最新美国发明专利
Document Document Title
US08205267B2 Display system and image processing apparatus
When an image processing apparatus outputs an image to a display apparatus, the image processing apparatus confirms display conditions on the designated display apparatus. After the confirmation, the image processing apparatus reads an image of a document according to the display conditions. The image to be outputted is a different image from an original image, i.e., the image to be outputted is restricted. The image processing apparatus transmits the restricted image to the display apparatus. The display apparatus displays the restricted image differing from the original image. By restricting the image to be displayed depending on the display apparatus, the security can be improved and leakage of confidential information can be prevented.
US08205266B2 Digital rights management
Software license management systems are provided in which a license to use a software product is represented by a data token. The systems have a software controller for controlling use of the software product at a user device, and a license management server for communicating with the software controller via a data communications network. The software controller allows use of the software product at the user device substantially only during a use period associated with a current data token supplied to the software controller by the license management server. An exchange token can be supplied to another, similar software controller when necessary to transfer the license, e.g. in the event of a breakdown. The software controller is adapted to supply either the current data token, or the exchange token, to the license management server to be exchanged for a new data token.
US08205265B2 Techniques to pollute electronic profiling
Techniques to pollute electronic profiling are provided. A cloned identity is created for a principal. Areas of interest are assigned to the cloned identity, where a number of the areas of interest are divergent from true interests of the principal. One or more actions are automatically processed in response to the assigned areas of interest. The actions appear to network eavesdroppers to be associated with the principal and not with the cloned identity.
US08205264B1 Method and system for automated evaluation of spam filters
A method for automated evaluation of a SPAM filter rates a sender-receiver pair based on traffic information related to the sender-receiver pair. A SPAM filter intercepts electronic messages transmitted between the sender-receiver pair and classifies them as either SPAM or HAM. On comparing the rating for the sender-receiver pair and the classification for an electronic message between the sender-receiver pair, the method generates a metric indicating the reliability of the spam filter. Repeating these steps for more than one electronic messages and related sender-receiver pairs, the method produces a set of metrics. One or more of the metrics from the set of metrics are used to calculate an evaluation factor for evaluating the SPAM filter.
US08205258B1 Methods and apparatus for detecting web threat infection chains
Uniform resource locator (URL) patterns are found in browsing histories of client computers. The URL patterns are employed to find URL browsing chains for particular client computers. A URL browsing chain includes URL requests that match URL patterns arranged in sequential order by time stamp. The URL browsing chains may be normalized and then evaluated for web threat infection chains. URL browsing chains that are deemed to be web threat infection chains are built into a model. The model may be deployed locally in a client computer or in a remotely located server computer to detect web threat infection chains.
US08205254B2 System for controlling write access to an LDAP directory
A method is provided to control access to a software application and, more particularly, to control access to a first software application using a second trusted application. The method comprises extracting data from a decrypted client request and determining a request type from the extracted data. The method further comprises ascertaining an entry type value from at least one of the extracted data and an entry and creating at least one string by prepending the entry type value to one or more attributes associated with the entry. Additionally, the method includes comparing the at least one string to one or more record entries to determine whether a client has permission to perform the request type.
US08205253B2 System and method for avoiding and mitigating a DDoS attack
Described is a system and method for receiving a data packet including a destination address and a source address, the data packet corresponding to a port number, assigning an address risk value for the data packet based on the source address and a port risk value for the data packet based on the port number. The data packet is categorized into a community based on the source address, wherein the community is predefined by a user corresponding to the destination address, the community includes a utility value. The address risk value and the port risk value are compared to the utility value to yield a benefit coefficient and the data packet is treated based on the benefit coefficient.
US08205250B2 Method of validating a digital certificate and a system therefor
A method of validating a digital certificate comprises retrieving from a first data store a digital certificate, retrieving from a second data store a plurality of certificate revocation lists (CRLs), and selecting one of the plurality of CRLs to validate the digital certificate as of a date which is before the current date.
US08205248B2 Local verification of trusted display based on remote server verification
In a system with a main memory, a network adapter, and a display, a transaction security module in communication with the network adapter. The transaction security module acts to: establish a secure identification item with an entity which positively identifies the entity; accept an application OS of the entity; and initiate a guest OS with the entity; the network adapter acting to connect with the entity subsequent to initiation of a guest OS; and the display acting to display the secure identification item subsequent to connection with the entity.
US08205240B2 Activation, initialization, authentication, and authorization for a multi-services gateway device at user premises
A method of putting a first gateway device into service, the first gateway device having an application service module and a network module enabling communications between the first gateway device and the activation manager, the application service module residing on a user premises side of a network service provider demarcation. The method comprises identifying, at the first gateway device disposed at a user premises, an activation manager in communication with the first gateway device, transmitting, from the first gateway device, an activation certificate to the activation manager for verification and authentication, generating a service authentication key associated with the first gateway device, storing the service authentication key and an indication that the associated gateway device status is activated in a database, determining the services available to the first gateway device, and transmitting the service authentication key and an identification of the available services to the first gateway device.
US08205224B2 Image signal processing apparatus and control method for selecting a rating system thereof
An image signal processing apparatus includes: a signal receiving part receiving an image signal including rating system information of an image; a control part causing a UI (user interface) to be displayed to select whether to use the rating system based on the rating system information; an OSD (on screen display) processing part generating the UI under control of the control part; and a first information storing part storing the rating system information under control of the control part if the rating system information is selected to be used.
US08205222B2 Portable optical disc player for fixing traverse module thereof
A portable optical disc player includes a housing having a top casing and a bottom casing, a traverse module, a plurality of first fixing members, and a plurality of fasteners. The traverse module is configured for reading information from, or writing information to, a disc and disposed (or sandwiched) between the top casing and the bottom casing. The plurality of first fixing members is mounted on the interior surface of one of the top casing and the bottom casing. The plurality of fasteners extends through the other of the top casing and the bottom casing, and is received in the plurality of first fixing members respectively so as to fix the top casing and the bottom casing together. Thus, the traverse module is firmly clamped by the top casing and the bottom casing accordingly.
US08205219B2 Disk player including a multifunctional sensor and driving method thereof
A disk player includes a body, a tray having a first seating recess and a second seating recess to load disks of a first size and a second size and slidably inserted into or ejected from a replay unit of the body, a single sensor disposed in the body to detect loading or unloading of a disk on the tray, size of the loaded disk, and insertion or ejection of the tray, and a plurality of slits penetratingly formed on the tray with different lengths to correspond to the sensor when the tray is inserted or ejected.
US08205212B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing method, alternate response apparatus, response method, control program, and network system
A mechanism for enabling a computer which includes an installer for providing Plug and Play (PnP) to obtain information for a network device is provided. Using an existing development resource, such as a PnP installer, a simple installation method is provided. By causing a proxy server to as a communication intermediary between the computer and a peripheral device which is not in compliance with a predetermined management method, the peripheral device can be managed using the predetermined management method.
US08205211B2 Application switching within electronic apparatus
An electronic apparatus includes program memory means, application program execution means, and attitude detection means. The program memory means stores a plurality of application programs. The application program execution means executes an application program read out from the program memory means. The attitude detection means detects the attitude of the electronic apparatus. The application program execution means performs an application switching process to execute a second application program when detection data obtained by attitude detection performed by the attitude detection means during execution of a first application program or data obtained by computing the detection data changes across a predetermined threshold.
US08205206B2 Data processing apparatus and method for managing multiple program threads executed by processing circuitry
A data processing apparatus and method are provided for managing multiple program threads executed by processing circuitry. The multiple program threads include at least one high priority program thread and at least one lower priority program thread. At least one storage unit is shared between the multiple program threads and has multiple entries for storing information for reference by the processing circuitry when executing the program threads. Thread control circuitry is used to detect a condition indicating an adverse effect caused by a lower priority program thread being executed by the processing circuitry and resulting from sharing of the at least one storage unit between the multiple program threads. On detection of such a condition, the thread control circuitry issues an alert signal, and a scheduler is then responsive to the alert signal to cause execution of the lower priority program thread causing the adverse effect to be temporarily halted, for example by causing that lower priority program thread to be de-allocated and an alternative lower priority program thread allocated in its place. This has been found to provide a particularly efficient mechanism for allowing any high priority program thread to progress as much as possible, while at the same time improving the overall processor throughput by seeking to find co-operative lower priority program threads.
US08205204B2 Apparatus and method for scheduling threads in multi-threading processors
An multi-threading processor is provided. The multi-threading processor includes a first instruction fetch unit to receive a first thread and a second instruction fetch unit to receive a second thread. A multi-thread scheduler coupled to the instruction fetch units and a execution unit. The multi-thread scheduler determines the width of the execution unit and the execution unit executes the threads accordingly.
US08205202B1 Management of processing threads
A computer system that comprises computers, front-end applications, a messaging service, and an enterprise integration application is disclosed, each of the applications and the messaging service executing on at least one of the computers. The messaging service places service requests transmitted from the front-end applications on queues based on the type of the service requests. The enterprise integration application comprises business logic modules, each business logic module dedicated to acting on one type of the service requests and comprising at least one interface thread, at least one handling thread, and at least one management thread. The interface threads retrieve service requests from the queue associated with the type of service request associated with the business logic module. The handling threads act on the service requests retrieved by the interface thread. The management thread creates additional interface threads and handling threads as more are needed by the business logic module.
US08205198B2 System and method for monitoring a workflow process and generating reminder alerts using modular arithmetic
An exemplary method for controlling a workflow is provided. The method includes: setting a check-status schedule and a reminder timer for each task of the workflow process; checking whether any task of the workflow process is in an incomplete state according to the check-status schedule; obtaining an operator name and a task assigned time of the task remained in the incomplete state; calculating a time difference between a current time and the task assigned time and calculating a remainder by utilizing modular arithmetic; and generating an alarm signal and sending the alarm signal to inform a corresponding operator to perform the task remained in the incomplete state if the remainder is greater than zero and not greater than the check-status schedule. A related system is also provided.
US08205187B1 Generalizing and inferring behaviors of a circuit design
An executable circuit design is used to generate waveforms, from which behaviors of the circuit are captured. The behaviors and various combinations thereof can then be saved in a database, along with descriptions and other metadata about them, thereby generating a behavioral index of the circuit design code. Behavioral indexing of circuit designs allows a user to maintain an indexed behavior database, track changes in behaviors as the circuit design's executable description evolves, and figure out how the executable description can be reused in different projects. When applied to digital design development, it facilities the current design and verification effort, as well as design reuse down the line.
US08205185B2 Fast evaluation of average critical area for IC layouts
Method and apparatus for approximating the average critical area of a layout or layout region, involving summing, over all the object segments of interest, respective critical area contribution values that are dependent upon particular layout parameters of the objects, each of the contribution values being representative of a plurality of defect sizes, and being defined such that for each defect size in the plurality of defect sizes, and for a particular defect type, the contribution values collectively count all critical areas arising due to the object segments of interest only once.
US08205183B1 Interactive configuration of connectivity in schematic diagram of integrated circuit design
Methods, computer program products, and systems for interactively configuring the display of connectivity of a schematic diagram based on an integrated circuit (“IC”) design are provided. Using a set of criteria, the schematic diagram can be configured to reduce visual congestion caused by interconnections among circuit elements in the IC design. The criteria include interconnections having a specific number of fan-outs, interconnections connecting ports of specific types, interconnections connecting selected types of circuit elements, and interconnections connecting circuit elements with specific names. The amount of clutter caused by individual nets can also be reduced based on the total congestion score associated with each net. The total congestion score is calculated based on the number of bends that a net makes, the number of crossovers that a net makes, and the number of pixels required to draw the net. Configuration of the connectivity in a schematic diagram is performed through a graphical user interface on a display device, which is connected to a computer system.
US08205175B2 Structured algorithmic programming language approach to system design
An algorithmic programming language approach to system design enables design, synthesis, and validation of structured, system-level specifications, and integrates system-level design into the rest of the design process. The algorithmic programming language design approach includes various techniques and tools, which can be used in combination or independently. For example, the design approach includes techniques and tools for simplifying specification of a design unit interface in a programming language specification and/or simplifying specification of synchronization and sub-design unit concurrency for a design unit. According to a first aspect of the design approach, design occurs at the algorithmic level of abstraction. According to a second aspect, the design approach leverages existing simulation technology for validation at various stages of the design flow. According to a third aspect, a design tool synthesizes a structured, programming language specification into a lower-level specification, such as a VHDL specification.
US08205174B2 Integrated circuit modeling method and framework tool
An integrated circuit modeling method 100 implementable on computer, which has an executable software model 145 having modules 140 of reusable functional cores 105 coded in a high level language and a virtual platform of the integrated circuit employable in an architecture exploration step 115. A modeling library of modules coded in high level languages and hardware level languages are provided and instantiated according to user input in a functional verification step 120 having a co-simulation environment, with interface code 170 between modules automatically generated by an interface generator 130 based on a two dimensional data array of hardware specification inputs 205, the interface code 170 further interfacing with wrappers engaged between high and hardware level language modules.
US08205170B2 Electronic devices
A portable electronic apparatus arranged to be able to perform a plurality of functions, one or more of a plurality of functions being selectively performable when the apparatus is placed in a corresponding functional mode, the apparatus having a user interface to allow user operation of the plurality of functions, each of the functions being user operable using a particular region of the electronic apparatus user interface, the apparatus comprising a user moveable cover arranged to be moveable into a plurality of positions, wherein each of the cover positions is associated with a particular functional mode of the apparatus and is arranged to cover one or more regions of the user interface not associated with the particular functional mode and to reveal one or more regions of the user interface associated with the particular functional mode.
US08205169B1 Multiple editor user interface
An application user interface includes multiple editors, each presenting a data view and controls for operating on data. The application user interface includes a windowed mode and a full-screen mode. The windowed mode displays multiple editors simultaneously, such as in separate windows or panes. The full-screen mode displays a primary editor that substantially covers the application display area. The full-screen mode displays the secondary editors as drawer user interface elements arranged along the edges of the application display area. Secondary editors are displayed and accessed as needed via these drawer user interface elements. The relative arrangement of editors is preserved when switching between windowed mode and full-screen mode. Users can customize the application user interface in either windowed mode or full-screen mode to add, remove, or change primary and secondary editors, with any changes in the application user interface being preserved when switching between windowed mode and full-screen mode.
US08205168B1 Methods and systems for page navigation of dynamically laid-out systems
A layout can identify placement of a plurality of content units of a document across one or more pages with each page representing a display area for displaying the content of the document. A scrollbar definition can be generated so as to identify a plurality of equally-sized segments of a scrollbar track, with each segment corresponding to a respective one of the pages of the document. The definition can identify a scrollbar thumb having a body that fills a segment. A scrollbar can be rendered based on the definition. The scrollbar definition can be updated to identify a different number of segments of the scrollbar based on a new number of pages in a new layout generated in response to a change in the size of the display area.
US08205166B2 Methods for organizing information accessed through a web browser
Methods are provided for assisting in the organization of information accessed through a web browser. At least one item of information accessed through the web browser is captured and visually represented in a defined organizational area of a display. A relevance index is calculated for each item of information that is visually represented to a current web-browsing behavior. The relevance index is conveyed for each item of information to the current web-browsing behavior to a user of the web browser.
US08205160B2 Graphical user interface for multi-frame presentation
A computing device configured to execute computer code to generate a graphical user interface (GUI) for creating a multi-frame presentation is provided. The generated GUI may include a canvas pane configured to display a main frame and supporting frame icons representing a plurality of supporting frames of the presentation. The generated GUI may further include a connector tool operable within the canvas pane for creating a link between a source element and a target element, the source element being the main frame or an element of the main frame, the target element being a supporting frame or an element of a supporting frame, the link being defined by an associated linking script, the connector tool being operable to create the link via a click-and-drag action from the source element to the target element.
US08205159B2 System, method and medium organizing templates for generating moving images
A system, method and medium organizing a template, which enables a user to easily create moving images, are provided. The system includes a template controller to generate a time tab indicating when to display the moving image and to identify one or more scenes of the moving image by parsing a script in response to a user command, a scene controller to identify one or more objects included in each of the scenes and an execution module to define dynamic effects for each of the objects and to load the identified objects and the identified execution module, an object controller to create a control code for each of the identified objects based on the loaded objects and the loaded execution module, the control code controlling the identified objects according to the time tab, and a template storage unit to store the template that includes the script, the execution module, the objects, and the control code.
US08205158B2 Feature codes and bonuses in virtual worlds
An Entertainment System including a website, in combination with a commercially purchased product, wherein the system allows a product user to register a primary product online using a registration code, allowing the user access to various activities and scenarios in a “virtual world” including a virtual representation of the product, via a computer connected to the Internet. Additional ancillary products are also provided that may be related to the primary product or the virtual world, with these ancillary products also being provided with one or more codes to provide additional content, bonus items, and/or bonus access in the virtual world.
US08205152B2 System and method for formatting and displaying frameset documents
The present invention relates to a method, terminal, and computer program for presenting a markup language document which contains a frameset. The method comprises the steps of interpreting the instructions in the document so that no scrollbars are displayed in the individual frames. The frames may be displayed in a reformatted manner, e.g., with expanded dimensions and/or reformatted contents. Such reformatting of the displayed frames does not require any revision of the markup language document.
US08205146B2 Persistent error detection in digital memory
A method for detecting a persistent error in a digital memory is provided. Error location information for errors detected in the digital memory is received. A group of the errors that are associated with a same error position is identified from the error location information. A number of the errors of the group that are associated with a same area of the digital memory is identified. A persistent error is determined based upon the number of the errors of the group.
US08205145B2 High-speed add-compare-select (ACS) circuit
A high speed add-compare-select (ACS) circuit for a Viterbi decoder or a turbo decoder has a lower critical path delay than that achievable using a traditional ACS circuit. According to one embodiment of the invention, the path and branch metrics are split into most-significant and least-significant portions, such portions separately added in order to reduce the propagation delay.
US08205142B2 Error correction coding method and device
An error correction coding method using a low-density parity-check code includes: dividing an information bit sequence to be processed for error correction coding, into (m−r) pieces of first blocks each comprising a bit sequence having a length n and r pieces of second blocks comprising respective bit sequences having lengths k1, k2, . . . , kr; a first arithmetic operation for performing polynomial multiplication on the (m−r) pieces of first blocks, and outputting r pieces of bit sequences having a length n; and a second arithmetic operation for performing a polynomial division and a polynomial multiplication on the r pieces of second blocks and r pieces of operation results of the first arithmetic operation, and outputting a bit sequence including redundant bit sequences having respective lengths n−k1, n−k2, . . . , n−kr.
US08205137B2 Apparatus for the reliability of host data stored on fibre channel attached storage subsystems
An apparatus for improving the reliability of host data stored on Fiber Channel attached storage subsystems by performing end-to-end data integrity checks. When a read or write operation is initiated, an initial checksum for data in the read/write operation is generated and associated with the data, wherein the association exists through a plurality of layers of software and attached storage subsystems. The initial checksum is passed with the data in the read/write path. When a layer of software in the read/write path receives the initial checksum and data, the layer performs an integrity check of the data, which includes generating another checksum and comparing it to the initial checksum. If the checksums do not match, the read/write operation fails and the error is logged. If the checksums match, the integrity check is repeated through each layer in the read/write path to enable detecting data corruption at the point of source.
US08205135B2 Memory system and command handling method
A memory system including a memory controller and a memory and a related method are disclosed. The method includes communicating a command and error detection/correction (EDC) data associated with the command from the memory controller to the memory, decoding the command and executing an EDC operation related to the EDC data in parallel, and if the command is a write command, delaying execution of a write operation indicated by the write command until completion of the EDC operation, else immediately executing an operation indicated by the command without regard to completion of the EDC operation.
US08205133B2 Error corrector with a high use efficiency of a memory
An error corrector with a high use efficiency of a memory includes a memory, a bus device, an input buffer and an error correction module. The memory stores data. The bus device controls a memory access. The input buffer receives and temporarily stores a coded blockcode data, and writes the coded blockcode data in the memory through the bus device. The error correction module reads the coded blockcode data in the memory through the bus device and decodes it in rows and columns to thereby obtain decoded data and check bytes. The error correction module writes the decoded data in the memory through the bus device and discards the check bytes.
US08205132B2 Cooperative concatenated coding for wireless systems
Cooperative concatenated coding techniques are provided for wireless communications between at least two users and a base station. A network system employing cooperative concatenated coding includes cooperating user devices each configured to encode and transmit at least a portion of a joint message. The joint message includes at least a portion of a first message from a first cooperating user device and at least a portion of a second message from a second cooperating user device. An embodiment includes encoding a first message from a first cooperating user, receiving a second message from a second cooperating user and decoding the second message. The methodology also includes re-encoding at least a portion of the decoded message with at least a portion of the first message to form a combined message, and then transmitting at least a portion of the combined message.
US08205130B2 Decoding apparatus
In the present application, there is provided a decoding apparatus for decoding low density parity check codes, including: a plurality of storage sections configured to store logarithmic likelihood ratios or logarithmic posteriori probability ratios for one codeword into addresses thereof which are independent of each other thereamong; and a readout section configured to simultaneously read out, from among the logarithmic likelihood ratios or logarithmic posteriori probability ratios for the one codeword stored in the storage sections, a plurality of ones of the logarithmic likelihood ratios or logarithmic posteriori probability ratios which correspond to non-zero value elements in a predetermined one row of the check matrix used in a coding process of the low density parity check codes.
US08205129B2 Retransmission in a cellular communication system
A base station (103) operates a hybrid retransmission scheme for a communication to a first subscriber unit (101) over a communication channel of an air interface of a cellular communication system. The base station (103) comprises a retransmission parameter controller (209) which sets a transmission parameter, such as a transmit power or an error correcting scheme, for a transmission of the communication in response to an operating point for the retransmission scheme. A CQI processor (203) determines a channel quality indication for the communication channel and a variation processor (205) determines a variation measure of a variation of the channel quality indication. The variation measure can for example be a rate of change. An operating point controller (207) sets the operating point in response to the variation measure. The invention may allow improved setting of transmission parameters for initial transmissions thereby providing higher throughput, reduced resource consumption and reduced delay.
US08205128B2 Apparatus and method for hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) in wireless communication system
An apparatus and a method for Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) in a wireless communication system are provided. A receiver includes a Media Access Control (MAC) layer part for error-checking each MAC Packet Data Units (PDUs) extracted from a physical layer burst, and generating HARQ combination control information according to a result of the error check; a receiving part for receiving a retransmit burst; and a combiner for selecting one or more Forward Error Correction (FEC) blocks from the retransmit burst according to the HARQ combination control information, and HARQ-combining the selected one or more FEC blocks.
US08205126B2 System and method for wireless communication of uncompressed video using selective retransmission
A system and method for wireless communication of data are disclosed. One embodiment of the system includes a transmitter configured to transmit a data packet including a plurality of displayable elements over a wireless channel. Each displayable element includes a plurality of portions including a most significant portion and a least significant portion. The data packet is divided into a plurality of data groups including a first data group and a second data group. The first data group includes the most significant portions of the displayable elements while the second data group includes the least significant portions of the displayable elements. The system also includes a receiver configured to receive the data packet over the wireless channel and to determine whether any of the data groups is in error. The transmitter is further configured to transmit to the receiver: a retransmission packet including a selected data group in error according to a quality of service associated with the displayable elements. One or more of the data groups can be included in the retransmission packet.
US08205123B2 Interleaver and de-interleaver for iterative code systems
In exemplary embodiments, a skewed interleaving function for iterative code systems is described. The skewed interleaving function provides a skewed row and column memory partition and a layered structure for re-arranging data samples read from, for example, a first channel detector. An iterative decoder, such as an iterative decoder based on a low-density parity-check code (LDPC), might employ an element to de-skew the data from the interleaved memory partition before performing iterative decoding of the data, and then re-skew the information before passing decoded samples to the de-interleaver. The de-interleaver re-arranges the iterative decoded data samples in accordance with an inverse of the interleaver function before passing the decoded data samples to, for example, a second channel detector.
US08205116B2 Common chronics resolution management
Systems and methods for managing problems that are determined to be chronic problems with network devices or circuits are disclosed. The systems and methods receive data indicating a problem with a network device or circuit and determine based on the data a first action to be performed on the network device or circuit. Upon determining that a recurring problem exists for the network device or circuit, a rule set is used to determine if the data indicates a chronic problem. Upon determining that a chronic problem exists for the network device or circuit, the rule set is used to determine a monitoring period for the network device or circuit. Further, within the monitoring period a performance indicator that indicates that the network equipment or circuit is performing acceptably or unacceptably is used to determine further actions for the network device or circuit.
US08205109B2 Storage subsystem and power supply system
The present invention includes a plurality of disk units for storing data from a host computer, a plurality of power supply apparatuses for supplying DC power to each of the disk units via main power supply wirings, and a redundant power supply apparatus for generating, with any one of the disk units among the plurality of disk units as a load, DC power to the load. As auxiliary power supply wirings for guiding the output of the redundant power supply apparatus to each of the disk units, a common power supply wiring that is common to each of the power supply apparatuses, a plurality of branch power supply wirings branching from the common power supply wiring and connected to each of the disk units, and a redundant power supply wiring for connecting the redundant power supply apparatus and the common power supply wiring are wired to a backboard.
US08205108B2 Method and module for power detection and peripheral apparatus using the same
A power detection method applied to a peripheral apparatus is provided. The method includes the following steps. First, a power signal is received from a data communication interface. Next, it is determined that whether the power signal is able to drive a main function device of the peripheral apparatus. Then, according to the determination result, the power signal is selectively provided to the main function device to drive the main function device.
US08205092B2 Time-based method for authorizing access to resources
Upon receiving a request for access to a resource, a current clock value is determined. Based on information including the resource, the identity of the user requesting the access, and the current clock value, the system identifies applicable access controls. If the applicable access controls indicate that the user can be granted access to the resource at the current time, the request is granted. Otherwise, the request is denied.
US08205084B2 System and method for processing encoded messages for exchange with a mobile data communication device
A system and method are provided for pre-processing encrypted and/or signed messages at a host system before the message is transmitted to a wireless mobile communication device. The message is received at the host system from a message sender. There is a determination as to whether any of the message receivers has a corresponding wireless mobile communication device. For each message receiver that has a corresponding wireless mobile communication device, the message is processed so as to modify the message with respect to one or more encryption and/or authentication aspects. The processed message is transmitted to a wireless mobile communication device that corresponds to the first message receiver. The system and method may include post-processing messages sent from a wireless mobile communications device to a host system. Authentication and/or encryption message processing is performed upon the message. The processed message may then be sent through the host system to one or more receivers.
US08205080B2 Over the air communication authentication using a device token
A system and method are described for securing over the air communications between a service and a communication device. For example, one embodiment of a method for creating a security token on a communication device for communication between the communication device and a service includes combining a device identification of the communication device with a device capability to create a device information, the device capability known by the service. The method further includes encrypting the device information.
US08205078B2 Handling files containing confidential or sensitive information
A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for managing files in a data processing system. An attribute for a file is specified as having a special designation. The file with the attribute having the special designation is processed, by the operating system, in a different manner from other files when performing operations, such as, for example, copying the file to a removable media, printing the file, or sending the file over a network.
US08205075B2 Authentication device and method
Provided is an authentication system capable of identifying a cause of a failure when authentication fails. A data structure of data to be authenticated has a header authentication data area (D2), and an authentication data area (D4) in addition to a header area (D1) and a data area (D3). The header authentication data area (D2) authenticates validity of the header area (D1), and the authentication data area (D4) authenticates the validity of the header authentication header area (D2) and the data area (D3). Since two kinds of authentication are carried out, the cause of the failure in authentication can be identified easily when authentication is failed.
US08205073B2 Access point, terminal, encryption key configuration system, encryption key configuration method, and program
An object of the present invention is to enable the configuration tasks needed to form a wireless LAN to be performed using a simple method while increasing security during such configuration. In a wireless network configuration system GH1 including an encryption key setting system LH1, where an access point 20 determines after the power thereto is turned ON that configuration for connection to a wireless LAN has not yet be carried out, the access point 20 activates a restricted receiving mode in which only an initial configuration packet is accepted. A terminal 50 that has sent an initial configuration packet and the access point 20 that has received such initial configuration packet while the restricted receiving mode is active each create an identical WEP key with reference to the data on a CD-ROM 51 or the data in a ROM 12, respectively, and set and register the created WEP key in itself.
US08205070B2 Device bootup from a NAND-type non-volatile memory
Systems and methods are provided for using a NAND-type non-volatile memory (“NVM”), such as NAND flash memory, to store NV pre-boot information for a bootloader (e.g., a second state bootloader) or an operating system. The NV pre-boot information can include, for example, environment variables storing the configuration or state of an electronic device. In some embodiments, an electronic device including the NAND-type NVM may allocate a portion of the super blocks in the NAND-type NVM to storing the NV pre-boot information. The electronic device may store a redundant copy of the NV pre-boot information into the allocated portion of each IC die of the NAND-type NVM.
US08205069B2 Computer system with dual BIOS
A computer system including a first memory unit, a second memory unit and a switch unit is provided. The first memory unit stores a first BIOS. The second memory unit stores a second BIOS. The switch unit has a first configuration and a second configuration. Upon the computer system being started, the switch unit receives an enable signal. When the switch unit is in the first configuration, the enable signal is provided to the first memory unit to start the first basic input/output system. When the switch unit is in the second configuration, the enable signal is provided to the second memory unit to start the second basic input/output system.
US08205067B2 Context switching and synchronization
A method, computer-readable medium, and apparatus for context switching between a first thread and a second thread. The method includes detecting an exception, wherein the exception is generated in response to receiving a packet of information directed to one of the first thread and the second thread, and in response to detecting the exception, invoking an exception handler. The exception handler is configured to execute one or more instructions removing access to at least a portion of a processor cache. The portion of the processor cache contains cached information for the first thread using a first address translation. Removing access to the portion of the processor cache prevents the second thread using a second address translation from accessing the cached information in the processor cache. The exception handler is also configured to branch to at least one of the first thread and the second thread.
US08205064B2 Latency hiding for a memory management unit page table lookup
In certain systems, local requests require corresponding associated information to be present in order to be serviced. A local memory stores some of the associated information. There is latency associated with retrieval of associated information that is not immediately available. Logic operates for each local request to access the local memory to ascertain whether the associated information corresponding to the local request is present. If the associated information is present, a request is placed in an output request queue to service the local request. If the associated information is not present, a request is placed on a bypass path to retrieve the associated information. Requests issue from the bypass path with priority over requests from the output request queue. Useful work is thereby done during the latency of associated information retrieval. The arrangement is useful in a TLB in an MMU.
US08205061B2 Seamless application access to hybrid main memory
A command from an application is received to access a data structure associated with one or more virtual addresses mapped to main memory. A first subset of the virtual addresses for the data structure having constituent addresses that are mapped to the symmetric memory components and a second subset of the virtual addresses for the data structure having constituent addresses that are mapped to the asymmetric memory components are identified. Data associated with the virtual address from the first physical addresses and data associated with the virtual addresses from the second physical addresses are accessed. The data associated with the symmetric and asymmetric memory components is accessed by the application without providing the application with an indication of whether the data is accessed within the symmetric memory component or the asymmetric memory component.
US08205060B2 Discardable files
The present application includes methods and system for managing a storage device. In one implementation, a storage allocator that is present in a host or a storage device receives a request to store a file in a storage area of the storage device. The storage allocator marks the file as discardable in a file system structure associated with the storage device and updates a primary file allocation table (“FAT”) to associate a cluster chain that is allocated to the file with the file. The storage allocator additionally updates a discardable FAT or a database to reflect a physical location of the file, or may generate one or more location files that store the physical location of the file. The storage allocator then manages the storage area device based on the FAT and a discardable FAT, database, or one more location files indicating the physical location of the file.
US08205058B2 Resource management for data storage services
Provided are a method, system, and an article of manufacture, wherein resources corresponding to at least one copy pool are acquired, and wherein the at least one copy pool has been defined for a first primary storage pool of a storage hierarchy. The acquired resources are retained, in response to determining that data cannot be written to the first primary storage pool. The data is written to the at least one copy pool, in response to writing the data to a second primary storage pool of the storage hierarchy.
US08205050B2 Data backup for virtual machines
Methods and apparatus involve computing backup for virtual representations on a physical hardware platform. The platform has a processor, memory and available storage upon which a plurality of virtual machines are configured. Also, each virtual machine has a type of operating system that may be the same or different as another virtual machine. A plurality of virtual machine proxies exists as complements to the virtual machines in order to actually conduct the backup. Upon indication of a present need for conducting a backup operation, the proxy with an operating system most closely approximating or matching the operating system of the virtual machine needing backup is selected for undertaking the operation. In this manner, backup is no longer conducted with ill-fitting physical backup proxies with incompatible operating systems. In other embodiments, nuances of conducting backup are described as are templates and cloning. Computer program products are further described.
US08205035B2 Systems and methods for integration between application firewall and caching
The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for integrating cache managing and application firewall processing in a networked system. In various embodiments, an integrated cache/firewall system comprises an application firewall operating in conjunction with a cache managing system in operation on an intermediary device. In various embodiments, the application firewall processes a received HTTP response to a request by a networked entity serviced by the intermediary device. The application firewall generates metadata from the HTTP response and stores the metadata in cache with the HTTP response. When a subsequent request hits in the cache, the metadata is identified to a user session associated with the subsequent request. In various embodiments, the application firewall can modify a cache-control header of the received HTTP response, and can alter the cookie-setting header of the cached HTTP response. The system and methods can significantly reduce processing time associated with application firewall processing of web content exchanged over a network.
US08205027B2 Systems and methods for performing a hot input function
A computer software system is disclosed for facilitating a user's replacement or insertion of devices in a computer server network system. The system allows a user to swap or add peripheral devices while the system is running, or in a “hot” condition, with little or no user knowledge of how the system carries out the “hot swap” or “hot add” functions. The system, which consists of a graphical user interface (GUI) and associated computer software modules, allows the user to select a desired peripheral device location within a server, and then provides the modular software structure to automatically execute a series of steps in the hot swap or hot add process. Each step is prompted by the user from the GUI, to invoke commands to instruct a network server through its operating system and hardware to suspend the appropriate device adapters, if necessary, power down the desired device slot or canister, allow the user to replace or insert a new device, and finally restart the adapters and the slot power. The system requires very little detailed input from the user other than identifying the particular peripheral device slot within the server to be maintained.
US08205026B2 Stream priority
A system, method and apparatus for prioritizing transactions is disclosed. I/O devices may generate transactions with a stream identifier. A transaction classifier may assign a priority to a transaction based upon a stream identifier of the transaction. An arbiter may select a transaction for processing based upon priorities assigned to the transaction.
US08205021B2 Memory system and integrated management method for plurality of DMA channels
Provided are a memory system and an integrated management method for a plurality of direct memory access (DMA) channels. The memory system includes a memory controller exchanging data with a memory and having a plurality of channels physically separated from each other, and a DMA controller having a plurality of DMA channels physically separated from each other and in contact with the plurality of channels of the memory controller, and exchanging data with the memory via the plurality of DMA channels and the memory controller.
US08205020B2 High-performance digital image memory allocation and control system
Systems and methods are described that facilitate mitigating processor overload and reducing memory waste during image compression. Clients requesting memory allocation are assigned a direct memory access (DMA) channel to which DMA memory blocks are allocated for use during image compression. As each DMA block is used by its channel, the DMA block generates an interrupt message that is counted by a DMA counter and may be optionally processed by the CPU. If the number of interrupts being processed exceeds a first threshold, then memory block size is increased to reduce processor load. If the number of interrupts is below a second, lower threshold, then block size is decreased to reduce and amount of unused but allocated memory in the final block allocated to the channel a compressed image file. Fixed DMA block size may also be used and any DMA block may be programmed to generate an interrupt indicating a memory usage threshold has been crossed and that additional DMA memory blocks should be allocated to continue compression beyond the number of DMA blocks initially allocated.
US08205017B2 Systems and methods for addressing and synchronizing multiple devices
This is generally directed to systems and methods for control of two or more devices through a shared control bus. For example, the devices can be coupled to a host system through the control bus. In some embodiments, the devices can be configured by the host system through address select pins of the devices. For example, the host system can sequentially program each device to change its default address to a unique address. In some embodiments, an event can be propagated through each device, thus resulting in each device receiving the event at a different time. In some embodiments, configuration by the host system can include programming each device with a value representing its own position in the chain. In this case, a device can use this value to delay its response to the event, thereby allowing all the devices in the chain to respond to the event simultaneously.
US08205015B2 Apparatus, system, and method for coordinating storage requests in a multi-processor/multi-thread environment
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for coordinating storage requests in a multi-processor/multi-thread environment. An append/invalidate module generates a first append data storage command from a first storage request and a second append data storage command from a second storage request. The storage requests overwrite existing data with first and second data including where the first and second data have at least a portion of overlapping data. The second storage request is received after the first storage request. The append/invalidate module updates an index by marking data being overwritten as invalid. A restructure module updates the index based on the first data and updates the index based on the second data. The updated index is organized to indicate that the second data is more current than the first data regardless of processing order. The modules prevent access to the index until the modules have completed updating the index.
US08205012B2 Directory server for automatic network information access systems
Systems, apparatus and methods are described for providing information access to network devices. A directory server registers identification information about a first network device coupled to a first network. The first network and the directory server may be coupled to a second network, which may include a wide area network, public network, or the Internet. The identification information may include a network address of the first network device on the first network, or a network address of the first network on the second network. The directory server may receive and process requests for identification information about registered network devices, and may selectively reply to the requests based on status information of the first network device.
US08205010B1 User system applicaton interaction for a system as a service
A system for providing data for loading a user system application comprises a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to generate a data for loading a user system application using a template and provide the data for loading the user system application. The memory is coupled to the processor and is configured to provide the processor with instructions.
US08205009B2 Apparatus for continuous compression of large volumes of data
A system for efficiently transmitting data from a first site to a remote site over a communication medium. The data includes a storage for storing data in sub-segment boundaries, such that few sub-segments are accommodated in each block. The system further includes a storage for storing data including signature data. Each one of the sub-segments is associated with a signature of considerably smaller size than its respective sub-segment. The system includes a processor configured to perform the following, as many times as required: receiving a block and partitioning it into sub-segments. For each sub-segment in the block the processor calculating a signature. It then determines whether the calculated signature matches a corresponding signature, if any, stored in the signature storage, and in case of no match (indicating that the sub-segment is new or has been modified), transmitting the sub-segment to the remote site and store the calculated signature in the signature storage.
US08205008B2 Online resource server for allowing device control and access to digital content through pluggable user interfaces
An online resource server for allowing device control and access to digital content through pluggable user interfaces (PUI). Features of various embodiments of the system can also include: a system of access rights for resources; user types and their meaning; determination of mandatory and optional properties of resources; an algorithm for ranking of resources based on weights given in a resource query; registration of a PUI upon upload resulting in a unique resource name (URI); user interface socket descriptions for device classes, and extensibility of the socket descriptions through naming conventions; a universal Control Hub as a Service; an ability to allow content owners to protect their intellectual property by keeping the (protected) media over HDMI separated from the control network; an ability to track usage data and dynamically adjust the PUI without the need for user intervention; and enhanced technical support, including remote diagnostics of the consumer electronics equipment.
US08205007B2 Native format tunneling
Systems and techniques are disclosed for transmitting a message through an application integration system without having to convert the message from a format that native to both a sending application and a receiving application. A computer-implemented method for transmitting a message from a sending application through an application integration system can include determining a receiving application of the message, and determining a file format used by the receiving application. If the file format used by the receiving application is substantially identical to a file format used by the sending application, the method can include wrapping the message in a markup language file envelope according to a markup language used by the application integration system. The message can then be routed in the markup language file envelope to the receiving application.
US08205004B1 Multi-bit-rate streaming delivery
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, relating to single-file multi-bit-rate streaming delivery are described. Media data can be encoded into a single file (or very small number of files), which can then be placed on an unmodified Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) server. Further, the techniques disclosed here can use HTTP for distribution of the encoded media file and may support multi-bit-rate playback at a client without requiring a modification or plug-in to the server software. Furthermore, these techniques use properties of HTTP and Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) to minimize playback startup time.
US08205000B2 Network management with platform-independent protocol interface for discovery and monitoring processes
A set of devices of a distributed data processing system and a protocol are selected to complete an action received by a requesting application. The set of devices and protocol are selected based on whether the protocol supports the type of the requested action; whether the protocol is an allowable/supported protocol for each device along a topology mapped logical route for completing the requested action; and assigned priorities of each protocol. The topology mapped logical route is then used for completing the requested action using the selected protocol. The requesting application may use the action in accordance with the selected allowable supported protocol, e.g., to monitor or discover the target device.
US08204996B2 Method and system for managing log information of user using location servers belonging to plurality of groups
A system and method of managing log information of a user, includes: a service server receiving a login/logout request from the user; the service server selecting a location server group to transmit a log message to, corresponding to the login/logout request, based on the user's user identifier; transmitting the log message as an anycast message from the service server to a location server of the selected location server group; the location server, which receives the log message, generating a status update message corresponding to the log message; and the location server multicasting the generated status update message to remaining location servers of the selected location server group.
US08204995B2 Multidevice session establishment for multimodal browsing
Systems, methods, apparatuses and computer program products for establishing a single session for processing a multimodal application with multiple devices and for distributing the multimodal application amongst the multiple devices participating in the single session based on the respective capabilities of each device are provided. A system, method and computer program product for allowing new devices operated by the same user to join in the previously established session for processing the multimodal application where the capabilities of the new device exceed that of all devices currently participating in the session are also provided.
US08204994B1 Method for dynamically configuring network services
A method for providing network services includes the ability to dynamically and flexibly configure resources in a network server platform to service classes and sets of network traffic. According to one aspect, a programmable network server platform can be configured to bind multiple traffic classes in a mixture of inline and tap modes to a group of CPUs. Traffic having the associated classes can be configured to pass directly through while sending a copy down to one or more CPUs, as well as load balanced to a group or sub group of CPUs. According to another aspect, different applications or configurations can be run on different groups or sub groups of CPUs allowing complete flexibility.
US08204993B2 Computer system and information processing method
A computer system of this invention includes: plural servers; a L7 switch that assigns a processing request from a client terminal to one of the servers; and a session management server that holds and manages handover data that includes handover identification information, which is at least either client terminal identification information or user identification information, and that is data necessary for continuously carrying out the business processing the server carried out. Then, the server to which the processing request is assigned by the L7 switch obtains the pertinent handover data by the handover data identification information included in the processing request to carry out a business processing by using the pertinent handover data and data included in the processing request, and generates handover data for the business processing to transmit the generated handover data to the session management server, and further generates and transmits response data for the client terminal as a processing requesting source.
US08204992B2 Presence detection using distributed indexes in peer-to-peer networks
Embodiments of a distributed index mechanism for indexing and searching for presence information in peer-to-peer networks. In one embodiment, a distributed index may be used to store presence information in a decentralized manner on a plurality of peer nodes. In one embodiment, a notification service may be implemented on top of the distributed index to notify peers of other peers joining a peer-to-peer session. Participating peers may query the distributed index to detect the presence of other participating peers registered in the distributed index. One embodiment of a distributed index of presence information may be implemented in peer-to-peer networks implemented according to a peer-to-peer platform including one or more peer-to-peer platform protocols for enabling peer nodes to discover each other, communicate with each other, and cooperate with each other to form peer groups and share network resources.
US08204989B2 Lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP) collision detection mechanism and method
A LDAP collision detection mechanism and a method are described herein that allow a LDAP client to detect and avoid an update operation collision on an entry within a LDAP directory. The method includes the steps of: (a) reading data from the entry in the directory; (b) processing the retrieved data; (c) sending a request to modify the data in the entry in the directory, wherein the client is assured that the requested modification will not be performed by the directory if another client had previously performed a modification on the data within the entry that was originally read by the client. There are several different embodiments of the LDAP collision detection mechanism and the method described herein.
US08204985B2 Probabilistic aggregation over distributed data streams
In one embodiment, a method of monitoring a network. The method includes, at each node of a set, constructing a corresponding vector of M components based on a stream of data packets received at the node during a time period, the set including a plurality of nodes of the network, M being greater than 1; and estimating a value of a byte traffic produced by a part of the packets based on the constructed vectors, the part being the packets received by every node of the set. The constructing includes updating a component of the vector corresponding to one of the nodes in response to the one of the nodes receiving a data packet. The updating includes selecting a component of the vector to be updated by hashing a property of the received data packet.
US08204980B1 Storage array network path impact analysis server for path selection in a host-based I/O multi-path system
Systems and methods are provided for selecting a path for an I/O in a storage area network. In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving path configuration information for paths associated with a host device connected to the storage area network, a listing of components within the storage area network, and a notification of a component failure within the storage area network. The method may also comprise correlating the received path configuration information, the received listing of components, and the received notification of component failure to determine one or more paths associated with the host device affected by the component failure. The method may further comprise transmitting to the host device an alert for the one or more affected paths.
US08204979B2 Adaptive client/server control protocol
In various embodiments of the present invention, tiered command-propagation methods are employed within client computers to ensure that monitoring-and-management-related commands are reliably propagated from server computers to client computers. When possible, command propagation is initiated by server computers through a notification process. When the notification process is inoperable, client computers poll one or more monitoring-and-management server computer for commands. When a failed or interrupted notification process is subsequently restored to operability, client computers automatically discontinue command polling and resume relying on server notification for command propagation.
US08204978B2 Client-side auto-rediscovery for networked devices
Methodology, systems, and media associated with client-side auto-rediscovery for networked devices are described. One exemplary method may include discovering a connection to a service providing networked device, client-side associating the connection, validating the connection before initiating a service request to the service providing networked device, selectively rediscovering the service providing networked device, and selectively client-side reassociating the connection.
US08204974B1 Identifying significant behaviors within network traffic
A system and a method for identifying significant behaviors from network traffic. A probability value is assigned to each cluster in a set of clusters. An uncertainty value is computed indicating a level of variability among the probability values. One or more clusters are removed from the set of clusters until the uncertainty value exceeds a desired uncertainty threshold, and each of the removed clusters is identified as a significant cluster.
US08204972B2 Management of logical networks for multiple customers within a network management framework
A method, system, apparatus, and computer program product is presented for management of a distributed data processing system on behalf of a plurality of management customers. The distributed data processing system is logically represented as a set of scopes, wherein a scope is a logical organization of network-related objects. Endpoint objects, system objects, and network objects are logically organized into a set of scopes that do not logically overlap. Each scope is uniquely assigned to a management customer. The distributed data processing system is managed as a set of logical networks in which a logical network contains a set of scopes and in which each logical network is uniquely assigned to a management customer. An administrative user may dynamically reconfigure the logical networks within the distributed data processing system while managing the logical networks for a set of customers.
US08204971B2 Systems and methods for dynamically configuring node behavior in a sensor network
The present disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods for controlling sensor networks. A sensor network has a plurality of sensor nodes, which have sensors for monitoring operational parameters of devices within an application-specific system. A wireless communication module is provided for each node to enable the node to wirelessly communicate with other nodes of the network. A user defines various scripts for controlling the behavior of one or more nodes, and the network distributes the scripts, as appropriate, to various nodes thereby implementing the behavior defined by the scripts. Accordingly, a user can easily and dynamically configure or re-configure the behavior of any node without having to physically access the node that is being configured or re-configured.
US08204969B2 Method for retrieving updates via the internet
A device includes a software agent that discovers a controller. Current state information indicating upgradeable files currently installed on the device is maintained. The agent sends the current state information to the controller, and the controller sends the current state information to a repository, via the Internet. The repository determines upgradeable files currently installed on the device based on the current state information, and checks for file updates for the upgradeable files. The repository sends file update information to the controller. The file update information includes file update locations. The controller sends the file update information to the agent, and the agent requests the controller to retrieve file updates. The controller retrieves each file update from its file update location on the Internet. The controller sends a notification to the agent when the file updates are retrieved, and the agent retrieves the file updates from the controller.
US08204967B2 Dynamic chain creation and segmentation of the packet-forwarding plane
A method is disclosed for dynamically creating encapsulation and decapsulation chains and segmenting the packet-forwarding plane. A distributed router may comprise multiple cards, each exposing a subset of the router's physical interfaces. Some physical interfaces may be configured to send/receive only certain types and destinations of data packets. Some cards might not expose any physical interfaces configured to send/receive a particular type and destination of packet, making encapsulation and/or decapsulation chains for virtual interfaces that process data packets of the particular type useless on those cards. Therefore, instead of always creating both encapsulation and decapsulation chains for a virtual interface on a card, an aspect of the method dynamically determines which of the encapsulation and decapsulation chains are useful for a virtual interface on that card, and creates only those chains that are useful on that card. Thus, the packet-forwarding plane is segmented into independent encapsulation and decapsulation segments.
US08204966B1 Map tile data pre-fetching based on user activity analysis
Map tile data for displaying graphic elements of a web-based mapping system in a smart phone or other mobile computing device may be pre-fetched to the device based on device activities. For example, a user activity system may receive user activity data from the mobile device. The user activity system may then extract geographic location data from the user activity data and send the geographic location data to a mapping system via a network connection. The mapping system may then match map tile data to the geographic location data extracted from the user activity data and send the matched map tile data to the mobile computing device for cache storage at the mobile computing device. The user activity system may also analyze the user activity data to determine whether the extracted geographic location data is relevant enough to warrant pre-fetching the tile data.
US08204963B2 Download control of information from server connected to network
At a download time, each of multiple printers connecting with a network identifies storage or non-storage of any unsent download request file, which has not yet been sent to a management server. In the case of storage of any unsent download request file, the printer collects from the other printers unsent download request files, which are stored in the other printers and have not yet been sent to the management server, and sends the collected download request files and the unsent download request file stored in the self printer to the management server. The printer receives a download data file sent back from the management server in response to the download request files, creates delivery data from the received download data file, and distributes relevant delivery data to each of the other printers. This arrangement effectively reduces the access frequency from the respective printers to the management server for download of specific information, which is to be used by the respective printers, from the management server.
US08204962B2 Method for queued overlap transfer of files
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a system and method for prequeuing of files predicted to be desired by a user, through a telecommunications link, into a local cache, based on a list, wherein the prequeuing system is responsive to any change in the sequence of user review, such that predicted latencies for sequential file review from any given starting point are minimized. A system and method for reducing latency in a sequential record browser are provided, for defining a sequential list of records; selecting a record from the list for review; downloading the selected record, and records sequentially thereafter until interrupted; interrupting the downloading by selecting a non-sequential record; and downloading the a non-sequential record and records sequentially thereafter until interrupted.
US08204960B2 Electronic data exchange system and method
In a system and a method of electronic data exchange for retrieving information used to carry out processes, at least one application is used to retrieve the information, and the application retrieves situation-specific information.
US08204959B2 Method of and device for transferring content
A method of transferring content between at least two devices, the devices being capable of outputting said content, and a device itself is disclosed. First, the devices are connected via associated interfaces. Then, there is a detection or negotiation which of the devices is currently outputting content. Finally, content, which is currently being output, is transferred from the corresponding outputting device or devices to the other device or devices via the interfaces.
US08204958B2 Apparatus and methods for network analysis
Embodiments of methods, systems and apparatus for analysis and capture of network data items are described herein. Some embodiments include a receiving module which may receive a network data item from a network and which may then duplicate the network data item into two network data items. A capture module may receive one of the network data items for storage in storage device. A statistics or analysis module may in parallel receive the other network data item and may then perform network analysis on that network data item. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08204955B2 Method and system for analyzing multimedia content
A method and system are provided for remotely analyzing multimedia content, in particular video, and extracting information from such multimedia content. The system analyses, e.g. a video file by way of an FTP, file upload or streaming data etc., and configuration settings specified in one embodiment by a separate entity at one of multiple server entities. The system also comprises one or more remote server entities utilizing data storage and data processing capabilities. In one embodiment the client sends a video source and configuration settings over a network, the remote server accepts the video source, generates configuration settings, and a data processing module analyzes the video content to extract data from the video.
US08204953B2 Distributed system for cache defeat detection and caching of content addressed by identifiers intended to defeat cache
Systems and methods for cache defeat detection are disclosed. Moreover, systems and methods for caching of content addressed by identifiers intended to defeat cache are further disclosed. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure include a system for optimizing resources in a mobile network, by for example performing one or more of, identifying a parameter in an identifier used in multiple polling requests to a given content source; means for, detecting that the parameter in the identifier changes for each of the polling requests; determining whether responses received from the given content source are the same for each of the multiple polling requests; and/or caching the responses on the mobile device in response to determining that the responses received for the given content source are the same.
US08204952B2 Digital file distribution in a social network system
Systems and methods for obtaining a digital file similar to one used by a device associated with a member of a social network are provided. Digital file information about the digital file is stored on a web-based social network database. The digital file may be located on the same server as the web-based social network database or a third party server such as a mobile phone carrier. A user of the web-based social network database requesting the digital file may require a different format of the digital file than that used by the device of the member. If a different format is requested by the user, a server finds or converts the digital file to be compatible for use by a device specified by the user.
US08204948B2 Querying a database and receiving replies in IPv6 format by utilizing well known port 53
Facilitating email transmission by extracting email parameters, requesting data in the form of a dns query, and receiving a sender reputation as an IP address. Querying a database by sending a plurality of arguments concatenated to a dns request and receiving an IP address in reply. Operating a remote database as a dns server, receiving queries as domains and transmitting replies in the format of IPv4 or IPv6 addresses. Filtering email by querying a database with email parameters comprising an IP address and a domain of an email sender which may be extracted from an email header in the HELO, EHLO, MAIL FROM, or RETURN PATH. The smtp session is continued, modified or interrupted according to the result of the query submitted to a database operating as a dns server.
US08204945B2 Hash-based systems and methods for detecting and preventing transmission of unwanted e-mail
A system (120) detects transmission of potentially unwanted e-mail messages. The system (120) may receive e-mail messages and generate hash values based on one or more portions of the e-mail messages. The system (120) may then determine whether the generated hash values match hash values associated with prior e-mail messages. The system (120) may determine that one of the e-mail messages is a potentially unwanted e-mail message when one or more of the generated hash values associated with the e-mail message match one or more of the hash values associated with the prior e-mail messages.
US08204942B2 Intelligent processing in the context of away and offline instant messages
An electronic assistant handles instant messages sent to a user when the user is away or offline. The electronic assistant may respond intelligently and helpfully to inquiries regarding the user's away or offline status, may take messages for delivery to the away or offline user, and may intelligently forward messages to the user, as appropriate.
US08204941B1 Presence updating with preferred service determination
A presence management system comprising a communication system configured to transmit a first update message indicating a first presence status of a user for a first service, and transmit a second update message indicating a second presence status of the user for a second service, and an access control system configured to receive the first and second update message, process the first and second update messages to determine a preferred service for the user of the first and second services, and transmit a third update message to a presence system indicating the user and the preferred service for the user wherein the presence system updates a presence indicator for the user to indicate the preferred service.
US08204938B2 System and method for immediate and delayed real-time communication activities using availability data from and communications through an external instant messaging system
A system and method for immediate and delayed real-time communication activities using availability data from and communications through an external instant messaging system, that operates to obtain aggregated user online presence information through its own client software, through interception of client-server communications between an external instant messaging client and server, and through other available interfaces to user account information on such external instant messaging systems. The system operates to gather user online presence information in part by intercepting communications between an instant messaging client and the Internet. The aggregate presence data, as well as other information describing the availability of a user, is used to intelligently route real-time communications, such as instant messages and phone calls. The disclosed system further implements a technique for waiting for changes in a user's availability status, and for performing actions on a user's behalf in response to such changes in availability status.
US08204937B2 Contact sidebar tile
Methods, systems, and computer program products for tracking real-time communication data within a single contact tracking application for diverse communication providers and applications. A global data store is synchronized with real-time communication data, such as presence, status, unread messages, and unread notifications, from each application/provider. Real-time communication data for contacts dynamically determined to be recent contacts is retrieved from the data store, based on properties such as a most recent communication time, a communication count, and the like. Real-time communication data corresponding to contacts identified as pinned contacts for which display of real-time communication data is preferred, also may be retrieved. A user interface is generated for displaying the one or more recent and/or pinned contacts, which may vary in size based on the number of contacts identified as pinned contacts, from which a contact may be selected for real-time conversation or e-mail.
US08204934B2 Techniques to enable firewall bypass for open mobile alliance device management server-initiated notifications in wireless networks
An embodiment of the present invention provides a method, comprising enabling firewall bypass for open mobile alliance device management (OMA DM) server-initiated notifications in wireless networks by requiring that a certain OMA DM packet is captured by a modem associated with a OMA DM client and routed via a predetermined driver interface, wherein the OMA DM server initiates connection with the OMA DM client by sending a UDP packet to the OMA DM client inside a wireless device, and wherein the OMA DM packet is transferred over RF channel into a the modem, and through the wireless device OS's IP stack delivered to an application of the OMA DM client.
US08204932B2 Method and apparatus for instant messaging
A method and apparatus for stored message delivery are taught. The method and apparatus can be configured to accomplish the steps of receiving a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message, as a received SIP message, encapsulating the received SIP message in a Message Session Relay Protocol (MSRP) message, as an encapsulated SIP message; and transmitting the encapsulated SIP message to an intended recipient.
US08204929B2 Hiding sensitive information
An improved methodology and implementing computer system are provided in which sensitive information is selectively masked in order to enable such information to be relatively securely and efficiently transmitted over networks without disclosure of such sensitive information at a transmitting or receiving terminal, or at points along the data transmission network.
US08204928B2 System and method for analyzing internet usage
A computer-implemented method for detecting a repetitive activity pattern is disclosed. The method may include receiving activity data. The activity data may include timing information of a plurality of events. The method may also include determining a series of interval times associated with the plurality of events. The method may further include calculating a series of single standard deviations representing a running standard deviation of the series of interval times. The method may also include calculating a double standard deviation of the series of single standard deviations. The method may yet further include detecting a repetitive activity pattern if the double standard deviation is below a first pre-determined standard deviation threshold for a time period longer than a time threshold.
US08204927B1 System and method for cognitive processing for data fusion
A system and method for cognitive processing of sensor data. A processor array receiving analog sensor data and having programmable interconnects, multiplication weights, and filters provides for adaptive learning in real-time. A static random access memory contains the programmable data for the processor array and the stored data is modified to provide for adaptive learning.
US08204924B1 Variable precision wavelets
A method and apparatus are presented for performing wavelet transforms, post transform processing and inverse wavelet transforms whereby hardware complexity is reduced and processor performance is enhanced by performing the forward and inverse wavelet transformations and post transform processing in variable precision arithmetic. Optimal decreases in the operational arithmetic precision of different wavelet scale coefficients, multiplication and weighting operations, and other operations, results in reduced computational complexity, increased speed, and in some cases better signal to noise ratios.
US08204922B2 Master data management system for centrally managing core reference data associated with an enterprise
A system is disclosed for centrally managing core enterprise reference data associated with an enterprise. A centralized master repository includes the core enterprise reference data. An internal services framework coupled with the centralized master repository provides a business process toolkit for managing models. The business process toolkit includes a model library comprising data models and one or more modeling services for modeling the system. The internal services framework also provides internal services for managing the core enterprise reference data, one or more of the internal services having direct access to the core enterprise reference data for management purposes. An infrastructure services layer coupled with the centralized master repository provides bulk data transfers of core enterprise reference data according to one or more enterprise-level business workflows, the external operational systems permitted indirect access to the core enterprise reference data for operational purposes.
US08204915B2 Apparatus and method for generating a database that maps metadata to P2P content
Various exemplary embodiments disclose an apparatus and method for generating a database that maps metadata to peer-to-peer (P2P) content and, more particularly, to a database that an Internet Service Provider (ISP) can build to correlate metadata with P2P traffic. The database may collect metadata having a key that uniquely corresponds to particular P2P content. An ISP may use the database to identify malware in P2P files and tag P2P traffic that seeks to exchange material in violation of applicable copyright laws.
US08204911B2 Software, devices and methods facilitating execution of server-side applications at mobile devices
Software, devices and methods allowing varied mobile devices to interact with server side software applications are disclosed. Data from an application executing at a computing device may be presented at a remote wireless device by providing the device an application definition file, containing definitions for a user interface format for the application at the wireless device; the format of network messages for exchange of data generated by the application; and a format for storing data related to the application at the wireless device. Using these definitions, the wireless device may receive data from said application in accordance with the definition and present an interface for the application. The application definition file may define a table, a message or data package, and an update to be made to the table based on the message or data package.
US08204910B2 Media device presence management
A media player may be adapted to manage presence information distribution and access to facilitate media communication between compatible devices. Devices connecting in an ad-hoc or other network topology include a plurality of presence settings that determine how or if the device appears to be available for communication to other devices over the network. Additionally, the presence settings identify other, specific devices or groups of devices that may communicate with a device. By comparing the presence settings of a sending device with the settings of a receiving device, the receiving device may determine a presence state for all devices within communication range.
US08204909B2 Method and apparatus providing omnibus view of online and offline content of various file types and sources
An online service provider (OSP) operates online data centers to store members' data objects relating to various online member services of the OSP. An aggregated catalog lists members' data objects residing in the online data centers and also those residing in member computers' local storage. An aggregator monitors contents of the online storage facilities to detect new storage of prescribed types of data objects owned by the members, and also communicates with member computers to identify prescribed types of data objects newly stored in the respective local storage. The aggregator updates the aggregated catalog to list the newly stored data objects. Responsive to a request by a member, a finder searches the aggregated catalog and utilizes results of the search to provide, for display at the requesting member's computer, a consolidated listing of online data objects and locally stored data objects owned by the requesting member.
US08204906B2 Abstraction based audit and security log model for increased role and security enforcement
Embodiments of the invention store log event records in a secure database log by encrypting information in a query, or in query results, that would otherwise be subject to unwanted disclosure (either from within or without a given organization). For example, an organization (e.g., a research institution) may allow a database administrator to review log event records to diagnose and correct system performance issues, without being forced to trust the administrator with sensitive medical data (e.g., medical records related to participants in a research study). Thus, the security of sensitive information may be maintained, while at the same time, the database administrator may still access the information needed to maintain a working system.
US08204901B2 Generating query predicates for processing multidimensional data
Systems, methods and articles of manufacture are disclosed for generating a relational database query from an online analytical processing (OLAP) query against a cube. The cube may have dimensions, each dimension having a hierarchy of members. A level of the hierarchy of a dimension of the cube may be identified from which the OLAP query accesses a number of members exceeding a predefined threshold count of members. A relational database query may be generated that includes a predicate for at least one member from at least one level above the identified level in the hierarchy, instead of a plurality of predicates for members from the identified level. The relational database query may be generated from the OLAP query, from a definition for the hierarchy, and from the accessed members from the identified level. As a result, the relational database query may include fewer predicates and may be executed more efficiently.
US08204900B2 Metrics library
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a metrics library system (MLS) for creating and storing complex search queries in a searchable repository. Embodiments of the present invention provide an MLS comprising a user interface for entering a user login, a defined metric query store, a metric definition interface, at least two disparate data stores, a query execution function, a metric library interface, and a user interface for directing data retrieved by the query execution function to a location specified by the user. In some embodiments, the MLS further provides a metrics usage history.
US08204895B2 Apparatus and method for receiving a report
A method of receiving a report includes submitting a search query, receiving a proposed abstract query and report search results, and accepting a choice between submitting the proposed abstract query to generate a report and designating an existing report from the report search results. A report is then received in accordance with the choice.
US08204890B1 Media content voting, ranking and playing system
Methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer programs encoded on computer-readable media, for receiving a plurality of metadata associated with a plurality of media items. Each metadata includes a ranking score and a resource locator of the media item. Queuing media item identifiers based on the plurality of metadata and ordering the queue based on the ranking scores. Retrieving a portion of a highest-ranking unplayed media item and providing the portion to a content playback device. Receiving vote indications for an unplayed media item. The ranking score of the unplayed media is updated item based on the received vote indications. The unplayed media items are reordered in the queue based upon the updated ranking score of the unplayed media item. Retrieving a portion of a highest-ranking unplayed media item in the reordered queue and providing the portion to a content playback device.
US08204888B2 Using tags in an enterprise search system
An interface can allow for associating documents with tags. A search system can use connections between the tags and documents to determine search-independent rank values for the documents. The search-independent rank values can be combined with term matching indications to get a total relevance of the document.
US08204886B2 Method and apparatus for preparation of indexing structures for determining similar points-of-interests
An approach is provided for determining the similarity between two points-of-interest. Data about a plurality of features of each of a plurality of points-of-interest are received. A feature vector is created based on the respective features for each of the points-of-interest. A geospatial index comprising the feature vectors and associated location data for each of the points-of-interest is generated.
US08204885B2 Multiple dimensioned database architecture supporting operations on table groups
A database management system stores data form a plurality of logical tables as independent copies in different format. In one specific example the system organizes tables into table groups and de-normalizes the table in each table group. It also organizes data in a second format including vertical column containers that store all the data for one attribute, there being one column container for each table and each attribute within that table. The receipt of a query causes the system to develop a query plan that can interact with either or both of the container sets.
US08204883B1 Systems and methods of determining genre information
Systems and methods of determining genre information are provided. A particular method includes receiving a first data set including a plurality of genre descriptors and associated strength values related to particular content. Each strength value indicates a degree to which the associated genre descriptor describes the particular content. The method also includes storing a data record associating the first data set with the particular content.
US08204880B2 Generic table grouper
A system and process that groups identical values that are adjacent to one another within a column of a table. The system provides this functionality through an application and backend implementation independent module. Custom grouping information for a table or columns within a table can be stored for retrieval each time a table is open or displayed. A user can manage the customizations through a centralized portal.
US08204879B2 System and method for aggregation and monitoring of multimedia data stored in a decentralized way
System and method for aggregation and monitoring of multimedia data stored in a decentralized way for triggering upcoming class action events, whereas source databases of the network node are accessed by a filter module, and for at least one rating parameter in connection with assigned search key words and/or the assigned source databases with respect to a time-based rating and an exposure-based frequency rating a scorecard is generated with found data sets, and a parameterization module, based on the scorecard for the respective rating parameter with respect to their exposure-based frequency a variable frequency value is generated at least partially dynamically, which variable frequency value corresponds to network class action frequency variations, with respect to time, and a tracing unit based on a generated assigned distribution of the variable frequency values a predefined exposure threshold is triggered.
US08204877B2 Point of interest search device and point of interest search method
A point of interest (POI) search device includes: a static POI data storage means for storing therein a static POI data registered in advance; an added POI data storage means for storing therein an added POI data added or changed; a deleted POI data storage means for storing therein a deleted POI data for identifying a POI data which is not subjected to a search anymore, among the static POI data; a search keyword setting means; a computation switch means for computing the number of POI data matching the search keyword from among the static POI data and switching a computation processing of computing the number of POI data according to the computed number of POI data; and a POI search means for computing the number of POI data, using at least the static POI data and the added POI data according to the switched computation processing.
US08204868B1 Method and system for improving performance with single-instance-storage volumes by leveraging data locality
A method and system for improving performance with single-instance-storage volumes by leveraging data locality is provided. A client provides a set of fingerprints generated from data segments to be saved to a single-instance storage volume and receives the information on whether a data segment exists on the single-instance storage volume and where it is stored if a data segment exists. Based on its received information, the client determines if a number of non-sequential accesses of a computer-readable medium for the set of segments from the single-instance-storage volume exceeds a predetermined threshold. If so, the client provides the whole set of data segments for storage within the single-instance storage volume regardless of whether or not the data segments are duplicate data segments. These sent data segments will be stored contiguously within the single-instance storage volume while the duplicates will be removed from their previous stored locations.
US08204867B2 Apparatus, system, and method for enhanced block-level deduplication
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for enhanced block-level deduplication. A computer program product stores one or more express block signatures in an express directory that meet a reference count requirement. The computer program product also stores one or more primary block signatures and one or more reference counts for the primary block signatures in a primary directory. Each primary block signature has a corresponding reference count. The computer program product determines whether a block signature for a data block matches one of the one or more express block signatures stored in the express directory.
US08204865B2 Logical conflict detection
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with detecting and avoiding logical conflicts between long duration transactions are described. One example method includes generating conflict keys for long transactions using conflict queries that operate on data being manipulated to return a conflict key to be associated with the transaction. The conflict keys may be used to detect or avoid logical conflicts that occur in long duration transactions running concurrently.
US08204864B1 Restartable dump that produces a consistent filesystem on tapes
The invention provides a method and system for performing a dump operation that preserves partial results of an aborted or interrupted dump, and allows restarting the dump from near where it was stopped. Thus, tapes from the original dump, plus tapes from the restarted dump, can be combined to provide a consistent subset of a filesystem. In a preferred embodiment, the dump operation is performed on a consistent recorded snapshot of the filesystem, so that the subset of the filesystem recorded on the tapes is itself consistent. As an emergent consequence, the dump operation is freely interruptable, restartable, and provides a set of tapes that maintain a consistent subset of the filesystem that is transparent to tape-restore operations and other operations to be performed on the filesystem as it was recorded on tape.
US08204856B2 Database replication
A new database design is implemented in which everything in the database is modeled with primitives, including the links and nodes for a graph tuple store. A query syntax provides a nested tree of constraints with a single global schema. Various optimization techniques for queries and replication techniques are also described.
US08204854B2 Dynamically redirecting a target location during a file I/O operation
A file I/O operation is initiated to store a result of a file I/O operation in a destination file. In response to the file I/O operation being in progress, an amount of the file I/O operation currently completed is monitored. In response to determining that the amount of the file I/O operation currently completed is less than a threshold amount, another destination file is specified through a user interface, in which to store a result of file I/O operation not yet completed. The file I/O operation stores the remaining result of the file I/O operation at the another destination file. A single file handle is updated for the result of the file I/O operation to reference the destination file comprising the portion of the result and the another destination file comprising the remaining result.
US08204845B2 Movement of an agent that utilizes a compiled set of canonical rules
A method includes obtaining, at a first execution environment of a first device, an as-needed rule set. The as-needed rule set is a subset of context-specific rules filtered from a total potential rule set based at least on a hardware characteristic of a second execution environment. The as-needed rule set is associated with an agent. The agent and the as-needed rule set are encoded into a transferable form. The encoded agent and the encoded as-needed rule set are sent from the first execution environment to the second execution environment.
US08204842B1 System and method for image annotation and multi-modal image retrieval using probabilistic semantic models comprising at least one joint probability distribution
Systems and Methods for multi-modal or multimedia image retrieval are provided. Automatic image annotation is achieved based on a probabilistic semantic model in which visual features and textual words are connected via a hidden layer comprising the semantic concepts to be discovered, to explicitly exploit the synergy between the two modalities. The association of visual features and textual words is determined in a Bayesian framework to provide confidence of the association. A hidden concept layer which connects the visual feature(s) and the words is discovered by fitting a generative model to the training image and annotation words. An Expectation-Maximization (EM) based iterative learning procedure determines the conditional probabilities of the visual features and the textual words given a hidden concept class. Based on the discovered hidden concept layer and the corresponding conditional probabilities, the image annotation and the text-to-image retrieval are performed using the Bayesian framework.
US08204840B2 Global conduct score and attribute data utilization pertaining to commercial transactions and page views
In one embodiment, a system and method is illustrated as including generating a model using at least one of a global conduct score and attribute data. A range of numeric values may be retrieved, based upon which, a better term is granted in a transaction than would otherwise be granted in the transaction. A comparison may be made between the model and the range of numeric values. Further, a better term may be granted in the transaction where the model falls within the range of numeric values. The global conduct score is computed using an approach including at least one of a feed score approach, and a composite score approach. The attribute data includes page view data, click through data, account usage data, and good purchased data. The model includes a global conduct score model, a weighting model, an AI based model, and an associated network based model.
US08204839B2 Apparatus and method for expressing behavior of software robot
Disclosed is a software robot apparatus and a method including detecting environmental information, detecting multiple external events objects, generating a sensor value having an effect on the software robot, changing physical states related to external events and internal events, generating a physical state value, changing a perception state, generating a perception state value corresponding to the changed perception state, changing an emotion state, generating an emotion state value; detecting an episode related to a behavior type, storing a variance related to each state, calculating a representative variance, and when a current perception state or a current emotion state is identified as unstable, detecting an episode capable of changing the unstable state into a normal state, determining a behavior and an object stored in the detected episode as a final behavior object, and expressing an actual behavior of the software robot to the object corresponding to the final behavior object.
US08204837B2 Information processing apparatus and method, and program for providing information suitable for a predetermined mood of a user
The invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method and a program which can provide an item suitable for a feeling (mood) of a user. A user data acquisition section acquires a result of decision by the user regarding whether or not an item is appropriate to a predetermined mood. An inappropriateness filter production section acquires a characteristic amount of an item decided as not being appropriate to the predetermined mood by all of users from a characteristic amount analysis section. The inappropriateness filter production section analyzes a plurality of characteristic amounts of different acquired items to extract a characteristic amount of an item which is not appropriate to the predetermined mood. An inappropriateness filter produced by the inappropriateness filter production section is used when it is decided whether or not a predetermined item is appropriate to a predetermined mood.
US08204832B2 Medical image diagnostic apparatus and remote maintenance system
A remote maintenance system for medical image diagnostic apparatuses capable of preventing leak of personal information on the patient attached to a medical image.The system comprises an MRI apparatus (100), a server (300) installed in a service center of a company performing the maintenance service on the MRI apparatus (100), and a network facility (200) for interconnecting the server (300) and the MRI apparatus (100).The server (300) transmits a permission request for remote connection to the MRI apparatus (100) through the network facility (200).If the remote connection is permitted, a VPN control unit (8a) of the MRI apparatus (100) converts the personal information on the medical image into a concealed mark and transmits it along with the medical image to the server (300).
US08204829B2 Systems and methods for money sharing
A system and a method for money sharing are provided. The system includes a processor configured to receive a deposit amount and assign an account value to a stored-value account. The stored-value account is stored in a storage device. The processor then dispenses two or more stored-value cards associated with the stored-value account. The stored-value cards can be distributed among two or more cardholders who may withdraw money from the stored-value account at a remote access unit configured to accept any of the distributed stored-value cards associated with the same account. Additional deposit amounts can be received into the stored-value account from a cardholder of any distributed stored-value cards associated with the same account. The remote access unit can be unattended. The cards can be ATM-enabled.
US08204826B2 Method and apparatus for integrated payments processing and decisioning for internet transactions
A method and apparatus provides a decisioning solution for merchants accepting Internet transactions, integrated with means for processing payments electronically. The invention claimed herein provides features, such as, but not limited to, electronic transfer of funds, authentication of parties, seemless integration with merchant's Web page, and reporting of suspicious activity.
US08204824B2 System and method of account reconciliation for electronic transactions
A transaction process system (10) provides for data transactions between parties. In a credit card transaction, the parties are the merchant (20), acquiring bank (24), card association (34), issuing bank (14), and cardholder (12). A transaction processing center (30) is positioned between the acquiring bank and the card association. The transaction processing center provides data processing channels for message-based processing (72) and filed-based processing (76). The file-based processing uses an incoming queue (80) and outgoing queue (84) to simplify the interface. The transaction processing center also provides for currency conversions and account reconciliation on a per transaction basis. The transaction processing center uses a scheduler (160) to efficiently manage the data processing resources and an account reconciliation processor (200) to identify discrepancies and initiate corrective action.
US08204820B2 Computer system and method for producing analytical data related to the project bid and requisition process
A comprehensive, web-enabled computer system and method is provided for producing analytical data related a project bid management system. Transactional data related to the bid and project are entered into the computer system through an on-line bid, project requisition and payment process. Using the transactional data stored within the system, virtually any type of analytical data related to single or multiple projects performed by one or more vendors for one or more buyers can be generated.
US08204817B2 System and method for providing electronic price feeds for tradeable objects
System and methods for a price feed generation are described. According to an example method described herein, upon receiving market information including a plurality of linear prices and order quantities, a reference price level is selected and a price feed message is generated to include the reference price level and the plurality of order quantities. The price feed message is then provided to client terminals.
US08204815B2 Open end mutual fund securitization process
A computer implemented system is provided for exchanging shares in an exchange traded product. A display is provided for displaying data representing shares of an exchange traded product comprising a leveraged portfolio of securities satisfying capitalization and performance criteria, the securities within the portfolio being weighted and having an expected future performance return greater than securities comprising a benchmark. The leveraged exchange traded product is configured for trading shares of the leveraged exchange traded product at a real time determined price related to the underlying price of each of the selected securities comprising the leveraged exchange traded product and related to the respective weightings of the selected securities. The exchange traded product can be open ended. An exchange computer is also provided for processing the exchange of the shares at a price related to the price of the securities within the leveraged portfolio, the exchange computer being configured to transmit data indicative of trades which occur intra-day over a communication network to an exchange clearing computer.
US08204814B2 Systems, methods and computer program products for performing a contingent claim valuation
Systems, methods and computer program products for performing a valuation of a contingent claim, such as a call or a put, are provided that initially determine the present value distribution of contingent future benefits that is attributable to the exercise of a contingent claim, such as according to a jump-diffusion model. The present value of an exercise price, such as a distribution of contingent future investments of a distribution of contingent future investments, required to exercise the contingent claim is also determined. An average of the difference between the present value distribution of contingent future benefits and the present value of the contingent future investment is determined. By utilizing appropriate discount rates, the benefits and investment can be effectively valued, which, in turn, permits the contingent claim project to be effectively valued in an intuitive manner.
US08204812B2 Method and system for funding a financial account
A system and method of electronically funding a financial account is disclosed. The method includes the acts of providing an electronic funding application, electronically transmitting the electronic funding application to a customer-operated client, and entering financial data into the funding application of the customer-operated client. The financial data includes a magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) line, a currency amount, and an account identifier. The method further includes the acts of electronically transmitting the financial data to a server (30), validating that at least a portion of the entered financial data corresponds to the demand deposit account, converting the MICR line to an item compatible with the Automated Clearing House network, submitting the item and the currency to this network and electronically transfering the currency from the demand deposit account to the financial account.
US08204811B2 System and method for displaying risk data in an electronic trading environment
An example graphical interface and method for displaying risk related data are described. One example graphical interface includes a data structure comprising a plurality of data nodes and at least one risk data point associated with each node, and further comprises a display grid. The display grid includes one or more cells that are used for displaying selected data nodes and risk data points. Each cell may be associated with a single data node, and may include one or more identifiers corresponding to risk data points of the data node. In one example embodiment, the identifiers are aligned along a single axis, and risk related data corresponding to each identifier is aligned with respect to each corresponding identifier.
US08204810B2 System and method for matching an offer with a quote
Described is a system and method that satisfies offers from customers with quotes from suppliers in a way that increases the likelihood of achieving an acceptable match. The system of the present invention is configured to receive from a customer an offer for a product. The system queries in parallel multiple suppliers for rate quotes on the desired product. Each of the suppliers is ranked according to the lowest rate quoted by each supplier. The supplier quoting the lowest rate is selected as the winner of the offer. The system may then evaluate any other rate quotes provided by the winning provider. The system may satisfy the customer's offer with the winning provider at a higher rate (if one was provided) than the winning rate quoted, up to the customer's offer (perhaps adjusted for a reasonable profit). In this way, even though the provider provides low rate quotes to win the offer, the provider may still realize a much higher rate for the goods or services by quoting additional, higher rate quotes as well.
US08204805B2 Instant tax return preparation
A method involves generating a partially completed tax return based on basic user information without needing to obtain other user inputs through an extensive user interview. A list of simple and concise interview questions are generated or selected from an interview question collection based on the partially completed tax return to finalize the tax return. The method further involves using an inference engine to allow data collection at any time and in any order via specific, personalized questions geared toward completion of the tax return. Therefore the taxpayer spends time reviewing rather than preparing his or her tax documents.
US08204803B2 Multi-company business accounting system and method for same including financial reporting
In at least one embodiment of the present invention, a computer implemented method of financial reporting using a multi-company accounting system is provided. The method comprises specifying at least one distinct Natural Account Segment per report line of a plurality of report lines of the financial report via input from an interface user into the multi-company accounting system to define a report setup. The Natural Account Segment defines a specific type of one of an asset, liability, owner equity, revenue and expense account. The report lines are arranged into a tree view with the multi-company accounting system. The tree view defines a hierarchical format for the financial report and is displayable on a display of a computer arrangement.
US08204801B2 System and method for interactive, computer-assisted object presentation
A system and method for interactive, computer-assisted object presentation in which object information is displayed in one more arrays. In some embodiments, object information is displayed in a two dimensional array wherein displayed object information can be selected by a user. In response to the selection, in some embodiments additional information is displayed about an object corresponding to the selected information. In some embodiments, the additional information includes one or more of a link to permit a user to buy the object (e.g., from an e-commerce web site) and a link to bid on the object (e.g., in an on-line auction). In some embodiments, at least a subset of the two arrays scrolls without user interaction. In some embodiments, object information is displayed in an first array from which a user can select multiple elements. In response to the selection, in some embodiments a second array is displayed with information about the multiple selected elements from the first array. In some embodiments, the information displayed in the second array includes status information about the selected elements, such as price changes.
US08204799B1 System and method for combining fulfillment of customer orders from merchants in computer-facilitated marketplaces
Combining fulfillment of customer orders from merchants in computer-facilitated marketplaces. An order management system may include a virtual shopping cart interface that may be used with a number of merchants. Each merchant may be registered to receive fulfillment services from a fulfillment services provider for inventory items the merchant offers in commerce. The virtual shopping cart interface may be configured to receive requests to indicate various items within a virtual shopping cart corresponding to a customer. Different inventory items offered by different merchants may be placed within the virtual shopping cart. In response to the customer's request to finalize an order, the order management system may instruct the fulfillment services provider to ship the items in the virtual shopping cart to the customer. A single shipment may include items offered by several different merchants, and each of the merchants may be the merchant of record for its respective inventory item.
US08204795B2 Environment customization based on location
A user's location is automatically transmitted to a network, and the network automatically customizes one or more environments, such as by customizing communication devices, other types of devices, or the like, based on the detected location and on profile information. Customizing an environment may include enabling services, such as setting up a public telephone or hotel telephone with a user's home base telephone settings and/or services, and/or may include disabling functions, such as disabling long-distance service when the user is away from home.
US08204781B2 Rebate processing system and method offering selectable disbursement options
A system is disclosed that provides computer-aided processing of a rebate on a product. The system includes a rebate processing center communicating over a network with a manufacturer, a distributor, and a consumer. The rebate processing center maintains a promotion table and a transaction table in order to facilitate processing of product rebates and to offer the consumer a choice of disbursement options.
US08204778B2 Behavioral profiles in sourcing and recruiting as part of a hiring process
A method of selecting potential hires for progression through a hiring process is provided. The method comprises selecting at least one performance indicator for a position, obtaining the at least one performance indicator for a plurality of incumbents in the position, and placing each incumbent in the plurality of incumbents along a performance continuum according to their performance indicator. The method also comprises surveying incumbents from at least both halves of the performance continuum, generating an ideal profile for the position based upon the incumbent survey and the at least one performance indicator of the incumbents, using a survey to generate a candidate profile of a potential hire, comparing the candidate profile of the potential hire with the ideal profile for the position to determine a result for the potential hire, and determining whether to progress the potential hire to a next stage in the hiring process based upon the result.
US08204777B2 Methods and apparatus for management and analysis of costs and savings
Systems and techniques for management and analysis of cost and savings information. Products sold by an enterprise, and the components used in the creation of those products are identified. Transaction data relating to purchases of components by the enterprise is gathered from various sources and used to generate cost information for the components. The cost information is compared to baseline cost information to compute savings information for the components. Specifications of components used in products, information relating to the number of products created and sold and information categorizing components and products is used to generate cost and savings information for components, products and categories of products.
US08204773B2 Range forecasting of demand for order configurations for configurable products
A method and system for forecasting demand for order configurations are provided. The method and system, in one aspect, expresses attach rates within a family of n options as a set of n positive numbers that sum to 1. By applying suitable transformations to the attach rates, they are modeled as a random vector in (n−1)-dimensional Euclidean space. The distribution of the transformed attach rates are modeled as a distribution family specified by a location vector and a dispersion matrix. The dispersion matrix is simplified, for example, using historical data or expert judgment or both to identify option families that have dependent demand. Simplifying may also include expressing dependence between options by a simple model that involves few parameters. Location vector is estimated by computing point forecasts of transformed attach rates. The parameters of the dispersion matrix are estimated by calibration on historical data, using the dispersion of the errors in historical point forecasts.
US08204766B2 Insurance claim payment card system
A system for the adjudication of insurance claims, such as automobile repair claims, by an insurance provider is provided. A claim submitted by a policyholder is received is received by the insurance provider. The claim is assigned to an insurance adjuster. The insurance provider receives a determination of a dollar value of the claim from the adjuster, and uses this information to determine how much money to disburse to the policyholder. The insurance provider then issues an account funded with the dollar value of the claim to the policyholder, accessible by the policyholder through a card. As the card is used, the insurance provider collects purchase information, such as information relating to the date, place, and amount of each purchase made on the account. The insurance provider may then collate the purchase information in a database and analyze the data for mathematically significant trends and relationships.
US08204764B2 Systems and methods of managing appointments in a health care system
Disclosed are systems and methods of managing appointments in a health care system.
US08204759B2 Social analysis in multi-participant meetings
A method, system and computer program product are provided for social analysis in multi-party meetings. The method includes receiving a data stream of a multi-participant meeting and identifying participants' contributions in the data stream. The method also includes detecting a sub-activity within the data stream in which two or more participants are active and calculating a connection weight between two participants based on contributions in a sub-activity. Calculating a connection weight between two participants includes increasing a weighting of two participants that interact in the same sub-activity. The method also includes integrating the connection weight between two participants into a weighted social network.
US08204750B2 Multipurpose media players
Disclosed are Multipurpose Media Players that enable users to create transcriptions, closed captions, and/or logs of digitized recordings, that enable the presentation of transcripts, closed captions, logs, and digitized recordings in a correlated manner to users, that enable users to compose one or more scenes of a production, and that enable users to compose storyboards for a production. The multipurpose media players can be embodied within Internet browser environments, thereby providing high availability of the multipurpose players across software platforms, networks, and physical locations.
US08204749B2 System and method for building emotional machines
A system, method and computer-readable medium for practicing a method of emotion detection during a natural language dialog between a human and a computing device are disclosed. The method includes receiving an utterance from a user in a natural language dialog, receiving contextual information regarding the natural language dialog which is related to changes of emotion over time in the dialog, and detecting an emotion of the user based on the received contextual information. Examples of contextual information include, for example, differential statistics, joint statistics and distance statistics.
US08204745B2 Encoder, decoder, encoding method, and decoding method
An encoding apparatus and method for generating low-frequency-band encoding information and high-frequency-band encoding information from an original signal. The encoding apparatus includes a first spectrum calculator that calculates a first spectrum of a low frequency band from a decoded signal of the low-frequency-band encoding information, a second spectrum calculator that calculates a second spectrum from the original signal, an estimator that divides a high frequency band of the second spectrum into a plurality of bands and estimates the second spectrum included in each band, using the first spectrum, and a first error component encoder that encodes a first error component between the high frequency band of the second spectrum and an estimated spectrum. A corresponding decoding apparatus and method provides decoding.
US08204743B2 Apparatus and method for concealing frame erasure and voice decoding apparatus and method using the same
An apparatus and method for concealing frame erasure and a voice decoding apparatus and method using the same. The frame erasure concealment apparatus includes: a parameter extraction unit determining whether there is an erased frame in a voice packet, and extracting an excitement signal parameter and a line spectrum pair parameter of a previous good frame; and an erasure frame concealment unit, if there is an erased frame, restoring the excitement signal and line spectrum pair parameter of the erased frame by using a regression analysis from the excitement signal and line spectrum pair parameter of the previous good frame. According to the method and apparatus, by predicting and restoring the parameter of the erased frame through the regression analysis, the quality of the restored voice signal can be enhanced and the algorithm can be simplified.
US08204734B2 Multi-platform software application simulation systems and methods
An exemplary system includes a development subsystem configured to facilitate development of a software application and a simulation subsystem selectively and communicatively coupled to the development subsystem. The simulation subsystem is configured to emulate a plurality of processing device platforms, receive data representative of a selection of at least one of the plurality of processing device platforms, and simulate an execution of the software application by one or more processing devices associated with the at least one selected processing device platform.
US08204728B2 Systems and methods for improved positioning of pads
Systems and methods for the automated positioning of pads and orienting of slot templates for the pads. The systems and methods also include automated adjustment of well path plans from a pad to selected well targets.
US08204727B2 Computer-implemented systems and methods for use in modeling a geomechanical reservoir system
Computer-implemented systems and methods are provided for modeling a geomechanical reservoir system to provide fracturing predictions. The model predictions are generated by solving a system of partial differential equations that model the geomechanical reservoir system.
US08204724B2 Predicting behavior of a tool using a model of a rheological characteristic of a fluid
A model of at least one rheological characteristic of a fluid is provided. According to the model, a behavior of the tool that includes an actuator that uses the fluid is predicted. The behavior of the tool is predicted for at least one expected condition in a well.
US08204722B2 Simulation apparatus, simulation method, and simulation program
A disclosed device includes a simulation apparatus which simulates a shift in signal characteristics occurring in a wiring pattern formed in a printed wiring board including a first database that stores wiring pattern attribute information and wiring pattern positional information, a second database storing solid lack portion size information and solid lack portion positional information, a third database that stores shift amount information relative to positional relationships between the wiring patterns and the solid lack portions, a shift amount processing unit configured to obtain the shift amount of the signal characteristics in the wiring pattern corresponding to the wiring pattern attribute information which is input based on the wiring pattern positional information corresponding to the wiring pattern attribute information which is input, the solid lack portion positional information, the solid lack portion size information, and the shift amount information.
US08204721B2 Apparatus and method for emulation of process variation induced in split process semiconductor wafers
Predictive Split Lot Emulator, and methods simulating integrated circuit performance variations, before IC fabrication. The emulator receives a split lot parameter, maps the split lot parameter onto an IC element model, and transforms the IC element into a predictive IC element model. The emulator uses the predictive model to determine simulated performance characteristic of the IC element model. Also, a predictive split lot analyzer, a CAD simulation system, and a PDK including the emulator. IC simulating methods include choosing a Split Condition from a Split Table; a Predictive Split Lot Emulator receiving the Condition, determining a Split Parameter Condition Perturbation, mapping the Perturbation into a Model Parameter Perturbation for an IC element, and storing the Model Perturbation for an IC element into a Model Parameter Perturbation Library. The Perturbation Library emulates IC element performance characteristic in a Split Condition. Determining, mapping, and emulating are executed prior to integrated circuit fabrication.
US08204719B2 Methods and systems for model-based management using abstract models
Techniques for constructing and using models in accordance with service level management are disclosed. In one aspect of the invention, a technique for constructing a model (e.g., a system model) representative of a resource for use in managing a service associated with the resource, comprises the following steps/operations. A set of resource metrics is obtained in accordance with a resource abstract model (RAM) associated with the resource. Then, a model representative of the resource is constructed based on at least a portion of the set of resource metrics obtained from the resource abstract model.
US08204716B2 System and method for characterizing vibration of a rack structure
A system for characterizing vibration of a rack structure having at least one hard disk drive disposed therein and a vibration exciter operatively associated with the rack structure includes one or more computers. The one or more computers are configured to command the vibration exciter to provide vibration input to the rack structure and to command a plurality of reads from the at least one hard disk drive such that, for each of the plurality of reads, data stored on the at least one hard disk drive is retrieved from the at least one hard disk drive. The one or more computers are also configured to obtain read rate information related to the plurality of reads and to identify at least one resonant frequency of the rack structure based on the read rate information.
US08204715B1 System and method for determining joint moment and track estimation performance bounds from sparse configurations of total-field magnetometers
A method allows for determining the quality of a vessel's moment estimate and track information derived from a suite of sensors measuring the local magnitude of the magnetic field. A Bayesian treatment, employing a Markov Chain Monte Carlo approach with Gibbs sampling is applied with reduced magnetic noise spatio-temporal correlation models and implied whitening procedures. Vessel moment parameters are handled with a Gaussian prior leading to conditional densities that are Gaussian and posterior marginal densities that are mixture-Gaussian. Other conditional quantile functions for track parameters are computed with a grid procedure. From these, the Markov chain is determined and the resulting joint density of all variates is constructed. The method allows for determining posterior marginal densities and dependencies associated with magnetic moment and track parameters. The method may be stored in a storage device in a sensor and may be executed by a processor within the sensor.
US08204710B2 Dynamic postural apparatus for detecting a balanced biped posture
Scales for detecting equilibrium anomalies of a human body include force sensors under a dynamic. A processing unit determines, from signals of the sensors, the total weight of a subject on the plate. The weight is viewed on a display. Deformable members associated with each sensor provide support along an upward direction of the plate relative to a fixed portion of the scales. A module compares data of the sensors received by the processing unit, to detect a poor distribution of the forces. The display is modified when a poor force distribution is measured by the detector module. The subject can thus exercise dynamically to find a balanced position of his/her feet on the plate.
US08204709B2 System and method for monitoring photovoltaic power generation systems
A system and method for monitoring photovoltaic power generation systems or arrays, both on a local (site) level and from a central location. The system includes panel and string combiner sentries or intelligent devices, in bidirectional communication with a master device on the site to facilitate installation and troubleshooting of faults in the array, including performance monitoring and diagnostic data collection.
US08204708B2 System and method for updating a compensation value of a measurement machine
A system and method for updating a compensation value of a measurement machine provides a host computer to generate an authorization code document according to an ID input by a user and encrypts the authorization code document. A client computer decrypts the authorization code document, and obtains an authorization code, the input ID, and a valid date of the authorization code. If the input ID is the same as an ID of the measurement machine, and the authorization code has not expired, the compensation of the measurement machine can be updated by the client computer using the authorization code.
US08204707B2 Time delay estimation
A time differential is estimated between a plurality of signals by determining a filter response of a first electrical signal with a first filter array, determining a filter response of a second electrical signal with a second filter array, and determining, based at least on the filter response of the first electrical signal and the filter response of the second electrical signal, a time differential between the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal. A first optical signal is converted into the first electrical signal and a second optical signal is converted into the second electrical signal. The filter response of the first electrical signal and the filter response of the second electrical signal are sampled and the time differential between the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal is determined based at least on the sampled filter response of the first electrical signal and the sampled filter response of the second electrical signal.
US08204705B2 Quantum resonance interferometry for detecting signals
Systems and apparatus related to quantum resonance interferometry for detecting signals are described. A first signal is interferometrically coupled with a first quantum mechanical function to generate a first tunneling rate; a second signal is interferometrically coupled with a second quantum mechanical function to generate a second tunneling rate; the first tunneling rate and the second tunneling rate are interferometrically coupled to generate a third tunneling rate; and upon determining that the third tunneling rate is greater than a threshold, the second signal is identified as corresponding to the first signal.
US08204704B2 MOS capacitance test structure and associated method for measuring a curve of capacitance as a function of the voltage
A test structure for precise characterization of an MOS stack has two semiconductor devices DT1 and DT2 comprising MOS transistors. The dimensions (length Li, width Wi) of the transistors of the first device Ti and the dimensions (length L′i, width W′i) of the transistors T′i of the second device are selected so that the sum of the lengths of the transistors on the one hand, and the sum of the widths of the transistors on the other hand, are respectively equal in the two devices, and so that the surface area difference Sequiv between the two devices is nonzero. An associated measurement method is used to calculate the curve of the difference capacitance between the two devices as a function of the voltage by means of a capacimeter. By placing each of the devices as the load of a suitably controlled CMOS inverter, this curve can be recorded by a dynamic measurement method based on measuring the current in each inverter.
US08204701B2 Aeroelastic model using the principal shapes of modes (AMPS)
The Aeroelastic Model using the Principal Shapes of modes (AMPS) is a method used to predict flutter in gas turbine engines. Modern gas turbine engines often include rotors with flexible disks and/or significant blade geometry variations. The AMPS method accounts for the varying blade mode shapes associated with flexible disks as well as changing blade geometry, providing accurate flutter predictions for a large number of modes from a relatively small number of CFD (computational fluid dynamics) simulations. The AMPS method includes determining a smaller set of principal shapes that approximates a larger set of structural modes of interest. Using linear superposition, aerodynamic forces associated with the vibration of the principal shapes can be used to construct the full aerodynamic coupling matrix associated with the structural modes of interest. An eigenvalue equation is solved to determine a damping distribution associated with the structural modes of interest. The damping distribution is predictive of flutter.
US08204696B2 Method and apparatus for chromatographic data processing
A chromatographic analyzer is provided for facilitating curve fitting by means of the linear least-square method for a chromatogram that contains a plurality of overlapping peaks. The present invention is characterized by a chromatographic data processor for executing data processing of a chromatogram obtained by separating a sample to be measured using a column and detecting the separated sample, wherein fitting processing is executed to each peak in an arbitrary time region having the plurality of peaks of the chromatogram starting from the front side of the time region or from the back side of the time region, and the processed peaks are subtracted from the chromatogram in the time region so that the plurality of peaks in the chromatogram can be separated from one another. Thus, the plurality of overlapping peaks, particularly three or more overlapping peaks in the chromatogram can be easily separated from one another only by defining some setting conditions.
US08204692B2 System, program product, and method for drilling rig activity accounting visualization
A system to monitor drilling rig activity and to provide and manage drilling rig information, program product, and associated methods are provided. The system can include a communication network, a drilling rig information management server, a database accessible to the processor of the server, and drilling rig information management program product stored in the memory of the drilling rig information management server and including instructions that when executed by the processor of the drilling rig information management server cause the server to perform the operations of retrieving drilling rig location data from the database responsive to user selection of a geospatial location attribute, accessing digital mapping data to display a digital map associated with the user selected geospatial location attribute, and providing data to display indicia of a drilling rig location for at least one drilling rig overlaid upon and spatially oriented to at least portions of the digital map.
US08204691B2 Method and apparatus for recording and using down hole sensor and diagnostic events in measurement while drilling
A method and apparatus for providing a downhole measurement-while-drilling (MWD) tool with diagnostic capability by including one or more printed circuit boards to the tool with firmware processors that internally record significant system diagnostic events that can be time correlated with known tool operational problems. The concept includes firmware protocol to enable transfer all of the recorded data to an external software analysis program after the MWD tool is removed from a drilling run.
US08204687B2 Display route creation method, display route creation apparatus, and display route creation program
A display route creation method includes: a route determination step in which a route determination section determines a route based on a departure point and a destination set on a map; a directional sign information extraction step in which a read section reads out directional sign information existing on the route from a map information storage section; and a route creation step in which a merging section merges a display image portion indicating the road direction included in the directional sign information and the route to create a display route in which the route and display image portion are integrated with each other.
US08204686B2 Scheduling method using portable terminal and navigation terminal
A scheduling method using a portable terminal and a navigation terminal is disclosed, each of which has a short-range wireless communication module. The portable terminal creates schedule information including location data and alarm time data, and registers the schedule information as navigation schedule information. The portable terminal displays the schedule information when the alarm time occurs and transmits the location data to the navigation terminal through the short-range wireless communication module. The navigation terminal displays a route according to the received location data.
US08204685B2 Navigation device and road lane recognition method thereof
Provided is a road lane recognition method in a navigation device, which can differentiate a road lane occupied by a vehicle running on bidirectional lanes, including estimating a vehicle location based on satellite signal received from a carrier-based navigation satellite system and correction information received from a master station; determining a drive direction of the vehicle using vehicle location information and road lane information stored in a digital map; for each road lane in the road lane information, calculating a distance between a center line of the respective road lane and the vehicle location using the vehicle location information and the road lane information; and determining the road lane having a minimum value among the calculated distances as a drive lane.
US08204684B2 Adaptive mobile device navigation
Adaptive mobile device navigation system, methods, and apparatus provide location information for a mobile device performing location estimation using dead reckoning. Multiple estimation modes can be selected including a mode for restricting measured movements to surrounding streets. Updated location fixes can be obtained through turn comparison with surrounding map information and user feedback. User feedback prompts can include photographs having geographic tag information corresponding to locations near an estimated location of the device.
US08204680B1 Method of operating a navigation system to provide road curvature
A computer implemented method of operating a navigation system to provide road curvature is provided. The method comprises obtaining a plurality of spline control points representing a two-dimensional geometry of a portion a road segment and obtaining data indicating a road grade of the portion of the road segment. The spline control points and data indicating road grade are obtained from a geographic database associated with the navigation system. The method further comprises projecting the spline control points onto a slope provided by the road grade to obtain a representation of a restored true road curvature of the portion of the road segment.
US08204676B2 Navigation apparatus
A navigation apparatus in a vehicle acquires use history information relative to electronic money payment from an electronic money payment apparatus such as an IC card or a cellular phone. The use history information includes detail information such as position information, a name, and a corresponding terminal ID with respect to an electronic money used facility, in which electronic money payment is made. The detail information is used as a key word to designate a position of the electronic money used facility. The designated position of the used facility can be then displayed as a mark for indicating an electronic money used facility on a map displayed in a display device. This enables a discernible display of the position of the electronic money used facility.
US08204674B2 Apparatus for controlling engine using crank signal and cam signal
In an apparatus for controlling an engine, an input switching unit switches an input signal to be inputted to an input path from a crank signal to a cam signal when it is determined that the crank signal is abnormal. An event signal generating unit generates a crank-input event signal while it is determined that the crank signal is abnormal by an abnormality determining unit. The crank-input event signal has a level that repetitively changes in a predetermined direction. Each level change of the crank-input event signal is synchronized with a corresponding level change of the crank signal. A monitoring unit monitors a level change of the crank-input event signal while it is determined that the crank signal is abnormal by the abnormality determining unit.
US08204671B2 System and method of estimating gas turbine engine performance
An example method of estimating gas turbine engine performance deterioration includes monitoring debris in at least a portion of an engine and estimating performance deterioration of at least one component of the engine using information from the monitoring. The method may use gas path parameters, such as pressures, temperatures, and speeds to establish the estimated performance deterioration. An example gas turbine engine performance assessment system includes a debris monitoring system configured to monitor debris moving through a portion of an engine and a controller programmed to estimate performance deterioration of at least one component of the engine based on information from the debris monitoring system.
US08204670B2 Cruise control system using instruction sent from switch
In a cruise control system installed in a vehicle and electrically connected to a plurality of switches installed therein, a detecting unit detects that one of the plurality of switches is operated. A cruise control unit executes cruise control of the vehicle based on an instruction corresponding to the one of the plurality of switches upon detection of the one of the plurality of switches being operated. When the detecting unit detects that, during the first switch being operated, the second switch is operated, and when a combination of first and second instructions sent from the detected first and second switches is matched with at least one predetermined combination of instructions to be sent from the plurality of switches, a cruise control disabling unit disables the cruise control unit to execute cruise control of the vehicle based on the second instruction.
US08204669B2 Method and device for regulating the driving dynamics of a vehicle
The present device relates to a method for regulating the driving dynamics of a vehicle, in which at least one wheel of the vehicle is acted upon by a torque on the basis of control of a clutch transmitting a torque to the wheel and/or on the basis of control of a differential distributing torque to the wheel and at least to one other wheel. The method is characterized in that a value of the torque is determined as a function of a first and a second value of a yaw moment. The first value of the yaw moment is in the form of a value of the yaw moment generating a setpoint value of a yaw rate on the basis of a vehicle reference model is determined on the basis of a vehicle reference model and the second value of the yaw moment is determined as a function of a system deviation between the setpoint value of the yaw rate and a detected actual value of the yaw rate and as a function of a system deviation between a setpoint value and an actual value of another driving state variable that is different from the yaw rate.
US08204668B2 Brake monitoring system
An air brake monitoring system for monitoring a pressure of the system and providing various alarms and/or warnings to a user. The air brake monitoring system configurable to function with the existing wiring of the vehicle and including an air brake monitoring device to be positioned in the vicinity of a brake valve. The air brake monitoring system is further provided to monitor the electrical stoplight power transmitted to the ABS brakes as well as the vehicle static/dynamic condition.
US08204664B2 Method for controlling regenerative braking in a vehicle
A vehicle includes a friction braking system and a powertrain system including a torque machine operative to react tractive torque input from a wheel of the vehicle. A method for controlling braking in a vehicle includes monitoring operation of the powertrain system, determining a driver intended total brake torque, determining a regenerative braking capacity based upon the operation of the powertrain system, determining a regenerative braking request based upon a time-rate change in the regenerative braking capacity, and determining a motor torque command for the torque machine based upon the regenerative braking request.
US08204661B2 Reduced power mode for an aircraft electric brake system
An electric brake system for an aircraft as described herein is capable of operating in a normal full power mode, a low power mode, and a sleep mode. The full power mode is supported by the active power supply of the aircraft, while the low power and sleep modes are supported by the backup power supply (e.g., a battery) of the aircraft. The low power mode is activated in response to the detection of certain conditions or operating states where full braking performance is not required. For example, the low power mode can be utilized in connection with towing operations and parking brake adjustment operations. The sleep mode is activated in response to the absence of braking commands for an extended period of time. Various parameters and/or settings of the electric brake system are adjusted, controlled, or regulated during the low power and sleep modes to achieve reduced power consumption relative to the full power mode.
US08204656B2 Control architecture for output torque shaping and motor torque determination for a hybrid powertrain system
A powertrain system includes a transmission device operative to transfer power between an input member and a plurality of torque machines and an output member. The torque machines are connected to an energy storage device and the transmission device is operative in one of a plurality of operating range states. A method for controlling the powertrain system includes monitoring available power from the energy storage device, determining system constraints, determining constraints on an output torque to the output member based upon the system constraints and the available power from the energy storage device, determining an operator torque request, determining an output torque command based upon the constraints on the output torque and the operator torque request, and determining preferred torque commands for each of the torque machines based upon the output torque command.
US08204653B2 Automated control of boom and attachment for work vehicle
A first hydraulic cylinder is associated with a boom. A first sensor detects a boom position based on a first linear position of a first movable member associated with the first hydraulic cylinder. An attachment is coupled to the boom. A second cylinder is associated with the attachment. A second sensor detects an attachment position based on a second linear position of a second movable member associated with the second hydraulic cylinder. A switch accepts a command to enter a ready position state from another position state. A controller controls the first hydraulic cylinder to attain a target boom position and for controlling the second cylinder to attain a target attachment position associated with the ready position state in response to the command.
US08204652B2 Method for compensating steering of motor drive power steering system
Disclosed herein is a method for compensating steering of a motor drive power steering (MDPS) system. In this method, the MDPS system determines a slip of a vehicle, calculates a steering compensation value and controls a gain based on moment input from an electronic stability program (ESP) system under coordinate control between the MDPS system and the ESP system, so that stability of the vehicle can be enhanced by reducing heterogeneous steering and preventing over steering.
US08204650B2 Active chassis stabilization system
The invention relates to an active chassis stabilization system including a hydraulic pressure supply unit, a hydraulic stabilizer assembly which is associated with a front axle, a hydraulic stabilizer assembly which is associated with a rear axle, and a control unit. The active chassis stabilization system is a two-channel system.
US08204648B2 Apparatus and method for controlling wiper position
An apparatus and a method for controlling a wiper position are provided. The apparatus to control a wiper position includes a controller to receive a wiper operation control signal output from a user input unit to control a wiper to be stopped at a desired position, a wiper motor to drive the wiper, a wiper relay switched to drive the wiper motor under a control of the controller, and a wipe sensor to sense a position of the wiper motor to transfer a position signal to the controller.
US08204638B2 Control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle
A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle computes estimated energy and external charge energy. The estimated energy is required to drive a vehicle to travel a planned travel route and an EV priority mode, in which drive power for the vehicle is generated with priority by a motor/generator by supplying electric power from a battery to the motor/generator. The external charge energy is supplied from an electric power source. The control apparatus checks whether the estimated required energy will be supplied fully by the external charge energy. If the full supply is not possible, the control apparatus causes electric power generation by the motor/generator at some point in the planned travel route, where the efficiency of electric power generation is good, thereby to supplement insufficiency of energy.
US08204637B1 Aircraft approach to landing analysis method
A method has been found for assessing an aircraft approach to landing on a shipboard landing surface. The method includes a comparison of an identified aircraft performance with the mean or median of a baseline data set. The baseline data set is assembled from a multiplicity of actual approaches to landing data that are selected for relevance and then statistically evaluated. A high data recording rate captures the pilot's control inputs and allows evaluation of the pilot's manual efficiency of input to controls. The method is particularly useful to evaluate performance under conditions in which evaluation by human observation is limited or evaluation against guidelines produces less meaningful results.
US08204636B2 Device for rest management for aircraft pilot
A device for managing a rest period, in flight, of a pilot in a cockpit of an airplane including parameter acquisition means, for acquiring one input parameter characteristic of a desired rest period by the pilot who wishes to have a rest, calculations means intended for calculating, from the current position of the airplane given by the airplane parameters, a future position of the airplane at the end of the desired rest period along a trajectory programmed from the input parameters and airplane parameters, means for displaying information on the rest period and or on the position of the airplane.
US08204629B2 Control device for lubrication systems
The invention relates to a control device for lubrication systems, having a control processor which is arranged in a housing, having connections, which are formed on the housing, for sensor inputs and control outputs, which are connected to the control processor, and having an operator interface which is secured to the outside of the housing and is intended to input control parameters. Provision is made for the control processor to be set up with different control programs for different lubrication systems and for program switches for selecting the different control programs to be arranged inside the housing.
US08204628B2 Setpoint recovery with utility time of day pricing
An HVAC controller with setpoint recovery with utility time of day pricing. In one illustrative embodiment, the HVAC controller may include a nominal programmable schedule and a utility pricing schedule. The utility pricing schedule may correspond to scheduled price changes of a utility, including one or more enhanced pricing time periods each having corresponding one or more enhanced pricing time period setpoints. The HVAC controller may establish or modify an enhanced pricing setpoint recovery schedule based at least in part upon the nominal schedule and the utility pricing schedule, and may control one or more HVAC units in accordance with the setpoint recovery schedule. In some instances, the HVAC controller may identify recovery opportunities based at least in part upon the nominal schedule and the utility pricing schedule.
US08204625B2 Gait creation device of leg-type mobile robot
A provisional desired motion trajectory of an object is determined based on a moving plan of the object. Then, it is determined whether a robot leg motion can satisfy a necessary requirement. The requirement is related to a position/posture relationship between the object and the robot, and a determination of whether the requirement can be satisfied is made at a future, predetermined step. A restrictive condition related to robot leg motion is satisfied at each step up to the predetermined number of steps. If the requirement is satisfied, then a desired gait is generated on the basis of the provisional desired motion trajectory. Otherwise, a desired gait is generated on the basis of a desired motion trajectory of the object according to a corrected moving plan.
US08204624B2 Robotic ordering and delivery apparatuses, systems and methods
Systems, methods and devices for the automated retrieval/delivery of goods from one location to another using a robotic device such as a tug and accompanying cart. A computer within the tug/cart stores a map of the building floor plan and intended paths for the tug to take when traversing from one location to the next. During the delivery, a variety of different sensors and scanners gather data that is used to avoid obstacles and/or continuously adjust the movement of the tug in order to more closely follow the intended path. The system preferably includes wireless networks that allow one or more tugs to communicate with a tug base station, a primary network located at the site of the delivery and a remote host center that monitors the status and data collected by the tugs.
US08204623B1 Planning approach for obstacle avoidance in complex environment using articulated redundant robot arm
A planning approach for obstacle avoidance for a robot arm is disclosed. In particular, the invention relates to a planning approach for obstacle avoidance in complex environments for an articulated redundant robot arm which uses a set of via points surrounding an obstacle as an intermediary point between initial and target arm positions. Via points are generated using visual perception, and possible trajectories through the via points and to the target are rehearsed prior to execution of movement. The disclosed planning method solves the “local minima” problem in obstacle avoidance; a situation in which the obstacle avoidance vectors prevent the arm from making progress toward the target.
US08204622B2 Entertainment media rental and return system and a removable storage bin therefor
An entertainment media rental and return system comprises a rental terminal at which a customer can either rent entertainment media or return entertainment media which has been previously rented from the rental terminal, a return terminal at which a customer can only return entertainment media which has been previously rented from the rental terminal, and a removable storage bin interchangeable between the terminals and arranged to (i) receive entertainment media which has been returned by a customer at the return terminal when the bin is installed in the return terminal, (ii) receive entertainment media which has been returned by a customer at the rental terminal when the bin is installed in the rental terminal, and (iii) provide entertainment media which is available to be rented to a customer at the rental terminal when the bin is installed in the rental terminal.
US08204610B2 Eletronic device, display device, and method of controlling audio/video output of an electronic device
An electronic device, a display device, and a method of controlling audio/video output of the electronic device are disclosed. The electronic device includes a data processing unit, a visual output unit, an audio output unit, and a user operating habit database. The data processing unit executes an application program, the visual output unit outputs an image signal, the audio output unit outputs an audio signal, and the user operating habit database records a corresponding relationship between different program types and operating parameters of the visual output unit or the audio output unit. And, the data processing unit acquires the program type of the application program being run for controlling the operating parameters of the visual output unit or the audio output unit.
US08204607B2 Implantable medical lead
The disclosure describes an implantable medical lead for delivering stimulation to a patient. Electrodes may be located on two or more surfaces of the lead to, for example, selectively deliver stimulation to one or more tissue layers within the patient. The lead may be implanted within or between intra-dermal, deep dermal, or subcutaneous tissue layers, and may be used to, for example, deliver peripheral nerve field stimulation to treat pain experienced by the patient at the site at which the lead is implanted. The lead may comprise a paddle lead or a multiple level lead, e.g., a lead having a plurality of flat or paddle shaped lead bodies arranged in substantially parallel planes. Further, the lead may include fixation structures on the distal end, proximal end, or both ends to prevent migration.
US08204605B2 Multi-site atrial electrostimulation
An apparatus and method can receive wireless energy using a wireless electrostimulation electrode assembly. In certain examples, at least some of the received wireless energy can be delivered as an electrostimulation to a heart. In certain examples, the wireless electrostimulation electrode can be mechanically supported at least partially using a ring formed by an annulus of a mitral valve of the heart. In certain examples, the wireless electrostimulation electrode assembly can be configured to be intravascularly delivered to an implant location within a chamber of the heart at the annulus of the mitral valve of the heart, and can fit entirely within the heart.
US08204603B2 Blocking exogenous action potentials by an implantable medical device
An implantable medical device (IMD) to treat a medical condition in a patient comprises an electrical signal generator; a cathode and an anode operatively coupled to the electrical signal generator and a cranial nerve of the patient; and a third electrode operatively coupled to the electrical signal generator and implanted within the patient's body; wherein the electrical signal generator is capable of generating and delivering at least one electrical signal effective at the anode to block at least a sufficient portion of action potentials induced by the at least one electrical signal in the cranial nerve proximate the cathode to reduce a side effect of said induced action potentials.
US08204599B2 System for anchoring an implantable sensor in a vessel
A system and a method of disposing a second sensor module overlying a first sensor module system is described. A first assembly including an expandable anchor and a sensor module is at least partially overlapped by a second assembly including an expandable anchor and a sensor module. If necessary or desired, the functions of the second sensor module can replace the functions of the first sensor module. The sensor module may include a blood pressure sensor.
US08204596B2 Isolation connector for an intravascular implantable medical device
Devices and methods providing for a isolation connector for a generally cylindrical or frustro-cylindrical housing of an implantable intravascular medical device are described herein. The isolation connector has a generally annular exterior surface, a proximal end, and a distal end. The isolation connector includes a housing interface portion at the proximal end which is secured to a first end of the housing. The proximal end of the housing interface portion is constructed to be obverse to the first end of the housing and presents a perimeter of substantially similar size and shape to the perimeter of the first end of the housing. The isolation connector further includes a first insulator portion disposed adjacent to a distal end of the housing interface portion. The isolation connector may further include a feed-through channel constructed to traverse the proximal and distal ends of the isolation connector and is defined through the housing interface portion and the first insulator portion. In an optional embodiment, an electrical conductor is disposed within the feed-through channel to electrically coupled at least one component disposed within the housing to at least one component disposed beyond the insulator portion.
US08204595B2 Lead assembly for implantable microstimulator
A lead assembly for a small implantable medical device (a.k.a, microdevice 10) provides means to attach a remote electrode to microdevice, which means inhibit fluid ingress when microdevice is not attached to lead assembly. Microdevices may provide either or both tissue stimulation and sensing. Known microdevices include spaced apart electrodes on the outer surface of the microdevice. Lead assembly includes an insulated lead including a proximal end and a distal end, with at least one conductor therebetween; at least one electrode at the distal end of the lead and electrically connected to the at least one conductor, and a connector attached to the proximal end of the lead and adapted to be removably connectable to microdevice. Connector includes at least one contact to electrically connect at least one device electrode on microdevice to at least one conductor, thereby electrically connecting at least electrode and the at least one electrode at the distal end of lead. Lead assembly is configured to inhibit fluid ingress into the connector. A number of embodiments of the invention, capable of inhibiting fluid ingress into connector, are taught.
US08204594B2 Cardiac rhythm management system and method
A system and method for cardiac rhythm management, which includes an electrode system having at least one electrode and control circuitry coupled to the electrode system from which a first cardiac signal is sensed. The control circuitry includes a pulse circuit to produce electrical pulses at a first value to be delivered to the electrode system in a first cardiac region. At least one cardiac signal is sensed from a second cardiac region, where the cardiac signal includes indications of cardiac depolarizations from the second cardiac region which occurs in direct reaction to the electrical pulses delivered to the first cardiac region. The first value of the electrical pulses are then modified by a pulse adjustment circuit when a cardiac depolarization which occurs in direct reaction to the electrical pulse delivered to the first cardiac region is detected from the second cardiac region.
US08204592B1 System and method for generating and using cardiac ischemia diagnostics based on arrhythmia precursors and arrhythmia episodes
Techniques are described for generating diagnostic information to aid in determining whether cardiac ischemia within a patient is clinically actionable. In one example, a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter/defibrillator (ICD) detects information pertaining to arrhythmia precursors and to episodes of sustained arrhythmias, as well as information pertaining to episodes of cardiac ischemia. The implanted device then correlates the arrhythmia precursors and the sustained arrhythmias with the episodes of cardiac ischemia so as to generate diagnostics permitting a physician reviewing the diagnostics to determine whether the ischemia is clinically actionable. In some implementations, the diagnostics are instead generated by an external system based on raw data provided by the implanted device. In some implementations, the device itself determines whether the ischemia is clinically actionable and automatically controls therapy or generates warning signals accordingly.
US08204590B2 Fusion pacing interval determination
Delivery of fusion pacing therapy to a later depolarizing ventricle (V2) of a heart of a patient may be timed based on the depolarization of the V2 during at least one prior cardiac cycle. In some examples, a V2 pacing pulse is delivered upon the expiration of a pacing interval that begins at detection of an atrial sense or pace event (AP/S). The pacing interval may be substantially equal to the duration of time between an AP/S and a V2 sensing event of at least one prior cardiac cycle decremented by an adjusted pre-excitation interval (PEI). In another example, the V2 pacing pulse is delivered at the expiration of a pacing interval that begins upon detection of a V2 sensing event of a prior cardiac cycle. The pacing interval may be substantially equal to a duration of time at least two subsequent V2 sensing events decremented by the adjusted PEI.
US08204588B2 System and method for transmitting and activating a plurality of control data
A cardiac pacemaker, defibrillator, or other programmable medical device (25) includes a source unit (15) and a collection unit (20). The source unit (15) has a check data unit (40) generating at least one check datum for control data for the medical device (25), and a transmitting unit (45) transmitting the control data and the check datum to the collection unit (20). The collection unit (20) has a storage unit (65) storing the control data, a check unit (70) checking the integrity of the control data using the check datum, and a transmitting unit (75) transmitting the control data to a programmable control unit (80) of the medical device (25) only if the integrity of the control data is established by the check unit (70). The control unit (80) of the medical device (25) controls the functions of the medical device (20) on the basis of the transmitted control data.
US08204582B2 Adaptive real time ECG triggering and uses thereof
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for generating a trigger from the R wave of an electrocardiogram (ECG) waveform using a threshold that adapts to the slope of the R wave while still within the leading edge of the R wave.
US08204581B2 Method to discriminate arrhythmias in cardiac rhythm management devices
Techniques for discrimination of heart rhythms in cardiac rhythm management devices include determining a current covariance matrix of multiple electrograms measuring each current heart beat, determining a distance measure between the current covariance matrix and a predetermined covariance matrix of the multiple electrograms measuring at least one different heart beat; and determining whether the heart beat represents ventricular tachycardia based on the distance measure.
US08204577B2 Process and device for deep-selective detection of spontaneous activities and general muscle activites
What is described here is a process and a device for deep-selective detection of spontaneous activities and general muscle activities in biological tissue. In this process, photons of a coherent and monochromatic electromagnetic radiation of the wavelength λ1 penetrate the tissue in the range between 600 and 1,200 nm and re-emerge from the tissue at differently distanced areas, then being detected with regard to frequency and number or intensity. By means of an evaluation program or algorithm, this information in connection with the respective area as point of emergence of the photons allows conclusions to be drawn about the muscle activity and/or number of active muscles and/or the physical position of the active muscles in the tissue. In order to improve the preciseness, it is intended to insert photons into the tissue of at least one further coherent and monochromatic electromagnetic radiation of another wavelength λ2 and to detect them after emergence from the tissue with regard to frequency and number or intensity. The wavelengths λ1 and λ2 are selected in such a way that there will not occur any interference fringes.
US08204574B2 Stylet for use with image guided systems
A stylet for an image guided system, which includes a locating device and which is operable for emitting an electromagnetic field for locating the stylet. The stylet includes a flexible elongate member, an electrically conductive member, and a reinforcement member. The reinforcement member is disposed inside the electrically conductive member and is made out of a magnetic material. The reinforcement member reinforces the stylet and provides electrical communication between the conductive member and the locating device such that current induced in the conductive member is transmitted to the locating device via the reinforcement member.
US08204572B1 Medical electrode
The invention relates to a medical electrode comprising a carrier having a first conductor surface and an outer conductor surface surrounding the first conductor surface wherein the outer conductor surface is free from radial tabs for connection to circuitry so as to remain electrically uncontacted on the carrier.
US08204571B2 Catheter having mapping assembly
A mapping catheter comprises a catheter body and a mapping assembly. The catheter body has an outer wall, proximal and distal ends, and at least one lumen extending therethrough. The mapping assembly comprises a generally straight proximal region attached to the catheter body, a generally circular main region distal the proximal region having an outer circumference, and a generally straight distal region distal the main region. The mapping assembly also comprises a support member having shape-memory, a non-conductive covering over the support member, and a plurality of electrodes on the non-conductive covering along the generally circular main region.
US08204566B2 Method and apparatus for monitoring blood constituent levels in biological tissue
In accordance with the invention, a low coherence interferometer is used to non-invasively monitor the concentration of glucose in blood by shining a light over a surface area of human or animal tissue, continuously scanning the light over a two dimensional area of the surface, collecting the reflected light from within the tissue and constructively interfering this reflected light with light reflected along a reference path to scan the tissue in depth. Since the reflection spectrum is sensitive to glucose concentration at particular wavelengths, measurement and analysis of the reflected light provides a measure of the level of glucose in the blood. The measurement of glucose is taken from multiple depths within blood-profused tissue, and sensitivity is preferably enhanced by the use of multiple wavelengths. Noise or speckle associated with this technique is minimized by continuously scanning the illuminated tissue in area and depth.
US08204559B2 Foldable mobile device and method for manufacturing case for the same
In the present invention, a rear cover 1 of a display part is made of at least a resin material, and a rear cover 4 of an operation part is made of a metal material. Respective plane portions of a front case 2 of the display part and a front case 3 of the operation part are made mainly of a metal material, and at least hinge parts 2c and 3c, which are formed on the front case 2 of the display part and the front case 3 of the operation part, are made of a resin material.
US08204555B2 Method and apparatus for power saving in wireless systems
A method is provided for carrying out a power saving procedure in a wireless subscriber terminal which is operative to receive at least two different services, each of which is characterized by one or more characteristics related to traffic demands associated with that service. The method comprises the following steps: classifying each of the at least two different services based on their traffic demand related characteristics into corresponding power saving classes, where there are at least two different power saving classes associated with the at least two different services; for each of the power saving classes, determining required listening windows and required sleep windows; exchanging messages between the base station and the subscriber's device for synchronizing parameters for carrying out the power saving procedure.
US08204553B2 Display control for cellular phone
A control system for a mobile device comprises an audio input that generates an audio input signal. An audio amplifier amplifies the audio input signal using a gain. An adaptive gain control (AGC) module receives the audio input signal and adjusts the gain of the audio input signal. A comparing module generates a first signal when the gain is less than a threshold. A timing module determines a duration of the first signal. A selecting module communicates with the timing module and selects one of an active mode and an inactive mode of the mobile device when the duration is greater than a first period.
US08204552B2 Method for predicting available time remaining on battery in mobile devices based on usage patterns
A method for predicting an available time of a battery in a mobile device includes: defining one or more modes depending on usage patterns of the mobile device that affects power consumption of the battery; creating time-series data about power consumption amount of the battery and use time of the battery in each mode; calculating, based on the time-series data, average power consumption rate per each mode and use time rate; and predicting the available time of the battery, based on the average power consumption rate per each mode and the use time rate per each mode.
US08204550B2 In-vehicle handsfree apparatus
While an in-vehicle handsfree apparatus establishes a connection of a handsfree profile (HFP) with a first cellular phone, an audio visual profile (AVP) connection with a second cellular phone is requested. In such a case, the handsfree apparatus once cuts the HFP connection with the first cellular phone, and then connects the AVP with the second cellular phone. This can prevent the handsfree apparatus from connecting the HFP with the first and second cellular phones at the same time.
US08204548B1 System and method for mobile device application pre-emption
A mobile device is provided. The mobile device comprises a wireless transceiver, a first application, a second application, and an interface. The wireless transceiver provides a wireless communication link to a communication network. The second application provides communication based on the wireless communication link. The interface presents, when the first application is active on the mobile device, an indication of a communication directed to the second application being received via the wireless communication link for less than 2 seconds before the second application pre-empts the first application.
US08204547B2 Mobile terminal and method of controlling the mobile terminal
Provided are a mobile terminal and a method of controlling the mobile terminal, in which the emotions or feelings of the user of one mobile terminal can be carried to the user of another mobile terminal by varying the font size of handwritten input transmitted between the mobile terminals and/or applying a haptic effect to the handwritten input according to the level of pressure applied to a touch screen for generating the handwritten input.
US08204542B2 Methods for processing apparatus originated communication request and communication apparatuses utilizing the same
A communication apparatus is provided. A first subscriber identity card camps on a first cell belonging to a first wireless network via at least one radio transceiver module. A second subscriber identity card camps on a second cell belonging to a second wireless network via the radio transceiver module. A memory device stores information indicating at least one discount period of the first wireless network and at least one discount period of the second wireless network. A processor receives an apparatus originated communication request with a destination address, determines whether a current time falls within the discount period of the first wireless network or the discount period of the second wireless network, and establishes a wireless communication with a peer device of the received destination address through one of the first cell or the second cell in response to the fallen discount period.
US08204538B2 Configurable conversion module of an RF front-end
A configurable conversion module includes a down conversion module and an up conversion module. The down conversion module is operable to convert, when in a first mode, a first amplified inbound RF signal into a first inbound symbol stream in accordance with a first protocol and convert, when in a second mode, a second amplified inbound RF signal into a second inbound symbol stream in accordance with a second protocol. The up conversion module is operable to convert, when in the first mode, a first outbound symbol stream into a first outbound RF signal in accordance with the first protocol and convert, when in the second mode, a second outbound symbol stream into a second outbound RF signal in accordance with the second protocol.
US08204533B2 Method and system for bluetooth HID activity prediction for wireless coexistence throughput optimization
A host device may be enabled to support a plurality of wireless interfaces, wherein some of these interfaces may be utilized to support human interface device (HID) based communication. The host device may be enabled to monitor activity of HID devices based on communications via HID capable wireless interfaces, may predict future use of the HID devices based on the monitoring, and may manage sniff communication that is utilized to track and/or detect activities in the HID devices. The management of the sniff communication may comprise adjusting characteristics of the sniff communication to enable improving throughput of other wireless interfaces available via the host device that may be affected by the sniff communication. The adjustment of the characteristics of sniff communication may comprise adjusting, statically and/or dynamically, length of sniff intervals and/or designating of sniff packets as high priority requests.
US08204532B2 Adaptive power control data transmission systems and methods
Systems and methods of performing power control in combination with AMC are provided. AMC is performed on the basis of an AMC parameter such as CINR. Once the AMC is set to a highest available AMC for transmission to a given receiver, if the CINR indicates that the highest AMC could be transmitted with less transmit power, the power is reduced. For receivers that are not receiving the highest available AMC for that receiver, they may have their transmit power increased.
US08204530B2 Power control for wireless communication systems
Techniques for controlling transmit power of a terminal are described. The terminal may send a first transmission (e.g., for pilot or signaling) on the reverse link, receive feedback (e.g., a power control command or an erasure indicator) for the first transmission, and adjust a reference power level based on the feedback. The terminal may also receive interference information and possibly other parameters such as a pilot quality indicator (PQI), an offset factor, and a boost factor from a sector. The terminal may determine transmit power for a second transmission to the sector based on the interference information, the reference power level, and/or the other parameters. The terminal may receive the feedback from one sector and may send the second transmission with CDMA or OFDMA to the same sector or a different sector.
US08204521B2 System and method for acknowledging calendar appointments using a mobile device
A system and method are provided for communicating calendar appointment acknowledgements to a sender from a recipient device, in particular a mobile communication device capable of receiving SMS messages. The sender creates a calendar object comprising calendar event data, designates a recipient, and selects a transport method for delivering the calendar event data. If the transport method is SMS, then a calendar object message in plaintext SMS format is prepared, comprising a unique identifier, and transmitted to the recipient. The recipient's mobile communication device receives the SMS message and parses the message to extract the calendar event data, and transmits an acknowledgement to the sender including the unique identifier.
US08204515B2 Single point location tracking for a mobile device in a communication network
Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, the location of a mobile device within a floor plan of a building or the like environment may be determined using a single transmission link between transceiver and the mobile device. A bit error rate value and a receiver signal strength indication value are measured for the present location of the mobile device in the floor plan. The coordinates where the mobile device is located may be determined by looking up the measured bit error rate value and the received signal strength indication value in a lookup table. Due to environmental factors of the floor plan, the combination of the bit error rate value and the received signal strength indication value corresponds to a unique coordinate location in the floor plan from which the location of the mobile device may be determined.
US08204512B2 Wireless node location mechanism featuring definition of search region to optimize location computation
A wireless node location mechanism that defines a search region to optimize the computations associated with estimating the location of a given wireless node. According to one implementation, a coverage map associated with each radio receiver that records signal strength data is defined out to a threshold signal strength level. Before computing the estimated location of a given wireless nodes, a search region is defined based on the intersection of the coverage maps associated with each radio receiver that detects the wireless node. Some implementations use information provided by the fact that certain radio receivers did not detect the wireless node to further optimize the location estimate. By defining a search region, which is a generally small area relative to the space encompassed by an entire RF environment, the present invention provides several advantages, such as reducing the processing time and/or power to compute estimated locations for wireless nodes.
US08204495B2 Method and apparatus for the discovery of radio access network elements and exchange of capability and data attributes between those elements
The present apparatus comprises a radio access network element having at least one processor, and at least one memory operably connected to the at least one processor, whereby the radio access network element is adapted to execute instructions stored in the memory comprising discovery of at least one other element in a radio access network. The radio access element further comprises instructions for removal or addition of network elements, instructions for determining a paging area and instructions for forwarding messages from a mobile to a controller in another domain.
US08204493B2 Wireless communication apparatus, wireless communication network and software upgrading method
A base station control portion selects one or multiple signals in accordance with the state of radio waves from signals received through multiple communication paths. A wireless communication apparatus communicates with a wireless terminal and a wired communication network at multiple frequencies. In response to a request for software upgrading from a network management device, the wireless communication apparatus selects one frequency, controls the state of transmission waves of a wireless interface such that a communication path in which a communication service is being provided can be switched to another communication network without interruption, rewrites software for each wireless interface to software received through a wired interface in advance, and returns the state of transmission waves of the wireless interface. Thus, the software can be upgraded without blackouts of the communication service to the wireless terminal.
US08204492B2 Methods and systems for processing a communication from a calling party
A system and method are disclosed for announcing a calling party from a communication device. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a call processing system can have a controller for processing calls in a communication system. The controller can be programmed to detect an incoming call initiated by a third party communication device over a first voice channel, transmit to a communication device over a control channel a notification signal associated with the incoming call, detect a connection made by the communication device to a second voice channel, transmit to the communication device over the second voice channel audio signals that identify a calling party, and link the first and second voice channels upon detecting over the control channel a call acceptance action by the communication device. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US08204486B2 Dynamic messaging routing and audio-to-text linking for visual voicemail
An improved visual voicemail system is provided. When a call is made to a wireless telephone device and a voicemail message is deposited for the called party, the voicemail message is transcribed to generate a text version of the deposited voicemail message. The transcribed voicemail message is sent to the called mobile telephone device to allow the user to read the text version of the voicemail message. Embedded with transcribed text voicemail message is a link that maps to a unique telephone number that is assigned to the original audio voicemail message from the text voicemail message was transcribed. If the called party selects the link, the called party's mobile telephone device or other receiving computing device places a call to the storage location of the original audio version of the voicemail message to listen to the audio version of the voicemail message.
US08204483B2 Electronic file transfer for a communications device
Systems and methods are provided for identifying an electronic file that is accessible by a communications node to be transmitted to a recipient. A communications device sends an identification of the electronic file. The communications node receives the identification of the electronic file, identifies the electronic file based on the identification, and accesses the electronic file for transmission to the recipient. The electronic file is not transmitted from the communications device to the communications node.
US08204480B1 Method and apparatus for secured access
A commercial off-the-shelf smartphone is adapted, through software modifications only, to provide multiple operating domains or domains that provide differing levels of security and reliability. Each operating domain is isolated from the others. Detection of unauthorized modification is provided. Cross domain activity notification is provided.
US08204471B2 Wireless communication system
A wireless communication system includes: a filter; and a semiconductor chip including a signal processing integrated circuit having an amplifier, wherein a main surface of the semiconductor chip is provided with a plurality of electrode terminals along an edge portion thereof; wherein the amplifier has a transistor including a control electrode, a first electrode through which a signal is outputted, and a second electrode to which a voltage is applied; wherein the control electrode, the first electrode and the second electrode of the transistor are connected to the electrode terminals, respectively; and wherein none of wirings are arranged between the electrode terminals and placements of the control electrode, the first electrode and the second electrode, making space between the electrodes and the electrode terminals narrow.
US08204469B2 Low-noise mixer
The system and method of the present invention provide a single mixer (200-400) with significantly reduced noise performance at a low cost by adding a current control circuit (109) that reduces the current in at least the switching stage (103, 303, 403) during polarity changes of the local oscillator (LO) signal (104). Alternative embodiments (300-400) are provided for a single mixer having significantly reduced noise wherein the low-noise characteristic is enhanced by a further modification to the switching stage (303-403).
US08204465B2 Receiver, transmitter, transmission system, and transmission method
To reduce the affections of noises having greater instantaneous powers than received signals. A receiver of block transmission scheme, in which signal blocks from a transmitting end are received and equalization is performed for each of the received signal blocks, comprises a local noise detecting unit detecting a local noise locally existing in a received signal block and having a greater amplitude than the signals; a local noise eliminating unit generating a local-noise-eliminated received signal block in which the signals in the range where the local noise is existent within the received signal block have been eliminated together with the local noise; and an equalizer that performs an equalization based on the local-noise-eliminated received signal block.
US08204464B2 Wireless communication apparatus, its control method, and recording medium
An apparatus detects a communication state of a wireless communication, detects posture of the apparatus, and controls communication by a wireless communication unit according to the detected posture if it is detected that field intensity of the wireless communication is equal to or less than a predetermined value.
US08204459B2 Temperature impervious radio device amplifier output power control
A radio device includes an amplifier and first and second independently operable variable voltage supply inputs to the amplifier, providing a consistent output power range for the radio device across widely varying temperature conditions.
US08204455B2 Techniques for pre-distorting transmitted signals for a transmitter device
Techniques for sending and receiving signals include pre-distorting signals before transmission across a communication path. The signals are pre-distorted as a function of a distortion on the communication path. In one embodiments, transmitter a broadcasts to receiver b and there is also a transmitter b broadcasting to receiver a. This return channel enables both transmitters a and b to have a priori information regarding the transmission medium and path the signal takes. In this way, the nature of the distortion or interference is known to the transmitter, therefore, it pre-distorts the transmitted signal to compensate for the receiver exceeding its capabilities in recovering signal.
US08204454B2 Distortion compensator apparatus, amplifier apparatus, transmitter, and method of compensating distortion
This distortion compensator apparatus is a distortion compensator apparatus compensating nonlinearity of an amplifier and includes: a memory storing a compensation parameter used for correcting an input signal of the amplifier; a compensator correcting the input signal of the amplifier based on the compensation parameter; and an update controller updating the compensation parameter according to an operation state of the amplifier.
US08204451B1 Wireless transceiver using shared filters for receive, transmit and calibration modes
A transceiver for use in a wireless device. The transceiver may include a receive portion for receiving an input RF signal. The receive portion may include at least one receive filter which may include a first filter. The transceiver may also include a transmit portion for transmitting an output RF signal. The transmit portion may include at least one transmit filter, which may include the first filter used in the receive portion. The transceiver may further include a plurality of switches, which may include a first switch coupled to an input of the first filter and a second switch coupled to an output of the first filter. The plurality of switches may be configurable to enable use of the first filter in the receive portion for receiving the input RF signal and use of the first filter in the transmit portion for transmitting the output RF signal.
US08204450B2 Reliability detection of channel quality indicator (CQI) and application to outer loop power control
A method for determining a channel quality in wireless communications includes receiving a high speed shared control channel (HS-SICH) transmission. An expected number of HS-SICH transmissions and a number of unsuccessful HS-SICH transmissions are counted. The number of unsuccessful HS-SICH transmissions includes a number of failed HS-SICH transmissions and a number of missed HS-SICH transmissions. The expected number of HS-SICH transmissions and the number of unsuccessful HS-SICH transmissions over a fixed time period are periodically reported, whereby the reporting is an indication of the channel quality.
US08204442B2 Intercell interference mitigation
Methods and apparatus are described for mitigating intercell interference in wireless communication systems utilizing substantially the same operating frequency band across multiple neighboring coverage areas. The operating frequency band may be shared across multiple neighboring or otherwise adjacent cells, such as in a frequency reuse one configuration. The wireless communication system can synchronize one or more resource allocation regions or zones across the multiple base stations, and can coordinate a permutation type within each resource allocation zone. The base stations can coordinate a pilot configuration in each of a plurality of coordinated resource allocation regions. Subscriber stations can be assigned resources in a coordinated resource allocation region based on interference levels. A subscriber station can determine a channel estimate for each of multiple base stations in the coordinated resource allocation region to mitigate interference.
US08204438B2 RF ID tag reader utilizing a scanning antenna system and method
An embodiment of the present invention provides an RF ID card reader, comprising RF ID circuitry to generate an RF ID signal, a transceiver in communication with said RF ID circuitry and an array antenna associated with said transceiver for scanning an area for at least one tag and establishing communication with at least one tag.
US08204437B1 Wireless image distribution system and method
A system and method for distributing at least one digital photographic image is presented, the system and method comprising at least one capturing device and at least one receiving device disposed in a communicative relation with one another via at least one wireless network. In particular, the capturing device is structured to capture the at least one digital photographic image via, for example, a capture assembly, whereas the receiving device is cooperatively structured to receive the digital photographic image via, for example, the at least one wireless network. In addition, the capturing device(s) and receiving device(s) may be disposed in a selectively paired relationship via one or more common pre-defined pairing criteria. Further, the at least one digital photographic image may be filtered via at least one pre-defined transfer criteria disposed on the capturing device and/or receiving device.
US08204435B2 Wireless headset supporting enhanced call functions
A modular wireless headset includes earpiece(s) and microphone(s), where the earpiece and microphone may be physically separate devices. The earpiece renders inbound radio frequencies received from a host device audible. The earpiece may include a receiver module, data recovery module, and speaker module. The receiver module may convert inbound RF signals into low intermediate frequency (IF) signals. The data recovery module recovers audio signals from the low IF signals. The speaker module renders the audio signals audible. The microphone converts received audio signals into outbound RF signals, where the outbound RF signals are transmitted to the host device. The microphone includes an audio input module and a transmitter module. The audio input module is operably coupled to convert received analog audio signals into digital audio signals. The transmitter module is operably coupled to convert the digital audio signals into the outbound RF signals.
US08204433B2 Wireless communication system facilitating communications through local networks
A wireless communication system (20) includes a base station (22) that is capable of communicating with a plurality of intermediate cells (24, 60). Each intermediate cell (24, 60) directly communicates with a plurality of end users (26, 64). Communications from an end user (26, 64) may be routed through the intermediate cell to a wireless network (30) associated with the base station (22) or directly to another intermediate cell in a disclosed example. The intermediate cells communicate with the base station on behalf of the end users such that the wireless network recognizes the intermediate cell as a single user and, in one example, assigns temporary listed directory numbers to each of the end users associated with each intermediate cell so that communications from each end user may be handled individually.
US08204431B2 Compact image forming apparatus with post-processing
In an image forming apparatus, when a first sheet discharger discharges a sheet bearing an image in a first direction from a proximal end to a distal end of the image forming apparatus, a post-processing device performs post-processing including at least one of stapling, punching, stamping, and sorting of the sheet discharged from the first sheet discharger. After a second sheet discharger discharges the processed sheet in a second direction opposite to the first direction in which the first sheet discharger discharges the sheet bearing the image, a sheet stacker stacks the sheet discharged from the second sheet discharger. A sheet conveyance path is provided between the first sheet discharger and the second sheet discharger. An opening is provided between the sheet stacker and an image reader so that the sheet discharged from the second sheet discharger can be retrieved from the sheet stacker in the second direction.
US08204429B2 Image forming apparatus capable of electrostatically attracting sheet effectively
In an image forming apparatus, a recording head discharges liquid droplets onto a sheet conveyed on a conveying belt to form an image on the sheet. A sheet discharge device is provided downstream from the conveying belt in a sheet conveyance direction and is intermittently driven independently of and in synchronization with the conveying belt to convey the sheet in a sheet discharging direction. A voltage application device applies a voltage to a charger. A distance between the charger and a nip portion formed between a pressing member and the conveying belt for duplex printing is set so that a voltage applied by the voltage application device increases a charged potential of the conveying belt in an area electrostatically attracting a trailing end of a predetermined sheet and a leading end of a subsequent sheet.
US08204424B2 Cleaning blade for electrophotographic device and method for manufacturing the same
The present invention provides a cleaning blade for an electrophotographic device, which, even when spherical (perfectly spherical or irregularly shaped), polymerized toner with a small particle diameter is used, can achieve sufficient abrasion resistance and sufficient cleaning ability (particularly cleaning ability under low-temperature and low-humidity conditions). The cleaning blade for an electrophotographic device includes an elastic rubber member; and a supporting member. The elastic rubber member has a double layer structure including an edge layer and a base layer. The edge layer is made of a material with a JIS-A hardness of 65° to 72° at 23° C. and a rebound resilience of 10 to 35%. The base layer is made of a material with a JIS-A hardness of 70° to 80° at 23° C. and a rebound resilience of 40 to 70%, the JIS-A hardness value being larger than the value of hardness of the edge layer.
US08204421B2 Fusing apparatus and image forming apparatus
A fusing apparatus for fusing a toner image onto a recording medium using heat and pressure includes a fusing roller; an endless pressing belt disposed opposite the fusing roller; and a pressing member for pressing the endless pressing belt onto the fusing roller. A recording medium with a transferred toner image is passed through a fusing nip between the fusing roller and the pressing belt. The fusing roller includes positive and negative crown portions along the axial direction. The pressing member includes convex and concave surface portions along the longitudinal direction. When the pressing member is pressed onto the fusing roller, the positive and negative crown portions of the fusing roller are engaged with the concave and convex surface portions, respectively, of the pressing member. The pressing member exerts a greater pressing force on the fusing roller at a central portion than at an end portion.
US08204420B2 Fuser with end caps having protuberances for reducing belt skew
A fuser has a heater housing extending through an endless belt with end caps on the housing adjacent to opposite lateral sides of the belt. The end caps have inner flanges spaced radially outward from a center portion and radially inward from the opposite marginal side edge portions of the belt so as to define clearance therebetween. Protuberances on the inner flanges of the end caps project toward opposite marginal edge portions of the belt and are circumferentially spaced apart to reduce belt skew relative to the end caps by either decreasing the surface area of contact of the inner flanges with the opposite marginal side edge portions of the belt to reduced surface areas of contact of protuberances therewith or decreasing the radial height of the clearance between the inner flanges and opposite side edge portions of the belt to the reduced radial height between the latter and the protuberances.
US08204417B2 Apparatuses useful in printing, fixing devices and methods of stripping media from surfaces in apparatuses useful in printing
Apparatuses useful in printing, fixing devices and methods of stripping media from surfaces in apparatuses useful in printing are provided. An exemplary embodiment of an apparatus useful in printing includes a first member including a first surface; a second member including a second surface; a belt including an inner surface contacting the second surface and an outer surface contacting the first surface to form a nip through which the belt rotates; and a tensioned stripping wire contacting the inner surface of the belt and spaced from the second surface. The stripping wire can produce a sufficiently-high stripping force to facilitate stripping of media passed through the nip from the outer surface of the belt.
US08204413B2 Printing job with developer removal
A printer includes a development member for providing toner to a photoreceptor. A developer remover is located between a developer supply and the photoreceptor in the direction of rotation of the development member, and selectively contacts the development member to remove developer therefrom. A controller receives a print job, determines a non-developing zone of the development member corresponding to the non-image area of the job, and determines a developing zone of the development member corresponding to the image area of the job. The developer remover removes developer when it is in the non-developing zone, but not when it is in the developing zone.
US08204408B2 Development apparatus and image forming apparatus
In one embodiment, in a development apparatus in which at least a first screw conveyor has been provided in a case, a developer affixing prevention member that prevents a developer from affixing to the first screw conveyor is disposed in the vicinity of a toner resupply port provided in the case. More specifically, the developer affixing prevention member is formed with a torsion coil spring formed from the wire rod whose middle has been wound in a coil-like shape, and in a state with the wound portion of this torsion coil spring supported by a support plate of the case, one arm portion is fixed to the support plate, and another arm portion is extended so as to contact a fin and a rotating shaft of the first screw conveyor.
US08204404B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes a main assembly; a movable member movable, while supporting a cartridge including at least one of an image bearing member on which a latent image is to be formed and developing means for developing with a developer the latent image formed on the image bearing member, between an outside position in which the cartridge is located outside the main assembly and an inside position in which the cartridge is located inside the main assembly; and a cartridge displacing member for displacing the cartridge with respect to the movable member in a demounting direction in which the cartridge is demountable from the movable member in a state in which the movable member is located at the outside position.
US08204399B2 Method and apparatus for automatic corotron cleaning in an image production device
A method and apparatus for automatic corotron cleaning in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include receiving a first dynamic current reading, the dynamic current being the current supplied to a photoreceptor of the image production device, determining if the first dynamic current reading exceeds a predetermined threshold, the predetermined threshold being a threshold set on the allowable variation in the dynamic current value, wherein if it is determined that the first dynamic current reading exceeds the predetermined threshold, sending a signal to a cleaning device to clean the corotron, determining that the corotron has been cleaned, receiving a second current reading, determining if the second dynamic current reading exceeds the predetermined threshold, wherein if it is determined that the second dynamic current reading exceeds the predetermined threshold, sending a signal to prompt a user to replace the corotron in the image production device.
US08204398B2 Image forming apparatus with controller for automatically switching displays of operation procedure in rotation
An image forming apparatus is provided with a display device for displaying an operation guide to an operator, and a display controller for causing the display device to display an operation procedure comprised of a plurality of operations as the operation guide while automatically switching the respective operations in rotation.
US08204397B2 Fixing apparatus, image forming apparatus and fixing method
A fixing apparatus of the invention includes a heating roller, a fixing roller, a fixing belt that is wound around the heating roller and the fixing roller and circulates between the heating roller and the fixing roller, a pressing roller to press the fixing roller through the fixing belt, a first heater that is included in the heating roller and mainly heats a center part of the heating roller, a second heater that is included in the heating roller and mainly heats a peripheral part of the heating roller, and a temperature control unit to control a temperature of the heating roller by an on/off control of the first heater and the second heater, and the temperature control unit performs the on/off control in which when one of the first heater and the second heater is turned on, the other is turned off.
US08204396B2 Apparatus and method for adjustment of a printer fuser nip
An apparatus (100) and method (300) that adjusts a printer fuser nip is disclosed. The apparatus can include a media transport (110) configured to transport a media sheet (112) in a media sheet travel direction. The apparatus can include a fuser assembly (120) configured to fuse an image on the media sheet. The fuser assembly can include a fuser nip (126) that can have a fuser nip width (128) parallel to the media sheet travel direction. The apparatus can include a controller (130) coupled to the fuser assembly, where the controller can be configured to control operations of the apparatus. The apparatus can include a nip width profile generation module (140) coupled to the controller, where the nip width profile generation module can be configured to determine fuser nip width parameters based on media sheet properties and based on fuser assembly properties. The fuser assembly can be adjusted according to the fuser nip width parameters.
US08204395B2 Wet development device, wet development method, and image forming apparatus using the device
The invention provides a wet development device, wet development method and image forming apparatus having the device by which appropriate cleaning can be performed, the wear of the blade or developing roller can be reduced, and good images can be obtained without toner contamination even when the amount of toner for development or that of electric charge of the toner is changed for changing the density or gradation of image or type of paper. The toner in the developer is electrically charged to an arbitral charging amount by a discharging section and provided for the development and the charge of the toner is eliminated after development by that a discharging section is provided before cleaning the developer remaining on the developing roller and the output of the discharging section is appropriately controlled corresponding to the output of the discharging section.
US08204391B2 Image forming apparatus which changes jam determination criterion
An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit; a first sheet discharging path that reverses a traveling direction of a sheet and discharges the sheet; a cover, which forms a part of the first sheet discharging path when the cover is in a closed state; a second sheet discharging path, which is formed when the cover is in an open state, which is branched from the first sheet discharging path, and which discharges the sheet from the image forming unit without reversing the traveling direction of the sheet; a sensor, which is positioned downstream in a conveying direction of the sheet from the image forming unit, and which detects a passage of the sheet; and a determination unit that determines a jam based on a detection result of the sensor, the determination unit changing a determination criterion of the jam in accordance with the state of the cover.
US08204386B2 Chirped laser with passive filter element for differential phase shift keying generation
Apparatus and methods for driving a transmitter to generate DNPSK signals is disclosed including generating N data streams comprising data symbols and for each of a plurality of sets of N simultaneous data symbols of the N data streams, imposing signals are on L of a plurality of signal lines, with the value of L corresponding to values of the N simultaneous data symbols. Signals on the plurality of signal lines are ANDed with a clock signal synchronized with the N data streams to produce RZ signals. The RZ signals are summed and the summed signal is input to a laser that produces an output having frequency modulation corresponding to the magnitude of the summed signal. The output of the laser is passed through an optical discriminator.
US08204381B2 Broadband radio transceiver with optical transform
A broadband receiving apparatus includes an antenna to receive a radio signal having a plurality of modulation frequencies. An amplifier drives a laser source from the broadband radio signal to produce an optical signal having a plurality of spectral components. A diffraction grating transforms the optical signal into its spectral components. An array of photo-detectors converts the spectral components into electronic signals corresponding to the plurality of modulation frequencies. A transmitting apparatus includes an array of coherent laser emitters driven by electronic signals corresponding to a plurality of modulation frequencies to produce optical signals corresponding to a plurality of spectral components. A diffraction grating inverse transforms the spectral components into a composite optical signal. A photo-detector converts the composite optical signal into a composite electronic signal including the plurality of modulation frequencies. An amplifier amplifies the composite electronic signal for transmission as a broadband radio signal.
US08204380B2 Bandwidth allocation method, optical line terminator, subscriber station, communication system, and recording medium recording program of device
An exemplary object of the present invention is to accurately reflect allocation requests and increase the bandwidth use efficiency without requiring expensive and fast integrated circuits or CPUs in the control unit even in a large-scale system with a large number of terminal devices. A subscriber station comprises allocating means for determining bandwidth allocation based on a predetermined allocation condition and bandwidth transmitting means for transmitting bandwidth allocation information determined by the allocating means to an optical line terminator. The optical line terminator comprises pipeline transmitting means for transmitting bandwidth allocation information transmitted from the subscriber stations to all subscriber stations to be allocated with bandwidth.
US08204378B1 Coherent optical signal processing
Coherent optical signal processing is performed in a coherent receiver (or diagnostic/testing apparatus) that converts an amplitude and/or angle-modulated optical signal into two electrical signals. A simple receiver can only detect one phase of the signal and only the polarization that is aligned with a local oscillator laser polarization. To detect both phases and both polarizations, two sets of two interferometers, one each with a π/2 phase shift are required. Coherent optical signal processing methods, apparatus, techniques, etc. are disclosed that include individual components comprising a polarization combiner, a Savart device and photodetection apparatus with substantially reduced temperature and alignment sensitivity operating in optical communication systems and/or subsystems. The various embodiments can be used alone or in such combinations to provide improved coherent optical signal processing in a receiver.
US08204375B1 Method and systems for testing automatic protection switching protocol in optical interfaces for synchronous optical networks
A standard test device is used to test the interoperability of a Synchronized Optical Network (SONET) optical interface, e.g., a 1+1 protected SONET interface. In one embodiment, two test sets, under the common control of a master controller, can be connected respectively to the working and protect lines of an optical interface. The controller then operates the test sets to test the operation of the interface under the Automatic Protection Switching (APS) protocol to verify interoperability based on the standards incorporated in the test sets while requiring minimal operator intervention. Alternatively, a single test set can include two connections that are connected, respectively, to the working and protection lines of the interface being tested. The test set can then test the operation of the interface under the APS protocol to verify interoperability based on the standards incorporated in the test set.
US08204373B2 Image pickup apparatus with built-in flash
An image pickup apparatus includes a motor, a shutter charge mechanism which rotates the motor in a first direction to perform a charge operation of a shutter, a flash pop-up mechanism which rotates the motor in a second direction to move a flash to an up state, a state detector which detects the up state of the flash, a clutch mechanism which cuts off a transmission between the motor and the flash pop-up mechanism when the motor rotates in the first direction, and cuts off a transmission between the motor and the shutter charge mechanism when the motor rotates in the second direction, and a controller which controls the motor to rotate in the first direction to drive the shutter charge mechanism when the state detector detects the up state of the flash after the motor rotates in the second direction to drive the flash pop-up mechanism.
US08204370B2 Image pickup apparatus, focus control method and focus control program
An image pickup apparatus includes: an in-focus operation section configured to drive a focus lens to move over a predetermined driving range in order to detect evaluation values each representing the strength of the contrast of an image signal generated based on a subject of an image pickup operation from a plurality of predetermined positions and find an in-focus position of the focus lens based on the evaluation values; a detector configured to acquire first evaluation values obtained for the predetermined positions during a first period of driving the focus lens to move over the predetermined driving range, and second evaluation values obtained for at least one of the predetermined positions during a second period between the end of the first period and a process to find the in-focus position based on the first evaluation values; and a change measurement section configured to measure a change of the evaluation value.
US08204367B2 DVD recorder and PVR instant on architecture
A method for transitioning a video system is disclosed. The method generally includes a first step for (A) executing in a processing circuit a standby code stored in a nonvolatile memory while the video system is in an off state, the off state defining a low power configuration for the processing circuit and a power off condition for the video system, the standby code being responsive to a plurality of wake up conditions to wake up the video system. In a second step, the method may (B) store an application code in a volatile memory while in the off state, the application code configured to operate the video system while in an on state of the video system. The method generally includes a third step for (C) transitioning from the off state to the on state upon detection of at least one of the wake up conditions. A step for (D) executing in the processing circuit the application code while in the on state to decode video may also exist in the method.
US08204366B2 Method, apparatus and program for recording and playing back content data, method, apparatus and program for playing back content data, and method, apparatus and program for recording content data
A method, apparatus and program for recording and playing back content data, method, apparatus and program for playing back content data, and method, apparatus and program for recording content data. The recording and playback apparatus is configured to record content data including a content and play back the content of the content data at a position specified by first relative time information indicating a relative time with respect to a start position of the content. A record start time information generator generates record start time information. A stream playback control table generator generates a stream playback control table associated with a stream resource record in a content data recording unit. Based on the content start time information and the record start time information, a relative time information correction unit corrects relative time information, of a segment to be played back, identified by a metadata manager based on segment metadata. A read controller controls a reading process according to the relative position information corresponding to the corrected relative time information identified by the metadata manager.
US08204364B2 Moving picture image reproduction method and moving picture image reproduction apparatus
According to a conventional technique for reproducing a frame of a small image change amount at a high speed and a frame of a large image change amount at a low speed, there are cases in which a proper high-speed reproduction representing the outline of the moving picture image data is not necessarily carried out. There is provided reproduction speed control means controlling the reproduction speed of summary reproduction based on a scene feature amount of a plurality of frames. A plurality of summary reproductions having different reproduction characteristics are enabled so that a user can easily grasp the outline of the moving picture image data, while suppressing fluctuation in reproduction speed.
US08204363B2 Method and apparatus for attenuating or eliminating at least a portion of color burst modifications to a video signal
A copy protection color stripe process is defeated first by determining the location of the video lines including the color stripe process. Then some or all of the lines including the modified color bursts are modified so as to render the overall video signal recordable. The modification is accomplished in a number of ways, including phase shifting the color stripe burst into the correct phase, replacing, attenuating and or eliminating some of the color stripe bursts or at least a portion of particular color burst envelopes so that they are no longer effective, mixing the color stripe burst with color stripe signals of the correct phase so as to eliminate most or all of the phase error present or modifying the horizontal sync pulse signals immediately preceding the modified color bursts so that the modified color bursts are not detected by a VCR and hence have no effect.
US08204361B2 Information storage medium storing text-based subtitle, and apparatus and method for processing text-based subtitle
An information storage medium storing subtitle text-based information, and a method and apparatus utilizing same, process a subtitle The information storage medium includes: dialog information which contains script text information of the subtitle and information specifying an output type of the script text; and presentation information which contains style information used to convert the script text into a bitmap format through rendering. With this structure, the amount of data required for a subtitle and the amount of data that should be processed when a subtitle is output may be greatly reduced.
US08204360B2 Recording apparatus, recording method and record medium
A recording apparatus for recording video data to a record medium is disclosed, that comprises an encoding means for encoding video data in a group structure of a plurality of frames corresponding to a compression-encoding process in a combination of an inter-frame predictive encoding process and a motion compensative process, a transforming means for transforming the data structure of encoded video data that is output from the encoding means into a file structure that can be processed by a computer software program without a dedicated hardware portion so that moving pictures and so forth are synchronously reproduced, and a recording means for recording data having the file structure to a record medium, wherein the file structure has a first data unit and a second data unit, the second data unit being a set of the first data units, and wherein at least one data structure is matched with the first data unit.
US08204359B2 Systems and methods of providing modified media content
In an embodiment, a method of providing modified media content is disclosed and includes receiving media content that includes audio data and video data having a first number of video frames. The method also includes generating abstracted media content that includes portions of the video data and audio elements of the audio data, where the abstracted media content includes less than all of the video data and includes fewer video frames than the first number of video frames.
US08204358B2 Image and audio reproducing apparatus and method
At least one of a recorded image signal data, recorded audio signal data, and recorded image signal multiplex data, and reproduction information data describing the information about reproduction of at least one of the recorded image signal data, the recorded audio signal data, and the recorded image signal multiplex data or an arbitrary combination thereof, are stored. In this reproduction information data, the user can describe and edit by freely and easily combining the image data, audio data, and image/audio multiplex data. The CPU reads out image data and audio data from the storage means according to the reproduction information data, and decodes them, and converts the data format if necessary, and reproduces the image and audio in synchronism by using synchronization control means.
US08204356B2 Control device and method, recording medium and program
The present invention relates to a control apparatus and a method, a recording medium and a program, which enable to control devices more efficiently and quickly. As information of the devices that can be controlled by a remote controller 1 by way of a personal computer 351, the address information of a television receiver 21 and a personal computer 31, which are connected via a wireless LAN to the personal computer 351, are provided from the personal computer 351 to the remote controller 1. Between the remote controller 1 and the television receiver 21, and between the remote controller 1 and the personal computer 31, a variety of information are sent/received by way of the personal computer 351, and these devices are controlled by the remote controller 1. The present invention is applicable to an information processing apparatus, which can control by wireless communication a variety of AV equipment, appliances, and the like.
US08204352B2 Optical apparatus, sealing substrate, and method of manufacturing optical apparatus
An optical apparatus includes an element substrate on whose surface an optical element is provided; a wiring board disposed so as to face the optical element; a sealing member and a conductive member provided between the element substrate and the wiring board. The sealing member surrounds and hermetically seals the optical element. The conductive member electrically connects the optical element and the wiring board. The wiring board has a light-transmitting area transmitting light to the optical element.
US08204347B2 Optical signal processing device
In a conventional optical signal processing device, a confocal optical system is configured in which a focusing lens is positioned at a substantially-intermediate point of a free space optical path. Thus, the free space optical system had a long length. It has been difficult to reduce the size of the entire device. The optical signal processing device of the present invention uses a lens layout configuration different from the confocal optical system to thereby significantly reduce the length of the system. The optical signal processing device consists of the first focusing lens positioned in the close vicinity of a signal processing device, and the second focusing lens positioned in the vicinity of a dispersing element. A distance between the dispersing element and the signal processing device is approximately a focal length of the first focusing lens. Compared with the conventional technique, the length of the optical path can be halved.
US08204342B2 Image processor
An image processor includes a frequency transform unit performing frequency transform on a first pixel block as a target block, and a pre-filter performing prefiltering with a region which overlaps with plural unit regions for processing by the frequency transform unit as a unit region for processing, before frequency transform is performed. The pre-filter performs prefiltering on a second pixel block being a predetermined number of pixels each larger horizontally and vertically than the first pixel block as a target block. The pre-filter performs prefiltering sequentially on a plurality of second pixel blocks aligned horizontally. The number of pixel signals in a vertical direction within a group of pixel signals continuously inputted to the pre-filter for prefiltering is equal to the number of rows in the second pixel block.
US08204341B2 Method and apparatus for capturing, geolocating and measuring oblique images
A computerized system having a computer system storing a database of captured oblique images having corresponding geo-location data. The computerized system also has a data table storing ground plane data that approximates at least a portion of the terrain depicted within the captured oblique images. The computer system further has computer executable logic that when executed by a processor causes the computer system to receive a selection of a geographic point from a user, search the database to find images that contain the selected point, and make the images available to the user.
US08204339B2 Photographic document imaging system
An apparatus and method for processing a captured image and, more particularly, for processing a captured image comprising a document. In one embodiment, an apparatus comprising a camera to capture documents is described. In another embodiment, a method for processing a captured image that includes a document comprises the steps of distinguishing an imaged document from its background, adjusting the captured image to reduce distortions created from use of a camera and properly orienting the document is described.
US08204336B2 Removing noise by adding the input image to a reference image
An image processing device (10) removes noise from an input image by adding the input image to a reference image, and includes: a motion estimation unit (1) which generates motion information for each of blocks of the input image; a motion compensation unit (3) which generates a motion-compensated reference image; a block distortion amount calculation unit (5) which calculates a block distortion amount for each of blocks of the motion-compensated reference image; an addition ratio calculation unit (6) which calculates an addition ratio of a block of the motion-compensated reference image so that the addition ratio decreases as the block distortion increases; and an addition unit (4) which perform weighted sum on a pixel value of the block of the motion-compensated reference image and a pixel value of a block of the input image, using the addition ratio.
US08204335B2 Method and apparatus for measuring blockiness in video images
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for processing images, in particular for determining the degree of blockiness in coded images. The invention comprises apparatus and methods for determining a degree of blockiness in a digital image comprising blocks each block comprising a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns of pixels each pixel having a value by performing the steps of: for each block determining an intra block measure in dependence upon the values of a set of pixels within said block; and determining said measure in dependence upon a plurality of said intra block measures corresponding to each block. Method and apparatus for generating a quality measure in dependence upon the measure of blockiness are also provided.
US08204331B2 Information processing apparatus and method to reduce delay in image decoding
In an information processing apparatus, a synthesis filtering process is performed on image data which has been subjected to hierarchical executions of an analysis filtering process, each execution of the analysis filtering process having caused frequency components of the image data to be divided into high-frequency components and low-frequency components, the total hierarchical executions of the analysis filtering process having caused the image data to be divided into a plurality of frequency bands, the synthesis filtering process involving synthesizing frequency components of frequency bands in each division level by performing a lifting calculation. The execution of the synthesis filtering process is controlled for each lifting calculation such that the lifting calculations are performed in an order that allows image data to be produced part by part, each part including a plurality of lines.
US08204330B2 Adaptive PSF estimation technique using a sharp preview and a blurred image
An adaptive motion estimation and deblurring technique for acquired digital images includes acquiring multiple digital images with a moving digital image acquisition device that includes an image sensor, including a relatively sharp, underexposed reference image and a blurred image. Anb initial approximate point spread function (PSF) is estimated corresponding to the moving of the device. A different DC offset point is determined and a second PSF is calculated based on the different DC offset point.
US08204328B2 Automated underwater image restoration via denoised deconvolution
A method for simultaneously optimizing a digital image taken in or through a scattering medium and obtaining information regarding optical properties of the scattering medium is provided. Data of the digital image is received by a computer. The digital image is evaluated according to an objective image quality metric and a resulting image quality value is compared to a previously stored image quality value for the image. A revised optical transfer function is derived by modeling the optical properties of the medium to be used to generate a restored digital image, which is derived from the original image and the revised optical transfer function. The restored digital image is evaluated according to the objective image quality metric and an optimized restored image is identified. The optical properties associated with the optical transfer function producing the optimized restored image are retrieved and represent a close approximation of the true optical properties of the medium.
US08204327B2 Context adaptive hybrid variable length coding
A coding method for an ordered series of quantized transform coefficients of a block of image data, including a context adaptive position coding process to encode the position of clusters of non-zero-valued coefficients, e.g., a multidimensional position coder that uses one of a plurality of code mappings selected according to at least one criterion including at least one context-based criterion, and an amplitude encoding process to encode any amplitudes remaining to be coded, the amplitude coding using one or a plurality of amplitude code mappings selected according to at least one criterion, including a context-based criterion. A context-based selection criterion is meant a criterion that during encoding is known or derivable from one or more previously encoded items of information. Also a coding apparatus, a decoding apparatus, a computer readable medium configured with instructions that when executed implement a coding method, and another medium for a decoding method.
US08204324B2 Method and apparatus for compressing and decompressing data
A method and an apparatus for compressing and decompressing electronic image data, in particular texture data, are provided. The compressed data includes at least two sets of reduced size data, modulation data and modulation and discontinuity flags. The modulation and discontinuity flags determine how the modulation data is used, in combination with the reduced size data sets, in a decompression process. The apparatus allows for data decompression of textures including large color discontinuities.
US08204320B2 Method and apparatus for encoding and decoding image by using large transformation unit
Disclosed are an image encoding method and apparatus for encoding an image by grouping a plurality of adjacent prediction units into a transformation unit and transforming the plurality of adjacent prediction into a frequency domain, and an image decoding method and apparatus for decoding an image encoded by using the image encoding method and apparatus.
US08204318B2 Method and apparatus for image compression and decompression
A method of image compressing is provided. During compressing, color intensity of the image is considered. When the color intensity of the image is relatively high, lower bits used for representing the image are dropped. When the color intensity of the image is relatively low, upper bits used for representing the image are dropped. By this, the image is compressed according to color intensity of the image. Therefore, the images with different color intensities are compressed dynamically. Correspondingly, a method of image decompressing is provided. Moreover, a compressing apparatus and a decompressing apparatus are also provided.
US08204316B2 Apparatus, method and computer program for classifying pixels in a motion picture as foreground or background
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for classifying pixels in each frame of a motion picture as foreground or background. According to the invention, the apparatus has a decision unit and adjustment unit. The decision unit classifies a pixel as a foreground pixel, a background pixel or an undefined pixel based on a first threshold, a second threshold and a distribution value of the pixel representing an occurrence probability of a pixel value of the pixel. The decision unit sorts each pixel into a foreground pixel or a background pixel based on the classification result of the decision unit.
US08204311B2 Method and apparatus for shoulder-line detection and gesture spotting detection
A gesture spotting detection method and apparatus employ a shoulder-line algorithm. The shoulder-line detecting method recognizes a GSD calling gesture that occurs in a shoulder-line, head or higher part in a remote distance or a short distance, although a user does not have a fixed posture. In the method, an image of people is received, and skin information of a person in the image is detected to detect a face area. Then, the cloth color information of the person is modeled from the inputted image to detect a cloth area. An external space is defined from the image based on the body space area, and an edge is extracted from the image based on the body space and the external space. Then, shoulder-line information is acquired based on an energy function obtained based on the body space, the external space, and the edge.
US08204307B2 Method of imaging a coding pattern and calculating a perspective transform using optimal numbers of target elements
A method of imaging a coding pattern disposed on a surface of a substrate. The method comprises the steps of: (a) positioning a nib of an optical reader on the surface and capturing an image of a portion of the coding pattern; (b) locating at least nine target elements in the imaged portion; (c) observing a perspective distortion of the target elements due to a 3D orientation of the reader relative to said surface; (d) calculating a 2D perspective transform using the target elements; and (e) determining a position of the nib on the surface using the 2D perspective transform and local tag data contained in the imaged portion. The imaged portion of the coding pattern has a diameter of at least one tag diameter and less than two tag diameters. The coding pattern is specially adapted for the method.
US08204306B2 Method for image segmentation based on block clustering for improved processing of touching characters
A method and system is provided for segmenting scanned image data in accordance with mixed raster content processing for more efficient processing of non-uniform color touching objects. The scanned data is segmented to background and foreground layers wherein the foreground layer is comprised of a plurality of objects such as text characters. At least one of the plurality of objects is identified as being non-uniform in color. The non-uniform color object is partitioned into a plurality of sub-objects of predetermined size pixel blocks. The sub-objects are then clustered by uniform color and coded with a binary compression algorithm as a foreground layer segment. Non-uniform color sub-objects are alternatively discarded for compression with the background layer algorithm, or processed for determination of a particular color based upon the color of a plurality of pixels within the sub-object. In such a case, the sub-object can then be compressed in accordance with a foreground layer segment algorithm as the color of the determined color.
US08204304B2 Color gamut mapping by forming curved cross-sectional surfaces
An image processing apparatus is disclosed. The image processing apparatus includes a color profile forming device. The color profile forming device includes a curved surface and table forming section, a cross-sectional surface forming section, a mapping section, and a color profile forming section. The curved surface and table forming section forms a curved surface and forms a mapping table by point group setting. The cross-sectional surface forming section forms a cross-sectional surface of a second gamut. The mapping section performs mapping of a color signal group of a first gamut on the cross-sectional surface of the second gamut by referring to the mapping table. The color profile forming section forms an LUT for a user corresponding to a selected hue, a selected curved surface, and a selected mapping table, based on input and output images whose color signals have been converted by the mapping table.
US08204302B2 Systems and methods for automatically determining 3-dimensional object information and for controlling a process based on automatically-determined 3-dimensional object information
An image containing one or more types of objects to be located is analyzed to locate linear features within the image. The objects have edges having known spatial relationships. The linear features and identified virtual lines are analyzed to find groups of linear features and/or virtual lines that have one of the known spatial relationships. These relationships can include parallel edges, edges that meet at certain angles or angle ranges, the number of lines meeting a vertex and the like. The identified group is compared with projected 2-dimensional representation(s) of the object(s) to determine whether any additional lines appear in the image that are part of the located object. In various exemplary embodiments, two or more hypotheses for how the identified group of linear features maps to the 3-dimensional representation of the object can be generated. The best fitting hypothesis becomes the recognized 3-dimensional shape and orientation for that object.
US08204295B2 Photo-mask and wafer image reconstruction
A system receives a mask pattern and a first image of at least a portion of a photo-mask corresponding to the mask pattern. The system determines a second image of at least the portion of the photo-mask based on the first image and the mask pattern. This second image is characterized by additional spatial frequencies than the first image.
US08204292B2 Feature based neural network regression for feature suppression
A method of obtaining one or more components from an image may include normalizing and pre-processing the image to obtain a processed image. Features may be extracted from the processed image. Neural-network-based regression may then be performed on the set of extracted features to predict the one or more components. These techniques may be applied, for example, to the problem of extracting and removing bone components from radiographic images, which may be thoracic (lung) images.
US08204288B2 Apparatus and method for processing an ultrasound spectrum image
There is provided a method of processing an ultrasound spectrum image. According to such method, a spectrum image is formed based on ultrasound data and then the noise is removed from the spectrum image. The noise-removed spectrum image is matched with one or more spectrum models representing specific spectrum types. Then, whether or not the noise-removed spectrum image contains an aliasing is checked. If the noise-removed spectrum image contains the aliasing, then the aliasing is removed from the noise-removed spectrum image to provide a noise-removed spectrum image without the aliasing. Thereafter, contour tracing is performed on the noise-removed spectrum image without the aliasing to detect contour points. Further, peak tracing is performed on the noise-removed spectrum image without the aliasing to detect peaks.
US08204283B2 Fingerprint input module
A fingerprint input module includes at least one prism sheet, an image-capturing unit, and a planar light source. The prism sheet has a micro-prism array. The image-capturing unit has a lens. The planar light source is disposed between the prism sheet and the image-capturing unit, and has a through hole in optical alignment with the lens for passage of light from the micro-prism array to the lens.
US08204282B2 Image input device and personal authentication device
An image input device is disclosed, including: a lens array in which a plurality of lenses are arrayed; a shielding member configured to prevent a crosstalk on an image surface of light rays passing each of lenses of the lens array; a flat board member configured to regulate a position of a living body in a lens optical axis direction of the lens array when contacting the living body; an image pickup part configured to include an image surface and pick up a compound eye image, which is a set of reduced images of an object inside the living body which position is regulated by the flat board member, the reduced images approximately formed on the image surface by the plurality of lenses of the lens array; and a process part configured to re-compose a single image from the compound eye image picked up by the image pickup part. The image input device inputs the single image re-composed by the process part as an object image.
US08204278B2 Image recognition method
According to an aspect of an embodiment, a method for detecting a subject in an image, comprising the steps of: dividing said image into a plurality of regions; calculating a similarity between a feature of one of said regions and the feature of another of said regions; determining a distribution of said similarities corresponding to said regions; and detecting the subject in the image by determining correlation of said distribution with a shape of said subject.
US08204274B2 Method and system for tracking positions of human extremities
A method for tracking positions of human extremities is disclosed. A left image of a first extremity portion is retrieved using a first picturing device and an outline candidate position of the first extremity portion is obtained according to feature information of the left image. A right image of the first extremity portion is retrieved using a second picturing device and a depth candidate position of the first extremity portion is obtained according to depth information of the right image. Geometry relations between the outline candidate position and the depth candidate position and a second extremity portion of a second extremity position are calculated to determine whether a current extremity position of the first extremity portion is required to be updated.
US08204270B2 Apparatus, method, program, and mobile terminal device with person image extracting and linking
Face images are extracted from still image content and linked to communication address information. When a person is selected from the still image content the communication address information is acquired, and a communication section is controlled to prompt a telephone call or e-mail according to the communication address information. In the still image content, the image of the person determined to be linked to the communication address information is displayed in a display mode that is different from a display mode for a person not linked to communication address information.
US08204266B2 Audio devices
An electronic device having an audio function and its loudspeaker arrangement are described. The electronic device comprises an exterior housing, an acoustic transducer and an acoustic radiator forming a part of the exterior housing of the electronic device. In one embodiment, the exterior housing undergoes pistonic movement and is provided with hydrogel pads to couple an acoustic signal to an auxiliary surface, which then vibrates in a distributed mode. The voice coil may be directly bonded to the exterior housing. A formation may be provided to promote pistonic movement of a part of the exterior housing. Methods of operation and formation are also described.
US08204265B2 Ear warming article including electronic device and easily interchangeable advertising areas
An ear warming article that can be comprised of a C-shaped resilient band, an outer sleeve and a speaker or other electronic device is described. The outer sleeve is dimensioned to contain the resilient band, and includes two insulating, ear-receiving portions as well as a first opening through which the resilient band can be inserted or removed to yield an assembled or disassembled article, respectively. In a preferred embodiment, the article includes an electronic device having one or more speakers located at the ends of the resilient band; additional openings in the outer sleeve may exist for any control functionality associated with the electronic device(s). The outer sleeve can be comprised of a washable fabric material, particularly suitable as a means for interchangeable advertising (team logo, branding, etc.). In other embodiments, the ear warming article includes additional advertising and/or securing features.
US08204264B2 Faceplate for hearing devices and method for producing a faceplate
A faceplate of a hearing device housing with a component fitted in an opening of the faceplate and an associated method are provided. The faceplate is formed from a first material. When a predefinable distance between the support surface of the components in the opening and the surface facing away from the exterior of the faceplate is not reached, a second material is applied below the support surface to the surface of the faceplate such that the predefinable distance is produced. As a result, even with fitted components, for instance the volume controller or program selection switch, the mechanical stability of the faceplate is ensured.
US08204263B2 Method of estimating weighting function of audio signals in a hearing aid
Disclosed is method of generating an audible signal in a hearing aid by estimating a weighting function of received audio signals, the hearing aid is adapted to be worn by a user; the method comprises the steps of: estimating a directional signal by estimating a weighted sum of two or more microphone signals from two or more microphones, where a first microphone of the two or more microphones is a front microphone, and where a second microphone of the two or more microphones is a rear microphone; estimating a direction-dependent time-frequency gain, and synthesizing an output signal; wherein estimating the direction-dependent time-frequency gain comprises: obtaining at least two directional signals each containing a time-frequency representation of a target signal and a noise signal; and where a first of the directional signals is defined as a front aiming signal, and where a second of the directional signals is defined as a rear aiming signal; using the time-frequency representation of the target signal and the noise signal to estimate a time-frequency mask; and using the estimated time-frequency mask to estimate the direction-dependent time-frequency gain.
US08204259B2 Condenser microphone
In a condenser microphone having a battery holder and a battery cover therefor, one part is used as a member for grounding the battery cover and as a member for preventing the battery cover from coming off. In a condenser microphone 1 including a microphone housing 2 formed of a metallic cylindrical body; an output connector 4 provided with a predetermined number of terminal pins 43 in a metallic connector sleeve 41; a battery holder 3 provided between the microphone housing 2 and the output connector 4; and a battery cover 5 formed of a metallic cylindrical body for opening/closing the battery holder 3 by sliding, a first ring-shaped groove 41a is formed in the outer peripheral surface of the connector sleeve 41; in the first ring-shaped groove 41a, there is disposed a conductive member 6 consisting of a circular conical tube body in which one end thereof on the battery holder 3 side is in elastic contact with the inner peripheral surface of the battery cover 5, and the other end thereof on the opposite side has a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the groove bottom of the first ring-shaped groove 41a; and in the inner peripheral surface of the battery cover 5, there is formed a second ring-shaped groove 52 with which the one end of the conductive member 6 increases in diameter and engages.
US08204256B2 System and method for muting TV speakers when headphones in use
An audio source (TV, stereo) detects, through a wireless signal from a headphone or from its cradle, when the headphone has been disengaged from the cradle. In response the audio device automatically mutes or lowers the volume output by its speakers.
US08204254B2 Vacuum tube preamplifier, amplifier and method for musical instruments with programmable controls
An amplifier is provided using digital potentiometer integrated circuits to control the tone of a vacuum tube preamplifier allowing digital control of the analog signal path of the amplifier. Using digital potentiometer integrated circuits to control the tone of a vacuum tube preamplifier results in an amplifier that preserves the unique tone quality of a vacuum tube amplifier that offers the flexibility, versatility, and user-friendly features of a digitally controlled amplifier, such as the ability to save and recall amplifier settings. The amplifier of the present invention is especially applicable for use with musical instruments such as for example, electric guitars.
US08204253B1 Self calibration of audio device
An audio device performs self calibration with respect to an audio source location when processing an audio signal frame determined likely to be dominated by the audio source. One or more conditions for sub-bands within the audio frame are evaluated to help identify whether the frame is dominated by the audio source. If the conditions meet a threshold value for a number of sub-bands within the frame, the audio signal may be identified as one dominated by the desired audio source and an audio source location coefficient may be adapted. Additionally, when the audio source location coefficient falls below a threshold value, (e.g., suggesting that one of two or more microphones is blocked), noise suppression is reduced or eliminated for the frame or frame sub-bands to prevent suppression of a desired audio source component along with the noise component.
US08204252B1 System and method for providing close microphone adaptive array processing
Systems and methods for adaptive processing of a close microphone array in a noise suppression system are provided. A primary acoustic signal and a secondary acoustic signal are received. In exemplary embodiments, a frequency analysis is performed on the acoustic signals to obtain frequency sub-band signals. An adaptive equalization coefficient may then be applied to a sub-band signal of the secondary acoustic signal. A forward-facing cardioid pattern and a backward-facing cardioid pattern are then generated based on the sub-band signals. Utilizing cardioid signals of the forward-facing cardioid pattern and backward-facing cardioid pattern, noise suppression may be performed. A resulting noise suppressed signal is output.
US08204246B2 Sound transducer
A sound transducer, comprising at least one acoustically neutral body with which it is possible to associate two sound conveyance elements which are shaped approximately like a stylized funnel so as to each form an auricle, which protrudes outside the acoustically neutral body and is blended with a duct with which a three-pole microphone cartridge is associated, the cartridge being arranged so that its front end, adapted to acquire the sound, is proximate to the inlet of the duct. The two cold poles of the microphone cartridges are mutually inverted, so that the cold pole of one of the microphone cartridges and the hot pole and the ground of the other of the microphone cartridges are or can be connected to a same connector or socket which is or can be associated with an amplifying and/or recording and/or processing device.
US08204243B2 Synthetic engine sound for electric vehicle based on detected direction of travel
A vehicle enunciator includes a storage device having sound data, a vehicle speed portion, an accelerator portion, and at least one speaker. The vehicle enunciator may be configured or attached to a vehicle, such as an electric car. The vehicle speed portion detects the speed of a vehicle, while the accelerator portion detects the position of the accelerator pedal of the vehicle. Using the outputs from the vehicle speed portion and accelerator portion, the sound data from the storage device is adjusted with regards to frequency and amplitude, respectively. At least one speaker then produces sound based upon the adjusted sound data.
US08204238B2 Systems and methods of sonic communication
In one embodiment the present invention includes a method of wireless communication. The method comprises receiving a sonic signal and determining a sequence of sonic tones from a received sonic signal. The receiving includes receiving the sonic signal at an electronic device using a microphone. The sonic signal includes a sequence of sonic tones. The receiving results in the received sonic signal. The sequence of sonic tones contains predefined timing. The timing includes the duration of each sonic tone and a set of intervals between successive sonic tones.
US08204234B2 Apparatus and method for generating binaural beat from stereo audio signal
An apparatus and method for generating a binaural beat for brainwave induction is provided. Upon receipt of a stereo audio signal, a decorrelator extracts a common component existing in common in both channels of the stereo audio signal, and outputs the remaining stereo components except for the extracted common component. A frequency shifter generates a common component in which the binaural beat is included, by shifting a frequency of the extracted common component. First and second mixers mix the common component in which the binaural beat is included, with the remaining stereo components.
US08204233B2 Administration of data encryption in enterprise computer systems
Encrypting data on an originating computer and prevent access to this data if the computer is stolen or otherwise unauthorized for use. Access to the encrypted data is granted based on the originating computer's ability to successfully send the data encryption keys, via an electronic connection, to a remote computer and have the remote computer decrypt the encryption keys and transmit them back to the he originating computer. When originating computer receives the decrypt encryption keys, it can then successfully decrypt the encrypted hard drive using the encryption key provided by the remote computer.
US08204228B2 Group key management re-registration method
In an embodiment, a fast group key management re-registration is described. One computer-implemented method comprises, at a key server: receiving a registration request from a network element to join a group of network elements managed by the key server; generating and storing a group member registration state comprising information identifying the network element within the group of network elements; generating a token using information from the group member registration state, wherein the token identifies the network element within the group; deleting the group member registration state for the network element at the key server; generating an encrypted token by encrypting the token using a secret key that is local to the key server; sending the encrypted token to the network element; receiving the encrypted token along with a re-registration request from the network element to re-join the group of network elements; and re-registering the network element using the encrypted token.
US08204227B2 Information processing apparatus, control method thereof, and computer program
An apparatus includes a first storage unit configured to store first data to be backup, an encryption unit configured to generate second data by encrypting the first data by using a cryptographic key, a second storage unit configured to store the second data together with a first identifier of the first data, a third storage unit configured to store the cryptographic key used in the encryption of the first data, in association with the first identifier of the first data, an instruction acceptance unit configured to accept a deletion instruction for the first data stored in the first storage unit, and a deletion unit configured to delete, from the third storage unit in accordance with the deletion instruction, the cryptographic key associated with the first identifier of the first data for which the deletion instruction is accepted.
US08204226B2 Encoding and recording apparatus, playback apparatus, and program
The present invention relates to an encoding and recording apparatus, a playback apparatus, and a program which solve the possibility of a capacity shortage of a protected area accompanying an increase in an information amount and the number of content keys. It is configured such that an encoded user identifier is recorded in a protected area of a key storage medium. The encoded user identifier is fixed information, and has the characteristic in which a data amount is not increased in connection with a utilization form. Therefore, a capacity shortage of the protected area is not brought about.
US08204225B2 Method and apparatus for providing security in a radio frequency identification system
One aspect involves a communication that contains a portion encrypted with a selected key can be wirelessly transmitted by a part for reception and decryption by plural tags. A different aspect involves a tag receiving a first sequence of wireless communications that each contain sequencing information regarding the first sequence, while receiving a second sequence of wireless communications that each include sequencing information regarding the second sequence, and further involves monitoring the sequencing information from received communications of the first sequence while separately monitoring the sequencing information from received communications of the second sequence.
US08204224B2 Wireless network security using randomness
The present invention provides systems and methods for securing communications in a wireless network by utilizing the inherent randomness of propagation errors to enable legitimate users to dynamically create a shared symmetric secret key. In one embodiment, the invention provides a system with two computers each having a wireless network adapter. The sending node encodes the frames, transmits the frames, determines if the frames were correctly received, retransmits the frames if they were not correctly received, stores the frames that were not retransmitted, and uses the stored frames to generate a secret key. The receiving node receives the encoded frames, determines if the frames were retransmitted, stores at least one of the frames that was not retransmitted, and uses the stored frames to generate the same secret key as the receiving node.
US08204220B2 Simulcrypt key sharing with hashed keys
A method of sharing keys among a plurality of conditional access (CA) vendors having differing CA systems used at a distribution headend involves receiving a CA Value contribution from each of the plurality of CA vendors at the headend; hashing the CA Values from each of the plurality of CA vendors together using a hashing function to produce an output control word; and at an encrypter at the headend, using the output control word as a content key, wherein the content key is used as an encryption key to encrypt content provided to a plurality of receivers that decrypt the content using any of the conditional access systems. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
US08204218B2 High-efficient encryption and decryption processing method for implementing SMS4 algorithm
An encrypting/decrypting processing method for implementing SMS4 algorithm in high efficiency is provided. After preparing constant array, input external data into register section, firstly make primary data conversion and then make secondary data conversion, finally repeat data conversion course until complete all specified data conversion courses and obtain processing result of circulating data encryption/decryption. And it solves the technical problems of data conversion in the background technique that number of circulating times is large and encrypting efficiency is low, simplifying the chip design, largely optimizing integrity of chip signal and being able to improve interference immunity of system and reduce system cost.
US08204216B2 Processing method for message integrity with tolerance for non-sequential arrival of message data
A method for processing an application packet for transmission includes receiving a plurality of segments of the application packet in a byte stream, the byte stream including a plurality of blocks, creating a plurality of superblocks within the byte stream by grouping a number of the plurality of blocks within the byte stream, and creating first pseudorandom bits for the plurality of superblocks. The method also includes determining a block number and a superblock number for a beginning of each of the plurality of segments, determining a block number and a superblock number for an ending of each of the plurality of segments in the byte stream.
US08204212B2 Phone and method for reducing noise in a subscriber line interface circuit thereof
A method for reducing noise is in a subscriber line interface circuit of a phone includes detecting a work state of the phone, and reading a voltage on hook on the tip wire when the phone is in the on hook state. Voltages of an off hook state on the tip wire and a voltage off hook state on the ring wire are read when the phone is in the off hook state, and calculation of a public voltage based on the voltages in the register, and loading the public voltage on the ring wire are done. The public voltage on the ring wire are converted into oscillatory voltages on the ring wire in symmetric wave forms having phases opposite to those on the tip wire, when the phone is in the pulse dialing state.
US08204209B2 Full duplex hands-free telephone system
A telephone system comprising an analog telephone and a full-duplex speakerphone adapter is disclosed. The analog telephone comprises an ordinary analog telephone subscriber circuit for transmitting and receiving analog signals and a handset for users. The full-duplex speakerphone adapter is coupled between the analog telephone and a central office, uses a subscriber loop interface circuit through the first telephone line to couple to the ordinary analog telephone subscriber circuit of the analog telephone and uses a telephone hybrid interface circuit through the second telephone line to couple to a wall jack to communicate with the central office.
US08204207B2 Communication support system, communication support method and communication support program
A communication support system is connected with a network enabling communication among user terminals and is capable of accessing a user information recording portion in which shared information concerning users and access information showing users who accessed the shared information are recorded. The communication support system includes: a user identification portion that acquires a communication start request from a user terminal and identifies an originator and a receiver; a retrieval portion that retrieves shared information concerning the receiver that the originator has not accessed from data recorded in the user information recording portion; and a control portion that, based on a result of the retrieval by the retrieval portion, controls the communication. Thereby, the communication support system can control whether or not to start the communication based on the presence or not of information about the receiver that the originator should confirm.
US08204198B2 Method and apparatus for selecting an audio stream
An active stream is selected from one of a plurality of audio streams generated in a common acoustic environment by obtaining, for each stream obtaining, at a series of measurement instants tn, where n=1 . . . N, a final performance metric that is representative of the stream's goodness for representing near-end speech at each measurement instant tn. The final performance metrics for each stream are accumulated to determine an overall performance score. A switch to a new stream as the active stream occurs when the stream with the best overall performance score exceeds the overall performance score of the currently active stream by a threshold amount.
US08204196B2 Notification to absent teleconference invitees
A method includes receiving an indication of an elapsed time since a scheduled teleconference meeting start and attendance of the teleconference meeting, determining from the indication whether to issue a notification to an absent invitee of the teleconference meeting, and selectively issuing the notification to the absent invitee.
US08204191B2 Apparatus and method for ensuring a real-time connection between users and selected service provider using voice mail
A method and apparatus are described for ensuring a real-time connection between users and selected service providers using voice mail. The system enables seekers of a wide array of services to select, contact, converse, and pay for a service provider using a communications device such as the telephone. A seeker locates a service provider by providing the name of a profession, which is recognized by the system's software. Once a service provider is selected, the system connects the seeker with the service provider for a live conversation. However, during service provider unavailability, the system enables the seeker to leave a voice mail message for the service provider and reconnects the user and service provider once the message is reviewed by the service provider. The system automatically bills the seeker for the time spent conversing with the service provider and compensates the service provider.
US08204188B2 Control device for controlling secure fax machine and method thereof
A facsimile controlling device for facsimile security can receive or block a fax transmitted from a registered fax number. In addition, the facsimile controlling device for facsimile security may allow a transmission document to undergo authentication before being transmitted to the outside or may block the transmission document from being transmitted to a registered number.
US08204184B2 Web integrated interactive voice response
One embodiment of a representative system for web integrated interactive voice response includes an interactive voice response system adapted to provide a plurality of voice menus to a user over a telephone and a graphical user interface system adapted to provide a plurality of menus in a graphical format to the user over a network connection. Information provided in the voice menus corresponds to information provided in the menus in the graphical format and is responsive to commands received by the graphical user interface system from the user. Other systems and methods are also provided.
US08204183B2 Method, apparatus, and computer readable medium thereof for enabling an internet extension to ring a conventional extension
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product thereof for enabling an Internet extension to ring a conventional extension are disclosed. The apparatus comprises an SIP proxy and an RTP relay. The SIP proxy receives a calling request from the Internet extension, substitutes an exchange number for a conventional extension number comprised in the calling request, and transmits the substituted calling request to a gateway, so that the substituted calling request can be transmitted to a voice automatic machine via a telephone exchange. The RTP relay transmits the conventional extension number in DTMF format to the gateway. Thus, this invention enables the Internet extension to ring the conventional extension with lower hardware costs.
US08204180B1 Systems and methods for preventing sensitive information from being communicated into a non-secure environment
A telecommunication system is arranged between a trusted automated interactive system and a non-secure agent. The trusted automated interactive portion is operable for bidirectional communications with a caller. The agent portion is arranged to be bridged onto a communication connection between the caller (or network chat user) and the trusted interactive system under certain conditions. Sensitive data transmitted between the system and a calling user may be blocked from being communicated to the agent even while the agent is bridged onto the connection. In one embodiment, information (such as a verification of authenticity of the caller) pertaining to the sensitive data (but not the sensitive data itself) is communicated to the agent.
US08204178B1 Method to prevent TTY/TDD probing and unwanted TTY/TDD tone generation on voice gateways
A method to prevent TTY/TDD (teletypewriter/telecommunications device for the deal) probing and unwanted TTY/TDD tone generation on voice gateways comprises detecting a PSTN textphone in a call path, if any; and providing visual clues to an end user, thereby avoiding generation of unwanted text by the end user. The visual clues may be in the form of a dialog box on a computer, warning messages on a phone, and/or the like.
US08204175B2 Electronic surveillance via correlation of call legs
A variety of methods and systems can be used to achieve electronic surveillance when a call is directed to a destination as a result of service processing. For example, in a system involving a redirecting switch and a service platform switch, correlation between calling party identities for outgoing and incoming call legs can be done to identify a hairpin loop scenario. Upon detection of such a scenario, an appropriate electronic surveillance message can be sent to a monitoring device indicating the call's destination. Correlation information can be collected from available call setup signaling parameters. The methods and systems can be applied, for example, to systems involving directory assistance call completion, voice-activated dialing, voicemail callback, and prepaid services.
US08204173B2 System and method for image reconstruction by using multi-sheet surface rebinning
The present application is directed toward the generation of three dimensional images in a tomography system having X-ray sources offset from detectors, in particular in a system where the sources are located on a plane, while detectors are located on multiple parallel planes, parallel to the plane of sources and all the planes of detectors lie on one side of the plane of sources. A controller operates to rebin detected X-rays onto a non-flat surface, perform two dimensional reconstruction on the surface, and generate the three dimensional image from reconstructed images on the plurality of surfaces.
US08204172B1 System and method of prior image constrained image reconstruction using short scan image data and objective function minimization
A tomographic system includes a gantry having an opening for receiving an object to be scanned, a radiation source, a detector positioned to receive radiation from the source that passes through the object, and a computer programmed to acquire a short scan angular range of data of the object, and define a temporal subset of the acquired short scan angular range of data for image reconstruction, the defined temporal subset of the acquired short scan angular range of data comprising approximately half of the angular range of the short scan angular range of data. The computer is programmed to reconstruct a prior image using the acquired short scan angular range of data, and input an estimated image of the object and the prior image into an objective function and minimize the objective function to reconstruct a refined image using the defined temporal subset of scan data and the prior image.
US08204171B2 Multi-faceted tileable detector for volumetric computed tomography imaging
A system and method for CT image acquisition with increased slice acquisition and minimal image data degradation is provided. The system includes an x-ray projection source positioned that projects a cone beam of x-rays from a focal spot of the x-ray projection source toward an object and a plurality of detector modules positioned on the rotatable gantry to receive x-rays attenuated by the object. Each of the detector modules includes a module frame having a top surface that includes a plurality of facets formed thereon constructed so as to be oriented at differing angles relative to the focal spot and a plurality of sub-modules positioned on the plurality of facets to receive the x-rays attenuated by the object and to convert the x-rays to electrical signals, with each sub-module being oriented at an angle relative to the focal spot based on a respective facet on which the sub-module is mounted.
US08204167B2 Master slave interface
Implementations related to systems, devices, and methods that make use of a master slave arrangement are described. In some implementations, a master device is configured to generate a clock signal and a slave device is coupled to the master device and is configured to receive the clock signal. The clock signal may control data behavior associated with the master device and the slave device. Additionally, the master device may have a power consumption rate that is lower than the power consumption rate of the slave device.
US08204163B2 Process for receiving a broadband electromagnetic signal
In a process for receiving a broadband electromagnetic signal, the receiving spectrum is divided into n partial spectrums (n>1), which are subjected to parallel further processing in n channels. The resulting n partial signals are then demodulated into the base band, digitized by n equal-type analog-to-digital converters, and spectrally transformed by a fast Fourier Transform. Interfering edge effects at the transition to the respectively adjacent channel are compensated by amplitude and phase correction of the n partial signals for compensating. Finally, the partial spectrums of the n partial signals are integrated to form a total spectrum in the frequency domain.
US08204162B2 Reception frequency control circuit
The present invention aims to provide a reception frequency control circuit that is small in mounting area and unaffected by disturbance where an FSK-modulated signal is demodulated. In the reception frequency control circuit, a reception signal processing unit converts an FSK-modulated digital signal to an intermediate frequency when the FSK-modulated digital signal is received. Thereafter, a frequency voltage converting unit converts the intermediate signal to a voltage signal and outputs an output signal. At the same time, an analog frequency controlling unit detects a frequency deviation from the output signal by analog processing. A digital frequency controlling unit generates a reception frequency control signal for correcting the frequency and feeds back the same to the reception signal processing unit. Stable frequency control can be realized by performing reception frequency control by a combination of an analog circuit-digital circuit in this way.
US08204158B2 Method and apparatus to reduce undesired amplitude modulation
A transmit circuit reduces undesired amplitude modulation (AM) in transmit signal pulses by substituting predetermined amplitude information for actual pulse amplitude information during portions of the pulse corresponding to nominally constant amplitudes. For example, GMSK and certain other modulation formats use a desired transmit pulse shape that includes a nominally flat middle portion. An exemplary AM reduction circuit detects generated pulse values corresponding to the nominally constant-amplitude portions of the transmit pulse and substitutes predetermined, preferably constant, amplitude values in their place. As such, the circuit may include a comparator used to detect the pulse values corresponding to variable amplitude portions of the pulse, which it passes through, and to detect those amplitude values corresponding to constant-amplitude portions of the pulse, which it replaces with substituted values. Such operation may include amplitude value filtering, and such operations may be modal, e.g., performed in dependence on modulation mode, etc.
US08204154B2 DC offset calibration
A mobile communication device comprises a plurality of receivers, a phase detection circuit, and a DC offset calibration circuit. Each receiver comprises a receiver chain and a divide-by-2 circuit that supplies Local Oscillating (LO) signal for the receiver chain. The LO signals leak to each receiver chain and create an undesirable DC offset voltage. The DC offset depends on an LNA gain and a phase relation among the LO leakages. In a first novel aspect, a two-dimensional DC offset calibration (DCOC) table is prepared for each receiver chain. In a second novel aspect, the phase detection circuit detects the phase relation among the LO leakages for each receiver chain. Based on the LNA gain and the detected phase relation of each receiver chain, a DCOC code is selected from a corresponding DCOC table such that the calibration circuit calibrates the DC offset for each receiver effectively and efficiently.
US08204146B2 Impulse waveform generating apparatus and radio-frequency pulse waveform generating apparatus
An impulse waveform generating apparatus includes a multistage delay pulse signal generating part for generating a plurality of delay pulse signals by a timing signal; a signal source signal generating part for generating a signal source signal indicating the frequency component of an impulse waveform signal by the delay pulse signals; an envelope formation signal generating part for generating an envelope formation signal indicating the amplitude component of the impulse waveform signal by the delay pulse signals; and a mixer part for multiplying the signal source signal by the envelope formation signal to generate a prescribed impulse waveform signal. The impulse waveform generating apparatus generates the impulse waveform signal from the timing signal. Therefore, the circuit arrangement requires no digital-to-analog converter, the operational frequency of each element can be reduced, and the power consumption can be reduced.
US08204144B2 Wireless communication system, apparatus and method thereof
Provided is a wireless communication system, comprising: a wireless communication apparatus which performs adaptive modulation for changing a modulation method and an encoding rate of a data channel, and transmits/receives a signal via MIMO multiplexing. The control information comprises first control information to be used for a MIMO stream separation process and second control information not to be used for the MIMO stream separation process. The selections in the second control information are changed corresponding to selected first control information. The wireless communication apparatus determines the first control information at an update timing of the first control information by referring to the first control information table, determine selections of the second control information based on the determined first control information, and select one of the selections of the second control information among the determined selections of the second control information at an update timing of the second control information.
US08204143B2 Beamforming in MIMO communication systems
A communication terminal includes first and second transmitters, which are coupled to produce respective first and second Radio Frequency (RF) signals that are phase-shifted with respect to one another by a beamforming phase offset, and to transmit the RF signals toward a remote communication terminal. The terminal includes a reception subsystem including first and second receivers and a phase correction unit. The first and second receivers are respectively coupled to receive third and fourth RF signals from the remote communication terminal. The phase correction unit is coupled to produce, responsively to the third and fourth RF signals, a phase correction for correcting an error component in the beamforming phase offset.
US08204139B2 Blind estimation method of OFDM modulation parameters
The present invention concerns a blind estimation method of at least one temporal modulation parameter of an OFDM signal, in which a plurality of demodulation attempts of said OFDM signal are carried out using a plurality of respective values of this temporal parameter and, for each demodulation attempt, a cost function representative of the entropy of the demodulated signal is calculated, the estimate of said temporal parameter then being obtained as the value of this parameter minimizing said cost function.
US08204129B2 Simplified deblock filtering for reduced memory access and computational complexity
A method of simplifying deblock filtering of video blocks of an enhanced layer of scalable video information is disclosed which includes selecting an adjacent pair of video blocks, determining whether boundary strength of the video blocks is a first value, evaluating first conditions using component values of a first component line if the boundary strength is not the first value, and bypassing deblock filtering between the video blocks if the boundary strength is the first value or if any of the first conditions is false. The method may include bypassing evaluating conditions and deblock filtering associated with the maximum boundary strength. The method may include bypassing evaluating second conditions and bypassing corresponding deblock filtering if the intermediate edge is a horizontal edge. The method may include bypassing less efficient memory reads associated with component values used for evaluating the second conditions.
US08204128B2 Learning filters for enhancing the quality of block coded still and video images
The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for reducing blocking artifacts in block-wise coding of still and video images. A learning filter generator is provided at the image encoder for generating a set of filters and associated filtering rules for filtering cross-boundary image patterns based on representative original and decoded training images using a supervised machine learning algorithm. An adaptive filter at the image decoder receives the generated filters and associated filtering rules and performs locally adaptive filtering in accordance with the received filtering rules.
US08204124B2 Image processing apparatus, method thereof, and program
An image processing apparatus includes a unit configured to calculate a sum of absolute differences between pixel values of pixels in a block of interest and pixel values of pixels in a reference block, a unit configured to compare sums of absolute differences calculated and to determine a minimum sum of absolute differences thereamong, a unit configured to estimate a motion vector for the pixel of interest using the reference pixel having the minimum sum of absolute differences and the pixel of interest, a unit configured to generate a motion-compensated image by using pixel values of the pixels as pixel values of corresponding pixels in the motion-compensated image, a unit configured to cumulatively add sums of absolute differences, and a unit configured to generate an interpolation image by mixing the pixels and corresponding pixels in the motion-compensated image according to an obtained cumulative-sum result.
US08204123B2 Motion vector searching apparatus, motion vector searching method and storage medium for storing motion vector searching program
A motion vector searching apparatus to which a reference image, an object image and weight parameters for the reference image are inputted and searches a motion vector based thereon is provides. The motion vector searching apparatus includes an inverse weighting section that generates an inverse weighted object image by performing, on the object image using the weight parameter, a weighting inverse from a weighting performed on the reference image using the weight parameter; an image comparing section that compares the generated inverse weighted object image with the reference image to obtain a comparison value indicating a degree of approximation between the two images; and a determination section that determines an optimum motion vector from the comparison value.
US08204122B2 Compressed non-reference picture reconstruction from post-processed reference pictures
A method of compressed picture reconstruction using a plurality of post-processed reference pictures. The method generally includes the steps of (A) generating a first of a plurality of reconstructed pictures by decoding a first of a plurality of compressed pictures using at least one of a plurality of non-post-processed reference pictures buffered in a reference memory, wherein the compressed pictures are received in an input bitstream, (B) generating a first of a plurality of processed pictures by artifact processing the first reconstructed picture to remove artifacts, (C) buffering in the reference memory both (i) the first reconstructed picture as one of the non-post-processed reference pictures and (ii) the first processed picture as one of the post-processed reference pictures and (D) generating a second of the reconstructed pictures by decoding a second of the compressed pictures using at least one of the post-processed reference pictures buffered in the reference memory.
US08204115B2 Video frame encoding and decoding
A video frame arithmetical context adaptive encoding and decoding scheme is presented which is based on the finding, that, for sake of a better definition of neighborhood between blocks of picture samples, i.e. the neighboring block which the syntax element to be coded or decoded relates to and the current block based on the attribute of which the assignment of a context model is conducted, and when the neighboring block lies beyond the borders or circumference of the current macroblock containing the current block, it is important to make the determination of the macroblock containing the neighboring block dependent upon as to whether the current macroblock pair region containing the current block is of a first or a second distribution type, i.e., frame or field coded.
US08204114B2 Direction detection algorithms for H.264/AVC intra prediction
A block intra prediction direction detection algorithm comprises acts of dividing a block, finding directions from edge assent rules, determining a main edge of the block, selecting prediction modes from the main edge, choosing base prediction modes and using all unique selected and base prediction modes in intra prediction. The algorithms comprise a 4×4 block intra prediction direction detection algorithm, a 16×16 luminance block intra prediction direction detection algorithm and an 8×8 chrominance block intra prediction direction detection algorithm.
US08204112B2 Moving picture coding method and a moving picture decoding method
A moving picture coding apparatus includes a motion estimation unit (101) for performing motion estimation by fixing the one of two reference pictures as a reference picture indicated by an inputted default reference picture number DefRefNo and a variable length coding unit (107) for performing variable length coding on coded residual data ERes, a prediction type PredType, a reference picture number RefNo2 and motion vectors MV1, MV2 on a block-by-block basis, and outputting them as coded moving picture data Str.
US08204110B2 Method of coding and decoding image
A method of simplifying the arithmetic operation in a global motion compensation process approximates the motion vector field of the whole image without using many parameters. Motion vectors in the global motion compensation are found by the interpolation and/or extrapolation of the motion vectors of a plurality of representative points 602, 603 and 604 having particular features in the spatial distance thereof. Since the shift operation can be substituted for the division for synthesizing a predicted image of global motion compensation, the processing using a computer or a dedicated hardware is simplified.
US08204105B2 Transcoder and coded image conversion method
A quantization step determination part inputs an evaluation value (ACT_MB) indicating the dispersion in a macroblock and its average value (ACT_PIC). A subtracter obtains the difference between these values, and a multiplier multiplies the difference by raq (<1) to obtain a weighting value. Next, an adder adds the weighting value to an average quantization step value of source data, and finally a multiplier multiplies the sum by a step value adjustment factor α (>1) to obtain a converted quantization step value (Qstep_AVC). This optimizes a bit allocation in accordance with an Activity value of the macroblock, to thereby improve the quality of image.
US08204104B2 Frame rate conversion system, method of converting frame rate, transmitter, and receiver
A frame rate conversion system includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter includes a decoding unit decoding a compressed video signal encoded by an encoding method using a motion vector, and an encoding unit superimposing reference control information being output from the decoding unit and containing at least a motion vector on a blanking period of the video signal decoded by the decoding unit, and outputs the video signal with the reference control information superimposed thereon. The receiver includes a decoding unit separating the reference control information from the blanking period of the video signal input from the transmitter, and a frame rate converting unit generating an interpolated frame between frames of the input video signal using the reference control information separated by the decoding unit, and converting the input video signal into the signal of a higher frame rate.
US08204102B2 IQ imbalance equalization system and method
Systems and methods for performing channel equalization in a communication system are presented. More particularly, embodiments of the disclosed method and apparatus are directed toward systems and methods for performing channel equalization in an OFDM system. One example of a method of negating the effects of IQ imbalance can include the operations of transmitting a channel estimation string across a channel. The channel estimation string comprises a plurality of known channel estimation symbols. The method further includes logically inverting predetermined symbols within the known channel estimation string; transmitting a second channel estimation string across the channel, the second channel estimation string including the logically inverted predetermined symbols; and estimating the IQ image noise based on received first and second channel estimation symbols.
US08204101B2 Noise estimation apparatus and related method thereof
A noise estimation apparatus and method thereof includes an evaluation circuit, a first calculation circuit, a second calculation circuit, and a mean calculation circuit. The evaluation circuit is utilized for determining which constellation point on a constellation diagram each received symbol in a communication signal corresponds to for purposes of generating a relevant evaluated symbol and outputting an evaluated signal. The first calculation circuit is for generating an error output signal according to the communication signal and the evaluated signal, wherein the error output signal includes a plurality of error calculation values. The second calculation circuit is utilized for adjusting at least a portion of the plurality of error calculation values of the error output signal in order to output an adjusted error output signal. The mean calculation circuit is utilized for averaging the adjusted error output signal in order to generate a noise estimation result.
US08204094B2 Scalable, efficient laser systems
A laser comprises an end pump light source and a gain medium having a first end, a second end, and four sides comprising a first, a second, a third, and a fourth side. The end pump light source is optically coupled to the first end and pumps the gain medium. The first side and the third side are tapered inwardly from the first end to the first end to the second end at a taper angle β relative to a longitudinal lasing axis and have a polished finish capable of reflecting light inside the gain medium. The second side and the fourth side are substantially parallel to the longitudinal lasing axis have a ground blasted finish. The first side is also tilted inwardly at a slant angle α from the fourth side to the second side. A laser beam R0 exits the second end of the gain medium.
US08204092B2 Injector emitter
Injection emitters (light-emitting diodes, superluminescent emitters) are used in the form of highly-efficient solid state radiation sources within a large wavelength range and for wide field of application, including general illumination using white light emitters provided with light-emitting diodes. Said invention also relates to superpower highly-efficient and reliable injection surface-emitting lasers, which generate radiation in the form of a plurality of output beams and which are characterized by a novel original and efficient method for emitting the radiation through the external surfaces thereof.
US08204089B2 Mode locked laser device
There is provided a mode locked laser device including: a cavity, the cavity having a semiconductor saturable absorbing mirror and a negative dispersion mirror that controls group velocity dispersion within the cavity, disposed in a straight line; a solid-state laser medium, disposed in the cavity and outputting oscillating light due to excitation light being incident thereon; an excitation unit that causes the excitation light to be incident on the solid-state laser medium; and a cavity holder, the light incident face of the semiconductor saturable absorbing mirror attached to one end of the cavity holder, the negative dispersion mirror attached to the other end of the cavity holder, and the cavity holder integrally supporting the semiconductor saturable absorbing mirror and the negative dispersion mirror.
US08204088B2 Wavelength tunable laser and optical tomography system using the wavelength tunable laser
An external resonator type wavelength tunable laser has a laser medium, a dispersion system which spatially disperses light emitted from the laser medium by wavelength, and a wavelength selecting system having a reflecting surface which selectively reflects a part of the light which is reflected by the reflecting surface as a return light, and the wavelength selecting system is structured so that the inverse of a number of a wavelength of the return light linearly changes with time.
US08204086B2 Natural network coding for multi-hop wireless network
Described herein is technology for, among other things, natural network coding in a wireless mesh network. The technology involves wireless mesh network systems, methods and devices based on the natural network coding. By encoding signals in their natural forms using their channel strengths, more efficient transmission of signals is possible in the wireless mesh network.
US08204082B2 Transparent provisioning of services over a network
An apparatus and method for enhancing the infrastructure of a network such as the Internet is disclosed. A packet interceptor/processor apparatus is coupled with the network so as to be able to intercept and process packets flowing over the network. Further, the apparatus provides external connectivity to other devices that wish to intercept packets as well. The apparatus applies one or more rules to the intercepted packets which execute one or more functions on a dynamically specified portion of the packet and take one or more actions with the packets. The apparatus is capable of analyzing any portion of the packet including the header and payload. Actions include releasing the packet unmodified, deleting the packet, modifying the packet, logging/storing information about the packet or forwarding the packet to an external device for subsequent processing. Further, the rules may be dynamically modified by the external devices.
US08204079B2 Joint transmission of multiple multimedia streams
A system and method for partitioning a bandwidth of a single channel among plural multimedia streams in a time varying manner. The partitioning is undertaken by dynamically establishing first and second bit rates respectively associated with first and second multimedia streams.
US08204076B2 Compact packet based multimedia interface
A packet based display interface arranged to couple a multimedia source device to a multimedia sink device is disclosed that includes a transmitter unit coupled to the source device arranged to receive a source packet data stream in accordance with a native stream rate, a receiver unit coupled to the sink device, and a linking unit coupling the transmitter unit and the receiver unit arranged to transfer a multimedia data packet stream formed of a number of multimedia data packets based upon the source packet data stream in accordance with a link rate between the transmitter unit and the receiver unit.
US08204070B1 Backplane device for non-blocking stackable switches
A backplane device to connect to a plurality of stackable network switch devices. According to one aspect of the intention, each of the plurality of stackable network switch devices can implement its own internal non-blocking switching. According to another aspect of the intention, the relative configuration of connectors and signal lines of the backplane device provide for a switch device to be readily connected into (or disconnected from) a switch stack implementing combined non-blocking switching.
US08204069B2 Systems and methods for queue management in packet-switched networks
This disclosure relates to methods and systems for queuing traffic in packet-switched networks. In one of many possible embodiments, a queue management system includes a plurality of queues and a priority module configured to assign incoming packets to the queues based on priorities associated with the incoming packets. The priority module is further configured to drop at least one of the packets already contained in the queues. The priority module is configured to operate across multiple queues when determining which of the packets contained in the queues to drop. Some embodiments provide for hybrid queue management that considers both classes and priorities of packets.
US08204068B2 Methods and apparatus for fibre channel interconnection of private loop devices
Methods and apparatus for Fibre Channel interconnection is provided between a plurality of private loop devices through a Fibre Channel private loop device interconnect system. In the preferred embodiments, the Fibre Channel private loop device interconnect system is a fabric or an intelligent bridging hub. In one aspect of this invention, a Fibre Channel private loop device is connected to two or more Arbitrated Loops containing, or adapted to contain, one or more private loop devices. Preferably, the interconnect system includes a routing filter to filter incoming Arbitrated Loop physical addresses (ALPAs) to determine which Fibre Channel frames must attempt to be routed through the fabric. Numerous topologies of interconnect systems may be achieved. In another aspect of this invention, a method is provided for implementing a logical loop of private loop devices by segmenting the logical loop into a plurality of sets, assigning each set to a physical Arbitrated Loop and connecting the Arbitrated Loops to a Fibre Channel private loop device interconnect system. Additional methods are provided for restricting attached devices to Arbitrated Loop physical addresses within certain ranges. Additionally, methods are provided for resetting hosts, the method generally comprising the steps of detecting the addition of a storage device to a first Arbitrated Loop, and thereafter, resetting the Arbitrated Loop or loops on which a host or hosts reside on second Arbitrated Loop. Methods for operation with use of SCSI initiators generate a link service reject when no address match is found, or when an address match is found, but where no device with the destination ALPA exists on the Arbitrated Loop corresponding to the destination.
US08204067B2 Technique for lane virtualization
A technique to perform virtualization of lanes within a common system interface (CSI) link. More particularly, embodiments described herein relate to virtualizing interconnective paths between two or more electronic devices residing in an electronic network.
US08204066B2 Method for predicting a port number of a NAT equipment based on results of inquiring the STUN server twice
We propose a method for predicting a port number of a NAT equipment according to results of inquiring a STUN server twice in this invention. A network terminal device A in a private network sends an inquiry packet to the STUN server before and after sending a hole punching request, acquires two endpoint mappings of the NAT equipment used respectively in the two inquiries from the STUN server, and delivers the endpoint mappings to another network terminal device B in another private network through a SIP server. The network terminal device B predicts a range of port numbers of the NAT equipment probably used when the hole punching request was sent, according to the endpoint mappings and a port differential of the NAT equipment, and sends packets to the predicted port numbers sequentially until a response packet is received from the network terminal device A. Hence, a connection channel is established.
US08204065B2 Network address translation in session initiation protocol based application
Improved techniques are disclosed for providing network address translation (NAT) in a session initiation protocol (SIP) based application. For example, a method for use in a router for performing NAT on a SIP message associated with a session being initiated between a first device and at least a second device, wherein the first device is part of a first network and the second device is part of a second network, includes the following steps. A SIP message is obtained from the first device, wherein a header field of the SIP message includes a local address and local port number usable by the first device on the first network. A port number to be associated with the session being initiated is randomly selected. The randomly selected port number is usable on the second network. An association (e.g., a binding) is generated between the randomly selected port number and a global address usable on the second network, the local address and the local port number. The local address and the local port number are substituted in the header field of the SIP message with the global address and the randomly selected port number thereby generating an address-translated SIP message. The address-translated SIP message is sent to the second device on the second network. The randomly selected port number may serve as a unique identifier for the session being initiated.
US08204059B2 Method for formatting signal in mobile communication system
A method for formatting a signal in a mobile communication system by appending a plurality of medium access control headers to a plurality of medium access control-service data units for data transfer between a mobile station and network in the mobile communication system. If the service data units have the same characteristics, a medium access control-protocol data unit is formed by successively coupling the service data units to any one of the medium access control headers. If the service data units have different characteristics, the protocol data unit is formed by sequentially coupling each of the service data units and each of the medium access control headers. The formed protocol data unit is then transformed into a transport block with a predetermined size. A medium access control sublayer formats medium access control-protocol data units according to transport channel characteristics in peer-to-peer communication in such a manner that the protocol data units can have different formats with respect to different transport channels. This makes it possible to provide more efficient functions.
US08204056B2 Systems and methods for endpoint recording using a media application server
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for recording media communication. An exemplary method comprises the steps of: receiving an incoming communication from a first communication device; routing the incoming communication to a second communication device in a call center; transmitting media communications associated with the incoming media communication between the first communication device and the second communication device through a media application server; duplicating the media communications via the media application server; transmitting the duplicated media communications via the media application server; and recording the duplicated media communications.
US08204054B2 System having a plurality of nodes connected in multi-dimensional matrix, method of controlling system and apparatus
A system has a plurality of nodes connected in a multi-dimensional matrix and having node addresses, respectively, each of the nodes having a processor, and a router for transmitting a request packet to a node adjacent to its own node located in n+1th dimension when the address of nth dimension of its own node is matched to the address of nth dimension of the target node, transmitting a response packet to a node adjacent to its own node located in nth dimension when the address of n+1th dimension of its own node is matched to the address of n+1th dimension of the response packet, wherein the router terminates a request packet when the address of the request packet is fully matched to the node address of its own node in all the dimensions, transfers the data conveyed by the request packet to the processor of its own node for processing.
US08204051B2 Apparatus and method for queuing delay-sensitive packets for transmission on heterogenous links
An apparatus for use in a first packet switching device that transmits outgoing data packets to a second packet switching device over N heterogeneous data links. The first packet switching device comprises N packet queues for storing outgoing data packets. The apparatus selects one of the N heterogeneous data links to transmit a first outgoing data packet. The apparatus comprises a controller that calculates a packet delay value for each one of a subset of S of the N heterogeneous data links. The packet delay (PD) value for each data link is determined as a function of i) a propagation delay (D) of the data link; ii) a packet size (PS) of the first outgoing data packet; iii) a queue size (QS) of a packet queue associated with the data link; and iv) a bandwidth (BW) of the data link.
US08204040B2 Wireless communications method, wireless control station, and wireless base station
The present invention relates to a wireless communications method, a wireless control station, and a wireless base station. One of the objects of the present invention is to make it possible to allocate the wireless resources to more than one road side device without interference thereamong. Therefore, the allocation information in the communications regions, used by the wireless base stations in their communications with the wireless terminal from the wireless control station, is sent to each of the wireless base stations, and each of the signal base stations performs communications with the wireless terminal by using the communications region in the wireless frame corresponding to the allocation information received from the wide-area control station.
US08204038B2 Method for efficient utilization of radio resources in wireless communications system
The invention provides a wireless communications system. In one embodiment, the wireless communications system comprises a coordinating communications device, a source communications device, and a sink communications device. The coordinating communications device transmits a predetermined bits sequence at the beginning of a radio frame at a rate of a first fixed interval. The source communications device receives frames of a streaming session, detects a duration and first starting time of a frame, and wherein forwards information about the duration and the first starting time of one or more of the frames to the coordinating communications device. The coordinating communications device then determines the duration of a second fixed interval and second starting time in accordance with a predetermined rule based on the information received from the source communications device. The coordinating communications device then transmits the predetermined bits sequence at the second starting time of a radio frame at a rate of the second fixed interval, and the source communications device forwards the frames to a sink communications device.
US08204037B2 Autocratic low complexity gateway/ guardian strategy and/or simple local guardian strategy for flexray or other distributed time-triggered protocol
A special node is used in a distributed time-triggered cluster. The special node comprises protocol functionality to establish a time base to use in communicating with a plurality of end nodes and to source timing-related frames to the plurality of end nodes in accordance with the distributed time-triggered communication protocol. The protocol functionality establishes the time base without regard to any timing-related frame sourced from any of the plurality of end nodes. In one embodiment, the protocol functionality of the special node is implemented in a low complexity manner. In one embodiment, the cluster comprises a star topology and the special node performs at least one of semantic filtering and rate enforcement. In another embodiment, the cluster comprises a bus or peer-to-peer topology and each end node is coupled to the communication channel using a low-complexity special local bus guardian.
US08204035B2 Network node
A computer node comprising a synchronization unit for comparing network timing information for a first network with network timing information for a second network and for communicating to the first network the sign of the difference between the first network timing information and the second network timing information to allow the first network to alter its network timing information using the sign of the difference to allow the network timing difference between the first network and the second network to be reduced.
US08204033B2 Relay station, base station, relay method, transmission method, and computer readable medium thereof for use in a multi-hop network
A relay station (RS), a relay method, a base station (BS), a transmission method, and a computer readable medium thereof are provided. The BS is configure to generate a DL-R-MAP for the BS and a first frame according to a resource usage status of the multi-hop network, and transmit the first frame in a DL relay zone according to the DL-R-MAP for the BS, wherein the first frame comprises a plurality of DL-R-MAPs for RSs, and each of the DL-R-MAPs for RSs. The RS is configure to receive the first frame from the BS, generate a second frame by removing a DL-R-MAP from the first frame, and transmit the second frame to a subordinated relay station in a DL relay zone according to the DL-R-MAP removed from the first frame.
US08204032B2 Information polling method, apparatus and system
The invention provides an information polling method, apparatus and system thereof, wherein a message gateway receives an information polling request from an application in an application client, and according to the received information polling request, the message gateway acquires at least one message requested by the application and calculates a reference polling cycle of the application, and sends the acquired message requested by the application and the reference polling cycle to the application. The application determines a polling cycle of a next poll according to a load condition of the application client and the received reference polling cycle. According to the invention, efficiency and quality of the information polling is improved, while the system is ensured to run normally, reducing the cases of message blocking and system breakdown which may occur in the existing situations.
US08204029B2 Mobile intelligent roaming using multi-modal access point devices
A system and method are provided in which access point (AP) devices in a wireless local area network (WLAN) are typed or configured into one of three measurement and reporting roles: Monitor-Mode AP (MMAP), Portal AP (PAP), a Border AP (BAP) or an Interior AP (IAP). APs are assigned specific link measurement requirements according to their assigned type or role. In general, MMAPs and PAPs have the greatest measurement and reporting responsibilities, BAPs have less measurement and reporting responsibilities than PAPs and IAPs have the least measurement and reporting responsibilities. The APs generate measurements that are supplied to appropriate equipment to facilitate handover decisions with respect to a dual-mode wireless client device that roams between the WLAN and another network or vice versa. As a result, link measurements are only performed by APs in locations where such measurements are necessary for handover service, thus reducing the overall processing load on the WLAN infrastructure.
US08204024B2 Method and apparatus for supporting downlink joint detection in TDD CDMA systems
A method is proposed for supporting downlink JD (joint detection) in a TDD CDMA communication network system, comprising steps of: judging whether the CAI (code allocation information) in a downlink timeslot will change in the next TTI (transmission time interval); if the CAI will change, inserting the changed CAI as a specific control information into a specified field in the traffic burst in the downlink timeslot corresponding to current TTI; sending the traffic burst containing the specific control information to each UE (user equipment) in the downlink timeslot via a downlink channel.
US08204022B2 Method of providing transcoding during voice-over-internet protocol handoff
The present invention provides a method for supporting handoffs of a first mobile unit in a wireless communication system that supports multiple vocoder technologies. The method includes allocating, prior to completion of a handoff of the first mobile unit, a transcoder function to the first mobile unit. The method also includes detecting a change in a format of at least one packet received from the first mobile unit. The change indicates that the vocoder technology used by the first mobile unit to form packets has changed. The method also includes transcoding packets in response to detecting the change in the format.
US08204015B2 Method and apparatus for zone controller based dynamic spectrum allocation
The application discloses a method and apparatus for dynamic spectrum allocation to a secondary communication system seeking to operate within the spectrum of a regulated primary communication system. The method includes clustering a plurality of secondary devices based on an operating frequency utilized by each of the secondary devices. The method then includes assigning sensing opportunities to the plurality of clustered secondary devices. The method then includes, receiving sensing information from each of the clustered secondary devices. The sensing information indicates at least one of an occupied channel frequency and an unoccupied channel frequency in the spectrum. The method further includes determining at least one spectrum opportunity, in the spectrum, that is unoccupied by each of a plurality of primary devices based on the received sensing information, and allocating the at least one spectrum opportunity to at least one of the secondary devices.
US08204010B2 Method and system for dynamic ACK/NACK repetition for robust downlink MAC PDU transmission in LTE
A method and apparatus for dynamic acknowledgement repetition for a downlink medium access control packet data unit transmission ‘MAC PDU’ requiring multiple acknowledgements, the method having the steps of: receiving the downlink MAC PDU requiring multiple acknowledgements; and utilizing a differentiating factor and acknowledgement scheme, sending the multiple acknowledgements.
US08204009B2 Providing connectivity between subnets of a wireless network
A method of providing connectivity between subnets of a wireless network is disclosed. The method includes each gateway of each subnet selecting less than all gateways of each other subnet of the wireless network. An adjacency is formed between each gateway and each of the less than all selected gateways of each other subnet.
US08204008B2 Techniques for resource block mapping in a wireless communication system
A technique of operating a wireless communication device includes creating a resource block map by associating respective subscriber station identifications, corresponding to respective subscriber stations, with one or more resource blocks. The respective subscriber station identifications and the resource block map are transmitted, from a serving base station, in one or more control channel symbols.
US08204007B2 Method and apparatus for control of enhanced dedicated channel transmissions
A method and apparatus for controlling enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) transmissions are disclosed. An enhanced uplink medium access control (MAC-e/es) entity processes a received scheduling grant to calculate a serving grant. The MAC-e/es entity determines whether both a hybrid automatic repeat request (H-ARQ) process for scheduled data and scheduled data are available. If an H-ARQ process for scheduled data and scheduled data are available, the MAC-e/es entity determines whether a serving grant exists. The MAC-e/es entity calculates a remaining power based on maximum allowed power and restricts an E-DCH transport format combination (E-TFC) based on the remaining power. The MAC-e/es entity selects an E-TFC using the serving grant and generates a MAC-e protocol data unit. The MAC-e/es entity may process the received scheduled grant is at each transmission time interval or may store the received scheduled grant in a grant list until there is E-DCH data to transmit.
US08204000B1 Achieving quality of service (QoS) by using the reverse activity bit (RAB) in creation of neighbor lists for selected access terminals
Methods and systems are provided for achieving quality of service (QoS) by using the reverse activity bit (RAB) in creation of neighbor lists for selected access terminals. In an embodiment, an access node provides service to a plurality of access terminals in a first wireless coverage area. The access node maintains and broadcasts a standard neighbor list identifying neighboring wireless coverage areas, each having a respective RAB. The access node generates a QoS neighbor list, consisting of one or more coverage areas from the standard neighbor list having a RAB that is cleared. The access node transmits the QoS neighbor list to a subset of the access terminals. Each access terminal in the subset uses the QoS neighbor list in place of the standard neighbor list, while the other access terminals use the standard neighbor list.
US08203999B2 Routing in selfish networks
There is disclosed a method of operating a communications network having a plurality of selfish users. Each selfish user may send messages to a destination node with the messages being forwarded through intermediate nodes of a mesh network. Each selfish user may accumulate a debt equal to the power saved by having messages forwarded through other nodes in the mesh network less the power consumed forwarding messages for other nodes in the mesh network. Each selfish user having greater than zero accumulated debt may be required to forward messages for other nodes.
US08203998B2 System and methods for cancelling interference in a communication system
Systems and methods for canceling interference in a communication system are described. A signal that comprises current data from a current access point and secondary data from one or more secondary access points is received. The secondary data is demodulated using one or more secondary channel estimates if a signal metric is less than a predetermined threshold. Interference in the received signal is canceled using the demodulated secondary data if the signal metric is less than the predetermined threshold. The received signal with the interference canceled is demodulated using a current channel estimate to obtain the current data. The method for interference cancellation may use the same hardware resources and processing available for receiving data from a single access point.
US08203993B2 Providing improved post-dial delay at an originating terminal
To provide expedited ringback at an originating terminal, a call request is sent from the originating terminal to a destination device over an Internet Protocol (IP) network. Local resource reservation is performed by the originating terminal after sending the call request. A first message is received by the originating terminal prior to the originating terminal sending a second message indicating that local resource reservation has been performed, the first message for indicating that alerting is being performed at the destination device. In response to receiving the first message and determining that the local resource reservation has been performed, a ringback indicator is generated by the originating terminal.
US08203992B2 Methods and systems for implementing CDMA-based dedicated control channels in an OFDMA-based network
A method for efficiently transmitting control information may include allocating a portion of orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) frames for transmission of a code division multiple access (CDMA) based signal. The CDMA-based signal may include data from one or more dedicated control channels. The method may also include converting the CDMA-based signal into a format that is suitable for transmission via OFDMA techniques. The method may also include transmitting the converted CDMA-based signal using a subset of available OFDMA subcarriers.
US08203989B2 Distributing content in a communication network
A method involves determining a first content identifier for content and determining a second content identifier for the content, wherein the first content identifier belongs to a first system layer and the second content identifier belongs to the second system layer. The method further involves requesting for delivering of the content by transmitting the first content identifier in a control message, wherein the control message belongs to a second system layer. The content is received via radio interface within a connection, wherein the connection belongs to the second layer. The second system layer is lower than the first system layer.
US08203985B2 Power saving in peer-to-peer communication devices
Apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer program products to save power in peer-to-peer communication devices associated with wireless communication networks are disclosed. Embodiments generally comprise wireless communications devices. A device may associate or connect with an access point and communicate with another device also connected to the access point. The devices may establish a direct link as part of a tunneled direct link system (TDLS) network. After establishing the direct link, the devices may negotiate a wakeup schedule, enabling both devices to enter power saving modes to conserve power. The devices may maintain the direct link while in power saving modes, enabling the devices to periodically exit the power saving modes and transfer buffered data.
US08203983B2 Multi-domain network with centralized management
One embodiment relates to a method for coordinating signals within a multi-domain network. At least one node within one network domain of the multi-domain network is identified, where the one node is affected by interference due to another node of another network domain of the multi-domain network. Global signals are provided to the one network domain to coordinate domain signals within that network domain to limit the interference from the another node. Other systems and methods are also disclosed.
US08203980B2 Industrial ethernet communications adapter
Communications adapters and methods are provided for interfacing communications for an EtherNet/Ip or other general purpose industrial network, a Fieldbus or other open protocol device network, and a PointBus or other proprietary network. The adapter may be integrated in a module of a backplane system with connections to the general purpose, proprietary, and open protocol device networks, and provides a bridging for communications across the networks to make devices on the proprietary and open protocol networks accessible as if they were on a single device network and with sequential addressing capabilities.
US08203979B2 Resource allocation for OFDMA systems with half-duplex relay(s) and corresponding transmission protocol
A transmission protocol is provided for wireless communications in an OFDMA system that uses a rateless code and techniques are provided for dynamically adjusting the subcarrier resources allocated to an OFDMA relay node so that the relay is used at the right time according to the instantaneous channel state information (CSI). As a result, a higher throughput is achieved between source and destination nodes based on a low complexity algorithm for determining when relay assistance is helpful for completing a transmission between the source and destination nodes.
US08203976B2 Interface device and image forming apparatus
An interface device includes a parallel-to-serial converting unit, a driver, a receiver, and a serial-to-parallel converting unit. The parallel-to-serial converting unit converts parallel signals into a single-ended signal. The driver converts the single-ended signal from the parallel-to-serial converting unit into a differential signal and transmits the differential signal to an external device via signal lines. The receiver converts a differential signal received via the signal lines from an external device into a single-ended signal. The serial-to-parallel converting unit converts the single-ended signal from the receiver into parallel signals. A direction in which the differential signal is to be transmitted is determined based on a control signal.
US08203969B2 Network timing topology via network manager
The invention is directed to providing a method and system for monitoring and managing from a network management entity, timing-over-packet synchronization performance in a packet switching network having multiple network nodes. The network management entity determines a physical topology and a synchronization topology of the network and monitors synchronization performance by collecting virtual path information.
US08203968B2 Internet protocol service level agreement router auto-configuration
Once the user has configured which call paths to monitor, VOIP automatically creates all the required IP SLA operations, including turning on the responder on the destination side. When these operations disappear, either due to their periodic expiration or due to a router reset, so the service dynamically recreates the IP SLA operations as necessary.
US08203967B2 Methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing a standardized interpretive engine
A method, system, and computer program product for implementing a standardized interpretive engine is provided. The method includes externalizing at least one of a business and a user requirement into a component class of a data control structure. The method also includes defining a solution to the business and user requirement and entering the solution into metadata within the component class. The method further includes pulling data from a data warehouse into the component class based upon the business and user requirement. The method also includes performing a calculation on the data in accordance with the business and a user requirement.
US08203961B2 Methods and apparatus for providing modified timestamps in a communication system
Methods and apparatus for providing modified timestamps in a communication system. In an aspect, a method includes receiving one or more packets associated with a selected destination, computing an average relative delay associated with each packet, determining a modified timestamp associated with each packet based on the average relative delay associated with each packet, and outputting the one or more packets and their associated modified timestamps. In an aspect, an apparatus is provided for generating modified timestamps. The apparatus includes a packet receiver configured to receive one or more packets associated with a selected destination and processing logic configured to compute an average relative delay associated with each packet, determine a modified timestamp associated with each packet based on the average relative delay associated with each packet, and output the one or more packets and their associated modified timestamps.
US08203958B2 Frame counter correction apparatus, opposing apparatus, and frame counter correction method
A frame counter correction apparatus connected to an Ethernet network, including transmission counter for counting a number of frames to be transmitted; inspection frame generator for generating an inspection frame for measuring a frame loss; and transmission counter correction unit for calculating a difference between a counter value of the transmission counter at a time of generation of the inspection frame and the counter value of the transmission counter at a time of transmission of the inspection frame, and adding a calculated difference value and information for specifying the inspection frame as a correction target to another inspection frame.
US08203957B2 Radio communication terminal device, radio communication control station device, and radio communication method
Provided are a radio communication terminal device, a radio communication control station device, and a radio communication method capable of effectively managing a radio resource allocated to a terminal and context such as registration information when the terminal compatible with a plurality of different RATs moves between the RATs. According to them, when the WLAN Network control unit (110) detects the WLAN In Service state while the terminal (100) is connected to a Cellular Network, a RAT switching control unit (109) controls to switch the connection from the Cellular Network to the WLAN Network. When a timer (1) in the Cellular Network control unit (101) has expired, a registration update request is transmitted to the Cellular Network by using the WLAN and the Cellular Network exchange station updates the registration, thereby holding the context such as the registration information in the Cellular Network.
US08203956B1 Method and apparatus providing a precedence drop quality of service (PDQoS)
A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing a precedence drop quality of service is presented. A drop precedence value for a packet is determined and inserted into the packet which is then transmitted having the drop precedence value inserted therein. The packet is received and a determination made regarding whether a sum of queued packet sizes of previously received packets having a higher drop precedence value than the packet is larger than a first threshold value. The packet is dropped when the sum of queued packet sizes of the previously received packets having a higher drop precedence value than the packet is larger than the first threshold value.
US08203955B2 Method and apparatus for scheduling packets in an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) system
A method and apparatus for scheduling packets in an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) system is provided. More particularly, the presently described embodiments relate to a scheduling system whereby packets are prioritized based on packet delay information. The system also handles poor geometry users in an improved manner.
US08203944B2 Transmission rate selection
A method for transmitting data over a network in which multiple transmission conditions can be used for transmitting data, the method comprising selecting a transmission condition to be used when transmitting data over the network, said selection being made in dependence on a predetermined preference distribution that for each of the multiple transmission conditions defines a probability of that transmission condition being selected, using the selected transmission condition when transmitting data over the network and determining the success of the transmission and updating the preference distribution in dependence on the success of the transmission and thereafter selecting a transmission condition for transmitting data over the network in dependence on the updated preference distribution.
US08203943B2 Colored access control lists for multicast forwarding using layer 2 control protocol
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, by an access node, multicast control parameters for white, black, and grey lists of multicast groups. The access node applies the multicast control parameters to an IGMP process running on a port associated with a subscriber. In response to receiving an IGMP message requesting joining a multicast group, the access node either: autonomously forwarding the multicast group on the port where the multicast group in on the white list, blocking the multicast group on the port where the multicast group in on the black list, or relying on a Layer 3 broadband network gateway (BNG) to instruct the access node whether to add a forwarding entry on the port for the multicast group where the multicast group in on the grey list. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure.
US08203939B2 Method and apparatus for providing a window based overload control
A method and apparatus for controlling a network load in a packet network are disclosed. For example, the method receives a request from a User Agent Client (UAC), and sends the request to a core proxy server. The method receives a request from a User Agent Client (UAC) and sends the request to a core proxy server. The method increments a counter, if the request is positively acknowledged by the core proxy server. The method decrements a value for a window size parameter by a first predetermined value, and resets the counter, if the request is not positively acknowledged by the core proxy server, and the method decrements a number of outstanding requests if the request is positively acknowledged or negatively acknowledged.
US08203936B2 Gateway unit
A gateway unit for mutually connecting subscriber network, public switched telephone network (PSTN) and packet communication network, comprising subscriber network interface connected to subscriber network, PSTN interface connected to line exchange network, exchange unit exchange-connecting communication path among subscriber network, PSTN and packet communication network, control unit controlling connecting state of communication path at exchange unit, signal conversion unit converting form of signal transmitted and received between exchange unit and packet communication network into forms suitable for communication protocol of packet communication network and communication protocol of subscriber network, respectively, switching unit for route-controlling to transmit signal which is output from signal conversion unit toward destination in packet communication network, and information communication unit mediating information communications among subscriber network interface, PSTN interface, control unit, signal conversion unit and switching unit by using general-purpose local area network (LAN).
US08203935B2 Signal transmitting device for switching forwarding destination
A device includes: an ingress interface unit determining an output port of an input signal, adding destination information including information on the output port, and outputting the signal; two or more egress interface units; a switch unit receiving the signal including the destination information, determining a forwarding destination of the signal based on the destination information, and forwarding the signal to at least one of the egress interface units as the forwarding destination; a notifying unit notifying of, when a fault related to the output port occurs, alternative destination information including information of an alternative output port; a registration unit registering the alternative destination information in a storage unit in a way that associates the alternative destination information with the destination information; and a translation unit rewriting, when the storage unit is registered with the alternative destination information, the destination information in the signal into the alternative destination information.
US08203928B2 System and method for selecting a number of spatial streams to be used for transmission based on probing of channels
Systems and methods are provided for determining a number of spatial channels to use to transmit a data packet from a source node to a destination node. This determination can be made based on a Probability of Channel non-Correlation (PCC) function that is generated and updated by the source node based on feedback from the destination node. The PCC function indicates a probability of whether a plurality of spatial channels are non-correlated.
US08203925B2 Apparatus for recording angular multiplexed pits
An apparatus for recording angular multiplexed pits on optical recording media using a device for generating a light beam with an asymmetric intensity distribution is described. The device for generating a light beam with an asymmetric intensity distribution has at least one light influencing part for introducing a phase shift of 180° in a first half of the light beam relative to the second half of the light beam, wherein the border between the first half of the light beam and the second half of the light beam is rotatable around an optical axis of the light beam.
US08203919B2 Optical disc and optical disc apparatus
The invention provides an optical disc apparatus which prevents that a laser beam whose power is set at a read power level causes erroneous data recording or deletion. The optical disc apparatus includes an emission controller which controls an amount of an electrical current that a current supply portion supplies to a laser diode in order to control a level of emission power at which the laser diode emits the laser beam. The emission controller has a function to set levels of the emission power at the following transition processings: a transition processing after a read processing and before a write processing, a transition processing after a write processing and before a read processing, a transition processing between two read processings for respective areas, and a transition processing between two write processings for respective areas.
US08203916B2 Buffer management method and apparatus thereof
A control unit accesses a memory. The memory includes a plurality of blocks. The control unit includes a batch buffer, a batch controller and a multiplexer. The batch buffer stores a batch which includes a designated block index. The batch controller fetches the designated block index from the batch buffer. The multiplexer selectively outputs a sequential block index or the designated block index as an active index according to a control signal. And a designated block of the memory is accessed according to the active index.
US08203915B2 Optical disc reader
An optical disc reader comprising a controller that controls a read operation to read data recorded on an optical disc and a counter that counts the number of zero crossings in a tracking error signal. Between the completion of focusing operation and the start of tracking operation, the controller determines whether or not the light beam is properly focused on a data recording layer in the optical disc based on the number of zero crossings in the tracking error signal counted by the counter. If it is determined that the light beam is not properly focused, the controller causes the focusing operation to be performed again. Otherwise, if it is determined that the light beam is properly focused on the data recording layer, the controller causes the tracking operation to be performed and then starts the read operation.
US08203914B2 Disc storage apparatus and disc storage method
A disc storage apparatus includes a disc changer mechanism including a disc slot through which a disc is insertable, a storage section having storage locations that are capable of storing discs inserted through the disc slot, and a transport mechanism that transports the disc, inserted through the disc slot, to any of the storage locations in the storage section. The apparatus further includes an operation section having operations keys; a display section; and a controller that associates, when the disc is inserted and any of the operations keys is operated, the operated operation key with the storage location in which the disc is stored. In accordance with a predetermined operation on the operation section, the controller extracts all discs stored in the storage locations associated with the operated operation key and causes information regarding all the extracted discs to be displayed on the display section.
US08203913B2 Recording/reproduction apparatus and recording/reproduction system
A recording/reproduction apparatus includes: a light source; and a near-field light production section that includes two conductor sections disposed opposite each other with a predetermined gap therebetween and that produces near-field light between the two conductor sections upon light irradiation from the light source, the two conductor sections being disposed such that when information is recorded on a recording medium using the near-field light, a direction from one of the two conductor sections to the other of the two conductor sections is generally perpendicular to a line direction of the recording medium.
US08203911B2 Acoustic and optical illumination technique for underwater characterization of objects/environment
The invention provides a method for acoustically and optically characterizing an immersed object of interest by generating a serial plurality of acoustic and optical illumination pulses through a liquid. In addition to the spectral analyses/imaging of objects/environment made possible by the white-light illumination, a target material can be ablated, generating an ionized plume to spectrally identify the target's constituent atoms.
US08203905B2 Acoustic mount system, method and device for testing mobile telephones
An acoustic mount system, device and method for testing mobile telephones is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes an ear simulator assembly having a plurality of registration mechanisms and an ear simulator, and wherein the plurality of registration mechanisms and the ear simulator have a first spatial relationship. The system includes an alignment device having a plurality of alignment mechanisms and a speaker opening. The plurality of alignment mechanisms and the speaker opening have a second spatial relationship and wherein the alignment device is configured to be attached to the telephone such as via an adhesive. Each of the plurality of alignment mechanisms of the alignment device is configured to engage one of the registration mechanisms of the ear simulator assembly.
US08203904B2 Semiconductor memory device and layout structure of sub-word line control signal generator
A semiconductor memory device and a layout structure of sub-word line control signal generators. The sub-word line control signal generators are configured to supply a sub-word line control signal of a predefined voltage level to a sub-word line driver to enable a sub-word line of a memory cell array. At least two sub-word line control signal generators are disposed, respectively, at edge areas of the memory cell array, to directly supply the sub-word line control signal to one selected sub-word line driver, thereby reducing the power consumption, including for example, VPP voltage. Embodiments of the present invention also reduce the number of VPP power lines, thereby lessening a noise disturbance.
US08203900B2 Data serializers, output buffers, memory devices and methods of serializing
Data serializers, output buffers, memory devices and methods for serializing are provided, including a data serializer that may convert digits of parallel data to a stream of corresponding digits of serial data digits. One such data serializer may include a logic system receiving the parallel data digits and clock signals having phases that are equally phased apart from each other. Such a data serializer may use the clock signals to generate data sample signals having a value corresponding to the value of a respective one of the parallel data digits and a timing corresponding to a respective one of the clock signals. The data sample signals may be applied to a switching circuit that includes a plurality of switches, such as respective transistors, coupled to each other in parallel between an output node and a first voltage.
US08203895B2 Semiconductor memory apparatus and driving method using the same
Various embodiments of a semiconductor memory apparatus and a related driving method are disclosed. According to one exemplary embodiment, a semiconductor memory apparatus may include a switching unit and a switching control unit. The switching unit couples or decouples a cell plate voltage line to or from a cell plate electrode in response to a control signal. The switching control unit is configured to enable the control signal at a first timing and disable the control signal at a second timing.
US08203892B2 Interleaving charge pumps for programmable memories
Systems and methods, including computer software for performing operations enable interleaving of charging operations in a charging pump. A first charge pump is charged to a predetermined level, and a first operation is performed using a charge stored in the first charge pump after it reaches the predetermined level. A second charge pump is charged during a time that overlaps with performing the first operation. A second operation is performed using a charge stored in the second charge pump as a result of charging the second charge pump.
US08203889B2 High-speed verifiable semiconductor memory device
A memory cell stores several data using n (n: natural number more than 1) threshold voltages. A voltage supply circuit supplies a predetermined voltage to a gate of the memory cell in a verify operation of verifying whether or not the memory cell reaches a predetermined threshold voltage. A detection circuit connected to one terminal of the memory cell charges one terminal of the memory cell to a predetermined potential. The detection circuit detects the voltage of one terminal of the memory cell based on a first detection timing, and further, detects the voltage of one terminal of the memory cell based on a second detection timing.
US08203888B2 Non-volatile semiconductor storage device
A non-volatile semiconductor storage device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of sense amplifier circuit that are configured to carry out a plurality of read cycles on a plurality of bit lines connected to those memory cells that are selected by a selected one of the word lines. During the second and subsequent read cycles, supply of a read current is ceased to those bit lines when it is determined in the preceding read cycle that a current not less than a certain determination current level flows therethrough, and the read current is supplied only to the remaining bit lines. A setup time of the bit lines in the first read cycle is set shorter than a setup time of the bit lines in the second and subsequent read cycles.
US08203886B2 Memory device reference cell programming method and apparatus
Memory devices and methods are disclosed, such as those facilitating an assignment scheme of reference cells throughout an array of memory cells. For example, one such assignment scheme assigns reference cells in a staggered pattern by row wherein each column contains a single reference cell. Additional schemes of multiple reference cells assigned in a repeating or a pseudo-random pattern are also disclosed.
US08203885B2 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory system
According to an embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory system includes: a nonvolatile semiconductor memory; and a memory controller having: a memory interface unit that inputs commands to the nonvolatile semiconductor memory and inputs or outputs data between the nonvolatile semiconductor memory; a memory that stores writing information indicating a memory cell transistor that is written the latest in each of the NAND cell units; and a processor that sets a read voltage based on the writing information to read out data from the memory cell transistors connected to a first word line; wherein a row controller is configured to set a plurality of levels of the read voltage to be applied to the first word line, with respect to one threshold for discriminating data stored in a memory cell transistors.
US08203883B2 Semiconductor memory device and method of programming the same
In an embodiment, a semiconductor memory device including a cell array with NAND strings arranged therein, wherein the device has such a program mode that bit lines and cell's channels of the NAND strings coupled thereto are initially charged in accordance with program data, and then program voltage is applied to memory cells selected in the cell array. In the program mode, a certain bit line and a program-inhibited cell's channel coupled thereto, which are initially charged to Vdd, are boosted to be higher than Vdd by capacitive coupling from the cell source line prior to the program voltage application.
US08203878B2 Non-volatile memory devices and programming methods for the same
The non-volatile memory device includes a plurality of memory cells. Each of the memory cells is configured to achieve one of a plurality of states, and each of the states represents different multi-bit data. In one embodiment, the method of programming includes simultaneously programming (1) a first memory cell from a first selected state to a second selected state and (2) a second memory cell from a third selected state to a refined third selected state. The refined third selected state has a higher verify voltage than the third selected state.
US08203875B2 Anti-parallel diode structure and method of fabrication
An anti-parallel diode structure and method of fabrication is presently disclosed. In some embodiments, an anti-parallel diode structure has a semiconductor region comprising a first insulator layer disposed between a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer. The semiconductor region can be bound on a first side by a first metal material and bound on a second side by a second metal material so that current below a predetermined value is prevented from passing through the semiconductor region and current above the predetermined value passes through the semiconductor region.
US08203873B2 Rectifying element for a crosspoint based memory array architecture
An asymmetrically programmed memory material (such as a solid electrolyte material) is described for use as a rectifying element for driving symmetric or substantially symmetric resistive memory elements in a crosspoint memory architecture. A solid electrolyte element (SE) has very high resistance in the OFF state and very low resistance in the ON state (because it is a metallic filament in the ON state). These attributes make it a near ideal diode. During the passage of current (during program/read/erase) of the memory element, the solid electrolyte material also programs into the low resistance state. The final state of the solid electrolyte material is reverted to a high resistance state while making sure that the final state of the memory material is the one desired.
US08203869B2 Bit line charge accumulation sensing for resistive changing memory
A memory array includes a plurality of magneto-resistive changing memory cells. Each resistive changing memory cell is electrically between a source line and a bit line and a transistor electrically between the resistive changing memory cell and the bit line. The transistor has a gate electrically between a source region and a drain region and the source region being electrically between the magneto-resistive changing memory cell and the gate. A word line is electrically coupled to the gate. A bit line charge accumulation sensing for magneto-resistive changing memory is also disclosed.
US08203866B2 Capacitor-less memory cell, device, system and method of making same
A capacitor-less memory cell, memory device, system and process of forming the capacitor-less memory cell includes forming the memory cell in an active area of a substantially physically isolated portion of the bulk semiconductor substrate. A pass transistor is formed on the active area for coupling with a word line. The capacitor-less memory cell further includes a read/write enable transistor vertically configured along at least one vertical side of the active area and operable during a reading of a logic state with the logic state being stored as charge in a floating body area of the active area, causing different determinable threshold voltages for the pass transistor.
US08203862B2 Voltage reference generation with selectable dummy regions
An apparatus and associated method for generating a reference voltage with dummy resistive sense element regions. A first resistance distribution is obtained for a first dummy region of resistance sense elements and a second resistance distribution is obtained for a second dummy region of resistive sense elements. A user resistive sense element from a user region is assigned to a selected resistive sense element of one of the first or second dummy regions in relation to the first and second resistance distributions.
US08203859B2 High frequency device with variable frequency and variable load impedance matching
A high frequency device for supplying a high frequency power to a load, the high frequency device includes: an oscillating unit that can vary an oscillation frequency; a high frequency power supplying unit that serves as a power source by amplifying an oscillation signal output from the oscillating unit for supplying the high frequency power to the load; a reflected-wave information calculating unit that calculates reflected wave information on a reflected wave power, and outputs the reflected wave information; a frequency control unit that controls the oscillation frequency of the oscillating unit so as to lower the reflected wave information; an impedance adjusting unit that is disposed at a downstream of the high frequency power supplying unit in a power supplying direction, and that has at least one variable reactance element which can be controlled; and an element control unit that controls the variable reactance element of the impedance adjusting unit so as to lower the reflected wave information.
US08203856B2 Method and arrangement to reverse the power flow of a direct current power transmission system
A direct current power transmission system includes a first and a second converter station that are coupled to each other via a direct current link. Each converter station includes a first or second line commutated converter, respectively. Before power reversal the first converter is operated as a rectifier and the direct current is controlled in the first station, while the second converter is operated as an inverter and in the second station the extinction angle of the second converter or the direct voltage is controlled. After power reversal, the first converter is operated as an inverter and the second converter as a rectifier. During power reversal a change is carried out in the first station from control of the direct current to control of the extinction angle of the first converter or to control of the direct voltage, which is performed in synchronization with a change in the second station from control of the extinction angle of the second converter or from control of the direct voltage to control of the direct current.
US08203855B2 Complex inductor and power supply unit
A complex inductor according to the present invention changes its magnetic coupling polarity according to currents flowing its two inductors. The complex inductor includes a first magnetic member, around which first and third windings are formed, and a second magnetic member, around which second and fourth windings are formed. A first inductor is formed by connecting the first winding to the second winding, and a second inductor is formed by connecting the third winding to the fourth winding. The two magnetic members are made of a magnetic material having a magnetic permeability that gradually decreases as its magnetic flux density is increased. When the two windings are interconnected in a direction in which induced voltages generated in these windings by the current flowing in the second inductor weaken each other, the magnetic coupling polarity between the first and second inductors changes according to the current flowing in the inductors. The two inductors are magnetically coupled so that, when one of the two inductors stores energy, the current flowing in the other inductor increases, and when one of the two inductors releases energy, the current flowing in the other inductor decreases.
US08203854B2 Display suspending frame device, and assembly of the display suspending frame device, a display, and an electronic device
A display suspending frame device includes a suspending seat and at least one suspending frame. The suspending seat includes an upright mounting plate, a rear slide rail set disposed forwardly of the mounting plate and connected to the mounting plate, and a front slide rail set disposed forwardly of the rear slide rail set and connected to the rear slide rail set. The at least one suspending frame is for mounting to a rear face of a display and is mounted slidably on the front slide rail set. By arranging the rear slide rail set between the mounting plate of the suspending seat and the front slide rail set, a space is provided for accommodating an electronic device.
US08203853B2 Chip filter and the related supplementary tool
A chip filter and supplementary tool combination is disclosed. The chip filter includes a insulative holder base having two arrays of wire grooves arranged along two opposing sidewalls thereof and soldering zones defined in a finished surface on each sidewall corresponding to the wire grooves, connection terminals each having a base portion respectively embedded in the soldering zones in the sidewalls of the insulative holder base and a soldering surface respectively kept in flush with the top edge of the associating sidewall, and filter elements having lead wires thereof respectively extending out of the insulative holder base through the wire grooves and respectively rested on the soldering surfaces of the connection terminals and held down in position by the supplementary tool for soldering by an automatic soldering machine.
US08203849B2 Semiconductor device and manufacture method thereof
A joint board is arranged between an upper package and a lower package. The arrangement of the joint board makes it possible to reduce the size of solder balls and to arrange them with narrower pitch. The joint board has slightly greater dimensions those of the upper package and the lower package. This makes it possible to prevent underfill from leaking and spreading.
US08203847B2 Folding USB drive
Provided is a memory device comprising a circuit assembly including a flexible substrate and at least one flash memory chip mounted thereupon. The flexible substrate has upper and lower surfaces and a flash memory chip is preferably mounted on at least one the upper and lower surfaces. The flash memory chip may be configured as one of a thin small outline package (TSOP) package device, a very small outline package (WSOP) package device, and a chip on board (COB) device. The memory device may further comprise a hollow housing body having a hollow interior compartment sized and configured to receive the circuit assembly therewithin. A universal series bus (USB) connector may be mounted on a free end of the flexible substrate and is preferably configured to electrically connect the memory device to an electric device.
US08203846B2 Semiconductor photodetector element and semiconductor device
Provided is a semiconductor photodetector element which is reduced in manufacturing cost and improved in precision. The semiconductor photodetector element includes: a first photodiode formed in a P-type silicon substrate; a second photodiode formed in the P-type silicon substrate and has the same structure as that of the first photodiode; a color filter layer formed above the first photodiode from a green filter; a color filter layer formed of a black filter above the second photodiode; and an arithmetic circuit portion which subtracts a detection signal of the second photodiode from a detection signal of the first photodiode.
US08203845B2 Electronics card comprising a printed circuit board and a piece of equipment carried by the board
The invention relates to an electronics card (1) comprising a printed circuit board (2) and a piece of equipment (3) such as a motor or a loudspeaker fastened to said printed circuit board (2). The piece of equipment (3) is fastened to a face (4) of the printed circuit board (2) by snap-fastening in metal clips (6, 7) that project from said face (4), each clip (6, 7) having a first end (8, 9) fastened to said face (4) of the printed circuit board (2) by soldering, and a second end (11, 12) bearing resiliently on a corresponding portion of the piece of equipment (3) for holding it pressed against said face (4) of the printed circuit board (2). The invention applies in particular to electronics cards for motor vehicles.
US08203840B2 Self-cleaning computer
An exemplary self-cleaning computer includes an enclosure defining an air inlet therein, a control processing unit (CPU) received in the enclosure, a vibration element mounted on the enclosure, and a control device electrically connected between the CPU and the vibration element. The control device is configured to direct the vibration element to vibrate when the computer is in a particular predefined state, and thereby the enclosure is agitated and clogged dust dislodges therefrom.
US08203838B2 Battery cover assembly for portable electronic device
A battery cover assembly for a portable electronic device includes a base body, a battery cover, a pivot member, and a button. The base body forms two support portions. The battery cover forms a clasp. The pivot member is received in the support portions. The button is rotatably connected to the base body by the pivot member. The latch member forms two latch plates. The clasp engages with the latch plates to allow the battery cover to releasably latch to the housing.
US08203836B2 Cover structure
A cover structure is disposed at the electronic device. The electronic device includes a frame with an opening and a power supply. The cover structure includes a cover and a pivotal portion. The cover includes an inner surface, an outer surface, and a touch portion. The pivotal portion includes a pivotal part and a trigger. The pivotal part is located on the inner surface. The trigger is located at the opening of the frame and connected with the pivotal part. The touch portion corresponds to the opening. When the touch portion is pressed, the pivotal part drives the trigger to trigger the power supply to drive the electronic device.
US08203835B2 Mounting mechanism for storage device
A mounting mechanism for a storage device includes a bracket for receiving the storage device therein, and a pressing member. The bracket includes a sidewall defining at least one opening, and a bottom wall defining at least one guiding member for guiding and supporting a bottom surface of the storage device. A supporting member is located below the opening to resist the bottom surface of the storage device. The pressing member attached to the sidewall of the bracket for sandwiching the storage device between a bottom surface of the pressing member and the bracket.
US08203834B2 Flat panel display apparatus
A flat panel display apparatus includes a flat display panel including first and second substrates facing each other with a display unit therebetween, the first substrate extending beyond the second substrate, a portion of the first substrate extending beyond the second substrate defining a protruding portion, an outermost edge of the protruding portion defining a protruding edge of the first substrate, and corners of the protruding portion being chamfered, and a bezel surrounding the flat display panel.
US08203833B2 Laptop computer and hinge module with angle detector thereof
A laptop computer includes a main body, a display device, a hinge module and an angle detector. The hinge module is pivotally interconnected between the display device and the main body such that the display device is swiveled relative to the main body to be folded against or unfolded away from the main body. The hinge module includes a first hinge component and a second hinge component. The first hinge component is secured to the main body. The second hinge component is pivotally connected with the first hinge component and includes an end secured to the display device. The angle detector is coupled with an opposite end of the second hinge component for measuring a rotation angle of the second hinge component.
US08203830B2 Battery cover assembly for portable electronic device
A battery cover assembly for a portable electronic device is disclosed including a base member, a cover member rotatably attached with the base member, a connecting body, a protruding post, a sleeve, and an elastic member. The connecting body guides the rotation of the cover member about the axis of the protruding post. A sleeve rotates along with the cover member and can maintain the cover member at any position relative to the base member during rotation of the cover member. The elastic member can disengage the sleeve from the base member.
US08203828B2 Portable power and signal distribution system for a controllable system including multiple devices
A power supply assembly which can drive a number of different devices at different voltages. A rack holds a number of breaker modules, and each breaker module can connect to one or many breakout boxes. The breakout boxes are keyed to the breaker modules, so that the breaker boxes will not be energized with power unless they are the proper voltage and/or configuration to receive that power. The coil of a contactor in the breaker module is powered by a key wire that is connected through specified pins in the breakout box. Therefore, no power is ever provided to the breakout box unless it is of the proper voltage configuration. In addition, feeder power to the power supply assembly is provided over bolted connections, without any wire connections between the power feed and the circuit breaker.
US08203825B2 Dielectric ceramics and multilayer ceramic capacitor
To provide a dielectric ceramics achieving a high insulation resistance even at a low applied voltage, and minimizing insulation resistance drop when the voltage is increased, and also provide a multilayer ceramic capacitor including the dielectric ceramics as a dielectric layer, and having excellent life characteristics in a high temperature load test. The dielectric ceramics has crystal grains composed mainly of barium titanate and containing vanadium, and a grain boundary phase existing between the crystal grains. The dielectric ceramics contains 0.0005 to 0.03 moles of vanadium in terms of V2O5, with respect to 1 mole of barium constituting the barium titanate. In the X-ray diffraction chart of the dielectric ceramics, the diffraction intensity of (004) plane indicating the tetragonal system of barium titanate is larger than the diffraction intensity of (400) plane indicating the cubic system of barium titanate.
US08203823B2 Metal capacitor and manufacturing method thereof
A metal capacitor in which an electric conductivity is significantly improved is provided. The metal capacitor includes: a metal member 11 including a plurality of grooves 11a; a metal oxide film 12 being formed on the metal member 11; a sealing electrode member 13 being formed on the metal oxide film 12 to fill in the plurality of grooves 11a; and an insulating layer 14 being formed on the sealing electrode member 13 and the metal oxide film 12 to insulate the metal member 12 and the sealing electrode member 13.
US08203821B2 Multi-function electroshock gun
A multi-function electroshock gun includes a gun body that includes a barrel and a grip extending from the barrel, and a firing mechanism mounted in the gun body and operable to propel a projectile that is fired through the barrel. The multi-function electroshock gun further includes an electroshock unit that includes a battery mounted in the gun body, a set of exposed electrodes fixedly mounted to the gun body, and a discharge module. The discharge module is coupled electrically to the battery and the exposed electrodes and is capable of being activated to generate an electrical output signal at the exposed electrodes for administering electric shock by contact. The multi-function electroshock gun also includes a trigger mechanism mounted on the gun body and operable to activate the discharge module.
US08203820B2 Automatic lightning safety valve for water supply system
A method, system and an apparatus to automatic lightning safety valve for water supply system are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment provides an apparatus of lightning protection. A sensor circuit of the apparatus receives a electromagnetic signal of an atmospheric electromagnetic field to generate a modified signal and to communicate the modified signal to a control circuit. A control circuit of the apparatus of the lightening circuit causes the valve to automatically close if the modified signal is greater than a specified value. The valve control device is communicatively coupled with the sensor circuit. The apparatus also includes a solenoid valve to stop the flow of a fluid into the structure by closing a fluid line.
US08203819B2 Electrical protection component with a short-circuiting device
An electrical protection component with a short-circuiting device includes a gas-filled surge arrester that includes at least two electrodes. Preferably, one electrode in each case is arranged at the ends of the surge arrester. The electrical protection component has a thermal short-circuiting device, wherein the thermal short-circuiting device includes a clip having at least two sections. At least a first section of the clip is attached to the surge arrester by snap action. At least a second section of the clip at least partly surrounds the first section and is spaced apart from the first section by means of a fusible element. The second section has a short-circuiting link at an end. The short-circuiting link electrically connects the electrodes of the surge arrester to one another in the case where the fusible element melts.
US08203816B2 Circuit breaker
A circuit breaker is disclosed that provides a warning that the current through the circuit breaker exceeds a warning threshold. The circuit breaker comprises: a switch that carries a current I; an indicator for alternatively indicating: (i) that the current I has not exceeded IW, and (ii) that the current I has exceeded IW; and an actuator in series with the switch that: (i) causes the indicator to indicate that the current I has exceeded IW when and only when the current I has exceeded IW, and (ii) opens the switch when and only when the current I exceeds IT; wherein 0
US08203815B2 System and method to provide transient overvoltage suppression
Transient overvoltage suppression circuit prevents voltage surges from damaging an attached load. The suppression circuit includes a transistor connected in series with a low-side or return line of the load. A control circuit monitors the voltage on the input line (i.e., high-side) and in response to a detected voltage transient turns the transistor OFF to isolate the load from the transient voltage.
US08203812B2 Secondary side protection method and apparatus for a switching power converter
The present invention discloses a secondary side protection method for a switching power converter, used to turn off a secondary side switch according to a secondary side voltage signal, wherein the secondary side voltage signal has falling edges corresponding to the start instants of secondary side discharge periods, and rising edges corresponding to the end instants of the secondary side discharge periods, the method comprising the steps of: measuring the time interval between two adjacent the rising edges repeatedly to derive discharge end cycle times; and generating a first turn-off signal to turn off the secondary side switch when the relative difference of two successive the discharge end cycle times exceeds a predetermined percentage. The present invention also provides a secondary side protection apparatus according to the method.
US08203811B2 Protection apparatus and method for a power converter
A power converter uses a PWM controller to provide a driver output to modulate the duty of the power converter. A protection apparatus and method compare a current sense input of the PWM controller with a reference voltage to assert a signal representing failure, count the number of cycles where the signal representing failure is asserted, and reset an enable signal to inhibit the driver output if the signal representing failure is asserted in several cycles.
US08203807B2 Magnetic head suspension with load beam support point control
The present invention provides a magnetic head suspension, wherein a supporting portion such as an arm or base plate includes a pair of supporting pieces extending from its opposite sides in the widthwise direction to a tip-end side of the suspension, and a concave portion which is defined by the pair of supporting pieces and is opened toward the tip-end side of the suspension, there is provided an elastically-deformable elastic plate which is connected to the pair of supporting pieces at a first end and a second end in the widthwise direction of the magnetic head suspension, the member forming the load beam portion is connected to the elastic plate, and the elastic plate forms the load bending portion.
US08203802B2 Proximity detection method for magnetic head and recording medium
Touchdown between a read/write head of disk drive and a recording medium is detected based on the variance in the frequency domain of position error signals (PES), each of which is measured after incrementally positioning the read/write head closer to the recording medium, from a baseline PES. The synchronous portion of the baseline PES is quantified and removed from the baseline PES and subsequent PES measurements to remove the effect of the synchronous portion of the baseline PES. The non-synchronous portion of the PES measured at a particular read/write head position may also be removed by synchronously averaging multiple PES measurements for each read/write head position. Detection of touchdown may be based on the rate of change of the variance in the frequency domain of PES relative to a baseline PES, instead of the absolute value of the variance.
US08203798B2 Objective optical system
The invention provides a high-performance objective lens that is capable of implementing focusing relative to an object point distance change with no or little angle-of-view change, and is well compatible with a high-pixel type imaging device. The objective optical system comprises, in order from an object side thereof, a first group of negative power, a second group of positive power, an aperture stop, and a third group of positive power. Only the second group moves thereby implementing focusing relative to an object point distance change, with satisfaction of the following conditions (1)-1, (1)-2 and (8): ωf>60  (1)-1 ωn>60  (1)-2 −1.2
US08203796B2 Image pickup optical system and image pickup apparatus using the same
An image pickup optical system made of five lenses, includes in order from an object side, an aperture stop, a first lens L1 having a positive refracting power, a second lens L2 having a negative refracting power, a third lens L3 having a positive refracting power, a fourth lens L4 having a positive refracting power, and a fifth lens L5 having a negative refracting power. Moreover, an image pickup apparatus includes this image pickup optical system.
US08203795B2 Macro-lens system and photographing apparatus having the same
A macro-lens system and a photographing apparatus having the macro-lens system. The macro-lens system includes: first, second, third, fourth, and fifth lens groups which are arranged in order from an object side to an image side, wherein the first lens group has a positive refractive power and is fixed during focusing, the second lens group has a negative refractive power and is moved during focusing, the third lens group has a positive refractive power and is fixed during focusing, the fourth lens group has a positive refractive power and is moved during focusing, and the fifth lens group has a negative refractive power.
US08203794B2 Variable magnification optical system and imaging apparatus
A variable magnification optical system includes first-lens-group having negative refractive power, aperture stop, and second-lens-group having positive refractive power, arranged from the object-side. An aspheric lens, a central portion of the object-side surface of which is convex, is arranged on the most object-side of the second-lens-group. The object-side surface of the aspheric lens is formed in such a manner that positive power decreases from the central portion of the object-side surface of the aspheric lens toward the periphery thereof, or that an inflection point is present between the central portion and the periphery and positive power decreases as a distance from the central portion increases between the central portion and the inflection point, and negative power increases toward the periphery between the inflection point and the periphery. The aspheric surface satisfies the following formulas (1) and (2) about refractive index and Abbe number: Ne5<1.53  (1); and νd5>75  (2).
US08203788B2 Electromagnetic beam converter
The present invention relates to an electromagnetic beam converter and a method for conversion of an input beam of electromagnetic radiation having a bell shaped intensity profile a(x,y) into an output beam having a prescribed target intensity profile I(x′,y′) based on a further development of the generalized phase contrast method.
US08203786B2 Method and system for screen attachment
Methods and apparatus for a display system include a frame and one or more screen panels. Each panel has an inwardly disposed face and an outwardly disposed face. An adhesive layer couples to respective portions of each inwardly disposed face. At least one of the adhesive layers couples the one or more screen panels to the frame.
US08203780B2 Systems and methods for improving the performance of a photorefractive device
A photorefractive device (100) and method of manufacture are disclosed. The device (100) comprises a layered structure in which one or more polymer layers (110) are interposed between a photorefractive material (106) and at least one transparent electrode layer (104). The layered structure is further interposed between a plurality of substrates (102). When a bias is applied to the device (100), the device (100) exhibits an increase in signal efficiency of approximately three to four times that of similar, but non-buffered, devices. Concurrently, the device (100) of the present disclosure utilizes approximately half the biased voltage, advantageously resulting in a longer device lifetime.
US08203776B2 Planarity of pixel mirrors
A method of forming an electronic device includes providing a patterned lower metal layer over a substrate and a first sacrificial layer there between. A second sacrificial layer is formed over the metal layer, and a portion thereof is removed. A third sacrificial layer is formed over the second sacrificial layer, and an upper metal layer is formed over the third sacrificial layer. A portion of the upper metal layer is removed, and the first, second and third sacrificial layers are removed.
US08203774B2 Optical scanning device
An optical scanning device having: a light source for emitting a light beam; a deflector having a plurality of flat reflecting surfaces; a first optical system disposed between the light source and the deflector; and a second optical system disposed between the deflector and a photoreceptor surface, and configured such that the reflecting surfaces of the deflector and the photoreceptor surface are conjugated in a sub-scanning direction at every deflection angle in a main-scanning range. In the optical scanning device, the light beam traveling from the first optical system to the deflector has a width greater than a dimension in a main-scanning direction of each reflecting surface of the deflector, and the light beam passes through different portions of the first optical system depending on whether the light beam is to be deflected by the deflector to be directed to an edge portion of the main-scanning range or to be directed to a center portion of the main-scanning range such that the light beam traveling to the deflector has a smaller average wavefront curvature in a sub-scanning direction when the light beam is to be deflected by the deflector to be directed to an edge portion of the main-scanning range than when the light beam is to be deflected by the deflector to be directed to the center portion of the main-scanning range.
关于PatentHub
关于我们 加入我们 联系我们 帮助中心
PatentHub产品
专利百科 商标查询 专利交易 大学排行榜 行业专题库
API接口 排行榜 专利资讯 最新中国发明专利 最新美国发明专利
PatentHub联系方式
QQ：3307693423 QQ：3236401158