| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08151366B2 |
Secure optical media storage
An optical recording medium is provided for distributing content through a portable medium which can be transported by hand from one media player to another media player. The optical recording medium includes a read-only zone and a writable area. Copy control information is stored in the read-only zone. The copy control information specifies (a) an authorized content source and (b) content which is authorized to be downloaded from the authorized content source and recorded in the writable area of the optical recording medium. |
| US08151362B2 |
Image forming apparatus, function extending method and user authentication system
An image forming apparatus includes an user authentication part 31 for executing authentication of a user, a function enabling part 32 for enabling at least one function available for the first user based on authority of the first user set in advance when authentication of the first user executed by the user authentication part 31 results in success, and a function extending part 33 for extending at least one function available for the first user to enable when authentication of the second user executed by the user authentication part 31 results in success with at least one function available for the first user being enabled. Therefore, with a user who is not authorized to use certain function of the image forming apparatus is logging in, function extension is executed for allowing the user to use the certain function temporary. |
| US08151361B2 |
Image-processing system enabling user to use a plurality of communicably connected image-processing apparatuses, image-processing apparatus, function execution authorizing method, and function execution authorizing program embodied in computer readable medium
In order to facilitate the setting of functions executable in each of a plurality of image-processing apparatuses that are communicably connected to one another, each of the MFPs, which are communicably connected to one another, stores registered-user information including at least user identification information in each HDD. When an operated terminal among the plurality of MFPs receives user identification information, the operated terminal judges whether its HDD stores registered-user information including the received user identification information. When judging in the affirmative, the operated terminal permits execution of the functions possessed by the operated terminal. When judging in the negative, the operated terminal acquires, from the MFP (home terminal) that stores registered-user information including the received user identification information, the function information of the home terminal, and permits execution of the functions, among the functions defined in the function information of the home terminal, that are also possessed by the operated terminal. |
| US08151356B2 |
Method of transmitting and reproducing content processed by various DRM systems
Provided is a method of transmitting content processed according to first digital rights management (DRM) to a device that uses second DRM. The method includes generating a ticket using a first license server and a second license server, the first license server issuing a first license for use in the first DRM and the second license server issuing a second license for use in the second DRM; the second device obtaining a second content key required to process the content using the ticket and the second DRM; and the second device receiving the content from the first device and processing the content using the second content key and the second DRM. The ticket includes use control information that specifies a restriction of use of the content, and the second content key required to process the content using the second DRM. |
| US08151353B2 |
Multi-network virus immunization with trust aspects
An apparatus, device, methods, computer program product, and system are describe that determine a virus associated with a communications network, and distribute an anti-viral agent onto the communications network using a bypass network, the bypass network configured to provide transmission of the anti-viral agent with at least one of a higher transmission speed, a higher transmission reliability, a higher transmission security, and/or a physically-separate transmission path, relative to transmission of the virus on the communications network. |
| US08151347B2 |
Clustered file system for mix of trusted and untrusted nodes
A cluster of computer system nodes share direct read/write access to storage devices via a storage area network using a cluster filesystem. At least one trusted metadata server assigns a mandatory access control label as an extended attribute of each filesystem object regardless of whether required by a client node accessing the filesystem object. The mandatory access control label indicates the sensitivity and integrity of the filesystem object and is used by the trusted metadata server(s) to control access to the filesystem object by all client nodes. |
| US08151346B2 |
Unauthorized usage prevention system and information processing apparatus
A disclosed unauthorized usage prevention system enables execution of at least one software item including an identification information item uniquely associated with the software item, based on a key information item in a key module. An information processing apparatus includes a key information storage unit, a control unit, an unauthorized usage prevention controller, and a port. The unauthorized usage prevention controller includes a connection recognition unit and a key information copying unit. When the unauthorized usage prevention controller recognizes that the key module is connected to the port, the unauthorized usage prevention controller copies the key information item in the key module into the key information storage unit, and the control unit enables execution of all of the software items with identification information items associated with the key information items held in the key information storage unit. |
| US08151345B1 |
Self-authorizing devices
Self-authorizing cards and cellular network adapters for authorization of financially payments and other secure transactions. In some embodiments a smart card is provided with a connector for a USB port on a computer terminal such as a personal computer (PC). Embodiments are also provided for mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and similar devices. The self-authorizing devices typically include a secure element that has been previously provisioned with information about a particular card holder account. A secure element reader interrogates the smart element and derives information needed to authorize the transaction. A communications controller transmits the information to a host device, such as a PC, PDA, or a mobile phone. |
| US08151344B1 |
Method and apparatus to authenticate a user
One embodiment provides a system that uses an authenticated channel to authenticate a user. The system can register a user by storing an association between a username, a password, and a unique identifier. The system can then present a login screen to the user which includes a username field and a password field, wherein the username field is enabled and the password field is disabled. Next, the system can receive the username via the username field and receive the unique identifier over the authenticated channel. The system can then enable the password field in response to determining that the unique identifier is associated with the username. Next, the system can receive the password via the enabled password field. The system can then authenticate the user in response to determining that the password is associated with the username. |
| US08151337B2 |
Applying firewalls to virtualized environments
Each virtualized environment on a computer has its own set of firewall rules. The virtualized environments share a single instance of the operating system image, a filter engine and a single network stack. A virtualized environment may be a compartment or a server silo. A virtualized environment is a network isolation mechanism and may be used to prevent use of a computer to traverse network boundaries by creating a separate virtualized environment for each network, enabling a separate set of rules to be applied to each virtualized environment and the network interfaces within it. Virtualized environments may also be used to assign different trust levels to the same physical network. Firewall rules are applied by virtualized environment identifier (ID), enabling separate filters to be applied to each virtualized environment on a computer. A virtualized environment may include or be associated with one or more network interfaces. |
| US08151336B2 |
Devices and methods for secure internet transactions
Devices and methods are disclosed which provide a mobile communications device with multiple methods of wireless communication which can use one method, such as WiFi, to connect to an independent wireless access point while using another method, such as cellular, to verify the security of the wireless access point. The wireless access point provides two SSID's: one private SSID, which is usually encrypted to prevent access, and one public SSID, which is open to any mobile communications device. The mobile communications device connects to the public SSID and downloads a digital certificate. The mobile communications device then uses its cellular connection to verify the authenticity of the digital certificate with its service provider. If verified, the mobile communications device can make use of the wireless access point. |
| US08151335B2 |
Proxy authentication methods and apparatus
A proxy authentication method and apparatus is described for use in user authentication, e.g. for payment transactions.The authentication is carried out before the transaction between a electronic, e.g. digital identification device and a person terminal. Verification information is entered at the personal terminal to authenticate the user and if this is successful a verification flag is set in the digital identification device.The status of this flag, or an encrypted version thereof can be used by a transaction terminal of evidence that the user has been authenticated without having to transmit any secret identification information to the transaction terminal. |
| US08151333B2 |
Distributed single sign on technologies including privacy protection and proactive updating
Technologies for distributed single sign-on operable to provide user access to a plurality of services via authentication to a single entity. The distributed single sign-on technologies provide a set of authentication servers and methods for privacy protection based on splitting secret keys and user profiles into secure shares and periodically updating shares among the authentication servers without affecting the underlying secrets. The correctness of the received partial token or partial profiles can be verified with non-interactive zero-knowledge proofs. |
| US08151332B2 |
Digital identity management
One aspect relates to a process and associated device for managing digital ID lifecycles for application programs, and abstracting application programs for multiple types of credentials through a common Digital Identity Management System (DIMS) and Application Programming Interface (API) layer. |
| US08151329B2 |
Secure handling of stored-value data objects
An approach to managing stored-value data objects, such as electronic tickets, comprises secure systems and procedures for ticket issuing, storage, and redemption. With these systems and procedures in place, stored-value data objects may be securely transferred to remote systems, such as a user's personal electronic device, for subsequent secure redemption, thus allowing the user to gain access to the desired goods or service upon redeeming the data object. Techniques provide secure delivery of the requested data object to the requesting device, and provide secure redemption and disposal of the data object. Ticket issuing systems may be Internet-accessible systems, and users may purchase and redeem tickets using mobile terminals or other devices adapted for wireless communication. Standardized WPKI and Internet access procedures may be employed in ticket issuance and redemption. Techniques further provide temporary and rapid verification data objects useful where rapid ticket verification is essential, such as mass transit systems. |
| US08151327B2 |
Systems and methods for detection of session tampering and fraud prevention
The invention provides methods and apparatus for detecting when an online session is compromised. A plurality of device fingerprints may be collected from a user computer that is associated with a designated Session ID. A server may include pages that are delivered to a user for viewing in a browser at which time device fingerprints and Session ID information are collected. By collecting device fingerprints and session information at several locations among the pages delivered by the server throughout an online session, and not only one time or at log-in, a comparison between the fingerprints in association with a Session ID can identify the likelihood of session tampering and man-in-the middle attacks. |
| US08151324B2 |
Remotable information cards
An accessor function interfaces among a client, a relying party, and an identity provider. The identity provider can “manage” personal (i.e., self-asserted) information cards on behalf of a user, making the personal information cards available on clients on which the personal information cards are not installed. The client can be an untrusted client, vulnerable to attacks such as key logging, screen capture, and memory interrogation. The accessor function can also asked as a proxy for the relying party in terms of invoking and using the information cards system, for use with legacy relying parties. |
| US08151323B2 |
Systems and methods for providing levels of access and action control via an SSL VPN appliance
The present invention relates to systems and methods to identify a level of access for a resource being accessed via a secure socket layer virtual private network (SSL VPN) connection to a network, and to control the action on the resource based on the identified level of access. The appliance described herein provides intelligent secure access and action control to resources based on a sense and respond mechanism. When a user requests access to a resource via the SSL VPN connection of the appliance, the appliance obtains information about the client to determine the user access scenario—the location, device, connection and identify of the user or client. Based on the collected information, the appliance responds to the detected user scenario by identifying a level of access to the resource for the user/client, such as rights to view, print, edit or save a document, Based on the identified level of access, the appliance controls the actions performs on the resource by various techniques described herein so that the user can only perform the allowed action n accordance with the level of access. As such, the present invention allows organization to control and provide the appropriate level of access to valuable, confidential or business critical information accessed remotely or via a pubic network while protecting such information by controlling the types of actions performed or allowed to be performed remotely on the information. |
| US08151319B2 |
Authentication of devices in a wireless network
A method for authentication of devices (D1, D2, D3) in a wireless network, wherein—a device (D1, D2, D3) periodically switches its mode from a read mode, in which it is able to receive authentication data from one or more other devices (D1, D2, D3), to a write mode, in which it sends out authentication data to the one or more other devices (D1, D2, D3), according to a random time slot scheme, —the device (D1, D2, D3) authenticates itself after having received authentication data from another device (D1, D2, D3) during the read mode, and—the device (D1, D2, D3) switches permanently its mode to the write mode after being authenticated. |
| US08151312B2 |
Point-reading device and method for obtaining the network audio/video files
A point-reading device for obtaining network audio/video files includes an image reading unit for obtaining image codes including information codes representing audio/video target files. A digital processing unit connected with the image reading unit receives the image codes sent from the image reading unit and decodes the image codes to obtain the information codes representing the audio/video target files. A memory for storing data, connected with the digital processing unit stores an information table that identifies the corresponding relationships between the information codes representing the audio/video target files and attribute information used for obtaining the audio/video target files. A network module establishes a connection between the digital processing unit and a network server. An operation system supporting network protocol is provided in the digital processing unit. The digital processing unit obtains the attribute information corresponding to the information codes according to the information table, and controls the network module to obtain the network audio/video target files stored at network servers according to the attribute information. The digital processing unit has an embedded operation system which supports the network protocol. |
| US08151309B2 |
Audio/video and data signal redistribution system
A system for redistributing a multiple input audio/video and data signals having a redistributing device equipped to receive signals in a multiple formats and redistribute a selected signal to a user's premises over conductors, preferably existing twisted-pair telephone wire. The redistributing device is in interactive communication with a communications interface located in the user's premises which receives user-input control signals and contains switching circuitry which routes the selected signal to the user's premises where it is received by the receiving unit such as a television receiver. A single redistributing device services an entire multi-user network from a common distribution point, and services multiple users independently. The system of the invention does not interfere with normal use of the telephone network, so users can interactively access services provided by the system and use the telephone at the same time. In one preferred embodiment the system of the invention dynamically allocates frequencies and modulation techniques to various output signals, to maximize spectral efficiency and minimize interference and cross-talk. |
| US08151307B2 |
Operation reproducing method, operation reproducing apparatus and system
Operation history information in which information on an operation using multiple devices on a network performed in another system is recorded is acquired from the other system, and it is determined whether or not the operation performed in the other system is reproducible based on the operation history information. And the operation determined to be reproducible is presented to a user so as to reproduce the operation selected by the user. Reproduction can be executed simply and securely without being conscious of configurations and capabilities of devices in the system on the part of the user. |
| US08151305B2 |
Mobile television broadcast system
A digital television broadcast system with transmission and/or reception of digital television signals for improved mobile reception. The communication layers in the transmit and receive portions of the transmission system can be dynamically modified, e.g., based on usage patterns or current channel characteristics. The transmission system also provides for cross layer control, whereby parameters in various of the communication layers are analyzed to determine appropriate updates to the system configuration. |
| US08151301B2 |
IP TV queuing time/channel change operation
An Internet based television program delivery server, communicatively coupled to a plurality of television source devices and a plurality of recipient devices, that receives a plurality of Internet protocol television programs, buffers them, converts recipient device selected Internet protocol television programs to preview Internet television programs (having reduced per video frame data size) and transmits the preview Internet protocol television programs to the recipient device, for a short duration, until full scale Internet protocol television programs become available for viewing on the recipient device. A video conversion circuitry built into the Internet based television program delivery server performs the conversion of some of these television video contents to preview television video contents, to compensate for delay in full scale television program delivery during. The conversion itself includes reductions in frame rate, color and pixel resolutions, screen size and aspect ratios such that it produces lower bandwidth Internet protocol television program packets, during channel changing. |
| US08151300B2 |
Smart audio guide system and method
A smart audio guide system for use in conjunction with an interactive content distribution system is disclosed. The smart audio guide system includes a recommendation engine for providing a customized viewing-recommendations list for a viewer subsystem based upon the programming available from an interactive content distribution system and a customized viewing profile developed for the viewer subsystem. In response to one or more predetermined conditions, a smart guide actuator activates a processing unit, which is used to implement the smart audio guide system functions, which include causing a plurality of smart audio guide audio clips corresponding to the customized viewing-recommendations list to be uttered in a predetermined mode at the viewer subsystem. |
| US08151296B2 |
Interactive program guide with continuous data stream and client-server data supplementation
An interactive television program guide system is provided. An interactive television program guide implemented on user television equipment obtains program guide data from two data delivery mechanisms. Current program guide data is obtained from a continuous data stream. Other program guide data (which may include the current program guide data) is obtained by the program guide from a program guide server. The continuous data stream may also include program and program grouping identifiers. The program guide may perform real-time actions associated with programs identified in the continuous data stream. |
| US08151294B2 |
Technique for delivering entertainment programming content including commercial content therein over a communications network
Although personal video recorders (also known as digital video recorders) provide certain conveniences to viewers of programming content, such devices facilitate manipulation or Askipping@ of commercials, frustrating the intent of the advertisers of the commercials. In accordance with the invention, when a user fast-forwards (rewinds) a commercial, alternate commercial(s) may be accessed for display in place of the original commercial, which provides a full impression of the goods and service promoted, otherwise impossible to appreciate at the fast-forward (rewind) speed. The duration of the alternate commercial(s) corresponds to the duration of the original commercial at the fast-forward (rewind) speed controlled by the user. With the invention, the user advantageously realizes the convenience of manipulating programming content, and at the same time can appreciate the full impression of an alternate commercial to the original commercial, albeit in a shorter duration. |
| US08151291B2 |
Methods and apparatus to meter content exposure using closed caption information
Methods and apparatus to meter content exposure using closed caption information are disclosed. An example method comprises developing a keyword database of terms based on program guide descriptive of programs for a given time period, generating one or more values representative of likelihoods that one or more respective media content was presented based on a comparison of closed caption text and the keyword database, collecting audience measurement data, and employing the one or more likelihood values to identify a set of reference data for comparison to the audience measurement data to identify presented content. |
| US08151290B1 |
Television program database architecture
The present invention provides a data structure for selection of products containing presentable programming as well as a computerized user-interactive system for facilitating allowing a user to select and be provided with deliverable entities including one or more presentable programs. The system and data structure of the invention allow effective, organized, and convenient browsing, selection, conceptual packaging of presentable program-containing products. The system and data structure of the invention further allow efficient structuring and storage of information associated therewith and useful in facilitating effective computerized representation, storage, and delivery of such products. Each product may include multiple deliverable entities, such as multiple programs and merchandize. |
| US08151284B2 |
Disc apparatus for recording and/or reproducing information for use with a large diameter disc which prevents use with a small diameter disc
A disc apparatus includes: a housing; a recording/reproducing unit provided in the housing for recording and/or reproducing information in and/or from a disc-shaped recording medium; an insertion/ejection port provided on the housing through which the disc-shaped recording medium is inserted and ejected, the insertion/ejection port having a width greater than the diameter of the disc-shaped recording medium; a disc transport mechanism provided in the housing to transport the disc-shaped recording medium between the insertion/ejection port and the recording/reproducing unit; and an identification mechanism to identify the disc-shaped recording medium as a first disc-shaped recording medium having a first diameter or a second disc-shaped recording medium having a diameter smaller than the first diameter The identification mechanism includes a pair of levers, a pair of gear members, urging means, a stopper, first detection means, and control means. |
| US08151282B2 |
System and method for pipelet processing of data sets
The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for decomposing a complex problem or task into one or more constituent components, operating in parallel over a plurality of computing devices in communication over a network. A system according to the present invention comprises one or more pipelets. A given pipelet comprises a read data interface operative to receive incoming data, one or more functions for processing the incoming data, and a write data interface operative to make the processed incoming data available as output data to be further processed. The system according to the present embodiment further comprises a controller operative to receive a pipeline specification that identifies the one or more pipelets as belonging to a pipeline, generate a dependency map that identifies an order in which to execute the one or more pipelets and execute the pipelets according to the dependency map to generate a result. |
| US08151281B2 |
Method and system of mapping at least one web service to at least one OSGi service
The present invention provides a method and system of mapping. In an exemplary embodiment, the method and system include (1) creating a proxy bundle corresponding to the at least one web service, (2) registering a proxy web service corresponding to the proxy bundle in a service registry, (3) searching for the at least one web service in the service registry, (4) returning a reference to the proxy web service from the service registry in response to the searching, and (5) invoking at least one method on the returned reference, thereby invoking the at least one web service. |
| US08151280B2 |
Simple and dynamic configuration of network devices
The present invention relates to a system and method for configuring and managing network devices. The arrival (and departure) of devices on a network can be detected by a monitor. Upon detection, network devices can be simply and dynamically configured with little or no end-user intervention, for instance by automatically loading device drivers and allocating resources for the devices. Furthermore, network devices can be associated with other network devices such as a personal computer to facilitate seamless integration of network devices with a computer operating system. |
| US08151277B2 |
Method and system for dynamic remote injection of in-process agents into virtual machine based applications
A method and system for dynamic and adaptive deployment of in-process agents to virtual machine based applications which may run on remote hosts is provided. A bootstrap agent is injected into the application, using standardized interfaces provided by virtual machine based systems like SUN MICROSYSTEMS' JAVA system or MICROSOFT's .NET system. The bootstrap agent establishes a network connection to a management server which provides binaries representing in-process agents in bytecode or native code format. The bootstrap agent sends data identifying its runtime environment to the management server, which determines the matching in-process agent binaries for the runtime environment of the connected agent and sends the selected binaries to the bootstrap agent. The bootstrap agent receives the binaries and installs them to its hosting virtual machine, according to their format (bytecode or native code). |
| US08151273B2 |
Environment wide configuration system
An installation and configuration system consolidates workloads of multiple applications and services, including applications or services that may be installed or configured on multiple server devices or remotely hosted services. The system gathers environmental information, analyzes dependencies among the workloads, and populates the input data used by the workloads from a common database. The system then executes the workloads, allowing branching within the workloads or the sequence of workloads. An example of branching may include detecting an error condition, pausing the sequence, and presenting alternative fixes to a user. |
| US08151272B2 |
Optimized usage of collector resources for performance data collection through even task assignment
A method of balancing computer resources on a network of computers is provided employing a two-tier network architecture of at least one High Level Collector as a scheduler/load balancing server, and a plurality Low level Collectors which gather task data and execute instructions. Tasks are assigned priority and weight scores and sorted prior to assignment to Low Level Collectors. Also provided is a computer readable medium including instructions, wherein execution of the instructions by at least one computing device balances computer resources on a network of computers. |
| US08151271B2 |
Load balancing algorithm
A heuristic algorithm for solving a load balancing problem that carries out scheduling of plurality of tasks in two phases. In the first phase some tasks of the plurality of tasks are assigned to resources, they are best on, on a per resource basis and in the second phase resources are chosen for the remaining tasks of the plurality of tasks such that the length of the schedule is minimized. |
| US08151270B2 |
Method and apparatus for time-sliced and multi-threaded data processing in a communication system
A method for designing a time-sliced and multi-threaded architecture comprises the steps of conducting a thorough analysis of a range of applications and building a specific processor to accommodate the range of applications. In one embodiment, the thorough analysis includes extracting real time aspects from each application, determining optimal granularity in the architecture based on the real time aspects of each application, and adjusting the optimal granularity based on acceptable context switching overhead. |
| US08151261B2 |
System and method for packaging updates
A system and method packages sets of information so that they may be used to install the set of information. The packaging is performed by one of several client computer systems using the set of information and metadata describing the set of information, requested from a server. |
| US08151259B2 |
Remote content updates for portable media devices
Improved techniques for interaction between a host device (e.g., host computer) and a portable media device (e.g., media player) are disclosed. According to one embodiment, interaction between the host device and the portable media device can be performed over a network. The network can include wired and/or wireless components. The network can also be local, regional or global in geographic coverage. The interaction over the network can be initiated by the portable media device, manually or automatically, so as to request a content update from the host device. In response to the requested content update, updated content is received at the portable media device from the host device, provided a network connection between the portable media device and the host device is available through the network. |
| US08151257B2 |
Managing different versions of server components regarding compatibility with collaborating servers
A system and method for determining whether a rolling update may be performed. The system receives a statement of compatibility for software running on collaborating servers. The statement of compatibility indicates which software versions are compatible with one another. The statement may be stored in a shared storage area that is accessible to each of the servers in the group. The statement may be updated at any time if compatibility issues are determined after release of a software version. The system and method check the statement of compatibility automatically upon the start of an update process for a server. If the statement of incompatibility indicates that the server starting up is incompatible with an operating server, the start up process is aborted. |
| US08151254B2 |
Compiler, compiler apparatus and compilation method
An operator definition file 102 and the like included in a source program 101 and a compiler 100 that translates the source program 101 into a machine language program 105 are provided. The operator definition file 102 includes definitions of various fixed point type operators by class definitions. The compiler 100 can generate effectively advanced and specific instructions that a processor executes and make improvements through expanding functions and the like without repeating frequently upgrading of the version of the compiler itself. The compiler 100 is made up of an intermediate code generation unit 121 that generates intermediate codes, a machine language instruction substitution unit 122 that substitutes the intermediate codes referring to classes defined by the operator definition file 102 with machine language instructions and an optimization unit 130 that performs optimization targeting the intermediate codes including the substituted machine language instructions. |
| US08151244B2 |
Merging graphical programs based on an ancestor graphical program
System and method for merging graphical programs. Information is received regarding first, second, and third graphical programs, where the third graphical program is an ancestor graphical program of the first and second. The information is analyzed to determine differences among the graphical programs. The first and second graphical programs are merged based on the determined differences, generating a merged graphical program, which is displayed. The analyzing may include determining first differences between the first and third graphical programs, and determining second differences between the second and third graphical programs, where the merging includes: for each of at least a subset of the differences: if the difference does not conflict with any other differences, incorporating the difference into the merged graphical program; and if the difference conflicts with another difference, prompting the user to resolve the conflict, receiving user input resolving the conflict, and modifying the merged graphical program accordingly. |
| US08151241B2 |
Impedance design method
The invention discloses an impedance design method for a power network of a core chip within a chipset having N input/output (I/O) ports coupled to a voltage source which have an observation I/O port. The method includes calculating a first set of impedances at a predetermined frequency or the observation I/O port, if the voltage source is internally coupled to the N I/O ports within the chipset, and calculating a second set of impedances at the predetermined frequency for the observation I/O port, if the voltage source is externally coupled to the N I/O ports through a carrier coupling the core chip to the voltage source. The first set of impedances to the second set of impedances are compared, and the impedance of the power network or the impedance of the carrier is adjusted according to the comparison result. |
| US08151238B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit and design method thereof
In a layout process of a semiconductor integrated circuit, a power supply is initially formed in an arrangement in which the current threshold value is not exceeded. In a case where the excess over the current threshold value occurs after the power supply is formed, the power supply arrangement is changed according to the current threshold value, design rule data base, and power supply wiring density so as not to exceed the current threshold value. |
| US08151237B2 |
Disabling unused IO resources in platform-based integrated circuits
The present invention is directed to methods for disabling unused IO resources in a platform-based integrated circuit. A slice is received from a vendor. The slice includes an IO circuit unused by a customer. The IO circuit is disabled. For example, when the IO circuit is desired to be tied to a power source, a primary input/output pin of the IO circuit is shorted to a power bus of the IO circuit. When the IO circuit is desired to be tied to a ground source, a primary input/output pin of the IO circuit is shorted to a ground bus of the IO circuit. When the IO circuit is desired to be left floated, a primary input/output pin of the IO circuit is not connected to any bonding pad cell of the slice. Next, the IO circuit is removed from the customer's logic design netlist. The IO circuit is inserted in the vendor's physical design database. |
| US08151234B2 |
Method for optimizing an integrated circuit physical layout
The invention relates to a method of optimizing an integrated circuit layout, wherein an initial integrated circuit layout is provided. A predetermined set of physical characteristics of a predetermined set of polygons of said initial circuit layout, is assessed and said physical characteristics are aggregated to derive an integral quality number associated to said initial circuit layout. According to the invention, cost functions are generated to evaluate a perturbed quality number of said perturbed layout and layout perturbations are selected that optimize the quality number, so that the circuit layout is optimized. |
| US08151228B2 |
Method and apparatus for automated circuit design
Methods and apparatuses to automatically modify a circuit design (e.g., a synthesis solution) according to the sensitivity in design parameters with respect to the possible deviation in the subsequent implementation (e.g., placement and routing) of the circuit. In one aspect of the present invention, a method to design a circuit includes: determining likelihood of a design constraint being violated in an implementation of a first circuit design (e.g., a technology specific netlist with or without a placement solution); and, modifying the first circuit design to reduce the likelihood of the design constraint being violated. In one example, the implementation of the first circuit design includes a routing solution for implementing the first circuit design; and, the first circuit is modified through sizing an instance of a logic element, buffering a signal, load shielding for a signal, or other operations. |
| US08151223B2 |
Source mask optimization for microcircuit design
A method and apparatus for generating a source illuminator profile and a mask design, subsequently optimizing the source illuminator profile and mask design based upon a set of target intensity profiles. In various implementations, the Lagrange method of optimization is employed to optimize the radiation source, wherein an optimum intensity for each pixel of the source is determined. Subsequently, a continuous tone mask is generated based upon the diffraction orders of the optimized source. With various implementations, the target intensity profile is generated by deriving a set of band limited target frequencies corresponding to the optical lithographic system. Subsequently, homotopy methods may be employed to optimize the source illuminator profile and the continuous tone mask based upon the set of band limited target frequencies. |
| US08151221B2 |
Method to compensate optical proximity correction
A method to compensate optical proximity correction adapted for a photolithography process is provided. An integrated circuit (IC) layout firstly is provided. The IC layout includes active regions and a shallow trench isolation (STI) region. The STI region is a region except the active regions. The IC layout further includes ion implant regions which are overlapped with a part of the STI region and at least a part of the active regions. Subsequently, at least a photoresist line width compensation region is acquired in a photoresist covering region outside the ion implant regions according to the IC layout. Each photoresist line width compensation region is disposed in the STI region. Afterwards, the IC layout is corrected according to a width of the photoresist line width compensation region, a length of a side of the active region facing a side of the photoresist line width compensation region and a distance from the side of the photoresist line width compensation region to the active region facing the side. Finally, the corrected IC layout is transferred to a photomask. |
| US08151220B2 |
Methods for simulating reticle layout data, inspecting reticle layout data, and generating a process for inspecting reticle layout data
Various computer-implemented methods are provided. One method for generating a process for inspecting reticle layout data includes identifying a first region in the reticle layout data. A printability of the first region is more sensitive to changes in process parameters than a printability of a second region in the reticle layout data. The method also includes assigning one or more inspection parameters to the first region and the second region such that the first region will be inspected during the process with a higher sensitivity than the second region. Another method includes inspecting the first region with a higher sensitivity than the second region. An additional method includes simulating how the reticle layout data will print. Simulation of the first and second regions is performed with one or more different simulation parameters such that the first region is simulated with a higher fidelity than the second region. |
| US08151215B2 |
Favorite GUI for TV
A favorites GUI for a TV includes a carousel-type display of icons representing user-defined favorites that is overlaid on the current background video of the TV, with the center-most icon being the “current” icon and being enlarged relative to the other icons. Live video appears in icons representing TV channels. Other icons can represent, e.g., favorite photo/music files, favorite games from a game console, favorite content from an ambient player, etc. |
| US08151214B2 |
System and method for color coding list items
A system and method is provided to assist a user in selecting, identifying, and handling email messages. A selection color module may provide for the display of color coding and selection highlighting. The selection color module may provide a secondary highlighting color to indicate messages related to a selected message. A category navigation module may provide one or more of the following: an indicator that provides the user with a number of items that are off the screen for a particular category, a command that causes the first entry for a category to be scrolled into view, a label to indicate the number of items in a particular category matching a particular criteria, and/or a control for scrolling between next or previous categories. |
| US08151210B2 |
Vehicle-mounted apparatus, information providing method for use with vehicle-mounted apparatus, and recording medium recorded information providing method program for use with vehicle-mounted apparatus therein
A vehicle-mounted apparatus is disclosed which includes a displaying unit for providing information to a user, an inputting unit for inputting operations carried out by the user, and a controlling unit for controlling a display of the displaying unit based on the operations input through the inputting unit. The inputting unit has at least a touch-sensitive panel attached to a display screen of the displaying unit. The controlling unit causes the displaying unit to display a menu screen based on the operations input through the inputting unit. The controlling unit also causes the displaying unit to switch the displays based on menus selected on the menu screen. Furthermore, the controlling unit causes the displaying unit to switch, as when a specific menu is selected on the menu screen, the displays in response to a fingertip gesture made by the user for detection on the touch-sensitive panel. |
| US08151208B2 |
Workflow tracking information preview
A method and system for presenting workflow tracking information for approval workflows assigned to business objects is provided. The approval system receives from a user a request to display the workflow for a business object and a workflow that has been assigned to that business object. The current state of a workflow is defined by tracking information that may include a workflow approval status, an originator name of the business object, and multiple steps of the assigned workflow. Each step of a workflow may include a step name, a step approval status, approver tracking information, and optionally next steps. Each next step of the step is itself a step that may include additional next steps. The approval system may generate and display a tree-like representation of the current state of a workflow for a business object based on the tracking information. |
| US08151207B2 |
Display device for working machine
The invention is directed to a display device for working vehicle, which is adapted so that additional information can be displayed. In the invention, display indication marks of the two types can be interchangeably displayed on a common display screen of a limited area without reducing the sizes of the individual marks, so that neither a larger size of a display device nor a drop in the visibility of the indication marks is necessary. This enables the driver to control a working machine such as a construction machine and have additional information about the construction machine without any trouble in the driving. |
| US08151203B2 |
Manipulating a data source using a graphical user interface
A target audience for a marketing campaign is selected using a graphical user interface. A first graphical representation of a customer data attribute is dragged from a first window and dropped in a second window. A second graphical representation of a customer data attribute is dragged near the graphical representation of an initial profile that is created in the second window in response to the dropping of the first graphical representation. The second graphical representation is dropped in an action area presented when the second graphical representation is dragged near the graphical representation of the initial profile. |
| US08151200B2 |
Sensitive information handling on a collaboration system
On a document collaboration system, such as a wiki, the content of postings to the collaboration system is monitored for sensitive information. Under some embodiments, when instances of such sensitive information are detected, an e-mail is sent to the user that posted the collaboration page posting. In other embodiments, a message is then sent to a person associated with the entity that indicates that the information placed on the collaboration page is confidential information or is related to an asset of the entity. In further embodiments, individual people are assigned responsibility for monitoring the use of certain instances of sensitive information on the collaboration system. Each user is only notified when the instances they are responsible for appear on a collaboration page. In other embodiments, if a collaboration page includes an instance of sensitive information, access to the collaboration page is changed such that fewer people can access the collaboration page. |
| US08151197B1 |
On-line system for creating a printable product
A system for providing on-line creation of printable products such as, announcements, banners, business cards, calendars, greeting cards, certificates, craft cards, envelopes, gift tags, invitations, labels, message cards, origami, postcards, posters, stationary, stickers, and other social expression products. The printable products are selectable from a list, and modifiable on-line to provide a user-customized product. The customized printable product may be printed at the user's local printer or stored in a file for later access. Modifications to the printable product include modification of text elements (e.g., formatting, such as font, point size, color, and alignment), and graphical elements. A plug-in is downloaded to a user's PC to enhance the functionality of the user's browser to customize and print the printable product. |
| US08151194B1 |
Visual presentation of video usage statistics
A system, method, and various software tools enable a video hosting website to graphically display statistics of data associated with videos posted on a video hosting website. Data associated with videos is collected, analyzed and stored. A graphical representation of the data and corresponding geographic map are generated based on the collected data. The graphical representation shows the data along a timeline. The corresponding geographical map shows the data by geographic market. The graphical representation and geographical map are associated such that a modification to the graphical representation modifies the geographical map accordingly and a modification to the geographical map modifies the graphical representation accordingly. |
| US08151188B2 |
Intelligent user interface using on-screen force feedback and method of use
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems combining user interface features with force feedback techniques in clinical applications. Certain embodiments provide a user interface providing clinical software tools and information access for a picture archiving and communication system. The user interface includes a plurality of regions displayed to represent selectable functionality for an associated plurality of clinical software tools and information. The user interface also includes a cursor movable by a user to select one of the plurality of regions. The user interface further includes a processor configured to determine a location and pattern of movement of the cursor and provide force feedback to the user based on the location and pattern of movement of the cursor to provide a non-visual indication to the user of the location and pattern of movement of the cursor. |
| US08151183B2 |
System and method for facilitating content display on portable devices
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for facilitating a universal file conversion hub to convert structured or unstructured data to structured data suitable for display on mobile or hand-held devices. During operation, the system receives a file which contains structured or unstructured data, or a mixture of both. The system determines a type of the received file and analyzes content, formatting style, or both, of the received file based on the file type. The system further generates a processable extensible markup language file, which substantially retains a layout of the received file, thereby facilitating display of the file on mobile or hand-held devices. |
| US08151180B2 |
System and method of embedding symbology in alphabetic letters and then linking the letters to a site or sites on the global computer network
A system and method of embedding symbology in alphabetic letters and then linking the letter to a site or sites on the global computer network, i.e., the Internet, are provided. The system and method provide for capturing an image of at least one character fixed in a medium; determining at least one letter of an alphabet corresponding to the at least one character; determining a numerical value for the determined at least one letter; looking up in a database a hyperlink corresponding to the numerical value; and presenting the hyperlink on a display device. The system and method further provide determining at least one marking within the at least one letter; and determining a location for the at least one marking within the at least one letter, wherein the combination of the at least one marking and the location for the at least one marking corresponds to the numerical value. |
| US08151175B2 |
Fault tolerant decoding method and apparatus
A bit quality evaluator receives a sequence of bits. The bit sequence is provided to a decoding device that performs soft decision convolutional decoding on the sequence of bits. An off track event detector detects an occurrence of a trellis decode path change during the convolutional decoding operation and identifies a first symbol proximate corresponding to the occurrence of the trellis decode path change. An erasure decision circuit identifies at least the first symbol for erasure. The output of the first decoder and the erasure decision circuit are received at a second decoder, which decoder decodes the output of the first decoder after erasing at least the first symbol. The erasure decision circuit may also identify additional symbols for erasure using performance measures of the trellis decode path and using quality measures of the sequence of bits. |
| US08151172B2 |
Adjustable error-correction for a reed solomon encoder/decoder
Methods and structure described herein provide for reducing the overall delay of an RS encoder/decoder without changing the essential functionality of the RS encoder/decoder. In one embodiment, a cascade module reduces the combinatorial logical delay by reducing the total number of logical devices. In doing so, the cascade module couples encoder/decoder slices into blocks. A first block of the encoder/decoder slices is selectively operable in parallel with a second block of encoder/decoder slices. The number of encoder/decoder blocks is less than the overall number of encoder/decoder slices. The cascade module may also include a switch that selects encoder/decoder slices as needed, thereby providing for the implementation of the RS encoder/decoder with fewer logical devices. |
| US08151169B2 |
Method and device for securing the memory of a computer against errors due to radiation
The method is for hardening a computer based on off-the-shelf components so that it resists bombardment by particles of cosmic origin encountered at high altitude and near the poles. It relates more particularly to a computer comprising a processor/bridge pair, the bridge ensuring auxiliary functions for controlling the data exchanges between the processor and a random-access memory incorporating a Hamming-type error corrector code into the information exchanged and consists in inserting between the processor/bridge pair and the random-access memory an interface device carrying out a two-way transcoding between the Hamming-type error correction code incorporated into the information exchanged by the auxiliary functions for controlling the data exchanges of the processor/bridge pair and a Reed-Solomon-type error correction code adapted to the architecture of the random-access memory. |
| US08151168B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for error detection and selective retransmission
The invention relates to a method for use in a packet-switched communication system, the method comprising: sending a first packet from a source node to a destination node, the first packet containing a first set of data bits; sending a second packet from the source node to the destination node, the second packet containing a second set of data bits; wherein, in the event that the first set of data bits cannot be successfully decoded in the destination node, the second packet further comprises a first set of error correction bits for the first set of data bits. |
| US08151164B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding and decoding high speed shared control channel
A method and apparatus for encoding and decoding high speed shared control channel (HS-SCCH) data are disclosed. For part 1 data encoding, a mask may be generated using a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) identity (ID) and a generator matrix with a maximum minimum Hamming distance. For part 2 data encoding, cyclic redundancy check (CRC) bits are generated based on part 1 data and part 2 data. The number of CRC bits is less than the WTRU ID. The CRC bits and/or the part 2 data are masked with a mask. The mask may be a WTRU ID or a punctured WTRU ID of length equal to the CRC bits. The mask may be generated using the WTRU ID and a generator matrix with a maximum minimum Hamming distance. The masking may be performed after encoding or rate matching. |
| US08151157B2 |
Method of encoding/decoding using low density check code matrix
A method of encoding data using a parity check matrix, a method of decoding encoded data, and a data retransmission method using the same are disclosed. A method of encoding data by LDPC code using a parity check matrix includes variably selecting a specific sub-matrix from a parity check matrix in accordance with a coding rate to be used for encoding, the parity check matrix including at least two sub-matrixes, and encoding an input data stream by using the selected sub-matrix. |
| US08151155B2 |
Packet Re-transmission controller for block acknowledgement in a communications system
A re-transmit processor for a wireless communication system includes a pointer memory which contains pointers associated with particular packet data in a host memory. The re-transmit processor directs data associated with the pointers to be applied to a media access controller, which optionally contains an encryption function, the output of which is coupled to a block buffer and to an output interface. Upon receipt of a transmission request, the host memory locations associated with the pointers are read and the data directed to the media access controller, which adds a header, a CRC, and optionally encrypts the data, thereafter placing it in the block buffer and the output interface. Upon provision of the packet data to the MAC, the associated pointer is initialized to a FREE or UNUSED value, and upon receipt of an acknowledgement of the packet accompanied by a packet identifier from a receiving station, the packet associated with the packet identifier is removed from the block buffer. |
| US08151152B2 |
Latch circuit including data input terminal and scan data input terminal, and semiconductor device and control method
A latch circuit includes a first latch that stores data provided from a data input terminal when a clock is provided from a clock input terminal, and stores scan data provided from a scan data input terminal when a first scan clock is provided from a first scan clock input terminal, a logical circuit that performs a logical operation for a second scan clock provided from the second scan clock input terminal and for an operational mode signal provided from the operation mode input terminal, and generates an update clock and a second latch including an update input terminal connected to an output terminal of the first latch, and an update clock input terminal connected to an output terminal of the logical circuit, the second latch holds the data or the scan data provided from the update input terminal when the update clock is provided. |
| US08151149B2 |
Semiconductor memory apparatus and method of testing the same
A semiconductor memory apparatus according to the embodiment includes a test mode controller, a first data alignment unit, a decoder, a test executing unit and a second data alignment unit. The test mode controller is configured to generate test enable signals in response to a test mode setting signal and a read command. The first data alignment unit is configured to parallely align first input data that are input in series, generate first alignment data, and transmit it to the first data driver. The decoder is configured to decode the first alignment data in response to the test enable signal and generate the decoding signal. The test executing unit is configured to execute the preset test mode in response to the decoding signal. The second data alignment unit is configured to parallely align second input data, which are input in series, in response to the test enable signal, generate second alignment data, and transmit it to a second data driver. |
| US08151147B2 |
Synchronize error handling for a plurality of partitions
In accordance with at least some embodiments, a system comprises a plurality of partitions, each partition having its own error handler. The system further comprises a plurality of resources assignable to the plurality of partitions. The system further comprises management logic coupled to the plurality of partitions and the plurality of resources. The management logic comprises an error management tool that synchronizes operation of the error handlers in response to an error. |
| US08151139B1 |
Preventing data loss from restore overwrites
Various methods and systems are presented to restore a logical data object from a backup to a working copy, in a manner that allows for the return of the working copy to a prior state of the working copy. One such method and system copies data to a restore backup of a working copy, by copying (sequentially, or in parallel) portions of a version of the logical data object from the working copy to the restore backup. |
| US08151135B2 |
System and method for recovery of primary storage resource failure
Systems and methods for reducing problems and disadvantages associated with traditional approaches to data and program storage on an information handling system are provided. A method may include determining if a primary storage resource has a failure. The method may further include, in response to determining that the storage resource does not have a failure: booting from a first operating system stored on the primary storage resource, monitoring data stored to the primary storage resource to identify data to be copied to a persistent storage resource, and copying the identified data to the persistent storage resource. The method may further include, in response to determining that the storage resource has a failure: booting from a second operating system stored on the persistent storage resource, and via the second operating system, providing access to the copied identified data copied to the persistent storage resource. |
| US08151133B2 |
Method for calibrating read operations in a memory system
A method of calibrating read operations in a memory system is disclosed. The method involves placing a memory controller in a calibration mode, and performing a series of dummy read operations. Each of the read operations performs a read of pre-specified data stored in at least one memory component while using different ones of delayed enable signals. Data read from respective dummy read operations is compared to identify successful read operations while the timing information from successful read operations is compared to identify a suitable delayed enable signal. |
| US08151131B2 |
Signal synchronization method and signal synchronization circuit
There is provided a signal synchronization method of performing signal synchronization between a device which operates in synchronization with a first clock signal and a processor which operates in synchronization with a second clock signal with a different cycle from that of the first signal. |
| US08151130B2 |
Plural voltage level detection upon power drop for switching to standby mode with or without complete state saving interrupt processing
A microcontroller including: a first voltage detection circuit that generates a first detection signal when a power supply voltage decreases to a voltage lower than a first voltage value; a second voltage detection circuit that generates a second detection signal when the power supply voltage decreases to a voltage lower than a second voltage value that is smaller than the first voltage value; a CPU that has a function of switching between a normal operation mode and a standby mode, performs an interrupt processing operation to shift from the normal operation mode to the standby mode when the first detection signal is generated, and shifts to the standby mode independently of the interrupt processing operation when the second detection signal is generated; and a first memory circuit that stores information indicating that the CPU has shifted to the standby mode before completing the interrupt processing operation. |
| US08151125B1 |
System and method for providing multi-point calibration of an adaptive voltage scaling system
A system and method is disclosed for providing multi-point calibration of an adaptive voltage scaling (AVS) system. A plurality of Reference Calibration Codes (RCCs) within a multi-point calibration table is provided. Each code is associated with one of the clock frequencies of the adaptive voltage scaling (AVS) system. The present invention provides multi-point calibration by calibrating a Reference Calibration Code (RCC) for each operating point (clock frequency) of the adaptive voltage scaling (AVS) system. |
| US08151124B2 |
Apparatus and method for forcibly shutting down system
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for forcibly shutting down a computer system, and more specifically, to an apparatus and method for forcibly shutting down a system when the system is determined to be in an abnormal state. An apparatus for forcibly shutting down a system according to a specific embodiment of the present invention comprises a reception unit 10 for receiving a power management control signal; a power state detection unit 20 for detecting a current power state of the system; a determination unit 30 for determining whether a system execution state is normal by comparing the power management control signal received by the reception unit 10 and a detection result of the power state detection unit 20; and a forced-shutdown unit 40 for forcibly shutting down the system when the system execution state is determined to be abnormal by the determination unit 30. According to the present invention so configured, there are advantages in that when an error occurs in a computer system and the system operation is inadvertently suspended while the system is not shut down, the system is forcibly shut down, whereby continuous consumption of battery power can be prevented, and danger of accident occurring due to an increase in battery temperature can be prevented. |
| US08151122B1 |
Power budget managing method and system
In a method for managing power budgets among a plurality of electronic components having respective power budgets, at least part of the power budget of an electronic component that has failed is dynamically re-allocated to at least one of the other plurality of electronic components, to thereby increase performance of the plurality of electronic components. |
| US08151120B2 |
Addressing peripherals in an IC
An integrated circuit, method of making an integrated circuit and method of addressing peripherals of an integrated circuit are disclosed for preventing copied software from running on unauthorized hardware. A permanent key is embedded in the integrated circuit and used to transform a peripheral access address output by a processor of the integrated circuit. The transformed access address is supplied to a peripheral address decoder f the integrated circuit, which allows the processor to access a corresponding peripheral. A method of supplying integrated circuits to prevent copied software from running on unauthorized hardware is also disclosed. |
| US08151116B2 |
Multi-channel user authentication apparatus system and method
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for authenticating users through multiple communication channels. The authentication method of the present invention may be used to supplement password systems or replace password authentication, effectively enabling secure sharing, auditing, delegation, and revocation of authority. |
| US08151114B2 |
Dynamic enabling of functionality in electronic document readers
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for digital rights management. In one aspect, a method is provided. The method includes receiving an electronic document, where the electronic document includes one or more content items, a set of usage rights defining one or more features to be enabled when the document is read by an electronic document reader, and a stored representation. The method further includes generating a representation of invariant content items of the electronic document, comparing the generated representation with the stored representation, and enabling features corresponding to the set of usage rights in the electronic document only if the generated representation and the stored representation are identical, where the features are features performed by the electronic document reader on the electronic document. |
| US08151112B2 |
Deliver-upon-request secure electronic message system
A method of delivering electronic mail messages upon requests and managing public-secret key pairs of public key cryptography in an electronic message system. A sending party sends an intend-to-deliver associated with an electronic mail message to an intended receiving party. The intended receiving party responds with a request-for-mail-content to request for the electronic mail message if the intended receiving party determines to do so. The sending party will not deliver the electronic mail message to the intended receiving party if the intended receiving party does not send the request-for-mail-content. A host computer is assigned with a unique name that is registered with authoritative organizations and can be used for establishing a connection to the host computer. The host computer provides the public keys of its account holders to the public. The initial public key of an account holder is certified by the host computer using an account password. The account holder may regenerate a public-secret key pair as often as needed. The new public key is certified by the host computer using the old public key of the account holder and becomes effective for providing to the public. |
| US08151109B2 |
Selective authorization of the loading of dependent code modules by running processes
Systems and methods for selective authorization of dependent code modules are provided. According to one embodiment, file system or operating system activity relating to a first code module is initiated by a running process associated with a second code module. The file system or operating system activity is intercepted by a kernel mode driver of a computer system. The kernel mode driver selectively authorizes loading of the first code module by the running process based at least in part on one or more attributes of the second code module. |
| US08151108B1 |
Methods for establishing a secure channel of communications to enable switched video service on a host media server
A secure channel is established to enable access to switched video service on a media server using a bridge component between the media server and a switched video network. Multiple tuners can be coupled with the media server. Each of the multiple tuners can have an associated unique certificate and corresponding public key. The secure channel for switched video service can be established for each of the multiple tuners. |
| US08151107B2 |
Method and system for detecting concurrent logins
Concurrent login detection system includes: a message receiving unit configured for receiving a log message which is indicative of a user identifier of a user, login/logout state of the user, and a session identifier, from an external server; a corresponding message retrieval unit configured for retrieving a corresponding message of the received log message from a memory wherein the corresponding message is a log message containing the same user identifier and the same session identifier with those contained in said received log message; and a message processor configured for removing said received log message and said retrieved corresponding message from the memory if the corresponding message is retrieved from the message buffer, and for storing said received log message in the memory if said corresponding message is not retrieved from the memory. |
| US08151106B2 |
Dynamically resolving recipients to retrieve public keys during send/receive
Systems and methods are disclosed that facilitate identifying messages generated on a mobile device while the device is offline as requiring encryption, storing the messages in a message outbox with a flag indicating that encryption is required, and identifying recipients of the flagged messages to generate a recipient list. The recipient list can be piggybacked on a server synchronization request when the mobile device enters a period of online activity, and a server can return public keys associated with identified recipients to permit an encryption component, such as a secure/multipurpose Internet mail extension protocol (S/MIME) encryption component, in the mobile device to encrypt the messages. |
| US08151105B2 |
Convertible computer with selective activation of input devices and power consumption level based on a tablet or notebook mode
A convertible computer is equipped with a notebook computer function and a tablet computer function. When a system power supply is turned on, a functionality or physical configuration such as rotation state of a display module can be detected, and an environment can be controlled such as an operating system (OS) for a tablet computer or notebook computer is selectively booted. Input signals of input units can also be controlled in an activation or inactivation state according to a system mode. An operation of switch sensing an open/closed state of a liquid crystal display (LCD) can be controlled by a signal generated by the rotation operation of the display module. In a state in which at least one control value necessary for setting a system environment is stored in a memory, the system mode switching operation is monitored and the system environment is set according to the switched system mode. |
| US08151103B2 |
System and method for providing object triggers
The present invention provides for systems and methods of dynamically controlling a cluster or grid environment. The method comprises attaching a trigger to an object and firing the trigger based on a trigger attribute. The cluster environment is modified by actions initiated when the trigger is fired. Each trigger has trigger attributes that govern when it is fired and actions it will take. The use of triggers enables a cluster environment to dynamically be modified with arbitrary actions to accommodate needs of arbitrary objects. Example objects include a compute node, compute resources, a cluster, groups of users, user credentials, jobs, resources managers, peer services and the like. |
| US08151097B2 |
Multi-threaded system with branch
When two threads (strands), for example, are executed in parallel in a processor in a simultaneous multi-thread (SMT) system, entries of a branch reservation station of an instruction control device are separately used in a strand 0 group and a strand 1 group. The data of the strand 0 and the data of the strand 1 are allocated to the respective entries by switching a select circuit. When an entry is released from the branch reservation station, the select circuit switches the strands so that a branch instruction in one strand can be released in order, thereby releasing the entry. |
| US08151095B1 |
System and method for context migration across CPU threads
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for associating arbitrary parallel processing unit (PPU) contexts with a given central processing unit (CPU) thread. The technique introduces two operators used to manage the PPU contexts. The first operator is a PPU context push, which causes a PPU driver to store the current PPU context of a calling thread on a PPU context stack and to associate a named PPU context with the calling thread. The second operator is a PPU context pop, which causes the PPU driver to restore the PPU context of a calling function to the PPU context at the top of the PPU context stack. By performing a PPU context push at the beginning of a function and a PPU context pop prior to returning from the function, the function may execute within a single CPU thread, but operate on a two distinct PPU contexts. |
| US08151085B2 |
Method for address translation in virtual machines
The invention relates to a method for address translation in a system running multiple levels of virtual machines containing a hierarchically organized translation lookaside buffer comprising at least two linked hierarchical sub-units, a first sub-unit comprising a lookaside buffer for some higher level address translation levels, and the second sub-unit comprising a lookaside buffer for some lower level address translation levels, and said second sub-unit being arranged to store TLB index address information of the upper level sub-unit as tag information in its lower level TLB structure, comprising the steps of collecting intermediate address translation results on different virtual machine levels; and buffering the intermediate translation results in the translation lookaside buffer. |
| US08151084B2 |
Using address and non-address information for improved index generation for cache memories
Embodiments of the present invention provide a system that generates an index for a cache memory. The system starts by receiving a request to access the cache memory, wherein the request includes address information. The system then obtains non-address information associated with the request. Next, the system generates the index using the address information and the non-address information. The system then uses the index to fulfill access the cache memory. |
| US08151083B2 |
Dynamic address translation with frame management
What is disclosed is a frame management function defined for a machine architecture of a computer system. In one embodiment, a frame management instruction is obtained which identifies a first and second general register. The first general register contains a frame management field having a key field with access-protection bits and a block-size indication. If the block-size indication indicates a large block then an operand address of a large block of data is obtained from the second general register. The large block of data has a plurality of small blocks each of which is associated with a corresponding storage key having a plurality of storage key access-protection bits. If the block size indication indicates a large block, the storage key access-protection bits of each corresponding storage key of each small block within the large block is set with the access-protection bits of the key field. |
| US08151082B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for converting a storage request into an append data storage command
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for converting a storage request to an append data storage command. A storage request receiver module receives a storage request from a requesting device. The storage request is to store a data segment onto a data storage device. The storage request includes source parameters for the data segment. The source parameters include a virtual address. A translation module translates the storage request to storage commands. At least one storage command includes an append data storage command that directs the data storage device to store data of the data segment and the one or more source parameters with the data, including a virtual address, at one or more append points. A mapping module maps source parameters of the data segment to locations where the data storage device appended the data packets of the data segment and source parameters. |
| US08151079B2 |
Computer system, storage area allocation method, and management computer
Disclosed is a system and method for preventing deterioration in I/O performance of a computer resulted from a use of the same physical disk among different logical volumes. A volume management server 1010 groups together logical volumes which use the same physical disk of a storage device 1020 as a volume group and allocates a storage area on the physical disk to be used on a priority basis by this volume group to the volume group, and thereby a physical arrangement according to a present physical arrangement of the logical volume can be performed when an automatic expansion of the logical volume is performed thereafter so that the I/O performance deterioration of the computer caused by a mutual interference is avoided at the time of access from the computer 1030 to the storage device 1020. |
| US08151076B2 |
Mapping memory segments in a translation lookaside buffer
In one embodiment, a method includes identifying first and second memory segments associated with a process in virtual memory, allocating memory for the first memory segment from a first contiguous physical memory space, allocating memory for the second memory segment from a second contiguous physical memory space, and mapping the first and second memory segments to the first and second contiguous physical memory spaces in a translation lookaside buffer. Apparatus and logic for memory allocation to minimize translation lookaside buffer faults are also disclosed. |
| US08151075B2 |
Multiple access type memory and method of operation
A method for accessing a memory includes receiving a first address wherein the first address corresponds to a demand fetch, receiving a second address wherein the second address corresponds to a speculative prefetch, providing first data from the memory in response to the demand fetch in which the first data is accessed asynchronous to a system clock, and providing second data from the memory in response to the speculative prefetch in which the second data is accessed synchronous to the system clock. The memory may include a plurality of pipeline stages in which providing the first data in response to the demand fetch is performed such that each pipeline stage is self-timed independent of the system clock and providing the second data in response to the speculative prefetch is performed such that each pipeline stage is timed based on the system clock to be synchronous with the system clock. |
| US08151070B2 |
System and method for backup by splitting a copy pair and storing a snapshot
When detecting the completion of remote copying of a primary volume to a secondary volume, a host compute splits a copy pair into the primary volume and the secondary volume and has the secondary volume store a snapshot of the primary volume. A backup server recognizes the secondary volume. |
| US08151069B1 |
Multiprotection for snapsnots
Providing a multiple protection snapshot copy of a logical device includes creating the snapshot copy of the logical device, where, in response to a write to a section of the logical device, data is copied to a first alternative storage area prior to the write and, following creating the snapshot copy, pointing portions of the snapshot copy to a second alternative storage area having data that is a copy of the logical device, where data corresponding to the snapshot copy is stored in one of: the first alternative storage area and the second alternative storage area. Providing a multiple protection snapshot copy of a logical device may also include, prior to pointing portions of the snapshot copy to the second alternative storage area and after creating the snapshot copy, copying data from the logical device to the second alternative storage area. |
| US08151067B2 |
Memory sharing mechanism based on priority elevation
The present invention discloses a memory sharing mechanism based on priority elevation. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an apparatus and method for transporting packets of data in a communication device, wherein each packet is assigned one of several priorities and received based on memory state information. The method comprises the steps of storing the received packets in a memory and modifying the assigned priority of any of the packets causing congestion within the memory. |
| US08151064B2 |
Hybrid hard disk drive and data storage method thereof
A hybrid hard disk drive includes a hard disk drive controller to receive a plurality of write commands from a host, a buffer to receive and store write data, which are input through the hard disk drive controller and correspond to each of the plurality of write commands, a command history tracker to receive the plurality of write commands and analyze a pattern of the plurality of write commands, and a CPU to control storage of the write data, which correspond to each of the plurality of write commands, on a disk or in a flash memory device based on the analysis result by the command history tracker. The drive may determine whether to store write data on the disk or in the flash memory device without operation system support. |
| US08151063B2 |
Information processing apparatus and method
The present invention relates to information processing apparatuses. A content to be checked out is stored in an automatic-checking-out-destination storage section 113 from musical-piece-file storage sections 108-1 and 108-2 for each external-unit/-medium ID which identifies a PD 5. A GUI section 101 determines through a transfer processing section 103 and a PD plug-in 111 whether the PD 5 has been connected. When it is determined that the PD 5 has been connected, a musical-piece file is checked out from the musical-piece-file storage sections 108 to the PD 5 through a musical-piece management section 104, a file search section 106, and a data base 107 according to the information of the content to be checked out stored in the automatic-checking-out-destination storage section 113. The present invention can be applied to music reproduction software. |
| US08151062B2 |
Consistency models in a distributed store
Systems and methods that designate read/write consistency models based on requirements of a distributed store to increase performance or scale. Such sever loads can be determined via a plurality of mechanisms, including delays in responses by the primary node; setting predetermined threshold limits that if exceeded results in contacting secondary nodes; polling services of the distributed cache periodically and maintaining track of loads on the servers, and the like. The weak or scalable read can occur when read requests are directed to a secondary node, and upon over loading of the primary node. |
| US08151057B1 |
Shared cache for point-to-point connected processing nodes
A shared cache is point-to-point connected to a plurality of point-to-point connected processing nodes, wherein the processing nodes may be integrated circuits or multiprocessing systems. In response to a local cache miss, a requesting processing node issues a broadcast for requested data which is observed by the shared cache. If the shared cache has a copy of the requested data, the shared cache forwards the copy of the requested data to the requesting processing node. |
| US08151050B2 |
System for handling input/output requests between storage arrays with different performance capabilities
An apparatus comprising a remote storage array, a primary storage array and a network. The remote storage array may be configured to (i) define a queue size based on a performance capability of the remote storage array, (ii) generate a multiplier based on resources being used by the remote storage array, and (iii) adjust the queue size by the multiplier. The primary storage array may be configured to execute input/output (IO) requests between the remote storage array and the primary storage array based on the adjusted queue size. The network may be configured to connect the remote storage array to the primary storage array. |
| US08151049B2 |
Input/output control unit, disk array apparatus, input/output control method, and program
An input/output controller, including: a first/a second input/output units that sends and receives data to and from a first and a second external apparatus, a third input/output unit operating in one of a plurality of working modes including a first/a second working mode for sending and receiving data to and from the first/the second external apparatus, an abnormal state detecting unit which detects that the first input/output unit or the second input/output unit is in an abnormal state and a working mode setting unit which makes the third input/output unit operate in the first/the second working mode when it is detected that the first/the second input/output unit is in an abnormal state. |
| US08151041B2 |
Removable storage device
Methods and removable storage devices are provided. Some such removable storage devices may include a file specifying a name of a program to be executed automatically by a host, may include settings for a secure storage area, where the settings are user-configurable, may include a secure partition that is not accessible by an operating system of a host, may be configured to cause a health of the removable device to be automatically checked when the removable device is coupled to a host, may be configured to cause a program for formatting the removable device to be executed when the removable device is coupled to a host, or may include a secure partition configured to store information so that formatting/reformatting does not alter the stored information. |
| US08151039B2 |
System and method for controlling flash memory without using ready/busy signal
A system and method for controlling flash memory is provided for a flash memory controller to use a control interface to read the state register of at least a flash memory with received data for operation to detect whether the flash memory has already finished the operation on the received data without using an RB signal, and when the operation on the received data is to read, the controller can execute the state data switch so that the IO of flash memory can output correct flash memory data for read, or when the operation on the received data is to write, the controller can execute another data operation to save time and accelerate the data operation speed of the flash memory. |
| US08151038B2 |
SSD with a channel multiplier
An integrated circuit includes a first serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) channel, a plurality of second SATA channels, and a channel multiplier. The first SATA channel is configured to be coupled to a corresponding serial data bus of a host device. Each of the plurality of SATA channels is configured to be coupled to a respective separate memory device channel. The channel multiplier is configured to couple the first SATA channel to each of the plurality of second SATA channels. |
| US08151037B1 |
Interface for solid-state memory
Devices, systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with an interface for solid state memory are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus is implemented with two or more input ports for receiving two or more different streams of disk drive commands. The apparatus is further implemented with an interface configured to aggregate the two or more different streams of disk drive commands into at least one aggregated command. The interface is configured to translate the at least one aggregated command into at least one solid state memory command for accessing solid state memory. The apparatus comprises a memory port to communicate the at least one solid state memory command to be performed on the solid state memory. |
| US08151035B2 |
Non-volatile memory and method with multi-stream updating
In a memory that is programmable page by page and each page having multiple sectors that are once-programmable, even if successive writes are sequential, the data recorded to an update block may be fragmented and non-sequential. Instead of recording update data to an update block, the data is being recorded in at least two interleaving streams. When a full page of data is available, it is recorded to the update block. Otherwise, it is temporarily recorded to the scratch pad block until a full page of data becomes available to be transferred to the update block. Preferably, a pipeline operation allows the recording to the update block to be set up as soon as the host write command indicates a full page could be written. If the actual write data is incomplete due to interruptions, the setup will be canceled and recording is made to the scratch pad block instead. |
| US08151033B2 |
Mechanism for virtual logical volume management
In one embodiment, a mechanism for virtual logical volume management is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for virtual logical volume management includes writing, by a virtual machine (VM) host server computing device, a control block to each of a plurality of network-capable physical storage devices and mapping, by the VM host server computing device, physical storage blocks of the plurality of network-capable physical storage devices to virtual storage blocks of a virtual storage pool by associating the physical storage blocks with the virtual storage blocks in the control block of the network-capable physical storage device housing the physical storage blocks being mapped. Furthermore, the method includes assigning, by the VM host server computing device, a block range of the virtual storage blocks to a VM allocated by the VM host server computing device by writing a unique identifier (ID) of the VM to one or more entries in the control block having the physical storage blocks associated with the block range of the virtual storage blocks assigned to the VM. |
| US08151031B2 |
Local memories with permutation functionality for digital signal processors
A digital signal processor (DSP) co-processor according to a clustered architecture with local memories. Each cluster in the architecture includes multiple sub-clusters, each sub-cluster capable of executing one or two instructions that may be specifically directed to a particular DSP operation. The sub-clusters in each cluster communicate with global memory resources by way of a crossbar switch in the cluster. One or more of the sub-clusters has a dedicated local memory that can be accessed in a random access manner, in a vector access manner, or in a streaming or stack manner. The local memory is arranged as a plurality of banks. In response to certain vector access instructions, the input data may be permuted among the banks prior to a write, or permuted after being read from the banks, according to a permutation pattern stored in a register. |
| US08151024B2 |
Reconfigurable virtual backplane systems and methods
Reconfigurable virtual backplane systems and methods are provided. One virtual backplane system includes a bus, and first and second line cards coupled to the bus. Each line card includes a processor including a memory storing an array of configuration tables. Each configuration table stores a listing of processes to be transmitted to or received from the communication bus, wherein a first configuration table is selected from the first line card upon the occurrence of a first event and a second configuration table is selected from the second line card upon the occurrence of a second event. One method includes connecting first and second buses in first and second systems, respectively, to form a bus for a new system. The method further includes detecting the connection of the first and second buses, and reconfiguring the first and second systems to operate as the new system in response to detecting the connection. |
| US08151023B2 |
Hybrid storage of documents
A hybrid storage apparatus for retaining printed content and storing digital content includes a loose-leaf binder configured to retain printed pages containing printed content, and a storage device that is fixedly attached to the loose-leaf binder. The storage device includes a socket port detachably connect to a cable, and a non-volatile memory coupled to the socket port and configured for storing digital content. The cable is separate from the hybrid storage apparatus and used for communicating with a host. Also provided is a hybrid storage apparatus for holding print media and for storing digital content that includes a plurality of pages containing printed content, a cover for retaining the pages, and a storage device that is fixedly attached to or embedded within the cover. The pages include at least one page that displays a table of contents and refers to the digital content items stored in the non-volatile memory. |
| US08151019B1 |
Adaptive network traffic shaper
A network traffic shaper adjusts the rate of data flowing from a packet source to a packet sink responsive to priority assigned to the packets pursuant to their ability to match a series of filters. Each packet is applied to a queue depending on its classification. The packets are read from each queue in accordance with a queue reading policy. Singular spectrum analysis of the traffic load produces a set of vectors that capture the spectral bases of the traffic state. These vectors are associated with the bandwidth demanded by the traffic, a relationship that is recorded in a queue/time/eigenvector/bandwidth/control table. Samples of the current network load are compared with previously recorded vector bases to reveal how similar the current traffic state is to previous traffic states, which in turn predicts the traffic's bandwidth needs for the immediate future. The queue reading regime is updated in response to this prediction. |
| US08151016B2 |
Mechanically energized electromagnetic service connector system
A system for communicating an electromagnetic service, such as power or data, with an electromagnetic service communicating device. An electromagnetic service switch is provided for selectively transferring the electromagnetic service from a host or other electromagnetic service source to an electromagnetic service consumer. The electromagnetic service switch is activated to transfer the electromagnetic service from the electromagnetic service source to the electromagnetic service consumer in response to movement of a component associated with the electromagnetic service source. |
| US08151012B2 |
Virtual row buffers for use with random access memory
Methods, apparatuses and systems to decrease the energy consumption of a memory chip while increasing its effect bandwidth during the execution of any workload. Methods, apparatuses and systems may allow a memory chip utilize a plurality of virtual row buffers to respond to requests for data included in a memory array block. Methods, apparatuses and systems may further eliminate or reduce the cost associated with transferring unnecessary data from a memory array block to row buffers by altering the data transfer size between a memory array block and a row buffer. |
| US08151010B2 |
Memory devices implementing clock mirroring scheme and related memory systems and clock mirroring methods
A memory device is configured to operate in first and second data input/output modes. The memory device includes a first electrode pad, a second electrode pad, a clock signal line, a first switching unit, and a second switching unit. The clock signal line is configured to transmit a clock to an integrated circuit inside the memory device. The first switching unit switches to electrically connect the first electrode pad and the clock signal line in response to a control signal occurring for the first data input/output mode. The second switching unit switches to electrically connect the second electrode pad and the clock signal line in response to an inverse signal of the control signal occurring for the second data input/output mode. |
| US08151009B2 |
Serial connection external interface from printed circuit board translation to parallel memory protocol
A translator of an apparatus in an example through a serial connection external interface of a printed circuit board (PCB) communicates between a serial memory protocol within the PCB and a parallel memory protocol outside the PCB. |
| US08151006B2 |
PC managed networked audio bell/intercom system
A method, storage medium, and system for a managed audio bell/intercom including a controller and audio devices connected by an industry standardized network, wherein the controller contains logic to distribute action via the network to the audio devices. |
| US08151003B2 |
System and method for routing data by a server
The present invention provides a method and system for routing data by a server. Specifically, the present invention provides a table-drive method and system for allowing parties to send and receive data in their own data formats and transfer protocols. In routing data from a source to a destination, the present invention does not require transformation of the data to an intermediate format and/or protocol before transformation into the format and protocol of the destination. |
| US08150999B2 |
Messaging service in a peer to peer type telecommunications network
This messaging system is for use in a peer to peer network including at least one depositary peer (PX, PR) adapted to store a message in one or more portions and to send a message notifying the completion of the storage of that portion to at least one superpeer (SPX) of the peer (PX) of the depositor (X) of the message (M). This superpeer (SPX) is adapted to send a notice of reception of the message to a peer (PY) of the addressee (Y) of that message, that notice including a list of the depositary peers (PX, PR) and an identifier of each of the portions of said message stored by each of the depositaries (PX, PR). |
| US08150998B2 |
System and method for increasing optimal alternative network route convergence speed and border gateway router incorporating the same
For use with a path vector routing protocol, a system and method for increasing alternative network route convergence speed and a border gateway router incorporating the system or the method. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a router information base (RIB) data receiver, associated with a network, that receives RIB data including: (1a) an update of an active route to a domain in the network that causes the active route to become a withdrawn route and (1b) indications, based on loopback addresses associated with nodes through which the withdrawn route passed, of a reachability of the each of the nodes and (2) route disqualification logic, associated with the RIB data receiver, that disqualifies alternative routes to the domain based on the indications. |
| US08150993B2 |
Synchronization of clients to maximize multicast opportunities
A content delivery system includes a unicast content delivery module, a multicast content delivery module, and a content monitor module. The unicast content delivery module is configured to provide content using a unicast protocol, and the multicast content delivery module is configured to provide the content using a multicast protocol. The content monitor module is configured to receive requests from a plurality of clients for the content, count the requests to determine if the number of requests exceeds a threshold, and instruct the plurality of clients to receive the content from the multicast content delivery module when the number of requests exceeds the threshold. |
| US08150984B2 |
Enhanced data security through file access control of processes in a data processing system
A software system for controlling the unauthorized transfer of data from a data processing system to a network is provided. A file monitor module monitors requests made by a process to access a data file within the computer system, and cross-checks the data file name against a protected file list database. If the file is listed in the protected file list database, the process name is added to a process list for the data file. A process monitor module monitors all processes contained in the process list, and if a process in the process list transfers the data file to another process, the receiving process is added to the process list. An upload monitor module searches the process list for any process that requests a network data transfer. The upload monitor module holds the transfer request for any process listed within the process list, and displays a warning message to the system user indicating that a process having had access to protected data is requesting network access to upload a data file. The data file is permitted to be transferred to the network in response to a user authorization command or the transfer request is cancelled. |
| US08150978B2 |
Apparatus and method for managing user interface
An apparatus for and method of managing a user interface. The apparatus for managing a user interface including: a packet generation unit that generates a notification packet indicating that one or more remote servers exist on a network, a web server that manages a command for storing a state of a user interface of a predetermined application transmitted through the network or an extract command received as a result of distributing the notification packet, a state storage unit that stores the state of the user interface according to the store command, and a communication unit that transmits the state of a predetermined user interface extracted according to the extract command from among the stored states of the user interface. |
| US08150975B2 |
System, method and apparatus for establishing interactive media session based on IP multimedia subsystem
A method and system for establishing an interactive media session based on IP Multimedia Subsystem, including: a terminal adapted to initiate an interactive media session request and receive a media session response; a serving-CSCF adapted to trigger the request to the application server according to a triggering rule and route the message; a proxy-CSCF adapted to forward the request and the response between the terminal and the serving-CSCF; an application server adapted to process the service request; a media control entity adapted to control resource allocation of the media carrier entity; and a media carrier entity adapted to allocate address ports for RTSP connection and RTP connection with the terminal. The present invention can be applied to a NGN network where the carrier and control are separated to improve the media delivery efficiency. |
| US08150973B2 |
Virtual serial port and protocol for use in serial-over-LAN communication
A method and system of conveying data to a remote computer, which may act as a management console. A virtual communications port is provided to a central processing unit. The virtual communications port is provided using a device distinct from the central processing unit, such as a network controller card with manageability features inborn. The device providing the virtual communications port receives the data written to the virtual communications port. Thereafter, the device transmits the data into a network, addressed for reception by the remote computer. The remote computer may be used as a management console so that keystrokes entered thereupon may be relayed through the virtual communications port to the aforementioned central processing unit. |
| US08150971B2 |
Mechanism for migration of client-side virtual machine system resources
In one embodiment, a mechanism for migration of client-side virtual machine system resources is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving notification that a virtual machine (VM) is to be live migrated from a first server to a second server, connecting one or more client resources associated with the VM to the second server during the live migration of the VM while maintaining a simultaneous active VM connection of the one or more client resources to the first server, and disconnecting the active VM connection of the one or more client resources to the first server when the live migration of the VM is complete. |
| US08150970B1 |
Work load distribution among server processes
Technologies relating to work load distribution. A request is received for access to one of n server processes, where n is an integer greater than one. A mixing function is applied to an identifier associated with the request to generate a reproducible output representative of the identifier. A modulo operation is applied to the output, where a dividend in the modulo operation is the output and a divisor in the modulo operation is n, to determine a remainder. The request is assigned to a server process from the n server processes in accordance with the remainder. |
| US08150969B2 |
Group access to IP multimedia subsystem service
A method of facilitating access to services of an IP Multimedia Subsystem network by user terminals and services located behind an access point to said network. The access point is associated with a subscription to the IP Multimedia Subsystem network. The method comprises including within an Implicit Registration Set defined for said subscription, a wildcarded Public User Identity, Public Service Identity, Public User Identity sub-domain representative of a range of Public User Identities, or Public Service Identity sub-domain representative of a range of Public Service Identities. At IP Multimedia Subsystem registration of said access point with the IP Multimedia Subsystem network, the Public User Identities and Service Identities contained in the Implicit Registration Set are distributed to a Serving Call Session Control Function allocated to said access point and to a Proxy Call Session Control Function to which said access point is attached. |
| US08150968B2 |
Proxy piercing for identifying address of and marketing to a user device involved in an online transaction
An online machine data collection and archiving process generates a machine data profile of a customer computer accessing a transaction form of a merchant web site and links the machine data profile and a transaction record with customer identifying information using a unique transaction identification string. The process may capture parameters typically communicated as a part of web accesses, such as an IP address, an HTTP header, and cookie information. The process additionally causes the customer computer to process self-identification routines by processing coding within the merchant transaction form, the self-identification routines yielding further profile parameters. The process further includes a routine for bypassing an intervening proxy to the merchant web site to reveal the true IP address of the customer computer. Identifying the customer computer is useful for functions such as fraud detection and marketing. |
| US08150966B2 |
Multi-party cooperative peer-to-peer video streaming
A method and apparatus for transmitting data are described including partitioning a stream of data into a plurality of sub-streams, establishing an allocation of the plurality of sub-streams among a plurality of sending devices, enabling the plurality of sending devices to simultaneously begin transmitting the plurality of sub-streams in accordance with the allocation and adjusting the allocation. |
| US08150965B2 |
Method of generating round robin service order lists for improving service performance during server failures
A network communication node includes a request distribution manager that combines a plurality of permutations of sequences for routing requests to a plurality of servers. The request distribution managers also generates instructions for routing the requests to the plurality of servers, based on the combination of the plurality of permutations. The network communication node also includes a router that routes the requests to the plurality of servers based on the instructions. |
| US08150961B1 |
Systems and methods for updating distributed network inventory services
Systems and methods for updating distributed network inventory services are disclosed. A network or a portion thereof is scanned to identify at least one computing asset within the scanned portion. A scan file is compiled based on the information obtained. A first inventory service is updated based on the scan file. A second inventory service is identified. The scan file is transmitted to the second inventory service, and the second inventory service is updated based on the scan file. In one embodiment, the inventory services are selectively updated based on specific types of data, such as hardware or software inventory data, within the scan file. In addition, a specialized database management system may be used to enable data gathering techniques specific to inventory data. |
| US08150957B1 |
Method and system for managing network traffic
A system and method for directing network connections. The invention enables a network device to direct subsequent connections from a client to a server for accessing resources. A process extracts a persistence key from a received message, and employs the persistence key to identify the appropriate server. An interface is provided, enabling a user program to direct the process of extracting the persistence key. The invention also provides a way for multiple clients to persist to a common server. |
| US08150956B2 |
Mobile gaming alert
Various embodiments of alerts on mobile devices are described. Other embodiments are described. |
| US08150955B2 |
Wireless LAN with channel swapping between DFS access points
The present invention enhances the dynamic frequency selection 9DFS) algorithms used in Wireless LANs by adding a channel swapping mechanism. The aim of the traditional DFS algorithm is to dynamically select channels in a wireless LAN in such a way that the best performance is achieved. However, not always the optimal channel selection is achieved. This invention describes an addition to the DFS algorithm in such a way that two APs can decide to swap channels instead of one AP switching to another channel. To avoid the problem of sub-optimal channel selection, a requesting AP sends Swap Requests to other APs in order to sense the willingness of other APs to swap channels with the requesting AP. |
| US08150952B2 |
Application program execution system, sensor, first server, second server, and object thereof and application program execution method
The present invention enables to establish sensing environment and application environment respectively by managing the corresponding relationship between the objects and the application programs in object management servers. The application program execution system includes movable objects, detection units that detect the objects, application programs, control units that control the execution of the context-aware application program, corresponding relationship between the objects and the application programs, and notification units that notify the control units of detection information that the detection units have detected, according to the corresponding relationship. Thus, the appropriate application programs are executed. The present invention enables to establish and change the application program execution system flexibly. Development of the application programs is also flexible. |
| US08150946B2 |
Proximity-based memory allocation in a distributed memory system
A system and method for allocating the nearest available physical memory in a distributed, shared memory system. In various embodiments, a processor node may broadcast a memory request to a first subset of nodes connected to it via a communication network. In some embodiments, if none of these nodes is able to satisfy the request, the processor node may broadcast the request to additional subsets of nodes. In some embodiments, each node of the first subset of nodes may be removed from the processor node by one network hop and each node of the additional subsets of nodes may be removed from the processor node by no more than an iteratively increasing number of network hops. In some embodiments, the processor node may send an acknowledgment to one node that can fulfill the request and a negative acknowledgement to other nodes that can fulfill the request. |
| US08150938B1 |
Profile aware mediating server
A mediating server operates to interconnect a number of user devices to network servers. In order to receive customized content from the network servers, the user devices provide device profiles to the network servers via the mediating server within or in addition to requests for content. As the device profiles pass through the mediating server, the mediating server obtains the device profiles and stores the device profiles in a device profiles database. The mediating server may then classify the user devices based on the user profiles using a classification algorithm, which may include one or more classification rules for each of a number of classes. Thereafter, the mediating server may provide one or more services based on the device profiles, the classification of the user devices, or a combination thereof. |
| US08150919B2 |
Method and system for transitioning between synchronous and asynchronous communication modes
Many different users may access, revise and update the same shared object simultaneously through several different transports. Clients may communicate asynchronously by accessing the shared object through a physical server. Clients may also communicate synchronously by accessing the shared object through a peer-to-peer network. A manifest file associated with the shared object identifies the locations where other versions and instances of the shared object are stored. The shared object and the associated manifest file allow a client to transition seamlessly between local access, synchronous and asynchronous communication such that the user is not aware that the mode of communication has changed. A user may change location and any available data sharing transports are automatically identified. Thus, the user may access a shared object and collaborate with other authorized users through different mechanisms. |
| US08150916B2 |
Method, apparatus, and system for transmitting information
A server controls client apparatuses to transmit the same information to the client apparatuses without imposing workload on each client apparatus. The server is free from any interruption of the transmission of information signal unintended by the server. The server receives information designating at least one client apparatus as a destination of the information signal through a keyboard of the server, and transmits audio contents stored in a content storage hard disk to each of the client apparatuses, designated in the received designate information, through a controller and a communication unit. At least one client apparatus concurrently plays the audio content. |
| US08150914B1 |
Simultaneous download of application file portions
Example systems and methods for downloading an application file are presented herein. In an example, configuration information for downloading the application file is received. The configuration information indicates a partition quantity indicating a number of file portions into which the application file is partitioned at one or more server computers. Network addresses for the file portions are determined based on the configuration information. A request is issued for each of the multiple file portions based on the network addresses, with the requests being issued over multiple network connections. The multiple file portions are received over the multiple network connections, with at least two of the multiple file portions being received simultaneously over separate ones of the multiple network connections. The received multiple file portions are combined to form the application file. |
| US08150913B2 |
System for controlled distribution of user profiles over a network
An information management and distribution system is disclosed. The information management and distribution system facilitates the controlled exchange of contact information over a network. The system can support one or more of creation and design, rolodex, exchange, and update features. In one embodiment, the information management and distribution system can include a networked server system accessible by remote user devices via the network, and at least one database maintained by the networked server system and storing content information and exchange settings of registered users. |
| US08150912B2 |
Systems and methods for providing customer-selected solutions for multiple datacenter website hosting
Systems of the present inventions allow for providing customer-selected solutions for multiple datacenter website hosting. An exemplary system may comprise a first datacenter comprising at least one hosting server, a second datacenter comprising at least one hosting server, and a hosting services website hosted on at least one customer interaction server. The hosting services website may be configured to offer and implement hosting of at least one customer website in the first datacenter, second datacenter, or both the first datacenter and second datacenter. The system also may comprise a network communicatively coupling the first datacenter, second datacenter, and customer interaction server. |
| US08150911B2 |
User interface to facilitate exchanging files among processor-based devices
A first processor-based device (PBD), such as a personal computer functioning as a host and containing digital media files, may share a selected file with a second PBD. Media file-sharing may be facilitated by an automated technique including graphical user interfaces (GUIs). In one embodiment, when a device user wishes to transfer a file to another device, the user hovers the file over a particular desktop icon and drops it, causing it to be automatically transmitted to a corresponding destination. Optionally, in response to hovering, a software program automatically generates a GUI indicating potential destinations. The user then selects a destination, and the system automatically transfers the file to that destination. In another embodiment, media sharing can be initiated from a digital appliance, such as a digital picture frame, and a file can be sent to another PBD, such as another digital picture frame via an intermediary PBD. |
| US08150906B2 |
Information delivery system for generating a data stream with a server system based on a content file received from a client device
This invention relates to an information delivery system, an information delivery method, an information processing apparatus, and an information processing method used advantageously to deliver content stream data easily, reliably and inexpensively to the general users. A personal computer 12 prepares a content file and an order form file using software provided by a center system 4, and transmits the prepared files to the center system 4 over the Internet 1. Given the order form file from a customer device 2, the center system 4 encodes a content file accordingly to generate content stream data and causes a moving picture delivery server 25 to deliver the generated stream data to user terminals 3. This invention can be applied, among others, to systems for delivering content data over the Internet. |
| US08150905B2 |
Process configuration in a network
A network is configured or made configurable to provide a process exploiting services distributed among nodes of the network by means of a step-by-step search, the search for one service starting at a node providing a previous service. |
| US08150892B2 |
Process and system for locating a media asset based on audit trail information incorporated into the asset itself
An enhanced metadata structure and associated process is provided which captures and stores metadata gathered about the source and usage of a media asset or file. The source and usage metadata is integrated, such as by encoding within the enhanced media file, as the media asset is transferred and used. The integrated metadata accumulates, as a trail of source information and usage information in the enhanced media asset, and can be extracted upon arrival at a target computer system. |
| US08150889B1 |
Parallel processing framework
Data can be processed in parallel across a cluster of nodes using a parallel processing framework. Using Web services calls between components allows the number of nodes to be scaled as necessary, and allows developers to build applications on the framework using a Web services interface. A job scheduler works together with a queuing service to distribute jobs to nodes as the nodes have capacity, such that jobs can be performed in parallel as quickly as the nodes are able to process the jobs. Data can be loaded efficiently across the cluster, and levels of nodes can be determined dynamically to process queries and other requests on the system. |
| US08150886B2 |
Multiple database entity model generation using entity models
The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or method that generates or creates database entity models using entity models. The system can include devices and components that receive database vendor specific store schema descriptions. The vendor specific store schema descriptions can be employed in conjunction with mapping files that characterize a instance of a database to generate a common object model that can be used to provide a common interface comprehensible across multiple vendor or database types. |
| US08150885B2 |
Method and apparatus for organizing data by overlaying a searchable database with a directory tree structure
Method and apparatus for organizing data by overlaying a searchable database with a directory tree structure. The method includes generating the directory tree structure that includes nodes comprising a designated category for each node and branches comprising links between the nodes, and generating one or more pointers. Each pointer corresponds to a specific node and the pointer links the specific node to an item of data within the searchable database. All pointers associated with the specific node link related items of data corresponding to the designated category. Each node within the directory tree structure can include a corresponding html address. Items of data can be web-based multimedia including audio, video, images, and appropriately formatted text, displayed in an encyclopedia-like format. Nodes, branches, and pointers within the directory tree structure can continually be added, edited, or deleted. |
| US08150883B2 |
Managing data component with harmonization indicator
Data elements for a data component are specified by creating a data type that includes several data elements, the data type to be used in creating data components for specific contexts. Each of the several data elements is associated with a harmonization indicator that causes the associated data element to be included, or not included, in the data components for any of the specific contexts. A method of performing a predefined operation on a data component includes receiving a user input specifying at least one context value for performing a predefined operation on a data component for a specific context characterized by the at least one context value. The predefined operation is performed using a harmonization indicator included in a data type that is context independent. Data components are used in software components or application components. |
| US08150873B2 |
Method and apparatus for finding maximal frequent itemsets over data streams
A method and apparatus to find maximal frequent itemsets over data streams. A prefix tree manages itemsets and appearance frequencies of the itemsets, and each of nodes of the prefix tree has information about an appearance frequency, a maximum lifetime, and a mark indicating whether the corresponding itemset is a maximal frequent itemset. The method includes: receiving transaction Tk generated at a current point in time; updating the information owned by each node corresponding to the itemset of the transaction Tk among the nodes of the prefix tree; adding each node that is not managed in the prefix tree among nodes corresponding to the itemset of the transaction Tk, to the prefix tree and setting the information on the added nodes; and finding maximal frequent itemsets by visiting each node of the prefix tree that has the mark indicating the maximal frequent itemset and checking whether the corresponding itemset is frequent. |
| US08150870B1 |
Scalable partitioning in a multilayered data service framework
A method and system is provided for maintaining customer data in a data store system utilizing a scalable partitioning framework. More specifically, the data store of a customer service system is partitioned (divided) into multiple partitions by a partitionable key of customer data so that each partition owns a subset of the customer data. By maintaining several partitions that store a subset of the customer data exclusive to each other, blackout or brownout problems can be local to one partition and, thus, the availability for the entire system will be increased. Moreover, a set of partitionable keys, a minimal unit to be moved between partitions, is grouped and associated with a partition. By eliminating direct dependencies between the partitions and the partitionable keys, the system can have great flexibility with regard to migrating customer data between partitions and adding a new partition. |
| US08150868B2 |
Using joint communication and search data
Conventionally, there are communities of individuals who perform Internet searches and communities of individuals who utilized Internet communications. While there is commonly a large amount of overlap between the two communities, there is little interaction between the two communities. Internet searches can be used to recommend interesting people to a user. Furthermore, Internet communications can be used to recommend content that is likely to be of interest to the user. In addition, previously engaged communications or searches can be used to disambiguate terms in a subsequent search. |
| US08150860B1 |
Ranking authors and their content in the same framework
One or more server devices may simultaneously calculate first ranking scores for a group of users and second ranking scores for a group of comments authored by the group of users. The calculating may occur during a same process. The one or more server devices may further provide one of a first ranked list that includes information identifying the group of users, the information identifying the group of users being ordered based on the first ranking scores, or a second group of comments of the group of comments, the comments in the second group of comments being ordered based on the second ranking scores. |
| US08150858B2 |
Contextual similarity measures for objects and retrieval, classification, and clustering using same
A method of comparing first and second objects in a context comprises: maximizing or minimizing a quantitative comparison of the first object and a mixture of the second object and the context respective to a weighting parameter that controls the mixture; and outputting a comparison value based on the value of the weighting parameter determined by the maximizing or minimizing. |
| US08150857B2 |
System and method for context-rich database optimized for processing of concepts
A computer-implemented method and system of disciplining data input to a multi-contextual and multi-dimensional database is described. A template identifying subject matter specific settings is provided, where the settings comprise a default ontology or taxonomy, a reserved word or phrase list, and restricted value ranges, and where the template includes a template identification and a version. A new record is generated based on the template. Alternatively, a record is generated by copying or inheriting information from an existing record in the database. A unique identification code is assigned to the record including a reference to the template identification and version. A weight is assigned to each record representing a level of diligence used at a time of data entry, where the level of diligence is dependent in part on the default ontology or taxonomy and the reserved word or phrase list. |
| US08150853B2 |
Efficient method for clustering nodes
Methods and computer storage media for clustering nodes are provided. An input file is received that is comprised of primary nodes, secondary nodes and metrics that relate to the association between the primary nodes and the secondary nodes. Upon receiving the input file, the input file is abridged to reduce the number of nodes contained in the input file. The unique initial primary nodes are then clustered with their associated secondary node. The clusters containing the unique initial primary nodes are replaced if a subsequent related cluster satisfies a pre-defined condition. In some embodiments, multiple clusters are then merged until the cluster size reaches a pre-defined size. In some embodiments, the input file is cleaned and sorted prior to being abridged. |
| US08150849B2 |
System and method for extrapolating data from a sample set
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to identifying a source of bias in a sample set and using statistical techniques to overcome the bias, thereby producing extrapolated data that accurately represents a population including the sample set. The method according to one embodiment comprises identifying a plurality of attributes corresponding to an entity, generating a plurality of clusters from the plurality of attributes, the plurality of clusters including varying numbers of the plurality of attributes, and performing measurements on each of the plurality of clusters to generate measurement data values for each of the plurality of clusters. A cluster with a greatest measurement data value is selected. |
| US08150848B2 |
Geocoding multi-feature addresses
A system and method of parsing natural language descriptions of features to determine an approximate location. An embodiment includes splitting the natural language descriptions into components, geocoding each component, and returning the geocode with the highest confidence level. The geocode references a specific location, and this information may be determined by content from a variety of sources. The system may use an assortment of techniques for determining highest confidence level. |
| US08150845B2 |
Method, device, and computer program product for targeting media for storage to a communications device
Methods, devices, and products are provided for targeting media. Descriptive information is received that describes media. The descriptive information is compared to a stored set of user-defined criteria. If the descriptive information contains any criterion, the media is stored in memory, and the stored media is targeted to a user's communications device. |
| US08150843B2 |
Generating search results based on user feedback
Systems, methods and articles of manufacture are disclosed for generating search results based on user feedback. A request may be received to generate search results retrieved using a search string. The request may include user feedback for one or more selected documents of the search results. Improved search results may be generated based on the search results and the feedback for one or more selected documents of the search results. The improved search results may be output to a graphical display device. |
| US08150841B2 |
Detecting spiking queries
Methods, systems, and media are provided for identifying and clustering queries that are rising in popularity. Resultant clustered queries can be compared to other stored queries using textual and temporal correlations. Fresh indices containing information and results from recently crawled content sources are searched to obtain the most recent query activity. Historical indices are also searched to obtain temporally correlated information and results that match the clustered query stream. A weighted average acceleration of a spike can be calculated to distinguish between a legitimate spike and a non-legitimate spike. Legitimate clusters are combined with other stored clusters and presented as grouped content results to a user output device. |
| US08150840B2 |
Dynamic RSS services
An Internet browser application is arranged to automatically display an RSS feed. When a web page is requested, if the Internet browser is selected to be in an RSS feed mode, the Internet browser detects for an RSS feed for the requested web page. If the RSS feed is detected, the RSS feed is loaded in parallel with loading the requested web page. Thereafter, the loaded RSS feed is displayed. A user may switch from the RSS feed mode to a normal mode for displaying the already loaded requested web page. |
| US08150839B2 |
Method and system for offering search results
A method of providing a search result and a system for executing the method are provided. A method of providing a search result includes: setting a grade of a category associated with a keyword based on click information; creating a category list to maintain the category list in association with the keyword, wherein the category list includes the category that is arranged according to the grade; and providing a search result for the keyword in an order of the category in the category list, wherein the click information includes information regarding whether the category is clicked on and a clicked order. |
| US08150834B2 |
Assisting method and apparatus for accessing markup language document
An assisting method and an assisting apparatus for accessing a markup language document are provided. First, an intermediate table is established in a storage unit, wherein the intermediate table includes a length field, a depth field, a type field, a parent element field, and an offset field. Then, structure data of each element in the markup language document is transformed into the intermediate table to respectively record a string length, a hierarchy depth, an element type, a parent element index, and an absolute position of the element into the length field, the depth field, the type field, the parent element field, and the offset field. Finally, access to the markup language document is assisted according to the intermediary table. |
| US08150833B1 |
System, method and computer program product for storing a formula having first and second object fields
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for storing a formula having first and second object fields. These mechanisms and methods for storing a formula having first and second object fields can allow access to data from related object types other than the object type being currently accessed. The ability of embodiments to provide such access may allow access to additional contents of a database for performing validations, calculations, etc. |
| US08150831B2 |
System and method for ranking search results within citation intensive document collections
Systems and methods facilitate a search and identify documents and associated metadata reflecting content of the documents. In one implementation, a method receives a query comprising a set of search terms, identifies a stored document in response to the query, and determines a score value for the retrieved document based on a similarity between one or more of the query search terms and metadata associated with the identified document. The method locates the identified document in a citation network of baseline query results, the citation network comprising a first set of documents that cite to the identified document and a second set of documents cited to by the identified document. The method further determines a new score value of the identified document as a function of the score value and a quantity and a quality of documents within the first and second set of documents. |
| US08150828B2 |
Community driven search using macros
A community custom search or community search macro is created whereby users access a custom search or search macro from their computing devices. The users can execute the custom search or search macro to return search results. The users can edit the custom search or search macro to modify its contents even though another may be the author or owner of the custom search or search macro. The users can access the modified custom search or modified search macro, or access a prior version of the modified custom search or modified search macro. The custom search or search macro resides on one or more computing devices accessible by the user through the Internet. |
| US08150827B2 |
Methods for enhancing efficiency and cost effectiveness of first pass review of documents
Methods for reviewing a collection of documents to identify relevant documents from the collection are provided. A search of the collection can be run based on query terms, to return a subset of responsive documents. A probability of relevancy can be determined for a document in the returned subset, and the document is removed from the subset if it does not reach a threshold probability of relevancy. Documents in a thread of a correspondence (for example, an e-mail) in the responsive documents subset can be added to the responsive documents subset. Further, an attachment to a document in the responsive documents subset can be added to the responsive documents subset. A statistical technique can be applied to determine whether remaining documents in the collection meet a predetermined acceptance level. |
| US08150818B2 |
Method and system for storing structured documents in their native format in a database
A method, computer readable medium, and system for storing a structured document in its native format in a database are provided. The method, computer readable medium, and system include receiving the structured document, generating a hierarchical node tree comprising a plurality of nodes, where the node tree represents the structured document, and storing the plurality of nodes in at least one record in the database. |
| US08150816B2 |
Techniques of optimizing policies in an information management system
In an information management system, policies are optimized before they are associated to a device in order to increase evaluation speed or reduce space requirements, or both. Optimization techniques may include common subexpression elimination, constant folding, constant propagation, comparison optimization, dead code or subexpression removal, map or lookup table generation, policy rewriting, redundant policy elimination, heuristic-based policy ordering, or policy-format transformation, and combinations of these. |
| US08150814B2 |
System and method of data cleansing using rule based formatting
In one embodiment the present invention includes a computer-implemented method for data cleansing using rule based formatting. The method includes tokenizing and parsing a first input data and a second input data. The method further includes including a first token in a first output data if a first formatting rule component in a formatting rule is a first valid index to said first tokenized input data. The method further includes including a second token in a second output data if said first formatting rule component in the formatting rule is a second valid index to said second tokenized input data. The method further includes formatting said first output data and said second output data according to the formatting rule. |
| US08150800B2 |
Advanced clock synchronization technique
An advanced clock synchronization technique is adapted for use with a replication service in a data backup and recovery storage environment. The storage environment includes a plurality of source storage systems and target storage systems, wherein the source storage systems are illustratively embodied as source replication nodes. The advanced clock synchronization technique establishes a software-only, loosely-accurate global clock based on a timestamp and an associated error boundary. Notably, the timestamp and its error boundary are used as global clock information to enable synchronization (i.e., ordering of storage requests) among the source replication nodes and/or the target storage systems, thereby ensuring consistent replication of the storage requests on the target storage systems. |
| US08150798B2 |
Method and system for automated coordination and organization of electronic communications in enterprises
A method and system for automated coordination and organization of electronic communications in enterprises optimizes a communications network, intelligently streamlining communications and enabling workflow within enterprise applications. The system allows a user to use whatever authoring tool the user is already familiar with, such as email or word-processing, to immediately publish that communication, making use of re-usable content and templates and then automatically routing that information vie the best channel to the intended recipient. The recipient is able to direct the format and mode of the incoming communications as well, based on sender, role, type, and action requirement. The underlying engine for streamlining communications injects underlying metadata so that emails are easier to manage and automate. Finally, the system collects information about the overall system in order to improve communication flow. |
| US08150792B1 |
System and method for performing activities based on proximity
A system and method applies events to a set of rules, and such rules can produce still other events that can be provided to the same or different set of rules. Rules may have attributes, and all rules or only those with attributes corresponding to an object may be stored for use with a device that has been added to, or is part of, the device. |
| US08150788B2 |
Method for forecasting unstable policy enforcements
Method for forecasting instable policy enforcement, is described, wherein a behavior dynamic Bayesian network (DBN) model and a policy finite state transducers extended with tautness functions and identities (TFFST) model is analytically composed to derive predictions of the consequences of enforcing a given policy, in particular to detect flip-flop configuration changes in a system. The method comprises the steps of—translating (1) the Bayesian network that holds the Behavior Model (BM) into a finite state transducers extended with tautness functions and identities (TFFST); —computing (2) the union of the Bayesian network (BM) and Policy Model (PM) finite state transducers extended with tautness functions and identities (TFFSTs); —composing (3) the finite state transducers extended with tautness functions and identities (TFFST) produced in the previous step with itself; and—detecting (4, 5, 6, 7) repetitions of events in the input and the output of every possible path; —if at least one repetition is found, detecting a possible instability (9). |
| US08150787B2 |
Enhancing performance of a constraint solver across individual processes
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that reuses information associated with a constraint solving operation for a problem domain. This system begins by receiving a constraint problem from the problem domain. Then, the system searches through a problem cache for an entry which corresponds to the canonical representation. If a corresponding entry does not exist in the problem cache, the system produces an entry in the problem cache for the canonical representation. Otherwise, if a corresponding entry already exists in the problem cache, the system generates a solution to the canonical representation by reusing the solver heuristic associated with the corresponding entry in the problem cache. |
| US08150782B2 |
Methods and apparatus for recognizing compact discs and issuing corresponding credits
For possible use in an electronic content distribution system, automatic recognition of compact discs or other storage media containing particular content, and corresponding account crediting is described. In an electronic content distribution system, such as those providing music available by digital downloading or streaming technologies, a user may ordinarily pay a full price to receive the music. A user who possesses and apparently owns a compact disc containing particular content can be conveniently offered a discount or credit usable towards the purchase of the analogous particular content in a form provided by the electronic content distribution system. Preferably, compact discs are uniquely identified by determining whether their digital fingerprint matches a known reference fingerprint for a compact disc containing the particular content. |
| US08150777B1 |
Method and system for automatic scoring of the intellectual properties
Novel methods of IP or patent management and monetization based on IP/patent pooling and scoring systems are disclosed. In addition, novel partnership methods with IP producing entities (such as universities) are disclosed which produce incentives and efficiencies far and above other methods. Systems and methods are disclosed for valuation of IP instruments and distribution of IP revenue/proceeds. Examples of methods for scoring IP instruments, using a transactional and event driven point/value system, are disclosed for tracking, monitoring, distribution and allocation of proceeds in a complex pooling arrangement of IP instruments. |
| US08150776B2 |
Methods of operating a coal burning facility
Methods involve adding sorbent components, such as calcium oxide, alumina, and silica, as well as optional halogens as part of environmental control. Use of the sorbents leads to significant reductions in sulfur and mercury emissions that otherwise would result from burning coal. Use of the sorbents leads to production of waste coal ash that, while higher in mercury, is nevertheless usable as a commercial product because the mercury in the ash is non-leaching and because the coal ash has a higher cementitious nature by virtue of the increased content of the sorbent components in the ash. Thus, the methods involve adding powders having qualities that lead to the production of a cementitious coal ash while at the same time reducing emissions from a coal burning facility. |
| US08150775B2 |
Computerized transaction bargaining system and method
A method and system for automated bargaining in a round by round manner is disclosed. The method and system are capable of multiple rounds. The method and system are used in testing non-equal values in normal rounds for satisfaction of a predetermined criterion. If the criterion is not satisfied in the normal rounds, power round values are tested for satisfaction of a power round criterion. If the power round criterion is satisfied, a binding bargained payment is calculated. Additional options involve an automated facilitator, windfalls to initiators, automatic payment initiation, multiparty aggregation and automatic agreement document generation. |
| US08150774B2 |
System and method for providing automated dispute resolution between or among multiple parties
A computer executable system and method for dispute resolution which includes the ability to resolve claims between or among multiple parties. |
| US08150773B2 |
Computerized dispute resolution system and method
An automated method capable of multiple rounds for settling a dispute among adverse parties which dispute involves monetary values is described together with an automated system for carrying out such method. |
| US08150770B1 |
System and method for reordering checks
A method for reordering checks for a customer is disclosed. The method includes ordering a first quantity of checks for the customer, tracking usage of the first quantity of checks, and ordering a second quantity of checks for the customer when a predetermined quantity of the first quantity of checks has been processed. |
| US08150769B2 |
Performing automatically authorized programmatic transactions
Techniques are described for facilitating interactions between computing systems, such as by performing transactions between parties that are automatically authorized via a third-party transaction authorization system. In some situations, the transactions are programmatic transactions involving the use of fee-based Web services by executing application programs, with the transaction authorization system authorizing and/or providing payments in accordance with private authorization instructions previously specified by the parties. The authorization instructions may include predefined instruction rule sets that regulate conditions under which a potential transaction can be authorized, with the instruction rule sets each referenced by an associated reference token. After one or more of the parties to a potential transaction supply reference tokens for the parties, the transaction authorization system can determine whether to authorize the transaction based on whether the instruction rule sets associated with the reference tokens are compatible or otherwise satisfied. |
| US08150766B1 |
System and method for investing public deposits
A method, system and program product for operating an exchange method for municipal and/or state funds from banking institutions, comprising: (A) accessing, by one or more computers, one or more electronic databases holding data on client transaction accounts and funds in aggregated accounts and banking institutions holding Federal government securities; (B) obtaining transaction data for clients' deposits/transfers to and withdrawals/transfers from a plurality of said client transaction accounts; (C) generating instructions, to deposit/transfer funds to or withdraw/transfer funds from one or more of the aggregated accounts to satisfy the clients' deposits/transfers to and withdrawals/transfers from a plurality of said client transaction accounts; (D) receiving data, for a first deposit from a first one of the banking institutions, where the first deposit comprises municipal funds and/or state funds; (E) selecting, at least another of the banking institutions holding government securities to receive at least a portion of the first deposit of municipal funds and/or state funds; (F) selecting, a plurality of client transaction accounts from one or more of the other banking institutions for the transfer of funds to the first banking institution; (G) generating instructions to deposit/transfer funds from the plurality of the client transaction accounts selected to the first banking institution; (H) updating the electronic databases. |
| US08150765B1 |
Systems and methods for credit management risk rating and approval
A method for one of approving and denying a credit offering to a borrower is disclosed. The method includes calculating a probability of default rating of the borrower and calculating a loss given default rating for the borrower. The method also includes integrating the probability of default rating and the loss given default rating with other information relating to the credit offering to produce a credit memorandum and automatically outputting the credit memorandum to a user so that the user can recommend one of approval and denial of the credit offering. |
| US08150763B2 |
Systems and methods for staging transactions, payments and collections
The present invention relates to systems and methods for staging transactions and facilitating payments by consumers to a lender or merchant to consummate a financial transaction and/or to maintain a financial relationship. In one embodiment, a method for accepting payments from a consumer includes receiving a promise-to-pay record from a lender (210), receiving a payment from the consumer (220), associating the payment with the promise-to-pay record (230), and sending a notice to the lender (240), with the notice having an indicator that the payment has been received. |
| US08150760B2 |
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. |
| US08150755B2 |
Computer system and method for determining optimal asset allocation
A computer system is provided for selecting an asset allocation for an investment portfolio intended to produce a target payout starting at a target date. The computer system is programmed to receive inputs that may relate to the target payout, the target date and a nominal rate of contributions to the investment portfolio. The computer system calculates a plurality of simulated investment outcomes based on assumed investment return rates and assumed inflation rates. The assumed investment return rates and assumed inflation rates are randomly selected in multi-year clusters from historical data. The computer system selects the asset allocation based on relative performance of the assumed asset allocations in the simulated investment outcomes. |
| US08150753B2 |
System for procuring business in an e-commerce environment
A system, method and computer program product are provided for e-commerce. In use, a plurality of suppliers are registered. In addition, goods-related information from customers is received, where the goods-related information is associated with goods. Access to the goods-related information by the suppliers is allowed utilizing a network. Further, offers relating to the goods from the suppliers are received utilizing the network, and the customers are informed of the offers. Still yet, a guarantee is provided to the customers regarding a qualification of at least one supplier with respect to a provision or fulfillment of the offer received therefrom. Such guarantee is provided as a function the at least one supplier or at least one action thereof. |
| US08150752B2 |
Computerized financial information retrieval by dynamic URL construction
In one embodiment, a limited amount of financial information related to each of a plurality of financial instruments is displayed on a display screen of a computer. A user chooses a financial instrument of the plurality of financial instruments. A plurality of elements are shown on the display screen, each being associated with a different type of additional information supplemental of the limited amount of financial information. Each element is associated with a preferred remote data source chosen by the user. When a particular element is chosen by the user, additional information of the type associated with the particular element related to the chosen financial instrument is retrieved by constructing a uniform resource locator (URL) that combines a first financial instrument-independent URL portion that is specific to the preferred remote data source and a second financial instrument-specific URL portion that is specific to the chosen financial instrument. |
| US08150747B2 |
Disposable tax return preparation device
A tax return preparation kit is provided that contains a disposable tax return preparation device for receiving taxpayer input of tax related data for use in preparing an electronic tax return. The disposable tax return preparation device is adapted to prepare an electronic tax return based on the tax related data. A communications cable is also provided for communicatively coupling the disposable tax return preparation device to a telecommunications system, for transmitting the electronic tax return to a remote tax return preparation system also coupled to the telecommunications system. The remote tax return preparation system is adapted to receive the tax return prepared by the disposable tax return preparation device, confirm the tax return, and electronically file the tax return with a tax authority. |
| US08150743B2 |
Method and apparatus for the identification of products displayed in media programs
A method and apparatus for the identification of products in a media program and making such products available for consumer purchase is presented. A consumer utilizes a “BeamBack” device to initiate a “screen grab” and thereby express interest in a placed and/or advertised product. An identifying marker is transmitted in response to the consumer's interest to a product web-site, where still images of the product are displayed upon linking of the identifying marker to another marker identifying the still image. The identifying marker can be transmitted to the consumer's “BeamBack” device, computer, or web-page or directly to the product's web-site. |
| US08150724B1 |
System for eliciting accurate judgement of entertainment items
The invention elicits reliable ratings of entertainment items. Appropriate users are identified to supply ratings, and they are motivated to supply reliable ones by rewards. The identification of appropriate users is based on taste signatures of the items to be rated and of the users. Other products of user effort such as reviews are also elicited. |
| US08150720B2 |
Dispatch management model
A method includes monitoring a system for fault conditions, determining an estimated energy loss based on the fault condition, determining an estimated product loss and/or sales loss based on the fault condition, and scheduling maintenance to correct the fault condition. Maintenance is schedule to correct the fault condition prior to the energy loss and the product loss exceeding maintenance costs. |
| US08150716B1 |
Website and method for search engine optimization by prompting, recording and displaying feedback of a web site user
The invention provides a web site with content designed to elicit responses from users that contain keyword dense content for a chosen word or words. Users submit responses to the website and the website displays the responses on a web page. The accumulation of targeted and keyword specific material in natural language as recorded and displayed on the web site attracts search engine spiders and achieve a higher ranking in response to key word searches matching the keyword dense content. |
| US08150714B2 |
System and method for providing healthcare-related services
A system and method for providing healthcare-related services according to which the healthcare-related services include, but are not limited to, health insurance benefit activation services and/or healthcare-related education services. |
| US08150712B2 |
User interface for presenting clinical order content based upon designated performance location
Computerized methods and systems for permitting clinicians and other healthcare providers to designate performance locations for clinical orders having one or more phases associated therewith, and for presenting order catalog content that is flexed based upon the designated performance location for the clinical order are provided. Further provided are computerized methods and systems for permitting clinicians and other healthcare providers to designate a performance location for each phase of a multi-phase clinical order, and for presenting order catalog content for each phase that is flexed based upon the designated performance location for the phase. User interfaces for presenting content associated with clinical orders based upon designated performance locations are also provided. |
| US08150711B2 |
Generating and managing medical documentation sets
Methods, computer storage media, systems and user interfaces for generating and/or managing medical documentation sets are provided. Medical documentation sets are generated by replicating a predetermined medical template. After the predetermined medical template is replicated, the medical label associated with the medical documentation set may be modified so that the medication documentation set includes a unique medical label. Upon the completion of a medication documentation set, it may be retrieved and managed as desired. |
| US08150709B2 |
Integrated point of care medication administration information system
An integrated point of care medication administration system comprises a point of care medication administration system including an interface for communicating with the at least one repository and information sources and including a processor. The processor uses the information and the interface in automatically acquiring for a particular patient, data representing particular patient parameters and laboratory test results associated with a particular individual medication in response to user initiation of an order for the particular individual medication to be administered to the particular patient. A display device presents at least one display image indicating acquired particular patient parameters and laboratory test results of the particular patient and identifying a particular patient parameter or laboratory test result needing to be acquired prior to administration of the particular individual medication to the particular patient. |
| US08150707B2 |
Method and apparatus for assisting behavioural change
A method and apparatus for assisting a user to formulate, apply and adhere to a changed behavior program. The user's commitment is established by presenting a number of potential barriers to implementing a desired behavioral change; asking a user to select one or more potential barriers; presenting a selected number of possible solutions to the barriers, receiving user input selecting at least one solution; and prompting the user to enter a commitment to one or more actions intended to assist the behavioral change. Maintenance of an exercise regime is assisted by displaying a selection of options for activities to be included in the exercise regime; allowing a user to select activities; displaying a schedule of planned exercise activities; and sending an electronic alert message to the user in advance of the scheduled activity. |
| US08150706B2 |
Remote prescription refill system
A prescription refill system having Voice-over-IP (VoIP) capabilities is provided. A central station remote from a pharmacy is provided for receiving phone calls (e.g., PSTN or VoIP calls) relating to prescription information. The central station obtains the prescription information, and automatically dispatches same to a pharmacy for filling. The pharmacy can dial into the central station to receive prescription information, or the information can be periodically faxed, e-mailed, or sent via the Internet to the pharmacy. A computer at the pharmacy allows for information to be retrieved from the central station, including voice messages stored at the central station. Calls made to the pharmacy can be forwarded to the central station automatically. A caller calling the central station can be switched to a live operator at the pharmacy for additional assistance. |
| US08150704B2 |
Method of preparing a product quote for a customer
The present invention provides an efficient and simple method of preparing a product quote for a customer operating a technical installation.The product quote is based on a data set acquired during the operation of the installation, a product chosen for use with the installation and a customer benefit related to the chosen product and the data set. |
| US08150703B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing access delay in discontinuous transmission packet telephony systems
Systems are disclosed for operating a communications network. The system includes a module to buffer frames of a signal, and a module to determine an access delay. The system also includes a module to compress a portion of the signal based on the access delay by removing a first portion of a frame of the signal and generating an overlap-added segment from a first segment and a second segment of the frame. In another embodiment, the system includes a module to buffer frames of a signal, a module to establish a communication channel with a handset, and a module to determine an access delay. The system also includes a module to compress a portion of the signal based on the access delay by removing a first portion of a frame of the signal and generating an overlap-added segment from a first segment and a second segment of the frame. |
| US08150700B2 |
Mobile terminal and menu control method thereof
A mobile terminal including an input unit configured to receive an input to activate a voice recognition function on the mobile terminal, a memory configured to store information related to operations performed on the mobile terminal, and a controller configured to activate the voice recognition function upon receiving the input to activate the voice recognition function, to determine a meaning of an input voice instruction based on at least one prior operation performed on the mobile terminal and a language included in the voice instruction, and to provide operations related to the determined meaning of the input voice instruction based on the at least one prior operation performed on the mobile terminal and the language included in the voice instruction and based on a probability that the determined meaning of the input voice instruction matches the information related to the operations of the mobile terminal. |
| US08150699B2 |
Systems and methods of a structured grammar for a speech recognition command system
In embodiments of the present invention, a system and method for enabling a user to interact with a computer platform using a voice command may comprise the steps of defining a structured grammar for handling a global voice command, defining a global voice command of the structured grammar wherein the global voice command enables access to an object of the computer platform using a single command, and mapping at least one function of the object to the global voice command, wherein upon receiving voice input from the user of the computer platform the object recognizes the global voice command and controls the function. |
| US08150693B2 |
Methods and apparatus for natural spoken language speech recognition
A word prediction apparatus and method that improves the precision accuracy, and a speech recognition method and an apparatus therefor are provided. For the prediction of a sixth word “?”, a partial analysis tree having a modification relationship with the sixth word is predicted. “sara-ni sho-senkyoku no” has two partial analysis trees, “sara-ni” and “sho-senkyoku no”. It is predicted that “sara-ni” does not have a modification relationship with the sixth word, and that “sho-senkyoku no” does. Then, “donyu”, which is the sixth word from “sho-senkyoku no”, is predicted. In this example, since “sara-ni” is not useful information for the prediction of “donyu”, it is preferable that “donyu” be predicted only by “sho-senkyoku no”. |
| US08150688B2 |
Voice recognizing apparatus, voice recognizing method, voice recognizing program, interference reducing apparatus, interference reducing method, and interference reducing program
A voice recognizing apparatus includes a microphone 12 which inputs an input voice including speech voice uttered by a user speaker and interference voice uttered by an interference speaker other than the user speaker, superimposition amount determining unit 14 which determines a noise superimposition amount for the input voice on the basis of a speech voice and an interference voice separately input as the input voice, a noise superimposing unit 16 which superimposes noise according to the noise superimposition amount onto the input voice and outputs the resultant voice as noise-superimposed voice; and a voice recognizing unit 18 which recognizes the noise-superimposed voice. |
| US08150687B2 |
Recognizing speech, and processing data
An example embodiment of the invention includes a speech recognition processing unit for specifying speech segments for speech data, recognizing a speech in each of the speech segments, and associating a character string of obtained recognition data with the speech data for each speech segment, based on information on a time of the speech, and an output control unit for displaying/outputting the text prepared by sorting the recognition data in each speech segment. Sometimes, the system further includes a text editing unit for editing the prepared text, and a speech correspondence estimation unit for associating a character string in the edited text with the speech data by using a technique of dynamic programming. |
| US08150684B2 |
Scalable decoder preventing signal degradation and lost data interpolation method
A scalable decoder capable of preventing degradation of the quality of the decoded signal in a disappeared data interpolation in band scalable coding. A core layer decoding section (101) acquires a core layer decoded signal and narrow band spectrum information by decoding. A narrow band spectrum slope computing section (103) computes the slope of an attenuation line of a narrow band spectrum from the narrow band spectrum information. An extended layer disappearance detection section (104) detects whether extended layer coded data has disappeared or not. An extended layer decoding section (105) normally decodes the extended layer coded data. If the extended layer disappears, a parameter required for decoding is interpolated and synthesizes an interpolation decoded signal by the interpolated parameter. The gain of the interpolated data is controlled according to the results of the computation, by the narrow band spectrum slope computing section (103). |
| US08150678B2 |
Spoken document retrieval system
The present invention provides a spoken document retrieval system capable of high-speed and high-accuracy retrieval of where a user-specified keyword is uttered from spoken documents, even if the spoken documents are large in amount. Candidate periods are narrowed down in advance on the basis of a sequence of subwords generated from a keyword, and then the count values of the candidate periods containing the subwords are each calculated by adding up certain values. Through such simple process, the candidate periods are prioritized and then selected as retrieved results. In addition, the sequence of subwords generated from the keyword is complemented assuming that speech recognition errors occur, and then, candidate period generation and selection are performed on the basis of the complemented sequence of subwords. |
| US08150674B2 |
Automated testing platform for event driven systems
A platform for the automated testing of event driven software applications is provided. A source environment is replicated to a target environment. The target environment includes a target system. A test case is defined with a target system, specific attributes and verification information. The attributes of the test case include the target system. The test case is fired. An event is simulated for the test case based on the target system and the specific attributes. The simulated event is transmitted to the target environment. The results of the test case being fired are determined based on verification information. The results are recorded to a data store. |
| US08150670B2 |
Simulator and simulation method
An object of the present invention is to provide a simulator for verifying plural products with common hardware configuration, in which peripheral hardware that can be reused are constituted by hardware and other peripheral hardware is constituted by software simulator, and simulation method.A simulator comprises: a hardware section that includes a peripheral hardware configuration with a structure required for a CPU and OS to operate alone; a software section that simulates the operation of peripheral hardware other than hardware constituting the hardware section as a peripheral hardware model; and an interface board that connects the hardware section and software section. |
| US08150665B2 |
Requirements management and modeling in complex systems integration
A method and product for modeling and managing requirements in a complex integrated system, which comprises creating a set of requirements which can be implemented within all the components of the complex integrated system. Each requirement may be characterized as a point on the circumference of a circle, the characterization being an assignment of a requirement type. This type determines which circle the point will be located on, assigning a unique immutable numerical value to each requirement that determines in which order the point is placed on the previously determined circle. A location is also determined for each requirement. The location may determine the position of the requirement in relation to other requirements on the circumference of one of the set of circles. Sectors are also formed within the set of circles, as a function of a set of architectural principles and interfaces are identified between points, represented as chords. |
| US08150659B2 |
Dynamic selection of update methods
A method in a computer modeling environment having generative component features forming a model is provided. A generative component (GC) feature is created with a method. User input modifying an aspect of the model that affects the GC feature is received. An update method for the GC feature is determined dynamically based on the user input, the properties of the GC feature and input properties of available update methods to obtain a selected update method. The GC feature is updated based on the selected update method to obtain an updated GC feature. The updated GC feature is stored in a computer readable medium. |
| US08150657B2 |
Physical quantity measuring instrument and signal processing method thereof
The present invention relates to a physical quantity measuring instrument and signal processing method thereof capable of reducing noise components and improving reliability without increasing size or cost of the circuit. A physical quantity detecting unit (11) has signal detecting components for detecting a plurality of signals based on a desired physical quantity and detects the desired physical quantity. A signal processing unit (12) executes signal processing of the signals detected on the individual detecting axes by the physical quantity detecting unit (11) for linearly combining the signals in different combinations with time. An arithmetic processing unit (13) combines and calculates a plurality of signals based on the physical quantity associated with the physical quantity detecting unit (11) from the signal data output by the signal processing unit (12). It can linearly combine the signals from the plurality of detecting axes in different combinations with time, output them, and obtain desired signal components whose noise components are reduced by calculating the outputs. |
| US08150654B2 |
Chiller's performance tester
A chiller's performance tester includes two flowrate sensors, four temperature sensors, one current sensor, one voltage sensor, all sensors being externally connectable, and an enclosure in which a thermal energy calculation IC board, an electrical power calculation IC board, and a programmable logic controller are arranged. The enclosure has a front side to which a man-machine interface panel that displays measurement readings and provides function-related operations is mounted. The enclosure has a back side to which a socket-carrying panel that is connectable to cables of the sensors is mounted. Readings of flowrate, temperature, current, and voltage are transmitted to the programmable logic controller in which software is executed to compile and integrate these signals to be further transmitted to a computer for subsequent analysis and monitoring. Test of a water chiller is made simple and cost, man power, and working hours are saved. |
| US08150653B2 |
Toner mass sensing precision by normalization to substrate reflectance and adjusted for toner mass level
A method of normalizing sensor readings includes receiving a reading from a sensor configured to detect light reflected from a substrate; and normalizing the sensor reading based on a function of sensed mass level on the substrate. A processor for implementing the method is also provided. |
| US08150651B2 |
Acceleration compensated inclinometer
An inclinometer using a speedometer and a forward-looking accelerometer for measuring inclination angle. |
| US08150648B2 |
Timing generator
A delay setting data generator generates delay setting data based on rate data. A variable delay circuit delays the test pattern data by a delay time determined by the delay setting data with reference to a predefined unit amount of delay. First rate data designates the period of the test pattern data with a precision determined by the unit amount of delay. Second rate data designates the period of the test pattern data with a precision higher than that determined by the unit amount of delay. The delay setting data generator outputs a first value and a second value in a time division manner at a ratio determined by the second rate data, the first and second values being determined by the first rate data. |
| US08150646B2 |
Methods for delivering a process gas
A method for delivering a process gas to a reaction chamber of a plasma processing system using a recipe having a recipe flow rate is provided. The method includes delivering the process gas by a gas flow delivery system controlled by a mass flow controller (MFC) to an orifice. The predicted flow rate is previously computed by pressurizing a gas. The predicted flow rate further being previously computed measuring a set of upstream pressure values of the gas via at least one pressure sensor. The method also includes applying, using a programmed computing device, a calibration factor of a set of calibration factors to determine the predicted flow rate, the calibration factor being a ratio of an average of the set of upstream pressure values to an average of a set of golden upstream pressure values. |
| US08150644B2 |
Femtosecond spectroscopy using minimum or maximum phase functions
A method determines a transient response of a sample. The method includes providing a measured magnitude of the Fourier transform of a complex electric field temporal profile of a pulse sequence comprising a first pulse indicative of the transient response of the sample and a second pulse. The method further includes providing an estimated phase term of the Fourier transform of the complex electric field temporal profile of the pulse sequence. The method further includes multiplying the measured magnitude and the estimated phase term to generate an estimated Fourier transform of the complex electric field temporal profile of the pulse sequence. The method further includes calculating an inverse Fourier transform of the estimated Fourier transform, wherein the inverse Fourier transform is a function of time. The method further includes calculating an estimated complex electric field temporal profile of the pulse sequence by applying at least one constraint to the inverse Fourier transform. |
| US08150643B1 |
Method of detecting system function by measuring frequency response
Real-time battery impedance spectrum is acquired using a one-time record. Fast Summation Transformation (FST) is a parallel method of acquiring a real-time battery impedance spectrum using a one-time record that enables battery diagnostics. An excitation current to a battery is a sum of equal amplitude sine waves of frequencies that are octave harmonics spread over a range of interest. A sample frequency is also octave and harmonically related to all frequencies in the sum. The time profile of this signal has a duration that is a few periods of the lowest frequency. The voltage response of the battery, average deleted, is the impedance of the battery in the time domain. Since the excitation frequencies are known and octave and harmonically related, a simple algorithm, FST, processes the time record by rectifying relative to the sine and cosine of each frequency. Another algorithm yields real and imaginary components for each frequency. |
| US08150641B2 |
System, device, and method for estimating possible power output of wind turbines
A method for use in calculating a possible power output of a wind turbine. A series of performance data samples is acquired. Each performance data sample includes a meteorological condition and a power output indicated at a first time by one or more sensors associated with a wind turbine. A transfer function is calculated based at least in part on the series of performance data samples. The transfer function relates power output to the meteorological condition. A possible power output is calculated based on the transfer function and at least one meteorological condition indicated by the one or more sensors at a second time. |
| US08150638B1 |
Predicting parasitic capacitance in schematic circuit simulations using sub-circuit modeling
A computer-implemented method of determining parasitic capacitance for transistors within an integrated circuit can include determining a first set of coefficients for a first expression that calculates parasitic capacitance for a transistor structure according to a first plurality of parasitic capacitances derived from a plurality of two-dimensional transistor structures (320). The first set of coefficients can be inserted into the first expression (325). The method further can include determining a second set of coefficients for a second expression that calculates parasitic capacitance for a transistor structure according to a second plurality of parasitic capacitances derived from a plurality of three-dimensional transistor structures (345). The second expression can include the first expression (350). The method can include inserting the second set of coefficients into the second expression and outputting the second expression (355). |
| US08150634B1 |
Protein-ligand NOE matching for high-throughput structure determination
A method of enhancing the throughput and applicability of NMR-based structure determination of protein-ligand complexes is disclosed. The method circumvents the need for protein sequence-specific resonance assignments and combines NMR data analysis and ligand docking methods into an integrated process. In one embodiment, NMR data is used to filter docking results to identify the most consistent binding modes, thereby providing structural information in a high-throughput fashion without the need for assigning protein resonances. Trial assignments for protein-ligand nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) interactions are also produced by the method. |
| US08150633B2 |
Seafood physical characteristic estimation system and method
Systems and methods for estimating a physical characteristic of a seafood product are provided. In one system, the estimate is based on a slope defined by a ratio of changes in peak resonant amplitude and frequency of an electromagnetic resonant circuit in loaded and unloaded states. In another system, a first probe of a plurality of probes is driven with a test signal when the plurality of probes is loaded by a seafood product and the estimate is based on received test signals at one or more of the other probes. In another system, the estimate is based on the loading effect of a seafood product on an electromagnetic resonant circuit, which is also used to read an ID from an RFID associated with the seafood product. The systems and methods may be used for individual specimens, or to determine an average estimate for multiple specimens at one time. |
| US08150632B2 |
Method for the selection of an operative component for amalgamating a multiple phase system into a single phase system, dispersion or emulsion
A method for selecting an operative component to combine first and second immiscible phases includes selecting a first operative component and computing the value of the free energy of mixing for it and the first and second immiscible phases. If the computed free energy is greater than zero, the sigma profile of the first candidate is mutated to define a hypothetical sigma profile of a candidate substitute operative component. The free energy of mixing for the substitute and the first and second immiscible phases is computed. The mutation and computation are repeated for a predetermined number of repetitions or until the free energy of the candidate substitute component and the first and second phases is less than zero, whichever first occurs. A material exhibiting a sigma profile corresponding to that of the candidate substitute producing a free energy of solvation less than zero is selected. |
| US08150630B2 |
Method for characterisation of the quality of sialoglycoproteins via an isoform number I
A method is described for characterization of the quality of a sialoglycoprotein via its isoform number I which is calculated from the isoform distribution of the capillary electrophoretic analysis of the sialoglycoprotein and represents a quality feature for the batch consistency, storage stability, biological half-life and the biological effectiveness of a therapeutic glycoprotein. Uses of this method are also described. |
| US08150623B2 |
Manual selection of the active reference of a flight plan for the guidance of an aircraft
The present invention relates to a method allowing a modification of the flight plan of an aircraft in a semi-automated manner. The invention presents the main advantage of affording the crew of an aircraft a method for aiding the rejoining of a flight plan requiring only a designation by an operator of the new active reference that he wishes to use for guiding the aircraft. |
| US08150616B2 |
Navigation apparatus and program storage medium
A navigation apparatus mounted in a subject vehicle designates an inference destination point based on historical data and calculates a reference route to the inference destination point. If the subject vehicle deviates from the reference route before arriving at the inference destination point, the navigation apparatus records a shift route until the subject vehicle returns to the reference route. When the subject vehicle returns to the reference route, the shift route from a deviation point to a return point is recorded as a difference route. |
| US08150614B2 |
Routing guide mediation system, routing guide mediation server, and routing guide method
A routing guide mediation system is equipped with a routing guide mediation server, establishing cooperation between a plurality of routing guide systems having map data by country and region and network data for route search. When a departure point and a destination are points in different areas, a first route search server extracts a candidate contact point which will be the boundary between the different areas, and transmits it to a second route search server via the routing guide mediation server. Then, the first and second route search servers search for an optical route from the departure point to the candidate contact point and an optimal candidate route from the candidate contact point to the destination, individually, and the first route search server acquires the amounts of time required for these routes and link data via the routing guide mediation server. |
| US08150607B2 |
Method and an apparatus for transmitting and receiving traffic information by using file transfer
A method for providing traffic information. The method includes providing information including an object of a first type having a file including the traffic information and an object of a second type including information about the file and information about a service provider providing the file. |
| US08150606B2 |
Ignition system, easy to start for internal combustion engines
An electrical ignition method for a combustion engine employing the use of an arrangement of several coils and a magnet wheel or magnet generator which rotates synchronously with the combustion engine, wherein the magnetic field of the magnet generator intermittently flows through the coils and therein generates a sequence of magnetic flux changes per revolution, whereby a sequence of corresponding alternating voltage half-waves is induced in the coils, which are used for charging an energy storage element. Through the use of a stop and/or switch-off system for the combustion engine, the disclosed method prevents a discharge of the energy storage element during the stopping and coast down procedure of the combustion engine and/or to actuate its charging, so that a charged energy storage element is available for the next start of the combustion engine. |
| US08150602B2 |
Method and system for estimating in-cylinder pressure and knocking utilizing an in-cylinder pressure sensor
A system for measuring in-cylinder parameters utilizing an image charge measured in an engine cylinder by an in-cylinder pressure sensor due to chemi and or thermal ionization in Engine. The in-cylinder pressure sensor includes a sensing element, which is a metal sensor probe with a selective coating (e.g., metal, oxides of metal, native oxides, semiconductor, oxides of semiconductors, ceramics, glass, dielectric, etc., in the form of a coating on the metallic probe, tube, etc) in order to function in harsh, corrosive and/or elevated temperature environments. The output of the sensor can be connected to a signal-conditioning unit, which includes a low noise differential charge amplifier with an auto offset correction circuit to measure fast varying signals. The signal out from the conditioning unit can be acquired utilizing a high-speed microcontroller-based data acquisition system with suitable software to analyze and estimate parameters such as, for example, in cylinder pressure and knocking. |
| US08150601B2 |
EGR valve control system
An EGR valve control system includes a motor 5 exercising the opening and closing control of an EGR valve; a sensor 6 detecting the actual opening position of the EGR valve; and a motor control apparatus (control arithmetic section 1) computing a drive duty of the motor 5 based on a target opening position of the EGR valve and the actual opening position thereof detected by the sensor 6; and the control apparatus is arranged such that the control arithmetic section 1, when a target opening position of the EGR valve is set, computes an integral term based on the deviation between the target opening position and the actual opening position of the EGR valve, a proportional term and a differential term based on the change of the actual opening position of the EGR valve, and a feedforward term based on the change of the target opening position, respectively, and the control arithmetic section further exercises the opening and closing control of the EGR valve by computing the drive duty of the motor 5 by performing addition and subtraction on the computed integral term, proportional term, differential term, and feedforward term. |
| US08150600B2 |
Control device and control system of internal combustion engine
An internal combustion engine control device has a cylinder pressure sensor for sensing pressure in a combustion chamber and a fuel pressure sensor for sensing fuel pressure fluctuating in connection with fuel injection from an injector. The control device calculates a combustion characteristic of a cylinder (for example, an ignition delay or a combustion rate) based on both of a cylinder pressure sensing value and a fuel pressure sensing value. The control device corrects an EGR quantity, supercharging pressure, and injection start timing in accordance with the calculated combustion characteristic. Thus, the control device performs cooperative control of the injection start timing (an injection mode), the supercharging pressure and the EGR quantity (intake air conditions) in accordance with the combustion characteristic of the cylinder. |
| US08150599B2 |
Control apparatus and control method for internal combustion engine
An engine ECU executes a program including detecting, when refueling with an alcohol fuel is performed, a refueling amount of the alcohol fuel based on a signal transmitted from a sender gauge, increasing DI ratio r that is a ratio between a fuel injection amount from an in-cylinder injector and a fuel injection amount from an intake passage injector, according to the refueling amount of the alcohol fuel, such that the ratio of the fuel injection amount from the in-cylinder injector is higher, and retarding the ignition timing according to the refueling amount of the alcohol fuel. |
| US08150598B2 |
Engine controller
An engine controller capable of optimizing both the air-fuel ratio and the ignition timing to provide HC-minimized performance under the relevant driving conditions (environmental conditions) in order to minimize the amount of HC emitted from an engine at the time of start-up (before catalyst activation) is provided. The engine controller includes: air-fuel ratio control means for controlling the air-fuel ratio to be within a predetermined range (for example, 14.5 to 16.5) when the engine is operated at a certain driving condition (for example, in a state in which the catalyst is not activated such as the time of starting a cooler, or idling time); and ignition timing correction means for correcting the ignition timing to the retard side when the engine is operated at the certain driving condition and the air-fuel ratio is within the predetermined range. |
| US08150594B2 |
Driving support device, driving support method, and driving support program
A target vehicle speed at a predetermined position ahead of a host vehicle is obtained, and a plurality of deceleration patterns with different deceleration schemes is obtained for decelerating the host vehicle to the target vehicle speed. Based on a driving operation for controlling speed of the host vehicle, a deceleration pattern is selected from the plurality of deceleration patterns. Using the selected deceleration pattern as a reference, the vehicle speed of the host vehicle is reduced to the target vehicle speed before the host vehicle reaches the predetermined position. |
| US08150592B2 |
Method for preventing drive wheels from spinning
A method for preventing spinning of at least one drive wheel in a motor vehicle that has a dual clutch transmission, including the process steps of: a vehicle placed in a first gear unit of the dual clutch transmission; placement of a higher gear for the vehicle in a second gear unit of the dual clutch transmission; detecting whether the at least one drive wheel is spinning; disengaging the clutch that is assigned to the first gear unit, depending on whether spinning was detected; and engaging the clutch that is assigned to the second gear unit, depending on whether spinning was detected. |
| US08150590B2 |
Two-wheeled motor vehicle brake control method and system
A two-wheeled motor vehicle brake control method and system which immediately reduces the brake pressure of the front wheel when rear wheel lifting is detected regardless of whether or not the front wheel is skidding. The reduction in brake pressure can be an amount which corresponds to the amount of lifting. The reduction in brake pressure can be performed in a stepwise manner until lifting is no longer being detected; it can be performed in a stepwise manner with a limit on the number of steps; or it can be performed in a stepwise manner until a total pressure reduction amount is achieved. |
| US08150585B2 |
Control system for automatic transmission
A control system including a friction engagement element, a solenoid valve, an engagement pressure control valve and an electronic control unit, wherein a learning correction amount is divided into an initial learning amount that has no dependence upon an engagement pressure command value and a time-dependent deterioration amount that has dependence upon the engagement pressure command value, and wherein a time-dependent deterioration correction amount is determined according to the engagement pressure command value and a degree of progress of time-dependent deterioration that is indicated by a difference between a learning region correction amount and an initial learning amount which are obtained by a learning control in a learning region that is a limited input torque region, and a final engagement pressure command value is calculated as the learning correction amount by adding the initial learning amount at the time of correction to the time-dependent deterioration correction amount. |
| US08150576B2 |
Engine glow plug diagnosis using crankshaft sensor data
A motor vehicle engine (10) has glow plugs (20) for aiding combustion of fuel in combustion chambers of the engine when the engine is cold and an ignition switch (24) is operated to crank the engine. An aberration in engine speed (36) is used to indicate an under- or non-performing glow plug. Data from sources other than the engine speed source (28), such as data related to engine fueling, is also processed by a processor (30) to exclude them as the cause of the aberration. |
| US08150571B2 |
Braking force correcting method for electric golf car and electric golf car employing the correcting method
If a user applies a brake system while an electric vehicle that includes a battery is moving and it is confirmed that the user is not simultaneously applying the accelerator, a comparison is made between an actual deceleration and an expected deceleration corresponding to the user demand sensed by the braking system. If the actual deceleration is lower than the expected deceleration, an amount of regenerative electric current supplied to the battery is increased to better correlate the expected deceleration and the actual deceleration. |
| US08150567B2 |
Device for control of relative position(s) by measurements of power, for a spacecraft of a group of spacecraft in formation
A control device (D) for a spacecraft of a group of spacecraft intended to travel in a chosen formation comprises i) a set of at least three send/receive antennas (A1-A3) installed on at least three differently oriented faces of its spacecraft and adapted to send/receive radio-frequency signals, ii) first measuring means (M1) responsible for determining the power of the signals received by each of the antennas (A1-A3) and for delivering sets of powers each associated with one of the other spacecraft of the group, iii) storage means (BD) responsible for storing sets of cartographic data each representative of the normalized powers of the signals received by each of the antennas (A1-A3) as a function of chosen send directions, and iv) processor means (MT) responsible for comparing each set of powers delivered by the first measuring means (M1) to the stored sets of cartographic data in order to estimate each send direction of the signals sent by the other spacecraft of the group with respect to a system of axes fixed with respect to their spacecraft. |
| US08150563B2 |
Anti-theft system for a vehicle, and method for the operation of an anti-theft system
An anti-theft system, especially in the form of an access and/or starting system for a vehicle has a vehicle-mounted receiver for receiving a request signal containing the instruction to find out whether objects that are associated with the vehicle, e.g. lost identifiers, are located in specific areas of the vehicle. The anti-theft system further has a vehicle-mounted control and evaluation unit for verifying whether the objects are in the specific areas of the vehicle and outputting information on whether an object that is associated with the vehicle has been found. The anti-theft system finally has a vehicle-mounted transmitter for transmitting a result signal containing the information on whether objects have been found. Such an anti-theft system allows an identifier, for example, which is associated with a user, to start a search from a distance in order to verify whether certain objects are located near or inside the vehicle. |
| US08150557B2 |
Method and system for reducing feeder circuit loss using demand response
A system and method that analyzes at least one aspect of the power grid for demand response in order to reduce feeder circuit losses is provided. The system and method may use a demand response model to select one or more factors for the demand response, such as selecting a subset of customers for demand response from a larger pool of available demand response customers. The demand response model may include a grid structure component, such as an indication of the particular customer's position in the grid, and a dynamic operation component, such as a real-time measurement of current in the feeder circuit. By using the demand response model, feeder circuit losses may thereby reduced. |
| US08150555B2 |
Fluid pressure control apparatus/process
A fluid pressure control apparatus for controlling a solenoid valve to increase and decrease a fluid pressure by varying a valve opening degree includes a controller to control the fluid pressure by varying a command current for driving the solenoid valve. The controller calculates a hysteresis correction quantity to reduce a hysteresis effect of a hysteresis characteristic of the fluid pressure outputted from the solenoid valve with respect to the command current varied in an increasing direction and a decreasing direction, and varies the command current to control the fluid pressure to a target pressure in accordance with the hysteresis correction quantity. The controller calculates the hysteresis correction quantity in accordance with a turn-to-turn variation quantity determined from a current difference between a first command current value at a first changeover of a varying direction of the command current from one of the increasing and decreasing directions to the other and a second command current value at a second changeover of the varying direction of the command current before the first changeover. |
| US08150552B2 |
Method, device and system for use in configuring a bathing unit controller
A controller for a bathing unit system comprising a memory unit for storing program instructions, an interface for establishing a communication link with an external memory medium and a processing unit. The controller is operative for controlling a set of bathing unit components at least in part on the basis of the program instructions stored in the memory unit. The external memory medium stores update information associated with the program instructions and relevancy information indicative of a characteristic of the update information. The processing unit is operative for detecting the presence of an external memory medium at the interface, accessing the relevancy information stored in the memory medium, processing the relevancy information and causing the program instructions to be updated on the basis of the update information. |
| US08150550B2 |
Legged robot
A legged robot that runs while repeating a jump cycle including a ground-contact phase from a landing to a takeoff and an aerial phase from a takeoff to a landing is provided. The legged robot adjusts the landing timing after a jump in accordance with a planned timing, thereby attaining a smooth landing. A measuring unit of the legged robot measures an actual aerial phase period in a k-th jump cycle. A subtractor calculates a time difference between a target aerial phase period and the actual aerial phase period in the k-th jump cycle. A target velocity determining unit calculates a target vertical velocity of a center of gravity on a takeoff timing in a (k+1)-th jump cycle so as to eliminate the time difference. Motors in respective joints are controlled so as to realize the calculated target vertical velocity in the (k+1)-th jump cycle. As a result, the time difference generated in the k-th jump cycle in the (k+1)-th jump cycle can be compensated, thereby adjusting the landing timing with the planned landing timing, resulting in the jump motion with smooth landing. |
| US08150544B2 |
Method and device for controlling an installation for producing steel
In a method for controlling an installation for producing steel having specific material properties, the material properties depend on the structure and can be influenced by operating parameters of the installation. The operating parameters are determined by a computing program for structure optimization, whereby the set values of the chemical composition of the steel are simultaneously determined by the computing program for structure optimization. |
| US08150542B2 |
Positioning and orienting a unit of a hearing device relative to individual's head
Digital models of the application areas of a left-ear and of a right-ear hearing device are established. The models (140r# and 140l#) are displayed on a computer display. The location of the model (SP#) of the sagittal plane of individual's head is estimated with respect to one of the two digital mold models. Then that one digital model (140r#) is digitally mirrored at the digital model of the sagittal plane (SP#) resulting in a mirrored digital model (140m#). Then the other digital model of the application area (140l#) and the mirrored digital model (140mr#) are brought into best possible covering alignment (140′l#). Units to be positioned in predetermined mutual relationship are applied to the models in best possible alignment. |
| US08150535B2 |
Sensor guided epicardial lead
Implantable cardiac monitoring and stimulation methods and devices with epicardial leads having sensor feedback. A fixed or extendable/retractable sensor may be displaceable within the lead's lumen and configured to sense the presence of an anatomical feature or physiological parameter of cardiac tissue in proximity with the lead body's distal end. The sensor may include an ultrasonic sensing element, a perfusion sensor, a photoplethysmographic sensor, or a blood oximetry sensor. Methods of determining suitability for implanting a lead involve the steps of accessing an epicardial surface of the heart, and moving the cardiac lead to an implant site at the epicardial surface. A transmitted signal is directed at the implant site. A reflected signal is received, indicative of the presence of a blood vessel at the implant site. A determination may be made to determine whether the implant site is suitable or unsuitable based on the reflected signal. |
| US08150533B2 |
Medical lead and method for medical lead manufacture
A lead employing a connection between a conductor and an electric element is provided. The connection includes a conductive pad electrically connected to at least one conductor and the electric element electrically connected to the conductive pad. The conductive pad can further include an elongated element to connect the pad to the electric element. The method for connecting a conductor to an electric element is also provided. The method includes forming a groove in the insulator of a lead body to expose the conductor. Placing a conductive pad within the groove and electrically connecting a conductive pad to the conductor. An electric element is then placed over the conductive pad and the electric element is electrically connected to the conductive pad. |
| US08150532B2 |
System and method for heating biological tissue via RF energy
A system 30 and method(s) 100 for thermal treatment of a selected target within a subject is disclosed. System 30 includes RF source 10, phase shifter 14, impedance matching network 11 and resonator 13. Stationary water molecules 1, such as those in fat cells, are heated. The invention is useful in selective heating of cellulite bodies as a means of treating cellulite. |
| US08150530B2 |
Activity sensing for stimulator control
The disclosure describes a system that measures the distance between one or more electrodes and tissue of a patient, and controls one or more parameters of the stimulation delivered to the tissue by the electrodes based on the measured distance. The system controls the measurement of the distance between the electrodes and the tissue as a function of activity of the patient. The system uses, for example, a piezoelectric transducer to sense activity of the patient, and may determine whether or how frequently to measure the distance between electrodes and tissue based on the sensed physical activity. A piezoelectric transducer may be used both to sense activity and to measure the distance between the electrodes and the tissue. |
| US08150528B2 |
Double branch cochlear implant electrode
A stimulation electrode is described for a hearing impaired patient. An intra-fluid electrode branch is immersed in cochlear fluid within an interior volume of a patient cochlea and has electrode contacts for delivering a cochlear stimulation signal to adjacent neural tissue. An intra-modiolus electrode branch penetrates through the cochlea and has one or more electrode contacts for delivering a modiolus stimulation signal to cochlear nerve tissue within the modiolus of the patient. |
| US08150523B2 |
Feedback method for deep brain stimulation with detection of generalized efference copy signals
Disclosed is a method for improving cognitive function or for improving coordination of function across a patient's cortical regions. The method includes applying electrical stimulation to at least a portion of the patient's subcortical structures involved in the generation and control of generalized efference copy signals. Internally generated movement of the patient is then detected and, in response to such internally generated movement, application of electrical stimulation is controlled. The method of the present invention has a number of benefits, including increasing flexibility in identifying targets for stimulation, improving the probability of successfully treating brain injury, and permitting patient biofeedback and self-regulation. |
| US08150518B2 |
Renal nerve stimulation method and apparatus for treatment of patients
A method and apparatus for treatment of heart failure, hypertension and renal failure by stimulating the renal nerve. The goal of therapy is to reduce sympathetic activity of the renal nerve. Therapy is accomplished by at least partially blocking the nerve with drug infusion or electrostimulation. Apparatus can be permanently implanted or catheter based. |
| US08150516B2 |
Systems and methods for operating an implantable device for medical procedures
When a medical procedure is performed on a patient in whom an implantable medical device is implanted, the medical procedure may have undesired effects on the medical device, such as triggering a response that initiates therapy by the device that is unnecessary and potentially dangerous to the patient. Systems and methods may facilitate performing of such medical procedures on such patients by temporarily reprogramming the medical device, monitoring for one or more detectable characteristics associated with the medical procedure to be performed, and restoring normal programming of the device based on detection and/or lack of detection of the detectable characteristic(s). |
| US08150515B2 |
Fuseable cathode plate for electrolytic capacitor
An electrolytic capacitor is constructed in a manner to provide a fusing capability and welded connections between the cathode plates. Each cathode plates has a notch at its periphery within which is an extending leg over which a weldable metallic clip is fitted in order to reduce the area of the cathode plate through which current is conducted to reach the clip and form a fusible link. |
| US08150514B2 |
Spectral selection of operating mode in an implantable stimulator device
A spectral fingerprint technique is disclosed that allows an ICD to eliminate unnecessary shocks to the heart. |
| US08150513B2 |
Method and apparatus for assessing left ventricular function and optimizing cardiac pacing intervals based on left ventricular wall motion
A system and method for monitoring left ventricular (LV) lateral wall motion and for optimizing cardiac pacing intervals based on left ventricular lateral wall motion is provided. The system includes an implantable or external cardiac stimulation device in association with a set of leads including a left ventricular epicardial or coronary sinus lead equipped with a motion sensor electromechanically coupled to the lateral wall of the left ventricle. The device receives and processes wall motion sensor signals to determine a signal characteristic indicative of systolic LV lateral wall motion or acceleration. An automatic pacing interval optimization method evaluates the LV lateral wall motion during varying pacing interval settings, including atrial-ventricular intervals and inter-ventricular intervals and selects the pacing interval setting(s) that correspond to LV lateral wall motion associated with improved cardiac synchrony and hemodynamic performance. |
| US08150511B2 |
Systems and methods for determining an optimal defibrillation shock waveform
Embodiments of the invention present methods and systems for determining an optimal defibrillation shock waveform for application to the heart of a patient to stop a rhythm abnormality such as ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia. Such methods and systems may include measuring and/or collecting information for a cardiac waveform of a patient, produced as a result of either an electrical stimulus applied to a heart of the patient, which may be a pacing shock/stimulus and/or a defibrillation shock waveform, or as the result of intrinsic cardiac activation, determining a characteristic of the cardiac waveform, comparing the determined characteristic of the cardiac waveform to a plurality of values for the characteristic with optional reference to the defibrillator system impedance, wherein each value of the characteristic is associated with a predetermined value for a parameter of an optimal defibrillation shock waveform, and selecting the predetermined value for the parameter of the optimal defibrillation shock waveform based on the comparison. |
| US08150508B2 |
Vagus nerve stimulation method
An implanted electrical signal generator delivers a novel exogenous electrical signal to a vagus nerve of a patient. The vagus nerve conducts action potentials originating in the heart and lungs to various structures of the brain, thereby eliciting a vagal evoked potential in those structures. The exogenous electrical signal simulates and/or augments the endogenous afferent activity originating from the heart and/or lungs of the patient, thereby enhancing the vagal evoked potential in the various structures of the brain. The exogenous electrical signal includes a series of electrical pulses organized or patterned into a series of microbursts including 2 to 20 pulses each. No pulses are sent between the microbursts. Each of the microbursts may be synchronized with the QRS wave portion of an ECG. The enhanced vagal evoked potential in the various structures of the brain may be used to treat various medical conditions including epilepsy and depression. |
| US08150506B2 |
Methods and devices for differentiating between tissue types
The subject invention utilizes the characteristics of in vivo tissue impedances to provide an embodiment of a retinal rake capable of providing a visible and/or preferably an audible signal to a surgeon that more clearly indicates which type of tissue(s) is in contact with the retinal rake. A preferred embodiment comprises a handheld, battery operated retinal rake having two electrodes, wherein at least one electrode is the modified retinal rake. Upon contact with different optical tissues, e.g., epiretinal membranes, retinal tissue, vitreous humor, etc., the electrodes detect varying impedances which are translated by onboard circuitry into various signals that indicate what type of tissue, fluid, structure, etc. is in contact with the retinal rake. |
| US08150502B2 |
Non-invasive cardiac monitor and methods of using continuously recorded cardiac data
Embodiments of the invention provide methods of obtaining continuous cardiac information from a mammal. First, attach a self-contained, wearable, portable continuous cardiac monitor to the mammal to create a chamber containing electrodes used to detect cardiac signals from the mammal. Next, continuously detect without analyzing the cardiac signals from the mammal for at least 24 hours. Next, store information related to substantially all detected cardiac signals in the cardiac monitor. |
| US08150500B2 |
Micro vein enhancer
The present invention is a Miniature Vein Enhancer that includes a Miniature Projection Head. The Miniature Projection Head may be operated in one of three modes, AFM, DBM, and RTM. The Miniature Projection Head of the present invention projects an image of the veins of a patient, which aids the practitioner in pinpointing a vein for an intravenous drip, blood test, and the like. The Miniature projection head may have a cavity for a power source or it may have a power source located in a body portion of the Miniature Vein Enhancer. The Miniature Vein Enhancer may be attached to one of several improved needle protectors, or the Miniature Vein Enhancer may be attached to a body similar to a flashlight for hand held use. The Miniature Vein Enhancer of the present invention may also be attached to a magnifying glass, a flat panel display, and the like. |
| US08150499B2 |
Automatic atherectomy system
An automatic atherectomy system uses a rotary burr at the tip of a catheter as a sensing device, in order to measure both electrical conductivity and permittivity of surrounding tissue at multiple frequencies. From these parameters it is determined which tissue lies in different directions around the tip. A servo system steers the catheter tip in the direction of the tissue to be removed. In non-atherectomy applications the rotary burr can be replaced with any desired tool and the system can be used to automatically steer the catheter to the desired position. The steering may be done hydraulically, by pressurizing miniature bellows located near the catheter tip. |
| US08150498B2 |
System for identification of anatomical landmarks
A system including a processor and/or processor system can be used to identify landmarks in image data. The landmarks can be used to further identify anatomical targets. The landmarks and/or targets can be used to create a plan for a procedure, such as a surgical procedure. The processor can be used to determine the anatomical landmarks that can be used to identify anatomical targets in image data of a subject, even if the anatomical targets are indistinguishable in the image data. |
| US08150496B2 |
Method and apparatus for determination of atherosclerotic plaque type by measurement of tissue optical properties
Methods for diagnosing vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque using optical coherence tomography to measure tissue optical properties, including backreflectance of heterogeneous layers, such as plaque cap, lipid pool composition and macrophage presence. Methods also include measurement of spatially and temporally dependent reflectance, measurement of multiple wavelength reflectance, low coherence interferometry, polarization and quantification of macrophage content. |
| US08150494B2 |
Apparatus for registering a physical space to image space
A method and apparatus for registering physical space to image space is disclosed. The system allows for determining fiducial markers as pixels or voxels in image data. The system can correlate and register the determined fiducial points with fiducial markers in physical space. |
| US08150491B2 |
Method for accelerating data acquisition in dynamic magnetic resonance measurements (MRT) using parallel imaging
A method for time-resolved imaging of N-dimensional magnetic resonance (=MR) with the following steps: Acquisition of MR signals from a sample volume by parallel imaging, wherein N-dimensional data matrices (M1, M2, . . . MNt) in k-space is acquired undersampled from each receiver coil, wherein the acquisition of the MR signals is performed according to an acquisition scheme that is periodic over time and describes the time sequence of the undersampled data matrices (M1, M2, . . . Mn) and reconstruction of missing data points (FP) of the acquisition scheme using a set of coil weighting factors (CW, |
| US08150489B2 |
System and method for measuring bioelectrical signals of a user
The invention relates to a system and method for measuring bioelectrical signals of a user. Furthermore the invention relates to a computer program for measuring bioelectrical signals of a user. In order to provide a technique for measuring bioelectrical signals with reduced motion artefacts a new method is provided, comprising the steps of determining the displacement of an electrode, the electrode being adapted for measuring a bioelectrical signal, and adjusting the position of said electrode depending on the determined displacement. The present invention can be used in any system for measuring bioelectrical signals, which uses electrodes, e.g. in any ECG measurement system. With the reduction of artefacts according to the present invention the performance of all those systems can be substantially increased. |
| US08150480B2 |
Device with retracted front face
A device with a front face such as an operating face, including elements of the user interface of the device is provided. A major part of the front face is concave so that the front face is retracted and thereby protected from being scratched. |
| US08150478B2 |
Uplink power control in aggregated spectrum systems
A method for communication includes modulating data in a wireless communication terminal to produce an aggregated-spectrum signal, which includes at least first and second signals in respective first and second spectral bands. The modulated data is transmitted in the first and second signals at respective first and second power levels. The second power level is adjusted separately from the first power level. In some embodiments, one or more instructions to set the first power level are received at the wireless communication terminal, and the first power level is set separately from setting the second power level based on the instructions. |
| US08150474B2 |
In-vehicle handsfree apparatus
An in-vehicle handsfree apparatus connects a handsfree profile (HFP) with a cellular phone, and then connects a service discovery profile (SDF) with the cellular phone to thereby designate a compliance state of the cellular phone with respect to a phone book access profile (PBAP) as a PBAP compliance flag. Then, when a user performs an operation to require an all item transfer to transfer all items of phone book data registered in the cellular phone, the handsfree apparatus refers to the PBAP compliance flag to thereby select and connect either the PBAP or an object push profile (OPP) with the cellular phone. |
| US08150473B1 |
Communication device
The wireless communication device and the method thereof which implements the 1st function, the 2nd function, and the 3rd function; when the 1st function is implemented, the video image generator processes a plurality of two-dimensional images and the plurality of two-dimensional images are displayed on the display; when the 2nd function is implemented, the video image generator processes a plurality of two-dimensional images and a plurality of three-dimensional images, both of which are displayed on the display; and when the 3rd function is implemented, the picture retrieved by the camera is processed by the video image generator, which is displayed on the display. |
| US08150472B2 |
Mobile terminal, display method, display mode determining program, and computer-readable storage medium
Function distinguishing marks are efficiently displayed which correspond to a plurality of functions assigned to a single operation key, respectively.A mobile phone (1) changes in accordance with the number of functions assigned to a single operation key the number of the function distinguishing marks to be displayed which indicate functions. |
| US08150470B2 |
System and method for transmission parameter control for an antenna apparatus with selectable elements
A system and method for improved data transmission on a wireless link to a remote receiving node includes a communication device for converting packets to RF at a physical data rate, an antenna apparatus having a plurality of antenna configurations for transmitting the RF, and a processor for selecting the antenna configuration and the physical data rate based on whether the remote receiving node indicated reception of the data transmission. The processor may determine a table of success ratios for each antenna configuration and may rank each antenna configuration by the success ratio. The processor may transmit with an unused antenna configuration to probe the unused antenna configuration and update the table of success ratios. Similarly, the processor may maintain a table of effective user data rates, rank each physical data rate by the effective user data rate and probe unused physical data rates to update the table. |
| US08150466B2 |
Apparatus for detachably installing a smart card in a portable terminal
An apparatus for detachably installing a smart card, such as a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card, in a portable terminal is provided. The apparatus includes an opening on the portable terminal, a sliding member slidably coupled to the terminal to move in and out of the opening, and a cover on an end portion of the sliding member to open and close the opening as the sliding member slides. The SIM card is placed on the sliding member to move in and out of the opening through a sliding movement of the sliding member. The apparatus prevent damage to the SIM card when it is detachably installed in the portable terminal through the sliding movement of the sliding member. |
| US08150462B2 |
Connection box
Field devices for measuring a pressure or a fill level are connected, by way of a cable connection or a radio connection, to stationary evaluation- and display devices. To provide flexible parameterization or flexible measured-value inquiry, a connection box for the wireless transmission of signals between the field device and the control device is stated, which connection box comprises an interface connection and a radio interface. For the purpose of transmitting the signals, the interface connection and the radio interface are coupled to each other so as to be able to communicate. |
| US08150460B1 |
Wireless speakers and dock for portable electronic device
An accessory for use with a portable electronic device receives audio signals from the portable electronic device and broadcasts the signals to a set of wireless speakers. The accessory device includes a dock for coupling to the portable electronic device such that audio signals, a power supply signal and digital communication signals can be transferred between the accessory and the device. The accessory receives the audio signals and transmits them to the speakers via a transmitter. The accessory also provides an audio output and video output such that audio and video files can be transferred from the portable electronic device through the accessory to an external device. Preferably, an inductive charging circuit is used to charge a rechargeable power supply in the speakers when the speakers are positioned in a speaker dock on the accessory body. |
| US08150459B2 |
Information apparatus and controlling method thereof
An information processing apparatus and method include mode controlling. A first information processing unit controls a telephone process using a radio communication unit and displays the image to display unit in response to a request, and a second information processing unit mutually operable in parallel with the first information processing unit controls a telephone process using the radio communication unit and makes the display unit display the image in response to a request. The mode controlling sets one of the first information processing unit and the second information processing unit to a master mode and sets other of the first information processing unit and the second information processing unit to a slave mode. |
| US08150457B2 |
Mobile radio apparatus
A mobile radio apparatus wherein the degradation of communication performance caused by electromagnetic noise can be precluded with enhanced reliability. This mobile telephone unit (100) comprises a camera body (107); a circuit board (106) that includes partial board parts (104, 105) located on the two respective sides of the camera body (107); a camera shield (108) that is located close to and opposed to the back surface of the camera body (107) (which is opposite to the image pickup plane); a camera connection connector (110) that is connected to the camera body (107) and grounded in the partial board part (104); a frequency limiting part (111) that is connected to the camera shield (108) and grounded in the partial board part (105); a feeding part (117) that is located in the partial board part (105); and a matching circuit part (113) that is located and grounded in the partial board part (105). This can limit those ones of the frequencies of interference components dissipated from the camera body (107) to the circuit board (106) which adversely affect the communication, so that the degradation of communication performance caused by electromagnetic noise can be precluded with enhanced reliability. |
| US08150456B2 |
Mobile phone with camera
A mobile phone with camera includes a body, a display module, two support arms and a camera. The body has a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is perpendicular to the second surface, and the first surface has a concave section, which has two parallel sliding slots on two opposite sidewalls thereof. Each of the support arms has one end pivotally connected with the first surface and the other end pivotally connected with the display module such that the display module can be rotated relative to the body and slid along the two parallel sliding slots so as to have the display module selectively laid against the first surface or form an angle between the display module and the second surface. The camera is disposed on the second surface for snapping images to be displayed on the display module. |
| US08150454B2 |
System and method for implementing antenna diversity
A system, communications device, method and computer program product for implementing antenna diversity may include a first switch to selectively connect a first radio section to one of a plurality of antennas and a second switch to selectively connect a second radio section to one of the plurality of antennas. The system may also include an antenna detector to detect which one of the plurality of antennas is connected to a port of the first radio section and to a port of the second radio section. |
| US08150448B2 |
Method and apparatus for calculating an initial transmission power in universal mobile telecommunications system user equipment
A method and apparatus for calculating an initial transmission power in a mobile telecommunications system is disclosed, the system comprising a network of a plurality of cells and at least one user equipment device. The user equipment device receives broadcast system information, and measures a signal power. An initial transmission power is calculated in a lowest logical layer of the system defined as a protocol stack, using the received information and measured power. |
| US08150442B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling power of subcarriers in a wireless communication system
[Object] To implement wireless communication also with a communicating apparatus that is a limited band terminal capable of receiving only part of frequencies.[Overcoming Means] Provided are a frequency channel allocating section (10) that allocates frequency channels, a terminal reception quality information processing section (6) that calculates an optimal modulation rate and required transmit power for each subcarrier, a subcarrier power control section (12) that controls a level of transmit power for each subcarrier, and a determining section (10) that checks a reception bandwidth of a communicating apparatus, while determining whether the communicating apparatus is a full band terminal capable of receiving all the frequency channels in the system band or is a limited band terminal capable of receiving only part of frequencies, and when the communicating apparatus is the limited band terminal, the transmit power of all or part of subcarriers is decreased in a frequency channel that is adjacent to a reception band allocated to the communicating apparatus and that is allocated to another communicating apparatus. |
| US08150441B2 |
Modifying a signal by controlling transmit diversity parameters
A feedback signal is received from a feedback communication device. The feedback signal provides feedback information for a signal at a feedback rate. A modifying communication device modifies the signal by adjusting a nominal value of a transmit diversity parameter in accordance with the feedback information at a nominal value adjustment rate. The signal is perturbed according to the adjusted nominal value at a perturbation rate. |
| US08150440B2 |
System and method for reducing power consumed by a wireless communication device
A system and method are provided for facilitating reduced power consumption when communicating between a wireless communication device and a wireless communication controller. A power management controller comprising a power saving detection unit and a power level controller is provided. The power savings detector detects when power savings can be applied in accordance with whether or data loss between the base state controller and the wireless communication device can be tolerated. The power level controller selects a reduced transmission power level at which to transmit data if a data loss can be tolerated. |
| US08150438B2 |
Method for initiating a communication while participating in another communication
Within a two way radio frequency communication system, a repeater transmits an identity of a rest channel when transmitting during an active communication call on a channel other than the rest channel. A subscriber unit communicating within the active communication, receives the identity of the rest channel, leaves the active communication; and initiates a new communication on the rest channel. |
| US08150436B2 |
Radio-wave propagation characteristic prediction assisting system and radio-wave propagation characteristic prediction assisting method
A radio-wave propagation characteristic prediction assisting system includes a storage section, an attribute information input section, and an output section. The storage section stores attribute information of a region and reference information useful for predicting a radio-wave propagation characteristic in the region in association with each other. The attribute information input section inputs attribute information of a region whose radio-wave propagation characteristic is to be predicted. The output section searches information stored in the storage section to specify a region having an attribute which matches with the attribute information input by the attribute information input section, and outputs reference information associated with the specified region. |
| US08150433B2 |
Beamforming method for wireless communication systems and apparatus for performing the same
An improvement in a method of transmit beamforming between a transmitter (16) and a receiver (18) for a time varying lading channel comprises the step of performing transmit beamforming using less than complete knowledge of the previous fading blocks to design a codebook (26a) of a current fading block with each time frame. One embodiment comprises a successive beamforming algorithm and a second embodiment comprises a vector quantization beamforming algorithm. A fading parameter α is determined at least in the transmitter or receiver by monitoring a mobile Doppler frequency. |
| US08150432B2 |
Power management and distributed scheduling for uplink transmissions in wireless systems
To schedule uplink transmission time slots for a collection of mobile communication devices, a set of base station target interference patterns is associated with base stations. A time slot target interference pattern is assigned for each time slot and it repeats after several time slots. The time slot target interference pattern in a given time slot specifies the interference allowed by each time slot to a given base station by any single mobile. A priority index may be determined for each time slot for each mobile associated with the particular base station. The priority index may be based, in part, on a determined correlation between the time-slot target interference patterns and a potential interference profile of a mobile to which a time slot is to be allocated. A mobile's throughput requirement, the throughput already received over a specified past duration, the system fairness requirement, as well as the amount of data available for transmission are also used for evaluating the priority index. |
| US08150430B2 |
Communications device media delivery
A communications device determines the appropriate method for providing a message depending upon the content of the message without prompting or querying a user of the device. When the user select a name as the recipient of the created message, the mobile device determines delivery options. If the message contains text only and if the user enters/selects a mobile device phone number, the message is sent via SMS. If the message contains multimedia and if the user enters or selects a mobile device phone number, the message is sent via MMS. If the message is text only or multimedia, and if the user enters or selects an email address, the message is sent via email. In various implementations, the message is delivery via determined delivery options including a lowest cost delivery option, a subscriber preferred delivery option, or a delivery options as indicated by an intended recipient's presence information. |
| US08150429B1 |
Cost-effective voting
The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes receiving an electronic voting request from an originating mobile device at a recipient mobile device. Each mobile device is associated with a member of a voting group. The electronic voting request includes a voting ballot and instructions, that when executed by a processor, perform operations including generating a vote based on information in the voting ballot and transmitting the voting request to at least a portion of other members of the voting group that have not received the voting request. The operations also include receiving votes from the portion of the other members to which the voting request was transmitted and transmitting a tally of the received votes to the originating mobile device. |
| US08150426B2 |
Method for operating a cellular telecommunications network, and method for operating a personal cellular telecommunications device
For use in a cellular telecommunications network including a plurality of individually addressable Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) providing bidirectional signal coverage over a predefined geographical area, capable of transmitting Point-To-MultiPoint (PTMP) messages over a Point-To-MultiPoint Service (PTMPS) functionality, and capable of transmitting Point-To-Point (PTP) messages, streaming of a substantially continuous stream of mostly different content, at least some interactive display messages on at least one personal cellular telecommunications device prior to their automatic discarding irrespective of their having been displayed or not. |
| US08150425B1 |
Systems and methods for merchandising new offers to mobile telephone users based on changes to the mobile telephone's components
A system and method for merchandizing content to wireless subscribers that have upgraded their mobile station or service is disclosed. The wireless carrier maintains a database of identifying data for content downloaded to subscribers' mobile stations. When a subscriber upgrades his or her mobile station the wireless carrier searches the database for previously downloaded content, identifies the equivalent content that is compatible with the new mobile station and provides the information of available equivalent downloads to the mobile station. |
| US08150424B2 |
Intelligent data network with power management capabilities
In one embodiment, a method for implementing two-way communication between at least first and second devices comprises steps of: (a1) during finite time periods following transmission of respective first messages from the first device to the second device, using the first device to listen for second messages transmitted from the second device to first device; and (a2) after each of the finite time periods following the transmission of the respective first messages from the first device to the second device, ceasing to use the first device to listen for second messages transmitted from the second device to the first device until after the first device transmits another first message to the second device. In another embodiment, a method for implementing two-way communication between at least first and second devices comprises steps of: (a1) during finite time periods following reception by the second device of respective first messages from the first device, using the second device to transmit second messages to the first device; and (a2) after each of the finite time periods following reception by the second device of respective first messages from the first device, ceasing to use the second device to transmit second messages to the first device until after the second device receives another first message from the first device. |
| US08150421B2 |
User plane uplink time difference of arrival (U-TDOA)
A system for locating a mobile wireless device is configured to communicate with a wireless communications system via a control plane and a user plane. The user plane includes a data channel, and the system includes a server configured to communicate via the data channel with a wireless device to be located. The server obtains from the wireless device information useful for tasking the wireless location system. The information useful for tasking may include information indicative of at least one cell site neighboring a serving cell site with which the wireless device is communicating. This may include information indicative of a serving cell site, a reverse channel through which the wireless device is communicating, and/or a hopping pattern, etc. The system may be used, for example, in connection with a GSM or UMTS wireless communications system. |
| US08150419B2 |
Method of invoking privacy on telecommunications network
A manner of invoking privacy related to user equipment in a telecommunications network, involving sending a location service request from a location service client to a location service center. The location service center sends a privacy request to the user equipment to be located, which prompts the user of the user equipment to accept or reject the specific location service request. The user equipment sends to the location service center a privacy request response. The location service center provides the location information to the requesting client if the location service request is accepted in the privacy response, and rejects the location service request otherwise. |
| US08150417B2 |
Mobile device location systems and methods
A method of locating a mobile communications device, in particular on a known path, the mobile device communicating with a mobile communications network infrastructure including a plurality of base stations, communications between the mobile device and the base station to which it is attached having a timing advance to compensate for a time taken for a radio signal to reach the base station from the mobile device, the method comprising: reading a time ordered sequence of messages captured from said communications between the mobile device and said network infrastructure; reading timing advance information from said captured messages; identifying a step change in timing advance using said timing advance information; and determining a location of said mobile devices, in particular on said path, at a time of said step change. |
| US08150415B2 |
Method for determining location of UE by using AGPS information
Disclosed is a method for determining a location of a UE by means of AGPS information. The method includes generating by an SLC a pseudo UE ID according to a request for location information of the UE, the pseudo UE ID being used for maintaining security in communication with an SPC, requesting AGPS information for the UE, the location information of which has been requested, to the SPC by means of the pseudo UE ID, and receiving the AGPS information, transferring the received AGPS information to the UE, and receiving GPS signal measurement values using the AGPS information from the UE, requesting a location calculation of the UE for the GPS signal measurement values to the SPC by means of the pseudo UE ID, and receiving calculated location values, and providing the location information of the UE by means of the received location values of the UE. |
| US08150414B2 |
Method for maintaining the continuing existence of NPD in IEEE 802.22.1 operation
Methods for maintaining continuing existence of a next-in-line protecting device in a beacon network including a primary protecting device (PPD), the next-in-line protecting device (NPD) and a plurality of secondary protecting devices (SPDs). In one method, a subset of the plurality of secondary protecting devices periodically transmit beacon messages to the primary protecting device. When the next-in-line protecting device disappears, the primary protecting device selects a secondary protecting device from among the secondary protecting devices that have transmitted the beacon messages within a certain period to be a new next-in-line protecting device. In another method, the plurality of secondary protecting devices continuously monitor an existence of the next-in-line protecting device. When the next-in-line protecting device disappears for a certain period of time, a subset of the plurality of secondary protecting devices may contend to be a new next-in-line protecting device. In still another method, the primary protecting device transmits a beacon message to the plurality of secondary protecting devices to indicate whether a next-in-line protecting device is required. When a next-in-line protecting device is required, a subset of the secondary protecting devices contend to be a new next-in-line protecting device. |
| US08150413B2 |
Radio network designing apparatus and method
Disclosed is a technology for easy balancing between cells by securing a cell balance, using an optimization process adopting a radio parameter as a parameter of an objective function. Objective function extractor 11 sets up optimizing condition at least including an objective function that has a radio parameter of a base station as the objective function parameter and is used for an optimization process to balance traffic loads between cells, using cell balance values between a target cell whose characteristic changes by modification of the parameter and neighboring cells existing around the target cell. Optimizer 12 performs an optimization process in accordance with the optimizing condition set by objective function extractor 11 to determine the value of the parameter to be the solution. |
| US08150408B2 |
Pilot grouping and set management in multi-carrier communication systems
Embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods and systems for grouping pilot signals and using such grouping for pilot strength reporting and set management in multi-carrier communication systems. In one embodiment, an access network may assign a group identifier (or “group ID”) to each of the pilot signals associated with the sector, e.g., based on the coverage areas of the pilot signals, and transmit the pilot signals with the corresponding group IDs. PN offset may be used as the group ID. An access terminal may group the pilot signals received into one or more pilot groups in accordance with their group IDs, and select a representative pilot signals from each pilot group for pilot strength reporting. The access terminal may also use the pilot grouping to perform effective set management. |
| US08150407B2 |
System and method for scheduling transmissions in a wireless communication system
Systems and methods for scheduling data transmissions in a wireless communication system using scheduling requests and grants. In one embodiment, a wireless communication system has a base station and one or more mobile stations coupled by a wireless link having forward- and reverse-link channels. The base station is configured to receive requests from the mobile stations, to process the requests independently of a base station controller, to allocate communication link resources among the mobile stations, and, if necessary, to transmit one or more grants to the mobile stations in accordance with the allocation of communication link resources. Each mobile station is configured to transmit data to the base station in accordance with any grants received from the base station. |
| US08150405B2 |
Transmitting apparatus and method
A communication device which can reduce amount of control information, limit interference with other traffics, and prevent an increase in current consumption. In this device, a separation unit (105) separates radio resource allocation information, specific section information and transmission parameter information from a received signal. A specific section information control unit (106) selects a sub-carrier designated by the specific section information to allocate data to be transmitted to the own unit. A channel quality measuring unit (107) uses a pilot signal to measure the channel quality of the selected sub-carrier. A channel quality information creating unit (108) creates channel quality information indicating the measurement results input from the channel quality measuring unit (107). A multiplexing unit (109) multiplexes the transmission signal with the channel quality information. |
| US08150404B2 |
Methods for frequency-selective persistent scheduling
Methods for allocating wireless resources are provided. In one method, time domain resources are persistently allocated to a user for a data transmission during a transmission time interval, and frequency domain resources are dynamically allocated to the user for the data transmission during the transmission time interval. Methods provide flexibility for overbooking resources for any TTI to obtain statistical multiplexing gains. |
| US08150403B2 |
Reservation of mobile station communication resources
A method (300) for allocating mobile station resources. The method can include receiving a message (120) over a wireless communications network (110) from an authorized user requesting reservation of communication resources on the mobile station (105), and automatically reserving the mobile station communication resources in accordance with the request. Receiving the message over the wireless communications network can include receiving the message on a slave mobile station. The message can be received from a master mobile station (115). In one arrangement the message can include a mobile station calendar entry. The calendar entry can be received in response to initiating a call on the mobile station. The call can be, for example, a selective dynamic group (SDG) call. |
| US08150398B2 |
Handover of a user equipment with forwarding and reusing a user equipment configuration
It is described a method for handing over a User Equipment from a first to a second base station of a telecommunication network. The described method includes establishing a first connection between the User Equipment and the first base station, arranging a current configuration of the User Equipment with the first base station, forwarding the current configuration to the second base station via a terrestrial interface, establishing a second connection between the User Equipment and the second base station, and reusing the forwarded configuration for the operation of the User Equipment, when the User Equipment is served by the second base station. A set of configuration parameters of the User Equipment is known by the first and the second base station as a default configuration and the current configuration of the User Equipment is forwarded from the first base station to the second base station by solely forwarding configuration parameters deviating from the default configuration. |
| US08150397B2 |
Method and apparatus for establishing transport channels for a femtocell
Some embodiments are implemented in a communication system that includes a first wireless communication system and a second wireless communication system that includes a Femtocell access point (FAP) and a network controller that can communicatively couple the FAP to the first wireless communication system. In some embodiments, the network controller can communicatively couple to the first wireless communication system through a UTRAN Iu interface. Some embodiments provide a resource management method that determines that a user equipment (UE) has roved in a region serviced by the FAP. The FAP includes a generic access resource control (GA-RC) protocol sub-layer. The method creates a separate GA-RC state dedicated to the UE in the GA-RC protocol sub-layer. The method also sets the GA-RC state dedicated to the UE to a deregistered state to indicate that the UE is not registered to use the services of the second wireless communication system. |
| US08150396B2 |
Intelligent customer care support
In a mobile communications system a visiting location register (VLR) associated with a switching center receives an address of an external control component and a service identifier identifying a service to be performed by the external control component from a home location register (HLR) associated with a mobile communications device. When a customer care call from the mobile communications device is received at the switching center, the switching center suspends call processing and queries the external control component utilizing the address from the VLR. The external control component performs the service indicated by the service indicator and determines a translation for the customer care call and returns information to the switching center for routing the call according to the translation. The translation may be determined at least in part according to the service performed by the external control component. The translation may be determined at least in part according to one or more of time of day, day of week, location of the switching center, or NPA-Nxx. The service indicator and address of the external control component may be provided by the HLR in Dialed CAMEL Subscription Information (D-CSI) associated with the mobile communication device. |
| US08150395B2 |
Method of communicating data in a wireless mobile communication system
A method of communicating data in a wireless communication system is disclosed. More specifically, a method discloses transmitting a request by a mobile subscriber station (MSS) to a network entity via a de-registration request message requesting the network entity to retain a preferred session information, and receiving a selected session information via a de-registration command response from the network entity. |
| US08150394B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for synchronizing subscriber feature data across multiple domains
Methods, systems, and computer program products for synchronizing a subscriber profile in a plurality of domains is described. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a profile update request message from an application server to modify an Internet protocol (IP) domain subscriber profile. The profile update request message is forwarded to a home location register (HLR). A cellular domain subscriber profile is modified in accordance with the profile update request message. Similarly, an updated subscriber profile data is received from the HLR. The updated subscriber profile data is converted in the IP domain. The converted updated subscriber profile data is sent to the application server. |
| US08150389B2 |
Portable communication terminal device and response message transmitting method
A portable communication terminal device includes a section for detecting a call from a calling party; a section for obtaining position data for a present position of the portable communication terminal device; a section for storing data of a plurality of areas and a plurality of messages to the calling party, which respectively correspond to the areas; and a section for performing a determination when the call is detected. In the determination, it is determined whether the present position based on the position data belongs to one of the plurality of the areas stored in advance. The terminal also includes a section for performing message transmission when it is determined that the present position belongs to one of the plurality of the areas. In the message transmission, one of the plurality of the messages is transmitted, which corresponds to the one of the plurality of the areas. |
| US08150387B2 |
Smart phone as remote control device
A communication device such as a smart phone is enabled for remotely controlling set-top boxes (STBs) over Internet protocol networks using an applet running on the communication device. Authentication from within a multimedia content distribution network may be achieved by verifying that a network identifier associated with the communication device is associated with an account that has granted access to the smart phone and that is associated with the controlled STB. A viewing pane on the communication device permits a user to remotely view content received on or available to the controlled STB. |
| US08150386B2 |
Call to action lockout system and method
A Call-To-Action Lockout on a mobile device coupled to a data network is disclosed as a method and apparatus comprising providing a media application configured to respond to a control point associated with media content, providing media content which has at least one associated control point, triggering at least one control point while experiencing the media content; and performing an appropriate Call To Action Script (CTAS) in response to the triggered control point. |
| US08150382B2 |
Method and apparatus for date-based integrated processing of data in mobile terminal
A method and apparatus wherein data generated in a mobile terminal can be classified in an integrated manner based on dates and can be displayed in various forms. User data generated in the mobile terminal can be processed by the mobile terminal or can be sent to and processed by a separate information processing appliance. The data processing method includes executing an integrated data processing application; selecting a reference date; collecting pieces of data created at the reference date regardless of their types; processing the collected pieces of data in an integrated manner according to preset processing conditions; and displaying processing results together with associated screens of the integrated data processing application. The integrated data processing application can be, for example, a life diary application. |
| US08150379B2 |
Integration of wireless and external computing devices
The wireless device may include logic that enables the wireless device to interface with the external computing device, and rule logic to direct handling by the external computing device of call events of the wireless device. |
| US08150375B2 |
Methods and apparatus for automatically recording Push-To-Talk (PTT) voice communications for replay
In one illustrative example, a mobile station includes a wireless transceiver which operates with a wireless communication network; a processor; memory coupled to the processor; and a user interface which includes a Push-To-Talk (PTT) switch for transmitting a PTT voice communication through the wireless transceiver, a PTT replay switch for replaying a PTT voice communication previously received through the wireless transceiver which is stored in the memory, and a speaker for outputting audible voice signals. The wireless transceiver is operative to receive a PTT key message; receive voice data of a PTT voice communication following the PTT key message; and receive a PTT dekey message following the voice data. The processor is operative to cause the voice data of the PTT voice communication to be recorded in the memory based on receiving the PTT key message, and cause the recording of voice data of the PTT voice communication to be terminated based on receiving the PTT dekey message. Subsequently, in response to detecting a user actuation of the PTT replay switch, the processor causes the voice data of the PTT voice communication to be retrieved from the memory and audible voice signals corresponding to the voice data to be output from the speaker. |
| US08150371B2 |
Interactive control of access to services and capabilities of a mobile device
A system device and method are provided which determine authorization for access to one or more services grouped together as a package of services without direct intervention of a wireless network provider or wired network access provider. This offers business proprietors, contractors for telecommunication services, service resellers, OEMs and service providers the ability to authorize users, particularly users of mobile communication terminals, hereafter referred to as the “Owner,” access to package services. In this way a large package of features and applications can be available to a mobile device, but access to those features and applications can be controlled by the Owner thus providing the Owner with control over expenses related to accessing those features and applications. It also provides the Owner the ability to secure and prevent unauthorized access to features and applications which could allow an unauthorized user access to sensitive data and equipment. |
| US08150370B2 |
Authentication system, authentication method and authentication data generation program
An authentication system according to the present invention includes an AAA server configured to be connected to the mobile network; a terminal device configured to be connected to the mobile network and be authenticated by the AAA server; and a PC configured to be connected to the terminal device through a short distance radio communication network. The PC transmits an identification data for identifying the PC itself to the terminal device through the short distance radio communication network. The terminal device authenticates the PC to access the mobile network on the basis of the identification data, and transmits an authentication data for accessing the mobile network to the AAA server. The AAA server performs an authentication that the PC accesses to the mobile network by using the authentication data. The authenticated PC accesses the mobile network through the Internet. |
| US08150369B2 |
Charging mechanisms for IP multimedia services
A method of reserving credit for a mobile subscriber in respect of an IP multimedia service. The method comprises, following initial registration of the subscriber to the IP Multimedia service but prior to invocation of an IP Multimedia service, using the early session establishment procedure to reserve a credit amount at a charging control node and to notify an IP Multimedia Serving Element of the credit reservation, whereupon, at invocation of said IP multimedia service, the IP Multimedia Serving Element is able to proceed immediately with the session establishment. |
| US08150367B1 |
System and method of determining a location based on location of detected signals
A system and method is provided that allows a client device to determine its position based on the location of signals detected by the device. The signals' locations may be obtained from a server, and some of the information may be pre-fetched and sent to the client device before the client device detect the signals. The pre-fetched data may also be encrypted so that a client device cannot determine the location of a signal unless it is proximate to the signal. |
| US08150361B2 |
Single chip amplifier and oscillator having similar resonant circuit topology
In one aspect this invention provides a radio frequency receiver for coupling to an antenna. The receiver includes a downconversion mixer, an amplifier having an input coupled to the antenna and an output coupled to a first input of the mixer for providing a received frequency signal to the mixer and a voltage controlled oscillator having an output coupled to a second input of the mixer for providing a mixing frequency signal to the mixer. In the preferred embodiments the components of the amplifier and the voltage controlled oscillator are arranged to exhibit a substantially identical resonant circuit topology and are implemented in the same integrated circuit. In the preferred embodiments the amplifier and the voltage controlled oscillator each include calibration circuitry coupled to a calibration signal for compensating for integrated circuit component value variations, and where a calibration signal used for the voltage controlled oscillator is used as well for the amplifier. |
| US08150360B2 |
DC offset calibration in a direct conversion receiver
A direct conversion receiver (200) includes a low noise amplifier (LNA) (213), at least one baseband amplifier (119, 123 and 127), register banks (250 and 251) for storing a plurality of offset data corresponding to at least two LNA gain settings and a plurality of baseband gain settings, a DC offset correction system (235) for providing a DC offset signal, a state machine (275) for sequencing through each of the plurality of baseband gain settings and through enable and disable states for the LNA, and a processor (290) programmed to activate the state machine and to run the DC offset correction system. |
| US08150356B2 |
Split analog/digital polynomial nonlinear term generator with reduced number of analog-to-digital converters
A polynomial nonlinear term generator is configured to receive an RF signal. An analog cubic term generator generates an analog cubic term signal and an analog square term generator generates an analog square term signal, both derived from the RF signal. A cubic term mixer assembly mixes a local oscillator (LO) signal with the cubic term signal to generate a synthetic IM3 signal. A square term ADC provides a digital square term signal and a cubic term ADC provides a digital cubic term signal. At least one digital multiplier has a first multiplier input terminal configured to receive a selected one of the digital square term signal and the digital cubic term signal, and a second multiplier input terminal configured to receive the digital square term signal. The multiplier provides as output a digital IMn product where n is greater than 3. A corresponding method is also described. |
| US08150354B2 |
Determining relative phase data of a received signal
A method of determining relative phase data of a signal received at multiple antennas, the signal being a phase-modulated data signal having a plurality of periods of constant frequency, the method comprising: within each period of constant frequency, sampling the signal received by a first one of the multiple antennas and sampling the signal received by at least one different one of the multiple antennas; determining from the received samples a data symbol value represented by the received signal for each of the periods of constant frequency; and using the determined data symbol value information to eliminate phase variations between the samples received by the different antennas within each constant frequency period arising from the modulation of the data signal to generate relative phase data for said different antennas. |
| US08150344B1 |
Method and system of planning a wireless telecommunication network
A method and system are provided for planning a service provider network. At one or more low-cost Internet base stations (LCIBs) operating within a building, one or more wireless signals are detected. The wireless signals are provided by one or more macro base stations. The wireless signals are detected by the LCIB on an LCIB wireless-communication interface. For each detected wireless signal, one or more signal-strength values are determined. The determined signal-strength values are sent from the LCIB via an LCIB packet-communication interface to one or more network entities. The signal-strength values are used to plan the service provider network, by generating one or more network-planning directions and/or one or more network-coverage maps. |
| US08150341B2 |
Apparatus for transmitting a signal below a standard transmit power in a network
A transmitter includes a detection element to determine when a current power requirement of a communication link is less than the standard transmit power. The current power requirement may be determined by a current operation condition of the communication link, for instance. The transmit power of the transmitter may be set to be less than the standard power in any of a variety of ways. For example, a center tap voltage of the transmitter may be reduced. In another example, a class of operation of the transmitter may be changed. In yet another example, the transmitter may include a current mirror having a plurality of diode-connected transistors coupled in parallel, thereby reducing the current at output terminals of the transmitter. Reducing the current at the output terminals decreases the output power of the transmitter, which may reduce the power consumed by the transmitter. |
| US08150339B2 |
Switchable-level voltage supplies for multimode communications
Switchable voltage level supplies for circuitry in a multi-mode communications chipset are disclosed. In an embodiment, a first voltage level is supplied to TX circuitry operating in a first mode having a first set of linearity and/or noise requirements. A second voltage level lower than the first voltage level is supplied to TX circuitry operating in a second mode having a second set of linearity and/or noise requirements looser than the first set of requirements. The first mode may be operation according to the GSM standard, and the second mode may be operation according to the W-CDMA standard. |
| US08150336B2 |
Apparatus and method for adaptive polar transmitter linearization and wireless transmitter employing the same
A polar transmitter and a method of linearizing a polar transmitter. In one embodiment, the transmitter includes: (1) a transmit chain having a predistorter configured to employ first amplitude and phase compensation lookup tables to carry out predistortion in the transmit chain, (2) a receiver coupled to the transmit chain and (3) predistortion compensation circuitry associated with the receiver and configured to update second amplitude and phase compensation lookup tables associated therewith based on at least one signal from the transmit chain, the values in the updated second amplitude and phase compensation lookup tables thereby available for subsequent predistortion. |
| US08150335B2 |
Apparatus and method for adaptive cartesian transmitter linearization and wireless transmitter employing the same
A Cartesian transmitter and a method of linearizing a Cartesian transmitter. In one embodiment, the transmitter includes: (1) a transmit chain configured to receive an input signal having in-phase and quadrature components and having a predistorter configured to employ at least one compensation lookup table to carry out in-phase and quadrature compensation predistortion with respect to the input signal, a combiner configured to combine outputs of the predistorter and a nonlinear element configured to process an output of the combiner, (2) a receiver coupled to the transmit chain and (3) predistortion compensation circuitry associated with the receiver and configured to update the at least one compensation lookup table based on the input signal and a signal from the receiver. |
| US08150333B2 |
Multiband antenna and wireless communication device employing the same
An exemplary multiband antenna includes an antenna module and a switch module electrically connected to the antenna module. The antenna module includes a first antenna member, a second antenna member, and a third antenna member, which are mounted on a main board. The antenna module is electrically connected or disconnected by operating the switch module to form different antenna structures for receiving different wireless signals. |
| US08150329B2 |
Wireless communication device and method for switching modulation system thereof
A further secure channel is ensured after switching of a modulation system at the time of deterioration channel quality. A wireless communication device includes a transmitter that converts data into a modulation wave in a set modulation system and transmits the modulation wave, a receiver that receives a transmitted modulation wave, and converts the modulation wave into original data based on a set modulation system, a determining means for determining quality of a channel on the basis of a signal received by the receiver, and a modulation system switching means for switching the modulation system to a modulation system that is strongest against external disturbance among a plurality of different modulation systems set in advance and then switching the modulation system to a modulation system in accordance with quality of the channel, when the determining means determines that quality of the channel is deteriorated. |
| US08150328B2 |
Method and apparatus for distributed sensing management and control within a cognitive radio network
A technique for spectrum sensing management and control for a secondary communication system seeking to utilize another communication system's spectrum is provided (600). Sensor control data is sent from a base station to subscriber units (604). Sensing measurements are taken and sent back to the base station for ranking (608) as sensed feedback information. Comparisons of the sensed feedback information are made to each other and to thresholds aligned with the types of measurements taken (610). An initial ranked channel list is generated (612). Weighting of the initial ranking list and secondary ranking list is followed by re-ranking the channels according to the weighting into a final ranking list (612). The final ranking list is transmitted to the mobile units to enable operation within the other communication system's spectrum within interfering with that system (614). The weighting is based on the type of sensing measurement taken as opposed to the channel. |
| US08150327B2 |
Channel sounding techniques for a wireless communication system
A technique for channel sounding in a wireless communication system includes determining respective geometries of multiple subscriber stations with respect to a serving base station. Respective time periods for sounding a channel between the multiple subscriber stations and the serving base station are then set based on the respective geometries of the multiple subscriber stations. |
| US08150326B2 |
Signal processing for multi-sectored wireless communications system and method thereof
Disclosed is a signal processing system in a base station that receives and processes single carrier or multiple carrier signals from transmitting units in a sectored coverage area with at least one transmit antenna and at least one receive antenna, the signal power gain between transmit and receive antennas within each sector being represented as a channel matrix with path gains. The system comprises: a detection unit that determines if signals from a given target transmitting unit is available in the signal received in a sector, and generates a detect signal for a combination unit; a decision unit that selects size of interference cancellation matrix; and an interference cancellation unit. When the signal from detection unit indicates that signal from a target transmitting unit is in the signal associated with at least two sectors, the decision unit joins channel matrices associated with the sectors to generate a large channel matrix, and using the resulting large channel matrix, the interference cancellation unit eliminates interference or generates originally transmitted signal. When the signal from detection unit indicates that signal from a target transmitting unit is in the signal of only one sector, the interference cancellation unit eliminates interference from the received signal, using the channel matrix associated with the one sector. |
| US08150322B2 |
Slave device complying with bluetooth communication protocol and related method for establishing bluetooth communication connection
A slave device that complies with Bluetooth communication protocol includes a communication module, a memory and a RF output module. The communication module can be operated to generate a driving signal. The memory stores an access code that complies with Bluetooth communication protocol and is electrically connected to the communication module. The memory is configured to determine whether or not to output the access code according to the driving signal output by the communication module. The RF output module is electrically connected to the memory so as to receive and output the access code. |
| US08150321B2 |
Near field RF communicators and near field communications enabled devices
A near field RF communicator has: an antenna operable to generate an RF signal to enable inductive coupling via the magnetic field of the RF signal between the antenna and another near field RF communicator or RF transponder in near field range; and a signal generator operable to generate a multi-level digital sine wave drive signal to drive the antenna to generate the RF signal, wherein the signal generator comprises a selector operable to select one or more digital sequences to provide one or more digital signals from which the digital sine wave drive signal is generated. |
| US08150320B2 |
Method for operating a short haul radio transmitting/radio receiving system conforming to a short haul radio communication standard and a master device for implementing said method
A method and apparatus for operating a short-haul radio transmitting/radio receiving system conforming to a short-haul radio communication standard wherein a maximum number of devices able to communicate is exceeded. The devices exceeding the maximum number of devices communicating with a master device are switched to a park mode and, continually in keeping with a predefined strategy, parked devices are switched to active while active devices are switched to parked. |
| US08150319B2 |
Communication apparatus
A communication apparatus includes an antenna configured to generate a magnetic field corresponding to a signal of a first communication method; and a communication unit configured to perform communication via a communication medium by transmitting/receiving a signal of a second communication method by using a potential difference between the communication unit and a predetermined reference point, the communication unit including a transparent conductive film. The antenna and the communication unit are integrated with each other. |
| US08150318B2 |
Apparatus for collecting environmental data and method of monitoring environment in real time
Provided are an apparatus for collecting environmental data and a method of monitoring an environment in real time. The apparatus for collecting environmental data includes a receiver for receiving an environmental data collection command from outside, a headset controller for interpreting the environmental data collection command received from the receiver, and distinguishing an audio signal received from outside from the environmental data collection command, the environment sensor unit for collecting environmental data according to the environmental data collection command interpreted from the headset controller, and a transmitter for transmitting the environmental data collected by the environment sensor unit. |
| US08150313B2 |
Device for transmitting and/or receiving signals with frequency re-use by assignment of a cell for each terminal, for a communication satellite
A device (D) is dedicated to transmitting and/or receiving signals representative of data in a communication satellite (SAT) having a fixed frequency bandwidth. This device (D) comprises transmission and/or reception means (MER) responsible for sending and/or receiving signals in multiple beams, and control means (MC) responsible for defining a chosen number of cells of chosen dimensions and positions, and configuring the transmission and/or reception means (MER) so as to define beams each associated with at least one of the defined cells, with a chosen carrier frequency based on the requirements of each of the cells and taking into account the frequency bandwidth available on the satellite (SAT). |
| US08150312B2 |
Propagation of messages
Authenticated propagation of adverts to multiple mobile recipient devices, each having both wireless and mobile telephony capability, employs message generation platforms each having a content creation engine, a metadata inserter and a signature generator, for the wireless broadcast of the generated messages. A client application on each recipient device controls viewing of the message, with authentication being provided through mobile telephony communication with a trusted authority which is in turn in secure communication with the message generation platform to hold signature information. According to an incentive policy, a device may wirelessly re-broadcast any message. |
| US08150311B2 |
Communication system
The present application relates to a wireless communication system and related methods and apparatuses for transmitting a signal from a source apparatus to a destination apparatus, via at least one intermediate apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to techniques which seek to improve the throughput of data in multi-hop communication systems. |
| US08150310B2 |
Setting method of communication parameters, communicating apparatus, control method of communicating apparatus, and program
It is difficult that a providing apparatus which provides communication parameters is decided by a receiving apparatus which receives the communication parameters from the providing apparatus. Based on a discrimination condition, a first communicating apparatus selects whether the communicating apparatus operates as a relay apparatus in a communication parameter setting protocol between the providing apparatus and the receiving apparatus or operates as a proxy apparatus which executes the communication parameter setting protocol as a proxy of the providing apparatus between the providing apparatus and the receiving apparatus. |
| US08150308B2 |
Intra-premises wireless broadband service using lumped and distributed wireless radiation from cable source input
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an apparatus that includes a communication interface for receiving broadband signals and for transmitting RF frequency signals to a diplexer located within a premises via cabling where the RF frequency signals are configured for distribution to signal radiation devices of the premises via the diplexer and where the RF frequency signals are configured for being radiated by the signal radiation devices to at least one wireless device; and a controller for generating packetized signals from the received broadband signals at a first frequency and for modulating the packetized signals at a second frequency, wherein the RF frequency signals comprise the modulated packetized signals at the second frequency. Additional embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08150305B2 |
Fusing device and image forming apparatus having the same
Disclosed are a fusing device with improved temperature increase and fusing performance characteristics and an image forming apparatus having the same. The fusing device can include a heater to generate heat, a fusing belt arranged around the heater, a rotating member, a press member and a heat shield unit. The rotating member may be configured to come into contact with an outer periphery of the fusing belt. The press member may be configured to be press a portion of the fusing belt toward the rotating member to define a fusing nip between the fusing belt and the rotating member. The heat shield unit configured to surround the press member to reduce the amount of heat delivered to the press member. |
| US08150302B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method that detects an amount of color misalignment using reflected light
A pattern forming unit forms a color-misalignment detection pattern on an image carrier. A light-intensity detecting unit detects the color-misalignment detection pattern formed on the image carrier by irradiating the image carrier with a light and detecting light intensity of a reflected light from the image carrier. A color-misalignment-amount detecting unit detects an amount of a color misalignment of an image based on the light intensity of the reflected light detected by the light-intensity detecting unit. A spot of the light on the image carrier is elongated in a main-scanning direction. |
| US08150300B2 |
Method for manufacturing mold and blade for electrophotographic apparatus, and developer amount controlling blade
A mold for use in producing a molded body of an elastomer has a holding layer and a releasing layer on an inner periphery surface of a main body of a die. The releasing layer is formed of an addition two-component liquid silicone having a polysilazane-based or polysiloxane-based chain as a main chain, contains 0.5 mass % or less of a component which volatilizes at a curing temperature of a liquid elastomer raw material, does not contain silica, has International Rubber Hardness Degree of 50 to 85 degrees, and contains a solid lubricant having an average particle size of 2 to 20 μm. The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing a blade for an electrophotographic apparatus by using the mold and a developer amount controlling blade having specific load length ratio and ten-point average roughness in which a blade member is manufactured with the method. |
| US08150299B2 |
Toner supplying apparatus and toner supplying method for image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes plural developing devices arranged at a fixed interval, plural toner cartridges arranged at an interval smaller than the interval among the developing devices, and plural sub-hoppers that receive toners stored in the toner cartridges and feed the toners to plural developing devices. The plural sub-hoppers respectively have toner receiving ports formed in positions opposed to toner discharging ports of the toner cartridges and have toner supply ports for feeding toners to the developing devices. The plural sub-hoppers are arranged at an interval same as an arrangement pitch of the developing devices. |
| US08150297B2 |
Geneva drive and locking mechanism therefor in a toner metering mechanism for an image forming apparatus
The present invention provides a toner container system, such as a toner cartridge, having a first reservoir for containing toner and a second reservoir for receiving toner from the first reservoir and transferring the toner to an image forming apparatus, and a toner transfer mechanism disposed between the first and second reservoirs, the transfer mechanism including a generally cylindrically shaped rotatable roller member having a plurality of equally spaced recesses disposed around the circumference thereof and being rotatable in angular increments wherein the recesses are alternately open to the first reservoir in a first position for each recess and open to the second reservoir in a second position for each recess, whereby toner is transferred from the first reservoir to the second reservoir upon rotation of the roller member, a Geneva drive mechanism including a drive gear operatively connected to the roller member for advancing the roller member in one angular increment for each complete rotation of the drive gear; and a locking mechanism operatively interconnecting the drive gear and rotatable member, whereby the drive gear is intermittently locked after each incremental angular advancement of the roller member to prevent actuation of the toner transfer mechanism while the rotatable member rotates through a recess at the second position thereof. |
| US08150296B2 |
Color electrophotographic image forming apparatus with manually-operated unit
In an image forming apparatus including a rotary member (15) to which a plurality of developing cartridges (B, Y, M, C) (16) are detachably mountable, a user can rotate the rotary member with an easy operation to access the plurality of developing cartridges. A pivotable unit (63) is contactable and separable from a driving train for the rotary member (15). By applying a certain braking force to a pivotal gear (69), the pivotal gear (69) is moved to a position at which the pivotal gear (69) is held in contact with the driving train by a user's operational force. In association with the contact movement of the pivotable unit (63), a solenoid (57) performing a positional control of the rotary member (15) is released. |
| US08150291B2 |
Power management system, power management method and computer readable medium storing program, allowing power management of a plurality of image forming apparatuses
When there are a plurality of candidate image forming apparatuses that are to be turned ON, a CPU refers to an MFP wearout degree table and obtains wearout degree of each candidate. Then, the CPU determines whether there is any candidate of which wearout degree is lower than a prescribed lower threshold value or not. If there is a candidate of which wearout degree is lower than the prescribed lower threshold value, the CPU determines the image forming apparatus as the object to be powered ON. |
| US08150290B2 |
Method and apparatus for saving power in an image production device
A method and apparatus for saving power in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include determining if the image production device has been inactive for a predetermined period of time, wherein if it is determined that the image production device has been inactive for a predetermined period of time, decreasing a fuser fan's output by a predetermined amount, decreasing a fuser lamp setting by a predetermined amount, the fuser system being heated to operate at a temperature that is at a first predetermined level, setting a timer, determining if the fuser system's temperature is at a second predetermined level, wherein if it is determined that the fuser system's temperature is not at the second predetermined level, determining if the timer expired, wherein if it is determined that the timer expired, decreasing a fuser lamp setting by the predetermined amount and resetting the timer. |
| US08150289B2 |
Fixing device for an image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an imaging section and a thermal fixing device. The fixing device fuses a toner image formed by the imaging section onto the recording sheet passing through a fixing nip. The fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressure member, a heater, a temperature sensor, and a temperature controller. The fixing member is rotatable, and the pressure member is pressed against the fixing member to form the fixing nip therebetween. The heater heats at least a portion of the fixing member. The temperature sensor senses a temperature of the fixing member. The temperature controller controls the temperature of the fixing member in at least one of an on-off mode and a PID mode. The temperature controller initially operates in the on-off mode upon entering recovery, and switches to the PID mode when a threshold time has elapsed after entering recovery. |
| US08150288B2 |
Apparatus and method of controlling power supply to heating roller and phase control circuit corresponding to the apparatus and method
A method and an apparatus to control power supplied to a heating roller and a phase control circuit corresponding to the method or the apparatus. The phase control circuit may include an examination unit to compare levels of a sine wave having a predetermined first period and a switching signal to increase and decrease repeatedly according to a predetermined second period, and a phase control signal generation unit to generate a phase control signal having a non-zero in intervals of time sections including a time when levels of the switching signal and the sine wave which is in a decreasing section are equal to each other during a time period when the level of the sine wave is zero, and a time when levels of the switching signal and the sine wave which is in an increasing section are equal to each other during a time period when the level of the sine wave is zero. |
| US08150287B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus is configured to form a developer image on a recording sheet. The image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit including a pressure roller and a heat roller, an ejection roller configured to cause the recording sheet from the fixing unit to be ejected from the image forming apparatus, and a power transmission member configured to transmit power from the heat roller to cause the ejection roller to rotate. The pressure roller is configured to rotate in response to power and configured to cause the heat roller to be rotated. |
| US08150283B2 |
Method and system for minimizing non-uniformities in output images using halftone correction patches
Disclosed herein are a method and a printing apparatus implementing the method to minimize cross-process direction non-uniformities of color images in printed documents. When printing images on a photoreceptor, halftone test patches are generated for each color. A first halftone cell orientation (of dots) of the test patches and their corresponding color image data is determined. The halftone cells of test patches may be provided or rotated to a second orientation (or angle or degrees) for printing in an inter-document zone of the photoreceptor, while the first orientation of the color image data in the document image area of the photoreceptor remains the same. Errors or non-uniformities (e.g., with TRC correction) caused by sensor misreading of test patches at specific orientations in the cross-process direction are substantially eliminated, thereby providing output images without streaks or visible errors. |
| US08150281B2 |
Image forming apparatus
In the case where a peripheral velocity of photosensitive drums differs from a peripheral velocity of an intermediate transfer belt, the peripheral velocity of the intermediate transfer belt or the peripheral velocity of the photosensitive drums is corrected. The velocity of the intermediate transfer belt is transiently varied in an image forming operation. Accordingly, a plurality of toner patch patterns including toner patches are formed on the intermediate transfer belt, and the difference in peripheral velocity between the intermediate transfer belt and the photosensitive drums is estimated based on a difference between the displacements in the toner patch patterns. |
| US08150279B2 |
Image forming apparatus with energy accumulation diagnostics and state correction
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit for forming an image using a consumable supply; a cover attached to the image forming unit; an energy accumulation unit for accumulating energy when the cover is closed; an energy initializing unit for initializing a level of the energy accumulated in the energy accumulation unit when the cover is opened; an energy detection unit for detecting whether the level of the energy accumulated in the energy accumulation unit is initialized; and a state correction unit for correcting a state of the image forming unit according to a detection result of the energy detection unit. |
| US08150277B2 |
Image forming apparatus with system for replenishing a plurality of toner cartridges
There is provided an image forming apparatus that is capable of reducing work burdens imposed on a user in terms of toner cartridge replacement. When a cartridge detection sensor detects that at least one of toner cartridges is emptied, a specified amount of toner is forcibly supplied from another toner cartridge than the toner cartridge subjected to detection to an intermediate hopper. After that, the amount of the toner within the another toner cartridge is detected. When an empty toner cartridge is newly detected, a request for replacement is issued as to both of the newly detected empty toner cartridge and the previously detected empty toner cartridge. |
| US08150274B2 |
Apparatus and method for image forming
An image forming apparatus is provided with a process cartridge that is removable from the image forming apparatus. When the process cartridge is installed, the image forming apparatus automatically searches a print job that matches the process cartridge that is currently installed onto the image forming apparatus. |
| US08150273B2 |
Optical receiver with threshold voltage compensation
An optical receiver includes an optical detector having an input that is positioned to detect an optical data signal. The optical detector generates a voltage at an output that is proportional to an optical intensity of the optical data signal. A differential amplifier includes a data input that is electrically connected to the output of the optical detector and a decision threshold voltage signal input. The differential amplifier generates a data signal at a data output and an inverse data signal at a data_bar output. A decision threshold voltage signal generator includes an output that is coupled to the decision threshold voltage signal input of the differential amplifier. The decision threshold voltage signal generator generates a decision threshold voltage signal having an amplitude that causes the differential amplifier to maintain a substantially constant differential voltage between the data signal and the inverse data signal generated. |
| US08150265B2 |
Carrier current communication system with infrared receiver
Embodiments of a method and apparatus are described to transmit a data signal from a power supply unit, over existing direct current (DC) power transmission lines, to a residential gateway which includes an infrared (IR) receiver designed to receive optical signals. In one embodiment, the IR receiver is configured to receive a carrier current communication signal from the power supply unit over a pair of copper wires coupled to the IR receiver. The carrier current communication signals may be encoded by a transmission encoding logic circuit using pulse position modulation techniques. The received carrier current communication signals may be demodulated and decoded to reproduce an input data stream. |
| US08150264B2 |
Methods for non-wavelength-converting multi-lane optical switching
A method for providing multi-wavelength switching. The method comprising receiving a plurality of signals through at least one input port, and separating the plurality of said signals into at least one wavelength signal set based on wavelengths, wherein a first wavelength signal set of said at least one wavelength signal sets corresponds to a first wavelength. The method further comprises providing a plurality of output lanes to at least one output port, and determining if two signals from said first wavelength signal set traveling on said first wavelength are scheduled output from an output port during an overlapping time period through said plurality of output lanes. The method further comprises determining if one of said plurality of output lanes is available during said overlapping time period when said two signals are schedule for said output port during the overlapping time period, wherein a first signal of said two signals is routed for output on an available lane if one of said plurality of output lanes of said output port is available. |
| US08150262B2 |
Optical communications network and intensity adjustment method for optical communications network
An optical communications network in which one optical line terminal is connected to multiple optical network units and in which code division multiplexing communication is carried out between the optical line terminal and the optical network units. The optical intensities of upstream optical signals transmitted from each optical network unit are made constant at the time of multiplexing by an optical directional coupler, and the optical intensity of a downstream optical signal received by an optical network unit and an upstream optical signal received by the optical line terminal is contained within a dynamic range. Each optical network unit is provided with a variable optical attenuator that is common for an upstream optical signal and a downstream optical signal. The upstream optical signal and the downstream optical signal are attenuated by an equal attenuation. Moreover, the optical line terminal controls the attenuation at the variable optical attenuator. |
| US08150259B2 |
Passive optical network system and optical signal receiving method thereof
A passive optical network system includes: a plurality of optical signal splitter receiving optical signals from a plurality of optical network units (ONUs) to provide a plurality of upstream optical signals having different wavelengths; a hybrid optical filter multiplexing the plurality of upstream optical signals in a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) scheme; and an optical line terminal (OLT) receiving the multiplexed upstream optical signals in a time division multiplexing (TDM) scheme. Therefore, the network system can be easily expanded when the number of subscribers increases, and the optical loss can be minimized. |
| US08150256B2 |
Electronic apparatus, imaging apparatus, and grip structure
An electronic apparatus includes: a window member containing a material that attenuates visible light but transmits specific light that does not lie in the wavelength band of visible light, the window member having a front wall portion having a thickness extending along the direction from the front side to the rear side; a light emitter provided behind the front wall portion, the light emitter emitting the visible light through a first area of the front wall portion; and a light receiver provided behind the front wall portion, the light receiver receiving the specific light passing through a second area of the front wall portion that differs from the first area, wherein the front wall portion in the first area is thinner than the front wall portion in the second area. |
| US08150252B2 |
Imaging apparatus and imaging apparatus control method
When the depth information indicating a difference among a plurality of subjects in the size of subject distance is large, an imaging apparatus lowers a threshold value of the subject luminance to be referred to when determining whether to perform a shooting operation with light emission by an illumination device. |
| US08150250B2 |
Camera body and camera system including the same
A camera body including image-blur correcting units capable of effectively correcting blur in captured images and a camera system including the camera body are provided. The camera body includes a vibration detecting unit configured to detect vibration of the camera body; a first image-blur correcting unit configured to correct blur in captured images, and a second image-blur correcting unit that is different from the first image-blur correcting unit; and a control unit configured to control the first image-blur correcting unit and the second image-blur correcting unit on the basis of detection results produced by the vibration detecting unit. |
| US08150241B2 |
Baseboard heater security device
The present invention relates to a baseboard heater guard or security device designed to shield the upper and front surfaces of a baseboard heater. The guard or security device comprises two or more vertical members that substantially follow the contour of the outside surface of the baseboard heater forming a frame around the heater. The vertical members comprise or are attached to a fixing member designed for attachment on the wall above the baseboard heater and a second fixing member designed for attachment at a second point on the floor. One or more first horizontal members are attached to the two or more vertical members near the top surface of the baseboard heater. One or more second horizontal members are attached to the two or more vertical members near the front surface of the baseboard heater. Optionally, one or more third horizontal members are attached to at least one first horizontal member or to at least one vertical member, and optionally, one or more fourth horizontal members are attached to at least one second horizontal member or to at least one vertical member substantially creating a barrier on top of the top surface and in front of the front surface of the baseboard heater. |
| US08150240B2 |
High-resolution optical disk for recording stereoscopic video, optical disk reproducing device, and optical disk recording device
An optical disk for recording stereoscopic videos and high-quality video signals and a system for reproducing the videos and signals from the optical disk are made compatible with the conventional video reproducing system. A reproducing device which is used for reproducing stereoscopic videos and high-quality videos obtains stereoscopic video or high-quality videos by reproducing both first and second interleaved blocks on the optical disk in which first and second video signals are alternately recorded on the left and right sides by dividing the first and second video signals into frame groups of one GOP or more and a reproducing device which is not used for reproducing the stereoscopic videos and high-quality videos obtains ordinary videos by only reproducing either the first or second interleaved block by jumping tracks. |
| US08150239B2 |
Picture-based video indexing system
A video indexing system uses pictures representative of a recorded video program to assist a user in determining the contents of a recorded medium without having to view the program itself. The pictures preferably represent segments of the program which are spaced apart in time, enabling a relatively small number of such pictures to characterize a lengthy program, and are presented in separate windows on the screen of the same device used to display the video program. The pictures may include still or moving imagery. A viewer optionally may select a particular picture with a pointing device, to commence replay of the recorded program from that period in the program, or to recall stored audio information so as to assist in identifying the selection. The picture information may be stored on the same medium as that used to record the video program, or a different medium may be used. |
| US08150236B2 |
Data recording apparatus, data recording method and program
A data recording apparatus (101) in the present invention includes: a data recording unit (13) that records and holds AV data supported by a copyright protection system permitting multiple times dubbing; a media recording unit (17) that performs dubbing or moving of the AV data between storage medium and the data recording unit (13), or between storage medium and different storage medium; a dubbing management information management unit (14) that manages dubbing management information for the AV data; and a media determination unit (18) that determines whether the storage medium is rewritable or non-rewritable based on the media type of storage medium. When the media recording unit (17) performs moving of the AV data from the data recording unit (13) to the storage medium, the dubbing management information management unit (14) updates the dubbing management information management unit (14) corresponding to the AV data according to the determination result. |
| US08150230B2 |
High-voltage bushing
A high-voltage bushing has a conductor and a core surrounding the conductor, wherein the core comprises a sheet-like spacer, which spacer is impregnated with an electrically insulating matrix material. The spacer is wound in spiral form around an axis, the axis being defined through the shape of the conductor. Thus, a multitude of neighboring layers is formed. The core further comprises equalization elements in appropriate radial distances to the axis. The equalization elements comprise electrically conductive layers, which layers have openings, through which openings the matrix material can penetrate, and in that the equalization elements are applied to the core separately from the spacer. The electrically conductive layers can be net-shaped, grid-shaped, meshed or perforated. The openings are fillable with the matrix material, e.g., a particle-filled resin can be used. |
| US08150227B2 |
Electrically traceable and identifiable fiber optic cables and connectors
Composite fiber optic cables having exposed, conductive traces external to the cable jacket enable non-invasive, wireless electrical tone tracing of fiber optic cables. The cross sectional geometry of the fiber optic cable prevents conductive traces from short circuiting when abutting other cables or grounded conductive elements. Moreover, the structure allows convenient electrical contact to the conductive traces at any location along the longitudinal extent of the cable without requiring penetration of the cable jacket or removal of fiber optic connectors. Traceable fiber optic cables of various types are disclosed, including simplex, duplex and ribbon cables. Systems of traceable cables utilizing connectors with integrated electrical antenna elements attached to the conductive elements of cable and RFID tags for remote connector port identification are further disclosed. |
| US08150224B2 |
Spot-size converter
A spot-size converter is equipped with a substrate, a clad that is formed on the substrate, a core that is embedded inside the clad, and an input/output end face. The core is tapered toward the input/output end face along a light propagation direction. In the clad, groove portions that expose a substrate face are formed extending as far as the input/output end face and on both sides of the core along the light propagation direction. |
| US08150223B2 |
Thermal tuning of an optical device
Embodiments of an optical device, an array of optical devices, and a technique for fabricating the optical device or the array are described. This optical device is implemented on a substrate (such as silicon), and includes a thermally tunable optical waveguide with a high thermal resistance to the surrounding external environment and a low thermal resistance to a localized heater. In particular, the thermal resistances associated with thermal dissipation paths from a heater in the optical device to an external environment via electrodes and via the substrate are increased, while the thermal resistance between the optical waveguide and the heater is decreased. |
| US08150216B2 |
Methods and apparatus for automated true object-based image analysis and retrieval
The present invention is an automated and extensible system for the analysis and retrieval of images based on region-of-interest (ROI) analysis of one or more true objects depicted by an image. The system uses a ROI database that is a relational or analytical database containing searchable vectors that represent the images stored in a repository. Entries in the ROI database are created by an image locator and ROI classifier that work in tandem to locate images within the repository and extract the relevant information. The ROI classifier analyzes objects in an image to arrive at the actual features of the true object, instead of merely describing the features of the image of that object. Graphical searches are performed by the collaborative workings of an image retrieval module, and an image search requestor that translates user or agent search requests into a language understood by an ROI query module. |
| US08150209B2 |
Method of forming a combined image based on a plurality of image frames
A method of forming a combined image based on a plurality of image frames includes obtaining a sequence (22, −33) of arrays of intensity values for representing respective ones of a sequence of image frames depicting substantially the same scene. The combined image is represented by a final array (27, −28) of intensity values. At least some of the intensity values in the final array (27, −28) are each obtained by summing an intensity value from each of a sequence of arrays of intensity values based on respective ones of the arrays in the obtained sequence (22, −33). If, for any of at least one region in the final array (27;28), any of a sequence of sets of at least one intensity value, wherein each set represents the region and forms part of one of a selected plurality of the obtained arrays of intensity values, contains intensity values deviating by more than a certain measure from those in the other sets of the sequence, the intensity values representing that region in the final array (27; 28) are each derived from (A) a respective intensity value from each of one or more arrays based on respective ones of only those of the selected plurality of arrays containing a set with deviating intensity values, or (B) a respective intensity value from each of one or more arrays based on respective ones of only those of the selected plurality of arrays containing one of the other sets of intensity values. |
| US08150206B2 |
Method and apparatus for representing image granularity by one or more parameters
To characterize film grain, a Film Grain Characterizer (23) receives an incoming information stream (12) and a filtered information stream (24) from which the film grain has been removed. From these streams, the Film Grain Characterizer (23) outputs a message that contains an identity of a model for simulating grain, as well at least one of a set of several parameters, including correlation parameters, intensity-independent parameters and intensity-dependent parameters used by the identified model. An encoder (26, 13) encodes the film grain information for subsequent transmission. |
| US08150205B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, program, and data configuration
An image processing apparatus comprises a first and a second eyes-and-mouth detecting units, a first and a second skin model generating units, an inside-of-mouth model generating unit, an eyeball model generating unit, a first and a second deformation parameter generating units, and an output unit. The first and second eyes-and-mouth detecting units detect eye boundaries and a mouth boundary from a first and a second face images, respectively. The first and second skin model generating units generate a first and a second skin models, respectively. The inside-of-mouth model generating unit and the eyeball model generating unit generate an inside-of-mouth model and an eyeball model, respectively. The first and second deformation parameter generating units generate a first and a second deformation parameters, respectively. The output unit output the first and second skin models, the first and second deformation parameters, the inside-of-mouth model, and the eyeball model as animation data. |
| US08150203B2 |
Liquid-crystal-driving image processing circuit, liquid-crystal-driving image processing method, and liquid crystal display apparatus
In a liquid-crystal-driving image processing circuit that encodes and decodes image data to reduce the frame memory size, the present invention has the object of providing a liquid-crystal-driving image processing circuit capable of correcting image data accurately and applying appropriately corrected voltages to the liquid crystal without being affected by encoding or decoding errors, even when moving images are input.To achieve the above object, the liquid-crystal-driving image processing circuit according to the present invention takes a difference between first decoded image data corresponding to the image in the current frame and second decoded image data corresponding to preceding-frame image data, selects either the image data of the current frame or the second decoded image data for each pixel on the basis of the difference, thereby generates preceding-frame image data, and corrects the gray-scale values of the image of the current frame on the basis of the preceding-frame image data and the image data of the current frame. |
| US08150201B2 |
Image processing apparatus, method, and computer program with pixel brightness-change detection and value correction
An image processing apparatus includes the following elements. An image input unit receives a long-time exposure image and a short-time exposure image. An image analysis unit detects a brightness-change pixel in which a brightness change has occurred during a photographic period on the basis of analysis of pixel values in the long-time exposure image and the short-time exposure image. A pixel value correction unit corrects a pixel value of the detected brightness-change pixel. In the pixel value correction unit, a combined image generator selectively combines pixel values in the long-time exposure image and pixel values in the short-time exposure image to generate a combined image; an intermediate image generator generates a blurred image of the combined image; and an output image generator determines a pixel value of the detected brightness-change pixel using a pixel value of a corresponding pixel in each of the combined image and the blurred image. |
| US08150196B2 |
Reduction filter based on smart neighbor selection and weighting (NRF-SNSW)
The present disclosure describes a method and apparatus for filtering noise in a video image, comprising receiving a first video image, a second video image and motion information wherein the first image may be an image to be filtered and the second image may be a filtered image wherein the second image may be temporally related to said first image. The method may further include, for at least one pixel in the first video image, selecting at least one neighbor of the pixel from the first video image and selecting at least one neighbor of the pixel from said second video image, wherein selection of the neighbors from the first video image and the second video image may be based on said motion information; selecting a subset of the neighbors wherein the subset may be less than or equal to a sum of neighbors from the first video image and the second video image; determining a weighted average of the subset of said neighbors and the pixel; and outputting the weighted average as a filtered pixel of the first video image. Of course, many alternatives, variations and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment. |
| US08150193B2 |
Generating an erosion image utilizing parallel pixel processing
An erosion image is generated from an original digital image utilizing a processing image (b) and a target image (T), where each pixel in the target image is processed in parallel. The process entails, for each target pixel, i) determining coordinate values for the target pixel, ii) determining a surrounding pixel area for the target pixel, iii) and processing each pixel in the surrounding pixel area to determine whether or not to updated the value of the target pixel. In processing each surrounding pixel, a determination is made whether the pixel has a value of 1. If not, then the next surrounding pixel is processed. If so, then a determination is made which pixel element of a structuring element overlays the target pixel, and whether that SE pixel has a value of 1. If so, then the value of the target pixel is updated. If not, then the next pixel in the surrounding pixel area is processed. Once the target pixel has been updated a set number of times to a predetermined value (e.g., 2), the processing of the remaining surrounding pixels is terminated. After all target pixels have been processed, an output image is obtained by setting target pixels having a value of 2 to a binary value of 1, and setting the other pixels to a binary value of 0. The resultant output image is an erosion image that is then output. |
| US08150192B2 |
System and method for feature score mapping and visualization of medical images
A system to collect and analyze medical image data is applicable for multi-modality medical imaging systems, such as x-ray, MRI, and the like. Medical image data is collected and analyzed to determine one or more regions of interest. A selected region of interest is further analyzed to determine morphological characteristics. A feature library, which may be in the form of a data base, is used to analyze the image on a pixel-by-pixel basis to determine the degree to which the region of interest matches selected morphological characteristics, such as shape or margin. The resultant data is used to generate a map indicating a continuum over which the region of interest matches the morphological characteristics. A display receives the map data and applies it to the video image to thereby provide the user with a visualization of the degree to which the region of interest matches the morphological characteristics. |
| US08150189B2 |
Image generating apparatus and method
There are provided an image generating apparatus and an image generating method, which are capable of generating an image with only a noise portion reliably deleted. A reduced image is generated by reducing the multi-valued image, smoothing processing is executed on the reduced image, an edge image is generated from the reduced image, edge angle information concerning edge angles is generated in pixel units from the edge image, a synthesizing rate of the multi-valued image and the smoothed reduced image is calculated in pixel units of the reduced image based upon the edge angle information. An enlarged image is generated by enlarging the smoothed reduced image to an identical scale, the synthesizing rate calculated in pixel units of the reduced image is converted into a synthesizing rate in pixel units of the enlarged image, and the multi-valued image and the enlarged image are synthesized based upon the converted synthesizing rate. |
| US08150188B2 |
Imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus includes an imaging section, a subject extracting section, and an image processing section. The imaging section captures an object image and generates data of an image. The subject extracting section extracts a main subject from the image. The image processing section performs a noise addition process on the data of the image to add noise for an area where the main subject is positioned within the image. |
| US08150185B2 |
Image processing for generating a thin line binary image and extracting vectors
An image processing apparatus generating a thin line binary image and extracting vectors includes: a vector extracting unit configured to raster-scan the thin line binary image by using a pixel matrix including a plurality of pixels to extract a vector to which contour point information is added in accordance with a predetermined pattern of black and white pixels in the pixel matrix; and a coordinate correcting unit configured to detect that the vector has been extracted from a set of black pixels in 2 pixels×2 pixels in the pixel matrix by referring to the contour point information added to the vector and correct a coordinate of a core-line vector in accordance with coordinate correction information included in the contour point information, the core-line vector being produced by reducing the vector to a core line. |
| US08150183B2 |
Predictive-transform source coding with subbands
A method, system, and apparatus are directed towards computing minimum mean squared error (MMSE) predictive-transform (PT) source coding integrated with subband compression to further improve the performance of low bit rate MMSE PT source coders. A desirable byproduct of the advanced scheme is that the incorporation of joint optimum prediction and transformation from subband to subband is ideally suited to its integration with JPEG2000 to yield even higher compression levels while producing an outstanding objective as well as subjective visual performance. |
| US08150182B2 |
Image information decoding apparatus and image information decoding method for motion prediction and/or compensation of images
The present invention is directed to an image information encoding apparatus, used in receiving compressed image information through network media when processing of such compressed image information is performed on storage media. A picture sorting buffer delivers information of picture type of frame Picture_type to a picture type discrimination unit. The picture type discrimination unit transmits command to a motion prediction/compensation unit on the basis of that information. The motion prediction/compensation unit generates predictive picture by using filter coefficients having the number of taps lesser than that of P picture with respect to B picture for which operation quantity and the number of memory accesses are required to more degree as compared to P picture on the basis of that command. |
| US08150179B2 |
Image processing apparatus
An image processing apparatus includes an encoder, a decoder, and a display unit. The encoder performs scalable encoding to encode input image data to obtain code data to be stored in a storage unit. The decoder decodes the code data stored in the storage unit to obtain decoded image data. The display unit displays an image based on the decoded image data, and receives an instruction to output the image. The image is output in response to the instruction. The decoder decodes only subcode data which is part of the code data. |
| US08150177B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, defect detection method, semiconductor device manufacturing method, and program
An image processing apparatus which compresses an image, the apparatus includes: a storage unit which stores a code book, the code book being prepared by allocating identification codes to code blocks, the code blocks being formed by executing quantization processing regarding a plurality of first image blocks as multidimensional vectors, the plurality of first image blocks being generated by cutting, in preset sizes, first regions out of a code book preparation image containing a first edge, each of the first regions surrounding and including an edge point of the first edge, the first edge being detected from the code book preparation image; an edge detection unit which detects a second edge from a compression target image containing the second edge; an image block generation unit which cuts, in preset sizes, second regions out of the compression target image to generate a plurality of second image blocks, each of the second regions surrounding and including an edge point of the detected second edge; a search unit which searches the code book stored in the storage unit for code blocks similar to the second image blocks; and an output unit which outputs information on the identification codes of the similar code blocks which have been searched for and information on coordinates of the edge points of the second image blocks. |
| US08150175B2 |
Systems and methods for image handling and presentation
Certain embodiments provide systems and methods for adaptive compression, transmission, and display of clinical images. Certain embodiments provide a method for adaptive compression of image data for transmission and display at a client workstation. The method includes identifying one or more images for display, the one or more images including a plurality of image slices. The method also includes determining a compression scheme for the one or more images based on at least one of bandwidth, processing power, and diagnostic modality. The method further includes transferring the one or more images for display at the client workstation. The method additionally includes adapting the compression scheme based on resource availability. |
| US08150172B2 |
Video coding mode selection using estimated coding costs
A method and system for coding mode selection using estimated coding costs. To provide high compression efficiency, for example, an encoding device may attempt to select a coding mode for coding blocks of pixels that codes the data of the blocks with high efficiency. To this end, the encoding device may perform coding mode selection based on estimates of coding cost for at least a portion of the possible modes. The encoding device may estimate the coding cost for the different modes without actually coding the blocks. In fact, in some aspects, the encoding module device may estimate the coding cost for the modes without quantizing the data of the block for each mode. In this manner, the coding cost estimation techniques may reduce the amount of computationally intensive calculations needed to perform effective mode selection. |
| US08150170B2 |
Statistical approach to large-scale image annotation
Statistical approaches to large-scale image annotation are described. Generally, the annotation technique includes compiling visual features and textual information from a number of images, hashing the images visual features, and clustering the images based on their hash values. An example system builds statistical language models from the clustered images and annotates the image by applying one of the statistical language models. |
| US08150167B2 |
Method of image analysis of an image in a sequence of images to determine a cross-fade measure
The present invention relates to a method of and apparatus for image analysis and in particular may relate to the detection of cross-fades in film or video sequences. The invention relates in particular to a method of analysing an image of a sequence of images to determine a cross-fade measure based on determined temporal picture information transitions associated with picture elements of the image. In particular, the cross-fade measure may be determined based on the extent to which the temporal picture information transitions are uniform. The method and apparatus of the invention can provide a measure of likelihood of a cross-fade in a single pass. In addition the described method can be accomplished in real-time or close to real-time. In addition the cross-fade detection results are comparable with, or better than, the results achieved by the prior art methods. |
| US08150164B2 |
System and method for identifying image based on singular value decomposition and feature point
A system and method for identifying an image based on singular value decomposition is provided. The system includes: a feature point extracting module for extracting at least one of feature points from an input image using strength of a Gaussian curvature of each pixel from the input image; an identifier detecting module for detecting a local identifier based on SVD (singular value decomposition) for blocks adjacent to the extracted feature points; and a matching module for determining whether an image is duplicated or not by comparing the detected local identifier from the identifier detecting module with an image database storing at least one of images. |
| US08150161B2 |
Technique for correcting character-recognition errors
Embodiments of a computer system, a method, and a computer-program product (e.g., software) for use with the computer system are described. These embodiments may be used to identify and correct errors in financial information that was extracted using character-recognition software, such as optical character recognition software and/or intelligent character recognition software. In particular, potential errors may be identified by comparing the financial information for a current financial transaction of a user with expected financial information from one or more previous financial transactions of the user. Error metrics for these potential errors may be determined and used to correct at least some of the potential errors. For example, values of the Levenshtein edit distance may be determined based on the comparison, and one or more potential errors associated with one or more minimum values of the Levenshtein edit distance may be corrected. |
| US08150160B2 |
Automatic Arabic text image optical character recognition method
The automatic Arabic text image optical character recognition method includes training a text recognition system using Arabic printed text, using the produced models for classification of newly unseen Arabic scanned text, and generating the corresponding textual information. Scanned images of Arabic text and copies of minimal Arabic text are used in the training sessions. Each page is segmented into lines. Features of each line are extracted and input to Hidden Markov Model (HMM). All training data training features are used. HMM runs training algorithms to produce codebook and language models. In the classification stage new Arabic text is input in scanned form. Line segmentation where lines are extracted is passed through. In the feature stage, line features are extracted and input to the classification stage. In the classification stage the corresponding Arabic text is generated. |
| US08150159B2 |
Identifying method of hand-written Latin letter
The present invention discloses an identifying method of hand-written Latin letter. The present invention considers many hand-written styles of Latin letter, extract many stable characteristics of Latin letter of different hand-written styles, and classify the Latin letter aggregation each time with one characteristic, so that the whole standard Latin letter aggregation is classified into many small Latin letter aggregations with intersection to be the coarse classification candidate letter aggregations to be identified. When identifying the inputted hand-written Latin letter, obtain the coarse classification candidate letter aggregation that matches with the characteristics of the inputted hand-written Latin letter. Many stable characteristics ensure the identifying rate. The multilayer coarse classification candidate letter aggregations regulate the searching path and increase the identifying speed. |
| US08150158B2 |
Unique sensing system and apparatus for reading playing cards
A sensing apparatus is provided for the determination of at least one of rank or suit of a playing card. The sensing apparatus includes an imaging array capable of sensing at least an area of a playing card that represents rank and or suit. A position sensor is provided for determining card position. A hardware component receives signals from the imaging array and the card position sensor. The hardware component forms a vector set from the output from the imaging array and card position sensor, and compares the vector set to known reference vector sets to determine rank and suit of a card. |
| US08150154B2 |
Method and apparatus for correcting chromatic aberration of image
Provided are a method and apparatus for correcting chromatic aberration of an image, the method and apparatus used in an image processing apparatus for an image pickup device or a display image processing apparatus. The chromatic aberration correction apparatus includes a chromatic aberration region sensing unit analyzing a luminance signal of an input image and sensing a region having chromatic aberration; a color gradient calculation unit calculating a first weight, which indicates a degree of chromatic aberration, based on a difference between gradients of color components of the input image; a luminance gradient calculation unit calculating a second weight, which indicates the degree of chromatic aberration, based on gradients of luminance components of the input image; and a chrominance correction unit correcting chrominance of a pixel of the input image, which is included in the sensed region, based on a value obtained by multiplying the first weight by the second weight. |
| US08150146B1 |
Method and system for three dimensional feature attribution through synergy of rational polynomial coefficients and projective geometry
A method is provided for generating height information for an arbitrary-image point on a rectified image and for generating a representation of the rectified image that includes the height information. According to an exemplary embodiment, height information is generated for an arbitrary-image point on the rectified image from first and second aerial images having respective first and second sets of rational polynomial coefficients (RPCs) and projective geometrical relationships, such that the first and second aerial images and the rectified image include overlapping image locations. |
| US08150145B2 |
Apparatus and automated manufacturing device for producing a personalized 3D object
An apparatus for producing a personalized 3D object is disclosed. The apparatus, or kiosk, comprises a payment detector, a user input device and a display, an image acquisition system, calculators for calculating a 3D image, a manufacturing device and an exit for delivering the personalized 3D object to the user. The manufacturing device includes a loading device for loading blank 3D objects on a platform, which includes vertical storages and a rotatable tray disposed underneath having a slit therein for receiving the blank 3D objects. The rotatable tray is computer controlled to rotated between various operative positions for loading and unloading the 3D objects. |
| US08150142B2 |
Depth mapping using projected patterns
Apparatus for mapping an object includes an illumination assembly, which includes a single transparency containing a fixed pattern of spots. A light source transilluminates the single transparency with optical radiation so as to project the pattern onto the object. An image capture assembly captures an image of the pattern that is projected onto the object using the single transparency. A processor processes the image captured by the image capture assembly so as to reconstruct a three-dimensional (3D) map of the object. |
| US08150138B2 |
Medical instrument and medical instrument control method
A navigation apparatus includes: a storage portion that stores three-dimensional image data of an examinee that is previously acquired; an organ extracting portion that extracts a predetermined organ from the three-dimensional image data; a first region designating portion that designates a tumor in the three-dimensional image data; a blood vessel extracting portion that extracts a plurality of blood vessels that are inside the organ from the three-dimensional image data; a blood vessel classifying portion that classifies the blood vessels into either arteries or veins; and a second region extracting portion that, based on three-dimensional image information of the blood vessels, extracts a tumor resection region that is a region that is classified based on anatomical features of the organ and that includes a tumor. |
| US08150136B2 |
Image based quantitation of molecular translocation
The use of an imaging system, cell compartment markers, and molecular markers in methods for correlating the movement of molecules within a cell to a particular compartment are provided, including measuring and correlating molecule movement in adherent and non-adherent cells. |
| US08150135B2 |
Identifying ribs in lung X-rays
A method of detecting lung nodules in an anterior posterior x-ray radiograph comprising the steps of: generating candidate regions in image showing changes in contrast above a threshold level, and eliminating false positives by eliminating edges assignable to organs by: identifying edges; categorizing and eliminating rib edges; categorizing and eliminating lung tissue edges, and categorizing and eliminating blood vessels. |
| US08150134B2 |
Method for enhancing blood vessels in angiography images
Disclosed is a method for enhancing blood vessels in angiography images. The method incorporates the use of linear directional features present in an image, extracted by a Directional Filter Bank, to obtain more precise Hessian analysis in noisy environment and thus can correctly reveal small and thin vessels. Also, the directional image decomposition helps to avoid junction suppression, which in turn, yields continuous vessel tree. |
| US08150132B2 |
Image analysis apparatus, image analysis method, and computer-readable recording medium storing image analysis program
Positional relationships are automatically determined with higher accuracy in a predetermined direction between three-dimensional images representing a subject including a periodic structure having periodicity in the predetermined direction, with respect to the periodic structure. A positional correspondence is provisionally determined in a predetermined direction between two three-dimensional images including a periodic structure having periodicity in the predetermined direction, based on a criterion wherein the periodic structure contributes less to the determination. The provisionally determined correspondence is then corrected so that a position in one of the three-dimensional images corresponding to a position of the other three-dimensional image in the predetermined direction can be corrected within a range near the position in the former three-dimensional image in the predetermined direction, according to a criterion wherein the periodic structure contributes more. |
| US08150129B2 |
Image diagnosis supporting apparatus, method and program, and recording medium thereof
Slice image groups of a first photographing opportunity and a second photographing opportunity are acquired. Three-dimensional tumor areas (lesion areas) are extracted from the slice image groups, and a slice image with maximum tumor area is determined as a reference slice image of each slice image group. Based on the reference slice images thus determined, slice images positioned at the same distance away from the reference slice images in the slice direction are respectively acquired from the slice image groups of a first photographing opportunity and a second photographing opportunity, and the acquired slice images are displayed on a monitor device so that images can be compared and interpreted. Thus, an image interpreter can accurately compare and interpret images of lesion areas included in slice image groups with different photographing opportunities. |
| US08150127B2 |
Method for automatically synchronizing the review of two DSA scenes
A system automatically synchronizes display of adjacent different medical image sequences of an anatomical portion derived for use in Angiography or another medical procedure. The system includes an imaging system for acquiring first and second sets of data at different stages of a treatment procedure representing corresponding first and second image sequences individually comprising multiple temporally sequential individual images of vessels of a portion of patient anatomy. The sequential individual images encompass introduction of a contrast agent into patient vessels. A display presents the first and second image sequences in substantially adjacent display areas to facilitate user comparison. A contrast agent detector automatically analyzes the first and second image sequences to identify a first image frame in both the first image sequence and the second image sequence indicating presence of a contrast agent. A display processor automatically synchronizes presentation of the first image sequence and the second image sequence in respective areas of the substantially adjacent display areas in response to identification of the first image frame and relative to introduction of contrast agent and enables a user to synchronously increment through image frames of both the first image sequence and the second image sequence, one frame at a time. |
| US08150126B2 |
Method and system for scale-based vessel enhancement in X-ray angiography
A method and system for scale-based vessel enhancement in x-ray angiography images is disclosed. An input x-ray image is denoised. A lighting field is estimated in the denoised image. Vessels are extracted from the denoised image by dividing the denoised image by the estimated lighting field. Vessels are enhanced in the input x-ray image by linearly combining the extracted vessels with the input x-ray image, resulting in an enhanced image. |
| US08150123B2 |
System and method for image enhancement of dark areas of capsule images
Systems and methods are provided for identifying dark areas in images captured by encapsulated cameras or endoscopes and enhancing the visibility of the dark area using intensity stretch. For capsule or endoscope images, there are often some dark areas caused by inadequate lighting. The poor visibility of detailed features in the dark area may reduce the detection rate of anomaly. The present invention calls for a method to detect the dark area based on contour. The intensities inside and outside the dark area are evaluated and are used to generate intensity transformation to stretch intensity in the dark area while minimizing the impact on the image quality outside the dark area. |
| US08150121B2 |
Information collection for segmentation of an anatomical object of interest
A method of collecting information regarding an anatomical object of interest includes displaying an image characterized by a first region and a second region, wherein the first and second regions are mutually exclusive and the object is displayed within the second region, selecting first and second points spanning the object in the displayed image, at least one of the points being within the first region, and extracting a plurality of statistical values from image voxels, lying on a line segment between the first and second points, that correspond to the object. |
| US08150119B2 |
Method and system for left ventricle endocardium surface segmentation using constrained optimal mesh smoothing
A method and system for left ventricle (LV) endocardium surface segmentation using constrained optimal mesh smoothing is disclosed. The LV endocardium surface in the 3D cardiac volume is initially segmented in a 3D cardiac volume, such as a CT volume, resulting in an LV endocardium surface mesh. A smoothed LV endocardium surface mesh is generated by smoothing the LV endocardium surface mesh using constrained optimal mesh smoothing. The constrained optimal mesh smoothing determines an optimal adjustment for each point on the LV endocardium surface mesh by minimizing an objective function based at least on a smoothness measure, subject to a constraint bounding the adjustment for each point. The adjustment for each point can be constrained to prevent adjustments inward toward the blood pool in order to ensure that the smoothed LV endocardium surface mesh encloses the entire blood pool. |
| US08150117B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining stress in an anatomical structure
A method of determining wall stress in an abdominal aortic aneurysm is disclosed. The method includes determining, from anatomical image data, respective first stress values at locations on the wall, based on the aorta having substantially uniform stiffness. The primary direction of stress those locations are determined, and the locations of calcified regions (20) are then determined. The distance to the nearest calcified region is then determined for each location not corresponding to a calcified region, and the additional stress caused by the calcified regions is then determined from values stored in a memory. |
| US08150114B2 |
Method for ensuring quality of a sample carrier
A method is provided for ensuring the quality of a sample carrier in connection with performing an analysis of a sample in the sample carrier in an analysis instrument for in vitro diagnosis, wherein the sample carrier is provided with a symbol for confirming the compatibility of the sample carrier with the analysis instrument. The method comprises bringing the sample carrier to an imaging position in the analysis instrument, acquiring an image of the sample carrier, and analyzing the acquired image to detect the presence of a symbol for identifying the genuineness of the sample carrier. Where the sample carrier is identified as genuine, the sample carrier is approved for use in the analysis instrument and the analysis instrument is enabled to perform an analysis of the sample in the sample carrier. The analysis comprises irradiating the sample by transmitting electromagnetic radiation through the sample carrier. |
| US08150110B2 |
ROI-based rendering for diagnostic image consistency
A method for consistent rendering of two or more diagnostic images according to a region of interest. Image data as input code values are obtained for each of the two or more diagnostic images. The background image content is segmented from tissue image content for each of the two or more diagnostic images. Corresponding structures are identified within the tissue image content, and the region of interest is identified within the tissue image content for each of the two or more diagnostic images. The input code values are remapped to output code values for each of the two or more diagnostic images. |
| US08150109B2 |
Large volume face recognition apparatus and method
A face recognition apparatus and method. The face recognition apparatus includes: a face database (face DB) which stores information of a plurality of registered persons and which stores a plurality of facial images of each registered person; a face retrieval unit which performs a face retrieval of an input facial image with reference to the face DB and outputs confidence values of the stored facial images; a candidate selection unit which determines candidates, which are selected among the facial images stored in the face DB on the basis of the confidence values; and a face verification unit which compares feature vectors of the input facial image and feature vectors of images corresponding to each candidate one by one and recognizes the input facial image. |
| US08150104B2 |
Moving object detection apparatus and computer readable storage medium storing moving object detection program
The approaching object detection unit in a moving object detection apparatus for a moving picture calculates a moving distance of each characteristic point in an image frame obtained at time point t−1, on the basis of an image frame obtained at time point t and an image frame obtained at time point t−1, and on the basis of the image frame obtained at time point t−1 and an image frame obtained at time point t+m, a moving distance of a characteristic point is in the image frame obtained at time point t−1 and has a moving distance to be less than a prescribed value. |
| US08150103B2 |
Background modeling with feature blocks
Video content analysis of a video may include: modeling a background of the video; detecting at least one target in a foreground of the video based on the feature blocks of the video; and tracking each target of the video. Modeling a background of the video may include: dividing each frame of the video into image blocks; determining features for each image block of each frame to obtain feature blocks for each frame; determining a feature block map for each frame based on the feature blocks of each frame; and determining a background feature block map to model the background of the vide based on at least one of the feature block maps. |
| US08150094B2 |
Electroacoustic transducer
An electroacoustic transducer comprises an electric sound conversion section that vibrates a mechanical device based on an electric signal so as to emit a sound wave; and an electromagnetic wave radiation section that generates and emits an electromagnetic wave from the electrical signal. |
| US08150087B2 |
Boundary microphone
There is provided a boundary microphone in which a microphone cover can be fixed to a base part without the use of an externally threaded screw for fixation. In the boundary microphone in which a condenser microphone unit 31 is housed in a microphone casing 1 including a flat base part 10 formed of a metallic magnetic material, the upper surface side of which is open, and a microphone cover 20 formed of a metallic magnetic material, which has many openings and covers the upper surface side of the base part 10, on either one of the base part 10 and the microphone cover 20, a permanent magnet 40 that magnetically attracts the other thereof is provided, and the microphone cover 20 is detachably fixed to the base part 10 by the permanent magnet 40. |
| US08150086B2 |
Voice sound input apparatus and voice sound conference system
A voice sound input apparatus, adapted to be inputted a sound and output sound data, includes: a first microphone, related to a first sound hole; a second microphone, related to a second sound hole; a signal processing unit, configured to perform a signal processing; and a wireless transmission unit, configured to transmit the sound data based on an output signal of the signal processing unit, wherein a distance between the first sound hole and the second sound hole is a distance that a phase component of a sound strength ratio is lower than or equal to 0 dB, the sound strength ratio being a ratio between a strength of a sound component contained in differential sound pressure of sounds entered to the first sound hole and the second sound hole and a strength of sound pressure of the sound entered to the first sound hole. |
| US08150075B2 |
Dental bone conduction hearing appliance
An intra-oral hearing appliance includes an actuator to provide bone conduction sound transmission; a transceiver coupled to the actuator to cause the actuator to generate sound; and a first chamber containing the actuator and the transceiver, said first chamber adapted to be coupled to one or more teeth without contacting the occlusal surfaces of the one or more teeth. |
| US08150074B1 |
Impedance matching speaker wire system
An impedance matched connection is provided between a load and a power source that outputs signals within a predetermined frequency range. A coaxial line has a predetermined characteristic impedance and an inner conductor, an outer conductor, and an insulator the two conductors. Each conductor has a first end electrically connectable to output terminals of the power source. A compensation circuit has an adjustable impedance, a first terminal electrically connected to a second end of the inner conductor and to a first terminal of the load, and a second terminal electrically connected to a second end of the outer conductor and to a second terminal of the load. The compensation circuit is sufficiently adjustable to attain, for a pulse having a rise time/fall time faster than those associated with the predetermined range of frequencies, a combined impedance and load that is substantially equal to the characteristic impedance of the coaxial line. |
| US08150071B2 |
Voice output unit
An appliance is provided which can be easily assembled, assures quality and reliability, and can be downsized. A voice output unit includes: a power source supplying power; a signal processing module which processes voice signals received from an external source, and amplifies the processed voice signals processed; a speaker module transmitting the amplified voice signals as voice signals; and a stereoscopic circuit board on which the power source, signal processing module, and speaker module are assembled, and includes electrodes which are in electric contact with electrodes of the foregoing components. |
| US08150065B2 |
System and method for processing an audio signal
Systems and methods for audio signal processing are provided. In exemplary embodiments, a filter cascade of complex-valued filters are used to decompose an input audio signal into a plurality of frequency components or sub-band signals. These sub-band signals may be processed for phase alignment, amplitude compensation, and time delay prior to summation of real portions of the sub-band signals to generate a reconstructed audio signal. |
| US08150055B2 |
Active noise control system and active vibration control system
An active noise control system includes a filter coefficient updating unit including an imaginary term estimator. The imaginary term estimator estimates an imaginary term Ie from a real term Re of an error signal e supplied from a microphone. The filter coefficient updating unit updates a filter coefficient W of an adaptive filter based on the imaginary term Ie, the real term Re, and a corrective signal supplied from a reference signal corrector. The filter coefficient updating unit updates the filter coefficient W successively in respective sampling periods. |
| US08150053B2 |
Method and device for eliminating vibrations of a mechanical structure
The invention is a device and a method for eliminating vibrations of a mechanical structure with at least one electromechanical converter material that is actively connected to the mechanical structure and connected to an electrical circuit with at least one electrical impedance. The electrical circuit is connected to an interface, via which the at least one electrical impedance can be variably adjusted by wireless or wired communications with a control unit that is separated from the electrical circuit in which the electrical impedance features at least one variable ohmic resistor, inductive resistor or capacitor. |
| US08150048B2 |
System and method for testing audio device of motherboard
A system for testing audio of a motherboard includes a recording fixture and a computer. The recording fixture includes a recording device and a soundproof device. The soundproof device is configured for soundproofing the audio device and the recording device from environmental noise. The computer includes an output/input module, a comparing module and a displaying module. The output/input module is configured for outputting a first sound signal generated by the computer to the audio device to cause the audio device to generate a sound and receiving the sound generated by the audio device and recorded by the recording device from the recording device and transforming the sound into a second sound signal. The comparing module is configured for comparing the first and second sound signals. The displaying module is configured for displaying the compared result. |
| US08150043B2 |
Sound pressure level monitoring and notification system
Methods of acoustic dose monitoring and acoustic dose systems are provided. An acoustic dose system includes a first device configured to measure sound pressure levels directed to an ear drum and a second device configured to convert the sound pressure levels into a sound pressure level dose. The second device sends a notification signal to a third device if the sound pressure level dose is larger than a threshold value. |
| US08150040B2 |
Key providing system, terminal device, and information processing method
A terminal device improved with a digraph generation method in a key distribution method of various types of broadcast encryption systems is provided. The terminal device includes an acquiring unit for acquiring information related to a set, which is selected from a plurality of sets representing a combination of a plurality of terminal devices, and which represents some or all of the plurality of terminal devices; an extracting unit for extracting the set contained in the information and to which it belongs; and a digraph generation unit for generating a directional branch for generating a key corresponding to the extracted set in a predetermined digraph formed by a plurality of directional branches. |
| US08150038B2 |
Revocation of a system administrator in an encrypted file system
A method of securely storing electronic information includes a step in which target electronically stored information is encrypted with a first encryption key and then partitioned into a first set of encrypted ESI partitions a subset of which is able to reconstruct the unpartitioned encrypted ESI. This first set of encrypted ESI partitions is then encrypted with a first set of user encryption keys to form a first set of user-associated encrypted ESI partitions that are made available to a first set of users. When access to the target electronically stored information is changed, the target electronically stored information is accessed and then re-encrypted with a second encryption key to form a second encrypted ESI. This second encrypted ESI is then partitioned and distributed to a second set of users. |
| US08150035B2 |
Method and systems to operate a set-top box
According to a first aspect there is provided systems and methods for receiving an encrypted signal from a portable communication device, the encrypted signal containing information associated with a command; and decrypting the encrypted signal to enable a set-top box to execute the command. According to a second aspect there is provided systems and methods for encrypting information to generate an encrypted signal, the information associated with a command entered via a control; and communicating the encrypted signal to the set-top box, the encrypted signal for decryption at the set-top box to enable execution of the command to operate the set-top box. |
| US08150032B2 |
Methods for controlling rendering of images and video
The present disclosure includes disclosure generally related to digital watermarking and steganographic encoding. One claim recites an apparatus including: electronic memory for buffering data representing video or imagery; and an electronic processor. The electronic processor is programmed for: analyzing the data representing video or imagery, the video or imagery comprising digital watermarking hidden therein through alterations, the digital watermarking comprising content classification information; decoding the content classification information from the digital watermarking; and controlling display or rendering of the video or imagery in response to the content classification information. Other combinations are provided and claimed as well. |
| US08150031B2 |
Method and apparatus to perform redundant array of independent disks (RAID) operations
A method and apparatus to compute a Q syndrome for RAID 6 through the use of AES operations is provided. In an embodiment, the result of GF multiplication performed using the AES operations allows RAID-6 support to be provided without the need for a dedicated RAID controller. |
| US08150029B2 |
Detection of a disturbance in a calculation performed by an integrated circuit
A method for detecting a disturbance of a calculation, by an electronic circuit, of a result of an integral number of applications of an internal composition law on elements of an abelian group, by successive iterations of different steps according to the even or odd character of a current coefficient of a polynomial representation of said integral number, the degree of which determines the number of iterations, each iteration including: in case of an odd current coefficient, updating at least one first variable intended to contain the result at the end of the calculation; and in case of an even current coefficient, of updating a second variable and a comparison of this second variable with an expected value. |
| US08150028B2 |
Circuit device with serial bus isolation
In a particular embodiment, a circuit device includes a first circuit having a first plurality of serial terminals including a first data receive terminal and a first data transmit terminal. The first plurality of serial terminals is communicatively coupled to a particular circuit via isolation circuitry to communicate first serial data. The circuit device further includes a second circuit having a second plurality of serial terminals including a second data receive terminal coupled to the first data transmit terminal and including a second data transmit terminal coupled to the first data receive terminal to communicate second serial data to the particular circuit via the first data receive and transmit terminals. |
| US08150021B2 |
Proactive system and method for monitoring and guidance of call center agent
System for enhancing existing quality monitoring tools for monitoring and guiding agent performance within call centers, each of which provided with a plurality of agent terminals, a plurality of agent audio interfaces, and a plurality of software applications. The proposed system comprises a module for quality evaluation of agents skills and/or of compliance with business processes; a database for storing the results of the evaluation module, in the form of a plurality of profiles of performance; a Call Analysis System (CAS) connected to the database and with the software applications, for retrieving the profile of performance associated with an agent and for generating and transmitting a visual or textual or audio input regarding corrective and/or preventive action(s) required during the current interaction, to an agent terminal, based on the performance profile, and/or on acquired real-time call-based information, as defined by predetermined criteria. |
| US08150020B1 |
System and method for prompt modification based on caller hang ups in IVRs
In a method for use in Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems, an IVR is configured such that voice prompts provided to a caller vary systematically and caller hang-up activity is attributed to the particular version of a prompt played to the caller. Voice prompt modifications are chosen based on how long the caller willingly listens to the voice prompt. A relatively short time listening to a prompt before hang-up, indicates dissatisfaction with that prompt. The system compares caller hang-up rates for each of the phrases in a prompt and chooses the optimum solution, which is the variant of the prompt with the longest caller listening time. Optionally, the system compares hang up rates to a threshold and contingent on that comparison chooses an alternative version of the prompt. |
| US08150016B2 |
Speed activation of pre-determined call-forwarding number
Methods and systems for providing rapid call-forwarding are described. The method includes receiving a feature code operable for activating a call-forwarding service, receiving a forward code assigned to a target address, such as a dialing number, recognizing the feature code and the forward code, and forwarding incoming calls to the target address. The method further comprises receiving call-forwarding logistics and generating a call-forwarding record. The system for providing rapid call-forwarding includes a switch operable for receiving a selection by a subscriber of a feature code and a forward code, wherein the feature code is used to activate a call-forwarding service and the forward code is used in the place of a target address, a call-forward control computer operable for storing and recognizing the feature code and the forward code, and a call connector operable for executing the rapid call-forward service. |
| US08150014B2 |
System and method for transitioning a voice session in progress over a communication network into a voice and data session
A system for effecting transition of a private branch exchange (PBX) system-hosted voice only telephone session in progress into a voice session optionally enhanced with a data collaboration channel hosted by a conference bridge includes a call escalation system (CES) application for determining call state of the voice session to be transitioned and for executing a sequence of command requests for effecting the transition based on a trigger event; and a control application server for controlling the PBX switch. |
| US08150009B1 |
Method and apparatus for providing dynamic international calling rates
A method and apparatus for enabling VoIP service providers to dynamically adjust international calling rates as a function of adjustments made with partner carrier arrangements that VoIP service providers put in place are disclosed. Thus VoIP service providers can pass on savings, if the new calling rate is lower than the old calling rate, to their subscribers in order to enhance the loyalty of existing subscribers. Instead of having subscribers to call into customer service centers to take advantage of these new lower international calling rates, the new calling rates will be updated dynamically and immediately for subscribers without these subscribers having to call in to request their billing rates to match the new calling rates. |
| US08150004B2 |
Low-pass step attenuator
A filter circuit is constructed as a triplex filter having a high-pass filter, a low-pass filter with attenuation in the passband, and a second low-pass filter without attenuation in the passband. The filter circuit has a frequency response with a high-pass portion, a flat loss portion, and a low-pass portion. Attenuation in the flat loss portion is uniform and is predetermined via selection of filter components. The filter circuit is useful in a bidirectional CATV system in which performance is improved by selectable attenuation of a first source of return path signals but without attenuation of a second source of return path signals. |
| US08150003B1 |
Caller initiated undivert from voicemail
Once a voicemail is received, it is the onus of the recipient of the voicemail message to call the caller back when a “missed call” message is received on the phone or after the voicemail message is retrieved. While some of the more advanced voicemail systems provide the capability of automatically placing a call from the callee back to the caller upon completion of the callee listening to the voicemail message, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention allows the caller to be connected to the callee should the callee become available while the caller is leaving a voicemail message for the callee. |
| US08149998B2 |
Method, system and device for playing enterprise color ringback tone
A method for playing an enterprise color ringback tone is disclosed, including the following steps: establishing, by a service switching entity, a connection with a service access entity in accordance with an EVC access code; searching, by the service access entity, for a connection identifier of a destination terminal corresponding to a service identifier of the destination terminal in accordance with a correspondence relationship between the service identifier and the connection identifier of the terminal, and sending the connection identifier of the destination terminal to the service switching entity; and establishing, by the service switching entity, a connection between the source terminal and the destination terminal in accordance with the connection identifier of the destination terminal, and playing, by the service access entity, an enterprise CRBT to the source terminal. A system and a device for playing an enterprise color ringback tone are also disclosed. |
| US08149992B2 |
X-ray tube target, X-ray tube using the same, X-ray inspection device and method of producing X-ray tube target
According to one embodiment, there is provided an X-ray tube target. The X-ray tube target has a structure in which a carbon base material is bonded with an Mo base material or Mo alloy base material with a joint layer. The joint layer includes an MoNbTi diffusion phase, an NbTi alloy phase, an Nb-rich phase and a ZrNb alloy phase when the ratios of components in the joint layer are detected by EPMA. |
| US08149991B2 |
Treatment optimization
A treatment planning and delivery system includes a treatment planner (102) and a treatment device (104). The treatment planner (102) develops a treatment plan that satisfies one or more of treatment objectives (122), treatment device output objectives (124), and treatment device parameter objectives (126). The treatment plan is applied by the treatment device (104), Examples of treatment device output and treatment device parameter objectives include spatial and temporal objectives. |
| US08149990B2 |
Wireless intra-oral X-ray imaging
This invention relates to x-ray imaging, especially to an imaging arrangement used in intra-oral x-ray imaging, to a wireless imaging sensor and to a base station for the sensor as well as to methods for supplying operating power to the sensor and transmitting information to the sensor and from the sensor wirelessly, in which invention such a wireless power transmission link is used, which is arranged to be used for supplying energy to the sensor in connection with the imaging process. |
| US08149986B2 |
Shift register circuit
A shift register circuit is provided that can suppress a decrease in a drive capability when a frequency of a clock signal increases. A unit shift register includes a first transistor for supplying a clock signal to an output terminal, a pull-up driving circuit for driving the first transistor, a second transistor for discharging the output terminal, and a pull-down driving circuit for driving the second transistor. In the pull-up driving circuit, the gate of a third transistor charging the gate of the first transistor is charged in accordance with activation of an output signal of preceding stage, and the potential at the gate of the third transistor is increased with a capacitive element. As a result, the third transistor operates in the non-saturated region. |
| US08149983B2 |
Method for analysis of pellet-cladding interaction
A method is provided for evaluating pellet-cladding interaction (PCI) in a nuclear core having a reactor protection system and a plurality of elongated fuel rods each having fuel surrounded by cladding with a gap therebetween. The method includes: selecting a number of core parameters to be analyzed; evaluating the selected parameters at a plurality of statepoints; generating a model of an operating space of the core based, at least in part, upon the statepoints; selecting a subset or loci of statepoints from the model wherein each of the statepoints of the loci of statepoints, when subjected to a predetermined transient, falls within the operational limits of the reactor protection system; and evaluating the loci of statepoints for PCI in response to the transient. In this manner, the potential for PCI can be accurately determined without requiring every statepoint for every fuel rod in the core to be individually analyzed. |
| US08149982B2 |
Channel seating tool for nuclear fuel assembly and method for seating channel on the assembly
A tool to slide a channel on a nuclear reactor fuel bundle assembly, the tool includes: a plate having a slot to receive a handle of the fuel bundle and a lower surface that engages an upper edge of the channel; at least one post extends up from the plate, and an arm is attached to a pivot on the post and includes a first end to receive a downward force and a second end adapted to engage the handle of the fuel bundle to apply an upward force to the handle and push down on the channel. |
| US08149981B2 |
Methods and devices relating to a nuclear light water reactor of the boiling water kind
A method of determining the R-factor for a bundle of nuclear fuel rods in a nuclear light water reactor of the boiling water reactor kind. The R-factor is a factor that accounts for the weighted local power influence on a fuel rod. A local R-factor (Ri(z)) is determined for each fuel rod (i) in said bundle and for each of a plurality of levels (z) in an axial direction. The individual axial heat generation profile for a certain fuel rod (i) is taken into account when determining the local R-factors (Ri(z)) for said fuel rod (i). A processor is configured for automatically determining the R-factor. A computer program product, a method of determining the critical power for a bundle of fuel rods, a nuclear energy plant, and a method of operating a nuclear energy plant are also described. |
| US08149977B2 |
Recovering data samples
An apparatus recovers synchronous data samples from an asynchronously over-sampled stream of data samples derived from an input signal the spectral characteristic of which is subject to variation. The apparatus comprises an FIR filter having an input for receiving the asynchronously over-sampled stream of data samples and for producing equalised asynchronous samples. A signal sample reconstruction means reconstructs the synchronous data samples from the equalised asynchronous data samples. An automatic gain control loop is responsive to the reconstructed data samples to apply gain control for producing gain controlled reconstructed samples. A timing recovery means is responsive to the gain controlled reconstructed samples to provide timing information to the signal sample reconstruction means. A coefficient adaptation control loop is responsive to equalised reconstructed asynchronous data samples substantially unaffected by the automatic gain control for adapting the FIR filter coefficients to the variations in the spectral characteristics of the input signal. |
| US08149974B2 |
Phase comparator, phase comparison device, and clock data recovery system
A comparison period detecting unit (11) defines, as a comparison period, a period between a rising edge of a first clock signal and a rising edge of a second clock signal, and detects the presence or absence of transition of a data signal during the comparison period. A phase relationship detecting unit (12) detects a phase relationship between the data signal and a reference clock signal, and outputs a result of detection of the phase relationship when the comparison period detecting unit (11) detects transition of the data signal during the comparison period. |
| US08149972B2 |
Signaling with superimposed clock and data signals
A data receiver circuit includes an interface to receive an input signal that includes a data signal and a clock signal superimposed on the data signal. The data signal has an associated symbol rate and an associated symbol period equal to the reciprocal of the associated symbol rate. The clock signal has a frequency N times the associated symbol rate, where N is an integer. A phase-locked loop (PLL) coupled to the interface extracts the clock signal from the input signal to provide an extracted clock signal. A phase interpolator adjusts the phase of the extracted clock signal to provide a phase-adjusted extracted clock signal. A sampling circuit samples the data signal at a sampling point. The sampling circuit is synchronized to the phase-adjusted extracted clock signal. |
| US08149969B2 |
Apparatus and method for reduced peak-to-average-power ratio in a wireless network
A wireless transmission device capable of communicating with a receiver according to a DFT-spread OFDM protocol. The wireless transmission device comprises a configurable spectral shaping filter block capable of performing spectral shaping of an outgoing signal. The wireless transmission device configures the configurable spectral shaping filter block to perform spectral shaping according to a peak-to-average power (PAPR) value associated with the outgoing signal. The multi-carrier protocol comprises one of orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM). |
| US08149966B2 |
Packet acquisition controller with signal strength threshold control for wireless MIMO receiver
An packet detection controller accepts an input from an AGC controller which indicates the presence of an increased signal energy and also completion of an AGC process and generates an output to suspend the AGC process. The packet detection controller also receives a plurality of IQ receiver streams and forms a single stream for use by a packet detector, which is controllable by an SNR_MODE indicating whether the signal to noise ratio is above or below a particular threshold, and a PD_RESET signal indicating that no packet detection should occur. The controller also receives a PACKET_DET signal indicating that packet detection is completed. The packet detection controller examines the incoming receiver streams and suspends AGC process if a packet detect is generated, or suspends the packet detector if an AGC process is required. |
| US08149961B1 |
Ranging in multi-band communication systems
System and methods include transmitting the same signal in all sub-bands in different time intervals and processing the corresponding received signals to achieve a time resolution proportional to the inverse of the whole bandwidth as opposed to that of a single sub-band. The systems and methods refine the coarse resolution that is achieved by conventional approaches, such as the correlation method, in a single sub-band by aligning the outputs of the matched filters to the received signals from all sub-bands and applying a fast Fourier Transform (FFT) in each time bin along the sub-band index. |
| US08149958B2 |
Low par zero auto-correlation zone sequences for code sequence modulation
In one non-limiting exemplary embodiment, a method includes: randomly selecting a set of sequences with each sequence having sequence elements, each sequence element having a frequency selected from constellation points on a unit circle in a complex plane, where the selected set of sequences is a candidate set of sequences; calculating a first cubic metric for each sequence of the candidate set of sequences, where the first cubic metric is for single code modulation; and in response to the first cubic metric being larger than at least one threshold, removing the corresponding sequence from the candidate set of sequences to obtain at least one saved sequence. |
| US08149955B2 |
Single ended multiband feedback linearized RF amplifier and mixer with DC-offset and IM2 suppression feedback loop
A receiver arrangement includes a single ended multiband feedback amplifier, at least one single ended input, differential output mixer arrangement including a main mixer and a trim mixer, and a mixer feedback loop circuit configured to receive differential output signals generated by the mixer arrangement. The mixer feedback loop circuit generates a feedback signal based on the received differential output signals and provides the feedback signal to the mixer arrangement to minimize DC-offset and second order intermodulation products. The single ended multiband feedback amplifier may include an input stage and a programmable resonance tank circuit connected to the input stage for suppressing downconverted noise from harmonics of the LO-frequency, and a configurable feedback net that shapes the frequency response of a feedback loop including the feedback net based on a band operation of the single ended multiband feedback amplifier. |
| US08149954B2 |
Baseline wander compensation for perpendicular recording
A tail estimate signal which includes noise associated with baseline wander is generated. The tail estimate signal is generated by processing an input signal using a detector to obtain one or more decisions. Using the one or more decisions, the tail estimate signal is generated. The tail estimate signal is removed from the input signal. |
| US08149945B2 |
Transmitter having full-diversity and full-rate, a linear space-time code generating method for the transmitter, and a MIMO system using same
A space-time code has a codeword matrix. The codeword matrix is a square matrix with dimension equal to the number of the transmit antennas, wherein a row of the codeword matrix represents combined signals transmitted by each transmit antenna and a column of the codeword matrix represents timeslots of the number of the transmit antennas. Signals are transmitted through the rows of the number of spatial multiplexing rate, in each column of the matrix. Further, the symbols of the number of the transmit antennas are combined by way of utilizing complex weights, in each row of the matrix. With this space-time code, a delay is minimized, so that change of channels can be managed efficiently. Also, the space-time code has minimum number of data symbols, and thus its complexity is minimized. |
| US08149943B2 |
Space time coded MB-OFDM UWB system
An MB OFDM system that includes a coder, responsive to a stream of at least one incoming symbol, to form therefrom a set including channel symbols that correspond to each incoming symbol, such that the channel symbols include the incoming symbol, the negative of the incoming symbol, the complex conjugate of an incoming symbol, and a negative of a complex conjugate of an incoming symbol; an output stage configured to: when two of the channel symbols are complex conjugates of one another, the output stage transforms one of the two channel symbols as the output of a single IFFT and the other of the two channel symbols by a reversal of the index of the output and creates OFDM symbols from the transformed symbols using an IFFT such that the two transformed OFDM symbols are copies of each other with inversed indices. |
| US08149942B1 |
Method and system for selecting a transmission scheme in a multiple-input-multiple-output wireless communications system
The present invention discloses a method for selecting a transmission scheme in a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) wireless communications system. The method comprises receiving a downlink request to transmit a data stream to a wireless station, checking the availability of channel state information (CSI) associated with the wireless station, determining the validity characteristic of beamforming weighting vectors associated with the wireless station, selecting a transmission scheme from a plurality of predetermined transmission schemes based on the availability of the CSI and the validity characteristic of the beamforming weighting vectors. |
| US08149939B2 |
System of robust DTV signal transmissions that legacy DTV receivers will disregard
A DTV signal is transmitted that avoids legacy DTV receivers regarding data segments used in other than ordinary 8VSB transmissions being mistaken for (207, 187) R-S FEC codewords that appear to free of byte error or can be corrected to appear so. The DTV signal is analyzed prior to its transmission, for detecting those data segments used in other than ordinary 8VSB transmissions that legacy DTV receivers could mistake for correct (207, 187) R-S FEC codewords or correctable (207, 187) R-S FEC codewords. Twenty bytes of each segment of data that could be so mistaken are modified to prevent such mistake. Complementing certain bits in the final twenty bytes of each segment of data is preferred if data are transmitted at one-half or one-quarter ordinary 8VSB code rate. Segments of control data, each pertaining to a respective future group of said segments of data, are transmitted in a further aspect of the invention for indicating which data segments are modified. These segments of control data can further include information concerning the type of modulation used in each data segment. |
| US08149934B2 |
Wireless communication system using pilot subcarrier allocation
A wireless communication system using pilot subcarrier allocation and a method of allocating the pilot subcarriers for use in downlink and uplink communication in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna system using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation are disclosed. The method includes providing a frame structure comprising OFDM symbols in time domain and subcarriers in frequency domain and alternately allocating first pilot subcarriers for a first antenna and second pilot subcarriers for a second antenna in the time and frequency domains, wherein each of the alternating first pilot subcarriers and the second pilot subcarriers is separated by multiple of 9 subcarriers in the frequency domain and further allocated in two contiguous OFDM symbols. |
| US08149933B2 |
Method and apparatus for subchannel assignment for suppressing interantenna interference in OFDMA system
Disclosed is a method and an apparatus for subchannel assignment for suppressing inter-antenna interference in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing Access (OFDMA) system based distributed wireless communication system equipped with antennas that are randomly distributed in a geographical manner and can simultaneously communicate with multiple Subscriber Stations (SSs). The method includes selecting and obtaining access to distributed antennas which satisfy the data transmission rate that an SS requires and with which the SS can communicate; re-queuing a distributed antenna having the maximum transmitted power within the same cell in high priority; and assigning subchannels to the relevant distributed antennas in an order from the relevant distributed antenna having the high priority. |
| US08149929B2 |
Receiver and method for processing radio signals using soft pilot symbols
A receiver and method for receiving and processing a sequence of transmitted symbols in a digital communication system utilizing soft pilot symbols. A set of soft pilot symbols are transmitted with higher reliability than the remaining symbols in the sequence by modulating the soft pilot symbols with a lower order modulation such as BPSK or QPSK while modulating the remaining symbols with a higher order modulation such as 16QAM or 64QAM. The receiver knows the modulation type and location (time/frequency/code) of the soft pilot symbols, and demodulates them first. The receiver uses the demodulated soft pilot symbols as known symbols to estimate parameters of the received radio signal. Unlike traditional fixed pilots, the soft pilots still carry some data. Additionally, the soft pilots are particularly helpful in establishing the amplitude reference essential in demodulating the higher order modulation symbols. |
| US08149926B2 |
Generating edge masks for a deblocking filter
A deblocking unit may include a buffer, an edge mask generator, and a deblocking filter. The buffer may store video data including blocks. The blocks may correspond to at least a portion of a macroblock. The edge mask generator may generate a particular edge mask that defines edges between blocks to be deblocked. The edge mask generator may include an edge mask memory to store a number edge masks and logic to choose the particular edge mask among the number of edge masks. The logic may choose based on a type of the video data in the buffer and a position offset of the macroblock. The deblocking filter may deblock edges between blocks of video data in the buffer based on the particular edge mask from the edge mask generator. |
| US08149925B2 |
Chase algorithm based differential decoder for soft decision Reed Solomon decoding in a QAM system
A novel apparatus and method of differential decoding for use in a communication system such as a cable system. The differential decoding mechanism of the present invention enables the use of the Chase algorithm for Reed Solomon (RS) codes (i.e. non-binary codes). The mechanism is well suited for use in systems employing QAM data modulation/demodulation techniques and that also incorporate use of a differential encoder such as in DOCSIS capable cable modem systems. The differential decoding mechanism is operative to analyze the input to the differential decoder and adjust the decoding action accordingly. The mechanism generates the first and second candidate constellation points needed by the Chase algorithm. Considering the differential encoding, there are four possible constellation candidates. The differential decoder reduces these four possible options to two by eliminating from consideration two of them. Depending on the number of symbols to be improved by the Chase algorithm, this reduction can potentially reduce the number of options significantly. |
| US08149918B2 |
Method of estimating coded block pattern and method of determining block mode using the same for moving picture encoder
Provided are a coded block pattern (CBP) estimating method which is performed using an average value and a dispersion value between blocks of CBPs in a moving picture encoder for IP-TVs (Internet Protocol-Televisions), and a block mode decision method, which can determine all block modes with only the first 16×16 block. Accordingly, since an additional operation for mode determination is not necessary, an amount of calculation and thus a calculation time can be remarkably reduced. |
| US08149915B1 |
Refinement of motion vectors in hierarchical motion estimation
A method of motion estimation (ME) refinement. The method generally includes the steps of (A) generating an initial motion vector (MV) by conducting a first ME on an initial block in a picture, the initial block covering an initial area of the picture, (B) generating a current MV by conducting a second ME on a current block in the picture, (i) the current block covering a subset of the initial area and (ii) the second ME being seeded by the initial MV, (C) generating at least one additional MV by conducting at least one third ME on the current block, the at least one third ME being seeded respectively by at least one neighboring MV spatially adjacent to the current MV and (D) generating a refined MV of the current block by storing in a memory a best among the current MV and the additional MV. |
| US08149914B2 |
Video-signal layered coding and decoding methods, apparatuses, and programs
A video signal is encoded at a plurality of coding layers exhibiting different spatial resolutions. An input video signal is spatially scaled down into a resolution-lowered video signal that exhibits a resolution lower than the video signal. The resolution-lowered video signal is encoded with a decoding procedure to obtain first coded data and a decoded signal. The decoded signal is spatially scaled up through a high-resolution procedure with reference to the input video signal so that the decoded signal has a smaller error with respect to the input video signal, to obtain a high-resolution scaled-up video signal. The input video signal is encoded through inter-spatial resolution prediction using the high-resolution scaled-up video signal as a predictive signal, to obtain second coded data that exhibits a resolution higher than the resolution-lowered video signal. |
| US08149906B2 |
Data transfer between chips in a multi-chip semiconductor device with an increased data transfer speed
A data transfer method is disclosed in a multi-chip semiconductor device which comprises a plurality of inter-chip wires. First, a test is conducted to determine whether or not each inter-chip wire is capable of normally transferring data, on circuits arranged on chips between which the inter-chip wire is connected. When an inter-chip wire incapable of normally transferring data exists, the data transfer speed of the buffer circuit that is on the chip on the transmission and that is connected to an inter-chip wire capable of normally transferring data is increased. The buffer circuit, whose data transfer speed has been increased, transfers data which would otherwise be transferred through the inter-chip wire incapable of normally transferring data, together with the data which should be transferred thereby, to the chip on the reception side chip through an inter-chip wire connected to the buffer circuit at the data transfer speed. |
| US08149903B2 |
Systems and methods for ramping power amplifier output power
A power amplifier circuit including a first transistor, a second transistor, and a power control circuit. The first transistor includes a first input and a first output. The second transistor includes a second input coupled in series with the first output of the first transistor. The input circuit is coupled to the first input of the first transistor. The power control circuit is coupled to the second input of the second transistor. The control circuit includes a time delay circuit and a variable source. |
| US08149899B2 |
Efficient despread and respread of multi-rate CDMA signals
A system and method, comprising a despread module that receives a descrambled signal and an identification of active codes, a soft-symbols memory communicably coupled to the despread module, and a respread module that receives the identification of active codes, a modulation type and gain estimate for the active codes, and soft symbol estimates for the active codes from the soft-symbols memory which is communicably coupled to the respread module, the despread module, comprising: a despread signal memory that receives the descrambled signal, a vector code despread module communicably coupled to the despread signal memory, an active code soft symbol grabber that receives the identification of active codes and is communicably coupled to the despread signal memory, wherein the despread signal memory receives properly arranged despread data from the vector code despread module, wherein if the despread data is associated with the identification of active codes, the active code soft symbol grabber transfers the despread data from the despread signal memory to the soft-symbols memory. |
| US08149897B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing signal correlation for signals received from satellites in multiple satellite systems
A method and apparatus for computing a convolution between a satellite signal from one of a plurality of satellite positioning systems and a pseudorandom code reference. The method and apparatus is capable of operating in multiple modes of resolution so as to enhance the sensitivity of the convolution processing. |
| US08149896B2 |
Spur suppression for a receiver in a wireless communication system
Techniques for suppressing spurs in a receiver are described. A processor (e.g., within a wireless device) receives digital samples for a desired signal having a spur located within the bandwidth of the desired signal. A spur is an undesired signal that may be generated internally at the receiver or may come from an external interfering source. The processor filters the digital samples to suppress the spur and provides output samples having the spur suppressed. The processor may detect for the spur, e.g., by performing an FFT on the digital samples and examining the spectral response. The processor may filter the digital samples with a notch filter having an adjustable notch frequency and/or an adjustable notch bandwidth. For example, the notch frequency may be set based on the frequency of the spur, and the notch bandwidth may be set based on the amplitude of the spur. |
| US08149895B2 |
Method and system for code reuse and capacity enhancement using null steering
The number of users and data capacity of wireless systems are increased by employing apparatus and method for increasing the number of spreading codes available in the system by providing a mechanism to reuse the already allocated spreading code or use the codes that may correlate to those already being used within the same sector/cell. This, in return, provides capacity improvement proportional to the number of added base station (BS) antennas for each cell. An antenna null steering technique for code allocation maintains the cross correlation properties of the codes only for the desired user and to obtain a gain in capacity improvement. |
| US08149889B2 |
Semiconductor laser device
A semiconductor laser device includes a laser diode provided on a semiconductor substrate, the laser diode including a first optical waveguide having a gain waveguide, a plurality of photodiodes, a first wavelength-selective filter having periodic transmission peaks, and a second wavelength-selective filter having periodic transmission peaks, the period of the transmission peaks of the second wavelength-selective filter being different from the period of the transmission peaks of the first wavelength-selective filter. Furthermore, two photodiodes among the plurality of photodiodes are optically coupled to the first optical waveguide through the first and second wavelength-selective filters, respectively. |
| US08149886B2 |
Laser amplifier system and laser amplifier method
A laser amplification arrangement comprising a laser medium for producing an amplified laser emission as output signal from a useful signal to be amplified and a pump source has a switching component for coupling the useful signal into the laser medium. Laser medium and switching component are formed and arranged so that a division of an input signal (ES) into the useful signal and a background signal is effected, the background signal being passed through the laser medium at a time immediately before and/or after the coupling-in of the useful signal to be amplified. |