| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08261367B2 |
Method and device for protection of an MRAM device against tampering
Data, stored in MRAM-cells should be protected against misuse or read-out by unauthorized persons. The present invention provides an array of MRAM-cells provided with a security device for destroying data stored in the MRAM-cells when they are tampered with. This is achieved by placing a permanent magnet adjacent the MRAM-array in combination with a soft-magnetic flux-closing layer. As long as the soft-magnetic layer is present, the magnetic field lines from the permanent magnet are deviated and flow through this soft-magnetic layer. When somebody is tampering with the MRAM-array, e.g. by means of reverse engineering, and the flux-closing layer is removed, the flux is no longer deviated and affects the nearby MRAM-array, thus destroying the data stored in the MRAM-cells. |
| US08261366B2 |
Method and apparatus for identifying and characterizing errant electronic files
A computer system includes a server having a memory connected thereto. The server is adapted to be connected to a network to permit remote storage and retrieval of data files from the memory. A file identification application is operative with the server to identify errant files stored in the memory. The file identification application provides the functions of: (1) selecting a file stored in said memory; (2) generating a unique checksum corresponding to the stored fire; (3) comparing said unique checksum to each of a plurality of previously generated checksums, wherein the plurality of previously generated checksums correspond to known errant files; and (4) marking the file for deletion from the memory if the unique checksum matches one of the plurality of previously generated checksums. |
| US08261363B2 |
Managing electronic data with identification data
An improved approach for managing and sending electronic data which allows one to access electronic data corresponding to a hardcopy document is provided. For example, when the hardcopy bearing a visible image is output, an identification image corresponding to identification data identifying the document is added to the visible image. The identification data can be recognized from the identification image, and used to retrieve various information in a database corresponding to the document. |
| US08261362B2 |
Online privacy management
A privacy management system (PMS) is disclosed for a Chief Privacy Officer (CPO) or other user to use in monitoring and/or controlling in realtime the flow of data (e.g., outflow) about the user and his/her online experience. The PMS may provide a dashboard displaying a whitelist and/or blacklist indicating what destinations/sources are blocked or allowed. The PMS includes browser-client scripting code and may also include a PMS-certified verification icon for display on webpages being monitored/controlled in realtime by the PMS. |
| US08261351B1 |
DNS flood protection platform for a network
Embodiments are directed towards providing protection to DNS servers against DNS flood attacks by causing a requesting device to perform multiple DNS lookup requests for resolving a resource record. A request from a network device for a resolution of a domain name may be received by a device interposed between the requesting network device and a DNS server. Upon receiving the request to resolve the domain name, the interposed device may respond with a CNAME that includes a cookie. The requesting device may then send another request that includes the cookie preceded CNAME. The interposed device may then validate the returned cookie returned in the CNAME and if valid, forward the domain name resolution request on to a DNS server. The response may then be forwarded to the requesting device. |
| US08261348B2 |
Reception apparatus
A reception apparatus in accordance with the present invention is provided with a reception unit (11, 12) to receive a stream including a data signal, a display unit 17 for performing display based on the stream received, an authentication process unit 13 for authenticating a sender of the stream received, a signal separating unit 14 for separating the data signal from the stream received, a script detection unit 16 for detecting a script by analyzing the data signal separated, and a control unit 23 for controlling the display unit 17 to perform display based on the stream received, wherein the control unit 23 prohibits an input related to execution of the script in a case where the script is detected by the script detection unit 16 during an authentication of the stream. Thereby, the reception apparatus plays contents appropriately without inflicting either a disadvantage or stress on a user. |
| US08261347B2 |
Security system for a computer network having a security subsystem and a master system which monitors the integrity of a security subsystem
A security system for a computer network that has a plurality of devices connected thereto comprises a security subsystem, a master system and a secure link. The security subsystem is connected to at least some of the devices in the network. The security subsystem is configured to monitor activities of the at least some devices on the network and detect attacks on the at least some devices. The master system monitors the integrity of the security subsystem and registers information pertaining to attacks detected by the security subsystem. The secure link is connected between the security subsystem and the master system. The master system monitors the integrity of the security subsystem and receives the information pertaining to the attacks through the secure link. |
| US08261346B2 |
Detecting attacks on a data communication network
Described is a technique for detecting attacks on a data communications network having a plurality of addresses for assignment to data processing systems in the network. The technique involves identifying data traffic on the network originating at any assigned address and addressed to any unassigned address. Any data traffic so identified is inspected for data indicative of an attack. On detection of data indicative of an attack, an alert signal is generated. |
| US08261344B2 |
Method and system for classification of software using characteristics and combinations of such characteristics
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for software classification. Certain embodiments provide a method for identification of malware. Certain embodiments provide a method for identification of unwanted software. The method includes identifying one or more functional blocks and/or properties of software. The method further includes identifying genes in the functional blocks and/or properties. The method also includes matching the resulting list of genes against one or more combinations of classifications of groupings of genes. Additionally, the method includes classifying the software. Certain embodiments provide a method for generating classifications. The method includes identifying functional blocks and/or properties. Furthermore, the method includes combining a plurality of genes to form a classification. |
| US08261343B2 |
Processing of content with rights associated priority information based on conditions
A mobile terminal apparatus is provided to process a copyright-protected content based on rights that permit the processing of the content. The mobile terminal apparatus includes a priority information selecting unit selecting a piece of priority information associated with one of many processing conditions for the content to be processed, from among pieces of priority information for determining a priority for each of the rights. The mobile terminal apparatus also includes a right selecting unit determining a priority of each of the rights based on the selected piece of priority information, and selecting a right having a highest priority among the rights, according to the determined priority. The mobile terminal apparatus also includes a content processing unit processing the content based on the selected right. |
| US08261341B2 |
UPnP VPN gateway configuration service
A system and method for creating a virtual private network through a VPN gateway configuration service. The VPN gateway configuration service inherits UPnP zero-configuration characteristics and also provides an interface for configuring the VPN gateway that enables the configuration of any VPN gateway device, regardless of manufacturer. Additionally, the device control protocol defined by the VPN gateway configuration service can provide client provisioning, as well as enabling the configuration of gateway-to-gateway virtual private networks. |
| US08261338B2 |
Policy proxy
In a system with a policy server, a first device able to communicate with the policy server and a second device able to communicate with the first device and unable to communicate with the policy server, the first device is to act as a policy proxy. The policy server may push to the first device a policy for the second device, and the first device may push the policy to the second device. |
| US08261337B1 |
Firewall security between network devices
A security device may be interconnected, via multiple links, between multiple network devices in a network. The firewall device may include multiple input interfaces that receive data units from a first network device destined for a second network device of the multiple network devices, identify a session associated with each of the data units, and process the data units in accordance with the identified sessions and a security policy. |
| US08261334B2 |
System for performing web authentication of a user by proxy
A data gathering system is guided by an Internet-capable appliance associated with a user, which has a Pin Vault software instance executing from a digital memory media coupled to the appliance and a Pin Vault file stored in a data repository coupled to the appliance. The Pin Vault file comprises data for authenticating the user to one or more web sites storing information of interest to the user, and the Pin Vault software cooperates with an Internet service to provide, from the Pin Vault, data as needed by the Internet service to log onto and authenticate as the user at the one or more web sites storing information of interest to the user, to gather information on behalf of the user. The data for authentication is never kept at the Internet service. |
| US08261331B2 |
Security management for an integrated console for applications associated with multiple user registries
A system for security management for applications associated with multiple user registries can include an integrated console configured to host a one or more applications or resource objects in corresponding realms. The system also can include one or more roles mapped to different ones of the resource objects and also to different users permitted to access the integrated console. The system yet further can include a user relationship system having associations with multiple different ones of the roles. Finally, the system can include console security management logic programmed to manage authentication for the users using realm of the resource object while not requiring a separate user registry for the integrated console. |
| US08261329B2 |
Trust and identity in secure calendar sharing collaboration
In some embodiments, a system includes a database of trust information that internalizes security and trust relationships between a first entity and a second entity in regards to scheduling, and a central trust manager operable to determine from the database of trust information whether a trust relationship exists between a first organization and a second organization, the central trust manager also being operable to provide availability information of a user of the first organization to a second user of the second organization, the central trust manager also being operable to determine whether the second user of the second organization is granted access to requested calendar data and the central trust manager also being operable to provide the requested calendar data. |
| US08261328B2 |
Trusted electronic communication through shared vulnerability
A method for using shared vulnerability to provide trusted communication services between systems is disclosed. For example, a server may deny access to a service which renders it vulnerable to an untrusted client unless access to a useful vulnerability is received from the client. That is, the server may trust the client because any misuse by the client may result in the server exploiting the shared vulnerability. A system may request access to a service on another system to perform some transaction. Upon receiving this request, the server may determine a vulnerability of the client useful in deterring or stopping unwanted actions. The server may request access to this vulnerability. Once this vulnerability has been granted to the server, the server may then grant access to the requested service to the client. |
| US08261325B2 |
System and method for assisting in remote message server configuration
When a user enters an email address associated with a remote message server account in a configuration area on a display, one or more suggestions for other field inputs are made based on canonical data or historical data from a variety of users. If the user cannot find a desired entry in the suggestions, the user may enter new information. The newly entered information (once validated) improves the prediction capability for subsequent users. A database stores information associated with each email address domain name including one or more remote message server names, one or more username patterns and ranking values. When more than one suggestion for a field is presented to a user, the suggestions are ranked in accordance with the respective ranking values such as by the popularity of a particular configuration. |
| US08261321B2 |
Systems and methods for controlled transmittance in a telecommunication system
Systems and methods for authenticating digital assets in relation to a telecommunications network. In various cases, the systems include a network interface device associated with a customer premises. The network interface device includes a local authentication authority operable to authenticate one or more digital assets maintained in relation to the customer premises. In some cases, a global authentication authority can authenticate the network interface device, and implicitly authenticate the one or more digital assets. Many other cases and/or embodiments are disclosed herein. |
| US08261319B2 |
Logging access attempts to an area
Logging events associated with accessing an area includes recording an event associated with accessing the area to provide an event recording and authenticating at least the event recording to provide an authenticated recording. Recording an event may include recording a time of the event. Recording an event may include recording a type of event. The event may be an attempt to access the area. Recording an event may include recording credentials/proofs used in connection with the attempt to access the area. Recording an event may include recording a result of the attempt. Recording an event may include recording the existence of data other than the credentials/proofs indicating that access should be denied. Recording an event may include recording additional data related to the area. Authenticating the recording may include digitally signing the recording. Authenticating at least the event recording may include authenticating the event recording and authenticating other event recordings to provide a single authenticated recording. |
| US08261318B2 |
Method and apparatus for passing security configuration information between a client and a security policy server
Techniques for passing security configuration information between a security policy server and a client includes the client forming a request for security configuration information that configures the client for secure communications. The client is separated by an untrusted network from a trusted network that includes the security policy sever. A tag is generated that indicates a generic security configuration attribute. An Internet Security Association and Key Management Protocol (ISAKMP) configuration mode request message is sent to a security gateway on an edge of the trusted network connected to the untrusted network. The message includes the request in association with the tag. The gateway sends the request associated with the tag to the security policy server on the trusted network and does not interpret the request. The techniques allow client configuration extensions to be added by modifying the policy server or security client, or both, without modifying the gateway. |
| US08261316B2 |
System for accessing a data set on the basis of A-priori knowledge of an interconnection of a plurality of corresponding data files in response to an access message from a client to a master
A system (1) for storing and/or retrieving a data-set is proposed, wherein the data-set comprises a plurality of data-files, the system comprising: storage(3) for storing the data-set; at least one client(2) being operable to write the data-set to the storage and/or to read the data-set from the storage; to receive an access-request from the client for accessing at least one data-file of the data-set in the storage, wherein the storage master(5) is operable to send an access-message to the storage, wherein the storage is operable to cache further data-files or blocks thereof of the same data-set and/or to allocate storage space for further data-files or blocks thereof of the same data-set as a reaction on the access-message. |
| US08261315B2 |
Multicasting multimedia content distribution system
A method and apparatus for a multicasting multimedia content distribution system. A content server creates a schedule of transmission times for data streams and assigns the streams to multicast groups. DVRs receive the schedule from content server that contains content descriptions for each data stream along with the transmission times of each particular content description. The content server transmits the content across the Internet according to the published schedule via a multicast transmission designated for a particular multicast group. Each DVR determines the content for which it has an interest, finds the scheduled time for transmission for the content, schedules a recording time in its recording schedule, and joins the associated multicast group at the scheduled time. The DVR receives the multicast stream for the group and stores the stream on its local storage device for use by the DVR or for viewing by a user. |
| US08261307B1 |
Wireless multimedia content brokerage service for real time selective content provisioning
A wireless multimedia content brokerage service can provide for real time selective content extraction in a manner that allows users to easily obtain, at a mobile device, one or more portions of a real time multimedia composite content presentation. The brokerage service ensures that the experience is transparent from the point of view of the user, and additionally does not require any specific interaction between the user and the display, or interaction between the user and the content service provider (or providers). Instead, the brokerage service handles the transactional details involved in subscribing to content and in obtaining, formatting, and forwarding content to the mobile device. Additionally, since the content of interest is not forwarded from the display itself and since some embodiments of the system do not rely on any interactivity at the display to identify the display device or content, relatively unsophisticated display devices can be used. |
| US08261302B2 |
Digital television and channel editing method thereof
A digital television and a channel editing method are provided wherein various channel information is edited efficiently. In the channel edit method of the digital TV, the channel information stored according to a user's request is displayed on a multi-window. If the user selects a channel based on the multi-window, the channel selected by the user is tuned by a tuner and displayed as a moving picture. The user can edit the corresponding channel referring to the multi-window. In another embodiment, the user can edit the set favorite channel(s) separately. The broadcast status of all channels can be recognized almost instantaneously by viewing the multi-window displaying all the broadcast programs of multiple channels. |
| US08261301B2 |
Broadcast receiver and method for managing reserved recording information
A broadcast receiver and a method for managing reserved recording information are disclosed. If a cell for a reserved recording list is added to an EPG (Electronic Program Guide), a user can easily check, modify, or delete all information associated with the reserved recording on the EPG, such that the user can conveniently manage the reserved recording information on the EPG. A method for managing reserved recording information of a broadcast receiver includes the steps of: a) receiving a reserved recording signal of a specific program; b) storing reserved recording information of the program on the basis of the reserved recording signal; and c) loading the stored reserved recording information, inserting the loaded reserved recording information into a pre-stored Electronic Program Guide (EPG), and creating an EPG-reserved recording list. |
| US08261300B2 |
Method and apparatus for advertisement placement in a user dialog on a set-top box
Methods and apparatuses for presenting targeted advertisements to DVR users are described. After a DVR has finished playing a recorded television program, or in response to other specified events, the DVR presents a screen which comprises a “save or delete” menu. In addition to the “save” and “delete” options, the menu additionally comprises one or more other options. Each of these other options may correspond to a separate promotional item. For example, a user's selection of such an option may cause the DVR to display or play an advertisement on the user's television set. Additionally or alternatively, these other options, when selected by a user, may cause the DVR to display a user interface through which the user can actually purchase a product or service. The product or service advertised or offered may be one that was featured or referenced in the television program that the user was just watching. |
| US08261299B2 |
Methods and computer program products for reporting internet protocol television related data collected from application and device data
Methods and computer program products for reporting application and device data retrieved from within an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) network environment are provided. IPTV system usage data is retrieved from at least one IPTV device and normalized into a predetermined data format. The IPTV system usage data is parsed according to predetermined criteria. The parsed IPTV system usage data is delivered to a dedicated data mart for storage, the IPTV system usage data that is stored within at least one dedicated data mart is accessed, and the IPTV system usage data that is stored at the at least one dedicated data mart is used to generate a report. |
| US08261294B2 |
Encoding object states
A method, computer program and system, which, given a set of Boolean state variables, a set of state transitions described as truth tables for the the state variables, a set of initial states (that is states that objects happen to be in when they are brand new or when they are introduced into the system), all established by a natural modeling of the application domain, can derive an encoding that is provably isomorphic to the initial one but smaller, and transitions that match exactly the initial transitions but operating upon the new encoding, without incurring a significant time penalty. This effect is obtained by generating the extensive set of significant states, renumbering those states, then modifying the transitions implementation so as to use the renumbered states in place of the original ones. |
| US08261293B2 |
Methods, systems and computer program products for application name and client ID pairing in a message connection
An exemplary embodiment includes a method for pairing an application name and a client ID in a messaging broker infrastructure, the method including running a messaging system associated with the messaging broker infrastructure running a monitoring application configured to monitor a connection to the messaging broker, creating a connection to the messaging broker, identifying a class name and the client ID associated with an application, converting the class name to an application name and publishing a pairing of the application name and the client ID on the messaging infrastructure. |
| US08261292B2 |
Information processing apparatus, method of controlling the same, program, and recording medium
If a new device object matching at least a portion of device information concerning a device of an existing device object is detected, the device information of the existing device object is acquired, and the existing device object is deleted. Device information of the new device object is updated by using the acquired device information. |
| US08261291B2 |
Network apparatus, terminal apparatus, program, and recording medium
A network apparatus connected to at least one terminal apparatus via a network is disclosed. The terminal apparatus instructs operation of hardware unique to the network apparatus. The network apparatus includes an interface part for communicating with the terminal apparatus by using the same protocol as the terminal apparatus. The interface part receives an instruction to operate the hardware from various types of software executed in the terminal apparatus and instructs the hardware to operate in accordance with the received instruction. |
| US08261290B2 |
Heartbeat subscriptions
Example embodiments provide for “heartbeat” subscriptions which can be thought of as pseudo-events that can occur periodically for any subscription. Notification of a heartbeat event can be sent in lieu of, or in addition to, regular events to inform the subscriber application of such things like the subscription is still active and/or that connectivity exists between the subscriber application and the publishing service application. Alternatively, if the heartbeat notification does not arrive at the subscriber application, then the client knows that the connectivity is bad or that the subscription has expired and it may take corrective action (e.g., attempt to re-subscribe to the appropriate subscription). Note that similar embodiments also apply to pull requests received by the publishing service from the subscriber. |
| US08261289B2 |
Business event processing
Techniques for business event processing are presented. Producer services produce events that are managed and distributed by a transport service. Consumer services acquire events from the transport service and perform actions in response to the events. The production, distribution, and processing of the events and actions may be asynchronously and concurrently performed. |
| US08261279B2 |
Optimized preemption and reservation of software locks for woken threads
An approach is provided that reserves a software lock for a waiting thread is presented. When a software lock is released by a first thread, a second thread that is waiting for the same resource controlled by the software lock is woken up. In addition, a reservation to the software lock is established for the second thread. After the reservation is established, if the lock is available and requested by a thread other than the second thread, the requesting thread is denied, added to the wait queue, and put to sleep. In addition, the reservation is cleared. After the reservation has been cleared, the lock will be granted to the next thread to request the lock. |
| US08261266B2 |
Deploying a virtual machine having a virtual hardware configuration matching an improved hardware profile with respect to execution of an application
A system and a method are provided. Performance and capacity statistics, with respect to an application executing on one or more VMs, may be accessed and collected. The collected performance and capacity statistics may be analyzed to determine an improved hardware profile for efficiently executing the application on a VM. VMs with a virtual hardware configuration matching the improved hardware profile may be scheduled and deployed to execute the application. Performance and capacity statistics, with respect to the VMs, may be periodically analyzed to determine whether a threshold condition has occurred. When the threshold condition has been determined to have occurred, performance and capacity statistics, with respect to VMs having different configurations corresponding to different hardware profiles, may be automatically analyzed to determine an updated improved hardware profile. VMs for executing the application may be redeployed with virtual hardware configurations matching the updated improved profile. |
| US08261261B2 |
Installing a computer program
An electronic mobile communication device is configured to install a computer program onto a computing device that is different than the mobile communication device. The installation process includes the electronic mobile computing device communicating with the computing device to obtain information for use in installing the computer program, and the electronic mobile computing device executing an installer for the computer program. The installer uses the information to install the computer program on the computing device. |
| US08261260B2 |
Driver management apparatus and method therefor
A driver management apparatus includes a receiving unit configured to receive a network entry message sent by unicast according to a search protocol for one-to-one connection from one of a plurality of devices connected to a network, a determination unit configured to determine a capacity to install a driver according to the search protocol for one-to-one connection of a device connected to the network, and a processing unit configured to perform processing for installing, on a client terminal apparatus connected to the network, a driver for operating a device that has sent the network entry message. The processing unit is configured to perform different processing operations for installing the driver for operating the device with respect to respective devices having different capacities according to the capacity determined by the determination unit. |
| US08261259B2 |
Dynamic printing system, apparatus and method
Improved techniques which enable a user of a terminal to select a printer, without a priori knowledge of available printers, for printing a print job are provided. A map indicating locations of available printing devices is retrieved from a back-end server based on user information or other information retrieved from the user, and provided to the user terminal for user selection of an appropriate printing device. |
| US08261258B1 |
Common installer client
Systems and techniques to provide for software installation. In general, in one implementation, the technique includes receiving a manifest, the manifest including a reference to one or more applications to be installed, obtaining an installer associated with an application, and using the associated installer to install the application on a target system, the application and the associated installer not being provided in the manifest. |
| US08261253B2 |
Method for restoring software applications on desktop computers
An automated method is provided for restoring software applications installed on a desktop computer. Information identifying an inventory of software applications resident on the computer is stored locally in a file on the computer. In response to a request to restore applications, the inventory is compared to a master library of known software applications, and those applications in the inventory that are found in the library are selected and downloaded onto the computer to complete the restoration process. |
| US08261243B2 |
Selective execution of trace mechanisms for applications having different bit structures
A computer implemented method, a computer program product, and a data processing system trace information about current context and system state for either 32-bit or 64-bit applications. A 32-bit trace executable code and a 64-bit trace executable code are compiled for a trace script. A determination is then made as to whether an application process is a 32-bit process or a 64-bit process. Responsive to determining that the application process is the 32-bit process or the 64-bit process, an internal indicator is set to indicate the application process as either a 32-bit process or a 64-bit process. Subsequently, the internal indicator is identified as either indicating the 32-bit process or the 64-bit process. If the internal identifier indicates the application process is a 32-bit process, an instruction pointer is set to indicate the 32-bit trace executable code, and the 32-bit trace executable code is executed. If the internal identifier indicates the application process is a 64-bit process, an instruction pointer is set to indicate the 64-bit trace executable code, and the 64-bit trace executable code is executed. |
| US08261242B2 |
Assisting debug memory tracing using an instruction array that tracks the addresses of instructions modifying user specified objects
The present invention discloses a solution for increasing the immediacy in determining a point of failure after an unexpected program termination. In the solution, a user determined object is identified by a user at compile time, where the identified object is one to be tracked. The compiler introduces executable code into the source code which is able to track modifications made to the object members during run-time. During execution, the address of each instruction modifying to the object is stored in an instruction pointer (IP) array associated with the tracked object. The IP array is continuously updated during program execution when an instruction modifies a member of the tracked object. When an unexpected program termination occurs, the instruction pointer array can be presented to a debugging agent to assist in determining the instruction causing the termination. The debugging agent can be a human agent, debugging software, report generation software, and the like. |
| US08261238B2 |
Shield for user interface testing
Real user input targeting an application under test is blocked to prevent interference with a test. A shield window can be placed in front of an application-under-test window to intercept input destined for the application. Users can be notified of interception or a failed attempt to access the application. Furthermore, the shield window can be employed to provide feedback about the test including pointer movement and area focus. |
| US08261234B1 |
System, method, and computer program product for compiling code adapted to execute utilizing a first processor, for executing the code utilizing a second processor
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for compiling code adapted to execute utilizing a first processor, for executing the code utilizing a second processor. In operation, code adapted to execute utilizing a first processor is identified. Additionally, the code is compiled for executing the code utilizing a second processor that is different from the first processor and includes a central processing unit. Further, the code is executed utilizing the second processor. |
| US08261232B2 |
Data locations template based application-data association and its use for policy based management
Method and system are disclosed for automatically discovering associations between applications and data in multi-tiered distributed systems. The method in one aspect uses a machine-readable specification of a model or template that describes use and transformation of data by software components. The method additionally utilizes a model of system configuration and appropriate runtime support to mine information available from systems management software present in enterprise systems. The application-data association discovery process performs a traversal of the distributed system configuration graph with actions taken during this traversal driven by the contents of the templates for the software components present in the system. The results of the application-data association discovery process are stored in a database and may be used to specify application-specific information lifecycle management (ILM) policy or as input to impact analysis tools in access control and antivirus systems. |
| US08261229B2 |
Method and apparatus for interconnect layout in an integrated circuit
An embodiment of the invention relates to a computer-implemented method of designing an integrated circuit (IC). In this embodiment, layout data describing conductive layers of the integrated circuit on a substrate is generated according to design specification data for the integrated circuit. The conductive layers include a topmost layer of bond pads. Metal structures in the layout data are modified to maximize metal density in a superimposed plane of the conductive layers within a threshold volume under each of the bond pads. A description of the layout data is generated on one or more masks for manufacturing the integrated circuit. By maximizing metal density in the superimposed plane, vertical channels through the dielectric material in the interconnect are reduced or eliminated. Thus, alpha particles cannot readily penetrate the interconnect and reach the underlying semiconductor substrate, reducing soft errors, such as single event upsets in memory cells. |
| US08261228B1 |
Technique for modeling parasitics from layout during circuit design and for parasitic aware circuit design using modes of varying accuracy
Techniques are presented for accounting for parasitics in the automated design of integrated circuits. In one set of techniques, model values for parasitic models are received on a schematic environment from a user, the parasitic models are evaluated from the schematic using the received model values, the parasitic models are transferred to a layout environment, and the transferred parasitic models are evaluated on the layout environment. In other techniques, model values are received for parasitic models from a user, the parasitic models are evaluated on the layout environment, and the process then backannotates the parasitic models evaluated on the layout environment and corresponding parameter values to a schematic environment. In yet other techniques, a user is presented with a simulation environment within which the user is provided a choice to select between parasitic simulation modes of varying accuracy, the modes including a mode without parasitics and a plurality of modes including parasitics with a varying degree of accuracy. A selection from among the modes is received from the user and simulation test are performed at the selected degree of accuracy. |
| US08261224B2 |
Computer program product, apparatus, and method for inserting components in a hierarchical chip design
Components are inserted into a cell-based current chin design with multiple levels of nested hierarchy. A selection of components having various silicon densities to insert into the current chip design is received. The components are inserted into the current chip design such that the components do not touch or overlap existing circuits or silicon shapes in the current chip design. The components are inserted such that components having highest silicon densities are placed further away from the existing circuits or silicon shapes than components having lower silicon densities. |
| US08261222B2 |
Methods for analyzing and adjusting semiconductor device, and semiconductor system
Using fabrication-time variation predicting means that predicts this fact, the variation is predicted beforehand at the design stage prior to fabrication and is stored in variation prediction storage means. Rather than measuring a delay, testing an operation is performed (by a pass/fail determination) by actual-speed logic operation testing means for checking, after fabrication, whether a flip-flop (FF) operates at a specified operation frequency. As a result, the variation is estimated using the non-operation flip-flop (FF) information and the predicted value of the variation from the fabrication-time variation predicting means, and a delay value which corrects for the variation is inserted into a fabricated semiconductor integrated circuit by post-fabrication delay insertion position/value determining means using the variation value that has been estimated. |
| US08261218B1 |
Systems and methods for determining beneficial clock-path connection delays
Systems and methods for determining clock-path connection delays are described. The systems include a memory configured to store information, and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor determines whether a clock delay applied to a first storage node changes independently of a clock delay applied to a second storage node. The processor determines ideal path delay changes to apply to the first node upon determining that the delay applied to the first node changes independently of the delay applied to the second node. The processor further determines clock path connection delay changes to apply to a group or a collection of the first and second nodes upon determining that the delay applied to the first node cannot or should not change independently of the delay applied to the second node. Such grouping or collections help resolve any conflicts between the first and second nodes and improves processor efficiency by applying the methods to the group or collection instead of each of the individual nodes. Further, the processor considers restrictions based on the granularity of delay options and/or the range of delay options on clock paths. |
| US08261215B2 |
Method and system for performing cell modeling and selection
An improved method, system, and computer program product for selecting components for an early stage electronic design is disclosed. A library of cells is modeled and is characterized by parameter combinations, where the cell modeling information is based upon ranking and scoring of the cells in the cell library. Based upon design specification information for an electronic design, the cell modeling data is used to select one or more representative cells for the early stage design based upon the list of ranked cells. The rankings provide an indication of the appropriateness of the selected cells for the early stage design. The pre-modeling of the cells provides high efficiency at run-time when there is a need to quickly select cells for the early stage design. |
| US08261211B2 |
Monitoring pointer trajectory and modifying display interface
Apparatus and methods for improving touch-screen interface usability and accuracy by determining the trajectory of a pointer as it approaches the touch-screen and modifying the touch-screen display accordingly. The system may predict an object on the display the user is likely to select next. The system may designate this object as a Designated Target Object, or DTO. The system may modify the appearance of the DTO by, for example, changing the size of the DTO, or by changing its shape, style, coloring, perspective, positioning, etc. |
| US08261206B2 |
Digital map having user-defined zoom areas
Computer hardware logic displays a computer-generated geographic map on a video display through the use of a receiving logic and a zooming logic. The receiving ic detects an input signal for initiating a map zoning mode for an initial computer-generated geographic map. This map zoning mode prevents zooming of the entire initial computer-generated geographic map. The zooming logic zooms a user-selected area on the initial computer-generated geographic map, thus generating a zoom window that displays and overlays an enlarged view of the user-selected area over the initial computer-generated geographic map. |
| US08261204B1 |
Method and system for obtaining form data from a user
A method for obtaining data from a user includes receiving a row selection in an input grid, where each column is associated with one of a plurality of primary input variables, and where each row is configured to display primary data corresponding with the plurality of primary input variables, receiving a request to expand the row to display an input form, where the input form comprises a plurality of fields, where each of the plurality of fields is associated with one of a plurality of supplementary input variables, and where the plurality of fields are configured to display supplementary data corresponding with the plurality of supplementary input variables. The method further includes expanding the row to display the input form, obtaining and storing supplementary data for the input form, collapsing the row to hide the input form, and displaying a summary of supplementary data stored for the input form. |
| US08261201B2 |
Spectrum bar control
Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for providing a graphical user interface control in a spectrum bar. The spectrum bar control is operable to switch between a statistical view of data and a discrete view of the data while maintaining a same size of the graphical user interface control. The spectrum bar control is operable to display data for multiple data elements, with different colors being used to represent different categories of the data elements. The spectrum bar control also enables three or more dimensions of data to be displayed in a small space. |
| US08261198B2 |
Automatic co-browsing invitations
Embodiments can include instructions or steps, which when carried out, detect that copy operations are being performed on website data displayed to a user. Further to this detection, a co-browsing query for display to a user may be generated, an instruction to associate a co-browsing invitation with website data copied by the user may also be generated and a co-browsing invitation and pasted website data may be sent to an invitee. |
| US08261197B2 |
Methods and systems for managing to do items or notes or electronic messages
Methods and systems for managing To do items and/or notes and/or emails (or other electronic messages) are described. On exemplary method includes receiving an input to create a To do item based on a portion of an email record, such as a received email, and creating, in response to the input, the To do item. Another exemplary method includes storing a note having a To do item in the note, the note being stored as an entry in a note database which is separate from a To do database and storing the To do item in the To do database and receiving an input within either a note view or a To do view to edit the To do item and causing the note to be edited and causing the To do item to be edited in response to the input. |
| US08261192B2 |
Providing useful information associated with an item in a document
A method includes recognizing an item within a first document based on a pattern associated with the item but not the exact content of the item. The method further includes identifying a link for the item and providing a second document that includes information associated with the item when the link for the item is selected. |
| US08261189B2 |
Database monitor replay
Method, article of manufacture and apparatus for playing back recorded database activity in a graphical user interface. Chronologically ordered database event information is dynamically displayed in a user interface having user-selectable graphical elements associated with predefined playback controls. |
| US08261187B2 |
System and method for managing dynamic document references
Document fragments are managed by the use of fragment objects. Fragment objects contain a reference to a portion of a source document. Referencing documents contain a reference to a fragment object which delivers the content of the fragment of the source document to the referencing document. The source document can be directly updated through updating the fragment of the source document contained in the referencing document via the use of the fragment object. Source document deletion is controlled by storing the references to the source document by fragment objects so that no fragment object has a reference to a non-existent source document. A process for organizing document fragments within a document management system wherein source documents comprise duplicates of the document fragments includes replacing a duplicate fragment with a reference to a single fragment object the fragment object including a reference to a fragment of a source document and an object class method for deletion of the fragment object including instructions to remove the reference to the fragment object from the metadata of the source document to which the fragment object refers. |
| US08261186B2 |
Methods for efficient cluster analysis
Some embodiments provide a method for defining structure for an unstructured document that includes a number of primitive elements that are defined in terms of their position in the document. The method identifies a pairwise grouping of nearest primitive elements. The method sorts the pairwise primitive elements based on an order from the closest to the furthest pairs. The method stores a single value that identifies which of the pairwise primitive elements are sufficiently far apart to form a partition. The method uses the stored value to identify and analyze the partitions in order to define structural elements for the document. |
| US08261179B2 |
Web page hot spots
An image map designer creates an image map for use with an image. The image map contains one or more hotspots, each of which specifies a set of pixels which may be non-contiguous and non-polygonal. The image map designer may create the image map using image processing software that facilitates creation of non-contiguous and non-polygonal image maps. Multiple versions of the image map may be created, each for use with a different magnification of the image. The image maps are stored in a compact format, which may be transmitted efficiently from a server to a client. Data contained within the image map facilitates the process of determining whether the client user's mouse pointer is within any of the hotspots, and the process of applying the image map to the image when rendered at different magnifications. |
| US08261175B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing a CRC check
A description is given of an apparatus that includes a division unit configured to receive a data stream and to divide the received data stream into a plurality of data segments and a plurality of first CRC check units, wherein each of the first CRC units is configured to perform a CRC check of a respective one of the plurality of segments of data, and wherein the plurality of CRC checks are performed concurrently. |
| US08261174B2 |
Protecting and migrating memory lines
A data protection method is provided. The method includes receiving data; generating compressed data based on the data; determining a degree of compressibility based on the compressed data; determining an amount of free space based on the degree of compressibility; and setting one or more error bits based on the amount of free space. |
| US08261168B2 |
Code combining soft handoff in wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a method for transmitting a signal in a wireless communication system. The method includes channel coding a data stream using a first turbo encoded puncture pattern, and channel coding the data stream using a second turbo encoded puncture pattern. Preferably, the first turbo encoded puncture pattern is a turbo encoded puncture pattern of a first local operator infrastructure (LOI) and the second turbo encoded puncture pattern is a turbo encoded puncture pattern of a second LOI that neighbors the first LOI. |
| US08261167B1 |
Cyclically interleaved dual BCH, with simultaneous decode and per-codeword maximum likelihood reconciliation
A method and system are provided for forward error correction. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a strong FEC algorithm that performs similarly to RS(255,239) when a simple decoder is used, and scales up linearly to a full-scale decoder that outperforms all 7% algorithms currently in G.975.1. The Forward Error Correction code is suitable for use in optical transport networks (OTN) and other applications requiring high decode performance and high code rate. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an FEC code that is a cyclically interleaved dual BCH, with simultaneous decode and per-codeword maximum likelihood reconciliation. |
| US08261166B2 |
Node processor for use with low density parity check decoder using multiple variable node degree distribution codes
A decoding system for use with different degree parity constraint nodes and highly parallel processing operates by passing messages to variable nodes based on updated states of first and second check nodes, processing messages from the variable nodes and updating states of first and second check nodes in a decoder with Z processors that operate in parallel, further processing the updated state information for the second check nodes to coordinate the states of N=Z/z sets of second check nodes, where z is the number of bits associated with the second check nodes, and repeating the process utilizing the coordinated states of the second check nodes as the updated states of the second check nodes. |
| US08261162B2 |
Decoding device, decoding method, and media data delivery system
A decoding device includes a first receiving section for receiving a data packets, a second receiving section for receiving a plurality of error correction packets which includes matrix configuration information regarding the plural data packets, a deciding section for deciding a number of packets to be accumulated to restore a lost data packet, based on the matrix configuration information, an accumulating section for accumulating the data packets received by the first receiving section in the number of packets to be accumulated, and a restoring section for, when a loss of any of the data packets received by the first receiving section is detected, restoring the lost data packet by using at least one of the data packets and the error correction packets. |
| US08261161B2 |
Method and system of receiving data with enhanced partial matching
A method and system of receiving data with enhanced partial matching is disclosed. A received word is compared with the frame code to determine mismatch bit(s). Subsequently, a determination is made whether the mismatch bit(s) are at positions of defined critical bits. If the mismatch bit(s) are not critical, the received word is then affirmed. |
| US08261160B1 |
Synchronization of serial data signals
Various techniques are provided for synchronizing serial data signals received by electronic systems or devices such as programmable logic devices (PLDs). In one example, a method of synchronizing data includes receiving a serial data signal at a device. The serial data signal operates independently of the device. The method also includes oversampling the serial data signal to provide a plurality of samples distributed over bit periods of the serial data signal. The method further includes filtering the samples to correct errors in the samples. In addition, the method includes extracting a plurality of data bit values from the samples under the control of a clock signal associated with the device without adjusting a frequency of the clock signal. Each data bit value is associated with one of the bit periods of the serial data signal. |
| US08261137B2 |
Apparatus, a method and a program thereof
An apparatus and method for efficiently processing memory faults. A faulty memory is exchanged with a spare memory when the total number of faults in the memories is over a threshold. After the switching, when the number of faults in a single cache line is over a threshold, a memory page corresponding to the single cache line is blocked. |
| US08261135B2 |
Interleaving method and communication device
A communication device which includes an error correction encoder that generates an error correction encoded sequence. Additionally, there is an interleaver that arranges elements of the error correction encoded sequence generated by the error correction encoder. The interleaver arranges elements of the error correction encoded sequence in an order which is a same order as an order of the elements in the error correction encoded sequence, when the one of the error correction methods is a predetermined method. Further, the interleaver arranges elements of the error correction encoded sequence in an order different from the order of the elements in the error correction encoded sequence, when the one of the error correction methods is not the predetermined method. |
| US08261134B2 |
Error management watchdog timers in a multiprocessor computer
A multiprocessor computer system comprises one or more watchdog timers operable to detect failure of a memory operation based on passage of a certain timing period from a memory operation being issued without a valid response. An error handler is operable to take corrective action regarding the failed memory operation, such as to provide at least one of hardware state management and application state management. |
| US08261128B2 |
Selection of a domain of a configuration access
A data processing system includes an input/output (I/O) host bridge to which at least one I/O adapter is coupled by an I/O link. In a register of the I/O host bridge, a configuration partitionable endpoint (PE) field is set to identify a PE to be used for an I/O configuration operation. Thereafter, the host bridge initiates the I/O configuration operation on the I/O link and determines if an error occurred for the I/O configuration operation. In response to a determination that an error occurred for the I/O configuration operation, an error state is set in the I/O host bridge only for the PE indicated in the configuration PE field of the register in the I/O host bridge, wherein I/O configuration errors are isolated to particular PEs. |
| US08261117B2 |
Virtualization in a multi-core processor (MCP)
This invention describes an apparatus, computer architecture, method, operating system, compiler, and application program products for MPEs as well as virtualization in a symmetric MCP. The disclosure is applied to a generic microprocessor architecture with a set (e.g., one or more) of controlling elements (e.g., MPEs) and a set of groups of sub-processing elements (e.g., SPEs). Under this arrangement, MPEs and SPEs are organized in a way that a smaller number MPEs control the behavior of a group of SPEs. The apparatus enables virtualized control threads within MPEs to be assigned to different groups of SPEs for controlling the same. The apparatus further includes a MCP coupled to a power supply coupled with cores to provide a supply voltage to each core (or core group) and controlling-digital elements and multiple instances of sub-processing elements. |
| US08261115B2 |
Sub-processor configured to execute a specific program stored in the first memory or second memory on behalf of the main processor
A processing device may comprise a first controlling unit, a second controlling unit, a first memory and a second memory. The second memory may be set to a normal operation mode in a case where the first controlling unit is in the non-sleeping state, and may be set to a low power consumption mode in a case where the first controlling unit is in the sleeping state. In the case where the first controlling unit is in the sleeping state, the second controlling unit may be configured to perform one of the below processes depending on its condition. If the second controlling unit is to perform a specific process by using a first program, the second controlling unit may perform the specific process on behalf of the first controlling unit by using the first program stored in the first memory while the first controlling unit is maintained in the sleeping state and the second memory is maintained in the low power consumption mode. If the second controlling unit is to perform the specific process by using a second program, the second controlling unit may change a mode of the second memory from the low power consumption mode to the normal operation mode, and perform the specific process on behalf of the first controlling unit by using the second program stored in the second memory, while the first controlling unit is maintained in the sleeping state. |
| US08261112B2 |
Optimizing power consumption by tracking how program runtime performance metrics respond to changes in operating frequency
A method, system, and computer program product for optimizing power consumption of an executing processor executing. The method includes determining a first sensitivity relationship (SR) based on a first and a second performance metric value (PMV) measured at a first and second operating frequency (OF), respectively. The first SR predicts workload performance over a range of OFs. A third OF is determined based on the first SR and a specified workload performance floor. A third PMV is measured by executing the processor operating at the third OF. A second SR based on the second and third PMVs is then determined. The first and second SRs are logically combined to generate a third SR. Based on the third SR, a fourth OF is outputted. |
| US08261109B2 |
Power sharing between portable computer system and peripheral devices
A peripheral device and a method for operating a peripheral device is disclosed. The peripheral device includes one or more connection mechanisms for coupling to a computing device, a power supply, and a controller. The controller is configured to enable the peripheral device to communicate with the computing device. When the peripheral device is coupled to the computing device, the controller is configured to determine the amount of power remaining in the power supply of the peripheral device, and based at least in part on the amount of power remaining in the power supply of the peripheral device, enable the peripheral device to charge a power supply of the computing device, and enable the peripheral device to receive power from the power supply of the computing device. |
| US08261108B2 |
Information handling system including wireless scanning feature
An information handling system (IHS) is provided which includes a system processor and a wireless section coupled to the system processor. While the system processor remains in a reduced power state, the wireless section is operable to be powered up to detect the presence of a wireless network external to the IHS and determine if that detected wireless network matches a network included in profile information stored in a memory that is accessible by the wireless section. An indicator is coupled to the wireless section and is operable to provide an indication that a wireless network is present. |
| US08261107B2 |
Printing device controller and printing device
A printing device controller provided with a first computational processing unit that performs overall control of the device as a whole and a second computational processing unit that consumes less power than the first computational processing unit, the printing device controller including: a RAM (Random Access Memory) having a self-refresh mode; a main control unit whose main processing constituent is the first computational processing unit; and a sub control unit whose main processing constituent is the second computational processing unit. When an instruction to enter a power-saving state is inputted, the main control unit causes the first computational processing unit to store information necessary for returning from the power-saving state into a storage unit and then causes the RAM to enter the self-refresh mode, and the sub control unit then powers off the first computational processing unit. |
| US08261106B2 |
System for controlling power of a portable electronic device using lock code
A portable electronic device includes a main power supply, a power management unit (PMU) connected to the main power supply, and a receiver unit connected to the PMU. The main power supply supplies electric power to the portable electronic device through the PMU. The receiver unit includes a processor module connected to the PMU. The processor module stores a lock code, the processor module directs the PMU to prevent the main power supply from providing electric power to the portable electronic device when the receiver unit receives wireless signals corresponding to the lock code. |
| US08261105B2 |
Switching power circuit and computer system
The invention relates to a switching power circuit connected to a motherboard of a computer system. The switching power circuit includes a PWM circuit and a snubber circuit. The PWM circuit includes a phase terminal, and it may output an output voltage to the motherboard via the phase terminal. The snubber circuit includes a zener diode. A negative terminal of the zener diode is connected to the phase terminal, and a positive terminal is connected to the ground terminal. The level of a breakdown voltage of the zener diode is equal to the level of the output voltage in a steady state. |
| US08261104B2 |
System and method of classification in power over ethernet systems
A method is disclosed that includes receiving a classification voltage at a powered device from a network. The classification voltage includes a baseline voltage level that is below an operating voltage range of the powered device and includes a sequence of distinct signal elements derived from the classification voltage. The method further includes detecting a number of signal elements of the sequence of distinct signal elements. A current is drawn until the number of signal elements exceeds a predetermined number. |
| US08261095B1 |
Methods and systems for using derived user accounts
Methods, systems and articles of manufacture consistent with features of the present invention allow the generation and use of derived user accounts, or DUA, in a computer system comprising user accounts. In particular, derivation rules define how a DUA is linked to or created based on an existing original user account, or OUA. Derivation transformations may also update the state of a DUA based on its corresponding OUA or give feedback from the state of a DUA to the state of its corresponding OUA. |
| US08261094B2 |
Secure data gathering from rendered documents
A facility for securing text captured from a rendered document is described. The facility receives data including an encryption of text captured from a rendered document. The facility decrypts the captured text included in the received data. |
| US08261093B1 |
System, method, and computer program product for disabling a communication channel during authentication
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for disabling a communication channel during authentication. In operation, an authentication request for an authentication event is detected. Furthermore, a communication channel is disabled, in response to the authentication event. |
| US08261091B2 |
Solid-state memory-based generation and handling of security authentication tokens
An architecture is presented that facilitates secure token generation and transmission capabilities in a mobile device. The system comprises at least one software application that includes a secure token assigned to a specific user and a memory module that communicates with an external processor. A security processor, non-volatile memory component and volatile memory component are integrated to form the memory module that communicates with the external processor. The memory module creates a secure execution environment for the execution of application agents associated with the software application and the secure token. The security processor of the system communicates with the software application and external processor to manage generation, authentication, confidentiality, and transmission of the secure token. And, the non-volatile memory allows the introduction of new tokens and the removal of old tokens. |
| US08261088B2 |
Secret authentication system
Authentication data indicating authenticity of a client is distributed into a plurality of function data as distributed data, the plurality of function data including function data specifying a function and rule data specifying the authentication data from the function. The client and a server shares a portion of the plurality of function data. The client calculates verification data from the function data unshared with the server, by performing a calculation process difficult for a third party to calculate the function data, and transmits the verification data to the server. The server verifies authenticity of the client based on the authentication data and distributed data per client stored therein, and the verification data received from the client. |
| US08261084B2 |
Unauthorized contents detection system
A data processing device for playing back a digital work reduces the processing load involved in verification by using only a predetermined number of encrypted units selected randomly from multiple encrypted units constituting encrypted contents recorded on a DVD. In addition, the data processing device improves the accuracy of detecting unauthorized contents by randomly selecting a predetermined number of encrypted units every time the verification is performed. |
| US08261077B2 |
System and method for performing authentication in a wireless mobile communication system
A system and method for authentication in a wireless mobile communication system are provided, in which a mobile station calculates a CMAC value having a first number of bits, transmits to a base station a ranging request message including a partial CMAC value being a second number of upper bits of the CMAC value having the first number of bits, and receives a ranging response message indicating whether authentication is successful or failed from the base station. |
| US08261075B2 |
Method for secure remote backup
The present invention is directed to an architecture and mechanism for securely backing up files and directories on a local machine onto untrusted servers over an insecure network. |
| US08261074B2 |
Verifying a cipher-based message authentication code
A system for verifying a cipher-based message authentication code (CMAC), including a reception (RX) module logically residing between a physical layer controller (PHY) and a media access controller (MAC) processor, such that the RX module is configured to receive one or more portions of the CMAC with one or more bursts, process the one or more bursts, and write the one or more portions of the CMAC to one or more memory locations in a memory. The system also includes a transmission (TX) module logically residing between the PHY and the MAC processor, such that the TX module configured to verify the CMAC concurrently as the RX module processes the one or more bursts. |
| US08261073B2 |
Digital rights management method and apparatus
Provided are a digital rights management (DRM) method and apparatus, and more particularly, a DRM method and apparatus which can support different DRMs and use various digital content. The DRM method includes receiving a hello message request from a host device; comparing information included in the hello message request to information stored in advance; generating an error code when the hello message request contains unsupported information; and generating a hello message response that contains the error code. |
| US08261070B2 |
Authentication of untrusted gateway without disclosure of private information
A system and method provides user authorization for use of a server without providing the server with sensitive user information. A secure authorization link is established between a user interface and a remote authentication server. The authorization link passes through a local server while being unreadable by the local server. User authorization data is sent from the user interface to the authorization server, via the authorization link. The authorization server then returns a redirected validation message to the user interface, via the authorization link. A local link is established between the user interface and the local server based on data included in the redirected validation message. All communication between the user interface, the local server and authorization server is performed utilizing the user interface web browser. Thus, authorization for use of services controlled by the local server is accomplished without the need to load specialized software on the user interface for establishing such links and performing such communications. |
| US08261057B2 |
System and method for establishing a virtual private network
A system and method for establishing a virtual private network (VPN) between a client and a private data communication network. An encrypted data communication session, such as a—Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) data communication session, is established between a gateway and the client over a public data communication network. The gateway then sends a programming component to the client for automatic installation and execution thereon. The programming component operates to intercept communications from client applications destined for resources on the private data communication network and to send the intercepted communications to the gateway via the encrypted data communication session instead of to the resources on the private data communication network. |
| US08261053B2 |
Method and apparatus for maintaining a partition when booting another partition
In a processing system with a main partition and a sequestered partition, the main partition sends an interrupt to the sequestered partition before calling an operating system (OS) boot loader for the main partition. The sequestered partition may then enter an interrupt handler. After the sequestered partition enters the interrupt handler, an address line of the processing system may be disabled, and the OS boot loader for the non-sequestered partition may be called. The sequestered partition may then determine whether the address line has been re-enabled. The sequestered partition may remain in the interrupt handler until after the address line has been re-enabled. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08261049B1 |
Determinative branch prediction indexing
Systems, apparatuses, and methods for determinative branch prediction indexing are described herein. The determinative branch prediction indexing method includes receiving a program counter address for a branch instruction, dynamically selecting a branch indexing scheme from a plurality of branch indexing schemes, and generating a branch prediction index based at least in part on selected branch indexing scheme and the program counter address. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US08261047B2 |
Qualification of conditional debug instructions based on address
A processor implementation supports selection of an execution mode for debug instruction instances based on respective addresses thereof in addressable memory can provide an attractive mechanism for executing debug instructions in a way that allows some instances of the instructions to operate with debug semantics while suppressing other instances by executing them with no-operation (NOP) semantics. In some embodiments, selection of operative execution semantics may be based on attributes of a memory page in which a particular debug instruction instance resides. In some embodiments, portions of an address space may be delimited (e.g., using values stored in bounding registers and addresses of particular debug instruction instances compared against the delimited portions to select appropriate execution semantics. In some embodiments, both types of evaluations may be used in selecting appropriate execution semantics for a particular debug instruction instance. |
| US08261046B2 |
Access of register files of other threads using synchronization
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for accessing registers associated with a first thread while executing a second thread. In one such embodiment a method may include preventing an instruction of a first thread that is to access a source operand from a register file of a second thread from executing if a synchronization indicator associated with the source operand indicates incompletion of a producer operation of the second thread, and executing the instruction if the synchronization indicator indicates completion of the producer operation of the second thread. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08261036B2 |
Storage system comprising function for reducing power consumption
For at least one of storage unit, processor and cache memory which are I/O process-participating devices related to I/O command process, when a load of one or more I/O process-participating devices or a part thereof is a low load equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value, a processing related to a state of one or more of the I/O process-participating devices or a part thereof is redirected to another one or more I/O process-participating devices or a part thereof, and the state of the one or more I/O process-participating devices or a part thereof is shifted to a power-saving state. |
| US08261035B1 |
System and method for online data migration
A method and system for changing storage drive contents, including installing a redirection driver in a computer system, wherein the redirection driver redirects access requests directed to a main storage of the computer system to one of the main storage and a temporary storage; copying files from the main storage to the temporary storage; restoring files from a source storage into the main storage by overwriting corresponding files in the main storage; and redirecting, to the temporary storage, requests for access directed to files of the main storage that have been copied to the temporary storage. |
| US08261034B1 |
Memory system for cascading region-based filters
A method for moving data in a memory system of a cascading region-based filter is disclosed. The method generally includes steps (A) to (C). Step (A) may load a first portion of the data from a buffer to the memory system at a start of a given cycle using a control circuit. The memory system generally has multiple first memories. A first region of a particular first memory may receive the first portion of data. Step (B) may copy the data in a second region of the particular first memory to a third region of the particular first memory at an end of the given cycle. Step (C) may copy the data in an output region of the particular first memory to an input region of a next first memory at the end of the given cycle. The output region generally overlaps both the first region and the second region. |
| US08261032B2 |
Storage system to backup dirty data elements using a cache memory
A storage system comprises a plurality of control modules having a plurality of cache memories respectively. One or more dirty data elements out of a plurality of dirty data elements stored in a first cache memory in a first control module are copied to a second cache memory in a second control module. The one or more dirty data elements stored in the second cache memory are backed up to a non-volatile storage resource. The dirty data elements backed up from the first cache memory to the non-volatile storage resource are dirty data elements other than the one or more dirty data elements of which copying has completed, out of the plurality of dirty data elements. |
| US08261030B2 |
Using delete notifications to free related storage resources
A storage stack delete notification can be received at a storage stack filter. The delete notification can indicate deletion of primary data in a primary storage region. Secondary data that is taking up storage resources managed by the storage stack filter can be identified. The secondary data can be associated with the primary storage region, and the storage resources can be resources other than the primary storage region. It can be determined whether it is useful to have the secondary data continue taking up the storage resources. If having the secondary data continue taking up the storage resources is not useful, then the storage resources can be freed. |
| US08261028B2 |
Cached dirty bits for context switch consistency checks
Embodiments of an invention using cached dirty bits for context switch consistency checks are disclosed. In one embodiment, a processor includes control logic and a cache. The control logic is to cause a consistency check to be performed on a subset of a plurality of state components during a first context switch. The cache is to store a dirty entry for each state component to indicate whether the corresponding state component is included in the subset. |
| US08261027B2 |
State transition management device and method
A state transition management device includes a memory that stores subsequent state number candidates for a current state number and a selection circuit that selects a subsequent state number from among the subsequent state number candidates that have been read out from the memory. For the state number having the subsequent state number candidates that are branch destinations of the current state number and are small in number, the memory stores the subsequent state number candidates for a plurality of current state numbers at one address in the memory that can be concurrently read out. The selection circuit selects the subsequent state number based on an event identification code (109, 110) and a current state number. |
| US08261025B2 |
Software pipelining on a network on chip
Memory sharing in a software pipeline on a network on chip (‘NOC’), the NOC including integrated processor (‘IP’) blocks, routers, memory communications controllers, and network interface controllers, with each IP block adapted to a router through a memory communications controller and a network interface controller, where each memory communications controller controlling communications between an IP block and memory, and each network interface controller controlling inter-IP block communications through routers, including segmenting a computer software application into stages of a software pipeline, the software pipeline comprising one or more paths of execution; allocating memory to be shared among at least two stages including creating a smart pointer, the smart pointer including data elements for determining when the shared memory can be deallocated; determining, in dependence upon the data elements for determining when the shared memory can be deallocated, that the shared memory can be deallocated; and deallocating the shared memory. |
| US08261021B2 |
Cache control device and control method
In order to control an access request to the cache shared between a plurality of threads, a storage unit for storing a flag provided in association with each of the threads is included. If the threads enter the execution of an atomic instruction, a defined value is written to the flags stored in the storage unit. Furthermore, if the atomic instruction is completed, a defined value different from the above defined value is written, thereby displaying whether or not the threads are executing the atomic instruction. If an access request is issued from a certain thread, it is judged whether or not a thread different from the certain thread is executing the atomic instruction by referencing the flag values in the storage unit. If it is judged that another thread is executing the atomic instruction, the access request is kept standby. This makes it possible to realize the exclusive control processing necessary for processing the atomic instruction according to simple configuration. |
| US08261018B2 |
Managing data storage systems
A method, system and computer program product for managing data storage systems. The data storage system being coupled to a volume storage pool as data storage resource, the data storage system presenting at least one virtual volume as a storage resource to a host device, the method for managing the data storage system comprising collecting the volume storage pool occupancy and the virtual volume consumption; trending the volume storage pool and the virtual volumes consumption; forecasting the volume storage pool occupancy and virtual volume consumption; and recommending at least one action based on the forecasted values of storage pool occupancy data and virtual volume consumption data. The method may further comprise detecting a rapid increase or surge in the volume storage pool occupancy data. |
| US08261014B2 |
Multi-channel integrated circuit card and method of controlling the same
A system and method for controlling a memory card are provided. The system may include a memory card and a host. The memory card may have a plurality of data transceiving channels, and the host may selectively activate the data transceiving channels in the memory card and transmit a plurality of commands to the activated data transceiving channels. |
| US08261012B2 |
Non-volatile semiconductor memory comprising power fail circuitry for flushing write data in response to a power fail signal
A non-volatile semiconductor memory is disclosed comprising a first memory device having a memory array including a plurality of memory segments, and a data register for storing write data prior to being written to one of the memory segments. A memory controller comprises a microprocessor for executing access commands received from a host. Interface circuitry generates control signals that enable the microprocessor to communicate with the first memory device. Power fail circuitry transmits a flush command to the first memory device through the interface circuitry in response to a power fail signal, wherein the first memory device responds to the flush command by transferring the write data stored in the data register to the memory segment. |
| US08261009B2 |
Method and apparatus for retroactive adaptation of data location
A method and system for organizing groups of data in a storage device having a non-volatile memory consisting of higher performance or endurance portion and a lower performance or endurance portion are disclosed. The method may include steps of determining a data usage status for a group of data in only one of the two portions, and if a data usage criterion is met, moving the group of data to the other of the two portions of the non-volatile memory. In another implementation, the method may include determining a data usage status of groups of data in both portions of the non-volatile memory and moving a group of data from one portion to the other if an appropriate data usage criterion is met so that groups of data may be maintained in a portion of the non-volatile memory most suited to their usage patterns. |
| US08261007B2 |
Memory system and computer system
When a memory card is inserted into a computer, a memory controller sends command information stored in a memory array to the computer. Then, the computer stores the command information received from the memory card into a RAM. The computer generates a command as needed on the basis of the stored command information and sends the generated command to the memory card. When the memory card receives the command from the computer, the memory controller analyzes the received command and performs it while making reference to command analysis information. This makes it possible to reduce a load accompanying the change and addition of commands in a semiconductor memory. |
| US08261004B2 |
Stacked semiconductor memory device with compound read buffer
A stacked memory apparatus operating with a compound read buffer is disclosed. The stacked memory apparatus includes an interface device having a main buffer and a plurality of memory devices each having a device read buffer. Systems incorporating one or more stacked memory apparatuses and related method of performing a read operation are also disclosed. |
| US08261002B2 |
PHY-less ULPI and UTMI bridges
Embodiments of the present invention provide a unique capability of implementing a pair of pseudo-PHY interfaces using a bridge. From the host and device perspectives, the host and device communicate through a PHY interface. The bridge, however, avoids actually using a USB PHY interface. This PHY-less bridge allows communication between a host and a device at high speeds without high-power transceivers associated with a USB PHY interface. In accordance with the present invention, a host and a device may be coupled together using a PHY-less bridge using the same interface or translating between different interfaces by using a wrapper. Such PHY-less bridges include a UTMI-to-UTMI bridge, a UTMI-to-ULPI bridge, a ULPI-to-UTMI bridge and a ULPI-to-ULPI bridge, each avoiding the need for a USB PHY interface. |
| US08261001B2 |
Network range extender device
An apparatus includes a PHY assembly in electrical communication with a first interface assembly and with a second interface assembly, the PHY assembly configured to receive a power signal from a PSE, the PHY assembly having a first PHY and a second PHY. The first PHY is configured to receive a first data signal from the PSE through the first interface assembly via the frame-based computer networking connection and provide the first data signal to the second PHY for transmission to a network device through the second interface assembly via the frame-based computer networking connection. The second PHY is configured to receive a second data signal from the network device through the second interface assembly via the frame-based computer networking connection and provide the second data signal to the first PHY for transmission to the PSE through the first interface assembly via the frame-based computer networking connection. |
| US08261000B2 |
Single line dock status autoidentification
A single line docking station characteristic identifier is disclosed. In one embodiment, a portable computing device can include a dock detector circuit having an interface pin configured to be coupled to a docking station via a single line dock connection, where the dock detector circuit is configured to determine a characteristic of the docking station using a passive component in the docking station when the portable computing device is connected to the docking station via the single line dock connection. The dock detector circuit can include a resistor and a Schmitt trigger, while the passive component in the docking station can include a capacitor, for example. |
| US08260998B2 |
Wireless communication with a dock
In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, system and program products. A mobile computing device determines that the mobile computing device has physically paired with a docking system. Wireless communication between the mobile computing device and the docking system is automatically established in response to said determining that the mobile computing device has physically paired with the docking system. Data that encodes an audio signal is transmitted, by the mobile computing device and to the docking system as part of the wireless communication, so as to cause speakers of the docking system to audibly output the audio signal from the mobile computing device. |
| US08260997B1 |
Magnetic switch for automatic network traffic shutdown while unlocking network line card
In one embodiment, a method comprises initiating shutdown of network traffic of a line card while the line card is coupled to a connector chassis and exchanging network traffic, the initiating shutdown in response to actuation of a magnetic switch associated with the line card, the magnetic switch being actuated in response to movement of actuating structure that unlocks the line card for removal from the connector chassis; and completing the shutdown of network traffic in the line card prior to permitting complete removal of the line card from the connector chassis. |
| US08260995B2 |
Processor interrupt command response system
A system to synchronize processors includes one or more subsystems to receive an interrupt command, instruct a plurality of processors to enter an entry synchronization loop of an interrupt handler, determine by each of the plurality of processors whether all of the plurality of processors have entered their respective interrupt handler before exiting the entry synchronization loop, determine whether a timeout value has been reached, determine type of the interrupt command received and in response to the type of interrupt command received, determine whether to exit the entry synchronization loop after the timeout value has been reached. |
| US08260994B2 |
Interface for prototyping integrated systems
An interface is described which has at least one chip side port with a first plurality of pins for conveying fields of a packet and first and second circuit side ports each port having a set of pins with a lower number than the first set of pins in the chip side port. The interface is constructed so that interrupt signals from an off-chip circuit can be conveyed on-chip in a manner such that the interrupt signals are indistinguishable from interrupt signals received from on-chip modules connected to an on-chip communication path. The same principle is applicable to power-down signals. |
| US08260987B2 |
Methods and systems to accomplish variable width data input
Disclosed are methods and systems for variable width data input to a pattern-recognition processor. A variable width data input method may include receiving bytes over a data bus having a first width and receiving one or more signals indicating the validity of each of the one or more bytes. The valid bytes may be sequentially provided to a pattern-recognition processor in an 8-bit wide data stream. In an embodiment, a system may include one or more address lines configured to provide the one or more signals indicating the validity of the bytes transferred over the data bus. The system may include a buffer and control logic to sequentially process the valid bytes. |
| US08260975B1 |
Consumer electronics control (CEC) processor
An HDMI™ (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) switch includes a CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) processor for controlling high-definition audio-visual (AV) equipment. The CEC processor accepts user commands and translates them to control HDMI devices over HDMI; the translations can be manufacturer specific so that devices with different CEC implementations can be combined in a single system. CEC communications between HDMI devices is precluded or at least controlled to avoid problems due to incompatible CEC implementations and unwanted interactions. The CEC processor causes the HDMI switch to appear as an HDMI source to HDMI sink devices and as an HDMI sink to HDMI source devices for the purposes of assigning physical addresses. While CEC is designed to handle AV systems having only one sink (display), the novel HDMI switch provides for CEC-controlled AV systems with multiple displays, e.g., in different rooms. |
| US08260973B2 |
Memory controllers, memory systems, solid state drives and methods for processing a number of commands
The present disclosure includes methods and devices for a memory controller. In one or more embodiments, a memory controller includes a plurality of back end channels, and a command queue communicatively coupled to the plurality of back end channels. The command queue is configured to hold host commands received from a host. Circuitry is configured to generate a number of back end commands at least in response to a number of the host commands in the command queue, and distribute the number of back end commands to a number of the plurality of back end channels. |
| US08260970B2 |
Multiband communication device with graphical connection interface and methods for use therewith
A communication device includes an RF transceiver for communicating first data with a first remote communication device via a first protocol and a first frequency band in a first mode of operation, wherein the first data is communicated via indirect wireless communication. A millimeter wave transceiver communicates second data with a second remote communication device via a second protocol and a 60 GHz frequency band in a second mode of operation. A communication control module coordinates the communication of the first data and the second data with the at least one of the plurality of remote communication devices. A graphical interface device selects the first remote communication device and the second remote communication device and selects at least one of the first mode of operation and the second mode of operation, based on actions of a user. |
| US08260969B2 |
Low latency communication via memory windows
A high performance computer system has compute nodes interconnected by an inter-node communication network. The compute nodes include local packetized interconnects. Shared memory between compute nodes is emulated by tunneling packetized interconnect packets between the compute nodes. A memory region on one of the compute nodes is used as a window into a memory region in another compute node. Special registers may be provided to expedite remote operations on small amounts of data. |
| US08260968B2 |
Method and system for booting a software package on a network processor
A network processor system includes a network processor 1, which is provided with a number of interfaces 9, 11, 13, 15, 19, including one or more Ethernet interfaces 9, 11 and a UART interface 19, which can be used to load a software package into the network processor 1. The software package can thus be modified when required, or when the software package previously stored in the network processor system is corrupted. The Ethernet data packets received on the Ethernet interfaces 9, 11 are in a special format, which the network processor 1 can recognize, to distinguish them from conventional Ethernet packets. Thus, the network processor 1 does not have to be programmed to handle the full range conventional Ethernet data packets. The network processor 1 is provided with a second external non-volatile data storage device 7 in the form of a EEPROM memory 7. The EEPROM memory 7 provides a writable extension of the internal ROM memory of the network processor. It can, for example, be used to store the parameters of other components of a network processor system (e.g. a flash memory 5) so that the network processor 1 can be used in conjunction with components of a wide range of types. |
| US08260965B2 |
Method and system for providing blog service by using mobile terminal, and mobile blog caster therefor
A method and system to provide a blog by using a mobile terminal, and a mobile blog (MB) caster therefor, the method including: receiving blog data including one or more pieces of downsized data from an MB caster; selecting a piece of downsized data from among the one or more pieces of downsized data; obtaining metadata corresponding to the selected piece of downsized data; accessing a web blog server; and downloading original data corresponding to the metadata from the web blog server. Since the blog is created and provided by using the downsized data, instead of the original data, a blog server operation can be realized by using only existing mobile devices. Furthermore, the mobile terminal does not have to be connected to the Internet (or the web blog server) for a blog service. Also, it is possible to provide the blog at very high speed. |
| US08260963B2 |
Self-cleansing secure DNS server
Disclosed is a self-cleansing intrusion tolerance-domain name systems system comprising at least three DNS servers, at least four storage systems accessible by the DNS servers, a communications link, a message transfer mechanism, and a self-cleansing mechanism. The storage systems include at least three online storage systems and at least one offline storage system. The communications link can connect the DNS servers with the storage systems, as well as connect the DNS servers with a local area network, which can connect the DNS servers with an external network. The message transfer mechanism can rotate the DNS servers into a plurality of roles, including a primary role, a secondary role, a designated role, and a self-cleansing role. The self-cleansing mechanism can be used to perform the self-cleansing role. |
| US08260960B2 |
Supporting non-delivery notification between a switch and device in a network
Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for supporting non-delivery notification between a switch and device in a network. A login with a switch is initiated including a test service parameter requesting a non-delivery notification service to cause the switch to return a non-delivery notification in response to a test path request indicating a destination node that is unavailable. Indication is made that the test service is available for the login in response to receiving a reply from the switch that the switch accepts the login with the non-delivery notification service. The test path request is sent to the switch to determine whether the destination node is available in response to determining that the non-delivery notification service is available for the switch login. The non-delivery notification is received from the switch in response to the switch determining that the destination node to which the test path request is directed is unavailable. |
| US08260959B2 |
Network service selection
A method of selecting a suitable service for the delivery of a communication across an integrated network is disclosed. Before now, users had to select the service that best suited their needs at the time of each delivery. By providing a computer programmed to act as a purchasing agent with data indicating the desirability of stability in the network service (that data representing the price the user is prepared to pay for stability) an automatic selection of the service to be provided to the communication is enabled. An embodiment is described in which different degrees of stability are given to different content file deliveries in dependence on the importance attached to the recipient by a content provider. The invention could equally be used to provide an appropriate services for many different types of network traffic. |
| US08260958B2 |
Reducing energy consumption of servers
A load balancer, comprising a network interface, a power conservation unit, and a routing module configured to route client requests received through the network interface to a plurality of servers. The power conservation unit is characterized by having a learning mode and a routing mode. In the learning mode one or more operation parameters of the servers are determined for a plurality of different external conditions and for a plurality of different values of one or more operation parameters of the routing module, and to generate a correlation table between the operation parameters of the routing module and the external conditions. In the routing mode the power conservation unit adjusts the operation parameters of the routing module responsive to the external conditions, using the correlation table. |
| US08260951B2 |
Rate-controllable peer-to-peer data stream routing
Difficulties associated with choosing advantageous network routes between server and clients are mitigated by a routing system that is devised to use many routing path sets, where respective sets comprise a number of routing paths covering all of the clients, including through other clients. A server may then apportion a data stream among all of the routing path sets. The server may also detect the performance of the computer network while sending the data stream between clients, and may adjust the apportionment of the routing path sets including the route. The clients may also be configured to operate as servers of other data streams, such as in a videoconferencing session, for example, and may be configured to send detected route performance information along with the portions of the various data streams. |
| US08260950B1 |
Real-time transport protocol ad cue extensions
A method, system, and apparatus are provided for delivery and synchronization of an ad to a user of a streaming media. An embodiment uses a Real-time Transport Protocol header extension to provide an ad cue to a splicer for the delivery of an ad within the primary media stream (the stream containing the header extension) or in an ancillary stream. An existing ancillary stream my be used, or a new ancillary stream may be initiated in response to the ad cue. The ad may have a variety of formats such as takeover, overlay, standard banner, and rich media. |
| US08260947B2 |
Media delivery arrangements including time information provided together with media data
A media delivery apparatus for relaying media data streaming-delivered from a server to a client terminal through a network, including a receiving portion for receiving packets transmitted from the server to the network when stream-delivering the media data, and a storage device, wherein: each of the packets contains at least one media data element as a split of the media data and is constructed according to a certain protocol; and the receiving portion extracts the media data element, generates information necessary for reconstructing a packet having the same construction as that of the packet containing the media data and stores the necessary information in addition to the extracted media data in the storage device. |
| US08260946B1 |
UDP broadcast for user interface in a download and configuration gaming method
A method for sending a notification message using a modified form of User Datagram Protocol (UDP) multicast notification system in a client-server architecture that otherwise allows only client initiated messages. The method includes: identifying information at a server that has potential for inclusion in a notification message, wherein the server is a Download and Configuration Management (DCM) engine; querying a database for one or more clients that have registered for a particular type of notification by a UDP broadcast processor; receiving identifiers for the one or more clients that have registered for the particular type of notification from the database; and sending notification to the one or more clients. |
| US08260944B2 |
Using a state machine embedded within a session initiation protocol (SIP) servlet to implement an application programming interface (API)
The present invention discloses a system for implementing a software application programming interface (API) within a session initiation protocol (SIP) servlet. Such a system can utilize a state machine, a SIP servlet configured to execute the state machine, and an enterprise service bus (ESB). The state machine can be configured to send and receive a series of communications and can be defined in a definition document. The series of communications can represent the execution of a software function defined within an API. The SIP servlet can select a state machine based upon an indicator contained within a received SIP message. The ESB can be configured to execute a system function in response to communications with the state machine. |
| US08260939B2 |
System and method for scheduling wireless channel resources
A system and method are provided for enabling and performing scheduling for wireless devices supporting multiple users or devices. The system has a wireless subscriber device that is enabled to support multiple users or devices. The wireless system may operate accordingly to a wireless air interface such as WCDMA, CDMA2000, GSM, or other wireless technology. The wireless device has a message generator, which is configured to generate a multi-user message. The device transmits the multi-user message to the network. The network receives the multi-user message and begins to schedule network resources to the device as a device supporting multiple users. |
| US08260936B2 |
System, method, and computer program product for resolving addressing in a network including a network address translator
A system, method, and computer program product through which address resolution is performed for nodes (101, 103) of a network that are behind a network address translator (NAT). A determination is made upon the initiation of a communication session as to whether one or more of the nodes (101, 103) included in the session are behind a NAT. Based on the determination, information is exchanged (L102, L103) from an independent application server (105) to the nodes (101, 103) included in the session so as to resolve the addressing problems introduced by the NAT. The invention is applicable in applications including, but not limited to, IP telephony, and applications complying with the session initiation protocol (SIP). |
| US08260935B2 |
Error control terminal discovery and updating
Systems, methods, and devices for novel error detection and retransmission processes are described. These processes may be implemented on intermediate communication links between two end terminals, wherein the intermediate links are via satellite. Error control mechanisms to detect and retransmit lost or corrupted frames may be implemented at the network layer, or between the network and data link layers. Processes for discovering error control protocol-aware terminals are described. Features of these error control processes may include a configurable delay limit, tailored to traffic type or class. |
| US08260929B2 |
Deploying analytic functions
A method, system, and computer usable program product for deploying analytic functions are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A resource is identified in an analytic function specification. A set of input time series is identified for the analytic function specification. An analytic function instance corresponding to the analytic function specification is instantiated in relation to an object of the resource. Each input time series in the set of time series is located in relation to the object. The analytic function instance is associated with each input time series in the set of time series. An analysis is performed using the set of input time series and an analytic function described in the analytic function specification. The analytic function instance is instantiated if both the object and the set of data sources are present in an object graph where the analytic function instance is to be instantiated. |
| US08260923B2 |
Arrangements to implement a scale-up service
A server system has a blade system formed of a plurality of servers that are mounted in one or a plurality of stages within a single chassis so as to have a plurality of different functions, and a management server for managing said blade system. The management server has means for grouping the plurality of mounted servers to manage for each function, means for managing the deployment of the plurality of servers within the chassis, and deployment changing means for changing the functions of the plurality servers and transposing the functions to change the deployment of the servers within the chassis. Thus, the deployment changing means makes the servers of each of the plurality of functions be arrayed in regular order within the chassis. |
| US08260922B1 |
Technique for using OER with an ECT solution for multi-homed sites
A technique dynamically utilizes a plurality of multi-homed Virtual Private Network (VPN) tunnels from a client node to one or more enterprise networks in a computer network. According to the technique, a VPN client node, e.g., a “spoke,” creates a plurality of multi-homed VPN tunnels with one or more servers/enterprise networks, e.g., “hubs.” The spoke designates (e.g., for a prefix) one of the tunnels as a primary tunnel and the other tunnels as secondary (backup) tunnels, and monitors the quality (e.g., loss, delay, reachability, etc.) of all of the tunnels, such as, e.g., by an Optimized Edge Routing (OER) process. The spoke may then dynamically re-designate any one of the secondary tunnels as the primary tunnel for a prefix based on the quality of the tunnels to the enterprise. Notably, the spoke may also dynamically load balance traffic to the enterprise among the primary and secondary tunnels based on the quality of those tunnels. |
| US08260921B2 |
Demand forecasting system for data center, demand forecasting method and recording medium with a demand forecasting program recorded thereon
A demand forecasting system and a demand forecasting method capable of forecasting demands for IT resources in a data center accurately are provided. The demand forecasting system includes: a classification unit that classifies a plurality of users who use IT resources in a data center into a plurality of user's behavior classes; an event characteristics model generation unit that generates an event characteristics model representing a variation over time in a usage state of the IT resources caused by an event and the number of the users moving among the user's behavior classes caused by the event; an event influence calculation unit that calculates a predicted value of the variation over time in a usage state of the IT resources and a predicted value of the number of the users moving among the user's behavior classes that will be caused by an event scheduled to be held in the future using the event characteristics model; and a demand forecasting unit that calculates a variation in load on the IT resources. |
| US08260920B2 |
Method for uniform network access
According to some embodiments, a registry is displayed. The registry may, for example, indicate resources available from a plurality of remote network access devices via a communications network. Moreover, a personal network address may be associated with each available resource, the personal network address including an destination address portion and an application program identifier portion. A direct communications link may then be established between a first network access device hosting an available resource and a second network address device using the personal network address associated with the resource. |
| US08260918B2 |
Packet routing system and method
A flexible, scalable hardware and software platform that allows a service provider to easily provide internet services, virtual private network services, firewall services, etc., to a plurality of customers. One aspect provides a method and system for delivering security services. This includes connecting a plurality of processors in a ring configuration within a first processing system, establishing a secure connection between the processors in the ring configuration across an internet protocol (IP) connection to a second processing system to form a tunnel, and providing both router services and host services for a customer using the plurality of processors in the ring configuration and using the second processing system, a packet routing system and method is described that includes a processor identifier in each packet to route the packets to a physical processor, and a logical queue identifier to route the packets to the destination object within that processor. |
| US08260917B1 |
Service manager for adaptive load shedding
A service manager that facilitates managing requests that are obtained at a middleware tier of a communications network includes a monitor component that evaluates data associated with effectuating a request that is received at a middleware tier. The monitor component identifies resources associated with effectuating the request. Additionally, the service manager includes a request component that accepts and/or rejects the request based at least in part upon the identified resources. |
| US08260912B2 |
Hypothesis based solicitation of data indicating at least one subjective user state
A computationally implemented method includes, but is not limited to: soliciting, based at least in part on a hypothesis that links one or more objective occurrences with one or more subjective user states and in response at least in part to an incidence of at least one objective occurrence, subjective user state data including data indicating incidence of at least one subjective user state associated with a user; and acquiring the subjective user state data including the data indicating incidence of at least one subjective user state associated with the user. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure. |
| US08260911B2 |
Scheduling method for polling device data
A dispatching method for polling device data. The method comprises: sorting managed devices according to their types, sorting various types of data of each device so as to form different modules, and assigning a priority attribute and a polling period attribute to each module; dividing the managed devices into two sets: one set consisting of devices to be polled and the other set consisting of devices whose connection states need to be detected; and polling each module in the set consisting of devices to be polled according to its priority and polling period periodically. Different polling periods can be set and different polling policies can be applied according to data changeability. Polling policies can be changed in real time and flexibly based on the condition of devices. |
| US08260907B2 |
Methods, systems and computer program products for triggered data collection and correlation of status and/or state in distributed data processing systems
Methods, systems and computer program products for collecting data processing system status information monitoring network communications with the data processing system to observe transaction(s) associated with the data processing system. The transaction(s) is analyzed to determine if the transaction(s) complies with a quality standard and a trigger is generated based on the analysis of the transaction(s). System status information is collected responsive to the generation of the trigger. The collection of system status information may be provided by collecting system status information so that collection of the system status information automatically time correlates the collected system status information with the trigger. |
| US08260902B1 |
Tunneling DHCP options in authentication messages
An example network device includes network interfaces and a control unit that receives a network configuration request from a client device and sends a network configuration response to the client device. The control unit comprises a network configuration protocol module that generates an authentication request in accordance with a network authentication protocol such that the authentication request includes a request for a second set of network configuration parameters based on a request for a first set of network configuration parameters in the network configuration request, and generates the network configuration response in accordance with the network configuration protocol, wherein the network configuration response is based on an authentication response generated by a second network device in accordance with the network authentication protocol, wherein the authentication response comprises a third set of network configuration parameters based on the request for the second set of network configuration parameters. |
| US08260901B2 |
Method and apparatus for configuring information for multiple network access providers
A computer program product that provides a graphical user interface for configuring communication information for multiple network service providers on a computer system. The program product is operable to display a network communication scene that includes edit windows and selectable options for a user to view, enter, remove, and modify configuration information for at least one network service provider, and allows the user to enter information for establishing communication with the same network service provider using at least two different communication mediums, and from several different geographical locations. |
| US08260894B2 |
Method for balancing load among subsystems in communication network system of bus network structure
A method for adjusting a load among subsystems in a communication network system having a bus network structure, wherein: the communication network system includes a broker processing a message routing, a connector, and a plurality of services which is a communicable terminal node connected to the broker via the connector, and the method includes the steps of: connecting all brokers of the communication network system to each other in a full mesh topology, the broker being a module setting up a routing path or a connection with the connector, to process the message routing; maintaining a broker list recording a network address of each broker in the connector; the connector receiving a service registration message from the service, randomly selecting one broker from the broker list, and transmitting a connection request message. |
| US08260891B2 |
System and method for the provision of secure network boot services
A system and method for providing a network boot is provided in which the entire length of the communications link between the client computer and the boot server is secure. Because the communications link between the client and the boot server is secure, an identifier for that uniquely identifies the client can be passed to the boot server, and the boot server is operable to serve a boot image to the client computer on the basis of the uniquely identified client computer. |
| US08260890B1 |
Dual stack module controlling apparatus for low power consumption
A dual stack module controlling apparatus for low power consumption is disclosed. The dual stack module controlling apparatus for low power consumption includes an IP address version determining part to determine an IP address version based on current IP address assignment information transmitted thereto from an IP address control module, and an internet protocol stack controlling part to activate a TCP/UDP stack processor module, an IP stack processor module and an IP packet preprocessor module for processing data of the determined IP address version and to deactivate a TCP/UDP stack processor module, an IP stack processor module and an IP packet preprocessor module for processing data of a different IP address version from the determining IP address version. According to the dual stack module controlling apparatus for low power consumption, one of the IPv4 and IPv6 modules may be activated as necessary. |
| US08260889B2 |
Dynamic discovery of quality of service nodes
A method of using a computer network for Dynamic Discovery of Quality of Service Nodes is provided. The method comprises requesting for a level of Quality of Service (QoS) of communication for a service of an Internet Service Provider (ISP) by a Application Service Provider (ASP). The request is based on a Quality of Service by Reference (QoSbyR) information that is received by the ASP from a user. The QoSbyR information comprises a ISP location information and a level of Quality of Service information. |
| US08260886B2 |
Compiling method for command based router classifiers
A method and compiler for compiling hierarchical command based policy rules to a flat filter list structure adapted for storage in a Content Addressable Memory (CAM), wherein the policy rules are organized in a tree-structure of classifiers. First, all of the possible search paths in the tree structure are found, and then only the valid search paths according to defined criteria are added to the flat filter list. The CAM may be a Ternary Content Addressed Memory. |
| US08260884B2 |
Address allocation for secure bus subscribers
To configure a secure bus subscriber connected to a field bus in a secure control system, the secure bus subscriber being assigned a defined subscriber address, the invention provides a method having the following steps: an address allocation message is sent from a control unit connected to the field bus to the secure bus subscriber, the address allocation message comprising the defined subscriber address, the defined subscriber address is stored in a memory in the secure bus subscriber, and an acknowledgement message is sent from the secure bus subscriber to the control unit, the acknowledgement message comprising the defined subscriber address, where the address allocation message is sent on the basis of planning data for the secure bus subscriber connected to the field bus which are stored in the control unit. The invention also provides an appropriate control system. |
| US08260883B2 |
File sharing between devices
Methods and systems for transferring an object from a sending device to a recipient comprises determining at least one catching device associated with the recipient for receiving the object; receiving on the sending device a user gesture representing a flick of a displayed object; transferring the object from the sending device directly to the catching device of the recipient when the catching device is in proximity of the sending device; and when the catching device is not in proximity of the sending device, transferring the object to a server for forwarding the object to the recipient. |
| US08260878B2 |
Transfer device
The user of a mobile station which is prepared to receive information providing services from unspecified IP (Information Providers) accesses a gateway server and performs a pre-registration procedure (S71). When an IP server has information to provide to users, it constructs the information in the form of electronic mail, appends user attribute data, and sends this to the gateway server (S72). Upon receiving electronic mail with attribute data, the gateway server stores the electronic mail in a third mailbox, makes a comparison of the user attributes, and calls the mobile stations of relevant users (S73). A user who has received a call requests a download of the electronic mail from the gateway server (S74). The gateway server sends electronic mail to the mobile station which made the request (S75, S76). |
| US08260874B1 |
Request initiated collateral content offering
A system and method in accordance with the present disclosure provide collateral information to a user receiving primary information via a first user interface. The system and method receives a user request for the collateral information. A context is defined from the primary information. A user's probable collateral information needs are derived from the context. The system and method then map the needs to one or more information repositories, and query the information repositories and retrieve collateral information satisfying the needs. The collateral information is presented via at least one user interface, which may include the first user interface. The system and method provide user controls via the at least one user interface to facilitate exploration of the collateral information by the user. |
| US08260863B2 |
System and method for client-side interruption management
A method and computer program product for determining that a user of a client electronic device is in do-not-interrupt mode. A message directed to the user is routed to a client-based storage queue for subsequent delivery. |
| US08260861B1 |
System and method for an electronic mail attachment proxy
Described is a system and method for receiving an electronic mail including an attachment file and separating the attachment file from the electronic mail. The attachment is then sent to a remote source and the attachment file is replaced with a substitute file including identifying data for retrieving the attachment file from the remote source. The electronic mail with the substitute file is then forwarded to a receiver. |
| US08260853B2 |
Document distribution system and method using WebDAV protocol
A document distribution system and method using a WebDAV protocol. The system includes a WebDAV server; and a first client to transmit a document to the WebDAV server using the WebDAV protocol, wherein the first client transmits the document to a predetermined directory of the WebDAV server. Accordingly, the document is transmitted to a specific folder of a document distribution system using the WebDAV protocol, so that the document distribution system can be configured without installing an additional file transmission protocol in the server. Also, various properties of data can be designated without modifying the data when transmitting the document. |
| US08260847B2 |
System and method for scheduling an event over a network
A method for scheduling an event over a network in a calendar of an invitee includes creating a schedule request that includes at least a set of details of the event and an identifier if the event creator. The schedule request is sent to a server in communication with the network. The server has access to the calendar of the invitee and a calendar for the event creator. Upon receipt of the schedule request, an event record is created at the server that includes at least the set of details for the event and a link to the invitee's calendar. The event is also added to the calendar of the invitee. The schedule request may be created using a link associated with the event. |
| US08260845B1 |
System and method for auto-generating JavaScript proxies and meta-proxies
A method, system, Web-environment and computer program product for automatically generating proxies and meta-proxies for script code in an HTML document. The invention preferably operates with a system that allows for JavaScript to be utilized on the server-side. |
| US08260843B2 |
Apparatus and method for providing remote user interface
An apparatus and method for providing an image-based remote user interface (UI) using a web browser are provided. A server includes an user interface (UI) application which provides a dynamic image; a server communication module which, if the dynamic image is updated, transmits an image update event for the updated dynamic image; and a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) server which receives a request corresponding to the image update event and transmits the updated dynamic image in response to the received request. The method includes if an image in a remote user interface (UI) is updated, transmitting an image update event for the updated image; receiving a request corresponding to the image update event; and transmitting the updated image in response to the received request. |
| US08260840B1 |
Dynamic scaling of a cluster of computing nodes used for distributed execution of a program
Techniques are described for managing distributed execution of programs, including by dynamically scaling a cluster of multiple computing nodes used to perform ongoing distributed execution of a program, such as to increase and/or decrease the quantity of computing nodes in the cluster at various times and for various reasons. An architecture may be used that facilitates the dynamic scaling of a cluster, including by having at least some of the computing nodes act as core nodes that each participate in a distributed storage system for the distributed program execution, and having one or more other computing nodes that act as auxiliary nodes that do not participate in the distributed storage system. If computing nodes are selected to be removed from the cluster during ongoing distributed execution of a program, one or more nodes of the auxiliary computing node type may be selected for the removal. |
| US08260835B2 |
Random number generator with ring oscillation circuit
A random number generator includes a ring oscillator having an EX-OR gate and four inverters together forming a loop. This loop enters stable state for a start signal having the low level and oscillates for the start signal having the high level. When the start signal has a pulse of a width shorter than the loop's delay time, output nodes responsively, sequentially enter metastable state hovering between the high and low levels. The metastable waveform becomes smaller with time and finally disappears. As metastable state cannot be controlled in longevity, it disappears at any random number node. A counter thus outputs a signal serving as true random number data depending on the longevity of the metastable state. A random number generator miniaturized and having reduced power consumption, and of high performance can thus be implemented. |
| US08260834B2 |
Method system and device for generation of a pseudo-random data sequence
A method and a generator for generating a pseudo-random data sequence (3), including combining means for combining data belonging to a plurality of initial data sequences (9a, 9b, 9c) using a procedure for searching for at least one search pattern. |
| US08260832B2 |
Managing large collection of interlinked XML documents
An approach is provided to partition inter-linked documents into partitions of a database system. In some embodiments, a plurality of documents may be assigned to two or more partitions in the database system, thereby forming a number of inter-partition links between a first partition and a second partition. Here both the first partition and the second partition are in the two or more partitions. First documents may be assigned to the first partition while second documents are assigned to the second partition. Both the first documents and the second documents are in the plurality of documents. It is then determined whether moving one or more of the first documents in the first partition to the second partition reduces the number of inter-partition links between the first partition and the second partition. If that is the case, the one or more of the first documents are moved to the second partition. |
| US08260830B2 |
Adapting a timer bounded arbitration protocol
Example apparatus, methods, and computers prevent a split brain scenario in a pair of high availability servers by maintaining single writer access to a resource. One example method includes monitoring control of an arbitration (ARB) block by an active file system manager (FSM). An active file system portmapper (FSMPM) simultaneously requests permission from a standby FSM to restart a dead-man timer. The active FSM attempts to maintain control of the ARB block before expiration of the dead-man timer. If the active FSM is unable to maintain control of the ARB block before expiration of the dead-man timer, a hardware reset of an apparatus running the active FSM is forced. Therefore, the active FSMPM and standby FSM negotiate for additional time to maintain control of the ARB block to maintain single writer access and avoid unnecessary hardware resets. |
| US08260828B2 |
Organizing content using a dynamic profile
A portable data storage device (1) is disclosed to be used for organizing content (10, 11, 18) available to the data storage device (1). The device comprises means (12) for setting an information source (6) for a storage profile (9), a means (3) for receiving storage profile update data (7) from the information source (6), a means (4) for updating the storage profile (9) based upon the storage profile update data (7), a means (2) for organizing content (10, 11) based upon the storage profile (9) and a means (12, 13) for triggering the means (3) for receiving storage profile update data (7) from the information source (6). The device (1) is capable of organizing content in a dynamic manner based on data storage profiles that are also dynamic in nature whilst requiring minimum user intervention. |
| US08260820B2 |
Method and apparatus for searching
A method of searching data on heterogeneous databases connected over a network. Configuration data representing the configuration of each database is received. The configuration data includes mapping data associating search terms to data field names in each database. A search request specifying criteria for a search term for data is received from a client. The mapping data is processed to select a data field name in a database, the data field name corresponding to the search term specified in the search request. A search command is generated which is compatible with the database using the data field name. The search command is transmitted to a data provider system associated with the database. Search results are received from the data provider system, which results from the execution of the search command on the database. The search results are processed to generate search report data, and are transmitted to the client terminal. |
| US08260817B2 |
Semantic matching using predicate-argument structure
The invention relates to topic classification systems in which text intervals are represented as proposition trees. Free-text queries and candidate responses are transformed into proposition trees, and a particular candidate response can be matched to a free-text query by transforming the proposition trees of the free-text query into the proposition trees of the candidate responses. Because proposition trees are able to capture semantic information of text intervals, the topic classification system accounts for the relative importance of topic words, for paraphrases and re-wordings, and for omissions and additions. Redundancy of two text intervals can also be identified. |
| US08260811B2 |
Access controller that controls access to files by using access control list
Each time the file access request is received, it is discriminated whether there is an ACL which corresponds with the file system of the type following the switching in the file designated by the file access request. In cases where the judgment result is that there is no such ACL, an ACL which corresponds with the file system of the type following the switching is generated on the basis of an ACL which corresponds with the file system of the type prior to the switching which is associated with the designated file, and the ACL thus generated is used to control access in accordance with the received file access request. |
| US08260807B2 |
Identification and provision of reported aspects that are relevant with respect to achievement of target outcomes
A computationally implemented method includes, but is not limited to: identifying, in response to reception of one or more solicitations, one or more relevant reported aspects associated with one or more source users that are relevant to achieving one or more target outcomes, the identification of the one or more relevant reported aspects being based, at least in part, on relevancy of the one or more relevant reported aspects with respect to achieving the one or more target outcomes; and providing the one or more relevant reported aspects. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure. |
| US08260806B2 |
Storage, management and distribution of consumer information
Consumers may centrally store, manage and distribute information using an information account stored in a central data repository. The information account is accessible from any client device, without the need to permanently store or install proprietary software thereon. The information account comprises a plurality of consumer information elements stored in a tagged data format. A host server hosts a database management system for accessing the information account. A client-side application may manage communications with host server. Alternatively, the client device may interact with a vendor server that executes a server-side application for managing communications with the host server. In response to a request from the consumer, the host server may filter selected consumer information elements from the information account and transmit the filtered consumer information elements to the client-side or server-side application. The filtered consumer information elements may then be automatically integrated into a vendor business process on behalf of the consumer, if desired. |
| US08260805B1 |
Method and system for creation of automatic customer lists and virtual related file listings
A file management system is provided that is associated with one or more parent applications. One or more virtual file listing display parameters are selected and/or defined that determine how related files will be identified, grouped, and/or otherwise displayed, in a virtual file listing display. One or more data storage locations where the user stores existing client and/or project files are designated and then scanned. As a result of the scan, the user's clients, and/or projects, are identified and a user client list, and/or user project list, is generated. In addition, one or more related files, and/or documents, are identified, virtually grouped, and/or virtually displayed, based on the virtual file listing display parameters and then displayed via one or more virtual file listing displays associated with the file management system. |
| US08260800B2 |
System and method for image generation, delivery, and management
A system and method for digital image generation, delivery, and management is provided. The automated image generation, delivery, and management system and method serves processed images over a network. A requesting application provides a URL in addition to field values. The image delivery system retrieves and serves an image based on the requested URL. A sized image and a default image are saved in a database for rapid retrieval. If the system can generate an image sized to the request, it does so. Otherwise, the system visits the URL to obtain a snapshot of the rendered webpage. If no webpage is available with the URL as provided, the URL is truncated until a displayable webpage is rendered. |
| US08260797B2 |
Multiple form population system and method
A method for populating a form includes storing differing forms in a database, each form having at least one information location for entering an item of user information, selecting a first form to provide a first selected form, and entering an item of user information into the information location to provide an entered item of information. Storing the entered item of information in the database to provide a stored item of information, selecting a second form, determining whether the information location of the second selected form corresponds to the information location of first selected form and retrieving the stored item of information to provide a retrieved item of information in accordance with the determining are also included. The retrieved item of information is entered into the information location of the second form to provide a populated form. |
| US08260780B2 |
Protection of database operations
A system protects database operations performed on a shared resource. The system may chunk memory to form a set of memory chunks which have memory blocks, at least some of the memory blocks including database objects. The system may configure at least one binary search tree using the memory chunks as nodes and buffer a set of pointers corresponding to the memory blocks. The system may further validate the buffered pointers and dereference validated buffered pointers. |
| US08260778B2 |
Mood based music recommendation method and system
A method of recommending songs to a listener. The method obtains a set of feature values for each of a plurality of songs. Whenever a playback event is generated for a song, a first reward and a Mood State Value (“MSV”) based on a set of parameters are determined. Each feature value associated with the song is associated with the MSV and for each feature value, a second reward is calculated based on the first reward and is assigned to the feature value. A current MSV is determined and any songs having a feature value identical to a feature value associated with the current MSV are identified. For each song identified, a cumulative reward is calculated by totaling the second reward assigned to any feature values associated with the current MSV that are also associated with the song. Finally, one or more songs are recommended based on their cumulative rewards. |
| US08260775B2 |
Geotemporal search
Computer-readable media and a computing device are described for providing geotemporal search and a search interface therefor. A search interface having a location portion and a timeline portion is provided. A geographic area is selected in the location portion by adjusting the visible area of a map. A temporal window is selected in the timeline portion by adjusting sliders along a timeline to a desired start and end time. The start and end times can be in the past, present, or future. A geotemporal search is executed based on the selected geographic area and temporal window to identify search results having associated metadata indicating a relationship to the selected geographic area and temporal window. One or more search terms are optionally provided to further refine the geotemporal search. |
| US08260774B1 |
Personalization search engine
Methods and apparatus provide for a personalization search engine that receives a search query from a first user and identifies multiple portions of indexed content—where each respective portion of indexed content has metadata that matches at least one characteristic of the search query. The personalization search engine determines a relevance of each respective portion of indexed content to the first user who provided the search query. It is understood that, in various embodiments, the relevance of a portion of indexed content has to the first user who provided the search query can be based on user feedback associated with an online version of that portion of indexed content. The personalization search engine ranks the multiple portions of indexed content according to their respective relevance to the first user who provided the search query and creates a search result based on ranking the multiple portions of indexed content. |
| US08260768B2 |
Transformation of directed acyclic graph query plans to linear query plans
Methods, computer-readable storage media and computer systems are provided for transforming a directed acyclic graph (“DAG”) query plan into a linear plan. A DAG query plan may include a first operator and a second operator that are scheduled to be executed in parallel. The DAG query plan may be modified so that the first and second operators are executed in series as an upstream operator and a downstream operator. A data unit output from the upstream operator may be marked to indicate that the data unit has been processed by the upstream operator. The data unit received as input at the downstream operator may be inspected to determine whether the data unit has been marked. Once in linear form, the query plan may be optimized to conserve computing resources. |
| US08260766B2 |
Embedded communication of link information
A method of processing documents is described. The method includes the operation of receiving a document in a search engine crawler. The document includes an embedded first link tag. The first link tag includes one or more information pairs. A respective information pair includes a respective parameter and a corresponding value. The parameters in the one or more information pairs may correspond to content at one or more content locations or one or more document locations. The method also includes selecting a method of processing content associated with the first link tag in accordance with one or more of the information pairs. |
| US08260765B2 |
System and method for a tagging service
Disclosed is a service for displaying custom information. The service includes establishing a data connection to at least one data source, storing specific information via the data connection in the data source, and providing a data crawler to crawl said at least one data source using the stored information. The results are pushed from the data crawler to an end user for displaying a combination of the stored information and the at least one data source. |
| US08260763B2 |
Matching service entities with candidate resources
A method comprises using a processor to list candidate resources that may be matched with a plurality of service entities. The method also comprises eliminating at least one possible match between the candidate resources and the plurality of service entities. The method further comprises, for each of the plurality of service entities, rating the candidate resources. The method still further comprises ranking the plurality of service entities. The method still further comprises matching each of the plurality of service entities with at least one of the candidate resources. |
| US08260762B2 |
Generic data list manager
Example methods and apparatus for storing and providing application runtime data are disclosed. An example method include receiving, at a data list manager, a set of identifiers associated, respectively, with one or more persistently stored structured data records. The example method further includes storing, by the data list manager, the set of identifiers. The example method also includes receiving, at the data list manager, a request for one or more of the structured data records and retrieving, by the data list manager, the one or more requested structured data records. The example method still further includes storing, by the data list manager, the retrieved data records in correspondence with their respective identifiers and providing, by the data list manager, the retrieved data records for display to a user. |
| US08260758B2 |
Utilizing shared numeric locks
A method and system for performing at least one transaction on at least one column of a table in a database system is disclosed. The method includes determining whether a first transaction of the at least one transaction fulfills all of at least one criteria. The method further includes ensuring that the at least one column is in a shared numeric lock if the first transaction fulfills all of the at least one criteria, wherein the shared numeric lock is a lock that allows at least a second transaction fulfilling all of the at least one criteria to access the same column concurrently with the first transaction without releasing the shared numeric lock between transactions, and wherein the shared numeric lock is released only after all of the transactions fulfilling all of the criteria have completed processing. The method further includes processing the first transaction. |
| US08260755B2 |
Process-based documentation method and system
A process-based method and system for mapping and documenting a business process integrates information from a plurality of sources into a process map in such manner that only those sources needed to perform the task at hand are accessed in turn through steps in the process map. Business rules pertaining to the task at hand are built into the process steps. The method involves developing a process map, including a series of flow charts, that integrates all processes, sub processes, procedures, reference materials, and forms into a common repository. Advantageously, the method guides the user in step-by-step fashion as to how to use any attached information and tools to successfully complete the process, accessing sub levels of procedure level flow as needed, without requiring access to any other information, tools, or processes. |
| US08260754B2 |
Computer system and restoration method
A computer system and restoration method that can facilitate restoration work is suggested.A management server collects necessary information from at least a business server, a storage apparatus with a primary volume formed therein, and a storage apparatus with a secondary volume formed therein; calculates, in response to a restoration request given externally, restoration time required for execution of requested restoration processing by each of a plurality of types of predetermined restoration methods based on the information collected by an information collecting unit; decides a restoration method with the shortest restoration time to be the restoration method for the restoration processing to be executed in response to the restoration request; and notifies the business server of the decided restoration method. Then, the business server controls the storage apparatus with the primary volume formed therein and the storage apparatus with the secondary volume formed therein so that the restoration processing will be executed by the restoration method of which the business server has been notified by the management server. |
| US08260752B1 |
Systems and methods for change tracking with multiple backup jobs
A computer-implemented method for change tracking with multiple backup jobs may include identifying a plurality of overlapping backup jobs to be performed on a volume. The computer-implemented method may also include identifying snapshots taken for any of the plurality of overlapping backup jobs. The computer-implemented method may further include, for each consecutive pair of identified snapshots, identifying changes made to the volume between the consecutive pair of identified snapshots and saving a list of the changes. The computer-implemented method may additionally include supplying the list of changes for each backup job in the plurality of overlapping backup jobs that requires the list of changes. The computer-implemented method may also include determining that no remaining backup job in the plurality of overlapping jobs requires the list of changes and deleting the list of changes. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US08260748B1 |
Method and apparatus for capturing data from a backup image
Method and apparatus for capturing data from a backup image are described. In one example, the backup image is mounted on a volume in a host computer. The backup image includes files, a first portion of which include an operating system. A database in the backup image is mounted. The database stores configuration data for use by the operating system. The configuration data includes file paths referencing at least one of the files. The file paths are re-mapped based on the volume. The data is captured from the backup image using the database as mounted and the file paths as re-mapped. |
| US08260744B1 |
Method, system, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for taking and managing snapshots of a storage volume
A method, system, apparatus, and computer-readable medium are provided for taking snapshots of a storage volume. According to aspects of one method, each snapshot is represented as a unique sequence number. Every fresh write access to a volume in a new snapshot lifetime is allocated a new section in the disk, called a provision, which is labeled with the sequence number. Read-modify-write operations are performed on a sub-provision level at the granularity of a chunk. Because each provision contains chunks with valid data and chunks with invalid data, a bitmap is utilized to identify the valid and invalid chunks with each provision. Provisions corresponding to different snapshots are arranged in a linked list. Branches from the linked list can be created for storing writable snapshots. Provisions may also be deleted and rolled back by manipulating the contents of the linked lists. |
| US08260740B2 |
System to associate a demographic to a user of an electronic system
A system and a related method are provided for associating a user of an electronic system with a demographic. Input behavioral data is captured related to measured interactions with at least one input device. The input data is compared to probability distribution representations for a demographic group and for a wide population, performing the measured interaction(s). The system is configured to associate the user to a demographic group a prescribed threshold is met, based on the comparing. |
| US08260738B2 |
Forecasting by blending algorithms to optimize near term and long term predictions
Described is time-weighted blending of the results of time series algorithms in a manner that changes their relative weights based on the prediction time. The prediction values from each algorithm are mathematically blended into a forecast result corresponding to the desired time of prediction. In this manner, an ARTXP algorithm that provides accurate near term predictions is given more weight than an ARIMA for near term predictions, and less relative weight for long term predictions. An example exponential function to compute the relative weights is described; the function corresponds to a curve having a control variable for the slope and the start of the curve, and constant coefficients, with the weights based (in part) on the prediction time. A user-provided parameter may also affect the relative weights used in the blending result. |
| US08260734B2 |
Method and a system for estimating the impact area of a military load launched from an aircraft
A system and a method are for the estimation of the impact area of a smart load that can be launched from an aircraft as a function of data or signals indicative of the aircraft flight conditions upon release of the load and of predetermined impact conditions on the target. The estimation of a polygonal impact area defined by the coordinates of a central point and of a predetermined number of vertices is by corresponding neural networks. |
| US08260732B2 |
Method for identifying Hammerstein models
The computerized method for identifying Hammerstein models is a method in which the linear dynamic part is modeled by a space-state model and the static nonlinear part is modeled using a radial basis function neural network (RBFNN). Accurate identification of a Hammerstein model requires that output error between the actual and estimated systems be minimized. Thus, the problem of identification is an optimization problem. A hybrid algorithm, based on least mean square (LMS) principles and the Subspace Identification Method (SIM) is developed for the identification of the Hammerstein model. LMS is a gradient-based optimization algorithm that searches for optimal solutions in the negative direction of the gradient of a cost index. In the method, LMS is used for estimating the parameters of the RBFNN. For estimation of state-space matrices, the N4SID algorithm for subspace identification is used. |
| US08260728B1 |
System and method for influencing behavior in a distributed virtual environment
A system and method for influencing behavior in a virtual environment. A virtual environment identifies a hotspot of activity that is, or may, cause lag in the virtual environment. An influencing event is determined and is presented into the virtual environment. The influencing event is configured to influence a control entity associated with a virtual object to avoid the hotspot. |
| US08260720B1 |
Systems and methods for emergency duress security code and related instructions
A system, method, and computer-usable medium are disclosed for identifying transactions resulting from the access of a financial account while a user is under duress. A user provides a duress shared secret. Instructions associated with the duress shared secret are processed and available financial account operations, along with associated financial account information, are displayed according to the associated instructions. The cash or electronic funds proceeds of a financial transaction operation are tagged with electronic fraud identification data. Tagged funds received by a financial institution are processed to extract their associated fraud identification data, which is then used to generate fraud trail data. If the tagged funds are used to originate follow-on financial transactions, they are likewise tagged with fraud identification data, which is likewise used to generate fraud trail data. Tagged funds are recovered by processing a tagged financial transaction to extract its associated fraud identification data, which is then used to query repositories of fraud trail data. Fraud trail data that matches the query is then processed to determine receiving account information. Rescission transactions are performed to recover funds up to the amount of the tagged financial transaction from the receiving account. |
| US08260715B2 |
Software license usage amongst workgroups using software usage data
An approach is provided that receives a message from a first user. The first user's message requests a license to a licensed product that has previously been purchased by the organization. The system identifies current users in the organization that currently have licenses to the licensed product. A need score is calculated that reflects a needs analysis of the first user to the licensed product. Current user need scores are calculated and these need scores correspond to the needs of the current users pertaining to the licensed product. The first user's need score is compared to the current user product need scores and a second user is selected based on the comparison where the first user's need score is better than the second user need score. The second user's license to the licensed product is revoked and the first user is granted a license to the licensed product. |
| US08260713B2 |
Web-based system providing royalty processing and reporting services
A computer-implemented system providing Web-based royalty processing and reporting is described. In one embodiment, for example, a computer-implemented method of the present invention for automatic identification of media items subject to royalty obligations, includes steps of: receiving sales input from a user comprising media items subject to royalty obligations; parsing the sales input to extract for each media item a set of fields characterizing that media item; deriving a plurality of signatures for each media item, based on different combinations of the fields for that media item; comparing the derived signatures for each media item against a database storing signatures of known media items; based on the comparison, automatically identifying media items present in the sales input; and reporting the automatically identified media items to the user. |
| US08260711B1 |
Systems and methods for managing rights of data via dynamic taint analysis
A method for managing rights associated with data is described. A request to access encrypted data is intercepted. Credentials associated with the request are verified. The data is decrypted if the credentials are verified. The decrypted data is marked with an identifier. Predetermined operations directed to the decrypted data are monitored. |
| US08260709B2 |
Medical data encryption for communication over a vulnerable system
A method for securing patient medical information for communication over a potentially vulnerable system includes separating patient's medical file into a demographics layer and a data layer, separately encrypting the demographic layer and data layer using different encryption keys, and providing servers in a communication and processing system with a decryption key for the layer processed by such server. Medical file data may be separated into more than two layers. Users accessing the system are authenticated using standard techniques. By separately encrypting different parts of a patient medical record, processing and communication of patient medical files by intermediary servers is enabled without risking disclosure of sensitive patient information if such servers are compromised. |
| US08260708B2 |
Usage metering based upon hardware aging
Techniques are generally disclosed for using an operating entity, including a method, apparatus, and/or system to control usage of the operating entity. In various embodiments, an in-use signal generator may be configured to generate at least one in-use signal, with the at least one in-use signal having a signal duration representative of at least one usage episode of the operating entity. An aging circuit may be coupled to the in-use signal generator and configured to output at least one age-affected signal in response to the at least one in-use signal. A metering module may be coupled to the aging circuit and, in response to the at least one age-affected signal, and configured to measure a signal characteristic of the at least one age-affected signal and translate the signal characteristic into a generated quantity of accumulative usage of the aging circuit. |
| US08260705B1 |
Systems, methods and program products for deposit and withdrawal processing
A method, system and program product, the method comprising: obtaining a plurality of net credit/debit amounts during a month period; generating data for depositing/transferring funds to or withdrawing/transferring funds from at least one of one or more aggregated deposit accounts multiple times in a month period, the data generating step comprising generating data for instructions for making a withdrawal/transfer from funds held at one of the one or more depository institutions more than six (6) times during the month period, comprising presenting instructions to the respective one depository institution using one or more of the methods: in person, or by mail, or, by messenger, or by telephone and distributed by mail, or by automated teller machine, or a combination thereof for substantially all of the withdrawals/transfers except for a set of at least one but not more than six withdrawals within the month period. |
| US08260702B1 |
Credit risk framework
A credit risk framework and systems and methods for using the same. The credit risk framework provides information regarding the eligibility of loans to be sold (delivered) to a purchaser, such as in the secondary mortgage market. The credit risk framework includes determining categories of potentially eligible loans. At least one risk segment is determined and an eligibility grid associated therewith. The eligibility grid is organized using two data elements as axes and forming boxes representing ranges of the two data elements. Each box is then further associated with additional information regarding any restrictions on loans that would fall in the box. Each risk segment may have its own level of delegated authority so as to tie risk to a delegation structure. |
| US08260701B2 |
Foreign currency index
Systems and methods are provided for trading and calculating the composition of foreign currencies indexed financial instruments. The compositions of the financial instruments are determined by calculating a geometric average of the exchange rates of foreign currencies with corresponding competitive weights. The competitive weights for each of the foreign currencies reflects competition between the goods of the United States and a country corresponding to the foreign currency in the markets of third countries. |
| US08260694B1 |
System, method, and computer program for managing transaction billing across a plurality of billing sources utilizing an interface to configure advice-of-charge
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for managing transaction billing across a plurality of billing sources utilizing an interface. In use, information associated with a transaction is received. Additionally, billing of the transaction is managed utilizing an interface accessible to a plurality of billing sources. Further, a billing response is returned, based on the management of the billing of the transaction. |
| US08260689B2 |
Method and system for managing and displaying product images
A method and system displaying and managing images of consumer products. Plural consumer products are selected to display in a virtual display environment. A layout for the selected plural consumer products is determined. An image of a shelf layout on which consumer products are displayed is created. The created image allows progressive resolution on the selected plural consumer products that appear in the image. The created image is displayed via a communications network. The created image provides a virtual shopping experience is similar to a shopping experience in an actual retail store. |
| US08260687B2 |
Distributed commerce application-widget
In some example embodiments, a system and method are illustrated as including generating an item page that includes widget code and details related to an item for sale. Some example embodiments may include making the widget code available for retrieval from the item page. |
| US08260679B2 |
System and method of event triggered voice call origination
A method of selective call initiation is disclosed and includes receiving data from a computer based auction site. Further, the method includes detecting a notification event by evaluating the data with respect to notification criteria associated with a user account. Also, the method includes initiating a voice based call over a voice network to a communication device identified in connection with the user account. A system is also disclosed and includes a first processing element that is coupled to a network interface to receive data from a computer based auction site. Also, the system includes a second processing element to detect a notification event by evaluating the data with respect to notification criteria associated with a user account. Moreover, the system includes a third processing element to initiate an outgoing voice based call over a voice network to a communication device identified in connection with the user account. |
| US08260675B1 |
Method and system for facilitating the transfer of intellectual property
A method and system for facilitating the transfer of intellectual property are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method of facilitating the transfer of intellectual property includes obtaining at a computer system of a first entity information concerning intellectual property in which an interest is available for transfer (the “available intellectual property”) from a second entity. The method further includes transferring the interest in the available intellectual property by concluding an agreement between the first and second entities. The agreement is representative of an acceptance of an offer concerning the transferring of the interest in the available intellectual property and consideration for the transferring of the interest. At least a portion of the interest in the available intellectual property that is transferred to the first entity is intended to be transferred from the first entity to a third entity. |
| US08260670B2 |
Multi-tier pricing of individual products based on volume discounts
A point of sale system or other computer system stores a product pricing database in which a full price and discount prices corresponding to one or more discount pricing tiers are stored for each product available for sale. Each of the discount prices for a given product has an associated historical transaction amount associated therewith, such that in order to qualify for a given pricing tier and thus a given price for a product, a customer must be associated with the appropriate historical transaction amount corresponding to the pricing tier. |
| US08260669B1 |
System and method of transferring transaction information upon occurrence of a triggering event
A method of transmitting and posting transaction information from a client to a financial institution is presented. In some arrangements, transaction information may be stored at a cash handling device or a bank application. Upon occurrence of a triggering event, the transaction information may be automatically transmitted for posting purposes from the client to the financial institution. In some arrangements, transactions may be bundled together and transmitted upon occurrence of the triggering event. In other arrangements, individual transactions may be transmitted upon occurrence of the triggering event. |
| US08260667B2 |
Wireless device, program products and methods of using a wireless device to deliver services
In at least one embodiment, a data processing system receives from a user device a query regarding a dining decision, where the query includes a location. At least one menu item at a restaurant proximate to the location is determined based upon at least one user-specific criterion, and the at least one menu item is transmitted to the user device. |
| US08260666B2 |
Dynamic demand calculation using captured data of real life objects
Methods and system for managing demand for an object includes capturing information about the object through a mobile device associated with a user. The mobile device is configured to capture information about the object that include one or more of a spatial, temporal, topical and social attributes of the object. The identity of the object is verified and validated using this metadata captured by the user through the device from the real world object or its proxy. Upon successful verification and validation, the object and its metadata are automatically added to a wish list of the user. An aggregate list is generated using the attributes and metadata of the object from a plurality of users. The aggregate list defines a source of demand for the object. The object is tracked as it progresses through various phases of ownership cycle using dynamic demand calculations based on the information associated with the objects, the users and the aggregate lists. |
| US08260661B2 |
System and apparatus for linking multiple rewards programs to promote the purchase of specific product mixes
A method and system for linking multiple pre-existing reward programs is disclosed. The method includes receiving information about a first pre-existing reward program for a first product, where the first reward program provides for a first reward, and receiving information about a second pre-existing reward program for a second product, wherein the second reward program provides a second reward. A combination reward program is provided, and the combination reward program provides a combination reward that is greater than each of the first reward and the second reward. |
| US08260651B2 |
Method and system for estimating resource factors for executing a project
The present invention provides a method, system and computer program product for estimating resource factors for a steady state execution of a project. The resource factors are associated with a second set of resources. A required effort associated with a first set of resources executing the project is received. Thereafter, a primary effort estimate is calculated. Subsequently, first pre-defined parameters and second pre-defined parameters are assigned corresponding weights. A value corresponding to each of the resource factors is then generated on the basis of the primary effort estimate, weighted first pre-defined parameters and weighted second pre-defined parameters and available time associated with the second set of resources. |
| US08260646B2 |
Method and apparatus for customer segmentation using adaptive spectral clustering
A method and system for customer segmentation using adaptive spectral clustering may include determining initial segmentation labels, determining new customer behavior data, formulating a single objective minimization function that integrates the initial segmentation labels with the new customer behavior data, and determining best fit to both the initial segmentation labels and the new customer behavior data simultaneously by minimizing the single objective minimization function. |
| US08260639B1 |
Systems and methods for automobile accident claims initiation
Automobile accident claims initiation systems and methods are described. An insured driver may initiate a claim by operating a mobile device. The system provides automated inquiries to the driver through the mobile device. The driver provides responses to the inquiries using the mobile device. The driver may provide images and audio data, as well as personal information and information on the parties and vehicles involved in the accident. The system may automatically arrange for services such as a rental car or a tow truck. The system may provide claim information, such as a claim number to the driver by transmitting information to the mobile device. |
| US08260638B2 |
Method and system of insuring risk
A method for underwriting an insurance product includes identifying a plurality of event categories of operational risk loss and drafting information requests for operational risk management components thereof. A database of the insurance company for stores and analyzes information provided by the client to yield an operational risk exposure assessment of the client. |
| US08260637B2 |
System and method for linking a web-based resource with an electronic medical record
A data processing system and method that, in some cases, include an EMR system and a web server. In some cases, the EMR system includes a plurality of electronic medical records for a plurality of patients. One or more of the electronic medical records may include a URL or HTTP Post message that defines a path to a web-based resource, such as a treatment algorithm or medical calculator. In some embodiments, the URL and/or HTTP Post message is constructed based on information in a patient's medical record. |
| US08260635B2 |
System for communication of health care data
An apparatus for communicating health care data from a sender to a receiver is provided. The apparatus has a first computer system, a second computer system, and a rules engine. The first computer system has health care data stored therein. The second computer system is in operable communication with, and is configured to extract the health care data from, the first computer system. The rules engine normalizes the extracted health care data to a predefined format. |
| US08260634B1 |
Automated insurance claim primacy resolution and claim resolution
Comprehensive claim primacy among all insurers serving a given population is determined quickly and efficiently while not requiring all 4,500 or so insurers (in the U.S.) to unanimously adopt a new system of claim processing cooperation. The claim primacy determination is made by a centralized server with access to health plan enrollment and benefit data from substantially all insurers. The determination can therefore be comprehensive. Efficiency is achieved by caching enrollment and benefit data by the server, requiring periodic updates of the cached data by health plans. Unanimous lock-step adoption by the insurers is avoided by combining a standardized electronic messaging system to query data not cached in the server. |
| US08260630B2 |
Modular microprocessor-based appliance system
A system and method is described that enables a health care provider to monitor and manage a health condition of a patient. The system includes a health care provider apparatus operated by a health care provider and a remotely programmable patient apparatus that is operated by a patient. The health care provider develops a script program using the health care provider apparatus and then sends the script program to a remotely programmable patient apparatus through a communication network such as the World Wide Web. The script program is a computer-executable patient protocol that provides information to the patient about the patient's health condition and that interactively monitors the patient health condition by asking the patient questions and by receiving answers to those questions. The answers to these health related questions are then forwarded as patient data from the remotely programmable patient apparatus to the health care provider apparatus through the communication network. The patient data may also include information supplied by a physiological monitoring device such as a blood glucose monitor that is connected to the remotely programmable patient apparatus. When the patient data arrives at the health care provider apparatus, the patient data is processed for further management of the patient's health condition by the health care provider, such as forwarding another script program to the remotely programmable patient apparatus. |
| US08260622B2 |
Compliant-based service level objectives
The embodiments of the invention provide methods, computer program products, etc. for complaint-based service level objectives. More specifically, a method of deducing undefined service level objectives receives complaints regarding behavior of a system. The complaints could include a severity parameter, an entity parameter, a nature-of-complaint parameter, a timestamp parameter, and/or an identification parameter. Next, system details representing a current state of the system are recorded for each of the complaints. The method then automatically analyzes a history of the system details and the complaints to produce a historical compilation of the system details. The analyzing can include weighing each of the system details by a severity parameter value. |
| US08260621B2 |
Speech coding method and apparatus for coding an input speech signal based on whether the input speech signal is wideband or narrowband
A wideband speech coding apparatus comprises a wideband speech coding unit configured to code an input speech signal at a bit rate which is set in advance in accordance with a wideband speech signal. The apparatus further comprises an identification unit configured to identify whether the input speech signal is a wideband speech signal or a narrowband speech signal. The apparatus further comprises a control unit configured to cause the wideband speech coding unit to code the input speech signal, when the identification unit identifies that the input speech signal is the wideband speech signal, and to cause the wideband speech coding unit to raise the bit rate to code the input speech signal, when the identification unit identifies that the input speech signal is the narrowband speech signal. The apparatus further comprises an output unit to output the input speech signal coded by the wideband speech coding unit. |
| US08260620B2 |
Device for perceptual weighting in audio encoding/decoding
A hierarchical audio coder for use in a frequency band divided into adjacent first and second sub-bands, the coder including: a core coder (305) for coding an original signal in the first sub-band of the frequency band; a stage (306) for calculating a residual signal (e) from the original signal and the signal from the core coder; a device (307) for perceptually weighting the residual signal (e). The perceptual weighting device includes a perceptually weighted filter (307) with gain compensation adapted to realize spectral continuity between the output signal of the perceptually weighted filter with gain compensation and the signal in the second sub-band. Application to transmitting and storing digital signals, such as audio-frequency speech, music, etc. signals. |
| US08260619B1 |
Method and system for creating natural language understanding grammars
Grammars for interactive voice response systems using natural language understanding can be created using information which is available on websites. These grammars can be created in automated manners and can have various tuning measures applied to obtain optimal results when deployed in a customer contact environment. These grammars can allow a variety of statements to be appropriately handled by the system. |
| US08260616B2 |
System and method for audio content generation
A system and method for generating audio content. Content is automatically retrieved from an original website according to a predetermined schedule to generate retrieved content. The retrieved content is converted to one or more audio file. A hierarchy is assigned to the one or more audio files to provide an audible website that mimics a hierarch of the retrieved content as represented at the original website. The audible website is stored in a database for retrieval by one or more users. A first user input is received indicating an attempt to access the original website. The audible website is indicated as being associated with the original website in response to the user selection. Portion of the audible website are played in response to a second user input. |
| US08260614B1 |
Method and system for expanding a word graph to a phone graph based on a cross-word acoustical model to improve continuous speech recognition
A method and system that expands a word graph to a phone graph. An unknown speech signal is received. A word graph is generated based on an application task or based on information extracted from the unknown speech signal. The word graph is expanded into a phone graph. The unknown speech signal is recognized using the phone graph. The phone graph can be based on a cross-word acoustical model to improve continuous speech recognition. By expanding a word graph into a phone graph, the phone graph can consume less memory than a word graph and can reduce greatly the computation cost in the decoding process than that of the word graph thus improving system performance. Furthermore, continuous speech recognition error rate can be reduced by using the phone graph, which provides a more accurate graph for continuous speech recognition. |
| US08260610B2 |
VAMOS—DARP receiver switching for mobile receivers
Embodiments of the invention include apparatuses, systems, computer readable media, and methods for processing speech signals in a manner that enhances capacity, efficiency and hardware utilization of a communications network. A method, according to one embodiment, includes receiving speech signals, determining a subchannel power imbalance ratio of at least two subchannels, and selecting a receiver architecture for processing the speech signals in accordance with the determined subchannel power imbalance ratio. |
| US08260609B2 |
Systems, methods, and apparatus for wideband encoding and decoding of inactive frames
Speech encoders and methods of speech encoding are disclosed that encode inactive frames at different rates. Apparatus and methods for processing an encoded speech signal are disclosed that calculate a decoded frame based on a description of a spectral envelope over a first frequency band and the description of a spectral envelope over a second frequency band, in which the description for the first frequency band is based on information from a corresponding encoded frame and the description for the second frequency band is based on information from at least one preceding encoded frame. Calculation of the decoded frame may also be based on a description of temporal information for the second frequency band that is based on information from at least one preceding encoded frame. |
| US08260606B2 |
Method and means for decoding background noise information
A basic idea of the invention is to ascertain information on the course of the bit rate switching during an active speech phase. According to the invention, during the speech phase, information on the percentage proportion of broadband active speech frames in comparison to narrowband active speech frames is compiled on the part of the decoder. A high percentage proportion of broadband active speech frames indicates that a broadband use is preferred on the part of the codec and therefore a need exists for synthesizing noise information in broadband form during a DTX phase. |
| US08260602B1 |
Timer analysis and identification
In an embodiment, a technique for identifying a timer in a graphical block diagram environment. According to the technique, one or more variables associated with an executable model in a graphical diagram environment are identified. One or more characteristics associated with the identified one or more variables are identified and the timer is identified based on the one or more characteristics. |
| US08260593B2 |
System and method for simulating human movement
According to one embodiment of the invention, a computerized method for simulating human movement includes storing a plurality of sets of data, in which each set of data is indicative of a measured movement of a first human, receiving a start point and an end point for a desired movement of a second human, and comparing the desired movement to the stored sets of data. The method further includes selecting, based on the comparison, a stored set of data that is representative of the desired movement and simulating the desired movement based on the start point, the end point, and the relative change in position of a first joint associated with the selected set of data from an empirical start point to an empirical end point. |
| US08260592B2 |
Method to provide a prognosis of the surface topography of tissue paper
A method of surface topography prognosis for a tissue paper which is to be produced in a manufacturing process by utilizing a structured fabric and into which a structure is embossed by way of the fabric, the surface topography of at least one structured fabric which is already used in the production process is plotted by way of a sensor. Originating from the surface topography of the already utilized structured fabric, the surface topography of the tissue paper is simulated through data processing, through a simulation of the paper production process. The algorithm used for the simulation is calibrated with the aid of a comparison of the simulated surface topography of the tissue paper with the surface topography of the actual tissue paper produced with the structured fabric, which is already being utilized in the production process. Originating from the surface topography of a respective additional structured fabric the simulation of the surface topography of the tissue paper is subsequently conducted by utilizing the calibrated algorithm in order to provide a prognosis of the tissue paper's surface topography that can be expected. |
| US08260588B2 |
Virtualizing complex network topologies
In general, the invention relates to a creating a network model on a host. The invention includes: gathering first component properties associated with a first physical network device on a target network; creating a first container using first component properties; determining that a second physical network device is operatively connected to the first physical network device via a physical network link; gathering second component properties associated with the physical network link; creating a first VNIC associated with the first container; determining that at least one virtual network device is executing on the second physical network device; gathering third component properties associated with the at least one virtual network device; creating a second container, wherein the second container is configured using the third component properties; and creating a second VNIC associated with the second container. |
| US08260583B2 |
System and method for identifying wall faces in an object model
A method, system, and computer readable medium for identifying wall features in an object model represented in a CAD system. A method includes loading an object model in a CAD system and receiving a selection of a first face of the object model by the CAD system. The method includes finding candidate wall faces by the CAD system and storing the candidate wall faces in a candidate list, and designating at least one candidate wall face in the candidate list as a counterpart face to the first face. The method includes storing the first face and the counterpart faces as a wall of the object model. Some methods include removing at least one second face from the candidate list based on an exclusion rule. |
| US08260582B2 |
Method for characterizing lenses
Methods are disclosed for characterizing an entire lens surface including anterior and posterior ‘hemispheres’ as well as the equatorial region as a single continuous mathematical representation by employing a summed serial function constituting incrementally higher orders of a base function and by utilizing a sufficiently high order of base function in the summation series to obtain the desired degree of accuracy of the representation. |
| US08260581B2 |
Joining and disjoining individual rooms in a floor plan
This patent application relates generally to systems, methods, and computer program products for home and/or landscape design. In some aspects, this application relates to a system and method for separating a floor plan in a database into separate rooms. In some additional aspects, this application relates to joining adjacent walls of two distinct rooms. |
| US08260577B2 |
Variable indication estimator
A variable indication estimator which determines an output value representative of a set of input data. For example, the estimator can reduce input data to estimates of a desired signal, select a time, and determine an output value from the estimates and the time. In one embodiment, the time is selected using one or more adjustable signal confidence parameters determine where along the estimates the output value will be computed. By varying the parameters, the characteristics of the output value are variable. For example, when input signal confidence is low, the parameters are adjusted so that the output value is a smoothed representation of the input signal. When input signal confidence is high, the parameters are adjusted so that the output value has a faster and more accurate response to the input signal. |
| US08260576B2 |
Exhaust gas sensor abnormality diagnostic device
An exhaust gas sensor abnormality diagnostic device includes an exhaust gas sensor, and a judgment means that judges whether execution conditions are established for making an abnormality diagnosis of element breakage in the exhaust gas sensor. The device also includes an abnormality diagnosis means that makes the abnormality diagnosis in accordance with an output signal generated by the exhaust gas sensor. Further, when the integrated value of intake air amounts of an internal combustion engine is not smaller than a predetermined value, the judgment means judges that the execution conditions are established. The abnormality diagnosis means cancels the establishment of the execution conditions when an intake air amount of the internal combustion engine remains less than a predetermined value for a predetermined period of time. |
| US08260575B2 |
Light management system having networked intelligent luminaire managers
A network operation center for a light management system having networked intelligent luminaire managers. A plurality of networked luminaire managers, each collocated with a respective luminaire, monitor the status of their respective luminaires. The luminaire managers include transmitters for transmitting status information about their respective luminaires and third-party devices to a network server. The luminaire managers communicate with each other, whereby they form a network. |
| US08260571B2 |
Analysis apparatus
An analysis apparatus includes an assignor assigning a physical property value corresponding to the kind of a material to each of regions formed by dividing a structural data representing a structure of a multilayer substrate, a determiner determining whether or not the each of the region belongs to a predetermined region in a layer of a predetermined kind, and a physical property value changer changing the physical property value of the region belonging to a predetermined region in a layer of a predetermined kind. |
| US08260570B2 |
Method and system for fall-onset detection
A method and system for fall-onset detection is provided. The method includes the steps of monitoring acceleration at the thigh of a person; monitoring acceleration at the waist of the person; monitoring orientation of the thigh of the person; and detecting the fall-onset if the orientation of the thigh exceeds a first threshold value and a correlation between variation in acceleration of the thigh and variation in acceleration of the waist exceeds a second threshold value and a correlation between variation in the orientation of the thigh and a fall-template variation exceeds a third threshold value. |
| US08260567B1 |
System and method for angles-only position and velocity determination using closed-form triangulation
Methods and systems are presented for determining position and velocity information using angles-only measurements for a moving observer in a three-dimensional space, in which three or more observations are obtained by the observer of objects with known positions, line of position vectors are generated which correspond to the individual observations, and position and velocity vectors for a chosen time are determined using a closed-form least-squares minimization over the Euclidian distances between each line of position vector and the observer's estimated position at the time of the observation. |
| US08260565B2 |
High dynamic range charge measurements
A charge amplifier for use in radiation sensing includes an amplifier, at least one switch, and at least one capacitor. The switch selectively couples the input of the switch to one of at least two voltages. The capacitor is electrically coupled in series between the input of the amplifier and the input of the switch. The capacitor is electrically coupled to the input of the amplifier without a switch coupled therebetween. A method of measuring charge in radiation sensing includes selectively diverting charge from an input of an amplifier to an input of at least one capacitor by selectively coupling an output of the at least one capacitor to one of at least two voltages. The input of the at least one capacitor is operatively coupled to the input of the amplifier without a switch coupled therebetween. The method also includes calculating a total charge based on a sum of the amplified charge and the diverted charge. |
| US08260563B2 |
Common-mode noise reduction circuit
A system operating in a process control environment includes a field device to perform a process control function in the process control environment, a remote device disposed away from the field device to perform an auxiliary function associated with the process control function of the field device, a first wired communication link communicatively coupled to the field device and to the remote device to support data communication between the field device and the remote device, and a common-mode noise reduction circuit coupled to the field device and to the wired communication link to reduce common-mode noise generated in the first wired communication link. |
| US08260562B2 |
Meter electronics and methods for generating a drive signal for a vibratory flowmeter
A meter electronics (20) for generating a drive signal for a vibratory flowmeter (5) is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The meter electronics includes an interface (201) and a processing system (203). The processing system is configured to receive the sensor signal (201) through the interface, phase-shift the sensor signal (210) substantially 90 degrees to create a phase-shifted sensor signal, determine a phase shift value from a frequency response of the vibratory flowmeter, and combine the phase shift value with the sensor signal (201) and the phase-shifted sensor signal in order to generate a drive signal phase (213). The processing system is further configured to determine a sensor signal amplitude (214) from the sensor signal (210) and the phase-shifted sensor signal, and generate a drive signal amplitude (215) based on the sensor signal amplitude (214), wherein the drive signal phase (213) is substantially identical to a sensor signal phase (212). |
| US08260561B2 |
Software for the display of chromatographic separation data
Techniques and systems for displaying chromatographic data using a graphical user interface are provided. Chromatographic separation data that represent a series of measurements for multiple samples detected at a single point along the length of a channel as they move through the channel past that point can be displayed on a display device of a computer system as a series of bands, the bands being arranged to resemble output from an electrophoresis gel. The bands may be aligned using a marker included in each sample. |
| US08260560B2 |
Fuel property determining apparatus
A fuel property determining apparatus may comprise a first sensor and second sensor. The first sensor may detect a concentration of an alcohol contained in fuel. The second sensor may detect a vapor pressure of the target fuel. The fuel property determining apparatus may further comprise a memory and a processor. The memory may store first data for determining a “heavy/light gravity—vapor pressure” relationship based on the concentration of the alcohol. The processor may determine the fuel property of the target fuel based on the first data stored in the memory, the alcohol concentration detected by the first sensor, and the vapor pressure detected by the second sensor. |
| US08260559B2 |
System and method for measurement of radioactivity concentration of a radiopharmaceutical
A system and method for measurement of radioactivity concentration of a radiopharmaceutical are disclosed. The radiopharmaceutical may be a radioactive tracer solution including a tracer solution and a buffer solution. The system may include a vial that receives the tracer solution and the buffer solution; a scale; a radioactivity measuring device; and a controller that determines the radioactive concentration based on a measured radioactivity of the tracer solution and the buffer solution in the vial, and a weight of the tracer solution and the buffer solution in the vial. The method may include the steps of (1) transferring the tracer solution into a vial; (2) measuring a radioactivity of the tracer solution in the vial; (3) determining a weight necessary to achieve a desired radioactivity concentration; and (4) diluting the tracer solution in the vial to the determined weight with a buffer solution. |
| US08260557B2 |
System and method for detecting particle generation source, and storage medium therefor
A system for determining occurrence factors of particles includes a user interface device, and an apparatus for detecting the occurrence factors of particles. The apparatus for detecting the occurrence factors of particles includes a storage unit that stores a program for executing a calculation method for calculating a likelihood of each of the occurrence factors of particles in the form of a score; and a calculation unit for calculating the score for each of the occurrence factors of particles based on particle distributions at least on a surface of a substrate using the stored program. The user interface device displays the calculated score for each of the occurrence factors of particles. |
| US08260554B2 |
Apparatus and method for motion correction to sensor measurements
A method for correcting a motion related distortion in a sensor measurement comprises establishing a reference position in a borehole. A parameter of interest is measured at a plurality of toolface angles as the tool makes a revolution in the borehole. A distance to a wall of the borehole is measured associated with each parameter of interest measurement. A lateral motion of the tool is measured between each parameter of interest measurement, and a toolface angle of the tool is measured at each parameter of interest measurement. A controller comprising a processor acts according to programmed instructions to calculate a correction to the parameter of interest measurement referenced to the reference position based at least partly on the measured tool motion. |
| US08260553B2 |
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for providing user location information
A method, apparatus, and computer program product are provided, which may provide activity user location information. An apparatus may include a processor configured to maintain data describing a first user's location timeline. The processor may be further configured to receive a request for the first user's current location. The first user's current location may define the first user's location at a current time. The processor may also be configured to estimate the first user's current location based at least in part upon the maintained data. The processor may additionally be configured to provide the first user's current location to a second user. Corresponding methods and computer program products are also provided. |
| US08260550B2 |
Presentation of navigation instructions using variable levels of detail
A navigation system is provided for instructing an operator of a vehicle. The navigation system includes a navigation processor configured to obtain a destination location, and to generate a proposed route to the destination location. The navigation system also includes a presentation element coupled to the navigation processor, the presentation element configured to provide navigation instructions to the operator. A selection module is coupled to or incorporated into the navigation processor, and the selection module is configured to select a cartographic resolution from a plurality of different cartographic resolutions, resulting in a selected cartographic resolution. The presentation element provides navigation instructions for at least a portion of the proposed route, using the selected cartographic resolution. |
| US08260549B2 |
Transmission of routes between client and server using route IDs
Dehydration of routes enables transmitting a description of a route requiring much less space than full specification of the route. A series of “breadcrumbs” and hints are used for dehydration. A breadcrumb includes coordinates of a point, a heading at which the route enters the breadcrumb, and a heading at which the route leaves the breadcrumb. A dehydration module places a breadcrumb at the location marking the beginning of the route, and having a leaving heading identifying the link in the original route. The node at the end of each link in the original route is examined. If the link leaving the node is the most parallel link to the link entering the node, nothing is added to the dehydrated route. If not, a breadcrumb is added to the dehydrated route, specifying the coordinates of the point, the entering heading of the breadcrumb and the leaving heading of the breadcrumb. |
| US08260548B2 |
Satellite based positioning method and system for coarse location positioning
A satellite based positioning method and system including storing satellite sub-almanac data on a mobile station. Embodiments include using the sub-almanac data to take measurements and calculate a coarse position of the mobile station. Embodiments further include a location server calculating a correction to the coarse position, and the location server determining whether any sub-almanacs used to calculate the coarse position require replacement. |
| US08260543B2 |
Hidden point detection and warning method and apparatus for navigation system
A method and apparatus for a navigation system detects a hidden point on a route on a monitor screen showing a three-dimensional map when visibility of the route begins to be lost, and provides a warning message including relevant information that is helpful to navigate the hidden point. The method includes steps of displaying a three-dimensional map image which includes an image of a route on which a user or user's vehicle is travelling, detecting a hidden point of the route on the three-dimensional map image at which the route becomes invisible by an obstruction object when viewed from a current position of the user, and notifying the user about the hidden point on the route thereby enabling the user to know the hidden point on the route in advance. |
| US08260542B2 |
Navigation apparatus, operation control method, and mobile terminal apparatus
A navigation apparatus including a geomagnetic sensor that detects a geomagnetic field of the navigation apparatus, an orientation calculation unit that calculates an orientation of the navigation apparatus based on the detected geomagnetic field, a cradle detection unit that detects that the navigation apparatus is connected to a cradle, and outputs a signal indicating that the navigation apparatus is connected to the cradle, and an operation control unit that receives the signal output from the cradle detection unit, and controls the orientation calculation unit to not detect the orientation of the navigation apparatus based on the detected geomagnetic field. |
| US08260536B2 |
Road vehicle motoring aid method and system
An embodiment of a motoring aid method and system for a road vehicle, whereby a motoring aid information item is generated as the road vehicle travels along a road having a road surface; the information is converted into a graphic display image; and the image is projected onto a portion of the road surface ahead of the road vehicle, to allow the driver of the road vehicle to view the image without distracting the driver's attention from the road. |
| US08260535B2 |
Load sensor for a vehicle electronic stability system
A vehicle comprising a seat defining a driver seat portion and a passenger seat portion, an electronic stability system, adapted to receive inputs from a load sensor, a wheel rotation sensor and a lateral acceleration sensor, the electronic stability system adapted to provide outputs to at least one of the brake system for braking the vehicle, and the engine control unit to change the power output transmitted to the wheels by the engine, the electronic stability system using a first calibration to determine the outputs when the load sensor is in a non-loaded state and a second calibration to determine the outputs when the load sensor is in a loaded state. |
| US08260529B2 |
Internal combustion engine ignition controlling apparatus having ignition diagnosing function
An ignition controlling apparatus that can diagnose a state of spark discharge in an internal combustion engine, and perform appropriate actions based on the diagnostic results. In the internal combustion engine ignition controlling apparatus, a signal extracting device extracts an ion current that is generated together with combustion of a gas mixture inside a combustion chamber by spark discharge of an ignition apparatus based on an ignition signal of an ignition coil, includes a signal diagnosing device that sets a predetermined detection zone from a period in a single stroke of an internal combustion engine from a first spark discharge commencement until after a last spark discharge completion, and that determines an ignition state based on parameters included in the signal extracted in this detection zone, and controls the internal combustion engine in response to this ignition state. |
| US08260526B2 |
Method and control device for calibrating a fuel injector of an internal combustion engine; computer program and computer program product
A method and a device, a computer program and a computer program product for implementing a method for calibrating a fuel injector of an internal combustion engine, including the following: a) Specifying a first relationship between an injection quantity and an actuating variable of the fuel injector for implementing the injection quantity, b) Specifying a setpoint injection quantity, c) Specifying at least one setpoint value for the actuating variable of the fuel injector according to the first relationship, or implementing the setpoint injection quantity, d) Determining an indicated work resulting from the implementation of the at least one setpoint value for the actuating variable, e) Comparing a variable as a function of the determined resulting indicated work to an expected value, f) Correcting the at least one setpoint value for the actuating variable of the fuel injector as a function of the comparison result. |
| US08260517B2 |
Patient support apparatus with drive wheel speed control
A control system for a self-propelled patient-support apparatus includes a controller that utilizes a power drive speed control algorithm to control the power output to a motor of a drive mechanism for driving the patient-support apparatus across a floor. The control algorithm normalizes a force input by a user on a user input device, the force indicative of a desired drive speed. The algorithm varies the responsiveness of the output to the drive mechanism based on the current operating conditions of the drive mechanism. |
| US08260513B2 |
Producing vehicle creep through a transmission without a torque converter
A method for controlling creep in a vehicle having no transmission torque converter, includes operating an input clutch of the transmission at a desired clutch torque capacity, using a feed-forward engine torque to minimize the impact on the engine speed when additional load on the engine occurs from increasing the clutch torque capacity, producing a desired clutch slip by controlling engine idle speed, and achieving a desired vehicle speed by controlling the input clutch torque capacity. |
| US08260512B2 |
System and method for controlling lockup clutch engagement in a torque converter
A torque converter has a pump that is rotatably driven by an internal combustion engine and that is fluidly coupled to a turbine, and a lockup clutch connected between pump and the turbine. Controlling engagement of the lockup clutch may include controlling the lockup clutch to an initial lockup clutch activation value, determining rotational speed of the pump, determining rotational speed of the turbine, and if the rotational speed of the turbine is greater than the rotational speed of the pump, increasing rotational speed of the engine until the rotational speed of the pump is within a threshold value of the rotational speed of the turbine followed by controlling the lockup clutch to full engagement. |
| US08260509B2 |
Vehicle speed limiting via engine control commands issued by electronic transmission controller
A machine includes a drive train with an electronically controlled transmission in communication with an electronic engine controller. The machine ground speed is limited by executing a vehicle speed limit algorithm in the electronic transmission controller. This algorithm generates an engine control message that is communicated to the electronic engine controller. The power output of the engine is reduced responsive to the engine control message. The machine responds by not exceeding a prescribed speed limit programmed into the electronic transmission controller. This vehicle speed limiting strategy is particularly applicable to machines without a vehicle speed limiting algorithm resident in the electronic engine controller. |
| US08260500B2 |
Electric power steering apparatus, control method thereof and computer readable medium
The electric power steering apparatus is provided with: a steering torque detector that detects steering torque of a steering wheel; an electric motor that applies steering assist force to the steering wheel; a current detector that detects an actual current actually supplied to the electric motor; a target current setting unit that sets a target current to be supplied to the electric motor, on the basis of the steering torque detected by the steering torque detector; a feedback controller that performs feedback control so that the target current and the actual current coincide with each other; and a feedforward controller that performs feedforward control for increasing the actual current detected by the current detector if the target current increases, the feedforward controller including a frequency compensator that provides a smaller amount of increase in the actual current as a frequency of a variation in the target current is lower. |
| US08260499B2 |
Automatic steering system and method for a work vehicle with feedback gain dependent on a sensed payload
An automatic steering system for a work vehicle comprises a position sensor for detecting a position of the vehicle, a memory for storing information about a nominal path of the vehicle and a control unit coupled to the position sensor, to the memory and to a steering actuator for steering the vehicle. The control submits control signals to the steering actuator that depend upon a feedback gain and a lateral offset between the actual position and the nominal path. The feedback gain depends upon a sensed payload of the vehicle. |
| US08260497B2 |
Vehicle control device
In the conventional vehicle control device, since a detection timing of turn is late, at the time of making the change of gear ratio based the detection timing, a sense of discomfort is brought to a driver. Moreover, steering wheel angle sensor, yaw rate sensor or lateral acceleration sensor is very expensive, resulting in the cost increase of the vehicle control devices. From information regarding a steering force that can be obtained from an electric power steering device, a turn intention of a driver is detected, and based the turning intention, the change of gear ratio is conducted. |
| US08260495B2 |
Method for reducing audible noise in a vehicle
A method for reducing noise in a vehicle by adjusting the rotational speed of various rotational components. |
| US08260492B2 |
Method and system for redundancy management of distributed and recoverable digital control system
A method and system for redundancy management is provided for a distributed and recoverable digital control system. The method uses unique redundancy management techniques to achieve recovery and restoration of redundant elements to full operation in an asynchronous environment. The system includes a first computing unit comprising a pair of redundant computational lanes for generating redundant control commands. One or more internal monitors detect data errors in the control commands, and provide a recovery trigger to the first computing unit. A second redundant computing unit provides the same features as the first computing unit. A first actuator control unit is configured to provide blending and monitoring of the control commands from the first and second computing units, and to provide a recovery trigger to each of the first and second computing units. A second actuator control unit provides the same features as the first actuator control unit. |
| US08260482B1 |
User interface for displaying internal state of autonomous driving system
A passenger in an automated vehicle may relinquish control of the vehicle to a control computer when the control computer has determined that it may maneuver the vehicle safely to a destination. The passenger may relinquish or regain control of the vehicle by applying different degrees of pressure, for example, on a steering wheel of the vehicle. The control computer may convey status information to a passenger in a variety of ways including by illuminating elements of the vehicle. The color and location of the illumination may indicate the status of the control computer, for example, whether the control computer has been armed, is ready to take control of the vehicle, or is currently controlling the vehicle. |
| US08260480B2 |
Automatic creation, maintenance and monitoring of a guideway database
A method and system for creating, maintain, and monitoring a guideway database is disclosed. |
| US08260474B2 |
Sensor-based thermal specification enabling a real-time metric for compliance
An apparatus may include an integrated circuit die having a plurality of temperature sensors and a control unit integrated thereon. The control unit can calculate an average die temperature based on readings from the plurality of temperature sensors, compare the average die temperature to a specification temperature and control an off-die cooling system based on the comparison. |
| US08260471B2 |
Energy distribution management system
An energy management system (400) includes a series of smart devices (404) connected through a network system communications bus (402). The smart devices (404) are connected to loads (408) and include energy monitor boards (448) and a core board (450) for monitoring energy consumption of the loads (408) and transmitting the energy consumption data to a gateway (410). |
| US08260469B2 |
Distributed hybrid renewable energy power plant and methods, systems, and comptuer readable media for controlling a distributed hybrid renewable energy power plant
The subject matter described herein includes a distributed hybrid renewable energy power plant. One exemplary hybrid renewable energy power plant includes a plurality of renewable energy power generation sources that are distributed over a geographic area. A plurality of grid interface boxes connect each of the renewable energy power generation sources to a power distribution grid, measure power output by each of the renewable energy power generation sources, and regulate power delivered to the grid by each of the renewable energy power generation sources. A plant front end communicates with the grid interface boxes, determines a total output power available from the renewable energy power generation sources based on instantaneous power available from each of the renewable energy power generation sources, determines a statistical availability of the total output power based on weather and other conditions affecting power output from the renewable energy power generation sources, and outputs the total output power and the statistical availability to an energy management system. |
| US08260466B2 |
Modulated watering device based on watering index percentage
A device for controlling an irrigation system includes an interrupter for interconnection in a serial manner between a solenoid return common line and a preexisting irrigation timer, a controller for operating the interrupter in a periodic fashion is provided as well as an adjuster, in communication with the controller, for changing the periodicity of the interrupter operation. |
| US08260464B2 |
Architectural hierarchy of control for a fuel processor
A control technique for use in a fuel processor is disclosed. In one aspect, a control system includes a subsystem manager controller the operation of a respective physical subsystem for each of a plurality of physical subsystems in the fuel processor. The subsystem managers take their direction from a master control manager. In a second aspect, the subsystem managers collectively form a layer operating in conjunction with a second layer capable of interfacing the subsystem managers to their respective physical subsystems, a third layer capable of interfacing the subsystem managers with the second layer. In a third aspect, master control manager manages the operation of each physical subsystem through a respective subsystem manager, directs state transitions of the subsystem managers, and routs interaction between the subsystem managers from the master control manager. |
| US08260458B2 |
Robot, robot hand, and method of controlling robot hand
Disclosed are a robot, a robot hand, and a method of controlling the robot hand, in which the robot hand rapidly and correctly approaches an object to be gripped and safely grips the object regardless of the shape and material of the object. The method of controlling a robot hand, which has a palm, and a plurality of fingers, each having a plurality of segments, connected to the palm, includes causing the palm to approach an object using at least one first distance sensor installed on the palm; causing the plurality of fingers to approach the object using at least one second distance sensor installed on the plurality of fingers; and causing the palm and the plurality of fingers to come into contact the object to grip the object. |
| US08260456B2 |
Retail shelf supply monitoring system
An inventory shelf monitoring system includes a plurality of track systems located on at least one shelf of a retail or warehouse establishment. Each track system includes a sensor and actuator that determines the position of a product pusher. The identity and location of the product pusher, for each track system on the at least one shelf, is sent to a data acquisition and transmitter circuit that assembles, formats, and transmits pusher position data to a central receiver, which receives corresponding data from all shelves employing the system in the retail or warehouse establishment. The data is then transmitted to a central processing unit in a user device that maintains data corresponding to product count, availability, and activity associated with each track unit of each shelf employing the system in the retail or warehouse establishment. Inventory control, the prevention of out-of-stock situations, and the assessment of activity indicative of theft or accident is thus monitored in real time for prompt remedial action. |
| US08260451B2 |
Eyeglass lens processing apparatus
An eyeglass lens processing apparatus comprising a processing control unit which performs polishing by controlling a lens rotating unit, a grindstone rotating unit and an axis-to-axis distance varying unit based on an input target lens shape so as to process a periphery of a lens, which has been finished, by a lens margin allowed for polishing by the polishing grindstone. The processing control unit controls the lens rotating unit, the grindstone rotating unit and the axis-to-axis distance varying unit based on a lens rotating speed V1 and the grindstone rotating speed Vw at least at the final rotation of the lens. The lens rotation speed V1 and the grindstone rotation speed Vw satisfy a condition in which an average interval between cyclic stripes appearing on a processed surface of the lens due to height fluctuations of the polishing grindstone is smaller than eye's resolution or is larger than 2 mm. |
| US08260450B2 |
Eyeglass lens processing apparatus
An eyeglass lens processing apparatus for forming a hole on an eyeglass lens to attach a rimless frame to the lens, includes: a lens chuck that holds the lens; a drilling tool; a designating unit that designates a position of a hole; a unit that measures or inputs an inclined angle of a refractive surface of the lens at the designated hole position; an arithmetic unit that obtains a hole angle with respect to a predetermined reference axis based on the inclined angle; a control unit that controls a positional relationship between the held lens and the drilling tool based on the obtained hole angle to perform a drilling; and an input unit that inputs a modified hole angle based on the obtained hole angle. The control unit controls the positional relationship between the held lens and the drilling tool based on the modified hole angle to perform a re-drilling. |
| US08260449B2 |
Photolithography systems and associated methods of overlay error correction
Several embodiments of photolithography systems and associated methods of overlay error correction are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method for correcting overlay errors in a photolithography system includes measuring a plurality of first overlay errors that individually correspond to a microelectronic substrate in a first batch of microelectronic substrates. The method also includes determining a relationship between the first overlay errors and a first sequence of the microelectronic substrates in the first batch. The method further includes correcting a second overlay error of individual microelectronic substrates in a second batch based on a second sequence of the microelectronic substrates in the second batch and the determined relationship. |
| US08260446B2 |
Spectrographic monitoring of a substrate during processing using index values
Methods, systems, and apparatus for spectrographic monitoring of a substrate during chemical mechanical polishing are described. In one aspect, a computer-implemented method includes storing a library having a plurality of reference spectra, each reference spectrum of the plurality of reference spectra having a stored associated index value, measuring a sequence of spectra in-situ during polishing to obtain measured spectra, for each measured spectrum of the sequence of spectra, finding a best matching reference spectrum to generate a sequence of best matching reference spectra, determining the associated index value for each best matching spectrum from the sequence of best matching reference spectra to generate a sequence of index values, fitting a linear function to the sequence of index values, and halting the polishing either when the linear function matches or exceeds a target index or when the associated index value from the determining step matches or exceeds the target index. |
| US08260437B2 |
Cochlear implant with improved electrode array and controller
A cochlear implant device includes a deformable and stretchable flexible strip composed of a biological compatible material and positioned about a longitudinal axis so as to form a spiral. The implant device has a plurality of conductive strips with electrode windows formed so as to expose a segment of each conductive strip. A density of the electrode windows is sufficient to monitor a distance of the flexible strip from a non-conductive tissue of a patient in a 360 degree field of view about the longitudinal axis. A method of inserting a cochlear implant includes providing a multi-joint robot comprised of a series of actuator units, guiding the multi-joint robot into an inner ear of a patient, monitoring the position of the multi-joint robot relative to a non-conductive portion of the patient; and applying current to the multi-joint robot so as to adjust the position of the actuator units. |
| US08260435B2 |
Implantable lead for an active medical device having an inductor design minimizing eddy current losses
A shielded component or network for an active medical device (AMD) implantable lead includes an implantable lead having a length extending from a proximal end to a distal end, all external of an AMD housing, and a passive component or network disposed somewhere along the length of the implantable lead. The passive component or network including at least one inductive component having a primary magnetic field line axis. A conductive shield or housing having a primary longitudinal axis substantially surrounds the inductive component or the passive network. The inductive component's magnetic field line axis is oriented substantially orthogonally to the primary longitudinal axis of the conductive shield or housing. |
| US08260434B2 |
Paddle lead configurations for electrical stimulation systems and methods of making and using
A paddle lead includes a paddle body with a plurality of electrodes disposed on the paddle body. The plurality of electrodes includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode and the second electrode are disposed laterally around the circumference of the paddle body. At least one connecting wire is disposed on, or within, the paddle body to electrically couple the first electrode and the second electrode. |
| US08260433B2 |
Apparatus and method for applying energy within an object
An apparatus for applying energy within an object includes an energy applying unit having an energy emitting element or outputting energy within the object and an energy storage unit locatable within the object and coupled to the energy emitting element. The apparatus further includes an electrical control line coupled to the energy applying unit for controlling the application of energy within the object by controlling transmission of energy from the energy storage unit to the energy emitting element. |
| US08260431B2 |
Multi-mode pet training device
The pet training device comprises a handheld wireless command module, a wireless receiver module connected to an adjustable collar assembly. The wireless command module is used to select a stimulation mode, stimulation duration, a Jump mode, a Rise mode, and a stimulation intensity level through the used of one-touch digital switches located on the device front panel. The selected functions are displayed on an LCD. The stimulation commands are transmitted to the wireless receiver module where they are demodulated into control signals that trigger a shock, a beep, a vibration, or a combination thereof. When the wireless receiver is placed in the no-bark mode, the wireless receiver module will generate a shock when triggered by a bark sensor. A Jump mode is provided to instantly increase stimulation from a currently defined level. A Rise mode is provided to gradually and continuously increase the stimulation level. |
| US08260429B2 |
Incremental stimulation sound processor
In one aspect of the invention, a cochlear implant constructed and arranged to successively generate stimulation signals each comprising at least one stimulus pulse such that said successive stimulation signals incrementally build a neural excitation pattern that accurately reflects a received sound. In one embodiment, each said successive stimulation signal is generated based on the cumulative effect of all previous stimulus pulses, thereby compensating for finite spatial spreading of individual stimulus pulses as well as for the temporal integration of the neural excitation pattern along the neural pathways. |
| US08260425B2 |
Deep brain stimulation system with inputs
A stimulation system can have a first sensor to generate a first reading and a second sensor to generate a second reading. An analysis module of a programmer such as a patient programmer, which programs a stimulation signal to be delivered to a patient, conducts an evaluation of the patient based on the first and second readings. Evaluations may include determinations such as range of motion determinations, posture determinations, physical task-specific brain activity determinations, cognitive task-specific brain activity determinations, and brain activity-specific movement determinations. |
| US08260424B2 |
Systems and methods for detecting a loss of electrical connectivity between components of implantable medical lead systems
A connection monitoring system for an implantable medical lead system includes an implantable lead, a first trial system cable, an external trial system, and a sensor. The lead has a distal end and at least one proximal end. The lead includes a plurality of terminals disposed at each proximal end. The first trial system cable has a distal end and at least one proximal end. The distal end of the first trial system cable is configured and arranged to electrically couple with the lead. The external trial system is configured and arranged to electrically couple with the first trial system cable. The sensor is electrically coupled to the external trial system. The sensor is configured and arranged for detecting a loss of electrical connectivity between the external trial system and the lead when the lead becomes electrically decoupled from the external trial system. |
| US08260423B2 |
Systems and methods for collecting patient event information
A method of collecting patient event information from a cardiac rhythm management system (CRM system) is described, where the CRM system includes a cardiac rhythm management device (CRM device) and an external interface device. The method includes the steps of initiating a transmission session wherein the interface device communicates with the CRM device, prompting a user of the CRM system to select a reason for the transmission session, inputting the selected reason for the transmission session to the interface device, and storing the selected reason for the transmission session and timestamp information for the transmission session. |
| US08260415B2 |
Optical sensor and method for detecting a patient condition
An implantable medical device for monitoring tissue perfusion that includes a light source emitting a light signal and a light detector receiving emitted light scattered by a volume of body tissue. The light detector emits a signal having an alternating current component corresponding to the pulsatility of blood flow in the body tissue volume. A processor receives the current signal and determines a patient condition in response to the alternating component of the current signal. |
| US08260412B2 |
Implantable medical device crosstalk evaluation and mitigation
Electrical crosstalk between two implantable medical devices or two different therapy modules of a common implantable medical device may be evaluated, and, in some examples, mitigated. In some examples, one of the implantable medical devices or therapy modules delivers electrical stimulation to a nonmyocardial tissue site or a nonvascular cardiac tissue site, and the other implantable medical device or therapy module delivers cardiac rhythm management therapy to a heart of the patient. |
| US08260410B2 |
Device for identifying the likelihood of a patient suffering a myocardial infarction
A device for identifying the likelihood of a patient suffering a myocardial infarction comprises a heart rate monitor operative to generate an output indicative of the current heart rate of the patient, and memory means for storing heart rate data indicative of a heart rate of the patient at which angina has previously occurred. Electronic control means is provided and is operative to analyze both the output from the heart rate monitor and the heart rate data stored on the memory according to an algorithm so as to identify a change in the current heart rate indicative of an increased likelihood of the patient suffering myocardial infarction. |
| US08260409B2 |
Self-adjusting ECG morphological feature correlation threshold
An apparatus comprises first and second sensing circuits, a template generator circuit, and a correlation circuit. The correlation circuit is configured to identify a first fiducial position in a third cardiac signal sensed using the first sensing circuit during a detected rhythm with elevated ventricular rate, align the template correlation features and the correlation features of a fourth cardiac signal using the first fiducial position, calculate a correlation using the correlation features of the template and the correlation features of the fourth cardiac signal, and iteratively searching for a replacement to the first fiducial position in the third cardiac signal according to the calculated correlation. |
| US08260408B2 |
Post-exercise arrhythmia detection
Post-exercise arrhythmias are detected by an implantable medical device. In some aspects, post-exercise arrhythmia may be prognostic of a worsening cardiovascular condition. Thus, the detection of post-exercise arrhythmia may be used as an indicator for adjusting the therapy prescribed for a patient. In some aspects post-exercise arrhythmia are detected if a patient is exercising at a level that equals or exceeds a threshold exercise level. In some aspects, therapy for a patient is modified if the detected post-exercise arrhythmia exceeds a threshold arrhythmia level. In some aspects therapy for a patient is modified if ischemia is detected in conjunction with post-exercise arrhythmia. |
| US08260407B1 |
Intracardiac device and method for storing cardiac test results and associated EGM data
In a possible implementation, a method for cardiac testing is provided which includes measuring test data associated with cardiac events and storing the test data in an intracardiac stimulation device. The method further includes acquiring event electrograms corresponding with the test data and storing the event electrograms corresponding with the test data in the intracardiac stimulation device. In a possible implementation, marker data is stored associating event electrograms with measured test data, which may identify the event electrograms used for measuring the test data and/or identify when adjacent event electrograms are not contiguous. In some implementations, the test data may be measured and stored in an out-of-clinic test, and the test data and the corresponding event electrograms may be later retrieved from the intracardiac stimulation device and presented on a visual display. |
| US08260405B2 |
Monitoring apparatus for monitoring a user's heart rate and/or heart rate variation; wristwatch comprising such a monitoring apparatus
A monitoring apparatus (4) monitors a user's heart rate and/or heart rate variation. The apparatus includes a capacitor (22) which is positionable on or near a body part of a person, for example a person's limb, for example an arm (3), such that an electrical capacitance of the capacitor (22) is influenced by blood pressure pulses of blood running through the body part. The apparatus (4) also includes a data processor (26) for determining the heart rate and/or heart rate variation from changes in the capacitance of the capacitor (22). |
| US08260403B2 |
Photoacoustic imaging apparatus and photoacoustic imaging method
A photoacoustic wave detector detects a photoacoustic wave generated inside a specimen by light irradiated thereto. A signal processing device: forms first volume data from a first signal, the first signal being the detection signal acquired from the detector or a signal obtained by adjusting an amplitude of the detection signal; forms second volume data from a second signal, the second signal being a signal obtained by changing a phase of the first signal; forms third volume data from the first and second volume data; and generates and outputs image data representing information on an interior of the specimen from the third volume data. |
| US08260401B2 |
Non-invasive in-vivo imaging of mechanoreceptors in skin using confocal microscopy
Meissner's Corpuscles (MCs) are touch-pressure sensation receptors in glabrous skin. They are imaged by reflectance confocal microscopy to provide a non-invasive, in vivo quantification of their density or size to allow screening for, diagnosis or monitoring of sensory neuropathy and other peripheral nervous system disorders related to diabetes, HIV, or other conditions. |
| US08260397B2 |
Magnetic resonance method and apparatus for determining a kidney function parameter
In a method to determine a kidney function parameter of kidneys of an examination person with the aid of magnetic resonance tomography, at least one magnetic resonance measurement is implemented for an examination region of the examination person that comprises a urinary bladder of the examination person, to acquire magnetic resonance data from the examination region that include at least image data. The concentration of a urophanic substance in the urinary bladder of the examination person is automatically determined based on the acquired magnetic resonance data. A volume of the urinary bladder is automatically determined based on the acquired image data. A kidney function parameter of the kidneys of the examination person is automatically determined on the basis of the determined concentration of the urophanic substance in the urinary bladder and of the specific volume of the urinary bladder. |
| US08260392B2 |
Analyte monitoring device and methods of use
An analyte monitor includes a sensor, a sensor control unit, and a display unit. The sensor has, for example, a substrate, a recessed channel formed in the substrate, and conductive material disposed in the recessed channel to form a working electrode. The sensor control unit typically has a housing adapted for placement on skin and is adapted to receive a portion of an electrochemical sensor. The sensor control unit also includes two or more conductive contacts disposed on the housing and configured for coupling to two or more contact pads on the sensor. A transmitter is disposed in the housing and coupled to the plurality of conductive contacts for transmitting data obtained using the sensor. The display unit has a receiver for receiving data transmitted by the transmitter of the sensor control unit and a display coupled to the receiver for displaying an indication of a level of an analyte. The analyte monitor may also be part of a drug delivery system to alter the level of the analyte based on the data obtained using the sensor. |
| US08260391B2 |
Medical sensor for reducing motion artifacts and technique for using the same
A sensor may be adapted to reduce motion artifacts by damping the effects of outside forces and sensor motion. A sensor is provided with a motion damping structure adapted to reduce the effect of motion of a sensor emitter and/or detector. Further, a method of damping outside forces and sensor motion is also provided. |
| US08260388B2 |
Current terminal structure of superconducting wire and superconducting cable having the current terminal structure
A current terminal structure of a superconductor has a former, and a superconducting wire wound around the former in one or more layers and including a substrate and a superconducting layer formed on the substrate. A first layer superconducting wire wound around immediately above the former is arranged so that a substrate side thereof becomes outside and a superconducting layer side thereof becomes inside. A surface of the superconducting layer at an end of the first layer superconducting wire, which is directed toward the inside, and part of a surface of the superconducting layer of a connection superconducting wire, which is directed toward the outside, are faced and connected to each other. |
| US08260383B2 |
Slide mechanism for slide-type terminal device
A slide mechanism includes a rear cover, a front cover slidably attached to the rear cover, a resilient member for creating an elastic force to make the front cover slide relative to the rear cover, and an operating module. The resilient member is connected between the rear cover and the front cover. The operating module includes a first latching member rotatably connected to the rear cover, a tension spring, an operating member, and a second latching member fixed to the front cover. The operating member is sleeved by the tension spring and includes a pressing portion at an end for pressing the first latching member to rotate. The second latching member is latched with the first latching member after the first latching member is rotated by an elastic force created by the tension spring and unlatched with the latching member after the latching member is rotated by the operating member. |
| US08260380B2 |
Headset with remote control
A headset phone for use with an audio system. A conventional 4-tap, combo phone connector is provided that has a sleeve tap, a tip tap, a first ring tap, and a second ring tap. A first speaker element is connected across the sleeve and tip taps and a second speaker element is connected across the sleeve and first ring taps. A microphone is connected across the sleeve and second ring tap. At least one control unit, other than a mute control, is also connected across the sleeve and second ring taps, such that operation of any control unit changes the impedance across the sleeve and second ring tap that is seen by the audio system. |
| US08260375B2 |
Electronic device and case for the same
An electronic device has a case that is formed by combining first and second members respectively having first and second engaging portions formed along an outer circumferential portion thereof such that the first and second members make contact with each other. The electronic device includes a corner engaging member having a rib, an outer supporting member and an inner supporting member. The rib is formed at a corner portion of the first engaging portion such that the rib is curved along the corner portion. The outer supporting member is formed at a corner portion of the second engaging portion, which corresponds to the corner portion of the first engaging portion. The outer supporting member makes contact with an outer circumferential surface of the rib. The inner supporting member makes line-contact with an inner circumferential surface of the rib. The rib is inserted between the outer supporting member and the inner supporting member. |
| US08260372B2 |
Traffic monitoring for regulating states of a terminal
Embodiments of the invention include a method comprising monitoring a traffic pattern relating to a terminal, and regulating states of the terminal according to the monitored traffic pattern. Other embodiments relate to associated apparatus, communication systems, network elements and computer program products. |
| US08260366B2 |
Automatic setting of an alert mode on a wireless device
Embodiments are provided for automatically setting an alert mode on a wireless device. Scheduling data is received which defines a predetermined period utilized to set the alert mode. The scheduling data may be received either by direct input in the wireless device or alternatively from an external edge device, such as a network server, in a communications network. In response to receiving the scheduling data, an alert mode on the wireless device is automatically set for the predetermined period. The alert mode may include a silent alert mode on the wireless device. The wireless device may include a sensor for receiving data indicative of a current external state. The sensor data may include location data, temperature data, and ambient noise data. The received sensor data may be utilized to automatically trigger the setting of an alert mode in the wireless device. |
| US08260365B1 |
Method and apparatus of processing data displayed on a mobile station interface based on user preferences
A method and apparatus of modifying user content data on a mobile station are disclosed. One example method of displaying customized content data on a mobile station may include receiving the content data at the mobile station, and modifying the content data for a user of the mobile station to view the content data based on predefined viewing preferences of the user. The modified content may then be displayed on a display interface of the mobile station allowing the user to view the content based on their specified preferences. |
| US08260363B2 |
Visual ringer
Embodiments of the disclosed invention include an apparatus, method, and computer program product for providing a larger display area for viewing pictures and/or videos on a communication device. For example, in one embodiment, a communication device is disclosed comprising a plurality of display components for displaying an image that covers a plurality of sides of the communication device. In certain embodiments, a user specified image is displayed in response to receiving an incoming call for providing a more visible indicator for alerting the user of an incoming call. |
| US08260362B2 |
Integrated dialing
Call initiation on a device with potential for a large number of stored telephone numbers is simplified through the use of an integrated field for entry of an ambiguous filter string. As it is not clear, a priori, whether the user is manually specifying, in the integrated field, a telephone number or providing a filter string for filtering contacts, filtering is performed based on at least one filter string. Among the contacts that are part of a filtering result list, a default contact is selected for quick access. |
| US08260361B2 |
Method and system for transmitter beamforming
A system and method are provided for improving the performance of a beamforming antenna array in a wireless communications system. By observing a predetermined times of channel spatial signatures, one or more test spatial signatures are generated based on statistical analysis of the observed spatial signatures for predicting channel characteristics. A beamforming weight is derived based on the generated test spatial signatures for beamforming by an antenna subsystem of the wireless communication system. |
| US08260358B2 |
Communication system, base station control device, and base station device
There are provided a communication system, a base station control device, and a base station device capable of improving communication quality. In the communication system (100), the base station control device (120) totalizes information on the number of base stations as the number of base station devices (130) which can communicate with a mobile station device (140), makes Nb copies of a data frame, successively assigns integer values from 1 to Nb as stream numbers Ns to the data frames copied, and forms Nb copied data frames including Nb and Ns in header information. Copied data frames having different Ns in the header information are sent to the base station devices (130) which can communicate with the mobile station device (140). According to the Ns and Nb contained in the copied data frame, the base station device (130) subjects the data in the copied data frame to temporal/spatial encoding to form a temporal/spatial encoding series. The mobile station device (140) receives the temporal/spatial encoding series signal from each of the base station devices (130). |
| US08260356B2 |
Method and system for indicating method used to scramble dedicated reference signals
A base station includes a transmit path circuitry to scramble CRC bits of a DCI format using a C-RNTI for dynamic scheduling, and scramble the CRC bits of the DCI format using an SPS C-RNTI for semi-persistent scheduling. If C-RNTI is used, the circuitry generates a downlink transmission grant using the DCI format being a fallback format to indicate a transmit diversity transmission scheme or a single-layer beamforming scheme, and uses the DCI format being a dual-layer beamforming format to indicate a dual-DRS port transmission scheme or a single-DRS port transmission scheme. If SPS C-RNTI is used, the circuitry generates a downlink transmission grant using the DCI format being the fallback format to indicate a single-DRS port transmission scheme, and uses the DCI format being the dual-layer beamforming format to indicate a dual-DRS port transmission scheme or a single-DRS port transmission scheme. |
| US08260355B2 |
Portable communication terminal, program executed by portable communication terminal
In a portable communication terminal that functions as a communication instrument by installing an identification recording medium having subscriber information recorded therein, an application acquiring unit 104 is operative to transmit a contract number recorded in the identification recording medium to the server when the identification recording medium is installed for the first time, and downloads an application program linked to the contract number from the server. A checking unit 108 is operative to check identification information embedded in the application program against identification information embedded in the identification recording medium. A function restricting unit 110 is operative to restrict the use of at least a part of the functions of the application program when the identification information of the application program does not match the identification information of the identification recording medium. |
| US08260349B2 |
Image/audio playback device of mobile communication terminal
Disclosed is an image/audio playback technology in a mobile communication terminal. According to the present invention, a single image is divided into two halves, i.e., left-half and right-half images, which are displayed on two mobile communication terminals, respectively. In addition, two mobile communication terminals can play left-side and right-side audio data, respectively, which compose stereo audio data, according to the relative locations of the two mobile communication terminals. |
| US08260345B2 |
Method for changing the mobile number of a wireless communications device
An automated method for remotely changing the mobile number (MDN or MIN) of a wireless communications device, such as a vehicle communications device capable of making hands-free calls. Generally, some wireless carriers do not allow multiple mobile numbers to be simultaneously activated to a single wireless communications device. Therefore, when a mobile number change request is made, the automated method determines what type of process is most appropriate for that change: an indirect change process that uses at least three mobile numbers (current, intermediate, and target numbers) and addresses the above-mentioned wireless carrier limitations, or a direct change process that uses only two mobile numbers (current and target numbers). In either case, a wireless data link is established between a call center and the vehicle communications device so that the remote number change can be performed. |
| US08260342B2 |
Communications systems management using MM-wave based motion sensing
Two or more transceiver units can interact with each other via millimeter wave radio frequency signals. One of the transceiver units can detect time-varying signals having specific waveforms in order to initiate an action such as establishment of a communication link, powering a piece of equipment and the like. The time-varying signal can be generated by a user moving one of the transceiver units and/or by passing an non-transmissive obstruction in between the transceiver units. Related apparatus, systems, and methods are also disclosed. |
| US08260339B2 |
Method for matching group paging of a CDMA trunking system
A method for matching group paging of a CDMA system, the method comprises: a mobile station determines during a paging process the paging type received and executes a corresponding group paging matching operation according to the result determined. |
| US08260336B2 |
Method for compensating a radiation beam by beam steering
The present invention relates to methods for adjusting a radiation beam pattern of an antenna arrangement providing coverage in an area. The antenna arrangement comprises an antenna having at least one array of antenna elements connected to a distribution network configured to generate the radiation beam pattern. The method comprises: arranging the antenna elements of said array in at least one column in an antenna plane in relation to a reference plane, each column comprising multiple antenna elements arranged in at least two sub-panels; arranging a motion sensor to the antenna arrangement, said motion sensor is configured to detect deviation of the antenna elements relative the reference plane; and adjusting a beam shape of the radiation beam pattern based on the detected deviation of the antenna to maintain coverage in the area by controlling the distribution network. The invention also relates to an antenna arrangement and base station. |
| US08260332B2 |
Method, apparatus and computer program product for presenting call related messages to a user
A method is provided for transmitting a communication request to a user device of a first communication type, receiving a message during the communication request or within a predetermined amount of time after the communication request, of a second communication type. If the message received is from the user device, then it may be immediately presented or displayed. If the message is not from the user device, then it is precluded from being presented until the communication request is completed. The first communication type may be in the form of a voice call and the user device may be a mobile phone. The second communication type may be a text message, E-mail, or other mode of communication that differs from the first communication type. |
| US08260330B2 |
Method and system for combining text and voice messages in a communications dialogue
This publication discloses a method and system for delivering messages in a telecommunications network (1, 2, 6, 11, 12). In the method a voice-message call attempt is received (43), or a connection is formed to a potential user of a service, on the basis of a voice-message call attempt. According to the invention, as a response to the voice-message connection formed or to the call attempt, to the second part (41) of the connection is sent a text-form message, which initiates a long, logically continuous, temporally discontinuous session N, in such a way that the sender address (e.g., the A number) is converted to correspond to the session number N and the session stage J at the time, and in the message there is at least one selection query. |
| US08260328B1 |
Correction of timing errors to enable long sleep times
A mobile user equipment includes a user equipment clock and a dual mode time tracker. The clock periodically wakes up the user equipment. The dual mode time tracker uses a serving cell reference signal to correct timing errors of the user equipment clock with respect to a network clock while timing errors remain minimal and otherwise uses a serving cell synchronization signal to correct timing errors of the user equipment clock. The dual mode time tracker also sets a next wakeup time as a function at least of the size of the timing errors. |
| US08260322B2 |
Method for locating coverage gaps in wireless communication services
A method for determining coverage gaps within a geographical area served by a wireless communication network includes: (a) receiving a location report from each of a plurality of mobile units; (b) storing all location reports received from the mobile units in a database; and (c) searching the database for a position within the geographical area at which an acceptable quality wireless signal has not been received. The location report may include a measured signal quality metric of the wireless link, which may be the signal strength of the wireless link, a bit error rate of the wireless link, or both. Location reports may be displayed on a map to show coverage quality and gaps. Statistical technique and quantitative techniques can be applied on the signal quality metrics reported. |
| US08260321B1 |
Systems and methods for event attendance notification
Systems and methods for event attendance notification are provided. A representative systems includes a mobile device operative to: receive member information corresponding to members of a social network; receive event information corresponding to a first event, designated to occur at a first location, wherein at least a first of the members is scheduled to attend the first event; and responsive to determining that the current location of the first of the members corresponds to the event information, enable attendance information to be sent to others of the members of the social network indicating that the first of the members is at the first event. |
| US08260320B2 |
Location specific content
Systems, methods, and computer program products communicate location information associated with a device, such as a mobile device, to a server. Content identified by the server is received at the device, from the server and/or from a content service. The content can include an application associated with the location information. The content received at the device is displayed on the device only while the device is at or near a particular location identified by the location information. |
| US08260316B2 |
Movement distance falsification preventing system and method
Improper acquisition of position information is prevented in a system in which points are added according to a movement distance of a user owning a cellular phone terminal. Position information of a cellular phone and the time information corresponding thereto are acquired on the basis of GPS or base station information. The movement distance and movement speed are calculated for each predetermined time interval, and whether or not the movement is within a range allowed for the corresponding transportation mode is determined on the basis of these position information and movement speed with reference to the mobile body database where timetables or the like have been recorded. The acquisition of the position information is determined to be improper when the movement is not in the range allowed for any of the transportation modes. |
| US08260313B1 |
Apparatus and method for modifying service-access-point data within the apparatus
An apparatus may comprise a location-aware application, a first location detector, and a data storage device. The storage device may contain service-access-point (SAP) data that identifies a first SAP through which the apparatus may access a second location detector. The first detector may obtain data from the second detector via the first SAP and use the obtained data to determine a location of the apparatus. This determined location may be provided to the location-aware application. The data storage may include program instructions for modifying the SAP data such that the SAP data identifies a second SAP through which the apparatus may access a third location detector. The first detector may obtain data from the third detector via the second SAP and then use the obtained data to determine a location of the apparatus. This determined location may be provided to another location-aware application that is executable at the apparatus. |
| US08260312B2 |
Method and apparatus for location request tracking
A method and apparatus for tracking location requests. The apparatus includes a storage device; a display and a processor configured to receive a location request and write location request data to a storage device. |
| US08260303B2 |
Indication of content of message element
By providing an indicator outside a message element the content of the message element is indicated. This is particularly applicable to indication of a dual transfer mode handover command. |
| US08260301B2 |
Method and system for implementing terminal handover
A method and system for implementing terminal handover, the method include: receiving, by a serving handover (HO) function unit, a handover instruction from a network element on network; and implementing, by the serving HO function unit, the handover for the terminal in accordance with the handover instruction, and handing over the terminal to a target base station (BS). With the disclosure, the terminal handover flow can be triggered by the network, and the problems of the inefficient terminal handover or the high network resource consumption and the handover delay in the prior art can be overcomed. |
| US08260300B2 |
Base station apparatus and mobile communication system
Disclosed is a handover method in radio communication. A base station apparatus monitors the receiving state of a terminal, detects, based upon the receiving state, whether the terminal is one in which there is a possibility that loss of a call or a decline in quality will occur or one in which loss of a call or a decline in quality has occurred, and hands over the terminal to another base station apparatus having a carrier frequency different from that of the present base station apparatus. |
| US08260299B2 |
Radio communication device and radio communication method
When communication quality exceeds the first threshold, the radio communication terminal 300 starts connection with the radio communication system 120 and establishes the radio link L2 to the radio communication system 120. Further, a handover from the radio link L1 to the radio link L2 is performed when the communication quality exceeds the second threshold after the establishment of the radio link L2, the second threshold corresponding to communication quality degraded than that indicated by the first threshold. |
| US08260290B2 |
System and method for inbound roaming in IP multimedia subsystem networks
A system and method for enabling a UE to roam to a visited IMS-based network from a home network that does not have an IMS infrastructure. A visiting UE sends to an Intelligent Roaming Application Server (I-RAS) in the visited network, a first SIP Registration message that includes a SIP URI identifying the UE as a visitor from a home network that does not have an IMS infrastructure. The I-RAS rejects the registration, but includes a temporary Tel URI in the rejection message. The UE sends a second Registration message using the temporary Tel URI, which is forwarded to a Visited S-CSCF for authentication. The S-CSCF returns authentication vectors, which the UE uses to compute ciphering parameters and establish an IPSEC connection with a Visited P-CSCF. The UE then sends a third Registration message, which is accepted, and registration in the visited network is complete. The I-RAS acts as a pseudo Visited MSC/VLR and performs an update location procedure with the visiting UE's home network. |
| US08260289B2 |
Dynamic user-to-user address book sharing in a mobile station
The present invention provides a mobile station implemented method for managing a requested name and phone record. The method comprises steps of the requester associated device receiving a user's identification from a mobile station phonebook owner and a search term. The requester associated device transmits the user identification of the mobile station phonebook owner and the search term. Receiving at least one matching name and phone record, the requester associated device presents the at least one matching name and phone record to a user. The requester associated device receives a user management command to perform an action on the name and phone record. The method may complete when the requester associated device performs the action on the name and phone record. |
| US08260282B2 |
Method, device and software for updating data in mobile devices
Updating data between the mobile devices belonging to a given user group is shown. In a mobile device (301, 302), there can be recorded information (406) of the members of a given user group, and a connection can be established from the device (301, 302) to other devices (303, 304, 401) of the user group members. In addition, the device includes means for defining the changing information as update data (407) related to said user group, and means for transmitting (303, 304, 401) the update data automatically to each device belonging to the user group through a defined connection bus. The device also includes means for receiving (303, 304, 401) the data defined to be updated, and means for saving (406, 407) the received update data in the device. |
| US08260280B2 |
System and method for the synchronized transmission of tone sequences
A computer implemented method for transmitting dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) tones is disclosed. The method includes sending an indication to a mobile device to start a cyclic ring tone including ring and pause periods. The delay incurred to send a DTMF tone to the mobile device is estimated. The server schedules the transmission of the DTMF tone to be received at the mobile device during a pause period of the cyclic ring tone and the DTMF tone is sent as scheduled. |
| US08260278B2 |
Framework for agile mobile applications
A framework for enabling the usage of mobile devices in a remote sensing and reporting role are provided herein. Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for enabling the usage of mobile devices in a remote sensing and reporting role. Embodiments of the present invention use existing mobile network infrastructure to engage mobile users in remote sensing and reporting tasks. Further, embodiments of the present invention enable rapid set up of remote sensing and reporting applications with relatively little technical skills. |
| US08260275B2 |
Data transmitting apparatus and method
A sending method includes supplying a material to a plurality of audio channels that send an entirety of a music title repeatedly for a certain unit of time. The method also includes supplying digital data for forming an audio information screen associated with an audio channel being sent. The method additionally includes supplying audio data for downloading, which is compressed in a certain compression format. Further, the method includes multiplexing the entirety of the music title repeatedly sent using the plurality of audio channels, which is supplied in the supplying the material step, the digital data for forming the audio information screen associated with the audio channel being sent, which is supplied in the supplying the digital data step, and the audio data for downloading supplied in the supplying the audio data step. In addition, the method includes sending the multiplexed data. |
| US08260272B2 |
Health-related opportunistic networking
A wireless opportunistic network that can facilitate data transfer by way of interconnected devices is disclosed. In accordance with this opportunistic network, each of the devices effectively contributes to the transfer of the information thereby obviating the need for an external carrier. In this manner, the carrier infrastructure is embodied and distributed throughout the individual devices of the network. In a particular aspect, the opportunistic network is employed to transfer and make available health-related data. This functionality can be used in many scenarios related to heath from, monitoring patients and conveying basic diagnostic data to identifying bioterrorism by way of collaborating data between a number of devices within the network. Essentially, the innovation provides for at least two core functional ideas, the opportunistic network infrastructure and the use of the network in health related scenarios. |
| US08260262B2 |
Systems for three factor authentication challenge
A method and apparatus for three-factor authentication uses a short wireless device to authenticate access to a computer or device. The computer or device issues a challenge question to the user, for example, requesting the user to say a phrase or write symbols. The user biometric information is captured and authenticated using the short wireless device. |
| US08260261B2 |
Securing pairing verification of devices with minimal user interfaces
A method, system and devices for enabling secure pairing between two communication devices equipped with a minimal user interface includes determining a verification pattern based upon security information exchanged between the two communication devices and presenting the verification pattern in a manner that can be perceived by a user who can determine whether the verification patterns are the same. The verification patterns may be presented as flashing light displays, such as flashing sequences of a light emitting diode, or as sounds, such as tones or click patterns emitted by a speaker. If a user perceives that the verification patterns emitted by both communication devices are the same, the user may so indicate by pressing a button on each of the devices. Obtaining such user confirmation of the verification patterns enables establishing a secure pairing between the two communication devices that is protected from active and passive eavesdropping. |
| US08260260B1 |
Visual voicemail client authentication
A method, system, and medium are provided for authenticating a visual voicemail client to a visual voicemail server. Visual voicemail enables a user to view a list of voicemail messages and caller information, and select which messages to hear. Currently, a handset accesses visual voicemail using a web interface over a point-to-point network connection with an intermediary gateway. The gateway initiates requests to the voicemail platform on behalf of the handset using a single generic password. There is no direct authentication between the handset client and the voicemail platform. In embodiments of the invention, the handset requests a password from the voicemail platform using the web interface. The voicemail platform sends a password to the handset via a Short Message Service text message, which is an inherently secure means of communication. The handset then uses the password to request voicemail data from the voicemail platform via the web interface. |
| US08260246B1 |
Data rate tracking filter
The following embodiments relate to an analog filter having an adjustable transfer function for use in a system or circuit that processes a signal having a changing data rate. The transfer function may be adjusted by adjusting the resistance and/or capacitance of components of the analog filter. The analog filter is calibrated based on an optimum operational parameter at a certain data rate, such as a median data rate. The analog filter may be further adjusted as the data rate of the signal changes. |
| US08260238B1 |
Systems and methods for recovery of a sub-carrier signal from a stereophonic multiplexed signal
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for recovering a sub-carrier signal from a multiplexed signal having an embedded pilot tone signal. The recovery system includes circuitry for recovering a pilot signal from the received multiplexed signal, for generating a frequency-doubled signal from the recovered pilot signal, and for phase-shifting the frequency-doubled signal by a pre-determined phase difference from the embedded pilot tone signal. Another recovery system includes circuitry for recovering a pilot signal from the received multiplexed signal, for phase-shifting the pilot signal by a pre-determined phase difference from the embedded pilot tone signal, and for generating a frequency-doubled signal from the phase-shifted signal. |
| US08260237B2 |
LNB having indication function
A LNB (Low Noise Block Down Converter) having indication function (30A) includes a supporting stage (38), a micro-controller (34), an indication unit (36) and an LNB unit (32). The micro-controller (34) is electrically connected to the indication unit (36) and the LNB unit (32). The micro-controller (34), the indication unit (36) and the LNB unit (32) are installed on the supporting stage (38). The micro-controller (34) sends an indication signal (S2) associated with satellite signal (S1) reception quality from a specific satellite (10) for driving said indication unit (36). A user (40B) at the LNB unit (32) end is allowed to understand the satellite signal (S1) reception status of the specific satellite (10) via the indication signal (S2) sent by the micro-controller (34). |
| US08260232B2 |
Mobile terminal and method of controlling broadcast therein
A mobile terminal and method of controlling a broadcast therein are provided by which a broadcast signal can be received and outputted in a manner of setting a frequency band corresponding to a visited country in case of international roaming of the mobile terminal. A memory may store per-country broadcast relevant information and a controller may search the memory for broadcast relevant information corresponding to a visited country in case of detecting international migration. The controller may set the searched broadcast relevant information when the search for the broadcast relevant information corresponding to the visited country is successful. |
| US08260226B1 |
High-accuracy transmit power control with high-efficiency power amplifier operation
A method in a transmitter including a transmission chain and a Power Amplifier (PA), includes storing calibration data relating a plurality of specified output power levels of the transmitter to respective PA control voltages for application to the PA and respective gain levels for application to the transmission chain that cause the transmitter to output signals at the specified output power levels. A target output power level is specified, and an actual control voltage is applied to the PA. The actual control voltage is derived from a specified target control voltage depending on the target output power. A modified gain level which, when applied to the transmission chain while the PA is controlled with the actual control voltage, causes the transmitter to output the signals at the target output power level, is computed based on the calibration data. The modified gain level is applied to the transmission chain. |
| US08260220B2 |
Communication device with reduced noise speech coding
A communication device includes memory, an input interface, a processing module, and a transmitter. The processing module receives a digital signal from the input interface, wherein the digital signal includes a desired digital signal component and an undesired digital signal component. The processing module identifies one of a plurality of codebooks based on the undesired digital signal component. The processing module then identifies a codebook entry from the one of the plurality of codebooks based on the desired digital signal component to produce a selected codebook entry. The processing module then generates a coded signal based on the selected codebook entry, wherein the coded signal includes a substantially unattenuated representation of the desired digital signal component and an attenuated representation of the undesired digital signal component. The transmitter converts the coded signal into an outbound signal in accordance with a signaling protocol and transmits it. |
| US08260217B2 |
Bidirectional wireless microphone system with automatic login function
A bidirectional wireless microphone system with an automatic login function comprises at least one wireless microphone, a base station and a data processing unit. The wireless microphone and the base station are able to wirelessly communicate with and transmit data, such as a sound signal, coordinate position or image, to each other. The data processing unit is connected to the base station to store and process the data transmitted between the wireless microphone and the base station. While the wireless microphone completes a process of registration to the base station by engaging a first registration contact on the wireless microphone with a corresponding second registration contact on the base station, a process of logging in to the data processing unit, which can be, for example, a computer or an application program, is completed at the same time to thereby simplify the registration and login process and save operating time. |
| US08260215B2 |
Efficient receiver frequency plan for covering multiple frequency bands
A communications system includes a radio frequency (RF) element (104) for transforming an input RF signal into at least one of a first conditioned RF input signal associated with a first frequency range and a second conditioned RF input signal associated with a second frequency range higher than the first frequency range. The system also includes a local oscillator (LO) circuit (106) for generating at least a first LO signal, the LO circuit having an operating frequency range spanning at least a portion of a first inclusive frequency range defined by a lowest frequency of the first frequency range and a highest frequency of the second frequency range. The system further includes a mixer (108) for generating a first intermediate frequency (IF) signal based on one of the first and the second RF input signals and the first LO signal, and an IF element (110) for conditioning the first IF signal. |
| US08260214B2 |
Shared antenna architecture for multiple co-located radio modules
A shared antenna architecture for multiple co-located radio modules is disclosed. For example, an apparatus may include an antenna, a first transceiver to communicate wirelessly across a first link, a second transceiver to communicate wirelessly across a second link, and a shared antenna structure communicatively coupled to the first transceiver, the second transceiver and the antenna. The shared antenna structure may comprise a combiner and at least one switch arranged to allow the first transceiver and the second transceiver to share the antenna for simultaneous operations or mutually-exclusive operations. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed. |
| US08260210B2 |
Detecting interference in a wireless communication system
Method to determine the existence of interferences in a wireless communication link based on comparing the power received at both links of radio channel and the propagation losses calculated from both power and quality measurements, comprising: (i) gathering values RXLEV_UL and RXLEV_DL; (ii) using said values to estimate the receiver power level in the base station; (iii) statistical analysis of the two different estimations obtained (PRXLEV ULi, and {tilde over (P)}{tilde over (PULi)}) for every connection i in the radio link; (iv) comparing the estimations (PRXLEV ULi and {tilde over (P)}{tilde over (PULi)}) of the uplink received signals strength with the quality parameters RXQUAL_UL and RXQUAL_DL; (v) computing the behavior of the computed values psi and Rsnri, (vi) analyzing the results to detect: (a) steady-state abnormalities; (b) unbalanced interferences; (c) malfunctioning of the power control; and (d) inadequate radio planning. |
| US08260209B2 |
System and method for coordinated spatial multiplexing using second order statistical information
A system and method for coordinated spatial multiplexing using second order statistical information is provided. A method for controller operations includes receiving second order statistics from a plurality of communications devices, computing a beamforming vector for each communications device in the plurality of communications devices, selecting a subset of communications devices from the plurality of communications devices to receive transmissions, and transmitting transmissions to the subset of selected communications devices. The beamforming vector for a communications device is based on the second order statistics provided by the communications device, and the transmitting uses the computed beamforming vector for each selected communications device to transmit the transmissions to the selected communications device. |
| US08260204B2 |
Wireless communication system using surface acoustic wave (SAW) second harmonic techniques
A system is for encoding information on a passive surface acoustic wave (SAW) device. The system includes a requesting unit configured to wirelessly transmit an impulse signal. The impulse signal is a signal that includes only a single pulse. A SAW device has an interdigital transducer (IDT) configured to physically store coded data. The SAW device is configured to receive the impulse signal. In response to receiving the impulse signal, the SAW device excites the IDT to generate a coded signal that includes the stored coded data and frequency components at a fundamental frequency. |
| US08260201B2 |
Dispersive antenna for RFID tags
RFID tag designs and sensors are disclosed that include a dispersive antenna and exhibit greater detection ranges relative to conventional designs. The designs include, for example a transponder having including a rectifier, a radio-frequency identification (RFID) circuit for receiving and responding to interrogation signals, and a frequency dispersion element for receiving a multi-phase input signal and creating a pulse therefrom for input to the rectifier. Frequency-dispersive elements (e.g., antennas) and compatible interrogation waveforms can be used so that the rectifying diodes receive high peak voltage levels relative to the average voltage levels. |
| US08260197B2 |
Radio repeating system, radio repeating apparatus, radio terminal operating method and radio repeating method
A radio repeating system has first and second radio terminals, a radio repeater to receive a signal transmitted from the first radio terminal and transmit the signal to the second radio terminal, and a controller to control the radio repeater. The controller has a terminal signal determiner to detect a signal from the first radio terminal to determine whether the first radio terminal is in a transmission halt mode or a transmission mode, a first counter to start counting when a result of detection is the transmission halt mode, and a second counter to start counting when a result of detection is the transmission mode. The controller halts a wireless relay operation of the radio repeater when the result of detection is the transmission halt mode while the second timer is operating, or when the first timer finishes counting. |
| US08260195B2 |
Method to minimize data download during satellite radio broadcasts
A system and method for limiting the amount of satellite radio digital bandwidth used by allowing a vehicle to record and store songs broadcast by the satellite and then play the songs from the vehicle the next times the songs are to be broadcast. When a song is selected to be broadcast, the method determines whether a certain percentage of vehicles will have the song recorded on the vehicle, and if so, will broadcast a song code identifying the song to allow the vehicle to play the recorded song. |
| US08260192B2 |
Methods and apparatus for interoperable satellite radio receivers
Methods and apparatus are presented to allow one receiver architecture to be used for the reception of two different SDARS signals, such as, for example, one signal from XM Satellite Radio, the other signal from Sirius Satellite Radio. The methods and apparatus presented utilize common receiver functions to process each signal, thereby obviating the need to duplicate hardware elements. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it can be assumed that both signals will not be received at the same time, thus allowing for considerable hardware reuse and lowering the cost of an interoperable receiver. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or the meaning of the claims. |
| US08260190B2 |
Method and associated device for preventing UMTS call setup in nearby mobile phones
An interference device and method of interfering with signals from a UMTS base station in a particular area are disclosed. The interference device receives a signal from the base station intended for a mobile device to initiate a communication session. The interference device synchronizes to the S-CCPCH and alters the TCFI and/or the data in the data field of the slot so that it is not longer correct. Time-shifted copies of the altered signal are then multiplexed and transmitted to the mobile device as a jamming signal. The jamming signal is received by the mobile device and causes the mobile device to be unable to determine the data of the original signal from the base station. |
| US08260186B2 |
Toner cartridge with refillable fresh and residual toner chambers, process cartridge, and method of making toner cartridge reusable
A toner cartridge is configured by integrally arranging a fresh toner storing chamber and a residual toner collection chamber. Fresh toner is filled in the fresh toner storing chamber through a fresh toner filling opening. Residual toner is conveyed in the residual toner collection chamber through a residual toner conveying opening. Two residual toner discharging openings are created in the residual toner collection chamber through which the residual toner is discharged. |
| US08260182B2 |
Belt driving device and image forming apparatus equipped with the same
In a belt driving device, the width of a belt member is larger than the width of a driven roller portion in the rotation axis direction of the driven roller portion. The belt driving device includes a movement unit configured to, when a load is generated in friction members at both ends of the driven roller portion, rotate and move the friction members in a direction opposite to the moving direction of the belt member. |
| US08260178B2 |
Toner cartridge and image forming apparatus
According to one embodiment, a toner cartridge includes a cartridge body, a stirring member configured to stir toner contained in the cartridge body, and a scraping member having elasticity. The stirring member includes a rotation shaft contained in the cartridge body, and plural stirring rods protruded from the rotation shaft and arranged in an axial direction of the rotation shaft. The stirring rods have tips opposite to an inner surface of the cartridge body. The tips of the stirring rods are separate from each other. The scraping member extends in the axial direction of the rotation shaft to scrape toner adhered to the inner surface of the cartridge body, and includes plural elastically deformable strips divided along the axial direction of the rotation shaft. |
| US08260174B2 |
Micro-tip array as a charging device including a system of interconnected air flow channels
According to various embodiments, there is a charging device including a first conductive layer disposed over a first dielectric layer; a second dielectric layer disposed over a first conductive layer, the second dielectric layer including a plurality of cavities, wherein each of the plurality of cavities exposes a portion of the first conductive layer; a plurality of micro-tips, wherein one of the plurality of micro-tips is disposed within each of the plurality of cavities and on the first conductive layer; a second conductive layer disposed over the second dielectric layer; and a system of interconnected air flow channels disposed in the second dielectric layer and connected to the cavities, such that air injected through an air inlet exits through the plurality of cavities. The charging device can also include one or more power supplies to apply bias voltages to the first and the second conductive layers. |
| US08260173B2 |
Color electrophotographic image forming apparatus
A color image forming apparatus to which cartridges are detachably mountable includes a cartridge supporting member movable between a set position and an outside position; a driving source; a driving member provided opposite to the driving source through the cartridge supporting member, a first driving force transmission member for transmitting a driving force of the driving source; a second driving force transmission member provided oppositely to the first driving force transmission member through the cartridge supporting member; and a third driving force transmission member provided to the cartridge supporting member. The third driving force transmission member is, in a state in which the cartridge supporting member is located at the set position, connected to the first and second driving force transmission members to transmit the driving force of the driving source to the driving member. |
| US08260170B2 |
System to produce a locking connection between a toner reservoir and a cover sealing the toner reservoir
In a method or system to produce a locking connection between a toner reservoir and a cover sealing the toner reservoir, first and second locking units are provided that are locked with one another after sealing the toner reservoir with the cover. The first locking unit is arranged at an inside of the cover and the second locking unit is arranged on an outside of the toner reservoir. At least one of the two locking units has a run-in slope over which the other locking unit slides. |
| US08260166B2 |
Image forming apparatus and electric appliance including a thermoelectric element
A thermoelectric conversion element converts thermal energy of a user into electric power. A holding unit holds the electric power converted by the thermoelectric conversion element, and outputs the electric power. A switching unit switches between a first mode in which electric power is supplied to all units of an image forming apparatus and a second mode in which electric power is supplied to a part of units of the image forming apparatus. When the image forming apparatus is in the second mode, the switching unit switches from the second mode to the first mode upon receiving the electric power output from the holding unit. |
| US08260165B2 |
Image forming apparatus and heater control method
An image forming apparatus includes a halogen heater in a fixing unit; an AC source applying an alternating voltage to the halogen heater; a half-wave control unit that performs the heater half-wave control to control the halogen heater on the half-wavelength basis, according to a heater-on/off pattern set for each control cycle having a predetermined length; a heater-off-time measuring unit that measures heater-off period of time; a phase-control-execution determining unit that determines, based on the measured heater-off period of time, whether the heater phase control is to be performed on the alternating voltage, the phase control being performed by shifting phase of the alternating voltage; and a phase control unit that performs, when the phase control is determined to be performed, the phase control only for a period of time depending on the measured heater-off period of time after switch-on of the heater and before execution of the half-wave control. |
| US08260157B2 |
Image forming apparatus
Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including a body housing in which an opening is formed for providing removal/mounting access of a removable cartridge; a door member for selectively closing the opening. The removable cartridge includes a cartridge status chip in which predetermined information relating to the removable cartridge is recorded. The door member of the image forming apparatus and the removable cartridge may each be provided with respective contact terminal or terminals that engage when the door member is closed with the removable cartridge received in the body housing of the image forming apparatus. The controller of the image forming apparatus uses the electrical continuity information of the contact terminal or terminals in order to determine the closure status of the door member and to control the operation of the image forming apparatus accordingly. |
| US08260156B2 |
Adaptive crossing frequency domain equalization (FDE) in digital PolMux coherent systems
A method for the polarization independent frequency domain equalization (FDE) on polarization multiplexing (POLMUX) coherent systems employing an adaptive crossing FDE which advantageously produces CD compensation, PMD compensation and PolDeMux within one functional block of a digital signal processor (DSP). |
| US08260150B2 |
Passive wave division multiplexed transmitter having a directly modulated laser array
An wave division multiplexed (WDM) optical transmitter is disclosed including a directly modulated laser array and a planar lightwave chip (PLC) having a plurality of OSRs that receive outputs of the laser array and increase the extinction ratio of the received light. An optical multiplexer receives the outputs of the OSRs and couples them to a single output port. The multiplexer has transmission peaks through its ports each having a 0.5 dB bandwidth including the frequency of a laser in the array. The optical multiplexer may be embodied as cascaded Mach-Zehnder interferometers or ring resonators. |
| US08260149B2 |
Carrier-suppressed optical pulse train generating device
The device is structured to have a first electric modulation signal generator, a second electric modulation signal generator, a two-mode beat light source and an optical intensity modulator. The first electric modulation signal generator generates and outputs a first electric modulation signal. The second electric modulation signal generator generates and outputs a second electric modulation signal of a same frequency as the first electric modulation signal and to which a phase difference of δ radians is provided (δ is a real number satisfying 0≦δ≦π). The two-mode beat light source is driven by the first electric modulation signal, and generates and outputs two-mode beat light. The two-mode beat light is inputted to the optical intensity modulator, and the optical intensity modulator generates and outputs a CS optical pulse train. Light transmittance of the optical intensity modulator is modulated by the second electric modulation signal. |
| US08260147B2 |
System-on-chip having optical interconnections
A system for exchanging information in an on-chip communication network using optical flow information for communication between Intellectual Property cores. The information is exchanged between a plurality of initiators and targets in the Intellectual Property cores. The system includes a router for propagating optical flow information from the initiators to the targets. Each initiator includes an interface to convert the traffic generated by the initiator and transmit it in the form of an optical flow within the on-chip communication network, and each target includes an interface to convert information from the optical form into the electrical form. The system is organized as a parametric system and includes programming module to define a first set of high level parameters, a second set of initiator network interface parameters and a third set of target network interface parameters. |
| US08260145B2 |
Digital radio frequency tranceiver system and method
A transceiver architecture for wireless base stations wherein a broadband radio frequency signal is carried between at least one tower-mounted unit and a ground-based unit via optical fibers, or other non-distortive media, in either digital or analog format. Each tower-mounted unit (for both reception and transmission) has an antenna, analog amplifier and an electro-optical converter. The ground unit has ultrafast data converters and digital frequency translators, as well as signal linearizers, to compensate for nonlinear distortion in the amplifiers and optical links in both directions. In one embodiment of the invention, at least one of the digital data converters, frequency translators, and linearizers includes superconducting elements mounted on a cryocooler. |
| US08260142B2 |
Multi-channel optical arrayed time buffer
In communications where synchronization of optical signals containing data is required, a multi-channel optical arrayed time buffer may be used. The time buffer includes multiple delay paths comprising delay elements, some of which can be shared to dispense different delays. In an embodiment, an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) is illustratively used to route an optical signal to a first delay path, which is returnable to the AWG through the first delay path to be rerouted to a second delay path. The total delay affordable to the optical signal is a function of at least a first delay afforded by a delay element in the first delay path, and a second delay afforded by a delay element in the second delay path. In addition, without returning to the AWG, another optical signal may be routed through the second delay path alone to be afforded the second delay only. |
| US08260141B2 |
Method to transform a dynamic analog optical network to a digital representation
A system for enabling reconfiguration of a Wavelength Division Multiplexed (WDM) optical communications network. A plurality of channel transmitters are provided for generating respective optical signals within corresponding wavelength channels of the network. A broadband light source generates a broadband continuous wave light having a bandwidth corresponding to a channel band of the network. A wavelength selective switch includes a first switch port connected to receive optical signals from the channel transmitters. A second switch port is connected to receive the broadband continuous wave light from the broadband light source. The wavelength selective switch is configured to comb the broadband continuous wave light into a plurality of narrowband lights respectively corresponding with wavelength channels of the network. A common-OUT port of the wavelength selective switch outputs a WDM signal for transmission through a downstream fiber span of the network. The wavelength selective switch is controlled to switch optical signals from the first switch port to the common-OUT port as active wavelength channels, and further to switch narrowband lights corresponding to inactive channel wavelengths to the common-OUT port. Consequently, a spectral loading of the WDM signal is independent of the number of active wavelength channels. |
| US08260137B2 |
Receiver for a modulated light signal and method for receiving a modulated light signal
The invention relates to receiving of a modulated light signal from a lighting device, particularly from a solid state lighting (SSL) device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a receiver and a receiving method which are primarily designed to operate efficiently for light (wave) signals that adhere to specific constraints. In order to achieve this object, the invention provides a receiver for a modulated light signal which is keyed with a code sequence of a predefined number of chips, comprising —a light sensor adapted to receive the modulated light signal and to convert it into an electrical signal, —sampling means adapted to take several consecutive samples of the electrical signal during a chip period, and —processing means adapted for calculating for each sample of a chip period an inner product with the chip. |
| US08260135B2 |
Passive optical network system and wavelength assignment method
In a PON system with WDM, at the time of initial setting, each ONU negotiates with an OLT, and automatically acquires a wavelength which can be used by the ONU. One wavelength for negotiation of assigned wavelength is fixed as a default, and a newly connected ONU first uses the wavelength. The OLT 200 includes a plurality of light sources for downstream communication. The ONU 300 includes a wavelength variable filter selectively receiving one of wavelengths of downstream communication, and a wavelength variable light source selectively emitting light of one of plural wavelengths for upstream communication. The ONU 300 uses a transmission wavelength (for example, λu32) for negotiation and transmits a wavelength assignment request 1000 to the OLT 200. The OLT 200 selects a wavelength λu1 to be assigned from unused wavelengths, and transmits wavelength information to the ONU 300. The OLT 200 and the ONU 300 communicates using the notified wavelengths. |
| US08260132B2 |
System and method for cable monitoring
Embodiments include methods, apparatus, and systems for cable monitoring. One embodiment includes a method that receives data from an optical transceiver coupled to a cable and a RFID (radio frequency identification) device mounted to the cable. The data from the optical transceiver and RFID device is used to determine an operational status of the cable. |
| US08260131B2 |
Method and system for providing background blurring when capturing an image using an image capture device
Background blurring is provided when capturing an image using an image capture device. Input is received for initiating an image capture process for capturing an image at an image capture device. A background is automatically blurred based on a depth of field automatically adjusted towards the image capture device for capturing the image with background blurring in response to receiving the input for initiating the image capture process. |
| US08260122B2 |
MPEG picture data recording apparatus, MPEG picture data recording method, MPEG picture data recording medium, MPEG picture data generating apparatus, MPEG picture data reproducing apparatus, and MPEG picture data reproducing method
Executes a re-encoding after decoding data of a connection section A of a first MPEG picture data. This re-encoding is executed based on a control such that a transition of a VBV buffer occupation value starts from a VBV buffer occupation value at a position a and ends with a VBV buffer occupation value at a position d. Up to the position a of the first MPEG picture data, the first MPEG picture data is reproduced. Next, re-encoded MPEG picture data of the connection section A is reproduced. Thereafter, the data is connected to the position d of a second MPEG picture data, and the second MPEG picture data of the position d and after is reproduced. |
| US08260118B2 |
Video reproduction apparatus and video reproduction method
A lateral shake prevention when a video picked up by a digital camera is reproduced is realized, and viewing on a large screen television set is made comfortable.At the time of the image pickup recording, face detection position center coordinate data is recorded in an attribute information unit of a stream as ARI data for each VOBU (GOP) in units of 0.5 seconds. At the time of the reproduction, the ARI data of GOP stream is collectively read ahead in units of RUV at the time of the reproduction of the video included in detection data of the face center position coordinate to read a large number of VOBUs in advance, an interpolation of missing times in units of GOP with respect to the face center position coordinate is performed, and a screen shift amount is subjected to a time axis smoothing computation through a time moving average computation in a frame unit. |
| US08260117B1 |
Automatically recommending content
Techniques are provided for selecting which videos to recommend to users by predicting the degree to which recommending each video will satisfy certain goals. To make the predictions, a trained machine learning engine is fed both collaborative filtering parameter values and content-based filtering parameter values. In the case of video-to-video recommendations, the collaborative filtering parameter values may be based on a video pair that includes a video in which a user has already demonstrated an interest. The machine learning engine generates a machine-learning score for each video. The machine learning scores are used as the basis for selecting which videos to recommend to a particular user. |
| US08260109B2 |
System for digital time shifting and method thereof
A multiplexed packetized data stream carrying real-time multimedia programs is received at a first hardware demultiplexer. Based on a user input, a video and timing portion of a program associated with the multiplexed packetized data stream can be stored for subsequent display. One type of subsequent display is time shifted display, where the stored portion of the program is played back while new portions of the program are being stored. During time shifted play back, a second hardware demultiplexer can be used, so that one demultiplexer stores new data and maintains a current clock value while the other decodes and displays the stored data. |
| US08260108B2 |
Recording and reproduction apparatus and recording and reproduction method
A recording and reproduction apparatus may include an information signal recording section configured to record an information signal on a recording medium; a reproduction section configured to read/reproduce the information signal; a feature amount detection section configured to detect feature amounts of the information signal to be recorded and/or the reproduced information signal; a division detection section configured to detect divisions of the information signal; a keyword obtaining section configured to obtain a keyword; a keyword recording section configured to record the keywords obtained by the keyword obtaining section; a user operation input detection section configured to detect operation input by a user; a user evaluation value generator configured to generate a user evaluation value; a keyword evaluation value accumulation and storage section configured to accumulate the user evaluation value for each of the keywords and store the accumulated evaluation value; and a recommendation section. |
| US08260107B2 |
Disk apparatus, disk apparatus controlling method, program and recording medium
A disk apparatus includes a disk section, a process, section, a disk start control device, and a disk start mode setting device. At the time when power ON operation is carried out, in the case (1) when the disk start mode setting device is set in the disabling mode, the disk start control device carries out control so as to start the processing section without starting a hard disk. And in the case (2) when the disk start mode setting device is set in the enabling mode, the disk start control device carries out control to start the hard disk and the processing section. |
| US08260106B2 |
Sealed optoelectronic isolation connection device and sealed cabin
The present invention provides a sealed optoelectronic isolation connection device which comprises an insulation cylinder, an optical fiber sealing device, and a conduit sealing device; the insulation cylinder is configured to insulate the conduit sealing device and the optical fiber sealing device; the conduit sealing device is provided with a conduit hole, which is configured to accommodate a conduit of an optical cable and sealing the conduit; the optical fiber sealing device is provided with multiple optical fiber holes, which are configured to accommodate optical fibers of the optical cable and sealing the optical fibers; and the optical fiber sealing device and the conduit sealing device are inserted in sequence into the insulation cylinder and seal the insulation cylinder. The device enhances the reliability of the sealed optoelectronic isolation connection device. |
| US08260103B2 |
Multimode optical fibers
A multimode optical fiber has an equivalent modal dispersion value (DMDinner&outer) of less than 0.11 ps/m for (Δλmax×D)>0.07 ps/m as measured on a modified DMD graph. The modified DMD graph accounts for chromatic dispersion to ensure that the multimode optical fiber has a calculated effective bandwidth EBc greater than 6000 MHz-km when used with multimode transverse sources. |
| US08260100B2 |
Light guiding layer with integrated mixing and light extracting region
A light guiding layer comprises an optical incoupling structure (3) on which light from a light source (7) is incident, said optical incoupling structure (3) having a slanted surface (15) configured to give the light a first directional distribution by reflecting the light in a first general direction, by total internal reflection within the layer, towards a reflecting structure (5). The reflecting structure (5) is configured to give the light a second directional distribution by reflecting the light in a second general direction towards the optical incoupling structure (3), and at least a part of the light reflected in the second general direction is transmitted through the slanted surface (15) of the optical incoupling structure (3). A display unit, a segmented backlight, a luminaire, and a method is also disclosed. |
| US08260082B2 |
Pet eye correction
Correction of color defects in a pupil represented in a digital image is disclosed. For example, a location in the pupil within the digital image is identified, and a target color to be corrected is computed based at least upon an analysis of pixels within a first region in which the location resides. Defect pixels in a second region in which the location resides are identified, the defect pixels being identified as having a pixel color similar to the target color. The defect pixels are color-corrected. For pupils that appear all white, appropriately configured pupil images are inserted therein. |
| US08260079B2 |
Video acquisition with processing based on ancillary data
Systems and techniques for processing sequences of video images involve receiving, on a computer, data corresponding to a sequence of video images detected by an image sensor. The received data is processed using a graphics processor to adjust one or more visual characteristics of the video images corresponding to the received data. The received data can include video data defining pixel values and ancillary data relating to settings on the image sensor. The video data can be processed in accordance with ancillary data to adjust the visual characteristics, which can include filtering the images, blending images, and/or other processing operations. |
| US08260077B2 |
Method and apparatus for eliminating image blur
A method for eliminating image blur, includes: performing motion detection on two successive images of a video signal to generate a motion index; and adjusting the luminance of the two successive images according to two transfer functions determined by the motion index, respectively. |
| US08260076B1 |
Constant time filtering
A system for filtering an image using a bilateral filter includes a receiver and a bilateral filter. The receiver is for receiving an image having a plurality of pixels. The bilateral filter is run in constant time and comprises a pixel value range determinor and a spatial filter. The pixel value range determinor is configured to determine a range of pixel values of the plurality of pixels. The spatial filter is configured to spatially filter at least one of the plurality of pixels. The spatial filter is further configured to perform over a plurality of pixel values in the range of pixel values. |
| US08260074B2 |
Apparatus and method for measuring depth and method for computing image defocus and blur status
An apparatus and a method for measuring the depth of an object in a scene and a method for computing image defocus and blur status are provided. An image analysis unit receives a plurality of reference blurred images, analyzes the reference blurred images, produces reference grey-scale distribution data, where the reference blurred images corresponds to a plurality of reference depths, respectively. A blur comparison module produces a blur model according to the reference grey-scale distribution data and the corresponding reference depths. The image analysis unit receives a target blurred image, analyzes the target blurred image, and produces and transmits target grey-scale distribution data to the blur comparison module for comparing the target grey-scale distribution data according to the blur model, and producing depth information. Moreover, the present invention further produces the corresponding blur status data, used in defocus and blur computations, according to the defocused and blurred image. |
| US08260073B2 |
Selective local transient improvement and peaking for video sharpness enhancement
A method of selectively sharpening an image may include, for at least some pixels in the image, determining a frequency content associated with a pixel value in the image. The pixel may be linearly sharpened if the frequency content exceeds a threshold. The pixel may be non-linearly sharpened if the frequency content does not exceed the threshold. In some implementations, the non-linear sharpening may include wavelet decomposition of the image and enhancement of decomposed components. |
| US08260071B2 |
Method, system and computer program product for providing entropy constrained color splitting for palette images with color-wise splitting
A method, system and computer program product for progressively encoding a digitized color image is provided. This involves: initializing a tree structure with at least one starting leaf node; determining at least one representative color for each starting leaf node; and growing the tree structure by (i) selecting a leaf node n to become a non-leaf node n linked to two new leaf nodes based on an associated achievable cost; (ii) creating the two new leaf nodes by re-allocating each color in n; (iii) determining a representative color for each of the two new leaf nodes; and (iv) encoding the index information associated with the leaf node n, the representative colors of the two new leaf nodes, and information regarding a plurality of pixels of the digitized color image corresponding to the two representative colors of the two new leaf nodes. |
| US08260070B1 |
Method and system to generate a compressed image utilizing custom probability tables
An optimized method and system to generate a compressed image utilizing custom probability tables are described. The system may include a input module to receive a digital image, a sample generator to generate a representative sample image from the input image, a custom probability tables generator to generate custom probability tables and an entropy coder to encode the input image utilizing the custom probability tables. The custom probability tables generator may be configured to generate custom probability tables utilizing the representative sample image. |
| US08260067B2 |
Detection technique for digitally altered images
Techniques are generally described to determine whether a JPEG image has undergone two compressions. Probabilities can be computed for the first digits of quantized DCT (discrete cosine transform) coefficients from a set of AC (alternate current) modes to detect or determine whether the JPEG image has undergone two compressions. The set of AC modes may include a predetermined number of distinguishable AC modes where a distinguishable AC mode may be an AC mode in which a second quantization step (QS2) is not an integer multiple of the first quantization step (QS1). Classifiers may be created during a training process, and later may be used to assist in determining whether a suspect JPEG image has undergone two compressions. When the classifiers support a multi-classification system, described detection techniques may also be arranged to determine a primary quality factor for the double compressed JPEG image. |
| US08260066B2 |
Image processing
An image block comprising multiple image elements is compressed into at least one base codeword, interval codeword and index sequence. The respective bit-length of at least two of the codewords and the index sequence are dynamically defined based on the original vector components of the image elements, though the total bit length of the resulting compressed block is constant. The base codeword represents a base value and the interval codeword represents an interval. This interval encompasses multiple component values relative the base value. The index sequence is indicative of, for each image element, a component value selected from the multiple available values. |
| US08260061B2 |
Image data output processing apparatus and image data output processing method
In an image data output processing apparatus of the present invention, an image matching section is capable of determining whether a similarity exists between each image of an N-up document and a reference document when input image data is indicative of the N-up document. An output process control section is capable of regulating an output process of each image in accordance with a result of determining whether the similarity exists between each image of the N-up document and the reference document. This allows detecting with high accuracy a document image under regulation on the output process and regulating the output process, when the input image data is indicative of an N-up document and includes the document image under regulation on the output process. |
| US08260054B2 |
Methods for matching image-based texual information with regular expressions
A method for matching an image-form textual string in an image to a regular expression is disclosed. The method includes constructing a representation of the regular expression and generating a candidate string of characters from the image-form textual string. The method further includes ascertaining whether there exists a match between the image-form textual string and the regular expression, the match is deemed achieved if a probability value associated with the match is above a predetermined matching threshold. |
| US08260053B2 |
Device and method for virtualizing an image sensor
A method virtualizes an image sensor. The method comprises selecting one of at least two portions of a filter to use as a function of a mode of operation. The method comprises capturing an image using the selected one of the at least two portions. The method comprises executing a functionality using data extracted from the image. The functionality corresponds to the mode of operation. |
| US08260048B2 |
Segmentation-based image processing system
A digital image can be processed by an image processing method that calculates a gradient map for the digital image, calculates a density function for the gradient map, calculates a modified gradient map using the gradient map, the density function and the selected scale level, and segments the modified gradient map. Prior to segmenting the modified gradient map, a sub-image of the digital image can be segmented at the selected scale level to determine if the selected scale level will give the desired segmentation. |
| US08260043B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, image processing method, and recording medium on which image processing program is recorded
Based on average values for respective color components calculated by an average value calculating section, a histogram generating section obtains, for respective pixels of interest, a maximum value of the average values among the color components and a maximum difference in the average values among the color components, and generates histograms respectively for the maximum value and the maximum difference in which histograms a number of pixels for a density bin is considered as a frequency-of-occurrence value. A determination section obtains a number of density bin having a predetermined frequency-of-occurrence value or more for each of the histograms for the maximum value and the maximum difference, and determines that the data of image is of a blank page image when both of the numbers of density bins are not greater than a bin threshold value which is set according to scanning modes or printing modes. |
| US08260039B2 |
Object model fitting using manifold constraints
Aspects of the present invention include systems and methods for forming generative models, for utilizing those models, or both. In embodiments, an object model fitting system can be developed comprising a 3D active appearance model (AAM) model. The 3D AAM comprises an appearance model comprising a set of subcomponent appearance models that is constrained by a 3D shape model. In embodiments, the 3D AAM may be generated using a balanced set of training images. The object model fitting system may further comprise one or more manifold constraints, one or more weighting factors, or both. Applications of the present invention include, but are not limited to, modeling and/or fitting face images, although the teachings of the present invention can be applied to modeling/fitting other objects. |
| US08260035B2 |
Threshold determination in an inspection system
A method and system for inspecting a surface of a semiconductor workpiece comprises providing a surface inspection system and using the surface inspection apparatus to cause laser light to impinge upon a test location on the workpiece surface and thereby cause the laser light to emerge from the surface as returned light comprising at least one of reflected light and scatter light; collecting the returned light and generating a signal from the returned and collected light, the signal comprising a signal value representative of a characteristic of the workpiece surface at the test location; providing a plurality of threshold candidates and causing the surface inspection system to select a threshold from among the plurality of threshold candidates; comparing the threshold to the signal value to obtain a difference value; using the difference value to assess the characteristic of the workpiece surface at the test location; and using the surface inspection system to automatically cause the method to be repeated for a plurality of test locations on the workpiece surface. |
| US08260030B2 |
Inspection method
In order to set an inspection area, a measurement target is disposed onto a stage, a reference data of the measurement target is summoned, and a measurement data of the measurement target is acquired. Then, at least one feature object is selected in the measurement data and the reference data of the measurement target, and at least one feature variable for the selected feature object is extracted from each of the reference data and the measurement data. Thereafter, a change amount of the measurement target is produced by using the feature variable and a quantified conversion formula, and the produced change amount is compensated for to set an inspection area. Thus, the distortion of the measurement target is compensated for to correctly set an inspection area. |
| US08260028B2 |
Off-axis sheet-handling apparatus and technique for transmission-mode measurements
An apparatus (2) and method, for measuring process-induced features in a transparent sheet (10). The apparatus includes a light source (100), an imaging device (80), and a support structure (30) disposed between the light source and the imaging device. The support structure is configured and arranged to support the transparent sheet so that measurement error induced by the support structure is viewed by the imaging device as extending along or parallel to a first axis (46, 54) that is oblique to a second axis (22, 24) along or parallel to which the process-induced features in the transparent sheet extend when viewed by the imaging device. |
| US08260023B2 |
Forward projection for the generation of computed tomography images at arbitrary spectra
The present technology relates to the generation of a CT image under an arbitrary energy spectrum based on the results of a dual energy scan. In certain embodiments, a dual energy scan is conducted of an object and material basis decomposition is used to decompose the scanned object into two basis materials with known attenuation properties resulting in material density images. Along with knowledge of other imaging system information, forward projection is done under an arbitrary kV spectrum to generate an image as if the scanned object was scanned under this different kV spectrum. This prevents users from conducting unnecessary additional scans. |
| US08260021B2 |
Method for correction of distortion in image data records recorded by means of a magnetic resonance scanner, as well as a computer program, image processing unit and magnetic resonance scanner for carrying out the method
A method is disclosed which calculates local shifts of image elements in a loaded image data record which has been recorded by a magnetic resonance scanner using known recording parameters. In at least one embodiment, the known recording parameters and known local discrepancies of a basic magnetic field of the magnetic resonance scanner in a measurement volume of the magnetic resonance scanner are used to calculate the local shifts. A corrected image data record is created on the basis of the calculated shifts and the loaded image data record. This corrected image data record is finally displayed and/or stored. Furthermore, a computer program, an image processing unit and a magnetic resonance scanner for carrying out the method are disclosed. |
| US08260018B2 |
Methods for the compensation of imaging technique in the processing of radiographic images
The present invention relates to methods and devices for analyzing x-ray images. In particular, devices, methods and algorithms are provided that allow for the accurate and reliable evaluation of bone structure and macro-anatomical parameters from x-ray images. |
| US08260016B2 |
Image processing system, image processing method, and computer readable medium
Provided is an image processing system, including a depth calculating section that calculates a depth of an object from a surface of a body, the object existing inside the body; a light receiving section that receives light from the object; and a substance amount calculating section that calculates an amount of a substance, which generates the light received by the light receiving section, inside the object based on the depth of the object calculated by the depth calculating section and an amount of light received by the light receiving section. |
| US08260009B2 |
System and method for measuring clarity of images used in an iris recognition system
An image quality measuring method enables a biometric image to be evaluated to determine whether the biometric image data are adequate for identification processing. The method includes converting a biometric image to dimensionless image data, filtering the dimensionless image data with a band pass filter, identifying a plurality of portions in the filtered data as containing identification features, each portion in the plurality having an information measurement that indicates feature content greater than portions in the filtered data that are excluded from the plurality, and measuring clarity for the biometric image from the identified plurality of portions in the filtered data. |
| US08260008B2 |
Methods for performing biometric recognition of a human eye and corroboration of same
A method of biometric recognition is provided. Multiple images of the face or other non-iris image and iris of an individual are acquired. If the multiple images are determined to form an expected sequence of images, the face and iris images are associated together. A single camera preferably acquires both the iris and face images by changing at least one of the zoom, position, or dynamic range of the camera. The dynamic range can be adjusted by at least one of adjusting the gain settings of the camera, adjusting the exposure time, and/or adjusting the illuminator brightness. The expected sequence determination can be made by determining if the accumulated motion vectors of the multiple images is consistent with an expected set of motion vectors and/or ensuring that the iris remains in the field of view of all of the multiple images. |
| US08260005B2 |
Portable tool for determining meat quality
A system, method and device for grading of meat such as bovine, porcine, sheep, horse or poultry meat among others. The device of this invention is a portable tool, which is approached toward a meat specimen to be analyzed and captures an image. The device then objectively relates the image to meat quality parameters by means of an image analyzing method. The device and method solve, in a practical, fast and satisfactory way, the problem of determining meat quality parameters such as texture, color, and contained intramuscular fat percentage. |
| US08260004B2 |
Method and apparatus for the quantitative determination of surface properties
The present disclosure relates to a method for the quantitative determination of surface properties, wherein a spatially resolved image of a surface to be analysed, which contains a large number of measured values, is recorded. In a first method step, the measured values are analysed in order to determine those surface areas which have a specific physical property. A result value of this physical property is then determined, wherein this result value is characteristic of the values of the physical property of all those surface areas of the image determined by analyzing the image. According to the disclosure, the result value is displayed against the size of the determined surface areas. |
| US08260003B2 |
Image-signal processor, image-signal processing method, and program for tracking a moving object
An image-signal processing apparatus configured to track an object moving in an image includes a setting unit configured to set an eliminating area in an image constituting a moving image; a motion-vector detecting unit configured to detect an object in the image constituting a moving image and detect a motion vector corresponding to the object using an area excluding the eliminating area in the image; and an estimating unit configured to estimate a position to which the object moves on the basis of the detected motion vector. |
| US08260002B2 |
Video analytics system, computer program product, and associated methodology for efficiently using SIMD operations
A video analytics system and associated methodology for performing low-level video analytics processing divides the processing into three phases in order to efficiently use SIMD instructions of many modern data processors. In the first phase, pixels of interest are gathered using a predetermined mask and placed into a pixel matrix. In the second phase, video analytics processing is performed on the pixel matrix, and in the third phase the pixels are scattered using the same predetermined mask. This allows many pixels to be processed simultaneously, increasing overall performance. A DMA unit may also be used to offload the processor during the gathering and scattering of pixels, further increasing performance. A network camera integrates the video analytics system to reduce network traffic. |
| US08260001B2 |
Method and system for recognizing target parking location of vehicle by detecting range data
Disclosed is a method and a system for recognizing a target parking location of a vehicle. The system includes a scanning laser radar for detecting range data reflected and directed from a rear surface of the vehicle; a preprocessing unit for preprocessing the range data to extract effective clusters; a corner recognition unit for extracting obstacle corners from the effective clusters; and a parking location setting unit for recognizing a main reference corner, which is closest to a subjective vehicle and has an adjacent space satisfying an available parking space condition, and a sub reference corner, which exists toward the adjacent space in a direction opposite to a vehicle width direction from the main reference corner, and corresponds to a point on a closest effective cluster within a distance between a vehicle width and a vehicle length, from the obstacle corners to set a target parking location. |
| US08259999B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting movement direction of object
An apparatus for detecting movement direction of object, includes a converging lens, an image sensor and an image processor. The converging lens has an axial chromatic aberration between a first and a second rays in different wavelengths. The image sensor is for receiving and converting the first and second rays into first and second electronic image signals associated with the object. The image processor is configured for analyzing whether the object is closer to an object plane associated with the first ray or closer to an object plane associated with the second ray when the object moves to different positions, and determining the movement direction of the object based on the analyzed positions of the object relative to the object plane associated with the first ray and the object plane associated with the second ray. |
| US08259998B2 |
Image processing device for vehicle
An image processing device comprising a camera to pick up frame images at the times, a basic template creating portion to create a basic template of a picked-up object in the first image, an image transformation parameter calculating portion to calculate a transformation matrix to execute an image transformation of an object of the first image to an object of the second image, a template transforming portion to create a transformation template by transforming the basic template with the transformation matrix, and a template matching processing portion to execute a template matching processing to the second image with the transformation template to detect the object and to determine that the picked-up object in the second image is identical to the basic template when a matching degree by the matching means is higher than a specified degree. |
| US08259994B1 |
Using image and laser constraints to obtain consistent and improved pose estimates in vehicle pose databases
A system for pose generation consisting of a trajectory system, a pose generation system, an intersection extractor, an object identifier, a constraint generator, and a posegraph solver. The trajectory system identifies a number of trajectories based on input positional data of a bounded area. The pose generation system generates one or more poses based on the trajectories. The intersection extractor identifies one or more possible intersections in the one or more poses. The object identifier identifies an object pair for each possible intersection that represents two positional points at each possible intersection. The constraint generator computes and applies one or more intersection constraints to generate an energy value for each object pair based on their geometric relationship. The posegraph solver then minimizes a total energy value by modifying one or more poses and then generates an improved set of pose trajectories based on the modified one or more poses. A method of pose generation is also presented. |
| US08259992B2 |
Multiple audio/video data stream simulation method and system
A multiple audio/video data stream simulation method and system. A computing system receives first audio and/or video data streams. The first audio and/or video data streams include data associated with a first person and a second person. The computing system monitors the first audio and/or video data streams. The computing system identifies emotional attributes comprised by the first audio and/or video data streams. The computing system generates second audio and/or video data streams associated with the first audio and/or video data streams. The second audio and/or video data streams include the first audio and/or video data streams data without the emotional attributes. The computing system stores the second audio and/or video data streams. |
| US08259991B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus embedding information in an image by combining multiple predetermined patterns with the image is disclosed that includes a level determination part configured to determine at least one of the levels of conditions to be added regarding the disposition of the predetermined patterns, to which at least one of the levels the information to be embedded belongs; and a pattern combining part configured to combine the predetermined patterns with the image in accordance with the condition corresponding to the information to be embedded at the determined at least one of the levels. If the information to be embedded belongs to two or more of the levels, the pattern combining part combines the predetermined patterns so that the conditions corresponding to the information to be embedded are satisfied at the two or more of the levels. |
| US08259990B2 |
Monitoring and operation image integrating system of plants and monitoring and operation image integrating method
A monitoring and operation image integrating system include: a display signal synthesizing unit to which a display signal from a plurality of safety equipments and that from non-safety equipment are inputted, and which synthesizes a display signal from the plural safety equipments and a display signal from the non-safety equipment; display signal switching unit to which a state signal showing an operation state of whether or not each monitoring and operation screen image of the plural safety equipments displays an operating device of the equipment, is inputted, and which switches a display signal from a safety equipment to be synthesized by the display signal synthesizing unit based on the inputted state signals; and an integrated monitoring and operation screen display that displays a display signal synthesized by the display signal synthesizing unit as an integrated monitoring and operation screen of a plant. |
| US08259989B2 |
Identifying image content
Identifying content and authorizing sharing thereof based at least in part on extracting feature data from content to be shared and comparing this extracted feature data against a database of extracted feature data for various reference content. When the content to be shared is matched to reference content in the database, sharing may be simply rejected, or rights associated with the reference content may be inspected to facilitate determining authorization. |
| US08259988B2 |
Image processing system, information processing device, and computer program
It is an object to provide an image processing system, an information processing apparatus and a computer program, capable of utilizing a data protection function possessed by the image processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus connected to a communication network together with one or more image processing apparatuses acquires from each of the image processing apparatuses a protection function information which indicates whether or not an image processing apparatus has a data protection function for protecting data by encrypting or the like, and intensity information representing an intensity of data protection of the data protection function. The information processing apparatus outputs a list of the image processing apparatuses together with a key mark and security level representing the intensity of data protection in numeral about each image processing apparatus having the data protection function so as to accept selection of the image processing apparatus by which an image is processed. |
| US08259982B2 |
Reducing acoustic coupling to microphone on printed circuit board
A mobile computing device comprises a printed circuit board, a processing circuit, a surface mount microphone, and a vibration attenuation portion. The processing circuit is disposed on a first portion of the printed circuit board. The surface mount microphone is disposed on a second portion of the printed circuit board. The vibration attenuation portion of the board is configured to attenuate vibrations from the first to the second portion of the printed circuit board. |
| US08259973B2 |
Integrated automatic telephone switch
Methods and apparatus for a hearing aid include a mechanism to detect the presence of a magnetic field using a magnetic sensing device disposed in a hearing aid, to digitally modify a frequency response of the hearing aid in response to the detection of the presence, and to modify the frequency response of the hearing aid in response to the magnetic sensing device determining removal of the magnetic field. |
| US08259969B2 |
High-frequency pneumatic loudspeaker for audio broadcasting
A high-frequency pneumatic loudspeaker for sound broadcasting is provided, and comprises a housing, silencer exhaust holes, air inlet port, supporting plate, throat canal, central cone, annular nozzle, obstructing ring, and a voice coil and leads. Lower and an upper press plates hold the obstructing ring and the voice coil in position, a magnet having inner and outer magnetic poles is connected therewith, wherein a small gap exists between the obstructing ring and the end of the annular nozzle. This provides the advantages of both air passage area modulation by a sleeve air valve and airstream direction modulation by jet obstruction, reduces airstream consumption, improves air-sound conversion efficiency, and improves structures of an annular air flow-splitter, voice coil and leads. A cooling system is provided to improve high-frequency modulation sensitivity, operation stability, and/or extended fault-free operation time. |
| US08259964B2 |
Sound device
A sound device includes an input terminal for electronic signal input; a line out terminal adapted to output electronic signals input on the input terminal to an external area; a delay arrangement adapted to delay electronic signals input on the input terminal for a certain time; a main output arrangement adapted to output electronic signals delayed by the delay arrangement. The delay arrangement delays signals in order to accommodate a time difference between (1) electronic signals output from an external sound device connected with the line output terminal and (2) electronic signals output from the main output arrangement. The time difference between sound that is output from the sound device and the one that is output from an external sound device that is connected with line connection terminal can be eliminated. Thus, it can prevent sound quality decrease due to time difference from happening. |
| US08259961B2 |
Audio processing apparatus and program
In an audio processing apparatus, a signal processor controls a volume of a sound signal provided to a sound emitting device. An adaptive filter determines an adaptive signal so as to minimize a magnitude of an error signal. A subtractor generates the error signal represented by a difference between the adaptive signal and an observation signal generated by a sound receiving device. A magnitude ratio calculator calculates a magnitude ratio of the observation signal relative to the error signal or a magnitude ratio of the adaptive signal relative to the error signal for each frame that is sequentially segmented from the error signal along a time axis. A controller variably controls a gain of the volume of the sound signal according to the magnitude of the error signal and the magnitude ratio. |
| US08259960B2 |
Phase layering apparatus and method for a complete audio signal
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for redeeming otherwise closed and concealed information contained in audio signals. This includes both the primary reference signal, and a plurality of redundant duplicate signals, substantially identical in all respects to the primary reference signal except in relation to magnitude and phase, for the purpose of unfolding, or opening the audio signal content into layers that result in an omni-directional acoustic signal, representing the sound as it would behave in nature. The audio reproduction system uses an in-phase circuit and a separate phase layering technique circuit to drive independent multiple mixed channels, to produce an open, substantially complete sound from a discrete audio signal, for the purpose of enabling a substantially complete audio signal to be formed, or to transform existing incomplete audio signals into a substantially complete audio signal. |
| US08259959B2 |
Toroid microphone apparatus
A video teleconferencing directional microphone includes two microphone elements arranged coincidentally on a vertical axis. The two microphone elements are placed on a supporting surface so that a first microphone element is on the surface, and the second microphone elements are elevated above the supporting surface. The directional microphone also includes filters, an adder assembly, and an equalizer, which are used to shape the directivity pattern of the directional microphone into a toroid sensitivity pattern. The toroid sensitivity pattern increases sensitivity in the direction of a sound source of interest, while simultaneously reduces sensitivity to any sound waves generated by noise sources from certain elevation angles. |
| US08259958B2 |
Engine sound control apparatus and control method
An engine sound control apparatus capable of arranging a sound of a frequency that is lower than the fundamental-order frequency of the engine. The engine sound control apparatus detects the frequency of the engine sound and generates a sound signal of a frequency that is in accordance with a control signal and outputting the sound signal generated by the oscillator. Through the interaction between the sound generated by the apparatus and the engine sound, occupants in the passenger compartment will perceive a sound of a frequency that is equal to the difference between the generated sound and the fundamental-order sound. This yields a sound that is lower in frequency than the fundamental-order sound without actually generating a sound of a frequency that is lower than that of the fundamental-order sound. |
| US08259956B2 |
Information processing apparatus and information processing method
An information processing apparatus includes a jack, a noise-canceling section, a judgment section, and a first regulation section. The jack is connectable with a plug of a headphone including a microphone, outputs a first signal to the headphone, and inputs a second signal from the microphone. The noise-canceling section generates a third signal that cancels a noise component around the headphone based on the second signal input from the jack and enables an operation of superposing the third signal on the first signal. The judgment section judges whether at least one of the first signal and the second signal exceeds a predetermined level. The first regulation section regulates an operation of the noise-canceling section when the judgment section detects that the predetermined level is exceeded. |
| US08259952B2 |
Vehicle entertainment system having ground noise reduction and method of operating the same
A vehicle entertainment system and method that alternately configures an input of the entertainment system as a differential input that is decoupled from a ground point, or as ground referenced input that is coupled to a ground point. A noise detector determines a noise signal value for a ground switch module that alternately changes a switch state between a coupled state that couples the common connection to the ground point, and a decoupled state that decouples the common connection from the ground point, based upon the noise signal value being greater than a threshold. |
| US08259951B2 |
Method and system for managing encryption key
Conventionally, an encryption key for encrypting data to be backed up in a tape cannot be allocated for each logical data management unit. To solve the problem, provided is a storage system including: a disk storage device; a tape storage device in which a tape storage medium is loaded; and a controller for controlling the disk storage device and the tape storage device, in which the controller is configured to: generate, upon reception of a request for setting a tape group including one or more tape storage media, a first encryption key used for encrypting data stored in the tape group set by the request; and hold information for correlating the generated first encryption key with the tape group. |
| US08259948B2 |
Virtual TPM key migration using hardware keys
The present subject matter is related to trusted computing, and more particularly to migration of virtual trusted platform module keys that are rooted in a hardware trusted platform module. Some embodiments include a trusted platform virtualization module that may perform one or more of inbound and outbound trusted platform module key migrations. Such migrations may be performed between a virtual trusted platform module and either a hardware or a virtual trusted platform module. |
| US08259937B2 |
Creating method, information introducing system, creating apparatus, computer program, and recording medium
There are provided a method and others capable of appropriately protecting literary works without requiring any operation by a web site administrator or a user. A web server transmits a content, copyright information on the content, and execution information for introducing the content to a creation device. The creation device receives the transmitted content, copyright information, and execution information. When the content is introduced in association with the transmitted execution information, the creation device extracts the copyright information on the transmitted content and transmits the address of the content and the extracted copyright information to a creation program for creating a web page. |
| US08259935B2 |
Secure communication method and system
In a secure communication system, a first communication device includes a first list of numbers and a first number selector for periodically selecting a different number in the first list. The first communication device further includes a first encryption key generator for generating a first encryption key based on the selected number for generating an encrypted message. A second communication device includes a receiver for receiving the encrypted message, a second list of numbers identical to the first list of numbers, and a second number selector synchronized with the first number selector so as to select the same number as the first number selector, and a second encryption key generator for generating a second encryption key identical to the first encryption key. The second communication device decrypts the encrypted message using the second encryption key. An associated method for providing secure communication of a message between parties is also provided. |
| US08259930B2 |
Waterproof structure and electronic equipment
With a waterproof structure for the space between a first case and a diaphragm doubling as a display panel provided facing the first case, a first resilient member is integrally formed at a surface of the diaphragm facing the first case, and the first resilient member is press-fitted into a groove formed in a surface of the first case facing the diaphragm side. |
| US08259926B1 |
System and method for 2-channel and 3-channel acoustic echo cancellation
Systems and methods for providing acoustic echo cancellation are provided. Primary and secondary acoustic signals are received by a communication device. The acoustic signals may include loudspeaker leakage. A null coefficient is then adaptively determined for each subband of the secondary acoustic signal. The null coefficient is applied to the secondary acoustic signal to generate a coefficient-modified signal. The coefficient-modified signal is subtracted from the primary acoustic signal to generate a masked acoustic signal with reduced or no echo. The masked acoustic signal may be output. |
| US08259923B2 |
Implementing a contact center using open standards and non-proprietary components
The present invention discloses an open contact center formed from multiple contact center components that conform to open standards and that intercommunicate utilizing open standards. The open contact center can provide automated interactive communications with callers, can provide queue management for callers waiting to communicate with live agents, can provide skills based routing for assigning live agents to callers based upon skills of the live agents and skills needed by the callers, and can provide tooling for provisioning and monitoring the live agents. In one configuration, the contact center components can execute within a middleware solution, such as WEBSPHERE, that has IP Multimedia Subsystem capability. Additionally, the contact center components can be implemented as service oriented architecture (SOA) components that communicate over an enterprise service bus (ESB). |
| US08259922B2 |
Emulation of private branch exchange behavior
An apparatus and methods are disclosed for use by organizations that have PBXs at a plurality of sites. The invention pertains to cell phone calls from an to his or her “home” private branch exchange. For example, an employee who works at the Chicago branch office might call the Chicago office's PBX to invoke a feature such as setting up call forwarding, retrieving voice mail, etc. In the illustrative embodiment, such calls might be automatically and transparently directed to another PBX when it is advantageous to do so (e.g., for the purposes of security, reducing toll charges, because of unavailability of a particular PBX, etc.) Factors that might be used to determine whether to re-direct a call and to which PBX to re-direct a call include the day and time of the call, the network that the cell phone is currently connected to, etc. |
| US08259920B2 |
Call extension in telecommunications systems
A method is disclosed that enables a user of one telecommunications terminal that is engaged in a call to move or “extend” the call to a second telecommunications terminal without notifying any other party on the call of the move. This is particularly useful in many situations. For example, the user might be at work and engaged in a call with a client on the user's wireline desk telephone. If the user needs to leave the office, the user can extend the call to his or her cell phone, while the call is in progress, without notifying the client. This enables the user to leave the office and continue the call on his or her cell phone without having the client ever know that the user is on his or her cell phone and not in the office. |
| US08259915B2 |
System and method to analyze calls to advertised telephone numbers
A system and method for analyzing information associated with voice calls placed during a telephone number advertising campaign is described. The system receives information characterizing voice calls to advertiser telephone numbers and information from advertisers such as information about the outcome of the voice call (e.g., conversion information). The system correlates the voice call information with the advertiser information and generates reports based on the correlated information. The system can perform or enable the performance of other actions based on the correlated information. For example, the system may modify an ongoing advertising campaign based on an analysis of the correlated information. |
| US08259914B2 |
System and method for a secure log-on to a communications system comprising network connection and connection handling computers
In one aspect, communication link established from a communication unit to a communications system. A request message is transmitted from a communication unit to the work connection computer and checked with the aid of a user profile of the communication unit, to verify whether the communication unit has log-on authorization. If the verification of the request message is positive, the request message is forwarded from the network connection computer to the connection handling computer in the form of a modified request message. The modified request message is analyzed by the connection handling computer with the aid of an authentication profile of the network connection computer. Once the modified request message has been positively analyzed and the communication unit has been successfully registered, a response message is transmitted from the connection handling computer to the communication unit. |
| US08259913B2 |
Method for enhancing processing priority, method for implementing interactive service, method for generating customized IVR flow, and corresponding apparatus and system
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, apparatus and system for enhancing a processing priority. The method include: acquiring a predefined processing priority which includes a first priority and a second priority; and adjusting the first priority and/or the second priority to a third priority higher than the first priority and/or a fourth priority higher than the second priority respectively according to relevant information of a subscriber. The embodiments of the present invention adjust the processing priority of service according to the relevant information of the subscriber, to make the adjusted processing priority be higher than the predefined processing priority; therefore, it can provide different subscribers with customized service information providing sequences according to their operation habits, so as to simplify the procedure for service operation, shorten the time interval for service operation, and realize the customization for service operation. |
| US08259912B2 |
On-hold message system
A programmable in-the-skin or intelligently connected message on hold delivery system is disclosed which comprises a message storage system and a processor for generating prompts which are transmitted to a control device. The prompts are received at the control device and allow an operator to select from a number of options in order to select, among other things, certain ones of the messages stored on said message storage system for playback, as well as the sequence in which said messages are to be played back. The message playback devices are each provided with one or more libraries of messages, and comprise at least one or more audio and/or visual advertising messages. Said system enables the user to start a pre-recorded audio or visual message at the beginning each time a caller is placed on hold in the telephone system. |
| US08259909B2 |
Method of notifying a party of an emergency
An emergency notification system. The system includes a first server for receiving a communication from a telecommunications network and for transmitting a message to a subscriber of the notification system. The system also includes a second server in communication with the first server, the second server for supplying the first server with information associated with a subscriber. |
| US08259907B2 |
System and method for assisting field communications technicians in repairing communications lines
A system and method for assisting telephone service technicians in repairing communications lines may include storing test parameters for testing operation of a communications line. An operational parameter of communications over the communications line may be tested and a determination as to whether the operational parameter meets an operational criteria established by at least one of the test parameters may be made. The measured operational parameters and a test result indicator may be stored. If the operational parameter met the operational criteria, then an indication that the operational parameter passed a test may be made. Otherwise, (i) an indication that the operational parameter did not pass the test, (ii) possible causes for the operational parameter failing the test, and (iii) recommendations for correcting at least one possible problem that lead to the operational parameter not passing the test may be displayed for a technician. |
| US08259905B2 |
X-ray tube having a rotating and linearly translating anode
The X-ray tube having a rotating and linearly translating anode includes an evacuated shell having a substantially cylindrical anode rotatably mounted therein. The substantially cylindrical anode may be rotated through the usage of any suitable rotational drive, and the substantially cylindrical anode is further selectively and controllably linearly translatable about the rotating longitudinal axis thereof. A cathode is further mounted within the evacuated shell for producing an electron beam that impinges on an outer surface of the substantially cylindrical anode, thus forming a focal spot thereon. X-rays are generated from the focal spot and are transmitted through an X-ray permeable window formed in the evacuated shell. |
| US08259897B2 |
Computed tomography method and apparatus for centre-of-rotation determination
A method and apparatus is disclosed for determining the central ray of scanning an object on a detector in a computer tomography system. The method comprises producing a fan beam of x-rays at a fixed x-ray source and detecting the x-rays at the detector. The scanning projection data of the object under examination is received and the object is rotated under examination using a manipulator. After calculating the opposite projection pixel position and projection angle for each pixel, a mismatching is measured between the grey levels of all pixels and their calculated opposite projection pixels with a set of assumed central ray, and identifying the minimum of the measurement as the true central ray. |
| US08259895B2 |
Bidirectional shifter register and method of driving same
A bidirectional shift register includes first, second, third and fourth control signal bus lines for providing first, second, third and fourth control signals, Bi1, Bi2, Bi3 and Bi4, respectively, and a plurality of shift register stages electrically coupled in serial, each shift register stage having first and second input nodes, where the shift register stages are grouped into a first section and a second section, where the first and second input nodes of each shift register stage in the first section are electrically coupled to the first and second control signal bus lines for receiving the first and second control signals Bi1 and Bi2, respectively, and the first and second input nodes of each shift register stage in the second section are electrically coupled to the third and fourth control signal bus lines for receiving the third and fourth control signals Bi3 and Bi4, respectively. |
| US08259892B2 |
Transport container for nuclear fuel assemblies and use of said container
A container including a support having at least one first longitudinal support surface defining a longitudinal housing for receiving a nuclear fuel assembly, and a door having a second longitudinal support surface. The door is movable between a position of holding the nuclear fuel assembly between the two longitudinal surfaces and a released position in which the assembly is free with respect to the support. The container includes means for adjusting the transversal separation between the first and second surfaces in the holding position of the door. |
| US08259884B2 |
Method and system for multi-point signal generation with phase synchronized local carriers
A method and system of applying modulated carrier signals to tree networks and processing signals tapped from the tree networks to generate output signals with phase-synchronized carriers are disclosed. |
| US08259882B2 |
Apparatus and method for parallel symbol cancellation for spatial multiplexing in multiple input multiple output system
An apparatus and method for parallel symbol cancellation in a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) system supporting spatial multiplexing. The method includes selecting one of four quadrants representing all points on a constellation having normalization distribution, selecting a single reference point in the selected quadrant and generating a reference value corresponding to the single reference point, generating addition values for representing other points than the single reference point using a difference of a size of each of the points having the normalization distribution, and summing up the reference value and the addition values. The apparatus includes modules configured for performing the parallel symbol cancellation with reduced complexity. |
| US08259880B2 |
Receivers and methods for controlling operation of receivers
A method for controlling operation of a receiver may include: generating an operation control signal based on a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) value of an Nth symbol, wherein N is a natural number, of a hopping pattern included in a preamble of a packet; and controlling whether an Nth symbol of each hopping pattern included in a header or payload of the packet may be processed in response to the operation control signal. A receiver may include: an operation control signal generator that may generate an operation control signal based on a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) value of an Nth symbol, where N is a natural number, of a hopping pattern included in a preamble of a packet; and a receiving unit that may control whether an Nth symbol of each hopping pattern included in a header or payload of the packet is processed in response to the operation control signal. |
| US08259879B2 |
Method for detecting the eventual presence of an interferer, for example a radar signal, adapted to interfere with a wireless device, for example an UWB device, and corresponding device
The method is for detecting the eventual presence of an interferer that is adapted to interfere with a wireless device. The wireless device is provided with at least one receiving chain including an analog to digital conversion stage. The method includes receiving on the receiving chain an incident signal, and delivering to the ADC stage an analog signal from the incident signal. The method further includes elaborating or determining a binary information from a binary signal delivered by the ADC stage and representative of the level of the analog signal, analyzing a temporal evolution of the binary information and detecting the presence of the interferer from the analysis. |
| US08259874B1 |
Apparatus and method for optimization of carrier recovery in a receiver of a communication system
An apparatus and method to optimize recovery of the carrier frequency performs independent optimization of frequency capture range and carrier frequency estimation accuracy. A multi-correlator selects a frequency-shifted version of a signal of interest, extracted from a received signal, to output a coarse frequency-shifted version of the signal of interest. A fine frequency estimator shifts a frequency of the coarse frequency-shifted version of the signal of interest, based on a frequency corresponding to the spectral peak of the coarse frequency-shifted version of the signal of interest, and generates a fine frequency-shifted version of the signal of interest. A fine frequency estimator generates an intermediate frequency estimate and a plurality of phase estimates, based on the coarse frequency-shifted version of the signal of interest, resolves phase ambiguities in the plurality of phase estimates based on the intermediate frequency estimate, and generates a fine frequency-shifted version of the signal of interest. |
| US08259870B2 |
System and method for decoding a received data sequence
A system and method is provided for improved and efficient decoding of a received data sequence. The invention can perform the decoding using a LogMap function for a set of N inputs, where N is greater than 2. |
| US08259868B1 |
Conditionally cycle-free generalized tanner graphs based decoding
Systems, devices and techniques for soft-in, soft-out (SISO) decoding can include accessing initial soft information on a series of data units received over a communication channel, using a cyclic graphical model to represent a coding scheme associated with the received data units, obtaining cycle-free graphical models for a plurality of second conditions allowable by the coding scheme, and generating soft-out decision information by using information that includes the obtained cycle-free graphical models and the initial soft information. The number of obtained cycle-free graphical models can be less than a total number of conditions associated with the cyclic graphical model. Soft decision information can include confidence levels for each data unit. |
| US08259862B2 |
Receivers and symbol decoders thereof
A receiver capable of decoding a symbol based on information on a previous symbol, the symbol and a next symbol in a Gaussian frequency shift keying (GFSK) communication system is provided. The receiver includes a discriminator to generate a symbol for each bit in a bit sequence, a first lookup table (LUT) to store a number of bit patterns and mapping patterns, wherein each of the bit patterns is in the form of a set of consecutive bits in the bit sequence and corresponds to a respective one of the mapping patterns, and wherein each of the mapping patterns includes a set of entries and each of the entries results from an operation of attribute values at a sample time in the waveform of a symbol, a calculator to receive a set of consecutive symbols from the discriminator and calculate a distance value between the set of consecutive symbols and each of the mapping patterns, and a comparator to identify one of the mapping patterns with a minimum distance value by comparing among the distance values from the calculator. |
| US08259859B2 |
Method and system for carrier recovery for QAM
Systems and methods of carrier frequency acquisition or recovery in a receiver. The receiver is able to achieve carrier acquisition when a frequency offset is large (e.g., near a decision boundary). The receiver includes a demodulator, an equalizer, and a carrier recovery module. The carrier recovery module includes a decision device and phase detector, a phase error differentiator, a frequency direction confidence module, and a frequency and phase combiner module. The carrier recovery module calculates a phase error differential between a phase error at a first time and a phase error at a second time. Based on the phase error differential, the frequency direction confidence module generates a frequency offset confidence number. The frequency offset confidence number provides an indication of the direction of a frequency offset and a degree of certainty related to a detected direction (e.g., positive or negative) of the frequency offset. If the confidence number is greater than a threshold value, a joint frequency and phase lock loop (“FPLL”) is used for carrier acquisition. If the confidence number is less than the threshold value, a phase lock loop (“PLL”) is used for carrier acquisition. |
| US08259855B2 |
Equalizing structure and equalizing method
An equalizing structure and method for a wireless communication system receiving device. Two or more transmit signals transmitted in parallel from one or more transmitters are received in received signal vectors representing two or more received data streams, the signals including information modulated onto carrier signals according to a modulation scheme, all possible transmit signals being represented by candidate constellation values in the signal constellation of the modulation scheme. A processor calculates an estimate for a constellation value of a received signal and determines a number of candidate constellation values in the vicinity of the estimated constellation value in the signal constellation. A metric value calculator calculates metric values based on the received signal vectors and the product of channel estimation values with candidate signal vectors. A maximum likelihood detector detects one of the candidate signal vectors having a minimum Euclidean distance to a respective received signal vector as a most likely transmit signal vector based on the metric values. |
| US08259854B2 |
Channel estimation using common and dedicated pilots
The present invention relates to a receiver apparatus and method of channel estimation in a telecommunication system which provides at least two pilot sequences, and to a computer program product. Channel estimation is achieved by estimating channel taps separately for each of the at least two pilot sequences in every transmission block, and for applying estimated channel taps obtained from the estimation to at least one of a temporal and spatial filtering or combining operation to refine the channel estimate. Accordingly, temporal correlations and cross-correlations of the at least two pilot sequences are exploited without requiring knowledge of path delays and beamforming parameters. |
| US08259851B1 |
Method and apparatus of cross-correlation
Briefly, a method and apparatus to calculate cross-correlation values of complex binary sequences are provided. The apparatus may include a transformation unit and a cross-correlator. The cross-correlator may include a cross-correlation controller to provide, based on a type bit and a sign bit, a real component and/or an imaginary component of signals of complex binary sequences to a real accumulator and/or to an imaginary accumulator. |
| US08259850B2 |
UWB transmission apparatus and UWB transmission method
A UWB transmission apparatus that, in a system using a mixture of amplitude and phase modulation schemes, can support both of the amplitude and phase modulation schemes, while preventing the signal powers of amplitude-modulated signals from degrading. In this UWB transmission apparatus, if the modulation mode is of QPSK, a mapping part (121) selects one of four signal points on the IQ plane in accordance with a 2-bit data, and outputs information related to the I- and Q-components of the selected signal point to a QPSK/ASK modulated signal forming part (122). If the modulation mode is of ASK, the mapping part (121) selects the origin point on the IQ plane when the data being ‘0’ and selects one of four signal points on the IQ plane, similarly to the case of QPSK modulation, when the data being ‘1,’ and outputs information, which is related to the selected signal point, to the QPSK/ASK modulated signal forming part (122). |
| US08259848B2 |
Hierarchical modulation for communication channels in single-carrier frequency division multiple access
System(s) and method(s) are provided to transmit simultaneously a first and a second communication channel in a single-carrier waveform format with disparate error rate requirements. First channel and second channel are coded individually to form an alphabet for a first and second constellation. Prior to transmission, bits of information of the first and second channels are modulated with a hierarchical modulation constellation is generated through a combination of a first a second constellation; each constellation is assigned a configurable weight (e.g., a “hierarchic weight”) that is expressed in terms of a configurable energy ratio. The energy ratio determines the resilience of bits associated with the first and second channel. Bit mapping within the first and second constellation provides redundancy to mitigate error rate within each quadrant of the hierarchical constellation. Hierarchical modulation of more than two channel can be accomplished through the same principal of individual coding and constellation composition. |
| US08259847B2 |
Extended non-return-to-zero serial channel signaling
Methods and apparatus for serial channel operation are disclosed. An N+1-level signaling scheme is used to transmit N staggered but overlapping NRZ sub-sequences concurrently on a serial channel. Each sequence has a bit rate R and an essential bandwidth of R Hz. The combined bit rate of the channel is N×R, but due to a lack of correlation between the sub-sequences, the essential bandwidth remains approximately R Hz. The signaling scheme also contains redundancy that allows some errors to be detected and/or corrected. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US08259838B2 |
Signal transmission system for transmitting transmission signals via a transmission line including transmission conductors
A signal transmitter apparatus generates three phase-shifted signals by shifting three transmission signals by predetermined phase shift amounts so that the phase shift amounts of the transmission signals are different from each other by 120 degrees. The signal transmitter apparatus generates three combined transmission signals and outputs the three combined transmission signals to the three transmission conductors, respectively, by combining each of pairs of the phase-shifted signals such that an inverted signal of a first phase-shifted signal is combined with a second phase-shifted signal, when each of the pairs of the phase-shifted signals includes the first and second phase-shifted signals among the three phase-shifted signals and phase shift amounts of the first and second phase-shifted signals are different from each other by 120 degrees. The signal receiver apparatus generates three receiving signals based on received three combined transmission signals, and detects the decoded signals of the transmission signals based on the receiving signals. |
| US08259833B2 |
Method and arrangement relating to radio signal transmissions
The present invention aims to provide a method for fast and exact ML low-complexity demodulation in for example MIMO systems. The present invention relates to a method and arrangement for processing signals, especially a Maximum Likelihood (ML) demodulation of Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) signals, in a digital communications system, having a number of transmit antennas transmitting nT symbols, the method comprises the steps of: using xm, denoting symbols transmitted, wherein m=1 . . . nT, given a channel, selecting i and j and making pre-calculations facilitating finding a best combination of Xl . . . Xi−1, Xi+1 . . . Xj−1, Xj+1 . . . XnT for any given Xi, Xj and a received signal, going through every combination X1 . . . Xi−1, Xi+1 . . . Xj−1, Xj+1 . . . XnT and projecting in a number of directions for each of said combinations and generating a list of candidate combinations of Xi and Xj for each combination X1 . . . Xi−1, Xi+1 . . . Xj−1, Xj+1 . . . XnT, and hence generating a list of candidate combinations X1 . . . XnT, and providing a maximum-likelihood symbol combination. |
| US08259832B2 |
QAM and GMSK modulation methods
Filtering and modulating a first bit rate signal into a Gaussian filtered Gaussian Minimum Shift Keyed (GMSK) modulated signal and a second bit rate signal into a Quadrature Amplitude Modulated (QAM) signal. A method for nonlinearly and linearly amplifying GMSK and QAM signals. A diversity receiver and demodulator method for receiving and demodulating transmitted modulated signals. Processing, transmit baseband filtering and modulating signals for providing cross-correlated in-phase and quadrature-phase Gaussian filtered Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK) and other cross-correlated modulated signals and spread spectrum Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) modulated signals. Transmit processing and filtering for providing time division multiplexed (TDM) Gaussian filtered baseband signal and Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed (OFDM) in-phase and quadrature-phase baseband modulated signal to a cellular network and to separate wireless network. Diversity receiver and demodulator method with multiple antennas for providing demodulated cross-correlated in-phase and quadrature-phase filtered signals. |
| US08259830B1 |
Simultaneous use of multiple radio frequency channels
In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for identifying data that is designated for wireless transmission to a remote computing device. A digital signal that encodes the data for transmission across a band of radio frequency channels is generated. Multiple radio frequency channels in the band that are available are determined. The digital signal is filtered to substantially reduce a power level of the digital signal at frequencies that correspond to channels in the band that have not been determined to be available. The filtered digital signal is converted to an analog signal. The analog signal is provided to an analog transmitter that isolates the band of channels to generate an isolated analog signal and that wirelessly transmits the isolated analog signal over the multiple available channels using one or more antennas. |
| US08259827B2 |
Quick paging receivers in telecommunication systems
Methods and apparatus by which receiving stations or other communication network nodes can receive quick paging code words assigned by transmitting stations to the receiving stations. A receiving station can estimate the characteristics of the channel to the transmitting station based on a downlink-frame's preamble and use correlation to detect the presence of an assigned code word. The receiving station can suppress interference from other transmitting stations in the correlation operation based on the nature of the interference signal. When the receiving station knows an interfering signal from another transmitting station, the receiving station can subtract the interfering signal before carrying out the correlation operation. |
| US08259823B2 |
Energy-efficient uplink slot allocation in time-frequency division multiple access systems
A method for communication includes accepting a request from a transmitter to transmit data to a receiver in a multiple-access communication system that uses multiple subcarriers. A maximum number of the subcarriers on which the transmitter may transmit the data simultaneously without violating a predetermined signal power criterion is calculated. The transmitter is allocated a time-frequency allocation containing the maximum number of the subcarriers. The data is transmitted from the transmitter to the receiver using the allocated time-frequency allocation. |
| US08259820B2 |
Method for low power communication encoding
A low power communication encoding method is provided. A first piece of encoded information and a second piece of encoded information are generated based on a comparison of a current transmission record and a previous transmission record. Then transmission data is selected based on which of the first and second pieces of encoded information will result in transmitting a fewer number of logical lows. Ultimately, the transmission data is transmitted on an open drain data line. |
| US08259817B2 |
Facilitating fast channel changes through promotion of pictures
In one embodiment, a method that includes receiving plural representations of a single video signal, wherein each includes a respective sequence of latticed pictures, wherein each latticed picture in each of the plural representations originates from a corresponding respective picture of the video signal; processing the plural representations; separating the processed plural representations into plural segments, each segment consisting of a respective sequence of processed latticed pictures from one of the processed plural representations; arranging the plural segments in successive segments distributions intervals (SDIs) according to a first temporal order and a second temporal order, the successive SDIs to be provided in a video stream; and promoting one or more of the processed latticed pictures among one or more of the plural segments, the promotion corresponding to an increase in picture importance. |
| US08259816B2 |
System and method for streaming video to a mobile device
Systems and methods for streaming video information to a hand-held device include dynamically modifying video image properties of captured video frames to generate video data packets of a size suitable for transmission over a low bit-rate channel to a hand-held device for viewing. The systems and methods may dynamically and automatically control image properties via a hardware capture card device driver to produce a video data packet of a desired maximum data size such that subsequent compression and coding strategies produce a data packet suitable for transmission to the hand-held device for decoding and decompression to display the streaming video in near real-time. |
| US08259809B2 |
One step sub-pixel motion estimation
A novel Lucas-Kanade sub-pixel motion estimation method is provided. The motion estimation algorithm enables the estimating of a motion vector with reduced computation cost while maintaining high sub-pixel accuracy. The novel algorithm consists of two processing stages. In the first stage, a conventional motion estimation method is applied to obtain the motion vector at integer-pixel level. In the second stage, the Lucas-Kanade algorithm is applied to improve the motion vector to sub-pixel accuracy based on gradient information. Experimental result shows that the proposed method reaches comparable PSNR performance as conventional ⅛-pel algorithm but with significant saving on computation cost. |
| US08259805B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating coded picture data and for decoding coded picture data
Motion compensated temporal prediction is well-known for redundancy reduction in video signal compression. A prediction error signal and a motion vector for a current block are transmitted, describing the location of the predictor block in the reference picture. A problem solved by the invention is to encode and decode video signals using less or no mo- tion vector data side information. This is achieved through a temporal prediction which exploits common knowledge available in both encoder and decoder, requiring that the decoder performs a motion estimation, too. A common baseline motion estimation process is used at both encoder and decoder on the same set of video data that have already been compressed before and, hence, are available at both encoder and decoder, leading to identical motion parameters being generated in the decoder. These common motion parameters are used for generating a default temporal prediction without the need to transmit related motion vectors from the encoder to the decoder. |
| US08259803B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding video, and method and apparatus for decoding video
Disclosed is a method of encoding a video, the method including: splitting a current picture into at least one maximum coding unit; determining a coded depth to output a final encoding result according to at least one split region obtained by splitting a region of the maximum coding unit according to depths, by encoding the at least one split region, based on a depth that deepens in proportion to the number of times the region of the maximum coding unit is split; and outputting image data constituting the final encoding result according to the at least one split region, and encoding information about the coded depth and a prediction mode, according to the at least one maximum coding unit. |
| US08259799B2 |
Encoding device, encoding method, decoding device, and decoding method
Continuous reproduction can be made possible. An encoding apparatus for executing an encoding process with an encoding system capable of at least B-pictures as pictures to be prediction-encoded comprises a timing calculation means for, anticipating that a plurality of encoded information created by performing the encoding process will be sequentially decoded on a decoding side, calculating output timing for results of decoding the encoded information, and a timing notification means for notifying the decoding side of the output timing calculated by the timing calculation means before a result of decoding corresponding encoded information is obtained. |
| US08259797B2 |
Method and system for conversion of digital video
A method for converting an encoded digital video signal from a decoded relatively lower frame rate to a decoded relatively higher frame rate, including the following steps: deriving, from the encoded video signal, at the relatively lower frame rate, a decoded high resolution component and a decoded low resolution component; increasing the frame rate of the decoded low resolution component by interpolating successive frames of the decoded low resolution component; increasing the frame rate of the decoded high resolution component by duplicating frames of the decoded high resolution component; and obtaining an output relatively higher frame rate video signal by combining the increased frame rate low resolution component and the increased frame rate high resolution component. |
| US08259795B2 |
Quantization control for variable bit depth
The quantization parameter QP is well-known in digital video compression as an indication of picture quality. Digital symbols representing a moving image are quantized with a quantizing step that is a function QSN of the quantization parameter QP, which function QSN has been normalized to the most significant bit of the bit depth of the digital symbols. As a result, the effect of a given QP is essentially independent of bit depth a particular QP value has a standard effect on image quality, regardless of bit depth. The invention is useful, for example, in encoding and decoding at different bit depths, to generate compatible, bitstreams having different bit depths, and to allow different bit depths for different components of a video signal by compressing each with the same fidelity (i.e., the same QP). |
| US08259794B2 |
Method and system for encoding order and frame type selection optimization
A method for resource allocation for video encoder to achieve the minimum sequence cost within given resource budgets. Optimal video encoder design by deriving the optimal sequence order and frame type selection is invented. In order to achieve computationally practical resource allocation, the current invention utilizes various encoder model and buffer model. The models allow the optimization procedure to assess the best encoding design without actually performing the computationally expensive encoding. Efficient optimization algorithm is also derived to substantially reduce the computations required to search for the optimal action sequence. |
| US08259791B2 |
Digital signal processing device, display device, and program
In at least one embodiment of the disclosure, a digital signal processing device is configured to receive a TMDS signal and a hot-plug signal via a digital signal cable. A TMDS signal determination section is configured to determine whether the TMDS signal has been received. A hot-plug signal determination section is configured to determine whether the hot-plug signal has been received every t seconds when the TMDS signal has not been received. A digital signal determination section is configured to determine that a digital signal is present if the TMDS signal is received. A digital signal is determined absent if (a) the hot-plug signal has not been received n times (n being an integer equal to or greater than one), or (b) the hot-plug signal has been received m times (m being an integer equal to or greater than two and m being greater than n). |
| US08259790B2 |
Method for the frame-rate conversion of a video sequence of digital images, related apparatus and computer program product
In an embodiment of a method for converting an input video sequence, comprising digital images organized in frames and operating at a variable frame-rate, into an output video sequence, operating at a pre-set constant frame-rate, it is envisaged to store the input video sequence temporarily and to control fetching of images of said temporarily stored input video sequence.The method moreover envisages: controlling fetching of images from the temporarily stored input video sequence by adjusting an emptying rate to form an intermediate video sequence; and carrying out an operation of motion-compensated interpolation on the intermediate video sequence to form the output video sequence operating at a pre-set constant frame-rate, the emptying rate being adjusted as a function of a number of images of the input video sequence with variable frame-rate temporarily stored. An application is in the reproduction of video sequences in mobile terminals, with the capacity of audio-video conversation, for example for videoconferences. |
| US08259789B2 |
Methods and systems for picture rate reduction of stored video while under continuous record load
Provided is a method and system for splitting a video stream into X minute video segments and further dividing those video segments into M multiplex files. Each multiplex file can have a Time to Live (TTL). This allows for part of the video to be deleted from disk by just removing a single multiplex file. The remaining multiplex files can be combined to play back the video at a reduced sample rate. |