output (IO) buffer model. Automatic analog simulation is carried out upon the analog topologies to generate simulated results data, which are automatically postprocessed to generate worst-case stress measurement data for one or more critical components identified in the analog topologies.
US08145454B2 Method and apparatus for improving fatigue life of a wobblefram
A method and apparatus for improving the fatigue life of a wobblefram utilized in a micro switch. The flexible circular wobblefram can be formed with a fixed edge and a solid center region utilizing a punch and die at elevated temperatures. An external lever can be attached to the solid center region of the wobblefram. The lever can be loaded and actuated to transmit motion from outside of the micro switch to a sealed internal mechanism in order to perform a switching function. Circular and/or sinusoidal shaped corrugations can then be added to the wobblefram and evaluated for performance utilizing a finite element analysis (FEA) model. The FEA model can precisely evaluate and optimize profile, number and height of the circular and/or sinusoidal corrugations. Such a wobblefram with circular and/or sinusoidal corrugations can achieve higher lifetime without affecting the operating characteristics of the micro switch.
US08145450B2 Techniques for distributed testing
Techniques for distributed testing are provided. Resources are identified for performing tests over a network. The tests and policies are sent to the resources and a proxy. The proxy delivers data for the tests to the resources and enforces the policies during the tests. The proxy also gathers statistics and results from the resources, which are executing the tests, and the proxy reports the statistics and results to one or more third-party services for subsequent manipulation and analysis.
US08145445B2 WSN-based context awareness engine
A WSN-based context awareness engine applies spatial filtering to sensed data which is output from sensors included in a group to filter data in which an error does not occur, identifies a non-operated sensor, compares filtered data with at least one condition to determine a current state of a place corresponding to the group, and combines the determined current state and information regarding the group to generate a context-awareness result.
US08145442B2 Fast and accurate estimation of gate output loading
Embodiments of a computer system, a method, an integrated circuit and a computer-program product (i.e., software) for use with the computer system are described. These devices and techniques may be used to analyze an electrical characteristic of a logic gate electrically coupled to an output network in a stage. In particular, during the analysis, the effective capacitance of an output network coupled to a logic gate is approximated as a function of a total resistance of the output network, a total capacitance of the output network, and a geometric parameter of the output network. Using the effective capacitance and other parameters, such as a slew rate of an electrical signal applied to an input of the logic gate, an electrical characteristic of the logic gate, such as an input capacitance, is determined.
US08145439B2 Substance release estimation using path-averaged concentration measurements
A system and method for using path-averaged concentration measurements for estimating the amount of substance being released from a particular location. One or more open-path sensing systems are set up in appropriate locations around possible substance release sites and tuned to detect a particular substance of interest. Path-averaged concentration measurements of the particular substance are collected over time and communicated to an open-path back calculation algorithm. The algorithm calculates time-averaged measurements for a plurality of time periods. Back calculation is then performed with the time-averaged measurements to estimate the release rate and the total release of the substance.
US08145436B2 Method and systems for identifying micro-RNA targets and synthesizing novel micro-RNAs and uses of the same
Method of identifying a microRNA-recognition element and of generating microRNAs are disclosed. System and computer programs for performing such methods are disclosed. Recombinant nucleic acid molecule comprising a heterologous coding sequences and one or more MREs are also disclosed as are isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising one or more MRE sequences and being free of a coding sequence operably linked to regulatory elements. MicroRNA generated by a methods of the invention and the use of the microRNAs to downregulate gene expression are disclosed.
US08145433B2 High-resolution melting analysis
The present invention relates to methods and systems for the analysis of the dissociation behavior of nucleic acids and the identification of nucleic acids. In one aspect, methods and systems are disclosed for identifying a nucleic acid in a sample including an unknown nucleic acid and for detecting a single nucleotide polymorphism in a nucleic acid in a sample. In another aspect, methods and systems are disclosed for identification of a nucleic acid in a biological sample including at least one unknown nucleic acid by fitting denaturation data including measurements of a quantifiable physical change of the sample at a plurality of independent sample property points to a function to determine an intrinsic physical value and to obtain an estimated physical change function, and identifying the nucleic acid in the biological sample by comparing the intrinsic physical value for at least one unknown nucleic acid to an intrinsic physical value for a known nucleic acid.
US08145431B2 Body fluid testing component for simultaneous analyte detection
An analyte testing device is provided for use with a mobile processing device having a camera with a lens, a processor for processing an image captured by the lens. The analyte testing device comprises a casing and a test strip positioner. The test strip positioner positions an analyte containing test strip adjacent to the camera lens to permit the camera to capture an image of the analyte containing test strip. A light source is disposed within the casing. The light source is positioned within the casing to illuminate the analyte containing test strip to facilitate the capture of the image of the test strip. Software is contained within the mobile processing device for performing a quantitative analysis of at least one analyte from the captured image, and providing an output of the results of the quantitative analysis.
US08145428B1 Assessing petroleum reservoir reserves and potential for increasing ultimate recovery
Determining a Recovery Deficiency Indicator™ (RDI™) for a petroleum reservoir provides a novel leading indicator and metric that is designed to quickly assess the potential for increases in reserves and ultimate recovery of petroleum from an operating petroleum reservoir. The RDI™ is determined by relating the Recovery Efficiency (RE) and the Ideal Recovery Efficiency (IRE) (e.g., by dividing RE by IRE to obtain RDI™). The Recovery Efficiency (RE) is determined as the product of areal displacement efficiency (EA), vertical displacement efficiency (EV), and pore displacement efficiency (ED). The Ideal Recovery Efficiency (RE) can be determined by empirically assuming that EA and EV equal 100%.
US08145427B1 Assessing petroleum reservoir production and potential for increasing production rate
Determining a production gain index (PGI) for a petroleum reservoir provides a novel leading indicator and metric that is designed to quickly assess the potential for increases in production of petroleum from an operating petroleum reservoir when implementing a recovery plan. The PGI can be determined according to the following equation: P ⁢ ⁢ G ⁢ ⁢ I = ΣΔ ⁢ ⁢ q A Σ ⁢ ⁢ q Old where, ΣΔqA=net actual production gain of the reservoir; and ΣqOld=sum of current oil rates for existing producers. The PGI can also be determined according to the following equation: PGI=PR×(GPI−1) where, GPI=the global productivity index of the petroleum reservoir; and PR=the interference factor, which accounts for any losses in aggregate production gain due to well interference.
US08145424B2 Geoboundaries using rectangular fencing and coupling of GPS/LBS systems
A method for establishing a geographic boundary and monitoring an object within the boundary is provided. At least one first entity provides a second entity a request to form the geographic boundary and monitor the object within the boundary. The request may include parameters including at least a first set of coordinates of a geographic location associated with the geographic boundary to be formed. The method includes determining if the parameters provided include additional sets of coordinates for additional geographic locations associated with the geographic boundary to be formed. A footprint of the geographic boundary is selected dependent on whether the parameters provided include additional sets of coordinates. A rectangular footprint may be selected if the parameters include additional sets of coordinates and the coordinates form an isosceles triangle. The method includes forming the geographic boundary having the selected footprint. The object may be monitored within the geographic boundary.
US08145420B2 Method and apparatus for joining together portions of a geometric assembly
A housing comprises at least first and second portions. The first and second portions mate with each other at respective joining regions. The first and second portions each comprise a respective tapered flange along the joining region. The first and second portions of the housing are connected to each other by placing a plurality of collars over the tapered flanges of the first and second portions of the housing. Each of the collars has a respective groove formed therein. The grooves of the plurality of collars are placed over the tapered flanges of the first and second portions of the housing. A plurality of fasteners causes the plurality of collars to press the first and second portions of the housing together. In one embodiment, the housing is used in a sensor block assembly that is part of an inertial measurement unit.
US08145418B2 Systems and methods for improving magnetic heading output from an inertial navigation system
Systems and methods for determining magnetic heading information for a vehicle. In one example, the system identifies at least one polar exclusion area based on predefined rate-of-change of magnetic variation (magvar). Locally stored magvar information is retrieved based on received vehicle position information that is outside the polar exclusion areas. Magnetic heading is determined based on the retrieved magvar information, the received position information, and the received true heading information. In another example, the magnetic heading is determined based on the retrieved magvar and magvar rate-of-change information, on the received vehicle position and true heading information, and on the received date information. In another example, the magnetic heading is determined based on the received vehicle position, true heading, and date information, and on the magvar retrieved from a world magnetic model utilizing stored model coefficients.
US08145416B2 Interactive mapping method and system
Method and computer program product for presenting a set of address locations in a browser window of a user device via the Internet are disclosed. The method includes receiving a set of address locations in a given order, presenting the set of address locations as a list of directions, and presenting the set of address locations graphically on a map, where the map includes a route connecting the set of address locations according to the given order and a marker for each of the address locations. The method further includes creating a new order of the set of address locations from the given order by dragging an address location from the map to a different position in the list of directions, updating the list of directions according to the new order of the set of address locations, and updating the map according to the new order of the set of address locations.
US08145413B2 Perimeter monitor
When vehicle group constituent vehicles V1 to V4 form a vehicle group, a logical unit 40a for distributing perimeter monitoring regions among the vehicles controls a monitoring region s of a sensor 23 of each vehicle so that the monitoring region s is changed with comparison to that during independent traveling. As a result, even in a state in which an area surrounding the vehicle group cannot be sufficiently monitored with the monitoring region identical to that during independent traveling, the monitoring capacity of the area surrounding the vehicle group can be increased by changing the monitoring region s of the sensor 23 of each vehicle during traveling as a vehicle group.
US08145411B2 Ignition timing controlling apparatus and ignition timing controlling method for internal combustion engine
An engine ECU executes a program including the steps of: calculating a knock magnitude N by dividing an integrated value lpkknk obtained by integrating the magnitude of vibration in the knock detection gate by BGL; controlling ignition timing according to a result of comparison between knock magnitude N and a determination value VJ; stopping updating of a standard deviation σ when it is determined that determination value VJ to be compared with knock magnitude N is to be changed; updating a median value VM by increasing an update amount of median value VM; and updating BGL according to median value VM and standard deviation σ.
US08145408B2 Procedure for checking the functionality of a metering valve of a NOx-reduction system of a combustion engine
A procedure for checking the functionality of a metering valve (310) of a reducing agent system of a combustion engine, at which the metering device (105) is advanced from a tank (100) to the metering valve (310) with the aid of a controllable pump (12) at a constant pressure, comprising the metering valve (310) is impinged with a control variable that characterizes the causing of a status change of the metering valve (310), a variable is detected that characterized the flow rate of the pump (120), from this variable that characterizes the flow rate the functionality of the metering valve (310) is assumed.
US08145404B2 Method for synchronizing an oil control valve as a virtual check valve
A standard cam phasing OCV may be employed as a virtual check valve to choke the backflow of oil during negative cam torque conditions, including execution of a duty cycle command in an event-based manner. Normally, OCV duty cycle commands are made on a time basis, but for VCV the duty cycle output change must be synchronized with engine events. A method is disclosed for calculating and delivering the VCV duty cycle so that both time-based and event-based controls are maintained and work together. Phase alignment of response time of the OCV solenoid is based upon cam target wheel edges and is event-based. An initial phase rate vs. phase angle is monitored by the Engine Control Module (ECM). Adjustment of the phase angle is provided to achieve maximum cam position phase rate.
US08145402B2 GPS-based traction control system and method using data transmitted between vehicles
System and method for controlling vehicle operating characteristics. The method includes receiving, at a vehicle, global positioning system (GPS) data, and, based on the received GPS data, determining the vehicle's location. The method also receives data from another vehicle. The method then modifies one or more vehicle operating characteristics based on the determined location and on data received from another vehicle, the characteristics including a suspension dampening characteristic, a spring rate characteristic, ABS braking characteristics, stability control system characteristics, a seat shock absorber characteristic, etc.
US08145401B2 Accelerator pedal system
An accelerator pedal system includes a pedal control unit that receives a vehicle speed signal and a signal from a switch, and compares the two signals. If the vehicle speed exceeds a preselected speed, the pedal control unit outputs a control signal to control a reaction force of an accelerator pedal on the basis of the preselected speed and a selected mode. The system also includes a reaction device that receives the control signal and controls the accelerator pedal according to the selected mode. The reaction device includes an actuator for generating power on the basis of the control signal, a power delivery unit for selectively transmitting the power generated by the actuator, and a wheel for receiving the power from the power delivery unit and transmitting the power to the accelerator pedal.
US08145399B2 Method for instructing a collective gear shift request in a gear box and a method for communicating a gear shift instruction to a gear box
Method and arrangement for providing an electronic gear shift selector associated with an automatic mechanical transmission for a heavy vehicle. The gear shift selector includes a toggle switch for asserting at least one gear shift request, a counter receiving the at least one gear shift request, and a time delay for preventing communication of the at least one gear shift request from the counter until a predefined time period has passed. A method for communicating a collective gear shift request to a gear box includes asserting one or more gear shift requests with a gear shift selector, communicating the gear shift requests to a counter, determining the collective gear shift requests occurring within a predefined time period, communicating the gear shift requests occurring within the predefined time period to a gearbox.
US08145396B2 Planter assembly with selectively actuated output
An actuating system for a planting device. The actuating system has an electric motor that provides an actuating force for a seed shaft. A pneumatic acting member is connected to a source of compressed air through a valve and positioned to engage the electric motor to actuate the electric motor. The source of compressed air and electric motor can thus be connected to a controller that operates the source of compressed air and the electric motor in order to provide selective actuation to control planting of the planting device.
US08145395B2 Vehicular stored energy processor
A ground engaging work vehicle including a frame, a plurality of tractive elements, a movable extension, a hydraulic fluid using attachment, a hydraulic fluid pump and an accumulator. The plurality of tractive elements are coupled to the frame. The tractive elements engage the ground. The movable extension is connected to the frame. The hydraulic fluid using attachment is coupled to the movable extension. The hydraulic fluid pump is selectively fluidly coupled to the attachment. The accumulator is selectively fluidly coupled to the attachment dependent upon at least one fluid flow requirement of the attachment.
US08145392B2 System and method for controlling automatic leveling of heavy equipment
A system and method for controlling an automatic leveling of heavy equipment. The system, in which a lower frame having a traveling unit and an upper frame are combined together by a tilting unit, includes a sensor unit, provided in the equipment, for sensing twist angles of the lower frame and the upper frame against a reference horizontal surface and a traveling speed of the equipment. A control unit receives the twist angles and the traveling speed, sets a limit of an operation time for the automatic leveling in a standstill state of the equipment while calculating a corrected angle to which a twist angle of the upper frame is to be corrected, without setting the limit of the operation time for the automatic leveling, in a traveling state of the equipment, and generates a control signal for instructing an operation of a tilting unit in accordance with the corrected angle. A driving unit performs a tilting control through the tilting unit in accordance with the received control signal.
US08145391B2 Automatic blade control system with integrated global navigation satellite system and inertial sensors
Disclosed are method and apparatus for controlling the blade elevation and blade slope angle of a dozer blade. Elevation and slope angle measurements are calculated from measurements received from a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) antenna and an inertial measurement unit mounted on the dozer blade. The inertial measurement unit includes three orthogonally placed accelerometers and three orthogonally placed rate gyros. The measurements are processed by algorithms to calculate estimates of the blade elevation, blade vertical velocity, blade slope angle, and blade slope angular velocity. These estimates are then provided as inputs to a control algorithm which provides control signals to control a dozer hydraulic system which controls the blade elevation and blade slope angle.
US08145389B2 Driving assisting system, method and vehicle incorporating the system
A system for assisting an operator in driving a vehicle. The system calculates risk potential associated with the vehicle. Responsive to an acceleration command issued by the operator via an operator-controlled input device to perform an intended acceleration operation, the system conveys information related to the calculated risk potential by modifying a relationship of an amount of acceleration corresponding to an operation amount of the operator-controlled input device, based on the calculated risk potential.
US08145388B2 Automatic driving position adjustment control system and method
An automatic driving position adjustment system and its method are disclosed in which a manual adjustment to a first adjustable component results in the automatic adjustment of a second adjustable component. When the position or angle of a seat or other first adjustable component is adjusted by the driver, a detector measures the relative change in position or angle of the first adjustable component. A controller computes the required change in position or angle of the second adjustable component by multiplying a prescribed coefficient by the relative change in position or angle of the first adjustable component.
US08145386B2 Activation apparatus for occupant protection system
An activation apparatus for an occupant protection system includes acceleration sensors which are disposed on the respective right and left sides of a vehicle with respect to the center of the vehicle on the vehicle and each of which is provided for detecting the acceleration from the side opposite to the side where the sensor is disposed, and includes a determiner that determines whether or not an occupant protection system is to be activated by comparing the physical quantity computed based on the value detected and outputted by the acceleration sensor with a threshold for activating the occupant protection system.
US08145385B2 Vehicle driving control apparatus and vehicle driving control method
A vehicle driving control apparatus is provided with an obstacle detecting device, a future position estimating device, an obstacle avoidance control device, and a lane change intent detecting device. The obstacle detecting device detects an existence of an obstacle positioned laterally of a host vehicle. The future position estimating device estimates a future position of the host vehicle after a prescribed amount of time. The obstacle avoidance control device executes an obstacle avoidance control. The lane change intent detecting device detects an intent of a driver to effect a lane change and a direction of the intended lane change. Therefore, when it is detected that the driver intends to move to an adjacent lane located on the opposite side of the vehicle as the side containing the obstacle, a control suppressing portion of the obstacle avoidance control device suppresses the obstacle avoidance control.
US08145377B2 Support for preemptive symptoms
A system and method for determining work procedures through correlated symptoms are provided. The system made up of a diagnostic authoring apparatus for constructing and managing a diagnostic database. Information is stored in the diagnostic database that identifies vehicles that have the tendency to display certain symptoms in correlation with particular problems. These problems in the vehicles generally have a common solution for that type of vehicle. The problem may be common enough to check for a symptom preemptively, possibly before the vehicle owner is aware of it, or even prior to the manifestation of the symptom. The problem may warrant action taken to fix or avoid the problem. The system and method may associate and mark a problem with a preemptive symptom so a vehicle service/repair professional may be presented with the proper way to handle the associated problem for a particular vehicle.
US08145375B2 System constraints method of determining minimum and maximum torque limits for an electro-mechanical powertrain system
A powertrain including an electro-mechanical transmission mechanically-operatively coupled to an internal combustion engine and first and second electric machines to transmit power to an output member is disclosed. A method for controlling the electro-mechanical transmission includes determining minimum and maximum motor torque constraints for the first and second electric machines, and determining available battery power in terms of battery power constraints. One of a first, a second and a third case is determined based upon the motor torque constraints and the battery power constraints. A preferred output torque is determined for transmitting to the output member of the electro-mechanical transmission.
US08145372B2 Watercraft speed control device
An automatic speed control system that provides desired watercraft velocity over land. The coupled algorithms correct engine speed and torque using inertia based measurements, GPS, and tachometer measurements, and the corrections are augmented and enhanced by velocity/speed and torque/speed relationships that are dynamically and adaptively programmed with real-time data collected during replicated operations of the watercraft in specified conditions.
US08145368B2 Method and system for merge control in an automated vehicle system
A method of controlling merging of a plurality of streams of vehicles in an automated vehicle system. The method comprises: Defining a merge control zone associated with a merge point, the merge control zone defining at least respective sections of the upstream tracks leading to the merge point; detecting a vehicle entering the merge control zone on a first one of the upstream tracks; allocating a passage time to the vehicle, the passage time being indicative of a time at which the vehicle is scheduled to pass the merge point; wherein allocating the passage time is based on a merge priority assigned to the vehicle according to a predetermined set of merge priority rules; controlling a speed of the vehicle responsive to the allocated passage time.
US08145367B2 Closed airport surface alerting system
A system and a method alerts the occupant of an aircraft that the aircraft is in, or approaching, a zone of awareness associated with a closed surface at the airport.
US08145363B2 Systems and methods for controlling load dynamics in a pumped refrigerant cooling system
A pumped refrigerant cooling system for use in a row of equipment racks is configured to contain electronic equipment. The system includes a communication network and a refrigerant distribution unit in fluid communication with a chilled refrigerant supply and a heated refrigerant return. A cooling module is in fluid communication with the refrigerant distribution unit by a supply line and a return line. The cooling module is coupled to the communication network, and includes an evaporator and a fan configured to direct air over the evaporator. A sensor package is configured to monitor temperature and pressure reference points provided in the pumped refrigerant cooling system and the equipment racks. The system further includes a controller forming part of the cooling module and coupled to the communication network and the sensor package. The controller, based on information obtained from the sensor package, is configured to manipulate the flow of refrigerant through the evaporator by controlling the delivery of refrigerant to the evaporator and is configured to manipulate the flow of air over the evaporator by controlling the speed of the fan.
US08145362B2 Utility grid power averaging and conditioning
As system is disclosed for providing power averaging for the utility grids and more specifically to utilizing a unique EESU unit with the capability to store electrical energy over 24 hour periods each day and provide power averaging to homes, commercial, and industrial sites to reduce the peak power requirements. Charging such power averaging units during the non-peak times and delivering the energy during the peak-demands times provides for more efficient utilization of utility-grid power-generating plants and the already existing power transmission lines. Such a unit may also have the capability of isolating the users from utility-grid power failures, transients, and AC noise.
US08145358B2 Method and system for detecting abnormal operation of a level regulatory control loop
A system facilitates detecting an abnormal operation associated with a level regulatory control loop in a process plant. A model for modeling at least a portion of the level regulatory control loop may be utilized with respect to first and second signals associated with regulatory control of a level of material in a tank. The model may include a first regression model in a first range corresponding to a first operating region of the level regulatory control loop. The model may be capable of being subsequently configured to include at least a second regression model in at least a second respective range corresponding to at least a second respective operating region different than the first operating region. The model may generate a prediction of the second signal as a function of first signal. It may be determined whether the second signal significantly deviates from the prediction of the second signal generated by the model. If there is a significant deviation, this may indicate an abnormal operation associated with the level regulatory control loop.
US08145357B2 Residential environmental management control system with automatic adjustment
Automatic adjustment of the control and operation of residential environmental management systems is made based upon a time of year, a geographic location, or both. A controller receives input of the time of year or the geographic location of the residential environmental management system, or both. The controller then automatically adjusts one or more functions of the residential environmental management system based upon operational information associated with the time of year and/or geographic location. A user interface connected with the controller may be also used to select a mode of operation, input time or geographic location information, and/or adjust various parameters affecting the automatic seasonal or geographic adjustment of the residential environmental management system.
US08145354B2 Systems and methods for controlling a legged robot using a two-phase disturbance response strategy
Systems and methods are presented that enable a legged robot to maintain its balance when subjected to an unexpected force. In the reflex phase, the robot withstands the immediate effect of the force by yielding to it. In one embodiment, during the reflex phase, the control system determines an instruction that will cause the robot to perform a movement that generates a negative rate of change of the robot's angular momentum at its centroid in a magnitude large enough to compensate for the destabilizing effect of the force. In the recovery phase, the robot recovers its posture after having moved during the reflex phase. In one embodiment, the robot returns to a statically stable upright posture that maximizes the robot's potential energy. In one embodiment, during the recovery phase, the control system determines an instruction that will cause the robot to perform a movement that increases its potential energy.
US08145352B2 Showing management system to automatically match and control electronic lockboxes
A showing management system for programmatically matching a specific electronic lockbox with a specific Listing ID, whereby lockbox access data from an electronic lockbox are matched with showing appointment records maintained in the showing management system to complete the lockbox access records when the Listing ID for a particular showing appointment is missing from the lockbox access record. The disclosed methods and algorithms are also applied to programmatically verify a manual assignment of a lockbox, to a real property, utilizing a showing management system.
US08145350B2 Method and system for building a load
A palletizer for automatically building a load with product from an infeed area is disclosed. It includes means for defining a desired volume of a load including a length sensor, a width sensor, and a height sensor. It also includes means for transporting product from an infeed area to the load. A controller is associated with means for defining the desired volume, the controller being configured to receive signals from the sensors and to automatically control movement of the means for transporting. The controller is configured to automatically determine when the volume is filled. In another aspect, a method of building a load with product from an infeed area is provided. The method includes defining a desired volume of the load using a length sensor, a width sensor, and a height sensor. It also includes automatically filling the volume with product, and determining when the volume is filled.
US08145346B2 Method for monitoring a physical state of a hot-rolled sheet while controlling a rolling train for reverse rolling the hot-rolled sheet
A method of monitoring the physical state of a hot-rolled sheet or hot-rolled strip while controlling a plate rolling train for the reversing working a hot-rolled sheet or hot-rolled strip. For the reversing rolling of the hot-rolled sheet or hot-rolled strip a rolling stand is provided. At a starting point, an initial state of the hot-rolled sheet or hot-rolled strip in a model is determined, from which state at least one physical state variable is derived. Further, a cyclical updating of the state during the working of the hot-rolled sheet by using the model of the hot-rolled sheet or hot-rolled strip and the plate rolling train is provided, wherein monitoring of the path of the hot-rolled sheet or hot-rolled strip and operating parameters influencing and/or reproducing the state are taken into account.
US08145344B2 Systems and methods for controlling phasing of advancing substrates in absorbent article converting lines
The present disclosure relates to systems and processes for controlling the relative positions or phasing of advancing substrates and/or components in absorbent article converting lines. The systems and methods may utilize feedback from technologies, such as vision systems, sensors, remote input and output stations, and controllers with synchronized embedded clocks to accurately correlate component placement detections and placement control on an absorbent article converting process. The systems and methods may accurately apply the use of precision clock synchronization for both instrumentation and control system devices on a non-deterministic communications network. In turn, the clock synchronized control and instrumentation network may be used to control the substrate position. As such, the controller may be programmed to the relative positions of substrates and components along the converting line without having to account for undeterminable delays.
US08145342B2 Methods and systems for adjusting operation of a wafer grinder using feedback from warp data
Processing a wafer using a double side grinder having a pair of grinding wheels. Warp data is obtained by a warp measurement device for measuring warp of a wafer as ground by the double side grinder. The warp data is received and a nanotopography of the wafer is predicted based on the received warp data. A grinding parameter is determined based on the predicted nanotopography of the wafer. Operation of the double side grinder is adjusted based on the determined grinding parameter.
US08145341B2 Product based configuration and control of manufacturing equipment
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for product based configuration and control of manufacturing equipment. The present invention provides a method for manufacturing. The method includes identifying components to be mounted on a printed circuit board of a product and generating information that specifies the components. The method includes determining, for each of the identified components, the location on the printed circuit board where the component is to be mounted and generating coordinates that indicate the location. The coordinates are of a coordinate system having a frame of reference that is independent from any master printed circuit board. The method includes associating the generated information with the product.
US08145340B2 Method and system for designing and producing dental prostheses and appliances
A virtual model of an intraoral cavity is provided, wherein this process is initialized by a dental clinic, and the design and manufacture of a suitable dental prosthesis for the intraoral cavity is shared between a dental lab and a service center.
US08145338B2 Systems and methods for detecting and rejecting defective absorbent articles from a converting line
The present disclosure relates to systems and processes for detecting and rejecting defective absorbent articles from a converting line. In particular, the systems and methods may utilize feedback from technologies, such as vision systems, sensors, remote input and output stations, and controllers with synchronized embedded clocks to accurately correlate inspection results and measurements from an absorbent article converting process. As such, the systems and methods may accurately apply the use of precision clock synchronization for both instrumentation and control system devices on a non-deterministic communications network. In turn, the clock synchronized control and instrumentation network may be used to control a reject system on converters of absorbent articles. In some embodiments, the controller will reject only defective absorbent articles without the need to reject non-defective absorbent articles.
US08145334B2 Methods and systems for active diagnosis through logic-based planning
A control systems and methods are presented for controlling a production system, in which a model-based planner includes a formulation, such as a SAT formulation representing possible actions in the production, with a solver being used to provide a solution to the formulation based at least partially on production and diagnostic goals and the current plant condition, and a translation component translates the solution into a plan for execution in the plant.
US08145329B2 Method and system for combining feedback and feedforward in model predictive control
A method and system for combining a feedback control and a feedforward control in a linear MPC to minimize effect of model uncertainty. An externally computed feedforward signal, which is more accurate and reliable, can be utilized in association with the MPC, A steady state relation between system parameters can be determined in order to compute the feedforward signal for a set of actuators associated with a non-linear system. A feedback MPC controller can then be designed. A state observer can be configured as an unknown input observer to estimate the effect of the feedforward signal. A strategy for manipulating the constraints of the MPC feedback signal can be implemented. A resulting control action for the actuators can be provided as a sum of corresponding feedback and feedforward signal while ensuring the constraints satisfaction.
US08145325B2 Mouth cleaning device
A mouth cleaning device includes a head portion provided with bristles and an electrode; and a grip portion provided with an electrode. Further, the mouth cleaning device includes a boosting circuit for boosting an output voltage of a battery serving as a power source and applying the boosted voltage to the electrodes of the head portion and the grip portion; and a current limit circuit for limiting a current flowing from one electrode to the other via a human body.
US08145319B1 Methods and devices for treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head with core decompression
Methods and devices for treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head with core decompression include a dowel adapted for placement into a core decompression channel of a femoral head. A cathode at the distal end of the dowel provides electrical stimulation of bone growth in the femoral head. A method of treating osteonecrosis of the femoral head involves placing a dowel having a cathode thereon into a core decompression channel of a femoral head in a state of osteonecrosis. Electrical current is supplied to the cathode for electrical stimulation of bone growth in the femoral head.
US08145316B2 Methods and apparatus for renal neuromodulation
Methods and apparatus are provided for renal neuromodulation using a pulsed electric field to effectuate electroporation or electrofusion. It is expected that renal neuromodulation (e.g., denervation) may, among other things, reduce expansion of an acute myocardial infarction, reduce or prevent the onset of morphological changes that are affiliated with congestive heart failure, and/or be efficacious in the treatment of end stage renal disease. Embodiments of the present invention are configured for extravascular delivery of pulsed electric fields to achieve such neuromodulation.
US08145314B2 Self-sealing septum assembly
Exemplary septum assemblies include first and second housing components each defined by at least an inner surface, at least one sealing strip disposed at least partially on at least one of the inner surfaces of the housing components, and a compression member at least partially surrounding the housing components.
US08145308B2 Method and apparatus for determining a parameter associated with delivery of therapy in a medical device
A medical device and method for determining a parameter for delivery of a predetermined pacing therapy that includes a plurality of electrodes to deliver a pacing therapy, including the predetermined pacing therapy, and a control unit to control the timing of the delivery of the pacing therapy, including the predetermined pacing therapy, by the electrodes. A processor generates a first template in response to the pacing therapy being delivered to only one of a right ventricle and a left ventricle, and a second template in response to the pacing therapy being delivered to only the other of the right ventricle and the left ventricle, and determines the parameter in response to a comparing of subsequently delivered pacing therapy to the first template and the second template.
US08145307B2 Method and apparatus for enhancing treatable arrhythmia detection specificity by using accumulated patient activity
A method and apparatus for detecting a cardiac event in a medical device determine an activity level count from an activity sensor signal for each of a number of time segments, store an activity level count for each of the time segments in a histogram, and accumulate the stored activity level counts to determine a percentage of time segments having an activity level count above a given activity level count.
US08145305B2 Subcutaneous defibrillator implantation without fluoroscopy
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.
US08145303B2 Methods and apparatus for treating fibrillation and creating defibrillation waveforms
Methods and apparatus for treating fibrillation utilize biphasic waveforms. A cardiac stimulator includes a defibrillation circuit that uses a pulse width modulated capacitive discharge to generate various biphasic waveforms, one or more of which may be delivered to the heart to treat the fibrillation.
US08145296B2 Adaptive windowing for cardiac waveform discrimination
Cardiac devices and methods provide adaptation of detection windows used to determine a cardiac response to pacing. Adapting a detection window involves sensing a cardiac signal indicative of a particular type of cardiac pacing response, and detecting a feature of the sensed cardiac signal. The cardiac response detection window associated with the type of cardiac pacing response is preferentially adjusted based on the location of the detected cardiac feature. Preferential adjustment of the detection window may involve determining a direction of change between the detection window and the detected feature. The detection window may be adapted more aggressively in a more preferred direction and less aggressively in a less preferred direction.
US08145292B2 Method and system for producing interactive, three-dimensional renderings of selected body organs having hollow lumens to enable simulated movement through the lumen
A method and system are provided for effecting interactive, three-dimensional renderings of selected body organs for purposes of medical observation and diagnosis. A series of CT images of the selected body organs are acquired. The series of CT images is stacked to form a three-dimensional volume file. To facilitate interactive three-dimensional rendering, the three-dimensional volume file may be subjected to an optional dataset reduction procedure to reduce pixel resolution and/or to divide the three-dimensional volume file into selected subvolumes. From a selected volume or subvolume, the image of a selected body organ is segmented or isolated. A wireframe model of the segmented organ image is then generated to enable interactive, three-dimensional rendering of the selected organ.
US08145291B2 Extended optical range reflective system for monitoring motion of a member
A garment and system includes a monitoring fabric that exhibits a light reflection property and substantially no light transmission property when the fabric is illuminated with light having wavelength(s) in the range of 400 to 2200 nanometers. The amount of useful light reflected by the fabric into an aperture of acceptance defined with respect to an imaginary axis extending from the fabric relative to the amount of light lost to the aperture of acceptance detectably changes when the fabric stretches in response to motion, as the motion induced by physiological activity (e.g., heart rate). The system includes at least one radiation source and at least one radiation detector, with the detector disposed in the aperture of acceptance. The source and detector may be attached to the fabric in relative positions such that the reception of incident radiation by the detector is directly affected by a change in the amount of useful light reflected by the fabric into the aperture of acceptance as the fabric stretches in response to motion.
US08145287B2 Manual and automatic probe calibration
Embodiments of the present disclosure include an optical probe capable of communicating identification information to a patient monitor in addition to signals indicative of intensities of light after attenuation by body tissue. The identification information may indicate operating wavelengths of light sources, indicate a type of probe, such as, for example, that the probe is an adult probe, a pediatric probe, a neonatal probe, a disposable probe, a reusable probe, or the like. The information could also be utilized for security purposes, such as, for example, to ensure that the probe is configured properly for the oximeter, to indicate that the probe is from an authorized supplier, or the like. In one preferred embodiment, coding resistors could be provided across the light sources to allow additional information about the probe to be coded without added leads. However, any device could be used without it being used in parallel.
US08145286B2 Noninvasive measuring device for substance in blood via nail and a nail evaporation device
A device and method for optically measuring a substance in blood using the nail as an optical window are provided. A device for optically measuring a test substance in blood by using the nail as an optical window and correcting or eliminating fluctuation of a measurement value based on optical characteristics of the nail plate, comprising irradiation means applying light within a wavelength range for measuring absorption by the test substance to the nail of a subject, detection means detecting light diffused/reflected from or transmitted through the body of the subject, and processing means processing a signal obtained by the detection means to convert the signal into a concentration of the test substance.
US08145284B2 Portable terminal including first casing and second casing retractably accommodated in first casing
A portable terminal includes a first casing having a first wiring board, a first operation portion, and an accommodating portion opened in its peripheral surface, and a second casing configured to be accommodated in the accommodating portion through the opening and having a second wiring board and a second operation portion. A casing movement guiding/supporting mechanism is interposed between one side portion of the first casing and that of the second casing in one direction intersecting a moving locus of the second casing between a retracted position and an extended position in relation to the accommodating portion, and supports the second casing to be movable linearly between the retracted and extended positions. The second casing is selectively locked at the retracted position by a locking mechanism. A battery for supplying electricity to the wiring boards is accommodated in an accommodating chamber in at least one of the casings.
US08145283B2 Wireless earphone and portable electronic device using the same
A wireless earphone includes a body, a microphone and an earphone. The body includes a microphone end and an opposite earphone end. The microphone is disposed at the microphone end of the body. The earphone is retractably disposed at the earphone end of the body. The invention also includes a portable electronic device using the wireless earphone.
US08145281B2 Portable electronic device with detachable keypad module
A portable electronic device includes a first housing, a keypad module, and a decorative bar assembled in the first housing and resisting the keypad module. The first housing includes a first sidewall having a protruding portion; and a second sidewall opposite to the first sidewall, and defining a receiving slot. The keypad module includes a first end defining at least one sliding slot, and a second end opposite to the first end, and having a rib positioned thereon. The protruding portion is slidably latched in the sliding slot, the rib is slidably assembled in the receiving slot.
US08145280B2 Portable electronic device
A portable electronic device includes a cover, a main body rotatably connecting to the cover, and a bracket received in the cover. The bracket includes a holding member and a connecting member extending from the holding member. The holding member is used for holding the lens. The connecting member includes a buffer mounted between a joint section of the cover and the main body. The buffer can slow down the abrasion between the cover and the main body.
US08145277B2 System and method for a wireless ringer function
A system and method for extending alerts for a wireless device. A media player equipped with a wireless ringer is linked with a media player through a wireless connection. Playback of media content on the media player is interrupted to play an alert in response to the wireless ringer receiving an indication of an incoming communication from the wireless device. The alert is played on the media player in response to interrupting playback of the media content in order to inform a user of the incoming communication.
US08145269B2 Mobile terminal and method for displaying menu on the same
A mobile terminal configured to couple with a user-removable interface module includes a connector configured to couple or otherwise contact the removable interface module, a controller configured to determine whether a coupling exists between the mobile terminal and the removable interface module, and a touchscreen display configured to display the first group of icons responsive to the determining that the coupling does not exist and display the second group of icons responsive to the determining that the coupling exists, wherein each of the first group of icons relates to a function that is associated with the mobile terminal and which are each controllable responsive to user input to the touchscreen display, and wherein each of the second group of icons relates to a function of the mobile terminal that is associated with the removable interface module and which are each controllable responsive to user input to the touchscreen display.
US08145260B2 Terminal device and method related thereto
A terminal device includes a call control unit configured to process a phone call with a recipient, an application control unit configured to control execution of an application program, a determination unit configured, when the application control unit issues an instruction to start the application program during a call processing by the call control unit, to determine whether the speech communication quality will be degraded, and a transmitting unit configured, when determined that the speech communication quality will be degraded, to transmit an alert message for warning of the degradation of speech communication quality to the recipient.
US08145258B2 Radio communication apparatus
A radio communication apparatus includes housings that are connected via a hinge unit in an openable/closeable manner, and circuit boards in the housings. The circuit boards are connected via circuit connecting lines functioning as an inductor. One end of the hinge unit is connected to an end portion of the housing and the other end thereof is connected to a portion located farther inside than an end portion of the housing. When the housings are unfolded, a region extending from the portion to the end portion of the housing overlaps a region near the end portion of the housing in a projection domain. A high dielectric member is provided in this overlapped region, and a capacitor is constituted by the high dielectric member and ground areas.
US08145256B2 System, method and mobile unit to sense objects or text and retrieve related information
A system, method and mobile unit to sense objects and/or text and retrieve related images, text or translations. The system may allow users to instantly access information about an object or text with a mobile device, such as a mobile phone, pager, personal digital assistant (PDA) or lap top computer.
US08145255B2 Location storage device, wireless terminal, location storage system, location registration method, location update method and program
It is characterized by including a storage section (214) in which location information of a base station (30) that performs wireless communication with a wireless terminal (40) and base station identification information uniquely assigned to each base station are registered in association with each other, a receiving section for receiving signal strength information in which a signal strength of a signal received by the wireless terminal from each base station or information obtained from the signal strength and the base station identification information of the base station that transmitted the signal are associated with each other, a registration judging section (222) judging, by referring to the base station identification information registered in the storage section, whether or not the base station identification information included in the signal strength information received by the receiving section is registered in the storage section in association with the location information, and a registering section (226) for registering in the storage section in association with each other the base station identification information judged by the registration judging section as not registered in the storage section and predetermined location information dependent on the location of the wireless terminal.
US08145253B2 Method and apparatus for performing WTRU state transitions
A method and apparatus for performing state transition of a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) which supports enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) in the CELL_FACH state is disclosed. Uplink data is transmitted via an E-DCH while operating in a CELL_FACH state. A radio resource control (RRC) signal, which includes a reconfiguration message, is received while the WTRU is assigned an E-DCH resource. A reconfiguration of the physical channels is performed according to the RRC reconfiguration message. A transition to a CELL_DCH state is performed and uplink data is transmitted in the CELL_DCH state via the E-DCH. In-synch and out-of-synch parameters are reported.
US08145251B2 Power control in schedulable wireless communication terminal
A wireless communication entity schedulable in a wireless communication network, including a controller (603) communicably coupled to a power amplifier (608), wherein the controller varies a maximum transmit power of the wireless communication entity based on the radio resource assignment information receiver by the radio receiver.
US08145243B2 Techniques for location management and paging in a communication system
Systems and techniques to manage location management and paging operations for idle mode mobile stations are described. An apparatus may comprise a first foreign agent having a foreign agent idle mode manager to store idle mode information for an idle mobile station in a first paging area of a wireless network. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08145242B2 Determining geographic zone
Included are embodiments for determining data for at least one geographic zone. At least one embodiment of a method includes determining at least one geographic zone for monitoring and receiving data related to at least one contact of a user entering the at least one geographic zone. Some embodiments include providing an indication, to the user, that the at least one contact of the user is currently located in the determined geographic zone.
US08145234B1 Secure user plane location (SUPL) roaming
A geographic cell identification (cell ID) database is updated on the fly as, for example, roaming user equipment (UE) reports its location during Assisted Global Positioning System (A-GPS) operations. The cell ID database relates network locations to corresponding geographic locations. The cell ID database is used to retrieve a corresponding geographic location in response to the network location at which the UE reports being located. If it is found that the cell ID database does not contain the network location reported by the UE, the geographic location of the UE can be estimated using information in the reported network location, such as Mobile Network Code, Mobile Country Code, Local Area Code and Cell ID. The geographic location can then be used to obtain A-GPS assistance data for the UE. Once assistance information has been provided to the UE and the UE has determined its geographic location, the cell ID database can be updated with the determined geographic location.
US08145233B2 Methods of power overload control in communication systems
Methods of providing power overload control in a communication system having a least one base station serving one or more users of at least one cell are described which may avoid an overload condition in the system. In one aspect, a target signal-to-interference ratio (SIRtarget) may be controlled for inner loop power control implemented by the base station, so as to maintain the loading of the communication system below an overload condition. In another aspect, a target block error rate (BLERtarget) may be controlled for outer loop power control implemented by the base station, so as to maintain the loading of communication system below an overload condition.
US08145232B2 Mobile communication system for matching resource amount of core network bearer and resource amount of visited network bearer
A visited policy controlling device decides the amount of a visited network bearer resource that is provided by a visited user plane device for an end-to-end service based on the amount of a bearer service resource requested to be used in the end-to-end service. A home policy controlling device decides the amount of a core network bearer resource that a home gateway device provides for the end-to-end service based on the amount of the bearer service resource requested to be used in the end-to-end service. Further, a home policy controlling device performs processing to match the amount of the core network bearer resource decided by itself and the amount of the visited network bearer resource decided by visited policy controlling device, if they do not match.
US08145230B2 Context-image distributed spectrum allocation scheme for cognitive radios
A method (300) and cognitive radio (CR) wireless device (102) are provided for dynamically accessing spectrum in an opportunistic spectrum access wireless communication system (100). The method includes: transmitting, from a CR wireless device, a signal (216) having a first bandwidth within an unoccupied portion of spectrum (206), and after a time interval (T3) following the transmitting, and upon determining that an adjacent spectral quantum is occupied, transmitting from the CR wireless device a signal (216) having a second bandwidth, the second bandwidth being less than the first bandwidth. The method doubles a rate of growth of bandwidth of a transmitted signal when a spectral quantum adjacent to one side of the signal is unoccupied and a spectral quantum adjacent to the other side of the signal is occupied. The method utilizes knowledge of location of the CR wireless device and of band-edges to intelligently use spectral fence quanta.
US08145229B1 System and method for improving sector throughput in a broadband data-optimized multi-carrier environment
A multi-carrier base transceiver system is configured to improve sector throughout by selectively allocating available carriers to subscribers based on Quality of Service (QoS) requirements, as well as the prevailing radio frequency (RF) environment for the subject subscriber. In one embodiment, the base transceiver may provide three separate carriers, each represented as a forward link channel in which individual time slots are separately allocated according to a scheduling protocol. Once the QoS requirements and prevailing RF conditions are determined, a number of the available carriers are allocated such that the desired throughput is achieved using a fewest number of carriers.
US08145227B2 Method of determining an access mode of cell in a wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system and UE providing wireless communication services, and a method of determining the operation mode of a base station, that is, the connection mode (access mode) of a cell, based on which UE's connection is allowed by a base station in an evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) that has evolved from a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) or a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, and it may be an object of the present invention to provide a process of determining the connection mode of a cell by checking the existence of a subscriber group identity if it is determined that the connection mode of a cell is not allowed for one or more UEs belonging to a particular subscriber group.
US08145225B2 Vehicle originated cellular communication to a call center
A system and method for making vehicle originated calls to a telematics service provider or other call center. The method includes identifying a call type associated with a desired wireless communication of speech or data to the call center, and then carrying out one of a number of different call connection processes depending on the call type. For voice channel cellular connections, an in-band modem cellular connection is preferably established in most instances using a connection retry strategy that includes primary, secondary, and possibly tertiary connection attempts. The system and method can be carried out in connection with various cellular system technologies, but is especially suited for use with GSM systems.
US08145215B2 Scanning for a wireless device
A system and method are disclosed to achieve improvements in scanning that can be implemented by a wireless device. A method to control scanning performed by a mobile unit includes detecting the presence or absence of audio for transmission from the mobile unit. A performance of a scan can be deferred depending on the detection of the presence or absence of audio.
US08145208B2 Air-to-ground cellular communication network terrestrial base station having multi-dimensional sectors with alternating radio frequency polarizations
The Multi-Link Aircraft Cellular System makes use of multiple physically separated antennas mounted on the aircraft, as well as the use of additional optional signal isolation and optimization techniques to improve the call handling capacity of the Air-To-Ground cellular communications network. These additional techniques can include polarization domain and ground antenna pattern shaping (in azimuth, in elevation, or in both planes). Further, if code domain separation is added, dramatic increases in capacity are realized. Thus, the Air-To-Ground cellular communications network can increase its capacity on a per aircraft basis by sharing its traffic load among more than one cell or sector and by making use of multiple physically separated antennas mounted on the aircraft, as well as the use of additional optional signal isolation and optimization techniques.
US08145206B2 Wireless telecommunications systems
A method for controlling uplink transmissions from a user device to an access point in a wireless telecommunications system is described. Each access point defines a communications cell, and the method comprises monitoring interference in an uplink channel at an access point, performing interference control actions at the access point when monitored interference exceeds a first predetermined level, monitoring occurrences of such control actions at the access point, and if a number of such occurrences exceeds a predetermined level, performing interference control actions with reference to a plurality of cells at a central controller of the telecommunications system, which central controller is operable to control a plurality of access points.
US08145204B2 Communication terminal out of range determination method, wireless communication system switching method and communication terminal
There is provided a communication terminal out of range determination method, a wireless communication system switching method and a communication terminal, capable of determining accurately whether or not a communication terminal is out of range. Determining whether or not the communication terminal is out of range is based on a transmission level of a transmission signal from the communication terminal to a base station.
US08145202B2 Information inquiry to provide cell phone parental control
A method for allowing remote control of the usage of a networked wireless device including incoming communications, outgoing communications, and application launching. Controlling entities, such as parent cellular telephones or web sites, are provided with the ability to select a list of approved anytime incoming communications, or approved incoming and outgoing communications based on time and day. Incoming communications include text messaging and telephone calls. Further, the controlling entity is provided with the ability to reroute to the controlling entity any usage of the wireless device such as incoming communications, outgoing communications, and application launching. Access to usage logs of the wireless device is provided to the controlling entity.
US08145200B2 Method and apparatus for configuring unique profile settings for multiple services
An apparatus and method are provided for configuring unique profile settings for multiple services associated with an application in an electronic device. A profile system is provided having multiple programmable profile settings and a default profile setting for the application. Service records are received at the electronic device for each of the multiple services. The multiple services register with the profile system using a unique ID for each of the service records and include data for identifying the default profile setting for the application. Initially, the default profile setting is assigned to each of the multiple services. Subsequently, the multiple programmable profile settings are assigned to respective ones of the multiple services.
US08145199B2 Controlling mobile device functions
This provides for controlling mobile device functions and features, along with systems incorporating these devices and methods. For example, it limits or disables the use of some of mobile device features which could cause distraction to the user, when the user is engaged in another activity. In an example, it enables other mobile device features based on occurrence of events related to the user or environment. Another example addresses controlling the mobile device features, such as SMS, while the user is in a vehicle or driving. Another example restricts the ability of the driver of a vehicle to text, while the vehicle is in motion, by automatically disabling the texting ability of mobile device within and around the perimeter of the driver's seat. Other variations, examples, improvements, detection mechanisms, models, techniques, calculations, verification mechanisms, and features are also described in details.
US08145198B2 Method of initializing an electronic radio communication module, method of compressing and decompressing calibration parameters, corresponding computer programme product and storage means
The invention relates to a method of initializing an electronic radio communication module making it possible to execute a radio communication program, stored in a first non-volatile memory, the initialization being based on values of calibration parameters. According to the invention, the method comprises the following steps, performed by the module when it executes the program: reading (E11) of at least one compressed calibration parameter in a second non-volatile memory; decompressing (E12) each compressed calibration parameter read, so as to obtain a decompressed calibration parameter; and initializing (E14) the module, based on the values of the decompressed calibration parameters.
US08145192B2 Mobile terminal apparatus and method for controlling alert operation thereof
There are provided a portable terminal device capable of preventing influence on the surroundings and leakage of personal information without impairing convenience and its incoming call notifying operation controlling method. A portable terminal device (1) executes radio authentication between itself and a radio communicating unit (3). The portable terminal device (1) includes a radio communicating unit for conducting communication with a base station device; an incoming call notifying unit for executing an incoming call notification when an incoming call is detected by the radio communicating unit; an incoming call operation controlling unit for controlling the operation of the incoming call notifying unit; and a radio authenticating unit for conducting radio communication with the radio communicating unit (3) and authentication according to whether or not the distance to the radio communicating unit is within a predetermined distance. The incoming call operation controlling unit controls the operation of the incoming call notifying unit by an incoming call notifying method according to the distance to the radio communicating unit (3).
US08145190B2 System and method for billing IP-based wireless telecommunications in a converged network
A system and method for collaborating with a billing system is provided for use in a converged telecommunication network that includes a cellular telephone network and an IP-based network. During an IP-based call registration process, a mobile device communicates with a network controller over the IP-based network. The network controller accesses a database with the information provided by the mobile device and subsequently overloads values for an existing field in a call detail record (CDR). Upon completion of the call over the IP-based network, the network controller communicates the overloaded version of the CDR to an MSC which generates the final CDR that is used for billing. Any appropriate field of the CDR can be selected for overloading, such as for example an existing CGI record field from the CDR.
US08145184B2 Protected data capture
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving disposition data from a subscriber. The disposition data indicates a first particular condition predicate for performing a particular action on data associated with the subscriber and archived by a service provider. After receiving the disposition data, first data associated with the subscriber is received by the service provider in near-real time. If it is determined that the particular condition is not satisfied, then the service provider performs a different second particular action.
US08145183B2 On-demand emergency notification system using GPS-equipped devices
Provided is an emergency locator system adapted for GPS-enabled wireless devices. Global Positioning System (GPS) technology is and Location Based Services (LBS) are used to determine the exact location of a user and communicate information relating to the emergency status of that location. The user initiates the locator application via a wireless device and their physical location information is automatically transferred to a server. The server then compares the user's location with Geographic Information System (GIS) maps to identify the emergency status associated with their location. Once the server has calculated the current emergency status, the information is automatically returned to the user, along with emergency instructions.
US08145182B2 Supporting emergency calls on a wireless local area network
A device for identifying an emergency call in a wireless local area network includes an indicator to identify a call as an emergency call. The indicator can be a bit flag or an information element. The information element can include location information regarding the location of the station that placed the emergency call. This information can be used to located the caller. The location information can be transmitted from the station to an access point separately from an emergency call.
US08145178B2 Wireless terminal baseband processor high speed turbo decoding module
A baseband processing module for use within a Radio Frequency (RF) transceiver includes a downlink/uplink interface, TX processing components, a processor, memory, RX processing components, and a turbo decoding module. The RX processing components receive a baseband RX signal from the RF front end, produce a set of IR samples from the baseband RX signal, and transfer the set of IR samples to the memory. The turbo decoding module receives a set of IR samples from the memory, forms a turbo code word from the set of IR samples, turbo decodes the turbo code word to produce inbound data, and outputs the inbound data to the downlink/uplink interface. The turbo decoding module performs metric normalization based upon a chosen metric, performs de-rate matching on the set of IR samples, performs error detection operations, and extracts information from a MAC packet that it produces.
US08145175B2 Sampling filter apparatus
The sampling filter apparatus 100 includes the first sampling switch 130, the second sampling switch 131, the first integrator 1500 for integrating the charge input from the first sampling switch, the second integrator 1501 for integrating the charge input from the second sampling switch, a plurality of integrators connected to both of the first integrator and the second integrator via a charging switch, respectively, the control section 140, a plurality of charging switches, and a plurality of discharge switches. A charge input from the sampling switch 130, a charge accumulated in the capacitor 1500 and a charge accumulated in a capacitor 1510 are shared by the capacitor 1500, the capacitor 1510 and the capacitor 1530, and the charge accumulated in the capacitor 1530 is output.
US08145172B2 Low-cost receiver using tracking filter
A receiver (400) includes a tracking bandpass filter (420) and a signal processing circuit (430-480). The tracking bandpass filter (420) has a first input for receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal, and an output, and includes a first portion (731) on a semiconductor die (730), and at least one inductor (721). The at least one inductor (721) is operatively coupled to the first portion of the tracking bandpass filter (420). The signal processing circuit (430-480) has an input coupled to the output of the tracking bandpass filter (420), and an output for providing a processed signal. The semiconductor die (730) and the at least one inductor (721) are integrated into a single multi-chip module (MCM) (710).
US08145170B2 Low-cost receiver using tracking bandpass filter and lowpass filter
A receiver (400) includes a tracking bandpass filter (420), a tunable lowpass filter (434), a local oscillator (442), and a mixer (444). The tracking bandpass filter (420) has an input for receiving a radio frequency (RF) input signal, and an output. The tunable lowpass filter (434) has an input coupled to the output of the tracking bandpass filter (420), and an output. The local oscillator (422) has a first output for providing a local oscillator signal, which is characterized as being a square wave signal at the desired intermediate frequency (IF). The mixer (444) has a first input coupled to the output of the tunable lowpass filter (434), a second input coupled to the output of the local oscillator (442), and a first output for providing an IF signal at the desired IF. The tunable lowpass filter (434) is configured to substantially attenuate a third harmonic of the frequency of the local oscillator signal.
US08145166B2 Enhanced programmable automatic level control
An enhanced programmable automatic level control loop comprising an input for receiving an input RF signal; a level modulator, wherein the level modulator receives the input RF signal and a control signal and wherein the level modulator produces a first signal; a mixer that receives the first signal and mixes it with an LO signal to produce a second signal; a programmable attenuator that receives the second signal and produces an output signal; a level detector that monitors RF power of the output signal and produces a DC voltage proportional to the RF power; and wherein the DC voltage is received at a loop amplifier which produces the control signal.
US08145161B2 Receive configuration adaptation for wireless transceivers
An integrated circuit radio transceiver and method therefor is operable to determine an antenna configuration for receive operations. More specifically, the system is operable to determine a receive antenna configuration in a network that includes a number of spatial streams, antenna configuration information, code rate, quadrature modulation type, and transmission protocol modulation scheme, etc. Generally, a selected antenna configuration for transmissions to a remote transceiver is used as an initial antenna configuration for receive operations.
US08145160B2 Tx module for wireless communication
A Tx module includes a plurality of power amplification units, a plurality of matching circuit units configured as transformers having input ports connected to output ports of the plurality of power amplification units, respectively, and a plurality of harmonic filter units having input ports connected to output ports of the plurality of matching circuit units, respectively. At least one of the matching circuit units includes a plurality of primary windings connected to output ports of corresponding power amplifiers of the power amplification units and a secondary winding inductively coupled in common to the plurality of primary windings.
US08145155B2 Passive mixer and high Q RF filter using a passive mixer
A passive mixer include a switching architecture configured to generate differential in-phase (I) and differential quadrature-phase (Q) signals using differential components of the in-phase (I) and quadrature-phase (Q) signals operating on transitions of an approximate 25% duty cycle signal.
US08145154B2 Approximation method for signal-to-noise ratio soft information for a communications system
An approximation method for SNR soft information for a transmitter of a communications system includes obtaining a conditional probability density function (PDF) corresponding to a response message of a transmitted packet, obtaining a PDF of a probability distribution model, and a mean and a variance of the PDF, by approximating the conditional PDF corresponding to the response message with the probability distribution model, and calculating a second mean and a second variance of a second PDF approximated to a conditional PDF of SNR corresponding to the transmitted packet according to the mean and the variance of the PDF, and a first mean and a first variance of a first PDF approximated to a conditional PDF of SNR corresponding to another transmitted packet immediately preceding the transmitted packet.
US08145153B2 Method and system for calibrating an analogue I/Q-modulator of a transmitter
The invention relates to a method and a system for calibrating an analogue I/Q-modulator (2) of a transmitter (3), wherein a calibration signal (s(tk)) is transmitted and an in-phase signal (sI(tk)) and a quadrature-phase signal (sQ(tk)) of the calibration signal (s(tk)) are adjusted by at least one predetermined compensation coefficient (C, D, E) in two calibration steps in at least one compensation measurement set (un, Vn, Wn), whereby: —in a first calibration step, the calibration signal (s(tk)) is adjusted by a first complex compensation value (Cn,1, Dn,1, En,1) and an output signal of the detector circuit (20) is correlated with a harmonic (H1, H2) of said calibration signal (s(tk)) to yield a first complex compensation measurement result (un,1, Vn, 1, Wn,1), —in a second calibration step, the calibration signal (s(tk)) is adjusted by a second complex compensation value (Cn,2, Dn, 2, En,2) and the output signal of the detector circuit (20) is correlated with said harmonic (H1, H2) of said calibration signal (s(tk)) to yield a second complex compensation measurement result (un,2, Vn,2, Wn,2), —a next optimum compensation value (Cn, Dn, En) of the complex compensation coefficient (C, D, E) is determined on said complex compensation values (Cn1, Cn,2, Dn,1, Dn, 2, En,1, En,2) and said complex compensation measurement results (un,1, Un,2, Vn,1, Vn,2, Wn,1, Wn,2).
US08145148B2 Transmitter and communication apparatus
A signal generation section generates an amplitude signal and an angle-modulated signal. An adaptive compensation filter performs waveform shaping on the amplitude signal in accordance with a magnitude of the amplitude signal. An amplitude amplification section outputs a signal proportional to a magnitude of the signal subjected to waveform shaping in the adaptive compensation filter. An amplitude modulation section amplitude-modulates the angle-modulated signal by the signal outputted from the amplitude amplification section and outputs the resulting signal as a modulated signal. Characteristics of the adaptive compensation filter are inverse characteristics of transfer characteristics from an input of the amplitude amplification section to an output of the amplitude modulation section.
US08145147B2 Power amplifier edge evaluation-alternative envelope modulator
A modulator includes a power driver, a power amplifier, and a heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) type device. The power driver is for receiving an amplitude modulation signal and for providing a control signal. The power amplifier is for receiving a phase modulation signal, a bias voltage, and the control signal. The power amplifier is for providing a radio frequency signal as an output based on the phase modulation signal, the bias voltage, and the control signal. The switching device is for coupling the power driver to the power amplifier such that the control signal is provided to the power amplifier in a timely manner.
US08145146B2 RF transmitter front-end and applications thereof
A radio frequency (RF) transmitter front-end includes a digital to analog conversion module and a power amplifier module. The digital to analog conversion module is coupled to convert amplitude information into analog amplitude adjust signals when a first mode is active and is coupled to convert power level information into analog power level signals when a second mode is active. The power amplifier module is coupled to amplify first phase modulated RF signals in accordance with the analog amplitude adjust signals to produce first outbound RF signals when the first mode is active and is coupled to amplify second phase modulated RF signals in accordance with the analog power level signals to produce second outbound RF signals when the second mode is active.
US08145142B2 Method and system for increased resolution switching using MEMS and switched capacitors
Certain aspects of a method and system for increased resolution switching using MEMS and switched capacitors may include a mobile terminal that includes an integrated circuit bonded to a multi-layer package. A capacitance of a first switched capacitor array in the multi-layer package may be tuned via one or more MEMS switches integrated in and/or on the multi-layer package. A capacitance of a second switched capacitor array in the integrated circuit may be tuned via one or more NMOS switches. A plurality of signals may be transmitted and/or received via one or more antennas in the mobile terminal.
US08145141B2 Frequency agile transceiver for use in a multi-band handheld communications device
A multi-band handheld communications device includes a transceiver including a transmitter having a transmit filter and a receiver having a receive filter, each of the transmit and receive filters having a bandpass region tunable across multiple bands, and a processor configured to select one of the multiple bands to operate the handheld communications device, and tune each of the transmit and receive filters based on the selected one of the multiple bands.
US08145140B2 Method and system for clocking FM transmit, FM receive, and near field communication functions using DDFS
Methods and systems for clocking FM transmit, FM receive and near field communication functions using DDFS are disclosed. Aspects of one method may include generating a Bluetooth signal that may comprise, for example, I and Q components, or Bluetooth local oscillator (LO) signals, for use in Bluetooth communication. One of the two Bluetooth LO signals may then be used by a DDFS to generate I and Q LO signals for FM reception and/or transmission. One of the I and Q LO signals for FM communication may be used by another DDFS to generate at least one LO signal for near field communication (NFC) transmission and/or reception. While the Bluetooth LO signal may vary in frequency as Bluetooth frequency hopping occurs, the FM LO signals may remain constant for a specific channel frequency. Similarly, while the FM LO signals may be changed to tune to different FM channels, the NFC LO signals may remain at a constant frequency.
US08145139B2 Simplified radio frequency receiver
An oscillator is provided that is arranged to function as a simplified receiver. The oscillator has a resonator portion and a non-linear portion, which cooperate to generate an oscillating signal. The resonator portion is positioned to receive a modulated signal. In one configuration, the oscillator operates at a frequency offset from the frequency of the carrier for the modulated signal. In this simple arrangement, the oscillator functions as an active mixer, and generates a product output signal. The output signal is extracted from a high impedance point of the oscillator's non-linear device. The output signal is a demodulated or mixed signal, and may be further processed to detect a data signal.
US08145136B1 Wireless diagnostics
A method of analyzing a wireless network, including the steps of coupling a diagnostic station to a wireless network, injecting encapsulated wireless frames into that wireless network, forwarding encapsulated wireless frames within that wireless network, and in response to recognizing encapsulated wireless frames within that wireless network, de-encapsulating those wireless frames and forwarding them to that diagnostic station. Also, a system and a diagnostic station that can implement the method.
US08145134B2 Wireless microphone beacon
Disclosed is a method and system for a radio beacon to protect wireless microphones from interference. One embodiment involves providing each wireless microphone system with a signal detector that detects interfering signals and a ‘beacon’ transmitter that sends a multitone beacon signal. Users that transmit on a potentially interfering frequency employ a beacon detector that ‘listens’ for the beacon signal. The users inhibit transmission if such a signal is detected.
US08145133B2 Method and apparatus of sharing spectrum with legacy communication system
A method of sharing spectrum with a legacy communication system includes acquiring spectrum correlation of the legacy communication system, and generating a transmit waveform based on the spectrum correlation. Unlike conventional cognitive radios that utilize spectrum holes only, the proposed method can also utilize spectrally correlated frequency components where primary-user signals are present.
US08145131B2 Wireless ad hoc network security
Providing network security includes detecting network traffic associated with an ad hoc network that includes a first station and a second station, and preventing data sent by the first station from reaching the second station.
US08145130B2 Portable electronic device
A portable electronic device includes a short distance wireless communicating module and a warning unit. The short distance wireless communicating module is used to establish short distance wireless communicating network with another portable eletronic device and monitor whether the other portable electronic divice is out of wireless network range. The warning unit electrically connects with a short distance wireless communicating module to send out an alarm if the portable electronic device is out of wireless network range.
US08145129B2 Portable communication device having matching function and portable communication system and communication method therefor
A portable communication device having a matching function and a portable communication system and a communication method thereof are provided. The portable communication device includes an operating interface, a wireless communication module, a determining unit and a displaying unit. The operating interface is capable of generating a first user data. The wireless communication module is capable of receiving a second user data transmitted by another portable communication device. The determining unit is capable of determining whether the first user data and the second user data satisfy a matching condition. The displaying unit is capable of showing a noticing figure if the first user data and the second user data satisfy the matching condition.
US08145127B2 Method and apparatus for transmit power calibration in a frequency division multiplexed wireless system
The present disclosure describes a method and apparatus for transmit power calibration in a frequency division multiplexed wireless system (100). The method may include receiving (315) an uplink scheduling grant at a user equipment (120), establishing (320) a desired power level based on at least the uplink scheduling grant, and setting (325) hardware power settings based on the desired power level. The method may also include transmitting (330) data in a first subframe at a first power level based on the hardware power settings, measuring (335) the first power level in the first subframe, and determining (340) a difference between the desired power level and the measured first power level. The method may additionally include modifying (345) the hardware power settings based on the difference and transmitting (350) at a second power level based on the modified hardware power settings in a next transmission corresponding to the transmission in the first subframe.
US08145124B2 Method and apparatus to broadcast content to handheld wireless devices via digital set-top-box receivers
Delivery of programming from a content provider to one or more hand held devices is effected via a set-top box (STB). The STB receives a transport stream, recognizes and de-multiplexes out a co-cast content association table containing a list of all available co-cast programming, and broadcasts table to the one or more hand held devices. Each hand held device displays the list and a program therefrom is selected. The selection is transmitted to the STB, which de-multiplexes out the selection from the delivered programming, and re-multiplexes the requested co-cast programming into a transport stream for broadcast to the requesting hand held device.
US08145123B2 Satellite communication system and method for dividing the coverage area thereof
A beam forming apparatus of a satellite is configured to: define a perimeter of a coverage area, and define a coordinate grid of a polar coordinate system so as to divide the coverage area into a plurality of small areas; calculate coordinates of borders between basic cells in a Cartesian coordinate system, the basic cells being shaped into regular hexagons arranged to be in contact with one another along their sides and at their vertices or into circles circumscribing the regular hexagons; define a plurality of new cells by converting, through coordinate transformation, the coordinates of the borders between the basic cells in the Cartesian coordinate system into coordinates of borders in the polar coordinate system; and set amplitudes and phases to the plurality of antenna devices that are suitable to form a plurality of beams in respective directions of the plurality of new cells.
US08145121B2 Wireless communication system counting mobile terminals using MBMS
The embodiments relate to a wireless communication system that counts UEs using an MBMS. The wireless communication system is connected with a UE through a radio link, and includes a Node B and a controlling radio network controller (CRNC). The Node B receives sequence setting information on a sequence included in a preamble transmitted from the UE network manager. The CRNC controls the Node B, detects a sequence according to whether to use an MBMS based on the sequence setting information, and performs a counting process for counting UEs based on whether the UE uses the MBMS.According to the embodiments, counting of UEs using an MBMS can be performed by using a predetermined sequence. Particularly, the counting process can be simplified by reducing complexity in access probability management of a network manager, thereby increasing efficiency in data transmission by reducing signaling for random access probability and omitting a random access probability calculation process.
US08145117B2 Image forming apparatus with sheet detection unit which accurately detects sheet
An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit that is configured to fix a developing material on a sheet; a plurality of a pair of rollers that discharge the sheet conveyed from the fixing unit; and a sheet detection unit that detects the sheet conveyed from the fixing unit, the sheet detection unit comprising an actuator for detecting the sheet conveyed from the fixing unit, wherein the actuator of the sheet detection unit is disposed between the fixing unit and the plurality of the pair of the rollers on a conveyance path and is disposed within a width of one of the rollers when viewed from a sheet conveyance direction.
US08145115B2 Image formation method
Disclosed is an image formation method in which clear dots comprised of clear toner are formed on an image with a 75° glossiness of from 10 to 60, the image formation method comprising the steps of forming a clear toner image on the image, employing clear toner, and fixing the clear toner image by non-contact heat fixation to form clear dots in the form of protrusions, wherein the clear dots have an average height H and an average circle equivalent diameter R, a ratio H/R of the average height H to the average circle equivalent diameter R satisfying the following inequality: 0.005≦H/R≦10.
US08145108B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier; a transfer member transfers the image carried on the outer circumferential surface of the image carrier onto a recording medium; a holding member that holds, on an outer circumferential surface of the transfer member, the recording medium fed to the transfer member; and a control unit that performs control so that in first image formation operation in which images of plural colors carried by the image carrier are sequentially transferred onto a single recording medium one color at a time, the holding member holds the recording medium on the transfer member, and in second image formation operation in which an image of a single color carried by the image carrier is transferred onto a single recording medium, the holding member does not hold, the recording medium on the transfer member.
US08145106B2 Annular body, annular body stretching device and image forming apparatus
The invention provides an annular body provided at an image forming apparatus, the annular body has at least an outermost periphery layer and an innermost periphery layer, each of which comprise carbon black, and a content of carbon black contained per unit of volume of the outermost periphery layer being smaller than a content of carbon black contained per unit of volume of the innermost periphery layer. The invention further provides an annular body stretching device, having at least the annular body and a plurality of annular body stretching units rotatably stretching the annular body at an inner surface of the annular body. The invention further provides an image forming apparatus having at least an image holder, a charging device, an exposing device, a developing device, a first transferring device, a second transferring device, and a fixing device, in which the intermediate transfer belt is the annular body.
US08145104B2 Metering skive for a developer roller
A metering skive for a developer roller which is adapted to shear and/or meter developer at a developer-skive interface while minimizing compression of the metered developer. The metering skive is adjustable to various shear angles and has a geometry which enables a portion of the developer flow to be sheared away toward a curved second surface of the metering skive while metering the developer flow in a manner which minimizes or reduces compression of the developer.
US08145102B2 Developing device, process cartridge, image forming apparatus and developer discharge device having a discharge port
A developing device, process cartridge and image forming apparatus of a premix developing system, with which developer splashed by the transport member is not discharged from the device, fluctuations of the amount of developer discharged to the outside are not produced, and the output image quality is stable. This developing device is provided with a pocket part, which is installed in a depressed manner facing the outside in relation to the transport route formed by the transport member, and into and out of which part of the developer transported in the transport route flows. This pocket part is provided with a discharge port for discharging developer to outside the device when the surface of the developer flowing into the pocket part exceeds a specified height.
US08145099B2 Image scanning unit and image forming apparatus including the image scanning unit
A pair of carriage rails are provided in parallel to each other in a casing. A carriage moves along the carriage rails. Both ends in a longitudinal direction of each of the carriage rails are fixed to the casing. A cross member functioning as a lens base is suspended between the carriage rails. Both ends of the cross member are fixed to a section between both the ends of the carriage rails. Intermediate sections in the longitudinal direction of the carriage rails are coupled to sidewalls of the casing via a coupling section.
US08145098B2 Image forming apparatus including shutter device
An image forming apparatus disclosed includes a body, a cover to open and close an opening of the body, a plurality of photosensitive members provided in the body, a light scanning device to irradiate a light beam to the plurality of photosensitive members, the light scanning device including a plurality of passage windows corresponding to the plurality of photosensitive members, and a shutter device to open and close the respective passage windows in accordance with opening and closing movements of the cover.
US08145094B2 Frame and image forming apparatus using the frame
A frame for an image forming apparatus including at least one functional unit includes a front member, a rear member, a base member, and a pair of elevated supporters. The front and rear members at least support the functional unit. The base member supports at least the rear member. The pair of elevated supporters, fixed at least to the base member, have a U-shaped form in its cross-section. The elevated supporters are spaced a given distance apart and disposed facing an open part of the U-shaped form of the pair of elevated supporters. The elevated supporters supports both lateral rim portions of the front member at a given position of the pair of elevated supporters. The front member is indirectly fixed with the base member via the elevated supporters, and positions the functional unit at a given position.
US08145092B2 Switching mechanism for toner cartridge
A switching mechanism for a toner cartridge includes a base and a sliding member. The base is mounted to a housing. A chamber is defined between the housing and the base for receiving the sliding member. The base has a guiding slot. The sliding member has a body received in the chamber, a suspension arm extending from the body, a hook disposed on the suspension arm, and a post extending from the suspension arm and received in the guiding slot. When the sliding member is moved to different positions, an outlet of the toner cartridge can be closed or opened. The post moves along the guiding slot to cause an elastic deformation of the suspension arm for changing the position of the hook such that an erroneous operation of the switching mechanism can be avoided, and a mold for the switching mechanism is easy to manufacture to reduce the manufacturing costs.
US08145087B2 Effective scheduling algorithm for belt space conservation
This is a method for placing test patches along the surface of a photoconductive belt. A novel feature of this invention is locating optimum times and locations for placing the test patches by rotating the belt backwards after the first normal forward rotation of the belt.
US08145078B2 Toner concentration system control with state estimators and state feedback methods
The present disclosure provides for an imaging machine having an imaging member including a method for maintaining a toner concentration. The method for maintaining the toner concentration comprises: determining a toner concentration (TC) measurement using a sensor; computing a state estimator output from the TC measurement and a pre-stored estimator gain matrix, Ke; computing an estimated target state from the state estimator and a pre-stored controller gain matrix, K; computing a duty cycle from the estimated target state, pixel count data, and pre-stored target decomposer output; and, updating the duty cycle by repeating the above method for the next TC cycle.
US08145076B2 Print system with drop-in interchangeable modular accessory cartridge
A print system with one or more interchangeable modular accessory cartridges that will interchange with conventional printer cartridges. The interchangeable modular accessory cartridges are mounted in the printer in fixed relation to an imaging area and are identifiable to carry out supplemental actions. The accessory cartridges are capable of communicating and are controllable by a controller.
US08145067B2 Optical transmitter
An optical transmitter includes a light source that outputs light superposed with a pilot signal having a predetermined frequency; an optical modulating unit that modulates the light from the light source according to an input electric signal; a detecting unit that detects a high-output-side maximum value of signal light output from the optical modulating unit, a fluctuation width of the high-output-side maximum value, and a fluctuation width of a low-output-side minimum value; a bias-potential adjusting unit that adjusts a bias potential of an electric signal to be input to the optical modulating unit based on the detected maximum value; and an amplitude adjusting unit that adjusts an amplitude of the electric signal to be input to the optical modulating unit based on the fluctuation width of the high-output-side maximum value and the fluctuation width of the low-output-side minimum value.
US08145057B2 Method for localizing an optical termination device in a passive optical network
A method for localizing an optical network termination (ONT) of a passive optical network is disclosed. The passive optical network comprises an optical line terminal (OLT) and an optical distribution network (ODN) having a plurality of optical links. The ONT is connectable to the OLT by a given optical link of the optical distribution network. The method includes the steps of detecting that the ONT has been connected to the OLT by an optical link of the optical distribution network; determining length information indicative of a length of the optical link; comparing the length information with a reference length information indicative of a length of the given optical link; and if the length information matches the reference length information, localizing the ONT by confirming that it is connected to the OLT by the given optical link.
US08145055B2 Passive optical network system, optical line terminator and optical network unit
In a PON, at the time of ranging, an OLT (a master station) measures an optical level of a signal from at least an ONU (a slave station) capable of communicating at plural transmission speeds. The OLT determines the transmission speed applied to the ONU according to the measured level. Incidentally, the ONU may measure an optical level of a ranging request signal and determine the transmission speed. At a normal operation, when the OLT sends information of plural different transmission speeds to the ONU, a timing when a next frame reaches and transmission speed information are notified to the ONU. Based on the timing, the ONU receives only data of the transmission speed that can be handled. Besides, the OLT switches the transmission speed to receive data based on a grant designation transmitted from the plural ONUs to the OLT.
US08145053B2 Image capturing device and activation method therefor
An image capturing device includes a first controller operable to control image capturing; an operation section including a switch; a detector operable to detect a change to an image capturing mode and to send a signal representing the change; a second controller operable to monitor and process the sent signal, the second controller having a power consumption less than that of the first controller; and a power supply operable to supply power to the first controller, the second controller, and a functional section of the device. When the second controller receives the signal sent from the detecting section in a power saving state in which power is supplied from the power supply to the second controller, the power saving state is changed to a power supplying state capable of image capturing by supplying power from the power supply to portions of the device including the first controller.
US08145049B2 Focus adjustment method, focus adjustment apparatus, and control method thereof
An apparatus comprises a face position detection section for detecting at least a position at which is present a person's face inside a frame using an image signal obtained from an image sensor for photoelectrically converting an object image captured by a photographing optical system, a focus control section for controlling the photographing optical system by referencing in-focus positions of the object image obtained inside focus detection areas for detecting focus states of the object image positioned in the frame, and a control section for controlling the focus control section so as to reference at least one or the other of an in-focus position obtained in a first focus detection area in which is present a person's face and an in-focus position obtained in a second focus detection area in which is expected to be present a body of a person determining from the position of the face of the person.
US08145046B2 Heat treatment apparatus and method for heating substrate by light irradiation
In light-irradiation heating with a total irradiation time of one second or less, two-stage irradiation is performed, including a first stage of light irradiation of a semiconductor wafer, which irradiation produces an output waveform that reaches a peak at a given emission output; and a second stage of supplemental light irradiation of the semiconductor wafer, which irradiation is started after the peak, producing an emission output smaller than the above given emission output. The emission output in the second stage is two thirds or less than the above given emission output at the peak. The first-stage light-irradiation time is between 0.1 and 10 milliseconds, and the second-stage light-irradiation time is 5 milliseconds or more. This allows the temperature of the semiconductor wafer even at a somewhat greater depth below the surface to be raised to some extent while allowing the surface temperature to be maintained at a generally constant processing temperature.
US08145044B1 Air ammonia heater and vaporization chamber system
An air ammonia heater and vaporization chamber system utilizing a contiguous vaporization chamber having an inlet for receiving dilution air, which is passed across at least one heating element integrated into the vaporization chamber to heat and pre-heat the vaporization chamber. Aqueous or anhydrous ammonia is injected from at least one ammonia injector, which is integrated into the vaporization chamber, into the heated dilution air. The heated ammonia/air mixture may then be passed through a bed of packing prior to being released from the vaporization chamber. The bed of packing maintains the heated, homogenous ammonia/air mixture at a minimum temperature of 350° F. to ensure the air/ammonia mixture does not condense. The air ammonia heater and vaporization chamber system may be used in the vaporization and bleeding of ammonia with air for NOx reduction in the flue gas from heat recovery steam generation systems, packaged boilers, simple cycle catalyst systems or fired heaters.
US08145042B2 Digital video system
The erasion level appending range of a file is instructed. According to this instruction, the erasion level is set. When this setting range does not agree with the cell unit of the current cell, the current cell is divided to set a sequence of divided cells. Playback management information of each of the divided cells and current cell is re-created, and erasion level information is appended to playback management information of the divided cell that belongs to the appending range.
US08145041B2 Video processing device
A video processing device includes: encoder for generating a compressed video data by compressing and encoding a video data from camera unit; and system control unit for recording the compressed video data during a recording period from a recording start time to a recording end time as a video file and for recording, into recording memory, additional data as an index file that is information related to a compressed video data to be recorded in recording memory and, for reading the additional data together with the compressed video data from recording memory. System control unit records, into recording memory, the additional data recorded in the index file. The additional data is composed of additional data regarding the compressed video data recorded during the recording period and another additional data including a time code value showing a time at which a compressed video data to be recorded next is started.
US08145036B2 Recording medium, playback device, recording method, playback method, and computer program
A recording medium capable of executing menu calls based on the particular characteristics of different versions of the same movie work when these different versions are recorded on a single recording medium. An AV clip and a dynamic scenario are recorded on a BD-ROM 100 (recording medium). The dynamic scenario is a command string showing a playback control procedure relating to video data, and has attribute information attached thereto. Attribute information is information showing a control procedure for when a user requests a menu call during AV clip playback, and includes a resume_intension_flag. The resume_intension_flag shows whether playback resumption of video data after the menu call ends is intended.
US08145034B2 Contents replay apparatus and contents replay method
To enable a lot of audio data and image data such as a still image and a moving image to be effectively and efficiently used. When audio data accumulated in a material database 21 is replayed, a controller 10 acquires the metadata added to the audio data to be replayed from the material database, refer to the metadata of image data based on the above metadata to thereby search image data intimately related to the audio data, controls a voice replay system such as an audio decoder 32 and the like and an image replay system such as an image decoder 31 and the like, and replay the audio data to be replayed and the searched image data in relation with each other.
US08145033B2 Recording medium having data structure for managing reproducton duration of still pictures recorded thereon and recording and reproducing methods and apparatuses
The data structure includes a playlist area storing at least one playlist. The playlist includes at least one playitem and at least one sub-playitem. The playitem provides navigation information indicating at least one still picture from a first file to reproduce and provides duration information for display of the still picture, and the sub-playitem provides navigation information for reproducing audio data from a second file.
US08145032B2 Recording medium containing moving picture data and additional information thereof and reproducing method and apparatus of the recording medium
The present invention relates to a recording medium containing moving picture data and additional information thereof and to reproducing method and apparatus of the recording medium. The present recording medium has script files including additional information about moving picture data, e.g., scene descriptive text and introduction of characters, etc. In addition, information linking each script file with a section of moving picture data to be presented with contents of the script file is included in a link data file or is contained in a filename of the script file. In reproduction of the recording medium, a script file linked with presently reproduced moving picture data section is determined and searched for based on the link data file or every filename of the script files, and contents of the found script file are presented together with the presently reproduced moving picture data. Furthermore, previously presented additional information is removed depending on data or filename of the found script file.
US08145029B2 Apparatus and method for interlace scanning video signal frequency multiplication
A method and an apparatus for interlace scanning video signal frequency multiplication are provided. The method includes the following steps: first, removing a part of a first vertical synchronous signal (V-sync signal) which is asynchronous with a first horizontal synchronous signal (H-sync signal); next, capturing a first field and a second field from an interlace scan video signal according to the first V-sync signal obtained in the previous step; performing a frequency multiplication on a frame made up by the first and second fields, and producing a second V-sync signal and a second H-sync signal; finally, compensating for the second V-sync signal on a border between two fields of the frame after the frequency multiplication according to the second H-sync signal. Thereby, the method can be used to perform frequency multiplication using a line buffer instead of a frame buffer, to output through interface scanning without sacrificing image quality.
US08145027B2 Microbend-resistant optical fiber
Disclosed is an improved, single-mode optical fiber possessing a novel coating system. When combined with a bend-insensitive glass fiber, the novel coating system according to the present invention yields an optical fiber having exceptionally low losses.The coating system features (i) a softer primary coating with excellent low-temperature characteristics to protect against microbending in any environment and in the toughest physical situations and, optionally, (ii) a colored secondary coating possessing enhanced color strength and vividness. The secondary coating provides improved ribbon characteristics for structures that are robust, yet easily entered (i.e., separated and stripped).The optional dual coating is specifically balanced for superior heat stripping in fiber ribbons, with virtually no residue left behind on the glass. This facilitates fast splicing and terminations. The improved coating system provides optical fibers that offer significant advantages for deployment in most, if not all, fiber-to-the-premises (FTTx) systems.
US08145024B2 Optical communications system
The present invention relates to an optical communications system that allows improving OSNR while suppressing the power increase of pumping light for distributed Raman amplification. In the optical communications system, an optical fiber is laid in a transmission section between a transmitter station (or repeater station) and a receiver station (or repeater station), and optical signals are transmitted from the transmitter station to the receiver station via the optical fiber. In the optical communications system, pumping light for Raman amplification, outputted by a pumping light source provided in the receiver station, is fed into the optical fiber via an optical coupler, and the optical signals are distributed-Raman-amplified in the optical fiber. The transmission loss and the effective area of the optical fiber satisfy, at the wavelength of 1550 nm, a predetermined relationship.
US08145023B2 Lifetime extending and performance improvements of micro-structured fibers via high temperature loading
The disclosure relates to an optical fiber including a core and a cladding having a core material and a cladding material, respectively, wherein the fiber is a non-linear microstructured optical fiber, the microstructured optical fiber being obtainable by a method including loading the core material and optionally the cladding material with hydrogen and/or deuterium whereby the lifetime of the fiber may be extended in high pulse applications.
US08145021B2 Cable for concentrating photovoltaic module
Disclosed is a cable for use in a concentrating photovoltaic module. The cable includes at least one strand wrapped with an optically pervious or reflective sheath. The pervious sheath is made of a material that exhibits a penetration rate of 90% and survives a temperature of at least 140 degrees Celsius. The reflective sheath is made of a material that exhibits a reflection rate of 95% and survives a temperature of at least 140 degrees Celsius. The cable is used to connect an anode of the concentrating photovoltaic module to a cathode of the same. The material of the reflective sheath may be isolating.
US08145018B2 Apparatus for obtaining information for a structure using spectrally-encoded endoscopy techniques and methods for producing one or more optical arrangements
Exemplary apparatus for obtaining information for a structure can be provided. For example, first optical fiber arrangement(s) can be provided which transceives at least one first electro-magnetic radiation, and can include at least one fiber. Second focusing arrangement(s) can be provided in optical communication with the optical fiber arrangement. The second arrangement can be configured to focus and provide there through the first electro-magnetic radiation. Third dispersive arrangement(s) can receive a particular radiation which is the first electro-magnetic radiation and/or the focused electro-magnetic radiation, and forward a dispersed radiation thereof to at least one section of the structure. At least one end of the fiber can be directly connected to the second focusing arrangement and/or the third dispersive arrangement.
US08145006B2 Image processing apparatus and image processing method capable of reducing an increase in coding distortion due to sharpening
According to one embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes a decoder, an acquisition module, a sharpening module, and a controller. The decoder decodes an encoded image to obtain a decoded image. The acquisition module acquires quantization information indicating the accuracy of quantization upon generating the encoded image. The sharpening module performs sharpening on the decoded image. The controller controls the effect of the sharpening based on the quantization information such that the effect of the sharpening is reduced as the accuracy decreases.
US08144999B2 Image capturing apparatus, image processing apparatus and control methods thereof with data conversion
An image capturing apparatus determines an image frame to extract as a reference image frame from a plurality of image frames constituting a moving image, using a histogram, for example, and generates a reference image data file. An encoder unit encodes the plurality of image frames after reducing the resolution thereof, and generates an encoded moving image data file. A list associating the reference image frame with information specifying the corresponding reference image data file is generated with a content information list generating unit. The reference image data file, the encoded moving image data file and the list are then recorded.
US08144995B2 System and method for searching digital images
A method and system for automatically analyzing and searching a database of images or other digital content includes a process for analyzing images to identify portions capable of receiving text. In one implementation user input is received, where the user input helps construct a profile matrix representing image features desired by the user. The constructed profile matrix is compared to profile matrices of the database of images, and images are retrieved with profile matrices corresponding to the constructed profile matrix.
US08144988B2 Document-image-data providing system, document-image-data providing device, information processing device, document-image-data providing method, information processing method, document-image-data providing program, and information processing program
In a document-image-data providing device, a document image inputting unit is configured to input document image data. An area recognition unit is configured to recognize respective areas of document image elements which constitute the document image data. An element data extracting unit is configured to extract, when a document image element of the document image data is selected in an information processing device, element data of the selected document image element from the document image data, based on a corresponding one of the recognized areas. An element data providing unit is configured to provide the extracted element data to the information processing device.
US08144982B2 Image processing device that adjusts specific color of color image
An adjusting portion adjusts values of lightness, chroma, and hue. A change-amount setting portion sets an amount of change for each of lightness, chroma, and hue. A weighting-curve storing portion stores weighting curves for each of lightness, chroma, and hue. A weighting-factor determining portion determines, based on the weighting curves, weighting factors for the values of lightness, chroma, and hue. A specific-color-index determining portion determines a specific color index by multiplying each of the weighting factors determined by the weighting-factor determining portion. An adjustment-amount determining portion determines an adjustment amount by multiplying, by the specific color index, the amount of change set by the change-amount setting portion, and determines adjusted values of lightness, chroma, and hue based on the adjustment amount. An adjusted-color-image obtaining portion obtains an adjusted color image based on the adjusted values.
US08144970B2 Determining method and apparatus, exposure apparatus, and device manufacturing method
A method of determining a defocus direction of a pattern image formed on a reticle, which is projected by an exposure apparatus onto a resist on a substrate as a resist pattern, the exposure apparatus exposing the resist to light via the pattern image on the reticle to form the resist pattern. The method includes an image capturing step of capturing a resist image of the resist pattern that is formed on the substrate by the exposure apparatus, to obtain image data, an extracting step of extracting a feature of the image data to obtain feature data, and a determining step of determining the defocus direction of the pattern image based on the extracted feature data. The resist pattern includes a dual tone line end shortening target having a hollow grating mark and a solid grating mark, and the feature data includes an edge sharpness of a waveform of the image data.
US08144969B2 Pattern evaluation method, computer-readable recording medium, and manufacturing method of semiconductor device
A pattern evaluation method includes: acquiring data of a design pattern for an evaluation pattern to detect a first edge of the design pattern; acquiring an image of the evaluation pattern to detect a second edge of the evaluation pattern; dividing the first edge into first linear parts and first corner parts; performing matching of the first and second edges to obtain correspondence between the first and second edges; dividing the second edge into second linear parts and second corner parts based on the correspondence between the first and second edges; and evaluating the evaluation pattern based on at least one of the second linear parts and the second corner parts.
US08144968B2 Method and apparatus for scanning substrates
A method and apparatus for scanning and acquiring 3D profile line data of an object, illustratively for use in an optical inspection system. A 3D scanning subsystem is provided in relative movement to the object being scanned. The subsystem is capable of simultaneously scanning different regions of the object with different exposure lengths.
US08144967B2 Mask data generation method, mask fabrication method, exposure method, device fabrication method, and storage medium
The invention provides a generation method of generating data of a mask, comprising a calculation step of calculating an aerial image formed on an image plane of a projection optical system, an extraction step of extracting a two-dimensional image from the aerial image, a determination step of determining a main pattern of the mask based on the two-dimensional image, an extraction step of extracting, from the aerial image, a peak portion at which a light intensity takes a peak value in a region other than a region in which the main pattern is projected, a determination step of determining an assist pattern based on the light intensity of the peak portion, and a generation step of inserting the assist pattern into a portion of the mask, which corresponds to the peak portion, thereby generating, as the data of the mask, pattern data including the assist pattern and the main pattern.
US08144965B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer storage medium
A feature value corresponding to each of a plurality of pixel values is calculated for an image. A pixel value is selected for which a minimum distance is obtained in a feature space between the calculated feature value and a feature value of a template. The selected pixel value is employed as a threshold value at which a subject area and a background area in the image are separated from each other.
US08144963B2 Method for processing biomedical images
The present invention relates to a method for highlight and to diagnose regions of interest in biomedical radiographic images, useful in the context of a CAD tool processing operating as second reader during the normal clinical and screening routine, so reducing the costs of management of the “double reading” procedure.
US08144960B2 Method for measuring the concentration of a substance using advanced image processing techniques
A method and system for non-invasively measuring the concentration of an optically-active substance in a subject are provided. The system includes a light source adapted to transmit light towards a subject or object having a concentration of an optically-active substance, a polarizer positioned between the light source and the subject, an image capturing device, and a processor. The image capturing device is positioned to receive light reflected from the subject and create a measured image therefrom. The measured image defines measured light intensity data. The processor is configured to calculate a concentration of the optically-active substance based on a selected portion of the measured light intensity data.
US08144957B2 Medical image data processing and feature identification system
An anatomical feature boundary identification system for use in processing medical images including X-ray images having a substantial noise content, employs at least one repository. The at least one repository stores data representing multiple different candidate template boundary shapes for individual particular anatomical features of multiple different types of anatomical features. A computation processor coupled to the at least one repository, determines a converged boundary shape of a particular anatomical feature by iteratively substantially minimizing a first difference between, data representing a weighted combination of multiple different candidate template boundary shapes of a particular anatomical feature and data representing a boundary shape of the particular anatomical feature derived from image data of the particular anatomical feature. The computation processor iteratively substantially maximizes a second difference between, data representing the weighted combination and data representing background non-anatomical features in an image. An output processor coupled to the computation processor, provides data representing the converged boundary shape of the particular anatomical feature for presentation in a display image of the particular anatomical feature.
US08144956B2 Ultrasonic diagnosis by quantification of myocardial performance
An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is described which acquires 3D data sets of the heart including the myocardium. The epicardial and endocardial surfaces of the myocardium in the data sets are identified by automated or semi-automated border detection. A 3D image of the myocardium is produced from the defined surfaces. The 3D image illustrates the wall thickness of the myocardium and can be segmented into defined regions, with quantified measures made for each defined region.
US08144955B2 Automated robust learning of geometries for MR-examinations
A function generator (MFG) formulates a query to a mapping database (DBM) based on a received planning geometry type (PGT) and receives corresponding function data (MFD) which is processed to create a function (MF). An evaluator (ELV) receives the function (MF) and an anatomical landmark set (LMS) and determines a computed planning geometry (CPG). A user interface (UI) displays a survey image (IMG), the landmark set (LMS), and the computer planning geometry (CPG) and allows the user to adjust the landmark set and/or the computer program geometry. A record generator (RG) creates a new record from the user adjusted landmarks (ULMS) and the user adjusted computer planning geometries (UPG) and loads the new records (NR) into the mapping database (DBM).
US08144951B2 Method for data evaluation
A method for data evaluation of first and second measured data records acquired substantially simultaneously with the aid of a combined medical examination device suitable for simultaneous and isocentric acquisition of first measured data, includes reconstructing a first image data record from the measured data of the at least one first measured data record, reconstructing a second image data record from the measured data of the at least one second measured data record, fusing the image data records as a function of registering the coordinate systems of the first measured data record and of the second measured data record to form a fusion image data record, and displaying and/or storing the fusion image data record.
US08144950B2 Method for facilitating post-processing of images using deformable meshes
Method and system for facilitating post-processing of images using deformable meshes in which a deformable mesh model of an object such as an organ is extended by attaching information thereon in order to simplify and/or facilitate a desired post-processing task so that the post-processing task effected when the mesh is applied to the same object in an additional image can expeditiously use this information. The information may be attached to the mesh after its creation, for example, upon segmentation of the same object in some training image. The post-processing task can therefore be performed automatically without user interaction upon segmentation of the object in the additional image. Information is encoded on the mesh by enumerating a list of triangles or vertices of the mesh which have to be considered in the subsequent, post-processing task and by optionally providing additional parameters defining the precise post-processing algorithm(s) to be used.
US08144949B2 Method for segmentation of lesions
A method of image segmentation includes receiving a set of voxels, segmenting the set of voxels into a foreground group and a background group, and classifying voxels of the foreground group as either lesion voxels or normal anatomy voxels. The method also includes blocking the normal anatomy voxels and performing a second segmentation on voxels of the background group and the lesion voxels, the second segmentation forming a stage two foreground group comprising the lesion voxels and a portion of the voxels of the background group. The method further includes classifying voxels of the stage two foreground group as either stage two lesion voxels or stage two normal anatomy voxels.
US08144947B2 System and method for finding a picture image in an image collection using localized two-dimensional visual fingerprints
An image management method and system provides for storing, indexing, searching and/or retrieving image data. The content of an image collection is pre-processed to identify stable and repeatable keypoints for each image in the collection. Fingerprint information is computed from local groups of keypoints, and the resulting fingerprint information is stored in a compact fingerprint database. The computing of the fingerprint information is based on combinations of a subgroup of the strongest keypoints in an image, called anchor keypoints, in addition to a number of non-anchor keypoints. For each fingerprint in the compact fingerprint database, a sequence of candidate fingerprint combinations is generated and stored in a Fan Tree and/or hashtable and a corresponding fingerprint data structure. The sequence of fingerprint combinations allows several non-anchor keypoints to be missing, while still allowing the system and method to correctly detect fingerprints with high accuracy. A realtime image query is performed by identifying keypoints and computing fingerprints from the query image and matching the query fingerprints to the existing Fan Tree and/or hashtable fingerprint data to determine the best matching image or set of images within the collection. At least one target image is retrieved based on the determining operation, and the retrieved target image is displayed, printed, stored and/or transmitted.
US08144946B2 Method of identifying symbolic points on an image of a person's face
A method for identifying symbolic points on the image of a face including images of a right eye, left eye and mouth, includes: detecting and identifying elements with strong contrasts such as the irises, nostrils, or mouth; selecting zones of the image with respect to the elements with strong contrasts including a priori two sought-after symbolic points interrelated by a morphological criterion; searching within the zones for natural points through the convergence of lines of the image and, for each natural point, determining a signature, determining a score with respect to pre-established signatures and selecting the natural points having a score above a threshold value; in each zone, identifying pairs of natural points and determining for each identified pair a score with respect to pairs of standard symbolic points and selecting the pair of natural points having the best score as symbolic points of the zone.
US08144941B2 Method and system for creating and operating biometrically enabled multi-purpose credential management devices
A method and system used to integrate and control multiple secure credentialing approaches including magnetic stripes, bar codes, contact and contactless SmartCard chips, Short Message Systems (SMS), Global Positioning Systems (GPS), vicinity type Radio Frequency Identification Devices (RFID), and proximity type RFID, into compact, self-powered, biometrically-protected devices.
US08144932B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and interface apparatus
In order to detect a specific detection object from an input image, a color serving as a reference is calculated in a reference image region. The difference for each color component between each pixel in the detection window and the reference color is calculated. Whether or not the detection object is included in the detection window is discriminated by a feature vector indicating how the difference is distributed in the detection window.
US08144928B2 Object monitoring method, object monitoring apparatus, and object monitoring program storage medium
A method includes a pixel-value correction step that causes an average and variance of pixel values in a second subregion inclusive of a first subregion inclusive of being formed of only one pixel in a comparison image resolved into pixels to match with an average and variance of pixel values in a subregion corresponding to the second subregion on a reference image similarly resolved into pixels, thereby to execute calculation that corrects the pixel value of each pixel in the first subregion in the comparison image by recognizing each of subregions to be the first subregion, the subregions being obtained when the comparison image is divided into the subregions respectively inclusive of being formed of only one pixel; and a change determination step that determines the presence/absence of a change in the object by comparing the reference image with a post-correction comparison image acquired through the pixel value correction step.
US08144927B2 Video image processing and fusion
Processing of image data derived from radiation emanating from a scene and acquired by a multi-channel enhanced vision system renders an image of the scene for display. Detected first and second wavelength bands of radiation produce respective first and second sets of image data that include representations of relatively low contrast, high spatial frequency detail of features of the scene. Nonlinear intensity transformation of data derived from the first and second sets of image data produces, respectively, first and second sets of low dynamic range image data representing, respectively, first and second sets of intensity values. Different pairs of associated intensity values of the first and second sets correspond to different pixels forming an image. The associated intensity values of the different pairs are combined to form fused image data representing brightness levels of the pixels forming a displayed image that exhibits with high brightness and in great detail the features of the scene.
US08144923B2 Watermarking encoded content
A system and method are described for inserting a watermark in encoded content, including receiving encoded content, receiving at least one pre-processed watermark unit and replacing directly a number of bits starting at a position in the encoded content with an alternative value, wherein the alternative value has embedded therein watermark signals, wherein the alternative value is selected from among a plurality of alternative values specified in the at least one said watermark unit. An apparatus and method for generating watermark units are also described including selecting a position where a value in encoded content is to be replaced by an alternative value and calculating a plurality of alternative values for each selected position. Further a system and method for replacing a watermark in encoded content are also described including receiving encoded content, receiving at least one pre-processed watermark unit and replacing a number of bits starting at a position in the encoded content with a value, wherein the value is specified in the at least one watermark unit.
US08144921B2 Information retrieval using invisible junctions and geometric constraints
The present invention uses invisible junctions which are a set of local features unique to every page of the electronic document to match the captured image to a part of an electronic document. The present invention includes: an image capture device, a feature extraction and recognition system and database. When an electronic document is printed, the feature extraction and recognition system captures an image of the document page. The features in the captured image are then extracted, indexed and stored in the database. Given a query image, usually a small patch of some document page captured by a low resolution image capture device, the features in the query image are extracted and compared against those stored in the database to identify the query image. The present invention advantageously uses geometric estimation to reduce the query results to a single one or a few candidate matches. In one embodiment, the two separate geometric estimations are used to rank and verify matching candidates.
US08144919B2 Annealing algorithm for non-rectangular shaped stained glass collages
The present invention relates to a method to make effective use of non rectangular display space for displaying a collage. In an embodiment of the invention, a heterogeneous set of images can be arranged to display the region of interest of the images to avoid overlapping regions of interest. The background gaps between the regions of interest can be filled by extending the regions of interest using a Voronoi technique. This produces a stained glass effect for the collage. In an embodiment of the present invention, the technique can be applied to irregular shapes including circular shapes with a hole in the middle. In an embodiment of the present invention, the technique can be used to print labels for disks.
US08144914B2 Wireless earphone and portable electronic device using the same
A wireless earphone includes a first answering member and a hanging member. The first answering member includes a base, a microphone and a head phones device. The first answering member is disposed at one end of the hanging member and is configured for being detachably mounted on a portable electronic device. The microphone is disposed at the distal end of the first base. The earphone is disposed at the other end of the first base adjacent to the hanging member. The invention also includes a portable electronic device using the wireless earphone.
US08144910B2 Composite receiver tube for a hearing instrument
The compliance of a receiver tube for a hearing instrument may be enhanced by fabricating it as a composite assembly of a tube and a compliant insulator positioned between the tube and the receiver. The material of the insulator is selected such that it has a greater compliance than that of the tube.
US08144909B2 Customization of bone conduction hearing devices
The present invention relates to recipient customization of a bone conducting hearing device. Customization of the bone conducting hearing device may include attaching the bone conducting hearing device to a recipient, establishing communication between the hearing device and an external device, generating at least one control setting with the external device, and storing the at least one control setting in a memory device in the hearing device.
US08144905B2 Volume control in a hearing aid and hearing aid with volume control
A volume control in a hearing aid which has a signal path from a microphone to a receiver and which provides amplification of the signal delivered to the receiver, the volume control including first and second user input elements to allow the user to change the amplification in a downward and an upward direction, whereby use of the first and second user input elements has different impact on the size of the amplification change effected.
US08144903B2 Wireless communication system
A communication system having at least one user worn receiver unit for receiving audio signals via a wireless audio link connected to a stimulating means for stimulating the user's hearing according to audio signals received via the audio link; and a plurality of user worn transmission units and a microphone arrangement for capturing audio signals from the respective user's voice, an audio signal transmission portion for establishing the wireless audio link to at least one receiver unit to transmit the captured audio signals to the at least one receiver unit, an assistive digital link transceiver portion for establishing a bidirectional assistive digital link to at least one of the other transmission units and/or to an external command unit, and a control unit for controlling signal transmission of the transmission unit according to data exchanged with the control unit of the at least one of the other transmission units and/or the external command unit.
US08144894B2 Ducting sound
A sound reproduction system in a vehicle includes an acoustic package including an electroacoustic transducer and a sound duct that carries the sound from the electroacoustic transducer. The sound duct carries the sound to an outlet at a location in the vehicle at which radiated sound efficiently drives selected audio modes of the vehicle.
US08144885B2 Sound insulating device
A sound insulating device used to carry out audio testing of a mobile phone is provided. The sound insulating device includes a sound speaker, a sound receiver, a clamping platform clamping the mobile phone thereon and a sound insulating chamber. The sound insulating chamber receives the sound speaker and the sound receiver and the clamping platform therein. The sound insulating chamber is enclosed by several sound insulating boards. Each sound insulating board includes a sound absorbing layer, a cushion layer and an aluminium-alloy layer combined together. The cushion layer is sandwiched between the absorbing layer and the aluminium-alloy layer.
US08144883B2 Method and system for adapting a loudspeaker to a listening position in a room
The invention relates to a method and a system for adapting a loudspeaker to a specific listening position relative to the loudspeaker according to which method and system the acoustic power radiated by the loudspeaker is corrected by means of a correction filter inserted in the signal path through the loudspeaker, the response of said correction filter being determined by comparison between the a quantity characterising the radiated acoustic power measured at an actual listening position and a similar quantity measured at a reference listening position. According to a specific embodiment of the invention said characterising quantities are the radiation resistances measured at the actual listening position and the reference listening position respectively.
US08144878B2 FM receiver and pilot detector thereof, and method for determining a type of a processed signal
An FM receiver and a pilot detector thereof, and a method for determining a type of a processed signal are provided. The FM receiver comprises a demodulator, a band pass filter (BPF), and a pilot detector. The demodulator generates a multiplexed (MPX) signal. The BPF filters the MPX signal to generate a pilot signal. The pilot detector comprises a signal addition device and a comparator. The signal addition device adds the processed signal for a period of time and to generate a result signal in response to the addition. The comparator compares the result signal with a reference to determine whether the type is stereo. The method comprises the steps of: adding the processed signal for a period of time; generating a result signal in response to the addition; and comparing the result signal with a reference to determine whether the type is stereo.
US08144876B2 Validating encrypted archive keys with MAC value
An apparatus and a method for validating encrypted archive keys is described. In one embodiment, a passphrase is received. An archive key is recovered with the passphrase. A Message Authentication Code (MAC) value is computed with the recovered archive key. The computed MAC value is compared with a MAC value stored in an archive to determine the validity of the passphrase. The stored MAC value is originally computed with an original passphrase using the archive key as a MAC key.
US08144874B2 Method for obtaining key for use in secure communications over a network and apparatus for providing same
A system and method comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for authenticating and encrypting and decrypting information transferred over a public network between a client application program running in a client computer and a server application program running in a server computer and a directory service application program running in a server computer. A method for obtaining a session master key by an application from a server includes sending an open request to the server for the session master key and receiving a first reply by the application from the server with a first portion of the session master key. The first reply identifies a directory server from which a second portion of the session master key may be obtained. The application sends an open request to the directory server specified by the server in the first reply for the second portion of the session master key and receives it from the directory server. The session master key is generated by the application using the first portion of the session master key received from the server and the second portion of the session master key received from the directory server.
US08144872B2 System and method for generating analog-digital mixed chaotic signal, encryption communication method thereof
A system and method for generating analog-digital mixed chaotic signal and an encryption communication method thereof are provided. In the system and method, the complementarity between continuous chaotic systems (12, 22) and digital chaotic systems (11, 21) are reasonably utilized. In specific, the digital chaotic systems, which are separated from each other, control the local continuous chaotic systems respectively, so as to enable the continuous chaotic systems, which are also separated from each other, to stably and synchronously work for a long time. Thus, there is no need to transmit the synchronizing signal, and as a result the anti-attack capability is increased effectively. Further, the continuous chaotic systems disturb the local digital chaotic systems to prevent the digital chaotic systems from degradation. This compensates the drawbacks of digital chaotic systems.
US08144867B2 Duration computing method in a security module
Example embodiments are directed to a duration computing method in a security module inserted into an apparatus including an internal clock. The apparatus may receive a digital data stream encrypted via control words contained in a control message ECM. The method may include receiving data coming from the internal clock of the apparatus including a current temporal information, storing the data representing the current temporal information in the security module, receiving the control message ECM to decrypt at least one control word, reading previous data representing a previous temporal information at a moment of processing the previous control message ECM, and processing the control message ECM when the current temporal information is temporally ahead of the previous temporal information.
US08144866B2 Method and system for securing data utilizing redundant secure key storage
A system and method which protects a data processing system against encryption key errors by providing redundant encryption keys stored in different locations, and providing the software with the ability to select an alternate redundant key if there is any possibility that the encryption key being used may be corrupted. In the preferred embodiment, a memory control module in the data processing device is configured to accommodate the storage of multiple (for example up to four or more) independent password/key pairs, and the control module duplicates a password key at the time of creation. The redundant passwords and encryption keys are forced into different memory slots for later retrieval if necessary. The probability of redundant keys being corrupted simultaneously is infinitesimal, so the system and method of the invention ensures that there is always an uncorrupted encryption key available.
US08144865B2 Protection of the execution of a DES algorithm
A method for protecting an execution, by an integrated circuit, of a ciphering and/or deciphering algorithm taking into account data and at least one valid key and performing several iterations of the same calculation, including at least one execution of an iteration with the valid key between several executions of the same iteration with the invalid keys obtained by applying at least one non-linear one-way function to the valid key.
US08144863B2 Method and apparatus for echo cancellation
A technique of echo cancellation in a communication system. A method and/or apparatus of echo cancellation that may be suitable for performing echo cancellation under single talk and double talk conditions. A method and/or apparatus of echo cancellation that may significantly reduce a residual echo in a single talk environment (e.g. present in many telecommunications systems) without distorting a near end signal in a double talk environment. A method and/or apparatus of echo cancellation that may reduce a residual echo in single talk and double talk environments by applying a post-processing technique to an ECLMS algorithm.
US08144860B1 Method and apparatus providing remote end input validation
A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing remote end input validation is presented. A communication is sent to an IVR from a remote end device. The IVR responds by sending a Request Voice Data Capsule (request VDC) to the remote end device. The remote end device receives the Request Voice Data Capsule (request VDC) from the IVR and executes a contained in the remote VDC. The remote end communications device validates user inputs utilizing a resource associated with said remote end communications device and sends a Response Voice Data Capsule (response VDC) including at least one validated communication to the IVR. The IVR processes the response VDC.
US08144853B1 Methods, systems, and devices for providing contact information
Certain exemplary embodiments comprise a method, comprising storing, within a telecommunications network, contact information for each of a plurality of contacts, the contact information for at least one of the plurality of contacts comprising a telephone availability status; and updating the telephone availability status for said at least one of the plurality of contacts.
US08144848B2 System and method for telephone directory advertising
A directory advertising system includes a user interface module, a database, and a control module. The user interface module displays a special telephone number for an advertiser in a directory advertisement. The database stores the directory advertisement, the special telephone number, and a maximum amount to be charged to the advertiser. The control module decrements the amount stored in the database when the special telephone number is dialed and deactivates the special telephone number when the amount reaches a predetermined level.
US08144847B2 Telephone number assignment method
Various example embodiments are described. According to one example, a method may include maintaining a database of a plurality of direct inward dial telephone numbers, including a subset of the direct inward dial telephone numbers which are available for assignment; receiving, through a website, an application from a customer for an alias telephone number to be associated with a customer telephone number; processing the application, the processing including assigning to the customer an alias telephone number selected from the subset of available telephone numbers which are available for assignment and associating the alias number with the customer telephone number; and receiving a telephone call from a third party to the alias telephone number and routing the telephone call from the alias telephone number to the customer telephone number.
US08144843B2 System and method for accessing a messaging service using a short dialing sequence
A system and method for providing easy access to messaging services in a telecommunications network having office switches that are used by different providers of telephone and messaging services. The system uses a supplementary services database to maintain customer records including whether the customer uses messaging services and whether the customer subscribes to a short dialing sequence service for access to the messaging services. The customer is connected to the central office switch, which analyzes the dialing sequences generated by the customer. When the customer attempts access to the messaging services, the customer dials a short dialing or message sequence, such as *XX. The central office switch triggers a query to the supplementary services database for a call forwarding number to the messaging service used by the customer when the selected short dialing sequence is recognized by the switch. When the central office switch receives the call forwarding number, the number is used to route the customer to the messaging service.
US08144838B2 Automated task classification system
The invention concerns an automated task classification system that operates on a task objective of a user. The system may include a meaningful phrase generator that generates a plurality of meaningful phrases from a set of verbal and non-verbal speech. Each of the meaningful phrases may be generated based on one of a predetermined set of the task objectives. A recognizer may recognize at least one of the generated meaningful phrases in an input communication of the user and a task classifier may make a classification decision in response to the recognized meaningful phrases relating to one of the set of predetermined task objectives.
US08144835B2 Digital subscriber line (DSL) diagnostic tools and methods to use the same
Digital subscriber line (DSL) diagnostic tools and methods to use the same are disclosed. An example DSL diagnostic tool comprises a data collector to automatically collect real-time performance data associated with a subscriber, a database interface module to automatically collect historical data associated with the subscriber and to collect performance data associated with a neighbor subscriber line, a data analyzer to automatically analyze the real-time and historical performance data associated with the subscriber and the performance data associated with the neighbor subscriber line to identify a potential problem with an analyzed subscriber line associated with the subscriber, and a trouble ticket system interface module to automatically submit a repair ticket when the data analyzer does not identify a potential problem.
US08144831B2 Method and apparatus for sorting materials according to relative composition
Disclosed herein is a metal sorting device including an X-ray tube, a dual energy detector array, a microprocessor, and an air ejector array. The device senses the presence of samples in the x-ray sensing region and initiates identifying and sorting the samples. After identifying and classifying the category of a sample, at a specific time, the device activates an array of air ejectors located at specific positions in order to place the sample in the proper collection bin.
US08144829B2 Cone-beam CT imaging scheme
A general imaging scheme is proposed for applications of CBCT. The approach provides a superior CBCT image quality by effective scatter correction and noise reduction. Specifically, in its implementation of CBCT imaging for radiation therapy, the proposed approach achieves an accurate patient setup using a partially blocked CBCT with a significantly reduced radiation dose. The image quality improvement due to the proposed scatter correction and noise reduction also makes CBCT-based dose calculation a viable solution to adaptive treatment planning.
US08144828B2 Counter/timer functionality in data acquisition systems
A counter module may include a first set of registers configured to store respective sets of first control data, a second set of registers configured to store respective sets of second control data, a first counter and a second counter. The first counter may be coupled to the first set of registers and may receive counter input signals and an internal control signal, and generate a first count output and a first terminal count output according to one of the respective sets of the first control data, the internal control signal, and the counter input signals. The second counter may be coupled to the first counter and to the second set of registers, and may receive the counter input signals, generate the internal control signal, and generate a second count output and a second terminal count output according to one of the respective sets of the second control data and the counter input signals. The counter module may also include output control logic configured to generate a timer output based on the first terminal count output and the second terminal count output.
US08144826B2 Clock signal recovery device and method for recovering clock signals
A clock signal recovery device has a digital data signal input for the input of a digital data signal and a clock signal output for the output of a recovered clock signal. The digital data signal has a given nominal clock signal frequency. The clock signal recovery device is a digital circuit.
US08144824B2 Trend influenced time tracking
A method for determining a communication channel location is disclosed. A first subset of a plurality of channel impulse responses is averaged over a first time period to produce a first filtered channel impulse response, and a second subset of the plurality of channel impulse responses is averaged over a second time period to produce a second filtered channel impulse response. The second time period is different from the first time period, and the second subset is different from the first subset. The communication channel location is determined using the first filtered channel impulse response and the second filtered channel impulse response.
US08144823B2 Signal processing device and signal processing method
The present invention discloses a signal processing device and a signal processing method. The signal processing device includes a plurality of receiving devices, a storage module, a weighting module, and a processing module. Each of the receiving devices is capable of receiving an original signal stream, thus the plurality of receiving devices can generate a set of signal streams. The storage module is used for storing a plurality set of signal streams generated by the plurality of receiving devices. The weighting module can generate plurality sets of rotated signal streams according to a reference phase and the plurality sets of signal streams, and further generate a set of weighting signal according to the rotated signal streams. And, the processing module can generate a set of weighting signal streams according to the set of weighting signal and the plurality set of signal streams.
US08144819B2 Synchronization for chirp sequences
Methods and apparatus for identifying correct peaks in outputs of matched filters in user equipment for communication systems are provided. A received signal is correlated with a replica of a synchronization signal, thereby producing a correlation output signal. Peaks are detected in the correlation output signal. The peak is tested at a plurality of predetermined locations that are based on properties of the synchronization signal, thereby producing a plurality of peak test signals. The maximum of the peak test signals is determined.
US08144813B2 Receiving method and receiving circuit
A receiving method according to the present invention adjusts a level of an output voltage signal by switching a gain to be used for converting an inputted current signal to a voltage signal, in a preamplifier. Performing offset compensation on the output voltage signal in an offset compensator, in a post amplifier. Adding a reset signal, whose polarity is made opposite to a polarity of the output voltage signal, to the output voltage signal, in the preamplifier. Detecting the reset signal having added to the output voltage signal, and resetting the offset compensator by use of the detected reset signal, in the post amplifier.
US08144812B2 Best frame derivation in a wireless communications network
A communications node can receive a plurality of communication signals, each including a block of data estimates with respective quality metrics. Each block of data estimates can be derived from an original block of data sent over different wireless paths, or from a derived block of data estimates sent over a different wireless path. A data combining circuit can be used to combines the blocks of data estimates as a function of the respective quality metrics to produce an output set of data estimates with a derived quality metric.
US08144810B2 Serial radio frequency to baseband interface with programmable clock
An interface between an RF processing section and a baseband processing section supports general purpose message transmission as well as satellite positioning system signal sample transmission between the RF processing section and the baseband processing section. The interface includes a bi-directional message serial interface and a data serial interface. The complexity of the data serial interface may be minimized by using a single data bit signal line in the data serial interface.
US08144807B2 Crosstalk cancellation in digital subscriber line communications
A digital subscriber line (DSL) modem that has a canceller digital filter for cancelling crosstalk and RF interference in a received DSL signal is disclosed. The modem includes common-mode sense circuitry and also differential-mode sense circuitry. Samples of the common-mode signal are acquired during a “quiet” period of initialization of the DSL modem, and samples of the differential-mode signal are acquired during live transmission of a DSL signal. An estimate of an autocorrelation function is obtained from the common-mode samples, and a cross-correlation of the common-mode samples and differential-mode samples is also estimated. Digital filter coefficients are derived from these estimates, based on the assumption that the common-mode samples acquired during the “quiet” phase represent crosstalk and RF interference present during differential-mode communications. The digital filter coefficients can also be updated during showtime of the DSL link, using an expanded number of samples of the common-mode and differential-mode signals.
US08144806B2 Device, system and method of I/Q mismatch correction
Briefly, some embodiments of the invention may provide devices, systems and methods of in-phase and quadrature mismatch analysis and correction. For example, a method in accordance with an embodiment of the invention may include re-encoding an estimated symbol of an input signal having an in-phase component and a quadrature component, based on an analysis of a mismatch between said in-phase component and said quadrature component.
US08144803B2 Inversion of channel distortion by adaptive wavelet lifting
A method for inverting telecommunication channel distortion by adaptive wavelet lifting. The distortion signal is analyzed using wavelet lifting and the inverse filter is computed. Coefficients of the inverse filter are used to either compute a transmission pre-filter or to update the transmitted message.
US08144799B2 Multi-antenna reception apparatus, multi-antenna reception method, multi-antenna transmission apparatus and multi-antenna communication system
Soft decision sections (503, 506) provisionally decide each modulated signal (502, 505) separated using an inverse matrix calculation of a channel fluctuation matrix at separation section (501). Signal point reduction sections (508, 510, 514, 516) reduce candidate signal points of a multiplexed modulated signal using the provisional decision results (504, 507). Soft decision sections (512, 518) make a correct decision using the reduced candidate signal points and obtain received data (RA, RB) of each modulated signal. This allows received data RA, RB with a good error rate characteristic to be obtained with a relatively small number of calculations without reducing data transmission efficiency.
US08144797B2 CQI table for wireless MIMO networks
A Channel Quality Indicator table for wireless multiple input multiple output (MIMO) networks is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of generating a table for channel quality indicator (CQI) for an open loop MIMO transmission includes calculating performance of a link between a transmitter and a user end unit for each MIMO transmission mode over a range of average signal-to-noise ratio, and selecting the MIMO transmission mode that maximizes performance for each subset of the range of average signal-to-noise ratio. The method further includes storing the selected MIMO transmission mode and the corresponding subset of the range of average signal-to-noise ratio in a CQI table, the CQI table being stored in an user end unit and a base transceiver station of the open loop MIMO network.
US08144794B2 Efficient optimal ML detector
An efficient optimal maximum-likelihood output detector reducing the complexity of demodulation/decoding computations in multiple-input multiple-output communication systems. A plurality of received signals may be combined into a plurality of combined received signals by multiplication of a matrix representing the plurality of received signals with another matrix that meets certain conditions. The plurality of combined received signals may then allow for slicing operations as well as calculation of distance metrics with significantly reduced complexity.
US08144793B2 Cognitive multi-user OFDMA
A computing device operating according to a frequency division multiplexed protocol in which communication occurs over a signal formed from a plurality of sub-channels selected from anywhere in a frequency spectrum. A computing device may select sub-channels cognitively by using information about sub-channels previously deemed suitable or unsuitable by that computing device or other computing devices. A described technique for determining sub-channel suitability includes analyzing radio frequency energy in the sub-channel to detect signals generated by another computing device or high noise levels. Information may also be used to cognitively select sub-channels to be analyzed, such as by first selecting for analysis previously-used sub-channels.
US08144790B2 Broadcast receiver and method of processing data
A broadcast receiver, and a method of processing data are disclosed. The broadcast receiver includes a receiving unit, a RS frame decoder, a decoding unit, and an output unit. The receiving unit receives a broadcast signal multiplexed mobile broadcast service data including a first information associated with safety/security and main broadcast service data. The RS frame decoder performs CRC-decoding and RS-decoding on the RS frame, thereby correcting errors occurred in the corresponding mobile broadcast service data. The decoding unit extracts the first information from the error-corrected mobile broadcast service data, thereby decoding the extracted data with at least one of an audio decoder, a video decoder, and a data decoder. The output unit outputs the first information decoded by the decoder in a form of at least one of a text, a voice message, and an image.
US08144789B2 Picture coding apparatus
In order to improve the accuracy of a code amount estimated by using a predictive residual when coding at a low data rate, an encoder is utilized to perform picture coding processing on a picture to be coded which is an input signal, by using a technique such as H.264. Specifically, a code amount predictor predicts the code amount on the basis of an evaluation value obtained by predictive-residual code amount evaluation value generating unit, a coding-condition code amount evaluation value generating unit, and a motion-vector-information code amount evaluation value generating unit. The predicted code amount is used for controlling coding in the encoder.
US08144788B2 DTV transmitting system and receiving system and method of processing broadcast data
A digital television receiving system includes a frame encoder, a data randomizing and expanding unit, a group formatter, a block processor, a deinterleaver, and a multiplexer. The frame encoder encodes an enhanced data frame for error correction. The data randomizing and expanding unit randomizes the encoded enhanced data and expands the randomized enhanced data. The group formatter forms a group of enhanced data having head, body, and tail regions and inserts the expanded data and transmission parameters into the body region. The block processor codes the group of enhanced data, and the deinterleaver deinterleaves the coded enhanced data. The packet formatter formats the deinterleaved enhanced data into enhanced data packets.
US08144785B2 Adaptive weighting of reference pictures in video decoding
A video decoder, encoder, and corresponding methods for processing video signal data for an image block and a particular reference picture index to predict the image block are disclosed that utilize adaptive weighting of reference pictures to enhance video compression, where a decoder includes a reference picture weighting factor unit for determining a weighting factor corresponding to the particular reference picture index; an encoder includes a reference picture weighting factor assignor for assigning a weighting factor corresponding to the particular reference picture index; and a method for decoding includes receiving a reference picture index with the data that corresponds to the image block, determining a weighting factor for each received reference picture index, retrieving a reference picture for each index, motion compensating the retrieved reference picture, and multiplying the motion compensated reference picture by the corresponding weighting factor to form a weighted motion compensated reference picture.
US08144784B2 Position coding for context-based adaptive variable length coding
Particular embodiments include a method, an apparatus, and logic embodied in tangible computer-readable medium that when executed carries out a method of encoding an ordered sequence of quantized transform coefficients of a block of image data. One embodiment is a context adaptive variable length coding method that includes position coding the positions of zero-valued and non-zero valued coefficients by either a mixed method that encodes either the run length of zeroes preceding a non-zero coefficient or the run length of nonzero-valued coefficients preceding a zero-valued coefficients. Another includes position coding that uses a variable length code for two parameters respectively indicating the number of zero-valued coefficient positions and nonzero-valued coefficient positions still to be coded.
US08144781B2 Video processing system for scrambling layered video streams and methods for use therewith
A video processing system includes a video encoder that encodes a video stream into an independent video layer stream and a first dependent video layer stream that requires the independent video layer for decoding. A scrambling module scrambles the independent video layer stream to produce a scrambled independent video layer stream and leaves the first dependent video layer stream unscrambled.
US08144780B2 Detecting visual gestural patterns
A processing device and method are provided for capturing images, via an image-capturing component of a processing device, and determining a motion of the processing device. An adaptive search center technique may be employed to determine a search center with respect to multiple equal-sized regions of an image frame, based on previously estimated motion vectors. One of several fast block matching methods may be used, based on one or more conditions, to match a block of pixels of one image frame with a second block of pixels of a second image. Upon matching blocks of pixels, motion vectors of the multiple equal-sized regions may be estimated. The motion may be determined, based on the estimated motion vectors, and an associated action may be performed. Various embodiments may implement techniques to distinguish motion blur from de-focus blur and to determine a change in lighting condition.
US08144773B2 Coding apparatus, coding method, and coding system
A first prediction unit performs intra-prediction of an original image corresponding to an inter-frame coded frame to produce a first prediction residual and a prediction parameter. A second prediction unit performs intra-prediction of local decode data corresponding to the inter-frame coded data with the prediction parameter to produce a second prediction residual. A subtractor calculates difference data between the first prediction residual and the second prediction residual. A third prediction unit performs intra-prediction of data corresponding to a decoded frame with the prediction parameter to produce a third prediction residual, when the inter-frame coded data is decoded and transformed into the intra-frame coded data. An adder calculates addition data of the third prediction residual and the differential data. An intra-frame coding unit performs intra-frame coding to the addition data.
US08144771B2 Method and apparatus for image coding and decoding with cross-reference mode
An image compression method and apparatus, in which coding efficiency is improved by coding multiple pictures through cross-reference between the pictures, and an image decompression method and apparatus. The image compression method includes dividing each of the pictures into predetermined slices, determining a prediction mode having higher efficiency and a coding order for each of corresponding slices of the pictures by performing prediction on the corresponding slices, and coding each of the slices in the determined prediction mode according to the determined order of coding. The pictures are coded through cross-reference between them.
US08144770B2 Apparatus and method for encoding moving picture
Provided are moving picture encoding apparatus and method skipping intra prediction in encoding mode determination using rate-distortion (RD) costs and determining an encoding mode at high speed. The moving picture encoding method includes the steps of: setting the lowest one of rate-distortion costs of macroblocks adjacent to a macroblock to be encoded as a threshold value; setting the lowest one of mode-specific distortion costs obtained by inter prediction for the macroblock to be encoded as an optimum inter mode distortion cost; comparing the threshold value with the optimum inter mode distortion cost; and when the threshold value is larger than the optimum inter mode distortion cost, as a result of the comparison, skipping intra prediction and setting a mode having the optimum inter mode distortion cost as a final encoding mode.
US08144767B2 Method and apparatus for coding image information, method and apparatus for decoding image information, method and apparatus for coding and decoding image information, and system of coding and transmitting image information
An image information decoding method for decoding compressed image information which has been coded via a process including dividing an input image signal into blocks, performing an orthogonal transform on the blocks on a block-by-block basis, and quantizing resultant orthogonal transform coefficients. The decoding process includes performing dequantization such that a quantization parameter is weighted by an addition operation, and the dequantization is performed on each chroma components of the quantized coefficients using said weighted quantization parameter, and performing an inverse orthogonal transform.
US08144764B2 Video coding
A method of encoding a video signal representing a sequence of pictures, the method employing both non-temporal prediction and temporal prediction, wherein the method comprises, for each picture that forms a reference picture for the temporal prediction of another picture, associating with each such picture an indicator indicating the temporal order of the reference picture in the encoded video signal relative to the other reference pictures in the encoded video signal.
US08144763B2 Imaging apparatus, imaging system and method thereof
To provide a system, apparatus and method of changing frame rate of cameras according to the detector that has sent an alarm signal, in order to optimize utilization of hardware resources. An apparatus for setting a frame rate under which images are captured by a camera in an image capturing system having a plurality of cameras and a plurality of detectors, the apparatus including: detector interface for receiving a first signal from at least one of the sensors; association unit for associating the first signal with information related to the camera; calculation unit for calculating a frame rate of each of the plurality of cameras based on the association between the first signal and the information related to the cameras; setting unit for setting the frame rate of the camera calculation by the calculation unit; and second reception unit (capture card) for receiving image data from the camera at a frame rate set by the setting unit.
US08144761B2 Pulse transmission method, pulse transmission system, transmitter, and receiver
A pulse transmission method for transmitting data by using pulse signals, each having a predetermined pulse width; defining a symbol time at least N times the predetermined pulse width, N being at least 2; defining a basic delay time calculated by dividing the predetermined pulse width by a predetermined integer; placing the pulse signals in the symbol time by delaying the pulse signals by an integral multiple of the basic delay time from start of the symbol time, the number of the pulse signals being k and 0≦k≦N being satisfied; and transmitting the pulse signals.
US08144758B2 Method and apparatus for single burst equalization of single carrier signals in broadband wireless access systems
A receiver implementing a single carrier single burst equalization (SC-SBE) method is capable of achieving near optimal reception of individual single carrier RF bursts by making an accurate estimate of the burst's propagation channel impulse response (CIR). The SC-SBE method uses a CIR based coefficient computation process to obtain filter coefficients for a minimum mean square error decision feedback equalizer (MMSE-DFE). The MMSE-DFE filter computation process computes a sufficiently large number of coefficients for the DFE filters, i.e., the feed forward filter (FFF) and feedback filter (FBF), so that each filter spans the maximum anticipated length of the CIR. In order to implement the filters efficiently, a coefficient selection process eliminates less significant computed FFF and FBF coefficients. The resulting FFF and FBF are sparse filters in that most of the taps in the filter delay lines do not have a filter coefficient. Such filters may be efficiently implemented in the time domain.
US08144757B2 System and method for estimating probabilities of events
A dual adaptive importance-sampling system and method is provided that can estimate the probability of events by combining dual complementary importance-sampling simulations. The present invention exploits the ability to determine an optimal biased pdf using an iterative procedure that requires relatively little a priori knowledge of how to bias. Hence, the present invention is particularly suited for evaluating the BERs and/or WERs of coded communication and storage systems, and is generally applicable to arbitrarily chosen codes. When applied to coded communication and storage systems, the present invention provides a versatile technique for the fast and accurate estimation of BERs and WERs of FEC codes down to values of 10−20 or lower.
US08144753B2 Detection device of a spreading code and a timing, and a method thereof
An A/D converted and inputted signal is stored in a memory. A sliding correlator sequentially reads the signal stored in the memory and despreads this signal. A despreading timing is adjusted and then the candidate for a despreading code is outputted from a code generation circuit. The despreading code outputted at a predetermined timing is used for obtaining a correlation value of signals outputted from the memory, using the sliding correlator. Thus, by storing signals in the memory, fluctuation of a correlation value caused by fading does not occur while specifying a code or detecting a despreading timing.
US08144752B2 Method and device for receiving a BOC modulation radio-navigation signal
Disclosed is a receiver and a method for receiving a radio-electric navigation signal modulated by a carrier at a frequency fp, a sub-carrier at a frequency fsp and a pseudo-random code at a frequency fc, in which the radio-electric signal is converted into a two-way base band I, Q, characterized in that K modified pseudo-random codes, where K=α·fsp/fc, a being a predetermined integer, are generated locally by a modified code generator, each modified code having, during a time duration Tk where Tk=1/α·fsp, the shape of the pseudo-random code without the sub-carrier, and being offset in time by a duration Tk of the preceding modified pseudo-random code; in both ways, the signal is multiplied by the K modified codes and is phase- and quadrature-correlated by two phase and quadrature sub-carriers generated locally.
US08144751B2 Satellite signal receiver apparatus and satellite signal reception method
A satellite signal receiver apparatus by which the hardware scale can be suppressed while high speed synchronization is assured. A carrier frequency component is removed from a satellite signal. Then, adding those of signals obtained after every period interval of spread spectrum codes and signals stored in a memory which have a same phase at the period intervals and writing an addition result back into the memory are repeated by a number of times corresponding to plural periods thereby to accumulate signals corresponding to sums of the signals added over the plural periods at the period intervals into the memory. Then, correlation calculation is performed between the signals for the one period of the spread spectrum codes corresponding to the plural periods and a spread spectrum code of the receiver side to detect a correlation point between the satellite signal and the receiver side spread spectrum code.
US08144749B2 Nonparametric MIMO G-Rake receiver
With a nonparametric G-Rake receiver, combining weights may be determined using a nonparametric mechanism in multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) scenarios. In an example embodiment, a method for a receiving device having a nonparametric G-Rake receiver entails calculating an impairment covariance matrix and determining combining weights. More specifically, the impairment covariance matrix is calculated based on a pilot channel using a nonparametric mechanism in a MIMO scenario in which a code-reuse interference term exists. The combining weights are determined for the nonparametric G-Rake receiver responsive to the impairment covariance matrix and by accounting for the code-reuse interference term.
US08144745B2 Radio communication device and constellation control method
Provided is a radio communication device which can make Acknowledgement (ACK) reception quality and Negative Acknowledgement (NACK) reception quality to be equal to each other. The device includes: a scrambling unit (214) which multiplies a response signal after modulated, by a scrambling code “1” or “e−j(π/2)” so as to rotate a constellation for each of response signals on a cyclic shift axis; a spread unit (215) which performs a primary spread of the response signal by using a Zero Auto Correlation (ZAC) sequence set by a control unit (209); and a spread unit (218) which performs a secondary spread of the response signal after subjected to the primary spread, by using a block-wise spread code sequence set by the control unit (209).
US08144742B2 Surface emitting laser device
To provide a surface emitting laser device including a substrate; an optical resonator arranged on the substrate, the optical resonator including a lower multilayer reflector and an upper multilayer reflector; a strained active layer arranged in the resonator, the strained active layer having a multiple quantum well structure formed with a quantum well layer and a barrier layer; and a current confinement layer arranged on an upper side of the strained active layer, the current confinement layer including a selectively oxidized portion, where the current confinement layer is arranged at a position where a strain in the selectively oxidized portion influences the strained active layer.
US08144741B2 Semiconductor laser
A semiconductor laser comprises: a substrate; an n-cladding layer disposed on the substrate; an active layer disposed on the n-cladding layer; a p-cladding layer disposed on the active layer and forming a waveguide ridge; and a diffraction grating layer disposed between the active layer and the n-cladding layer or the p-cladding layer and including a phase shift structure in a part of the diffraction grating layer in an optical waveguide direction. The width of the p-cladding layer is increased in a portion corresponding to the phase shift structure of the diffraction grating layer.
US08144733B2 Partitioned medium access control implementation
A novel implementation of a partitioned Medium Access Control (MAC) is disclosed. The illustrative embodiment employs a shared bus that typically is already present in a wireless terminal for communication between an Upper MAC and a Lower MAC. The partitioned MAC implementation therefore does not require any additional communication means between the Upper MAC and Lower MAC, resulting in a lower-cost system. In addition, the Upper MAC and Lower MAC pass native data structures by reference over the shared bus, thereby eliminating the need for drivers to coordinate communication via interrupts, handshaking, etc. The partitioned MAC implementation results in a cost-effective distributed architecture in which the Upper MAC resides in the terminal's host processor and the Lower MAC resides in the terminal's wireless station.
US08144731B2 Control channel signaling in wireless communications
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate multiplexing control data values over a single physical control channel at least in part by dividing the control channel into one or more logical channels. The physical control channel can have a corresponding Walsh space for transmitting a number of bits, or representations thereof, and the Walsh space can be divided among the logical control channels. Additionally, the logical control channels and/or physical channel can be scrambled according to an identifier of a mobile device (such as MAC ID) to differentiate the data on the channel. Furthermore, a sector identifier can be used to scramble the data where the sector is ascertainable.
US08144729B2 Systems and methods for multiple mode voice and data communications using intelligently bridged TDM and packet buses
Systems and methods by which voice/data communications may occur in multiple modes/protocols are disclosed. In particular, systems and methods are provided for multiple native mode/protocol voice and data transmissions and receptions with a computing system having a multi-bus structure, including, for example, a TDM bus and a packet bus, and multi-protocol framing engines. Such systems preferably include subsystem functions such as PBX, voice mail and other telephony functions, LAN hub and data router. In preferred embodiments, a TDM bus and a packet bus are intelligently bridged and managed, thereby enabling such multiple mode/protocol voice and data transmissions to be intelligently managed and controlled with a single, integrated system.
US08144728B2 Access system for a cellular network
The present invention relates to a method and system for providing access to a cellular network (8), wherein a terminal device (1) is connected to an access device (2) according to access specifications of a broadband access network (12) which is not specifically designed to be used as a part of cellular network (8). The terminal device (1) indicates to the access device (2) that it wishes to be connected to the cellular network (8), and a session or call and a radio bearer is setup between the terminal device (1) and the cellular network (8). To achieve this, a service node (5) provided in the cellular network (8) requests a suitable access bearer from the access network (12) and the access device (2) sets up a corresponding access channel towards the terminal device (1). The terminal device (1) then associates the access channel to the correct radio bearer by using a corresponding identification. Thereby, service functions of the cellular network, e.g. UMTS services, can be distributed via any access network and existing broadband or high-speed access networks can be implemented in new cellular network structures. A huge capacity enhancement can thus be offered to the network operators of the cellular network without any standardization effort or license fee and at very small investment and maintenance costs.
US08144726B2 Structure for out of band signaling enhancement for high speed serial driver
A design structure is provided for a microelectronic serial driver. The serial driver is operable to transmit a differential pattern signal during a burst interval and a predetermined common mode voltage level during a second interval between adjacent burst intervals, the serial driver including at least one pre-driver and a driver coupled to an output of the pre-driver for transmitting the differential communication signal. A switching circuit is operable to switch the serial driver between a first power supply voltage level for the burst interval and the predetermined common mode voltage level, wherein the predetermined common mode voltage level is independent of variations in power supply voltage conditions and temperature conditions.
US08144722B2 Multi-channel scheduling method for WLAN devices with a single radio interface
A multi-channel scheduling method in a wireless network is provided. The wireless network includes a plurality of Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) device with a single radio interface. A regular time interval P and a Channel Coordination Window (CCW) to be repeated in a period of P are set. A request is made such that the plurality of devices are tuned to a first channel at a start point of the CCW. A pair of arbitrary WLAN devices among the plurality of WLAN devices is allowed to transmit control frames in the regular time interval P. The control frames are a transmission proposal control frame for proposing communication in a second channel and a response frame, responding to the transmission proposal control frame, for indicating whether the second channel has been accepted or rejected. The arbitrary WLAN device of the pair are switched to the second channel after acceptance.
US08144717B2 Initialization of a wireless communication network
A wireless communication network comprises an association unit and a plurality of stations. At least part of the stations store association information indicative of an associated route for transmission of messages from the station to the association unit. The association information is generated by installing the stations in a not-associated state; transmitting association request messages from stations in the not-associated state; and transmitting association grant messages in response to the association request messages. Each association grant message is transmitted only from the association unit or, at least when the station that has transmitted association request message is outside a reception range of the association unit, from one of the stations that is in an associated state. Each station that has received the association grant message in response to its association request message is switched to the associated state. Association information is stored that indicates the station that has sent the association grant message as part of the associated route to the association unit.
US08144714B1 Assured delivery message system and method
In method of providing assured message delivery across a distributed message delivery system with low delivery latency and network traffic, a set of destinations is first identified for a set of destinations for a message received at an ingress router to the network. The received message is stored in persistent storage along with meta-data about each destination for the message before the message is routed to each identified destination. The message is only removed from persistent storage when an acknowledgement has been received from each destination indicating that the message has been successfully received.
US08144712B2 Scheduling grant information signaling in wireless communication system
A wireless communication infrastructure entity including a transceiver coupled to a controller configured to generate parity bits based on scheduling grant information and to encode the parity bits based on additional scheduling grant information not used to generate the parity bits, wherein the encoded parity bits are combined with the scheduling grant information. The additional scheduling grant information may be transport block size or redundancy version information.
US08144709B2 Method, system and computer processing an IP packet, routing a structured data carrier, preventing broadcast storms, load-balancing and converting a full broadcast IP packet
Method for processing content of an Internet Protocol (IP) packet and method for processing a full broadcast IP packet. Processing content of an IP packet includes: extracting IP source and destination addresses and payload from the IP packet; and generating an IP frame encapsulating the IP source and destination addresses and the payload between a preamble field and an error checking field. Processing a full broadcast IP packet includes: receiving the full broadcast IP packet including an IP source address and a full broadcast IP destination address; ascertaining a closest matching IP address and a subnet thereof in a switching table of an IP switch; replacing the full broadcast IP destination address in the IP packet with a subnetted source address generated by applying the subnet mask to the IP source address; transmitting the IP packet to all IP addresses in the switching table within the subnetted source address.
US08144708B1 Collaborative multicast routing (CMR) for multicasting in unidirectional, hybrid, multi-tiered mobile wireless network
The present invention provides a scalable and reliable collaborative multicast routing for multicasting in hybrid, multi-tiered, mobile heterogeneous wireless networks. It establishes a multicast tree, maintains the established route, detects and prevents most link breakage within the multicast tree by a neighboring node or the cooperation of the neighboring node, and enables merging of partitioned multicast trees of the same multicast group by nodes that participate in one of the partitioned multicast trees. The use of local nodes to collaboratively establish, maintain, recover, and merge the hybrid, multi-tiered mobile wireless networks that use heterogeneous set of mobile wireless nodes is the fundamental basis for the collaborative multicast routing scheme of the present invention.
US08144707B2 Method and system for determining the existence of broadcast and multicast frames buffered in an access point
A method and a system for determining the existence of broadcast/multicast frames buffered in an access point (AP) are used to avoid wakening a station (STA) unnecessarily. The method includes: when receiving broadcast/multicast frames sent from a service network and/or multicast group, an AP sets a broadcast/multicast indication bit that associates the service network and/or multicast group to the valid state and sends frames that carry the broadcast/multicast indication bit to a STA; the STA determines whether there are broadcast/multicast frames buffered in the AP according to the associated service network and/or multicast group and the received broadcast/multicast indication bit. Embodiments of the present disclosure also disclose an AP and a STA. The AP can identify whether there are broadcast/multicast frames buffered in an AP.
US08144706B1 Method and apparatus for managing packets in a packet switched network
Systems, methods, and computer program products for modifying standard VLAN tags to perform network packet switching are described. In some implementations, a data packet can be received, and the data format of the data packet can be determined. Then, switching information associated with data package management is generated based on the data format of the data packet. The data packet can be modified using the generated switching information. For example, the modified data packet can be extended by a predetermined length to accommodate additional switching information.
US08144704B2 IP communication apparatus and IP communication method of such apparatus
An IP terminal apparatus has a SIP controller, a UDP packet controller, and an RTP controller. The SIP controller transmits and receives a call control message in order to establish a connection to and from a destination apparatus. The UDP packet controller transmits and receives media data with the destination apparatus in a media session after the connection was established. The RTP controller obtains source port number information of a media data packet that the UDP packet controller has received from the destination apparatus, and sets the obtained source port number as a destination port number for a packet to be transmitted to the destination apparatus. Thereby, a feasible range of NAT traversal can be improved in a simple and secure manner, even when at least one relay apparatuses employs symmetric NAT.
US08144703B2 Method to reduce the transmission latency in GSM/EDGE delay-sensitive applications
A transmitting peer transmits radio blocks over a radio interface from within a transmit window. A receiving peer receives the radio blocks within a receive window, and in case of a not correctly received radio block, sending back a NACK (Not Acknowledged) signaling message to inform the transmitting peer of reception failure. Upon reception of the NACK signaling message, the transmitting peer retransmits, until expiration of the transmit window, the not correctly received RLC/MAC radio block. The radio blocks are re-assembling in sequence at the receiving peer. Each radio block is considered as being permanently lost if not correctly received within the receive window. All correctly received radio blocks are delivered to a higher protocol layer. The network transmits a notification message to both the transmitting peer and the receiving peer to select a size of the transmit and receive windows inside a range of predetermined values including values less than 64 radio blocks.
US08144698B2 Scalable data forwarding techniques in a switched network
Scalable data forwarding techniques in a switched network are described herein. In one embodiment, an example of a process for forwarding data includes, in response to a first packet received from a first local node over a local area network (LAN) and destined to a first remote node over a provider network, a provider edge (PE) device of the provider network substituting a source MAC (media access control) address of the first packet with a virtual MAC address associated with the PE device, and the PE device transmitting the first packet having the virtual MAC address as the source MAC address to the first remote node over the provider network. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.
US08144692B2 Automation of IP phone provisioning with self-service voice application
Approaches for provisioning phones in packet voice networks are disclosed. One approach includes determining that an Internet Protocol (IP) phone has registered in a network; receiving a unique identifier of the IP phone; receiving identifying information about a user to be associated with the IP phone; determining, based on the information provided, a user identifier; generating a configuration for the IP phone based on the user identifier that includes information such as phone number, feature sets, and other configuration parameters; and providing the configuration to the IP phone. Various approaches for determining a user identifier based on information provided by the user are disclosed.
US08144688B2 System and method for discovering SCTP associations in a network
Systems and methods for discovering SCTP associations between devices communicating in a network are described. A method comprises monitoring packets communicated among a plurality of source and destination devices, determining a combination of source EP address, source port number, destination IP address, and destination port number that defines an association between a source device and a destination device, and resolving a combination of source and destination verification tags that further defines the association based upon the combination of EP addresses and port numbers. The method further comprises ascertaining whether a subsequently monitored packet belongs to the association based at least in part upon an element of the combination of verification tags after at least one element of the combination of EP addresses and port numbers has changed during the ongoing communication.
US08144687B2 Method, apparatus and system for establishing a direct route between agents of a sender node and a receiver node
In the present technique of a communication system (100), an address of a forwarding agent (114) linked to a receiver node (112) is detected to provide a discovered address. The discovered address is then used to establish a direct route with the forwarding agent of the receiver node for subsequent communications between a sender node (104) and the receiver node.