| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08286935B2 |
Subsea electric actuator using linear motor
An actuator for use with valves in a subsea wellhead assembly. The actuator includes a shaft with an alternating polarity along its length and windings spaced around the shaft that create a magnetic field around the shaft. The shaft is connectable to a valve stem so that flowing current through the windings creates a magnetic field for linearly moving the shaft and operating the valve. A fail safe mechanism can be included that pushes the shaft back to its original position thereby also moving the valve into its original, or fail safe, position. |
| US08286934B2 |
Dual by-pass for diaphragm type flushometers
A flush valve diaphragm is provided. The diaphragm includes at least two by-passes orifices. Each by-pass orifice in the diaphragm has a by-pass associated therewith. Each by-pass having a passage therethrough, allows communication with the control chamber above the diaphragm with an inlet chamber below the diaphragm. The diaphragm also integrates the function of locating and providing sealing means to the flush valve system's aux valve mechanism. |
| US08286928B2 |
Wall hook
A wall hook includes an inserting head and a levering handle. The inserting head has a front penetrating tip and a rear fulcrum end. The levering handle includes a cable holder and a fastening enhancer. The cable holder is transversely and integrally extended from the inserting head, wherein the cable holder defines a receiving cavity and an access opening communicating with the receiving cavity for allowing a user to dispose at least one cable in the receiving cavity via the access opening. On the other hand, the fastening enhancer is transversely and inclinedly extended from the inserting head in such a manner that when the inserting head is rotatably inserted on the wall surface, the fastening enhancer is arranged to be rotated until the fastening enhancer basis against the wall surface for restricting a further axial displacement of the wall hook while providing an enhanced torque applying structure. |
| US08286925B1 |
Universal post
A universal post having a tapered elongated member with a proximal end and a distal end such that the proximal end is larger in size than the distal end of the elongated member for receiving one of a trash receptacle and a mail box thereon. A stabilizer is disposed orthogonal to and radially extending from the distal end of the elongated member. The stabilizer being substantially greater in length than width for placement on a ground surface so that a weighted member, received thereupon the stabilizer together with the stabilizer, supports the elongated member in a substantially vertical, stationary position with respect to the ground surface. The universal post capable of use on a flat paved surface and on a flat unpaved surface with the addition of a spike. The universal post further usable as a movable fence. |
| US08286924B2 |
Clip
A clip has elastic locking claws at a fixing section to be inserted in a hole of a member. The fixation section (3) of the clip (1) is a hollow box-shaped block and has a rectangular or oval shape with two opposite long sides (L1, L2) and two opposite short sides (S1, S2). The locking claws (15) form a part of the associated long side. One of the locking claws (15) is provided in a diagonal direction relative to the other in the lateral cross section of the fixing section. The locking claws are connected to each other in a space (18) at the center of the fixing section by an elastic claw-connecting section (19). The claw-connecting section (19) applies to the locking claws elasticity that causes the locking claws to project outward. Thus, the elastic locking claws have increased locking force. |
| US08286921B2 |
High lift system on the airfoil of an aircraft
A high-lift system on a wing with a curved nose and a leading-edge flap mounted via levers for movement between retracted and extended positions while expanding the airfoil profile, increasing its curvature and exposing a gap for guiding air from under the flap to above the wing. The levers form a four bar mechanism including first and second levers respectively pivotably connected at one end to spaced first and second points on the wing. The other ends of the levers are connected to opposite ends of a third lever forming part of the flap. The length and positions of the levers and the curvature of the wing nose are matched such that during initial extension from retracted position to an intermediate position the trailing edge of the flap blocks the gap between the flap and wing, and during further extension beyond the intermediate position the gap is exposed. |
| US08286919B2 |
Impact resistant composite structures
An impact resistant composite sandwich structure includes least one laminate face sheet joined to a stiffening element. The stiffening element includes a plurality of fibers and a resin for binding the fibers. The resin has a strain-to-failure greater than approximately 6%. |
| US08286915B2 |
Aircraft comprising a window panel
An aircraft having a fuselage of composite type and more particularly to that of aircraft fuselage panels bearing cabin windows. The invention thus concerns a fuselage panel bearing a window comprising a composite structure cast in one piece, the structure comprising a main portion and at least one opening to accommodate a window, the structure having, on a zone surrounding the opening, a thickness more or less constant and greater than the thickness of the main portion of the structure. The invention also concerns an aircraft comprising a composite fuselage, the latter comprising such a panel or a similar panel made of metal material. |
| US08286909B2 |
Boundary layer propulsion airship with related system and method
Systems, method, devices and apparatus are provided for reducing drag and increasing the flight efficiency characteristics of aircraft and airships including hybrid aircraft utilizing distributed boundary layer control and propulsion devices. Boundary layer control includes passive systems such as riblet films and boundary layer propulsion devices having a divided and distributed propulsion system disposed in the curved aft sections of aircraft and airships including hybrid aircraft susceptible to boundary layer drag due to degree of curvatures, speed and density of the surrounding air. Distributed propulsion devices include constructing propellers and riblets from shape memory alloys, piezoelectric materials and electroactive polymer (EAP) materials to change the shape and length of the distributed propulsion device. |
| US08286906B2 |
Corrugated flanges for spools and reels
A flange design providing improved strength, fracture resistance, and the like using corrugations extending substantially radially from an arbor aperture toward a rim portion. A spool or reel may include a tubular member to receive a stranded material wrapped therearound. A first flange comprising a core portion and an outer portion may secure to one end of the first flange engaging the tubular member. A second flange may secure to the other end of the tubular member. The core portion of a flange may comprise an arbor wall defining the perimeter of an arbor aperture. The arbor wall may be directly contacted and supported by a plurality of corrugations extending radially therefrom. The outer portion of a flange may contact the core portion and extending radially away therefrom to an outer edge to restrain the stranded material in an axial direction. |
| US08286905B1 |
Thread spool and bobbin holder
A thread spool holding device has a plastic base plate that holds a series of preferably soft plastic spindles that can be introduced or removed from the base and can be arranged as needed by sliding along a slotted track of the base. Each spindle can hold a threaded spool and has a cross sectional configuration for gripping the center hole of the spool. The spindle ends can also hold a bobbin in tandem with a thread spool. |
| US08286894B2 |
Container for evaporating volatile substances and method of manufacturing said container
A thermoformed container is provided for evaporating volatile substances, which is provided with means enabling such container to withstand high temperatures without experiencing deformations which deteriorate its functionality or appearance. The container has a reinforcing film having a deformation temperature exceeding the plastic material sheet with which the container is obtained. Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing said container. |
| US08286891B2 |
Components for rail fastening assembly
A component for use in a rail fastening assembly, the assembly comprising a railway rail fastening clip having a first part for bearing on a railway rail and a railway rail clip anchoring device for retaining the railway rail clip, comprises a first portion adapted to receive a lateral load from the rail when located between a substantially upright face of the rail clip anchoring device and the side of the foot of an adjacent railway rail when the assembly is in use. The component further comprises a second portion for receiving a second bearing part of the railway rail clip. The first portion and the second portion of the component are spaced apart and interconnected by a connection portion. |
| US08286890B2 |
Substrate having coding pattern encoding Reed-Solomon symbols
A substrate having a coding pattern disposed on a surface thereof. The coding pattern encodes a plurality of Reed-Solomon symbols. Each Reed-Solomon symbol has a respective Reed-Solomon symbol value represented by a set of m macrodots. Each of the m macrodots occupies a respective position from a plurality p of predetermined possible positions. The positions of the m macrodots represents one of a plurality of different Reed-Solomon symbol values, wherein each of the different Reed-Solomon symbol values is represented by the same number of macrodots. |
| US08286884B2 |
Universal RFID tags and manufacturing methods
Radio frequency identification (RFID) devices, and methods of manufacture are described herein. In one implementation, a RFID device comprises: a near field only RFID tag that does not function as a far field RFID tag and is pre-manufactured; and a conductive element independent from the near field only RFID tag and adapted to function as a far field antenna. The near field only RFID tag is coupled to a first portion of an item; and the conductive element is coupled to a second portion of the item, the first portion and the second portion located such that the near field only RFID tag is coupled in proximity to the conductive element such that the RFID device functions in both a near field and a far field. |
| US08286881B2 |
Secure battery compartment for alarming hard tag
An electronic article surveillance (“EAS”) tag for securing an item of merchandise is provided. The EAS tag includes a housing defining an opening leading to a compartment therein. A battery is removably disposed within the compartment. An alarm transducer is electrically connected to the battery. A cover is releasably engageable with the housing to cover the opening. A an anchor is releasably engageable with the housing and adapted to removably affix the housing to the item of merchandise. The anchor overlaps at least a portion of the cover when engaged to the housing to prevent removal of the cover when the anchor is engaged to the housing. |
| US08286875B2 |
Apparatus and method for commercial transactions using a communication device
An apparatus for commercial transactions using a transaction card via a communication device in audio communication with a remote processor assembly is provided. The apparatus comprises an input device for capturing information from the transaction card, a controller for converting the captured card information into an audio signal. The controller is linked to the communication device. The apparatus may also be part of an assembly wherein this controller is part of the communication device. The remote processor assembly includes a transaction server linked to a remote processor/issuer for validating the transaction card data. A system including this apparatus, the communication device and the transaction server is also provided. Methods therefore are also disclosed. The input device captures the card information that is converted to an audio signal by the controller and transmitted to the transaction server via the communication device for being converted to an appropriate signal to be transmitted to the remote processor/issuer for validation thereof. The validation information is sent back to the apparatus providing feedback to the user. The transaction server translates the signal received by the remote processor/issuer into an audio signal and sends it to the controller via the communication device for conversion to an appropriate format. |
| US08286872B2 |
Remote weapon system
A remote weapon system (10) includes: a fire control unit (12); and a mechanical support (14) to which a weapon (18) capable of firing airburst ammunition is mountable, the mechanical support being adapted to move the weapon in azimuth and elevation directions. The fire control unit is adapted to receive input parameters including at least one area parameter related to a geographical area to be covered by the airburst ammunition from the weapon. Further, the fire control unit is configured to automatically calculate a number of shots of the weapon as well as azimuth and elevation directions of the mechanical support for each shot based on the input parameters such that substantially the entire geographical area is covered by the airburst ammunition when the weapon is fired. |
| US08286871B2 |
Electronic archery sighting system and bore sighting arrow
An archery sighting system and method for placing a reticule on a display. The system includes a housing mounted in fixed relation to a bow. The housing includes a rangefinder to generate a target distance signal indicative of a target distance between the bow and a target. A display is configured to depict a reticule. A chronograph generates a bow speed indicating a bow speed at which an arrow leaves the bow. A processor receives a bow speed signal from the chronograph, a range signal from the rangefinder. In response to the signals, the processor generates a reticule pattern on the display, the reticule is positioned to indicate an attitude of the bow necessary for an arrow released from the bow at the bow speed to strike a target at the target distance. |
| US08286869B1 |
Case labeling for field-packed produce
Rolls of pre-printed case labels are distributed at a harvest for labeling cases of produce. The labels on each roll include sequential codes that each span a unique range. Part or all of each roll's range can be associated with harvest data, including picker and block identifications. The association can be made by placing a label from each roll on a harvest form bearing harvest data, or by entering harvest data into an electronic device and using the device to read a unique code from a label. Pickers then harvest produce, fill cases, and label the cases from their rolls. The association of ranges to pickers allows a subsequently read unique code from a filled case to be properly credited to the correct picker. The association of ranges to blocks allows subsequently obtained quality information to be correlated to specific blocks. |
| US08286865B2 |
Authenticating electronic financial transactions
To improve security and simplify financial transactions in electronic communications environments, a cryptographic Private Key is securely stored in a storage device of a user. A Public Key Certificate corresponding to the Private Key is also created and can be stored in an online repository for merchant access. The Public Key Certificate identifies a payment card of the user, and is signed by or on behalf of a financial institution issuing the payment card. When initiating a payment card transaction with a merchant, a data item is signed using the Private Key. The signed data item and the Public Key Certificate are conveyed to the merchant, which enables the merchant to authenticate the transaction without needing to communicate with the user's financial institution, and while avoiding the inconvenience and privacy issues associated with obtaining other card details and user details. |
| US08286862B2 |
Methods and apparatus for use in association with security parameter
In accordance with some embodiments, a method comprises transmitting at least one signal, via a wireless interface, from an identification token issued to an account holder to a communication device issued to the account holder; receiving at least one signal from the communication device via the wireless interface; and resetting a security parameter in the identification token in response at least in part to receiving the at least one signal from the communication device. In accordance with some embodiments, apparatus comprises an identification token issued to an account holder, the identification token to transmit at least one signal, via a wireless interface, to a communication device issued to the account holder, to receive at least one signal from the communication device via the wireless interface, and to reset a security parameter in the identification token in response at least in part to receiving the at least one signal from the communication device. |
| US08286858B2 |
Telephone having printer and sensor
A telephone is provided having an input at which a print medium is loaded, a sensor for sensing an identifier of the loaded print medium, and a printer for determining whether or not the loaded print medium is a valid print medium on which printing can be performed. If the loaded print medium is determined to be valid, the printer prints on the loaded print medium. If the loaded print medium is determined to not be valid, the loaded print medium is ejected at the input. |
| US08286857B2 |
Soil sample tracking system and method
A system and method for performing soil analysis is disclosed. The method comprises generating a plurality of soil sample containers each having a unique identifier associated therewith. Pulling at least one soil sample from a field and placing the at least one soil sample in a respective one of the plurality of soil sample containers. Scanning the unique identifier associated with the soil sample container containing the at least one soil sample with a remote terminal. Obtaining a geographic coordinate reading associated with a location in the field from where the soil sample is obtained and associating the soil sample with the unique identifier and the geographic coordinate reading. |
| US08286852B2 |
Method of friction welding of a piston having a cooling duct
A method of friction welding a head part to a skirt part of a piston having a hollow cooling duct in which the internal connection surface of the first part to be welded is reciprocally arranged with an internal connection surface of the second part to be friction welded, so that they form a unsymmetrical contact area, so that the resulting weld of the first and the second parts produces a weld bead that is located predominantly outside of the hollow cooling duct. The unsymmetrical contact area can be formed by chamfered, angled edge surfaces that produce, for example, a wedge-shaped space, or partially matched, inter-fitting surfaces that remain out of contact and produce a gap at sides facing the hollow space. |
| US08286848B2 |
Surgical stapling device
A surgical stapling device for sequentially applying a plurality of fasteners to body tissue and simultaneously incising tissue is provided. The surgical stapling device is adapted to receive disposable loading units having staples in linear rows whose length can be between about 30 mm and 60 mm. The disposable loading unit includes a proximal body portion, a mounting assembly and a tool assembly. The mounting assembly is secured to the proximal end of the tool assembly and pivotally mounted about a pivot axis to the distal end of the proximal body portion. A support member or blow-out plate assembly is positioned on opposite sides of the pivot avis and extends between the proximal body portion and the mounting assembly. |
| US08286844B2 |
Holder for items
A holder is provided for items, in particular for drinks containers, drinking vessels in a motor vehicle that includes, but is not limited to a storage bin for holding the items. The storage bin has a bottom for holding the items as well as side walls. In such a holder, it is provided that at least one side wall has a variable-shape insert that can be transferred from a position following the contour of this side wall into a position curved in the direction of the opposite side wall. By this means, a variable division of the storage bin can be accomplished with simple design and extremely simple handling. |
| US08286842B2 |
Expandable travel hanger
An expandable travel hanger includes an adjustable triangular shaped frame, which can go from a compacted state for storage in a suitcase to an extended state to hang clothes therefrom. A hooked movable suspension component is located at an apex of the adjustable triangular frame, which can go from a compacted state for storage in the suitcase to an extended state for use to engage with a pole in a clothes closet. A pair of release buttons, wherein each the release button is located on each said curved tubular end support, so that when the release buttons are manually pressed, said adjustable triangular shaped frame will automatically go from the compacted state to the extended state. |
| US08286839B2 |
Dispensing device
A dispensing device for a cosmetic product is proposed. The dispensing device has a valve with a female valve element. The valve element has at least one engagement section for the positive and/or locking fastening of a male valve adapter which can be inserted into the valve element after assembly of the valve. Moreover, at its sealing side, the valve element forms a wall section which is enlarged in its inner diameter in order to permit faster filling. |
| US08286834B2 |
Skin treatment dispenser and method of manufacture
A flexible, body attached device is disclosed for dispensing skin treatment and topically-absorbed medicinal treatments. The device comprises a dispensing reservoir that is caused to dispense treatment through a slit-based diaphragm valve upon the application of simple pressure to the device. Various embodiments of the invention include variations in the structure of the valve, reservoir, and body attachment. |
| US08286822B2 |
Vacuum processing apparatus
The invention provides a highly reliable plasma processing apparatus having stable sealing performance. The vacuum processing apparatus comprises a vacuum vessel having its inside decompressed; an opening disposed in a wall of the vacuum vessel for communicating the inside with the outside thereof and through which a sample to be processed is taken in and out; a valve body 701 disposed outside the wall for airtightly sealing or opening the opening; and a drive unit for driving the valve body to carry out the sealing or opening operation, the drive unit comprising a first member 705 coupled to an actuator 702 that moves along a substantially linear first direction as a result of operation of the actuator, a second member 706 coupled to the first member 705 that moves along a substantially linear second direction that intersects with the first direction, and the valve body 701 coupled to the second member that seals the opening as a result of the movement of the second member. |
| US08286813B2 |
Handle with a closure function, connectable to a bottle
A device to be detachably mounted on the neck of a bottle in replacement of the bottle's screw cap, and which as mounted provides a reversible closure function by which a flow communication to the interior of the bottle is shifted between open and closing modes, the device including a mounting part (1; 1′; 1″) having an internal thread which engages an external thread formed on the bottle's neck, and a handle (7; 7′; 7″) which is journalled in the mounting part for rotation. The handle carries a head (9; 9′; 9″) which in result of rotation of the handle upwards/outwards from the bottle in a vertical plane provides access to the mouth of a canal (15; 15′; 15″) running through the mounting part, and which head further includes a seal (17; 17′; 36) which, in result of rotation of the handle downwards/inwards towards the bottle, is positioned for closing the canal through the mounting part. |
| US08286812B2 |
Device and method for irreversibly selecting indicia
The invention disclosed is a cap or other device and method of using same, the device comprising at least a first and second member, the cap having a first configuration in which the first and second members are rotatably connected to each other, and a second configuration in which the first and second members are fixed to each other. The second configuration is substantially irreversible, such that the device cannot be reverted to the first configuration without the aid of tools, breaking the device, or causing the device to lose functionality. |
| US08286809B2 |
Self-expanding folding structure for a display
A self-expanding foldable structure for a display has a structure that includes a pair of side walls (2) hinged at respective connection edges (2a) to opposing edges of a back wall (1) and a shelf (3) linked to the back and side walls (1, 2) such that they can adopt a flat position in which the back wall, side walls and shelf (1, 2, 3) are substantially coplanar and an expanded position in which the back wall, side walls and shelf (1, 2, 3) form respective dihedrons. An elastic element is arranged to push the structure to the expanded position. The side walls (2) comprise a transverse fold line (14) having one or more scored sections (14a) wherein an inner structure of the wall material is crushed, in combination with one or more cut sections (14b) wherein said inner structure of the wall material has flat edges that can mutually face and support one another in the expanded position. |
| US08286806B2 |
Storage device for call cords and related patient care equipment
A storage device for items connectable to a power source, particularly in patient care facilities. The device is attachable to an electrical power box in a support surface. A backing plate securable to the support surface has an upper free edge and a lower region defining a substantially planar intermediate region therebetween. A power supply aperture in the intermediate region allows for selective power connection between the power box and stored items. A base shelf at the lower region of the backing plate, and a projections from the free edge of the base shelf, provide securing locations for selected items. Removable bracket units for specific items can be secured on the projections. The device provides improved means of secure, hygienic, compact and efficient storage and access to the items, while overcoming disadvantages of health and safety hazards of the prior art. |
| US08286805B2 |
Method and apparatus for fluid separation
A method and apparatus are disclosed for separating a multiphase fluid stream that includes a heavier fluid component and a lighter fluid component. The fluid flows along a first helical flowpath with a first pitch. The first helical flowpath is sufficiently long to establish a stabilized rotating fluid flow pattern for the stream. The uniform rotating fluid also flows along a second helical flowpath, the second helical flowpath having a second pitch greater than the first pitch. The lighter fluid is removed from a radially inner region of the second helical flowpath. The method and apparatus are particularly suitable for the separation of oil droplets from water, especially from water for reinjection into a subterranean formation as part of an oil and gas production operation. The method and apparatus are conveniently applied on a modular basis. |
| US08286803B2 |
Methods and systems for incorporating carbon nanotubes into thin film composite reverse osmosis membranes
A method for fabricating a reverse osmosis membrane is described. The method includes aligning a plurality of carbon nanotubes at the interface of two liquids, the first liquid being an aqueous layer, and the second layer being an organic layer that is immiscible to the aqueous layer, forming a thin layer selective membrane around the aligned carbon nanotubes at the interface of the two liquids, and bonding the thin layer selective membrane/carbon nanotube composite onto a structural support layer. |
| US08286801B2 |
Method and apparatus for separating particles from a liquid
A method and device for separating particles from a liquid having particles therein, using a filter sized to permit the liquid to flow through pores, while retaining a substantial portion of the particles on the filter, with an absorbent layer contacting the back of the filter to facilitate liquid movement away from the particles. |
| US08286796B2 |
Satellite antenna package
A satellite antenna package is provided. The satellite antenna package includes a receiving structure, an antenna device and a cable. A recess and a groove are formed on the receiving structure, and the recess communicates with the groove. The antenna device is disposed in the recess. The cable connects to the antenna device, wherein the cable is connected with the antenna device and partially disposed in the groove, travels along an edge of the receiving structure, and surrounds the antenna device. |
| US08286794B1 |
Medical organizer
A medical organizer provides a professional, such as an anesthetist, quick access to the various items needed during a medical procedure without the need to turn away from the procedure. The organizer is formed of main housing that stabilizes various lines, such as circuit lines, IV lines, suction line etc., and also holds narcotics locked until needed. A secondary housing is removably held within the main housing and holds various implements such as catheters, swabs, alcohol, syringes and vials, waste receptacles, gauze, etc. The main housing can be secured to an IV post or operating room bed rail with the secondary housing held therein, or the secondary housing can be deployed and secured separately. |
| US08286789B2 |
Two-piece protective carrying case
A carrying case for a portable device is disclosed. Generally speaking, the protective case for a portable device comprises a first body section and a second body section, each having a back surface and upturned sides, and a rim affixed to an edge of the upturned sides of the body sections, the rim defining an open area. Preferably, the first and second body sections are of contrasting colors and connect to one another to form a cavity defined by the respective back surfaces and upturned sides. Further, the first and second body sections and the first and second rim are preferably all formed of the same material. |
| US08286786B1 |
Fabric belting for conveyor belts
Belting for use in a conveyor belt that includes a fabric base and a rubber coat. The fabric base has an upper surface and a lower surface. At least one of the upper surface and the lower surface has a plurality of depressions formed therein. The rubber coat is applied to at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface having the plurality of depressions formed therein. |
| US08286785B2 |
Solar cell transport
A transport system for substrates, the transport system having at least one belt for receiving the substrates thereon, retainers disposed at spaced distances on the belt, the spaced distances being at least as wide as a width of the substrates, the retainers rising to an elevation above the belt that is sufficient to stop the substrates from sliding when the substrates bump against the retainers, a motor for moving the belt, and a motion controller for providing asymmetric acceleration and deceleration of the belt, such that the belt decelerates faster than the belt accelerates, thereby aligning the substrates against the retainers through successive acceleration and deceleration cycles. |
| US08286781B2 |
Device for separating product groups
The invention relates to a device (1) for forming product groups from a flow of a plurality of identical piece goods fed by means of conveying devices, having an infeed track (16) and dividing elements engaging in the product flow in a synchronized manner transverse to the transport plane on at least one pair of driven, endlessly circulating flexible drive elements (7, 11, 12), wherein at least one crossbar (8) is disposed on each of said pairs of flexible drive elements, dividing elements (9) being held thereon, wherein at least three pairs of flexible drive elements (7, 11, 12) are provided within a device, wherein each of said pairs can be operated with a unique velocity profile. |
| US08286780B2 |
Parts manipulation, inspection, and replacement system and method
Manufacturing lines include inspection systems for monitoring the quality of parts produced. Manufacturing lines for making semiconductor devices generally inspect each fabricated part. The information obtained is used to fix manufacturing problems in the semiconductor fab plant. A machine-vision system for inspecting devices includes a flipper mechanism. After being inspected at a first station, a tray-transfer device moves the tray from the first inspection station to a flipper mechanism. The flipper mechanism includes two jaws, a mover, and a rotator. The flipper mechanism turns the devices over and places the devices in a second tray so that another surface of the device can be inspected. A second tray-transfer device moves the second tray from the flipper to a second inspection station. The mover of the flipper mechanism removes the tray from the first inspection surface and places a tray at the second inspection surface. |
| US08286779B2 |
Dampened spring-operated vertically accumulating container storage and retrieval system
A vertically accumulating storage and retrieval apparatus has a first and second plurality of substantially vertically spaced shelf assemblies supported by support structure. Each of the shelf assemblies includes a shelf tray for receiving, storing, and discharging containers. Spring biasing structure is provided for urging the shelf to the receiving position. Dampening structure dampens the movement of the shelf between the upwardly tilted receiving position and the downwardly tilted discharge position. A transfer control and transfer control linkage are provided for retaining the shelf when a shelf of a next lower shelf assembly is not prepared to receive a container, and allowing the shelf to move to the discharge position under the weight of a container disposed on the shelf when the shelf of the next lower shelf assembly is prepared to receive a container. A method for storing and retrieving containers is also disclosed. |
| US08286778B2 |
Escalator
An escalator includes a plurality of steps or panels, a chain for driving the steps or panels, at least one chain wheel around which the chain is deflected and wherein the chain, starting from the chain wheel, forms an upper strand and a lower strand. There is also provided a device for the polygonal compensation of the movement of the at least one chain wheel. The effective lever arm of the chain on the at least one chain wheel in the upper strand is substantially equal to the effective lever arm of the chain on the at least one chain wheel in the lower strand. |
| US08286771B2 |
Rotational direction switching clutch unit
A clutch unit includes axially arranged input, output and reverse input gears, and a spring clutch. The input and output gears respectively include radially opposed input and output clutch portions. The spring clutch is tightly bound to the input clutch portion and includes coil springs each having transmission and release hooks. With the transmission hooks in engagement with the output clutch portion, the release hooks are spaced forward from the transmission hooks. From an unlocking state, when the release portion is reverse rotated by distance c while pushing the release portions, the spring clutch is unlocked, and when a reverse rotational portion is reverse rotated by distance b, it engages a reverse rotation engaging portion. When the release portion is further reverse rotated after the spring clutch has been unlocked by distance a, the release portion engages the hook engaging portion and stops. a>b>c. |
| US08286769B2 |
Road vehicle integrated clutch-transmission assembly
An integrated clutch-transmission assembly for a road vehicle; the integrated clutch-transmission assembly has a power-assisted clutch having a number of first hydraulic actuators; a power-assisted transmission having a number of second hydraulic actuators; a high-pressure pump for the hydraulic actuators; a number of solenoid valves for controlling the hydraulic actuators; a housing having a first chamber housing the clutch, and a second chamber housing the transmission; and a flat supporting plate, which is housed removably inside the housing to separate the two chambers of the housing, has a first wall fitted with the clutch, and has a second wall parallel to and opposite the first wall and fitted with the high-pressure pump and at least some of the solenoid valves. |
| US08286768B2 |
Insulating profile for a conductor line
The invention relates to an insulating profile for a conductor line having at least one chamber extending in the longitudinal direction of the profile, said chamber being open in cross section to one side, thus defining an open front side of the insulating profile, and being suitable for mounting a busbar, the opening of the open chamber on the front side of the insulating profile expanding in a lateral direction such that the surface of the front side of the insulating profile is slanted toward the center of the nearest open chamber. The conductor line can be a multi-pole conductor line, the insulating profile comprising a regular arrangement of a group of a plurality of chambers extending in the longitudinal direction of the profile and being open to one side and each being suitable for mounting a busbar. |
| US08286766B2 |
Vibration reducing structure for steering wheel
A slider 24 is supported on a holder 19 of a steering wheel 11 via a coil spring 25 so as to be movable in a direction of an axis while an air bag module 20 is supported on a slider 24 via a damper spring 26 so as to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the axis. Since the coil spring 25 does not affect vibration of the air bag module 20 in the direction perpendicular to the axis, it is possible to set a spring constant of the coil spring 25 at a value appropriate for the operation of a horn switch 37, and to set a spring constant of the damper spring 26 at a value appropriate for the operation of the dynamic damper. As a result, it is possible to effectively reduce the vibration of the steering wheel 11 in the direction perpendicular to the axis with the dynamic damper without affecting the operability of the horn switch 37. |
| US08286764B2 |
Rotational damper
A rotational damper having a stator and a rotor that is rotatably supported in the stator, the rotor having a first friction element (31, 31 A . . . 31 F), wherein the volume between the stator and the rotor is filled with a viscous fluid. According to the invention, the rotor has a second friction element (32, 32A . . . 32F), which is supported coaxially in relation to the first friction element and rotationally coupled thereto, and which can be axially displaced relative to the first friction element. Due to the two-piece design of the friction element and the ability for axial displacement of the two friction elements, the entire effective surface of the friction element in the viscous fluid, and thus the frictional resistance and the damping characteristics of the rotational damper, can be varied. For this purpose, the second friction element preferably has a plurality of segments (5, 5A . . . 5F), which immerse into the first friction element and can be displaced by an actuator (4, 4A . . . 4G). These segments bring about the rotational coupling of the two friction elements. In this manner, continuous adjustment of the damping torque can occur across a broad range using a simple mechanism, in order to meet the diverse requirements in terms of size and type of rotational damping in various applications, using only one model. |
| US08286763B2 |
Magnetorheological fluid-based device having a magnetorheological piston assembly
A magnetorheological (MR) fluid-based device including an MR piston assembly. The MR piston assembly includes a ferromagnetic MR piston core and an electric coil. The MR piston core has a central longitudinal axis and has an outer circumferential surface substantially coaxially aligned with the central longitudinal axis. The electric coil is positioned in the MR piston core and is substantially coaxially aligned with the central longitudinal axis. A portion, or at least a portion, of the electric coil is buried in the MR piston core under the outer circumferential surface. |
| US08286761B2 |
Shock absorber for a transportation means
A shock absorber includes a sleeve, a piston accomplishing forward and reverse travels therein, a rod, a piston cap, a rod cap including an orifice and a rod seal mounted therein. The rod seal defines a front face facing the piston and a rear face being opposite to the front face. The rod includes at least two rod regions including annular humps. The front and rear faces operatively interact with the annular humps during the forward and reverse travels, such that the interaction causes deformations of the rod seal thereby cushioning impacts and reducing overloads of the shock absorber. An embodiment of the shock absorber further includes two annular humps represented by a first annular hump, having a first maximal diameter, and a second annular hump, having a second maximal diameter, while the first maximal diameter is greater than the second maximal diameter, preferably by 3-10 micrometers. |
| US08286754B2 |
Vertical lift platform assembly
A vertical lift platform assembly 100 has a lift platform 140, which is translatable in a vertical direction between at least a raised position and a lowered position by at least one actuator 200. The lift platform 140 may be surrounded on all sides by vertically extending walls 112 and one or more doors 110 to provide access to the lift platform 140. A control panel 113 enables an operator to control the vertical travel of the lift platform 140. |
| US08286753B2 |
Steel pump jack with safety latch and method
An upper shackle assembly for a steel pump jack for a wood pole includes a u-shaped shackle component to receive the wood pole. The assembly includes a crank handle that extends through the shackle component and engages the pole to lower the pump jack down the pole. The assembly includes a brake attached to the shackle component to engage with the pole if the crank handle fails. A method for installing a steel pump jack to a wood pole includes the steps of placing a u-shaped shackle component about the wood pole. There is the step of closing a brake with the shackle component to engage with the pole if a crank handle fails. There is the step of extending the crank handle through the shackle component to engage the pole. A steel pump jack. |
| US08286751B2 |
Muffling device
A muffling device has a muffling piece that is placed in an airflow path and muffles sound caused by airflow, and a drive unit that performs one of rotation and movement of the muffling piece. |
| US08286748B2 |
Work vehicle
In the work vehicle, a controller is configured to control a motor displacement control part via feedback control so that the driving hydraulic pressure detected by a driving hydraulic pressure detector approaches a predetermined target driving hydraulic pressure. The controller is configured to perform low temperature motor displacement limitation control, which reduces the maximum displacement of a hydraulic motor, when the temperature of the hydraulic fluid detected by the fluid temperature detector is lower than a predetermined temperature. |
| US08286745B2 |
Personal mobility vehicle seat suspension
A powered personal mobility vehicle for transporting an infirm occupant includes at least three wheels configured to contact the ground, at least one electric motor, a frame, a lower seat post coupled to the frame and extending upwardly from the frame, a modular suspension unit supported by the lower seat post, and a seat assembly supported only by the modular suspension unit. The modular suspension unit includes a post assembly that includes an outer post slidably coupled to an inner post, and a dampener located completely within the post assembly. The modular suspension unit is removably coupled to the lower seat post and is configured to be removable from the lower seat post as a unitary assembly. The outer post, the inner post, and the dampener are configured to dampen vertical movement of the seat assembly relative to the frame in response to impact between the wheels and the ground. |
| US08286743B2 |
Vehicle battery pack ballistic shield
An improved protection system for a battery pack mounted between the passenger cabin floor panel of an electric vehicle and the driving surface is provided, the system utilizing a ballistic shield mounted under the electric vehicle and interposed between the battery pack enclosure and the driving surface, where the ballistic shield is spaced apart from the enclosure bottom panel. A layer of a compressible material may be interposed between the ballistic shield and the battery pack enclosure. |
| US08286740B2 |
Hybrid working machine
In a hybrid excavator, a generator motor and a hydraulic pump are driven by using an engine as a power source. A battery is charged with power generated by the generator motor. A rotation motor is driven by the generator motor and the battery. The voltage of a DC bus is detected by a voltage sensor, and whether the battery is unusable is determined by a breakdown detector. When the battery becomes unusable, emergency evacuation control is performed so that the power consumption of the rotation motor will be suppressed to be less than or equal to the power generation of the generator motor while maintaining the DC bus voltage greater than or equal to the normal operation voltage of the system. |
| US08286734B2 |
Low profile rotating control device
A system and method are provided for a low profile rotating control device (LP-RCD) and its housing mounted on or integral with an annular blowout preventer seal, casing, or other housing. The outer diameter of the lateral outlet flange may be substantially the same as the height of the LP-RCD housing and bearing assembly after the bearing assembly is positioned with the LP-RCD housing. The sealing element may be aligned with the lateral outlet, and may be replaced from above. Different embodiments of attachment members for attaching the LP-RCD housing with a lower housing allow the LP-RCD housing to be rotated to align the lateral outlet with the drilling rig's existing line to mud pits or other locations. In one embodiment, the LP-RCD bearings are positioned radially inside the LP-RCD housing. In another embodiment, the LP-RCD bearings are positioned radially outside the LP-RCD housing. One embodiment allows rotation of the inserted tubular about multiple planes. In still another embodiment, an annular BOP seal is integral with a RCD housing. |
| US08286733B2 |
Rotary steerable tool
A rotary steerable tool is provided for use with a drilling apparatus. The rotary steerable tool includes at least a first portion that includes an outer housing, a rotary shaft extending through the outer housing, a drive clutch coupled to the rotary shaft, and a sensor coupled to the rotary shaft. The drive clutch is movable between an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration. The sensor is configured to identify whether the drive clutch is in at least one of the engaged configuration and the disengaged configuration. |
| US08286728B2 |
System and method for communicating about a wellsite
A system and method for communicating with a drill string is provided. The system includes an apparatus having a first coupler, a second coupler, a frame and an actuator. The first coupler may be operatively connectable to the drill string and the second coupler may be operatively connectable to a top drive of a handling system thereby allowing communication between a surface system and a downhole system. The frame may support the first coupler and the second coupler. The frame may be operatively connectable to the handling system. The actuator may be for moving the frame with the first and second couplers between an engaged position operatively connected to the top drive and an uppermost drill pipe, and a disengaged position a distance from the uppermost drill pipe whereby the first and second couplers selectively establish a communication link between the surface system and the downhole system. |
| US08286727B2 |
Weighing and display station
A system for monitoring loads at well drilling and service operations includes a digital user interface. The digital interface is in electronic communication with a first pressure transducer in fluid communication with a first pad type hydraulic load sensor, a second pressure transducer in fluid communication with a second pad type hydraulic load sensor, and a third pressure transducer in fluid communication with a hydraulic diaphragm type deadline load sensor. The digital user interface module functions to monitor the hydraulic pressures experienced at each pressure transducer and functions to calculate and display a corresponding weight load in numerical and graphical form for each pressure transducer. The digital user interface is also in electronic communication with a fourth transducer in fluid communication with a hydraulic power tong unit. The digital user interface module also functions to monitor the hydraulic pressure experienced at the pressure transducer and functions to calculate and display a corresponding torque load produced by the power tongs in numerical and graphical form. |
| US08286726B2 |
User interface for rock drilling rig
The invention relates to a control apparatus for controlling a rock-drilling rig performing a multiphase rock-drilling event. The control apparatus is arranged to display a working phase indicator on a display, and rock drilling phase-specific information elements is associated with different working phases. The control apparatus is arranged to specify the phase of the rock-drilling event and to update the working phase indicator to display at least one display information element in accordance with the specified working phase. |
| US08286723B2 |
Power screwdriver having rotary input control
A power tool includes an output shaft configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis, a motor drivably connected to the output shaft to impart rotary motions thereto, and a rotational motion sensor spatially separated from the output shaft and operable to determine the user-imparted rotational motion of the power tool with respect to the longitudinal axis. A controller is electrically connected to the rotational motion sensor and the motor. The controller determines angular velocity of the power tool about the axis, rotational displacement of the power tool about the axis, and/or a direction of the rotational displacement using input from the rotational motion sensor. The controller then controls the motor according to the angular velocity, the rotational displacement, and/or the direction of the rotational displacement. |
| US08286722B2 |
Method for controlling a fastener driving tool using a gas spring
A portable linear fastener driving tool is provided that drive staples, nails, or other linearly driven fasteners. The tool uses a gas spring principle, in which a cylinder filled with compressed gas is used to quickly force a piston through a driving stroke movement, while a driver also drives a fastener into a workpiece. The piston/driver is then moved back to its starting position by use of a rotary-to-linear lifter, and the piston again compresses the gas above the piston, thereby preparing the tool for another driving stroke. The driver has protrusions along its edges that contact the lifter, which lifts the driver during a return stroke. A pivotable latch is controlled to move into either an interfering position or a non-interfering position with respect to the driver protrusions, and acts as a safety device, by preventing the driver from making a full driving stroke at an improper time. |
| US08286721B2 |
Electric power hoe
A power hoe is provided, which includes an electric motor operating tools for work in the ground and at least one battery intended to power the motor and having a set of functionalities. The power hoe is able to operate in at least two operating modes selected according to at least one information item representative of a level of charge remaining in the battery or batteries. These operating modes include, at least: a normal operating mode, in which all of the functionalities of the equipment are available, including a functionality allowing the motor to be supplied with additional power for a limited period of time; and a downgraded operating mode in which at least the functionality allowing the motor to be supplied with additional power is disabled. |
| US08286718B2 |
Downhole tubular expander and method
A liner hanger (10) is provided for supporting a liner in a well. An expandable tubular hanger (90) is positioned within the well and a running tool with a tool mandrel (34) passes fluid through the running tool. An actuator (12) forcibly moves the tubular expander to an expanded position. Release of the running tool from the liner may be accomplished with a retainer (84) and downward movement of the mandrel, with fluid pressure acting on a hydraulic piston (28) coupled with rotation of the mandrel, or by safety joint (68) along the tubular mandrel. |
| US08286717B2 |
Tools and methods for hanging and/or expanding liner strings
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to tools and methods for hanging and/or expanding liner strings. In one embodiment, a method of hanging a liner assembly from a previously installed tubular in a wellbore includes running the liner assembly and a setting tool into the wellbore using a run-in string. The setting tool includes an isolation valve and the liner assembly includes a liner hanger and a liner string. The method further includes sending an instruction signal from the surface to the isolation valve, wherein the isolation valve closes in response to the instruction signal and isolates a setting pressure in the setting tool from the liner string; and increasing fluid pressure in the setting tool, thereby setting the liner hanger. |
| US08286713B2 |
Oil and gas well completion system and method of installation
A completion system and method for completing a subsea well with angular alignment-free assembly The system includes a series of circumferential channels formed in a well completion device at a boundary between a tubing hanger and the completion device. The circumferential channels provide complete circular fluid paths with respect to the tubing hanger and the completion device. A supply bore and a drain bore are in communication with each circumferential channel and oriented to supply a fluid to and remove fluid from, respectively, the circumferential channel. A circumferential electrical connector couples the tubing hanger and the completion device. The circumferential channels and bores provide fluid services between the completion device and the tubing hanger and the electrical connector provides electrical services to the tubing hanger. The completion system allows the fluid and electrical services to be provided without requiring any angular alignment between the tubing hanger and the completion device. |
| US08286712B2 |
Deploying an electrically-activated tool into a subsea well
An apparatus for use with a subsea well includes a lubricator configured to attach to subsea wellhead equipment, an electrically-activated tool, and a coiled tubing attached to the electrically-activated tool. The electrically-activated tool is initially provided in the lubricator to allow for deployment of the electrically-activated tool on the coiled tubing into the subsea well. Multiple tools may be deployed independently from within the lubricator to latch into a concentric electrical connector within the well which may also act as a switch. A concentric electrical connector will permit the passage of a tool through the body of the connector retaining full bore access when the tool is withdrawn. |
| US08286705B2 |
Apparatus and method for treating a subterranean formation using diversion
Apparatus and methods comprising a plurality of particles which are magnetically attracted to one another in response to exposure to an magnetic field, and which maintain attraction to one another after removal of the magnetic field, the attraction being disabled when the particles are demagnetized, whereby the particles operate to alter the rheological properties of a fluid in which the particles are mixed when the attraction is enabled or disabled is disclosed. |
| US08286702B2 |
Wireless downhole tool positioning system
A string of drill pipe, for example, is assembled with a severing sub in anticipation of a possible need to cut the string at some point in the operation. The severing sub includes a thin wall tube that links opposite end tool joint bosses. The tin wall tube is easily cut by a shaped charge cutter. Rotary drive torque is transmitted between the sub tool join bosses by a concentric external torque tube having a torque transmitting assembly at each boss. The torque tube connection to the upper boss has an inseparable circumferential shoulder engagement with the boss. The lower boss engagement of the torque tube is axially separable. When the thin wall tube is cut, the upper boss and torque tube is withdrawn from the well with the upper pipe string. |
| US08286701B2 |
Recovering heated fluid using well equipment
A device has a first elongate tubular body and a second elongate tubular body coupled to the first tubular body, both adapted to reside in the wellbore. The device is changeable between the first tubular body axially fixed against movement in a first direction relative to the second tubular body and axially moveable in the first direction relative to the second elongate tubular body in response to temperature. |
| US08286700B1 |
Damping and sealing device for a well pipe having an inner flow passage and method of using thereof
A damping and sealing device for enabling gas or liquid flow from a well to a production tube in the well, including a body with a flow passage internal to the body and a spring disposed about a portion of the body. The flow passage includes a first opening at a first longitudinal end of the body and a second opening at a second longitudinal end of the body. The first end is arranged to contact a plunger for the well and the body is arranged to sealingly engage the production tube. In one embodiment, the body includes an inner circumferential surface and an outer circumferential surface, the inner circumferential surface forms the internal flow passage, and a portion of the outer circumferential surface is arranged to slide along a portion of the inner circumferential surface in response to the first end contacting a plunger. |
| US08286698B2 |
Method for producing viscous hydrocarbon using steam and carbon dioxide
A downhole burner is used for producing heavy-oil formations. Hydrogen, oxygen, and steam are pumped by separate conduits to the burner, which burns at least part of the hydrogen and forces the combustion products out into the earth formation. The steam cools the burner and becomes superheated steam, which is injected along with the combustion products into the earth formation. Carbon dioxide is also pumped down the well and injected into the formation. |
| US08286696B2 |
Mechanically actuated thermal switch
A method of controlling thermal transfer between a first structure and a second structure includes sending a command signal to a thermal switch and actuating an electric motor in response to receiving the signal. The electric motor may move a first thermally conductive member toward and/or in contact with a second thermally conductive member. The first and second thermally conductive member may be in thermally conductive contact with respective ones of the first and second structure. |
| US08286692B2 |
Method for reduction of interstitial elements in cast alloys and system for performing the method
The method for reducing interstitial elements in alloy castings which comprises the following steps: pouring the alloy for the formation of a casting; and allowing said alloy to cool. According to the method, at least a peripheral region of the casting is heated, so that the flux of interstitial elements is caused towards the at least one peripheral region. The method is achieved where most of the interstitial elements concentrate in at least one region in the surface region of the casting. At later stages these elements can be easily eliminated from the respective regions by means of a thermal surface treatment or surface machining of the casting. |
| US08286678B2 |
Process, apparatus and vessel for transferring fluids between two structures
A process and apparatus are provided for transferring fluids such as, for example, liquefied natural gas between a source structure such as a floating storage vessel and a receiving structure such as a floating transport vessel utilizing a controllable deployment system to deploy a fluid conduit. The fluid conduit end is supported by a mooring device which is positioned by the controllable deployment system. A transfer vessel is also provided which utilizes the controllable deployment system to position and support a fluid conduit for connection with a manifold on a receiving vessel. The deployment system operates in active mode during positioning and in passive mode during fluid transfer. The fluid transfer system disclosed allows safe, controlled operation and fluid transfer in open sea conditions. |
| US08286674B2 |
Gas filling apparatus
A gas filling apparatus for filling a gas into a storage apparatus for storing a semiconductor element or a reticle is provided. The gas filling apparatus is connected with an air feed source, which includes a base, a first inlet port and a set of air feed source route. The storage apparatus is loaded on the base, and the first inlet port which is disposed on the base corresponds with the second inlet port of the storage apparatus. The set of air feed source route includes an entrance part, a supply part and a branch part. The entrance part is connected with the air feed source, and the supply part is connected with the first inlet port. The branch part is a closed loop, which transmits the gas from the entrance part into the supply part. |
| US08286673B1 |
Opacity filtering system
This system provides for odor control by using a rack opacity filtering system (ROFS). This is a system that collects opacity at the point of origin and transfers it to the filter unit. The filter unit then removes the opacity from the air and the clean air is then vented to the atmosphere. The opacity is a result of loading additized asphalt product at elevated temperatures and controlling how much opacity is allowed to be released. ROFS provides a means to virtually eliminate opacity. |
| US08286672B2 |
Gas filling apparatus
This invention is about a gas filling apparatus for filling a gas into a storage apparatus for storing a semiconductor element or a reticle. The gas filling apparatus comprises a base and a port. The storage apparatus is loaded on the base. The port comprises a receiving part, which is connected with an air entrance of the storage apparatus. The contact portions of both the top of the receiving part and the air entrance of the storage apparatus are cambered surfaces and these two portions contacts in a ring fashion which is formed by the cambered surfaces mated with each other. The port also comprises a hole for the gas to pass through, and a joint port to connect with the air source. |
| US08286671B1 |
Automated syringe filler and loading apparatus
The disclosure pertains to an automated apparatus for filling capped needle syringes. The syringes are held in a rotatable motor controlled carousel. The carousel turns to place a syringe proximate to a dispenser mechanism. A rotatable plate on top of the dispenser mechanism holds an automated cap extractor/installer and at least one inverted vial having a needle perforatable surface. The rotatable plate can also move up and down relative to the top of the dispenser mechanism. The cap can be removed by the automated cap extractor/installer and the rotatable plate rotated to place the inverted vial over the exposed syringe needle. The rotatable plate can descend so that the needle perforates the surface of the vial. A syringe plunger tool of the dispenser mechanism engages the syringe plunger and pulls it downward. The syringe plunger tool can disengage and return to its original position. The rotatable plate can raise to remove the needle from the vial. The rotatable plate can rotate to place the automated cap extractor/installer over the exposed needle. The automated cap extractor/installer holding the syringe needle cap can descend and the cap reattached to the syringe. The carousel can rotate to present the filled and capped syringe to an automated syringe inverter/extractor component that removes the capped syringe from the carousel and places the syringe in a holder. |
| US08286670B2 |
Method for controlled filling of pressurized gas tanks
The invention concerns a method for filling pressurized gas tanks, characterized in that the filling process is interrupted when the input pressure reaches a maximum filling pressure, the maximum filling pressure in the cylinder being calculated to match the most serious of the two following conditions: nominal filling capacity or design temperature of the cylinders. |
| US08286669B2 |
Method of manufacturing liquid storage container
An ink absorption member is inserted into a tank case and positioned to define an open space V between its bottom surface and the tank case bottom. Sequentially, then, one ink injection needle is inserted through the ink absorption member in the tank case until the tip enters the open space V. Thereafter, ink injection is begun by supplying ink through the injection needle tip. As this process proceeds, the open space V is filled with ink, the upper surface of which serves as an interface, parallel to the tank case bottom. This parallel state is maintained as the ink permeates the ink absorption member, so that the process can be uniformly completed. Further, since the open space V is filled first, the ink injection speed is not overly slow, when compared with a process during which ink is directly injected into the ink absorption member. |
| US08286667B2 |
Prevention of bacterial adhesion irrigation conduits
A water transmission tubing for controlling the flow of water under pressure comprises a tubular inner liner of generally uniform cross-sectional configuration continuous with the length of the tubing and having an anti-bacterial agent for preventing the growth of bacteria on the inside wall of the tube. The inner liner contains a dispersed slip additive that forms a low friction surface inside the tubing for preventing adherence of slime to the inside of the tubing. The slip additive can comprise a fluoroelastomer, a fluoropolymer, a silicone resinous material, or mixtures thereof. The liner can be a separate inner layer of a multi-layer dripline, a monolayer form of the dripline or the inside of a drip irrigation emitter. The invention is particularly useful in subsurface treatment of wastewater. |
| US08286658B2 |
Roll-over valve with shared overfill protection and vacuum relief
A tank venting system is configured to regulate air and fuel vapor flow between a fuel tank and a fuel vapor recovery canister. A roll-over valve is included in the tank venting system. |
| US08286656B2 |
Implantable counterpulsation cardiac assist device
A hollow tubular element is inserted in the descending aorta. The caudad end contains a pressure sensitive passive or preferably, hydraulically or electrically activated, unidirectional valve. A flexible diaphragm situated in a rigid shell affixed over an opening in the element wall divides the shell interior into first and second variable volume chambers. The first chamber opens to the artery. A continuously operating electrical pump is connected to the second chamber through a closed hydraulic system including a multi-valve chamber. The valves regulate fluid flow to the second chamber in accordance with electrical signals from the heart. Fluid flow is directed to the second chamber during cardiac diastole and away from the second chamber during cardiac systole, causing the device to function in a counterpulsation mode. The work of the heart is decreased and coronary blood flow is increased to promote the formation of new coronary collateral channels and the perfusion of the heart itself. In the event of mechanical failure, pre-implantation heart function is not impeded. |
| US08286653B2 |
Method and arrangement for eliminating the risk of leakage from a first one to a second one of two fluid systems
A method is provided for eliminating the risk of leakage from a first one to a second one of two fluid systems in an apparatus for handling a fluid for human consumption, with a shut-off device including a cavity and a respective valve element connecting the cavity to each of the two fluid systems, each valve means being capable of preventing any fluid communication from the cavity to the respective fluid system. When the valve element prevents any fluid communication from the cavity to the fluid systems, a fluid is supplied to the cavity and a pressure is provided in the cavity which is higher than one or each of the respective pressures in the two fluid systems, thereby eliminating the risk of leakage from a first one to a second one of two fluid systems in case of failure of the valve element. |
| US08286652B2 |
Configurable active jerk control
A method of limiting jerk in a hydraulic system of a machine includes defining a maximum pressure rate. An output pressure of a hydraulic fluid is continuously measured over time from a work port of a hydraulic valve to determine an output pressure rate. The measured output pressure rate is compared to the maximum pressure rate. A requested flow rate is adjusted when the measured output pressure rate is greater than the maximum pressure rate to decrease the pressure differential generated in response to changing the flow rate of the hydraulic fluid through the valve, which thereby limits a change in acceleration or deceleration of the hydraulic system to limit felt jerk in the machine. |
| US08286649B2 |
Applicator and a packaging and applicator device including such an applicator
An applicator for applying a composition to a surface may include at least one applicator endpiece including at least a body of non-porous material that is covered, at least in part, by flocking. The body may include a proximal first portion, a distal second portion connected to the first portion and comprising at least one application face; and at least one hinge-forming zone between the first portion and the second portion. The hinge-forming zone may enable the second portion to pivot relative to the first portion while the application face is pressing against the surface. |
| US08286647B2 |
Cosmetics receptacle
A cosmetics receptacle includes: a container part having a container opening, a container cap combined with the container part, a guide tube part including a pair of guide grooves dotted-formed from an upper end along a length-wise direction, a brush holder having a tube-shaped brush seating tube with a closed upper side, a sliding tube disposed in such a manner that the sliding tube surrounds the brush seating tube and a pair of guide projections extending from an outer surface of the brush seating tube, a brush mounted in the brush seating tube in such a manner that the brush is exposed by passing the lower end of the guide tube part when the brush holder moves along the length-wise direction of the guide tube part, and a separation preventing cap combined with the upper end of the guide tube part. |
| US08286643B2 |
Nail care device
A nail care device includes a covering part, a light-emitting component, and a light-emitting control module. The covering part is configured for covering a tip of a digit of a limb. The light-emitting component is disposed in the covering part in a manner that light emitted by the light-emitting component irradiates a nail on the tip of the digit covered by the covering part. The light-emitting control module is coupled to the light-emitting component and is operable to control operation of the light-emitting component. |
| US08286642B2 |
Temperature sensitive powder for enhanced flavor delivery in smoking articles
Improved delivery of additive materials to mainstream smoke produced by smoking articles is provided through the use of a temperature sensitive powder containing an additive material, such as a flavor component, in a smoking article such as a cigarette. The temperature sensitive powder is subjected to heat which causes the temperature sensitive powder to release at least a portion of the additive material into mainstream smoke. The temperature sensitive powder encapsulates the additive materials and other portions of the smoking articles, such as sorbents or filter materials, in order to reduce additive material migration during storage. |
| US08286640B2 |
Apparatus and method for adjustable fractional optical dermatological treatment
A fractional treatment system can be configured with a laser wavelength that is selected such that absorption of the laser wavelength within the tissue increases as the tissue is heated by the laser (e.g., 1390-1425 nm). Desirably, the laser wavelength is primarily absorbed within a treated region of skin by water and has a thermally adjusted absorption coefficient within the range of about 8 cm−1 to about 30 cm−1. An adjustable mechanism can be used to adjust the beam shape, beam numerical aperture, beam focus depth, and/or beam size to affect the treatment depth and or the character of the resulting lesions. The system may be designed to be switchable between a treatment mode that is semi-ablative and a treatment mode that is not semi-ablative. Adjustment of these parameters can improve the efficiency and efficacy of treatment. Illustrative examples of adjustable mechanisms include a set of spacers of different lengths, a rotatable turret with lens elements of different focal distances, an optical zoom lens, and a mechanical adjustment apparatus for adjusting the spacing between two optical lens elements. |
| US08286624B2 |
Blade ring saw blade
A flat-sided annular blade for a blade ring saw for cutting hard materials such as tile along straight paths and curved paths in which the workpiece is moved through the central portion of the blade. In addition to the usual sintered abrasive diamond coating on the outer peripheral portion of the blade, the inner peripheral portion preferably is tapered to a curved inner edge and also is coated with an abrasive, preferably an electroplated diamond coating providing smoother sawing operation and a finishing action on the workpiece. |
| US08286623B2 |
Band saw cutting apparatus and ingot cutting method
The present invention is a band saw cutting apparatus including: a cutting table on which an ingot is horizontally placed; an endless-belt blade provided in a tensioned state between pulleys, the blade having a blade-abrasive-grain portion and a blade base; and a coolant spraying opening for spraying a coolant on the blade, the band saw cutting apparatus cutting the ingot by relatively feeding the blade from above to below, the blade being driven to rotate by rotating the pulleys, wherein the pulleys is configured to be rotatable about an axis thereof in both directions, and a direction of driving to rotate the blade can be changed to cut the ingot. As a result, there is provided a band saw cutting apparatus and an ingot cutting method that can stably secure the quality of the ingot to be cut, increase the lifetime of the blade, and improve the productivity. |
| US08286619B2 |
Ball projecting and training apparatus and method of use
A ball projecting and training apparatus and method of use having a base, a throwing arm, an adjustable ball mount on said throwing arm, and one or more energy storage elements connected between an end of the throwing arm and an accelerator. The ball mount pivots in a direction parallel with, perpendicular to, or a combination thereof relative to the throwing arm and also locks to provide repeatable trajectories and spins. The accelerator provides additional energy to the ball when depressed by a user. A release holds the throwing arm when the apparatus is cocked and allows a user to launch a ball when desired. |
| US08286615B2 |
Intake manifold of an internal combustion engine and cooling fluid charge air cooler
An intake manifold arrangement of an internal combustion engine has an intake manifold and a cooling fluid charge air cooler arranged in the intake manifold. The cooling fluid charge air cooler has cooling fluid tanks at first and second opposite ends. At least one of the cooling fluid tanks at the first end forms at least a part of the intake manifold and is an integral component of the cooling fluid charge air cooler. |
| US08286612B2 |
Coupling device
Coupling device for hydraulically and mechanically coupling a fuel injector to a combustion engine fuel rail, having a fuel injector cup with a central longitudinal axis hydraulically coupled to the rail and engaging a fuel inlet portion of the injector, a first ring element fixedly coupled to the cup, and a second ring element fixedly coupled to the injector. One of the ring elements has a collar arranged radially outside the other elements and extending from the one element in direction of the longitudinal axis. The collar has a recess facing the central longitudinal axis. A circlip is arranged in the recess and arranged and designed to form a positive fitting coupling between the first and second ring elements. The circlip prevents a movement of the first ring element relative to the second element retaining the fuel injector in the fuel injector cup in direction of the central longitudinal axis. |
| US08286610B2 |
Control device for internal combustion engine
In an internal combustion engine control device having an air-fuel ratio control device that controls the fuel injection amount so that the air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine approaches a target stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, the control device further includes a device that calculates the lower calorific value of fuel, and a device that sets the target stoichiometric air-fuel ratio from the calculated lower calorific value based on a known relationship between the lower calorific value and the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. It becomes possible to perform the air-fuel ratio control according to the fuel property by utilizing the relationship between the calorific value and the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. |
| US08286608B2 |
Sealing system for an oscillating-piston engine
A sealing system for oscillating-piston engines that include two oscillating pistons that revolve together in a spherical housing. The pistons perform reciprocating oscillating movements in opposite directions about an oscillation axis perpendicular to the axis of revolution for the pistons. Guide members are provided on the pistons and engage at least one guide groove formed in the housing. Sealing elements are disposed on or in the vicinity of all moving edges surrounding working chambers and prechambers for the engine. The sealing elements seal all the gap regions present between machine parts displaced relative to one another by revolving and/or oscillating movements and not in direct contact. Sealing elements prevent excessive penetration of lubricating fluid into inlet and outlet openings in the housing. |
| US08286599B2 |
Engine having variable lift valvetrain
A rocker arm may include a first arm defining a first longitudinal bore and a second arm defining a second longitudinal bore. The rocker arm may house a locking assembly including a first lock pin located within the first longitudinal bore, an actuation pin extending through a radial passage in the rocker arm and engaged with the first lock pin, and a first biasing member engaged with the first lock pin and urging the first lock pin toward the actuation pin and biasing the actuation pin radially inward. An actuation assembly may be engaged with the actuation pin and linearly displaceable between first and second actuation positions. The first and second arms may be rotatable relative to one another when the actuation member is in the first actuation position and may be fixed for rotation with one another when the actuation member is in the second actuation position. |
| US08286595B2 |
Integrated split stream water coil air heater and economizer (IWE)
An integrated water coil air heater and economizer arrangement for a boiler has a feedwater inlet for supplying feedwater to the boiler, and conduits and a valve for splitting the feedwater from the inlet into a first partial lower temperature, lower mass flow stream, and a second partial higher temperature, higher flow stream. A water coil air heater for passage of air to be heated for the boiler contains at least one heat transfer loop in heat transfer relationship with the air, the heat transfer loop of the water coil air heater being connected to receive the first partial stream. An economizer for passage of flue gas to be cooled for the boiler contains at least one heat transfer loop in heat transfer relationship with the flue gas, the heat transfer loop of the economizer being connected to the heat transfer loop of the water coil air heater for receiving the first partial stream from the water coil air heater. A mixing location downstream of the economizer receives and reunites the first and second partial streams and a conduit carries the second partial stream from the feedwater inlet to the to the mixing location. |
| US08286593B2 |
Animal collar for limiting head movement
A restraint for an animal in the form of a collar that is capable of closely conforming to the skeletal structure of the animal at a number of different locations in order to limit physical movement of the head of the animal. The restraint collar includes a body having an upper member adapted to be situated below a jaw of the animal in a region of an upper portion of the animal's neck, and a lower member adapted to be situated in a region of a lower portion of the animal's neck. The body upper member includes a jaw guide located between two upper member crests and having a portion extending downwardly and below the crest towards the lower member. It is adapted to be situated at a central area of the animal's neck. The crests are adapted to fit below the sides of the animal's jaw to provide for a desired restraint. |
| US08286590B2 |
Hummingbird feeding system
A hummingbird feeding station includes a first hollow body having a closed end and an openable end, the first hollow body for receiving and for containing a liquid for consumption, one or more openings extending through at least one wall of the first hollow body for enabling consumption of the liquid contained therein, and a second hollow body having a closed or a sealed end and an open end, the second hollow body for receiving and containing a liquid. The second hollow body is disposed between the first hollow body a point of origin of insects attempting to access the liquid in the first hollow body, the liquid contained in the second hollow body functioning as a barrier preventing the insects from accessing the liquid contained in the first hollow body. |
| US08286582B2 |
Vapor deposition of dissimilar materials
A method for depositing a first material on a substrate includes providing the substrate in a deposition chamber. A molten body is formed between the substrate and a source of the first material by melting one or more second materials. A flow of the first material is passed through the molten body and from the molten body to the substrate as a vapor flow. An essentially non-expending portion of the molten body comprises an alloy having a melting temperature below a melting temperature of the first material. |
| US08286576B2 |
Substrate processing apparatus
A thermal processing unit of a thermal processor for anti-reflection films includes: a covering nozzle for covering a substrate from above supported by a thermal processing plate and discharging an adhesion enhancing agent to a periphery of a substrate supported by the thermal processing plate; and a vaporization processor for supplying an adhesion enhancing agent in the vapor phase to the covering nozzle. While a substrate placed over the thermal processing plate is being subjected to thermal process, a control part causes the covering nozzle to discharge an adhesion enhancing agent in the vapor phase onto a periphery of a substrate to realize adhesion enhancement process. Thus, the adhesion between a resist coating film and a substrate surface in the periphery of a substrate is enhanced. Further, parallel implementation of thermal process and adhesion enhancement process exerts no influence on throughput. |
| US08286574B2 |
Lowerable platform with float for a watercraft
The invention relates to a lowerable platform (1) for a water craft (10), which can be also horizontally extended and to which a float (2) is fastened that comprises a closed hollow space (43) or an open hollow space (43), a buoyancy (A) acting upon the float (2) being generated by the air volume (L). As a result, the water craft's proper weight or the payload (N) of e.g. a tender boar (27) on the lowerable platform (1) can be compensated by the buoyancy (A). A hydrodynamic design of the float (2) additionally generates a hydrodynamic buoyancy (D1) which can be varied in terms of its height in relation to the current (S) by means (4, 37, 38, 39), depending on the float (2). |
| US08286569B2 |
Sewing machine
A low cost and easy-to-use sewing machine is provided which is capable of performing free motion sewing. The sewing machine includes a needle bar to which a needle can be mounted, a needle bar vertical moving mechanism, a needle bar swing mechanism causing the needle bar to swing in a lateral direction relative to a longitudinal direction along which a feed dog operates for straight stitch, and a control portion for adjusting a swing amount of the needle bar which is brought into swing movement in the lateral direction by the needle bar swing mechanism. |
| US08286565B2 |
Security lock box
A security lock box that is mountable to a shelf. The shelf has a shelf surface for supporting merchandise thereon. The security lock box includes a cover adapted to be supported on top of the shelf and adapted to house and secure merchandise supported on the shelf therein. The cover is at least partially transparent to display merchandise when housed therein. The security lock box further includes a security device, which has a shelf mount and a lock. The shelf mount is adapted to be fastened to the shelf, and the lock releasably locks the cover to the shelf mount between a locked state, wherein the cover is locked to the shelf mount, and an unlocked state, wherein the cover is releasable from the shelf mount. |
| US08286564B2 |
Shelf support system
A shelf support system including a collet lock for engaging a hole in the shelf post for arresting downward movement of a shelf support collar on the post. |
| US08286561B2 |
Spill containing refrigerator shelf assembly
The specification discloses a method for containing spills on shelving and the like, and the resulting support members made in accordance with the method, by providing the generally flat top surface of a support with a hydrophobic surface which is arranged in a spill containment pattern and which is generally in the plane of the top surface of the support. The majority of the top surface of the support consists of one or more spill containment areas which are of a non-hydrophobic nature and which are bounded by the hydrophobic surfaces, such that spills on the shelving collect in the non-hydrophobic spill containment area or areas and are prevented from spreading by the hydrophobic surfaces. |
| US08286559B2 |
Trolley assembly for passenger restraint system
Disclosed is a trolley assembly that is adapted to be used with a passenger restraint, such as a locking reel. The trolley assembly allows the reel lock to be securely positioned at any of a number of discrete locations along the length of an associated track. A mechanism is included for permitting the user to selectively lock and unlock the trolley as needed. |
| US08286552B2 |
Screen-printing panel
A screen-printing panel comprising a locking strip sewn to screen-printing mesh is described. The mesh along an edge of the panel is folded around the locking strip and secured using a line of stitching. A gap between the end of the locking strip and the edge of the mesh contributes to corner softening. Another gap between the end of the stitching and the end of the locking strip also contributes to corner softening. Locking strips have various cross sections including rectangular, triangular, and complex curves. Two colors of thread may be used to aid in orienting the panel. An adhesive may be used to hold the mesh to the locking strip for convenience during handling and sewing. |
| US08286551B2 |
Printing machine
The printing machine comprises at least one transfer system for conveying a substrate onto an impression cylinder and at least one screen of cylindrical or flat shape, with a doctor blade, said screen collaborating with the impression cylinder and intended to print the substrate with an ink containing pigments that can be orientated by a magnetic field and an unloading system for carrying the substrate away. The impression cylinder comprises at least one magnetic element on its impression surface, said magnetic element being positioned at a point corresponding to said impression performed by said screen on said substrate. |
| US08286550B2 |
Cutting apparatus
One embodiment of a cutting apparatus for edibles may include a base member. The cutting apparatus may also include a pair of sliding assemblies mounted on opposite edges of a top surface of the base member. The cutting apparatus may further include a cutting assembly slidably carried by the pair of sliding assemblies. The cutting assembly may include a pair of side plates mounted on the pair of sliding assemblies. The cutting assembly may also include a plurality of spacers mounted between the pair of side plates in a spaced apart relation. Further, the cutting assembly may include a plurality of blades held by the plurality of spacers, press-fitted between the pair of side plates. The cutting apparatus may also include a handle assembly mounted between the cutting assembly and the pair of sliding assemblies and adapted for slidably moving the cutting assembly over the base member. |
| US08286548B2 |
Cooking appliance
A cooking appliance is provided which includes a lower heating assembly and an upper heating assembly. The lower heating assembly includes a lower cooking surface, and the upper heating assembly includes an upper cooking surface. The upper cooking surface is translatable relative to the lower cooking surface in at least a substantially vertical manner, wherein the upper cooking surface and lower cooking surface remain substantially parallel to one another when the upper cooking surface translates relative to the lower cooking surface. |
| US08286545B2 |
Piston-cylinder unit
A piston-cylinder unit for pivoting a flap with respect to a motor vehicle body includes a cylinder having an open end with a seal, a closed end, and an interior space between the ends; a piston unit axially movable in the cylinder, the piston unit dividing the interior space into a first working space and a second working space; a piston rod connected to the piston unit and extending through the first working space and the seal; and flow connections connecting the first working space to the second working space. A switch element arranged outside the cylinder is switched in response to movement of the piston with respect to the cylinder. |
| US08286543B2 |
Valve assembly for an actuating device
A valve assembly for controlling the flow of pressurized fluid supplied to an actuating cylinder having a piston driven by the pressurized fluid along a stroke path therewithin, the pressurized fluid being applied to alternative driving sides of the piston. The valve assembly comprises a first and a second valve pistons, which cooperate to block the supply of pressurized fluid to the current driving side of the piston when the piston reaches the end of its stroke path, thereby limiting the pressure of the pressurized fluid supplied to the driving side to a level reduced compared to a pressure level applied to drive said piston. If a leak occurs within the actuating cylinder at the end of the stroke path of the piston, it will be at the reduced pressurized fluid pressure. |
| US08286542B2 |
Gas piston retrofit for rifle
A gas piston retrofit assembly is provided for a firearm having a bolt assembly mounted within a receiver, a barrel extending forward from the receiver, and a front sight block mounted on the barrel. The retrofit assembly includes a gas tube extending into the front sight block fluidly connected with the barrel, a piston cylinder having an arcuate-shaped piston chamber fluidly connected to the gas tube, a piston including an arcuate-shaped piston head extending forward from a piston body and telescopically received in the piston chamber, and including a piston rod extending rearward from the piston body and dimensioned and configured to extend into the receiver for engaging with a bolt assembly within the receiver. Upon firing a round of ammunition, pressurized gas within the barrel enters the piston chamber to move the piston rearward, for cycling the bolt assembly. A method of using the same is also disclosed. |
| US08286541B2 |
Firearm with enhanced handling by dissipating the effects of recoil and muzzle climb
A firearm having reduced recoil including a front slide connected to a rear slide by way of a slide link. Firing the firearm causes the rear slide to recoil and transfer energy, by means of the slide link, to the front slide. The front slide moving in the direction opposite the rear slide thereby reducing the recoil of the firearm. After reaching full recoil, the front and rear slides return to their resting positions. |
| US08286540B2 |
Externally mounted window system, a bracket therefore and a method for its assembly
An externally mounted window system, a bracket therefore and a method for its assembly is disclosed. The system includes a reinforced window pane fixed in a frame. The frame has at least two brackets, each having an L-shaped section. A first arm of the L-shaped section is armored against an incoming projectile and a second arm is fitted with at least one stud projecting through and secured within an opening formed in an external wall surface. |
| US08286539B2 |
Tile saw
A tile saw includes a base, a frame assembly disposed on the base, a first rail disposed on the frame assembly, the first rail having a longitudinal axis, a table slidingly disposed on the first rail, a support assembly disposed on the base, a saw assembly supported by the support assembly, the saw assembly including a motor, a cutting wheel driven by the motor, the saw assembly being pivotable about a horizontal axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a switch electrically connected to the motor and disposed on the support assembly so that, when the motor assembly is pivoted about the horizontal axis, the switch remains stationary. |
| US08286538B2 |
Blind and shade cutting center for cutting two different window covering products
A sizing center for and a method of sizing different styles of window coverings includes at least two sizing mechanisms disposed on a sizing center in which each sizing mechanism is adapted to size a different style of window covering. Each window covering includes a color marking. At least two measuring scales are disposed on the sizing center, each measuring scale being associated with a sizing mechanism and having a different color, and each color associated with a sizing center being associated with a color marking of a window covering. |
| US08286529B2 |
Bicycle control device
A bicycle control device is provided with a base member, a first operating member, a first non-contact switch and a first clicking mechanism. The first operating member is movably mounted with respect to the base member to move between a rest position, a first operation position and a second operation position. The first non-contact switch detects movement of the first operating member with respect to the base member from the rest position to the first operation position. The first non-contact switch is further detects movement of the first operating member with respect to the base member from the rest position to the second operation position. The first clicking mechanism is arranged such that the first clicking mechanism produces a first haptic feedback response to indicate the first operating member being moved from the rest position to the first operation position. |
| US08286527B2 |
Manipulator
An exemplary manipulator includes arms, an inlet conduit, and sealing members. The arms are rotatably joined. The inlet conduit extends into one of the arms and non-combustible gas is introduced into the arms via the inlet conduit. The sealing members are disposed where two corresponding of the arms are rotatably joined together. The manipulator is doubly protected from infiltration by unwanted gases by the high pressure gas in the manipulator and by the sealing members. |
| US08286522B2 |
Dual clutch transmission
A transmission includes an input member, an output member, first and second shafts, a countershaft, a reverse shaft, a plurality of co-planar gear sets, and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. The torque transmitting devices include a plurality of synchronizer assemblies and a dual clutch assembly. The transmission is operable to provide at least one reverse speed ratio and a plurality of forward speed ratios between the input member and the output member. |
| US08286520B2 |
Actuator with a main rod and an auxiliary rod
A telescopic actuator comprising a cylinder in which a main rod is mounted to slide telescopically along a sliding axis (X) between a retracted position and an extended position. The actuator includes an auxiliary rod mounted to slide in the main rod along the sliding axis between retracted and extended positions. A structure is provided for retaining the auxiliary rod in the retracted position inside the main rod. There also is a brake structure for braking sliding of the auxiliary rod in the main rod in the extension direction. The auxiliary rod has a thread on an outside surface, and the main rod has a rotary bearing that centers the auxiliary rod inside the main rod and co-operates via a reversible helical connection with the thread of the auxiliary rod such that extension of the auxiliary rod causes the rotary bearing to rotate. |
| US08286514B2 |
Conductivity cell piston extractor and method
Embodiments of the invention include a proppant testing apparatus with a portable piston extractor and related methods. In one embodiment, a testing apparatus includes a test cell body in which an upper piston is constrained to vertically reciprocate within a test cavity. A laterally-extending width bar is coupled to the piston above the test cell body. A portable piston extractor is provided for freeing the stuck piston following testing. The piston extractor includes an extractor base removably supported on the test cell body and an extractor arm movably coupled to the extractor base. A drive mechanism is configured for driving the extractor arm into vertical engagement with the width bar, to raise the piston for extraction. In another embodiment, a set of gear boxes interconnected by shafts may be used to apply a uniform separation force between the piston and test cell body. |
| US08286513B2 |
Boat including automated water sampling device and method of using the same
A water sampling device comprises a cylinder, a first disk positioned at a top of the cylinder, a plurality of sampling tubes attached to the first disk, and a second disk positioned on the first disk, wherein the second disk includes an aperture through which water to be sampled flows into one of the plurality of sampling tubes when the aperture is lined up with an opening of the one sampling tube. |
| US08286510B2 |
Force sensor and method for detecting at least one force component
A force sensor for detecting at least a force acting in a longitudinal direction of a catheter or guide wire, the force sensor comprising a force pick-up for detecting the force, wherein the force pick-up comprises: a base body with an end face, wherein the base body includes at least one cutout, wherein the cutout causes an asymmetry of the base body relative to the longitudinal direction of the catheter or guide wire upon flexing of the base body upon force Fz loading thereon from an axial direction, wherein the end face includes a surface area that is substantially greater than the cross-sectional area of the base body in the region of the cutout, but not substantially smaller than the cross-section of the rest of the base body. A method for using this force sensor is also disclosed. |
| US08286506B2 |
Air flow sensor with low-pressure drop
An airflow sensor apparatus for measuring flow rate includes a pitot tube with a bypass channel wherein the pitot tube extends halfway into a flow channel in order to reduce a pressure drop. One or more upstream taps can be spaced along the pitot tube facing into a direction of a flow stream which directs the flow to the bypass channel. At least one or more downstream taps can be located to face perpendicular to the direction of flow, such that the fluid after passing over a flow sensor passes through the downstream tap(s). The upstream tap senses stagnation pressure and the down stream tap senses static pressure which is exerted in all directions in the flow channel in order to determine a velocity pressure based on a difference between pressures. |
| US08286493B2 |
Sound sources separation and monitoring using directional coherent electromagnetic waves
An apparatus and a method that achieve physical separation of sound sources by pointing directly a beam of coherent electromagnetic waves (i.e. laser). Analyzing the physical properties of a beam reflected from the vibrations generating sound source enable the reconstruction of the sound signal generated by the sound source, eliminating the noise component added to the original sound signal. In addition, the use of multiple electromagnetic waves beams or a beam that rapidly skips from one sound source to another allows the physical separation of these sound sources. Aiming each beam to a different sound source ensures the independence of the sound signals sources and therefore provides full sources separation. |
| US08286491B2 |
Ultrasonic internal rotating inspection probe that self-eliminates air bubbles
Disclosed is an improved ultrasonic probe for Internal Rotating Inspection System (called IRIS) for inspecting tube-like structures from the inside of the tubes. The improved design deploys a rotor with rotor blades and a slotted stator located close to the emitting face of the transducer, to direct the flow of water such that air bubbles are carried away from a zone immediately in front of the transducer emitting face. Inspection accuracy and efficiency is significantly improved when air bubbles are effectively removed. |
| US08286489B2 |
Input apparatus and input method
Disclosed is an input apparatus including a coplanar line formed on the surface of a substrate so as to pass through the vicinity of a position at which a user performs an operation, terminating resistor placed at one end of the coplanar line and a microcomputer module at the other end. The microcomputer module has a signal transmitter for outputting a signal to the coplanar line. When the user operates a key, the impedance of the coplanar line changes and a reflected wave is produced. A signal detector in the microcomputer module detects the reflected wave and outputs received-signal strength information, which indicates the strength of the signal included in the reflected wave, to a computing unit. Based upon the received-signal strength information and strength of the signal that has been output by the signal transmitter, the computing unit in the microcomputer module discriminates the key that has been operated and specifies the entered instruction. |
| US08286480B2 |
Positive displacement fluid flow meter
A positive displacement fluid flow meter comprises a chamber having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. A rotor is displaceable within the chamber, rotation of the rotor being related to the volume of fluid passing through the chamber. The chamber has a surface proximate which an end surface of the rotor passes, the chamber surface and/or the rotor end surface having at least one recess to retain at least a portion of debris carried by the metered fluid. The recess is preferably formed so as not to provide fluid, communication, from the inlet to the outlet across the rotor end surface. A lid closes an end of the chamber which in use is subject to the pressure of fluid within the chamber. The lid is engaged at its periphery to a wall of the chamber, and is preferably flexible adjacent its periphery to reduce the transmission of bending stresses between the periphery of the lid and the remainder thereof. |
| US08286476B2 |
Downhole 4D pressure measurement apparatus and method for permeability characterization
A method of installing a sensor system for making pressure measurements in downhole formations surrounding a wellbore includes placing a sensor in direct pressure communication with the formations from a predetermined position in the wellbore; and isolating the sensor with an elastomeric sealing means placed against the formation wall in order to prevent hydraulic pressure communication between the sensor and the inside of the wellbore. |
| US08286474B2 |
Electronic module for measuring operating parameters of a vehicle wheel, comprising an electronic unit and an inflation valve of the “snap-in” type
An electronic module for measuring operating parameters of a vehicle wheel, includes an electronic unit (1), an inflation valve (2) of the “snap-in” type made up of a valve body (3) made of an elastomeric material pierced with an axial bore housing a hollow tubular core (15), and elements for securing the electronic unit (1) and the inflation valve (2) together. The elements for securing the electronic unit (1) and the inflation valve (2) to one another include, a ring (20) secured to the electronic unit (1) and designed to be slidably mounted around the portion of the tubular core (15) that extends in the continuation of the valve body (3), in a position of the electronic unit (1) in which the latter extends in the direct continuation of the inflation valve (2), and elements (13, 25, 26) for assembling the ring (20) of the electronic unit on the valve body. |
| US08286473B2 |
Air spring having wireless micro and nano sensors
A sensor system for obtaining data from an air spring having elastomeric body with a plurality of wireless sensors embedded therein. The sensor length-scales range from nano- to micro-scale devices that are small enough to avoid becoming occlusions within the elastomeric body. The air spring may include a spring wall having an internally reinforced elastomeric body portion with the sensors embedded within. The air spring may include a spring wall having an unreinforced elastomeric body portion with the sensors embedded within. The sensors may be configured to provide data related to one or more of temperature, pressure, sidewall flex, stress, strain and other parameters. The sensors may be LCD sensors, and/or conductive polymer sensors, and/or bio-polymer sensors and/or polymer diodes suitable for sensing data during the operation of the air spring. |
| US08286472B2 |
Diagnostic system for variable valve timing control system
A fuel diluting quantity is estimated based on an alcohol concentration of the fuel. A response-deterioration determination value is corrected according to the estimated fuel diluting quantity. The response-deterioration determination value can be properly established even though the responsiveness of the variable valve timing controller is varied due to a variation in viscosity of the lubricant. Thereby, even when the responsiveness of the variable valve timing controller is varied (deteriorated) due to an increase in the fuel diluting quantity, it can be avoided that the computer determines that the variable valve timing controller has a defect. |
| US08286461B2 |
Hand-operated pliers
The invention relates to a pair of hand-operated pliers (1), in particular pressing pliers, with jaws (6, 7) and hand levers (4, 5), wherein the jaws (6, 7) are pivotable around a preferably common rotational axis (x). Furthermore, one hand lever (5) is connected by a joint to one of the jaws (7), and a pressure support is located between the hand levers (4, 5) for the formation of a toggle (K). In order to further improve a tool of this type, particularly with respect to the design of the pressure support, it is proposed that the pressure support consist of a support roller (18) arranged on one hand lever (4), and of a curved section (19) which is attached to the other hand lever (5) and which works together with the support roller (18). |
| US08286459B2 |
Method for producing two-piece can and two-piece laminated can
In a method for producing a two-piece can, a circular disk of a laminated steel sheet having a thermoplastic resin coating layer is subjected to multistage forming to produce a final formed body having a height h, a maximum radius r, and a minimum radius d (the case where r is equal to d is also included). Forming is performed so that the height h, maximum radius r, and minimum radius d of the final formed body satisfy the relationships 0.1≦d/R≦0.25 and 1.5≦h/(R−r)≦4 with respect to a radius R of a circular disk before forming whose weight is equal to that the final formed body. At an intermediate stage of forming, a formed body is subjected to heat treatment at a temperature of not less than a melting point of a thermoplastic resin but not more than a temperature 30° C. higher than the melting point. |
| US08286458B2 |
Lever plate in VGS type turbocharger and method of manufacturing the same
An object of the present invention is to provide a novel method of manufacturing a lever plate that is made of a material having a relatively small thickness but nonetheless has an engaging protrusion having an adequate thickness and an adequate height.A lever plate in a VGS type turbocharger according to the present invention is a lever plate that is incorporated in an exhaust guide assembly in a VGS type turbocharger. The lever plate has a fitting hole into which a shaft part of the adjustable vane is fitted formed at a position close to one end of an elongated plate main body thereof and an engaging protrusion to be engaged with the drive ring formed at the other end thereof. The engaging protrusion is formed by bending a blanking material having the shape of an elongated flat plate. The engaging protrusion is pressed in a direction of raising thereof so as to have a thickness greater than the thickness of the plate main body of the lever plate, and opposite side peripheries of the engaging protrusion are subjected to finish blanking to have an arc shape. |
| US08286455B2 |
Transformable metal surface hardening method
A method of metal surface hardening treatment inducing transformation, in which transformation is induced in a surface interior of material as hardening treatment object by simple, rapid treatment utilizing a frictional heat under pressure without the occurrence of melt loss, quench crack, soft spot, deformation, etc. to thereby reform the structure of surface interior of material as hardening treatment object into a miniaturized martensitic structure. The method of surface hardening treatment comprised the steps of while rotating nearly cylindrical pressurization tool (2) at high velocity, pressing the bottom face thereof slightly into the surface of material as hardening treatment object (1) so as to attain application of given pressure, thereby generating a local frictional hear between the pressurization tool and the material as hardening treatment object; inducing transformation in the material as hardening treatment object at the locality having been exposed to the frictional heat; and when the surface of material as hardening treatment objent positioned in the vicinity of the pressurization tool starts to soften by the frictional heat, moving the pressurization tool. |
| US08286453B2 |
Washing machine having ball balancers
A washing machine having a ball balancer coupled to the drum to compensate for a dynamic imbalance during rotation of the drum, the ball balancer including a ring-shaped racer having a closed internal space in which a plurality of balls and viscous oil are accommodated, the ring-shaped racer including a first injection molded member and a second injection molded member joined to each other to form the closed internal space, the first injection molded member including a first side wall, a second side wall and a connecting wall between the first side wall and the second side wall, the first injection molded member having an open side opposite to the connecting wall, and the second injection molded member is adapted to cover the open side of the first injection molded member. |
| US08286451B2 |
Spacer textile
A spacer textile, particularly knitted spacer textile, has two cover plies spaced apart from one another, and spacer threads that connect the cover plies with one another. The cover plies are formed from a main thread system and a further thread system, forming courses that follow one another in the production direction. According to the invention, a first course is formed at least by the main thread system, and a second courses is formed by the further thread system. The thread or threads of the main thread system is/are guided without forming stitches, in the production direction, in the second course, and the cover plies have a lower tear strength there, when pulled in the production direction. |
| US08286444B2 |
Dispenser
Provided is a dispenser in which a wash water discharge opening provided to a drain pan is connected to an external tap water system via a wash water supply path. The wash water supply path is provided with a wash water supply valve for controlling whether or not to supply wash water to the drain pan. Based on delivery information output from a delivery control section for controlling delivery of ice chips, a wash control section in a controller judges whether or not a delivery count of the ice chips has reached a predetermined set count, and, when it is judged that the delivery count has reached the set count, opens the wash water supply valve to perform a wash action. |
| US08286440B2 |
Operating a comfort subsystem for a vehicle
According to one form of the invention, an auxiliary system is provided for supplying air conditioning to the cabin of a truck. The system includes an air conditioning compressor having a jackshaft mounted on a hub of the compressor. The system further includes an electric motor connected to the jackshaft by a belt for the motor, wherein the electric motor has a drive shaft and a pulley rigidly secured thereon, i.e., with no clutch and with no provision for slippage of the pulley relative to the drive shaft. The jackshaft has a pulley thereon for the electric motor drive. An end of the jackshaft that is not proximate to the compressor is rotatably held by a bearing and a bearing bracket in order to increase capability of the jackshaft to withstand side loading. |
| US08286439B2 |
Variable speed drive for permanent magnet motor
A drive system for a compressor of a chiller system includes a variable speed drive. The variable speed drive is arranged to receive an input AC power at a fixed AC input voltage and fixed input frequency and provide an output AC power at a variable voltage and variable frequency. The variable speed drive includes a converter connected to an AC power source providing the input AC voltage. The converter is arranged to convert the input AC voltage to a DC voltage. A DC link is connected to the converter. The DC link is arranged to filter and store the DC voltage from the converter. A first inverter and a second inverter are each connected to the DC link. A motor includes stator windings connected between the first inverter and the second inverter to power the motor by the output AC power from the first inverter and the second inverter. The motor is connectable to a compressor of the chiller system to power the compressor. The motor may be a permanent magnet synchronous motor. |
| US08286438B2 |
System and method for controlling a refrigeration desuperheater
A system for controlling a desuperheater includes a first temperature sensor coupled to a refrigerant discharge gas line of a compressor; and a controller operatively coupled to at least the first temperature sensor, the compressor, and the desuperheater. The controller controls the desuperheater based at least in part on temperature data received from the first temperature sensor. |
| US08286437B2 |
Transport refrigeration system with predictive refrigeration
A transport unit including a container defining a cargo space. The transport unit includes position detection apparatus coupled to the container, and adapted to determine a geographic location of the container and to generate a signal indicative of the geographic location. The transport unit also includes a refrigeration system in communication with the cargo space, and a control system including route data that defines a plurality of potential destinations of the container. The control system is programmed to predict a container route defined by at least two potential destinations of the container based on the geographic location and the route data, and to determine a proximity of the container relative to at least one potential destination of the route. The control system is in communication with the refrigeration system to control the refrigeration system based on the proximity of the container relative to the at least one potential destination. |
| US08286433B2 |
Gas turbine fuel injector with removable pilot liquid tube
A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The fuel injector includes an injector housing having a longitudinal axis. The injector housing includes one or more fuel galleries annularly disposed about the longitudinal axis, and a compressed air inlet. The fuel injector also includes a premix barrel having a proximal end and a distal end circumferentially disposed about the longitudinal axis. The premix barrel is fluidly coupled to the fuel galleries and the compressed air inlet at the proximal end and is configured to couple to a combustor of the gas turbine engine at the distal end. The fuel injector also includes a substantially cylindrical pilot assembly disposed radially inwards of the premix barrel having a first end and a second end. The second end is coupled to the injector housing and the first end is located proximate the distal end of the premix barrel. The fuel injector further includes a pilot liquid tube having a third end and a fourth end disposed radially inwards of the pilot assembly. The fourth end is removably coupled to the injector housing and the third end is located proximate the first end of the pilot assembly. |
| US08286429B2 |
Solar hybrid combined cycle gas and steam power plant
A solar hybrid combined cycle gas-steam power plant and method including a solar unit, a gas turbine unit and a steam turbine unit. The solar unit includes a receiver. The gas turbine unit includes a gas turbine with a waste heat boiler arranged downstream, and a steam turbine with a feed water heater. The power plant includes a heat transfer medium cycle for transferring solar heat. The heat transfer medium cycle is coupled to the gas turbine unit through a gas turbine heat exchanger and to the steam turbine unit through a solar boiler. Alternatively to the gas turbine unit and the steam turbine unit, the solar hybrid combined cycle power plant includes an integrated gas-steam turbine having a waste heat boiler arranged downstream, wherein the heat transfer medium cycle is coupled to the integrated gas-steam turbine through the gas turbine heat exchanger and through the solar boiler. |
| US08286427B2 |
Master cylinder
In a master cylinder, a supply passage for supplying operating liquid from a reservoir (2) to a pressure chamber (6) is provided in a cylinder body (3) coupled with the reservoir. A bypass passage (37) for bypassing the supply passage and connecting the reservoir and the pressure chamber is further provided, and a check valve (34) adapted to open when a pressure in the pressure chamber is lower than that in the reservoir is disposed in the bypass passage. A valve case (38) containing a valve body (41) of the check valve includes a valve seat (40) and a cylindrical wall (45) for slidably guiding the valve body which are integrally formed as a single member. |
| US08286425B2 |
Energy conversion system with duplex radial flow turbine
An energy conversion system, including a wave chamber, and a turbine wheel coupled to a shaft and fluidly coupled with the wave chamber. The energy conversion system may also include a first radial flow passage fluidly coupled with the wave chamber and the turbine wheel, and first vanes disposed at least partially in the first radial flow passage, each of the first vanes being compliantly mounted and pivotal between first and second positions, the first vanes being configured to allow a motive fluid to flow in a first radial direction through the first radial flow passage when the first vanes are in the first position, and the first vanes being configured to substantially prevent the motive fluid from flowing through the first radial flow passage in a second radial direction when the second vanes are in the second position. |
| US08286423B2 |
Cogeneration system
A cogeneration system includes a first cooling device disposed in a cooling water circulation path extending between an engine and a waste-heat heat exchanger, and a second cooling device disposed in a hot water circulation pipe extending between a hot water storage tank and a hot air heater. The first cooling device is activated to cool cooling water when the temperature of hot water stored in the hot water storage tank exceeds a first predetermined value, and the second cooling device is activated to cool the hot water when the temperature of hot air inside the hot air heater exceeds a second predetermined value. |
| US08286420B2 |
DPF accumulation amount estimating apparatus
A DPF accumulation amount estimating apparatus uses an integrated PM accumulation amount estimation logic which combines the difference between an engine PM emission amount and a PM regeneration amount and a DPF differential pressure model, thereby achieving minimized influences of changes in an exhaust gas flow rate and the like with resultant improved estimation accuracy. The DPF accumulation amount estimating apparatus for estimating the accumulation amount in a DPF (diesel particulate filter) provided therewith for removing PM (particulates (particulate matters)) in an exhaust gas, and includes a PM emission amount model in which a PM emission amount is set on the basis of the operating condition of an engine, a PM regeneration amount model in which a PM regeneration amount is set on the basis of the temperature difference between an outlet temperature and an inlet temperature of the DPF, and a DPF differential pressure model in which a PM accumulation amount is set on the basis of the differential pressure between an exhaust gas flow rate and the DPF, wherein the estimated PM accumulation amount of the DPF is calculated by adding a corrected PM accumulation amount obtained by correcting the estimated value of the DPF differential pressure model by using a coefficient K, which is determined on the basis of an engine speed and the fuel injection amount of an engine, to a difference between a PM emission amount and a PM regeneration amount. |
| US08286418B2 |
Exhaust gas control apparatus for internal combustion engine
An exhaust gas control apparatus applied to an internal combustion engine including plural cylinders and a turbocharger, wherein an exhaust passage includes first and second branch passages. The first branch passage connects exhaust sides of cylinders #1, #4 and a turbine, and includes a starter catalyst; the second branch passage connects exhaust sides of cylinders #2, #3 and the turbine, and communicates with the first branch passage upstream of the starter catalyst. The exhaust gas control apparatus includes an exhaust gas switching valve disposed at a communication part, through which the first and second branch passages are in communication, and is switchable between an introducing position at which exhaust gas is introduced into the starter catalyst from the cylinders #2, #3 and a block position at which introduction thereof is blocked. An ECU switches the exhaust gas switching valve position based on the operating condition of the internal combustion engine. |
| US08286417B2 |
Diagnosis method for an exhaust gas post-treatment system
The invention relates to a diagnosis method for an exhaust gas post-treatment system for the reduction of nitric oxides in the exhaust gas train of an internal combustion engine by means of selective catalytic reduction. The following steps are provided for easy recognition of errors: definition of at least one threshold value for the Nox concentration for at least one engine operation point; shifting the operational mode of the internal combustion engine into an operational state of diagnosis, wherein in the operational state of diagnosis substantially more Nox emissions are produced than in the normal operational mode; determining an amount of reducing agents corresponding to the increased amount of Nox emisions in the operational state of diagnosis; controlling a dosing device in order to introduce the amount of reducing agents, corresponding to the increased amount of NOx emissions during the operational state of diagnosis, into the wase gas; measuring the concentration of NOx downstream from the post-treatment device; comparing the measured concentration of NOx to the threshold value; taking a decision as to the erroneous or error-free operation of the waste gas post-treatment system based on comparison of the measured concentration of NOx to the threshold value; terminating the operational state of diagnosis. |
| US08286413B2 |
Nanofibre yarns
A nanofiber yarn assembly including a longitudinally extending core for the yarn assembly and, twisted about the core, at least one ribbon of multiple nanofibers. The yarn assembly can be formed by drawing a longitudinally extending core for the yarn assembly through a concentric core-spinning zone, and, as the core travels through the core-spinning zone, twisting at least one ribbon of multiple nanofibers about the travelling core. Apparatus is also disclosed. |
| US08286408B2 |
Method and an apparatus for grouping discrete laminar articles into batches of predetermined count
An apparatus for grouping discrete laminar articles (hereinafter referred to as articles) into batches of predetermined count includes a feed conveyor, a left-hand screw and a right-hand screw combination (hereinafter referred to as screws), a means for synchronizing and automating starting and stopping rotation of the screws and a platform assembly. The platform assembly is connected to the feed conveyor and includes a hatch and a pusher mechanism. The feed conveyor supports articles disposed thereon. The screws are disposed along edges of and at either side of the feed conveyor and are adapted to rotate to facilitate counting and pushing of the articles. The screws stop rotating and thereby stop further pushing of the articles, when a predetermined count of articles has been pushed. The pusher mechanism receives the predetermined count of articles pushed by screws and moves them to the hatch from where they are dropped into delivery line. |
| US08286398B2 |
Monopour form
A monopour foundation form has a flexible sheet form element having longitudinal edge portions and a contact portion, with the contact portion supported directly on the ground and oriented in the direction of the foundation axis. Transverse wall form supports supported directly on the flexible sheet form element, spaced apart and centered over the foundation axis, support a wall form assembly in a position above the ground. Edge portions of the flexible sheet form element are secured to the lower portions of the wall form panels thereby forming a general U-shape and extending longitudinally under the wall form assembly. A concrete mix fills the flexible sheet form element and interior portion of the wall form assembly, simultaneously forming the footing and wall. |
| US08286397B2 |
Fire barriers for the spaces formed by intersecting architectural expansion joints
Multi-layered, fire-barriers each sized and shaped for installation into accepting intersection-spaces formed by the spaced-intersection of at least two expansion-joint spaces that occur between two adjacent spaced structural building units, each of said expansion-joint spaces defined by a plane, said plane defined by a set of three non-colinear points with each point defined by a set of x, y, z coordinates from the same coordinate system with no two of said coordinate sets being identical. The fire-barriers are shaped for use in 2-way planar, L-shaped expansion-joint spaces, T-shaped, cross-shaped, V-shaped, and vertical/horizontal L-shaped corner expansion-joint spaces, for example, and may comprise at least one layer of: protective cloth, insulating blanket, intumescent material, and mechanically supporting layer. The barriers prohibit the travel of fire, heat, or smoke through the flue-like channels created by the expansion-joints of a structure are provided ready to install in a one-step, drop-in process. |
| US08286395B2 |
Glazing provided with a stack of thin layers
A transparent substrate having a glazing function, provided with a thin-film multi-layer coating, which acts on solar radiation, applicable, for example, in the architectural or automotive fields. The multilayer coating comprises at least two absorbent functional layers each flanked by two transparent layers comprising a dielectric material. Preferably, the functional layers are based on a metal belonging to the group consisting of: niobium, tantalum, molybdenum and zirconium, and the metal or at least one of the functional layers may be partially or entirely nitrided. |
| US08286394B2 |
Integral catwalk support
A structural support system for a bin structure. The structural support system comprises at least two parallel and spaced apart support columns. Each column has a plurality of inner column sections adjacent to the bin structure and a plurality of outer column sections coupled to the inner column sections. The inner and outer column sections form a closed shape support column configured for transferring vertical loads from an upper area of the bin structure to the foundation. An auxiliary device such as a catwalk or conveyor system may be attached to the top of the support columns. An anchor member may be provided, configured to allow limited movement of the auxiliary structure in relation to the support structure. Associated methods for strengthening the structural support of a bin structure are also provided. |
| US08286393B2 |
Bearing frame for an electrically active panel such as a photovoltaic panel
Supporting frame for an electrically active panel comprising a peripheral structure (1) for receiving an electrically active panel (20), the peripheral structure (1) of which comprises an internal electrical connection means (14) for connection to an electrically active panel (20) carried by the frame, at least one first external electrical connection means (16) for connection to a first means external to the frame, and electrical linking means (18) for electrically linking at least the internal electrical connection means (14) to at least the first external electrical connection means (16), the electrical linking means (18) extending along the peripheral structure so as to be concealed by the peripheral structure, the peripheral structure comprising a hollow portion (25) in which the electrical linking means (18) are received. The peripheral structure (1) is a framework consisting of tubular uprights (2, 3, 4, 5), the internal electrical connection means (14) and external electrical connection means (16, 17) extending through a wall of the uprights on which they are disposed and the electrical linking means (18) extending inside the tubular uprights. |
| US08286388B2 |
Jalousie window
A jalousie window in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes a jalousie window insert having parallel side rails and a plurality of window louvers extending between the side rails for simultaneous rotation around parallel horizontal axes. A window frame includes a frame head, a frame sill, and a pair of spaced frame jambs interconnected with the frame head and sill in a rectangular frame geometry. A pair of opposed jamb adapters include outer portions secured by snap fit to the frame jambs and inner portions that receive by snap fit an associated one of the insert side rails such that the side rails and the jalousie window insert are secured by the jamb adapters within the window frame. A head adapter has an outer portion secured by snap fit to the frame head, and a sill adapter has an outer portion secured by snap fit to the frame sill. Weather seals are disposed on the head and sill adapters for engagement by upper and lower louvers of the window insert in closed positions of the louvers. |
| US08286386B2 |
Christmas tree stand and method and apparatus for attaching a Christmas tree to a Christmas tree stand and a drill bit
A Christmas tree stand, a method for affixing a Christmas tree to a Christmas tree stand, and a drill bit for forming a groove in the bottom of a Christmas tree are provided. The Christmas tree stand includes a base having a male member extending upwardly therefrom with at least a portion of the male member received in the groove in the bottom of the Christmas tree. Preferably an insert in the form of a cylinder is received within the groove. Upon the receipt of the male member in the groove, the Christmas tree is stabilized on the base. |
| US08286385B2 |
Electrified bird repellent track
An animal deterring device has a carrier with a first conductive trace that is separated from a second conductive trace. The carrier has a bottom with a first glue trough disposed beneath the first conductive trace. The first conductive trace is coupled to the carrier by a first fastener that extends from the first glue trough to the first conductive trace. |
| US08286383B2 |
Rifle scope and aligning device
A rifle scope includes an ocular (6), an objective (4), a reticle (10) and an aligning device (20) that is displaced axially from the reticle and includes one or more markings (22a, 22b) that are visible in use to a shooter. The aligning device (20) is constructed and arranged such that with correct eye alignment the markings (22a, 22b) appear to be aligned with the reticle (10), and with incorrect eye alignment the markings appear to be misaligned with the reticle. |
| US08286382B2 |
Stock assembly with recoil suppression
A stock assembly for attachment to the receiver of a shotgun is described. The assembly includes a pistol grip; a stock; a connector tube slidable within a conduit in the stock, the stock and connector being selectively lockable to each other; an attachment member slidable within the tube conduit between fully inserted and fully extended positions; a first elongated connector attached to the attachment member and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube into attachment with the pistol grip; a second elongated connector extending from the pistol grip into engagement with the receiver, the second member being at an angle to the first member; and a compression spring in the tube conduit urging the attachment member toward its fully extended position. |
| US08286380B2 |
Abuttable snap frame graphic display arrangement
An elongated abuttable snap frame arrangement for biasably, removably, capturing a display graphic support and for display thereof, the arrangement comprising: an elongated base panel, an elongated cover that is flexibly attached to the base panel at its upper edge, and an elongated hinge member flexibly attached to the elongated base panel and the elongated cover, the cover able to rotate from a parallel closed position to a generally perpendicular open position without interfering with adjacent objects or other abutting snap frame arrangements. |
| US08286373B2 |
Footwear with banding device
The banding device for application to a segment of footwear, whether it be to the heel, sole, around the vamp portion of the shoe, in any combination thereof, which due to its elasticity allows for its stretching into position to be secured either as an endless or continuous loop, for application to these components of the shoe to vary the coloration, design, indicia, trademark, or other aesthetics for the footwear. |
| US08286372B2 |
Footwear with energy accumulation
Footwear with energy accumulation is presented. In a first version, the footwear comprises a sole, back, associated therewith, and fixation means coupled with the sole and back for securing a user's foot on the sole. The sole and back are disposed at an initial angle exceeding 90° therebetween, and form a leaf spring, while being arms of the spring. Alternatively, the leaf spring is made separate from the sole and back, having two arms respectively coupled with them. In a second version, the footwear comprises a sole including a frontal portion and a rear portion, the frontal portion is formed as a console spring downwardly bent out and cantileveredly secured to the rear portion, and fixation means for securing the user's foot on the sole, coupled therewith and depressing the front part of the foot against the spring. The portions are disposed at an initial angle therebetween less than 180°. |
| US08286352B1 |
Modular ornamental structures
A plurality of framework supporting decorative panels. The framework is interconnected collectively so as to form a modular, ornamental, closed plane structure. |
| US08286351B2 |
Manufacturing method of liquid discharge head
There is disclosed a manufacturing method of a liquid discharge head including a substrate in which a first energy generating element and a second energy generating element that generate energy used for discharging liquid are provided, a discharge port member in which a first discharge port discharging the liquid is provided corresponding to the first energy generating element and a second discharge port discharging the liquid is provided corresponding to the second energy generating element, and a flow path wall member having a portion of the liquid flow path wall that communicates with the first discharge port and the second discharge port, in which a distance between the second energy generating element and the second discharge port is larger than that between the first energy generating element and the first discharge port. |
| US08286350B2 |
Method of manufacturing a liquid discharge head
An object of the invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a liquid discharge head in which a distance between a discharge opening and an energy generating element is uniform, simply and with good precision. |
| US08286346B2 |
Method for inserting a terminal
The present invention is to provide a terminal insertion apparatus and method to insert a terminal into a terminal-receiving chamber without hitting an inner surface of the terminal-receiving chamber. A terminal insertion apparatus includes a housing holder unit, an insertion unit, and a control device. The housing holder unit holds a connector housing and is movable in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. The insertion unit inserts a terminal attached with an electrical wire into a terminal-receiving chamber of the connector housing. The control device controls a move unit support portion to reciprocate a housing holder by a move distance after an end portion of the terminal is inserted into the terminal-receiving chamber so that the terminal can be inserted without hitting an inner surface of the terminal-receiving chamber. |
| US08286345B2 |
Method for attaching a flexible structure to a device
Techniques for producing a flexible structure attached to a device. One embodiment includes the steps of providing a first substrate, providing a second substrate with a releasably attached flexible structure, providing a bonding layer on at least one of the first substrate and the flexible structure, adjoining the first and second substrate such that the flexible structure is attached at the first substrate by means of the bonding layer, and detaching the second substrate in such a way that the flexible structure remains on the first substrate. |
| US08286344B2 |
Method for fabricating semiconductor device
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes (a) depositing an insulating film on a semiconductor substrate; (b) forming a recess in the insulating film; (c) depositing a conductive film on the insulating film while filling the recess with the conductive film; and (d) polishing the conductive film. Step (d) includes a first polishing substep of using a first polisher pad conditioned with a first dresser and a second polishing substep of using a second polisher pad conditioned with a second dresser different from the first dresser. |
| US08286341B2 |
Method of manufacturing a wiring board
A method for manufacturing a wiring board, comprising the steps of mounting at least one structural aid on each side of a planar temporary bonding means, arranging a slot from the at least one structural aid on each side of the planar temporary bonding means, embedding the electrical component in the slot, such that the terminals of the electrical component face away from the planar temporary bonding means, mounting at least one electrical component on a component foil, such that the terminals of the electrical component face the component foil, mounting the component foil at least partially on the at least one structural aid, on each side of the planar temporary bonding means. |
| US08286339B2 |
Two piece tube for suction coagulator
A method of manufacturing an electrosurgical tool includes the initial step of coupling a proximal end of a substantially malleable elongate tube-like shaft to a distal end of a housing. A tub-like dielectric sheath is disposed on the tube-like shaft. The method also includes the steps of coupling a tube-like electrode having a first thermal conductivity K1 coaxially through the tube-like dielectric sheath and coupling a proximal end of the tube-like electrode to a source of suction to provide fluid communication between the tube-like electrode and the source of suction. The method also includes the steps of electrically connecting the tube-like electrode to a source of energy and coupling a thermally conductive member to the tube-like shaft. The thermally conductive member has a second thermal conductivity K2 that is less than K1 and is configured to impede the propagation of thermal energy proximally. |
| US08286336B2 |
Lead wire insertion device
A lead wire insertion device includes a first chuck member and a second chuck member, each of which is separable, and connects a coil terminal of a cassette coil to a terminal of a connection terminal. The first chuck member is divided into the first chuck inner member and a first chuck outer member at a first division position that is inside both ends of a cross section of the coil terminal in a lateral direction, and that is offset from a center of the cross section in the lateral direction. The second chuck member is divided into the second chuck inner member and a second chuck outer member at a second division position that is inside the both ends of the cross section of the coil terminal in the lateral direction, and that is offset from a center of the cross section in the lateral direction. |
| US08286333B2 |
Method of manufacturing a magnetic head
A method of fabricating a recording head includes depositing an insulator material onto at least a portion of a first member, wherein the insulator material forms an insulator film having a film thickness. The method further includes depositing a writer pole material onto the insulator film, wherein the writer pole material forms a writer pole member, and wherein the insulator film is between the writer pole member and a contact layer. Further, in some embodiments, the film thickness determines the distance between the writer pole member and the first contact member and also determines the distance between the writer pole member and the second contact member. |
| US08286328B2 |
Method of fabricating a module, for millimeter wave multi-gigabit wireless systems
A method of fabricating an ultra-high frequency module is disclosed. The method includes providing a top layer; drilling the top layer; milling the top layer; providing a bottom; milling the bottom layer to define a bottom layer cavity; aligning the top layer and the bottom layer; and adhering the top layer to the bottom layer. The present invention also includes an ultra-high frequency module operating at ultra-high speeds having a top layer, the top layer defining a top layer cavity; a bottom layer, the bottom layer defining a bottom layer cavity; and an adhesive adhering both the top layer to the bottom layer, wherein the top layer and the bottom layer are formed from a large area panel of a printed circuit board. |
| US08286322B2 |
Method for the manufacture of a connection between a corrugated tube and a further body
The present invention relates to a method for the manufacture of a connection between a corrugated tube and a further body, wherein the further body has a bore having a bore diameter which is smaller than the outer diameter of the corrugated tube, with the method including the step of drawing or pressing the corrugated tube into the bore. |
| US08286321B2 |
Method of constructing a wiper arm assembly having a locking arm
A wiper arm assembly and method of construction thereof includes a mounting head and a wiper arm configured for relative rotation during assembly from a disassembled position to a shipping position, wherein the wiper arm and mounting head are locked against rotation toward the disassembled position once in the shipping position. The mounting head and wiper arm have locking surfaces configured for locked engagement with one another while in the shipping position. The locking surfaces are brought into engagement with one another by a force imparted by a spring while rotating the mounting head relative to the wiper arm from the disassembled position toward the shipping position. When in the shipping position, the locking surfaces confront each other and prevent the mounting head and the wiper arm from rotating back toward the disassembled position from the shipping position. |
| US08286314B1 |
Cremation remains system for memorializing a decedent
In a cremation remains system for memorializing a decedent the cremation remains of the decedent are placed in a cremation remains bag and sealed in a cremation capsule. The cremation capsule is placed in a chamber formed in a memorial monument and concealed from view so that the memorial monument is not distinguishable from other cemetery memorials. |
| US08286311B2 |
Buckle
The present invention relates to a buckle that includes a male latch having an improved shape. An object of the present invention is to provide the buckle that includes a projected part formed on a hook of the male latch, where the projected part has three projected surfaces projected from three side surfaces of the arm. The buckle comprises: the male latch including a pair of hooks each of which has three projected surfaces; and a female receptacle coupled to the male latch by holding the projected surfaces formed on the each hook of the male latch, where the male latch is inserted into the female receptacle. |
| US08286307B2 |
Multi-staged hinge assembly and portable electrical device comprising the same
A multi-staged hinge assembly and a portable electrical device comprising the multi-staged hinge assembly are provided. The multi-staged hinge assembly utilizes a spindle with a non-circular cross-section and the relative movement resulting from the movable components disposed on the spindle, such that one of the body portions of the portable electrical device automatically tilts in an angle after the body portions slides with each other. The user could further adjust the angle to meet various use conditions. |
| US08286298B2 |
Device for connecting a flat wiper blade to wiper arms
Various embodiments of a device for connecting a flat wiper blade to various wiper arms are provided. In one embodiment, the connecting device includes: a joint fixed to a frame of a flat wiper blade; a bracket snap-mounted on the joint; and an adaptor mounted to the bracket. The bracket has a pivot shaft extending perpendicular to a length direction of the frame and having a pivot bore therethrough. The adaptor has a pair of side wall portions. Fitting apertures are perforated in the side wall portions. The adaptor is mounted to the bracket in such a manner that both ends of the pivot shaft are fitted to the fitting apertures. The adaptor is configured to be suitable for differently-configured distal ends of the wiper arms. The connecting device connects a single flat wiper blade to various wiper arms. |
| US08286297B1 |
Hand held building tools
The present invention is directed generally to tools that are made, at least in part, more durable, particularly one or more working surface(s) of the tools. For example, various tools such as trowels, knives, and scrappers may be made having at least a portion of their blades heat treated to make at least their working edges more durable and extend their useful lives. For example, in various embodiments, a putty knife, taping knife, or scrapper blade may have at least one working surface or edge that has been at heat treated while an area of the blade where a handle is permanently attached is not heat treated. |
| US08286296B1 |
Folded hand towel with upper portion used as an ice and beverage holder pocket and lower portion wetted by gravity for cleaning golf released items
A folded hand towel having an upper towel portion used as an ice and beverage holder pocket and adapted for attaching to a golf bag. Ice cubes received in the pocket and when melted, provide moisture for wetting a lower towel portion for cleaning golf related items. The upper towel portion is divided from the lower towel portion by horizontal stitching across the width of the towel. Vertical edges of the upper towel portion are stitched together to form an open top ice and beverage holder pocket. The inside of the pocket includes an open top and an open bottom, water-proof liner. The liner is attached to opposite sides of the upper towel portion. The liner helps keep items stored therein cool and also prevent moisture from the ice from wetting the opposite sides of the upper towel portion. The open bottom of the liner allows moisture from the melted ice to migrate downwardly be gravity and wet the opposite sides of the lower towel portion. |
| US08286295B2 |
Cleaning tool assembly with a disposable cleaning implement
A cleaning assembly including a disposable cleaning implement having a cleaning element mounted to a fitment having an elongated post. The cleaning assembly includes an elongated maneuvering wand having a handle portion and a distal implement attachment end thereof. A gripping mechanism is coupled to the wand attachment end, and is configured to releasably grip the fitment post to mount the cleaning implement. The gripping mechanism and the maneuvering wand cooperate to substantially limited pivotal movement of a longitudinal axis of the fitment post, relative a longitudinal axis of the gripping mechanism to not more than about 0 degrees to about 25 degrees when the fitment post is subjected to forces radial to the longitudinal axis of the fitment post. In another aspect, the frictional drag between the sliding components is significantly reduced, enabling a tool assembly with a high axial holding force for the cleaning implement, but with a significantly lower, consumer friendly release force for the implement during release operation of the tool assembly. |
| US08286292B1 |
Rug cleaning system
A rug cleaning system for efficiently cleaning a rug without the need for bending over to reach the rug or being subjected to loose dust and debris. The rug cleaning system generally includes a housing having an entrance opening and an exit opening, with a passageway connecting the openings. A first roller is positioned on one side of the passageway at its upper portion with a second roller is positioned on the other side opposite the first roller. A cleaning brush is positioned beneath the second roller. As a rug is inserted into the entrance opening, it is sandwiched between the rollers and forced down through the passageway past the cleaning brush. The cleaning brush removes any debris from the rug and transfers the debris to a debris storage member through use of transfer members and a vacuum. The cleaned rug then exits the exit opening. |
| US08286290B2 |
Dock leveler
The present invention provides a dock leveler that: facilitates safe and smooth movement of any driving device by reducing inclination of the dock leveler; and allows easy maintenance by removing a driving unit such as a hydraulic device. The dock leveler comprises a body which is fixed and rotatable on the rear top of an installation space for a dock; and a support unit supporting the body when positioned inside the installation space and sliding toward the front of the body so that the rear of the support unit can be connected to the front of the body when operating as a passage way for a transportation unit or a carrying unit. |
| US08286287B2 |
Control apparatus and control method for an electrical domestic applicance
A control apparatus for an electrical domestic appliance with a component that presents a danger to the user and a protection component for protecting the user against a danger presented by the dangerous component, has a control device monitoring the operating states of the dangerous component and the protection component and also to activate and/or deactivate the protection component. A protection device prevents a deactivation of the protection component by the control device outside a deactivation operating range of the dangerous component, in which range deactivation of the protection component is permissible. The control apparatus also has a protection-device monitoring device that initiates a deactivation of the protection component within a simulation operating range of the dangerous component within which the operating state of the dangerous component does not present a danger to the user and which range is outside the deactivation operating range. The control device also identifies a malfunction of the protection device if the protection component is actually deactivated when deactivation of the protection component is initiated by the protection-device monitoring device. |
| US08286284B2 |
Rapid intervention drag stretcher devices
Emergency drag stretcher devices are provided that include a combination of a base panel formed of a flexible sheet material, and a unitary harness device coupled to the base panel, wherein the unitary harness system is adapted to securely restrain an individual and hold the base panel against the individual, and allow the individual to be dragged or vertically lifted using the emergency stretcher device. |
| US08286281B1 |
Personal lifting and suspension system
The personal lifting and suspension system includes four adjustable legs that attach at a top end to a cap, which supports a lifting means and harness there under. The personal lifting and suspension system is used to lift and suspend a person or invalid. The legs can be secured to a working supporting position via a locking means. The legs extend diagonally down and outwardly from the cap, and are adjustable in length. A hoist rod rests upon a groove located in a top surface of the cap to support a hoist hook thereon. The personal lifting and suspension system is collapsible when not in use. |
| US08286277B2 |
Modular pool cover support device
A modular pool cover support frame is provided having standardized modular components that are easily assembled, disassembled, stored and shipped and when assembled are held together by compressive forces exerted by the weight of the pool cover. The modular support frame includes standardized spanning components and standardized connecting components for connecting the standardized spanning components which together with a tensioning device holds the modular components together employing the weight of standard pool covers and forces exerted on the pool cover. |
| US08286276B1 |
Pool or spa cover sealing and support on water receptacle having waterfall chute
A pool or spa cover adapted for use with a waterfall chute projecting from the top edge of a pool or spa water receptacle, comprising in combination, the cover having sections hinge connected to allow one section to pivot downwardly toward the waterfall chute while the other section remains peripherally seated on the receptacle, the one section having edge portions adapted to seat on receptacle edge portions at opposite sides of the chute, the one section locally configured to accommodate the cover to the chute as the cover pivots downwardly to seat on the pool or spa receptacle top edge. |
| US08286268B2 |
Freely cuttable garment
A freely cuttable garment is provided. The freely cuttable garment is capable of being cut by a consumer into any design shape for use. The garment is formed of a fray-preventing knitted fabric woven with heat-welding elastic yarn. Sizes of opening parts of the neck, side, and bottom of the garment are smaller than those of a standard product; a total length and sleeve length of the garment are larger than those of the standard product; and a body width, cuff, waist, and lower bottom edge of the garment are equal to those of the standard product. The garment can be cut into any design shape and can be used with the opening parts left cut-off. |
| US08286267B2 |
Decorative band having an adjustable circumference
An adjustable band includes a tube of material having an open first end and a second end, and a closing device at the open first end. A portion of the tube adjacent the second end may be inserted into the first end to form the band. The band has an adjustable circumference in accordance with a length of the inserted portion, which is secured to the first end by the closing device. |
| US08291507B2 |
Document management system, document management method and computer program
When a shortcut of a document is generated, a user is caused to set the number of times of access to the shortcut. A shortcut identifier for identifying the shortcut is generated. The shortcut identifier and the number of times of access are registered in a shortcut management table in association with each other. Thereafter, the generated shortcut identifier and a mail address as a destination of a mail are set in the shortcut. The mail attached with the shortcut is transmitted. When the mail address set in the shortcut attached to the received mail and a mail address of the user stored in a PC that receives the mail coincide with each other, access to the document linked to the shortcut is permitted. This enables to more appropriately adjust the access to the document than in the past without changing an access right of the document itself. |
| US08291505B2 |
Detecting computer data containing compressed video data as banned computer data
Computer data containing compressed video data is examined to see if it is banned computer data, for example containing pirate or copyright-infringing video material, by examining the identifier of the video codec associated with the compressed video data. Certain video codec identifiers are highly correlated with the computer data concerned being banned computer data. Thus, an examination of the header file of the computer data may be used as an efficient and sensitive tool for identifying the computer data as banned computer data. |
| US08291498B1 |
Computer virus detection and response in a wide area network
A network level virus monitoring system capable of monitoring a flow of network traffic in any of a number of inspection modes depending upon the particular needs of a system administrator. The system includes a network virus sensor self registration module coupled to a network virus/worm sensor arranged to automatically self register the associated network virus/worm sensor. The monitoring provides an early warning of a virus attack thereby facilitating quarantine procedures directed at containing a virus outbreak. By providing such an early warning, the network virus monitor reduces the number of computers ultimately affected by the virus attack resulting in a concomitant reduction in both the cost of repair to the system and the amount of downtime. In this way, the inventive network virus monitor provides a great improvement in system uptime and reduction in system losses. |
| US08291490B1 |
Tenant life cycle management for a software as a service platform
Managing user access to application-specific capabilities of a system includes maintaining data correlating application-specific capabilities for each of the applications of the system, where the application-specific capabilities of different applications are independent of each other. Managing user access also includes maintaining data correlating user identifiers with user roles, maintaining data correlating user roles with application-specific capabilities, and managing the data using a security module that accesses the data correlating application-specific capabilities, data correlating user identifiers, and the data correlating user roles. The system may have a plurality of tenants and wherein each of the tenants subscribes to one or more of the applications. Each of the users may correspond to a particular one of the tenants. Each tenant may subscribe to a particular set of applications/features. |
| US08291488B2 |
Remote connection between intermediary device and computing device via central authority software
Upon an intermediary device on a network being turned on, controlling system software at the intermediary device is booted such that no public network address is ever assigned to the intermediary device. The intermediary device sends a boot message over the network to central authority software running on one or more first computing devices on the network. The central authority software in response sends messages over the network to the intermediary device and to a second computing device on the network to establish a private tunnel with one another. The intermediary device and the second computing device establish the private tunnel with one another over the network. The intermediary device then opens a remote connection to the second computing device through the private tunnel so that peripherals connected to the intermediary device as if they were directly connected to the second computing device. |
| US08291487B1 |
System and method for distributed multi-processing security gateway
A system and method for a distributed multi-processing security gateway establishes a host side session, selects a proxy network address for a server, uses the proxy network address to establish a server side session, receives a data packet, assigns a central processing unit core from a plurality of central processing unit cores in a multi-core processor of the security gateway to process the data packet, processes the data packet according to security policies, and sends the processed data packet. The proxy network address is selected such that a same central processing unit core is assigned to process data packets from the server side session and the host side session. By assigning central processing unit cores in this manner, higher capable security gateways are provided. |
| US08291483B2 |
Remote network device with security policy failsafe
A remote network device having a network security policy, includes: a firewall component embedded within the network device to filter data flow with a network; a user-defined network security policy for the firewall component to define constraints on data flows permitted by the network device; and a failsafe protocol to enable remote control of the device independent of the user-defined network security policy and the firewall filter. |
| US08291482B2 |
System for restricting content access and storage
UIMID of a UIM 50 owned by the owner of a portable phone 40 is stored in an owner information registration area 410b of phone 40. A CPU 405 of portable phone 40, upon receiving content, compares a UIMID of a UIM 50 inserted in phone 40 to the UIMID registered in owner information registration area 410b. The storing of the content in a nonvolatile memory 410 is permitted only when the two UIMIDs agree with each other. |
| US08291480B2 |
Trusting an unverified code image in a computing device
A method and an apparatus for configuring a key stored within a secure storage area (e.g., ROM) of a device including one of enabling and disabling the key according to a predetermined condition to execute a code image are described. The key may uniquely identify the device. The code image may be loaded from a provider satisfying a predetermined condition to set up at least one component of an operating environment of the device. Verification of the code image may be optional according to the configuration of the key. Secure execution of an unverified code image may be based on a configuration that disables the key. |
| US08291477B2 |
Authorization and authentication based on an individual's social network
An individual's social network is used to authorize information flow to the individual and to authenticate the individual for access to certain information or services. Information flow to the individual is authorized if the source of the information is a member of the individual's social network who is connected to the individual along a path that does not traverse through anyone on a gray list of the individual. The black list identifies those members who previously sent unwanted communication to the individual or posted content that was deemed offensive by the individual. The gray list identifies those members who are one degree separated from any black list member. The individual is authenticated for access to certain information or services if a member of the individual's social network already has access and this member is connected to the individual along a path that does not traverse through anyone on a gray list of the individual, or if members of the individual's social network who are connected to the individual along a path that does not traverse through anyone on a gray list of the individual have an average authentication rating that is at least a minimum value. |
| US08291475B2 |
Secure cross-domain communication for web mashups
A secure cross-domain communication system and method for facilitating secure communication between a website having a web mashup and websites having content that is to be placed on the web mashup. Embodiments of the system and method set the document domain variable of the mashup website and the websites to facilitate the secure communication. Mediator frames are used as an intermediary between a top frame (containing the web mashup) and untrusted frames (containing the website content to be included in the mashup). The type of setup technique used is dependent on the number of websites being used in the mashup. Once the secure communication is established, data exchange between the top frame and the untrusted frame is dependent on the types of services that that the browser supports. |
| US08291474B2 |
Using opaque groups in a federated identity management environment
A system and method for using an opaque group within a federated identity management environment, to prevent disclosure of identities of the group. An opaque group is constructed at an identity provider within the system and has a group identity that references primary system identities of its members (e.g., electronic mail addresses, public key certificates, network addresses). Services to the group (e.g., distribution of an object such as a document or electronic mail message, invitation to an online meeting, authentication as a member of the group) can be requested from service providers, but because service providers do not have access to members' primary identities, the service providers forward the requests to an identity provider that has access to the group identity. That identity provider retrieves the members' identities and completes the action. |
| US08291471B2 |
Managing document access
Methods, computer program products and systems for protecting a document from access by one or more users based on one or more document access rules. In one embodiment, the method includes creating a data set representing the one or more document access rules, storing the document and the associated data set, determining and storing a key for opening the document when one or more document access rules from the data set are met, and releasing the key to open the document to one or more users in response to a request from a user which meets one or more document access rules, thereby enabling the user to access the document. |
| US08291470B2 |
Conditional supplemental password
A password protected machine where a primary alternative password and a secondary alternative password are assigned, but the secondary alternative password cannot be used to gain access unless and until the primary alternative password has been deactivated. Also, a password protected machine where a user is assigned at least two alternative passwords, and where the use of one alternative password will automatically deactivate the other password. Preferably, there is a primary password and a secondary password such that: (i) the use of the primary password does not deactivate the secondary password, but (ii) the use of the secondary password does deactivate the primary password. |
| US08291468B1 |
Translating authorization information within computer networks
In general, techniques are described for translating authorization information within computer networks. For example, a first network device of a computer network may receive authentication information from an endpoint device requesting access to the computer network. The first network device authenticates the endpoint device based on this authentication information and stores authorization information in accordance with a first vendor-specific authorization data model. The first network device stores and applies an export translation policy to translate this information from the vendor-specific data model to a vendor-neutral authorization data model, which it then publishes to an intermediate storage device that implements the vendor-neutral data model. A second network device of the computer network may store an import translation policy to translate this same authorization information from the vendor-neutral authorization data model to a different vendor-specific data model. In this manner, the techniques facilitate translation of authorization information within computer networks. |
| US08291465B2 |
Television system to extract TV advertisement contact data and to store contact data in a TV remote control
A television advertisement system whereby a viewer retrieves advertisement teletext contact information of an advertisement that has been displayed on the viewer's television by using a wireless remote control device. The invention provides the means for a viewer to easily obtain ad′ contact information, in-hand, which can then be used at will. Teletext data is associated with an advertisement video signal, which is then decoded and stored in the television's or TV's set-top box's page memory. The viewer can retrieve, on demand, the advertisement's teletext data stored in the television's, or set-top box's page memory by using a wireless remote control. The advertisement data is transferred to and stored in the remote control's memory. The data is displayed on the remote's screen. The data stored in the remote control can be used to automatically contact an advertiser for further information, or to purchase an advertised product or service. This is achieved by wirelessly transferring pertinent contact information from the remote control to various communication devices, such as a computer, a telephone, a PDA, etc. |
| US08291462B2 |
Broadcast receiver, broadcast data transmitting method and broadcast data receiving method
A broadcast receiver, broadcast data transmitting method and broadcast data receiving method are disclosed, by which information on a service provided by a service provider can be provided, by which a preview can be provided, and by which a time taken for a channel switching can be reduced. The present invention includes transmitting service provider discovery information including information on a service provider, transmitting service discovery information including information on a service provided to the service provider, and transmitting a stream for the service to a connected receiver. |
| US08291461B2 |
Systems and methods for managing the distribution of on-demand media
Systems and methods for managing the distribution of on-demand media in an interactive television application are provided. An interactive television application may receive a request for on-demand media from a user. The interactive television application may provide an option to the user for the transmission of the on-demand media. Such options may include, for example, an option to request a reduced-bandwidth version of the on-demand media, an option to schedule a future time for presentation of the on-demand media, an option to download the on-demand media to a recording device, and an option to check the availability of the on-demand media. A reduced price for transmission of the on-demand media may be provided to the user. |
| US08291460B1 |
Rate adaptation based on dynamic performance monitoring
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, can dynamically monitor the performance of media content rendering and adjust the rate as needed. This can involve obtaining media data, where a first type of dynamic data has a lower priority than a second type; identifying a target frame rate; monitoring a first amount of time used to process the first type of data and a second amount of time used to process the second type of data, including combining multiple first time measurements into the first amount of time and combining multiple second time measurements into the second amount of time; comparing a combination of the first amount of time and the second amount of time to the target frame rate; and modifying an allocation for processing the first type of dynamic data, if the combination fails to satisfy the target frame rate. |
| US08291458B2 |
Digital broadcasting receiver and digital broadcasting receiving system
A digital broadcast receiver includes an operation mode manager that switches an operation mode to a first mode in which a function is implemented by the downloaded application or a second mode in which a function is implemented by the pre-installed application, and a key delivery module that delivers the key code received from the remote control to the downloaded application or the pre-installed application. When the receiver is in the first mode, the key delivery module delivers the received key code to the downloaded application if the received key code is a key code for the first mode, and delivers the received key code to the pre-installed application if the received key code is a key code for the second mode. When the receiver is in the second mode, the key delivery module delivers the received key code to the pre-installed application. |
| US08291457B2 |
Channel selection in a multimedia system
A method for a client module to provide a channel selection request in a multimedia system begins by receiving an input signal from a client. The method continues by interpreting the input signal to determine type of signal. The method continues, when the type of signal is control information, by determining whether the control information relates to a local command or a system-level command. The method continues, when the control information relates to a system-level command, by processing the control information for conveyance to a multimedia server to produce a control message. The method continues by transmitting the control message to the multimedia server. |
| US08291454B2 |
System and method for downloading multimedia events scheduling information for display
A system for displaying information may include memory, one or more processors, and one or more modules stored in memory. The one or more modules are configured for execution by the one or more processors and may include instructions for: presenting a subset of a collection of data on a first grid having a first axis corresponding to units of time and a second axis, the collection of data comprising data representing time-bounded events; presenting a second grid having, first and second axes corresponding to the first and second axes of the first grid, the second grid corresponding to a larger portion of the collection of data than the subset presented on the first grid; and presenting a user moveable window for selecting a portion of the second grid, and selecting the subset presented on the first grid in accordance with a current position of the window. |
| US08291453B2 |
Scheduling trigger apparatus and method
Apparatus and methods for embedding and associating triggers within a promotion or other similar content element with the event being promoted are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, consumer premises equipment (CPE) such as a digital set-top box is used to interface between the user and an external network (such as an HFC cable network) and facilitate the user selecting and scheduling viewing or recording of a subsequent event (e.g., broadcast movie) via the promotion itself. The trigger(s) within the promotion allow the user to contemporaneously select the promoted event for viewing, recording, etc. without any further action. The trigger(s) then initiates tuning of the user's receiver to the scheduled event at the appropriate date and time. This approach obviates additional actions by the user (such as programming their DVR), and also permits the user to commit to viewing the event when their interest level is highest; i.e., contemporaneous with the promotion. |
| US08291452B1 |
Interface for watching a stream of videos
A method and system for browsing videos that are organized as channels. A browsing interface allows a user to browse videos with primarily a simple directional controller. The up and down inputs of the directional controller control navigation between levels of the interface such as search, playback control, full screen playback, video browsing and channel browsing. The left and right inputs of the directional controller control various options at the active level of the user interface and the select input allows the user to select an option. The user can browse various channels and videos within a channel to select media for playback. Videos in a channel play continuously to minimize input from the directional controller. |
| US08291450B2 |
Methods and systems for providing information about programs available for viewing
A user interface is presented on a monitor of a media device for providing information about available programs. The user interface includes an array having three columns (channel, current show, and next show) with commonly aligned rows. Each row of the channel column includes an indicator. Each row of the current show column includes a title naming a program currently available on a channel of the media device corresponding to the indicator in a commonly aligned row of the channel column. Each row of the next show column includes a title naming a show available after the current program on the same channel. The currently available program may be displayed on the monitor in response to a viewer selected row, indicator, and/or title in the array. |
| US08291447B2 |
Method for displaying audiovisual sequences at receiver level and receiver for displaying said sequences
The invention relates to a method for displaying audiovisual sequences, typically advertisements, carried out by a device provided with means for the reception and recording of said sequences. A display scenario is sent to the device. Said scenario comprises groups of data made up of sequence identifiers and at least one time display window. Following the reception of a signal which typically announces an advertising spot, the device selects a sequence whose associated time display window includes the present moment and displays it. Usual behavior of the user is stored by the device which plans the display of said sequences when the user is not normally present during the planned time window.In an advanced form, the time window is broken down into periods and the scenario specifies a number of displays of the sequence during said period.The invention also relates to a device which can receive a scenario and run it in order to select sequences and display them according to the display method. |
| US08291445B2 |
Expanded media content access systems and methods
In one of many possible embodiments, a system includes a content provider subsystem providing media content over a closed media network and an open network. At least a subset of the media content provided over the closed media network is provided over the open network. The system further includes a user access subsystem communicatively connected to the closed media network and the open network. The user access subsystem is configured to access the media content over the closed media network and the open network and to process and provide at least a component of the accessed media content for presentation to a user. The user access subsystem includes a content processing device configured to decode the media content accessed over the closed media network and an expansion content processing device configured to decode the media content accessed over the open network. |
| US08291443B2 |
Recording medium cartridge
A disk cartridge includes, between a recordable position and an unrecordable position, a first guide surface that gradually increases an elastic force of an elastic arm of a tab member and a second guide surface that gradually decreases the elastic force of the elastic arm, and a guide wall (guide portion) on which the guide surfaces are formed continuously. |
| US08291439B2 |
Data platform web services application programming interface
A system and method for implementing functions customized for a branded company are disclosed. A data platform includes a function database which initially receives, and stores, a standardized interface module, such as an application programming interface (API). The standardized interface module includes a plurality of elements, a subset of the elements required for function implementation and a second subset of the elements which can optionally be used to implement a function. A creation module communicates with the function database and modifies the standardized interface module, such as by selecting or removing optional elements from the standardized interface module to create a brand-specific interface. As the brand-specific interface includes the required elements and optional elements, a single system designed to process the required elements and the optional elements in the standardized interface can be used to implement multiple brand-specific interfaces which include different optional components. |
| US08291438B2 |
Printing for virtualized applications
Procedures for printing virtualized applications are discussed. In implementations, a spooler is associated with an established virtual environment including a virtualized application. The spooler may be associated by making a native spooler, installed on a computing system aware of the virtual environment. In other implementations, the spooler may be virtualized such as by including an instance of a spooler in the virtual environment. A printer driver may be virtualized for use in print virtual application output. Virtualizing printer drivers may allow virtual applications to access and use printer and/or software resources without installing the resource on the device. |
| US08291437B2 |
System and method for consolidating middleware functionality
A method and server manage a consolidation of multiple middleware threads, by identifying types of a plurality of middleware, selecting a main middleware from the plurality of middleware, and initializing the main middleware as a main middleware thread. The managing also includes identifying other middleware from the plurality of middleware, based on a consolidated middleware functionality, and selecting slave middleware from the identified other middleware. The managing further includes initializing the slave middleware as slave middleware threads by the main middleware thread, such that each initialized slave middleware thread functions independently of the main middleware thread. |
| US08291435B2 |
JEK class loader notification
A method and system for performing class loader notification. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising raising a notification during execution of a first method (the notification based on an event), identifying the first method, and invoking a second method based on the identification of the first method in response to the notification. |
| US08291434B1 |
Computer system and method to dispatch and receive a message responsive to the occurrence of an event
A computing system and method to dispatch and receive messages that are generated responsive to the occurrence of events. The server generates a message when an event such as the clicking of a mouse button occurs. This message can serve as an input for several program modules such as subroutines. A central dispatcher module is programmed with dispatching strategies to dispatch the message to a customized dispatcher module if the message is of a particular kind. The customized dispatcher module is programmed with dispatching strategies to distribute the message to the program modules. The central dispatcher module does not directly interface to the program modules. This allows for the installation and removal of the program modules without reprogramming the central dispatcher module. |
| US08291430B2 |
Optimizing system performance using spare cores in a virtualized environment
A mechanism for optimizing system performance using spare processing cores in a virtualized environment. When detecting a workload partition needs to run on a virtual processor in the virtualized system, a state of the virtual processor is changed to a wait state. A first node comprising memory that is local to the workload partition is determined. A determination is also made as to whether a non-spare processor core in the first node is available to run the workload partition. If no non-spare processor core is available, a free non-spare processor core in a second node is located, and the state of the free non-spare processor core in the second node is changed to an inactive state. The state of a spare processor core in the first node is changed to an active state, and the workload partition is dispatched to the spare processor core in the first node for execution. |
| US08291428B2 |
Low burden system for allocating computational resources in a real time control environment
A low processing overhead resource manager for a control system uses the control system operating state as a proxy for processing resource capacity, making judgments about execution of asynchronous services based on empirically derived data linked to the states. The control system exists in one of a plurality of predefined operating states logically related to the real-time control of the equipment. A resource model provides predefined processing reserves as a function of operating state, which is based on the control variables representing inputs outputs to and from the equipment. A simple assessment of the operating state determines the process reserves for asynchronous non real-time services. |
| US08291426B2 |
Memory allocators corresponding to processor resources
A memory allocator is provided for each processor resource in a process of a computer system. Each memory allocator includes a set of pages, a locally freed list of objects, and a remotely freed list of objects. Each memory allocator requests the pages from an operating system and allocates objects to all execution contexts executing on a corresponding processing resource. Each memory allocator attempts to allocate an object from the locally freed list before allocating an object from the remotely freed list or an allocated page. |
| US08291424B2 |
Method and system of managing resources for on-demand computing
A method and system of managing resources for on-demand computing is provided. The system can include one or more pools having resources, and a provisioning manager in communication with the one or more pools. The provisioning manager can receive a request for a resource from the requestor and can obtain values for one or more categories associated with the resources. The values can be obtained for at least a portion of the resources. The one or more categories can be based on quantifiable properties associated with the resources. The provisioning manager can determine a priority score for each of the at least a portion of the resources. The provisioning manager can determine a resource from the at least a portion of the resources to be distributed to the requester, where the determination can be based at least in part on the priority score for the resource. |
| US08291422B2 |
Energy-aware computing environment scheduler
A method includes receiving a process request, identifying a current state of a device in which the process request is to be executed, calculating a power consumption associated with an execution of the process request, and assigning an urgency for the process request, where the urgency corresponds to a time-variant parameter to indicate a measure of necessity for the execution of the process request. The method further includes determining whether the execution of the process request can be delayed to a future time or not based on the current state, the power consumption, and the urgency, and causing the execution of the process request, or causing a delay of the execution of the process request to the future time, based on a result of the determining. |
| US08291415B2 |
Paging instruction for a virtualization engine to local storage
Apparatuses, methods, and systems for paging instructions for a virtualization engine to local storage. An apparatus includes a processor, a physical device controller, a virtualization engine, system memory, and local storage. The physical device controller is to be shared by a plurality of virtual machines created by a virtual machine monitor installed on a processor. The virtualization engine is to represent the physical device controller as a plurality of virtual device controllers available to be allocated to the plurality of virtual machines. The local storage is separate from the physical memory to store instructions transferred from the system memory for execution by the virtualization engine. |
| US08291412B2 |
Method of checking a possibility of executing a virtual machine
To determine, when a virtual machine is executed by an arbitrary machine, whether the virtual machine can access computer resources required for the virtual machine, provided is a method of checking a possibility of executing a virtual machine including a first physical computer for executing a first virtual machine and a second physical computer capable of executing a virtual machine. The method includes the steps of: acquiring information on first logical resources; acquiring setting information set to a adaptor of the first physical computer so that the first virtual machine accesses the first logical resources; listing second logical resources accessible when the first virtual machine is executed by the second physical computer by setting the setting information to a adaptor of the second physical computer; and determining whether the first virtual machine can be executed by the second physical computer by comparing the first and second logical resources. |
| US08291404B1 |
Updating system status
A method is used in updating system status. Updated information is received for a managed object in a data storage system. From the updated information and an existing software object having other information about the managed object, a new software object is derived representing the managed object. Merge logic is applied to update the existing software object based on the new software object. The merge logic being capable of updating an existing full model of the data storage system from a new full model of the data storage system. |
| US08291400B1 |
Communication scheduling for parallel processing architectures
A system comprises a plurality of computation units interconnected by an interconnection network. A method for configuring the system comprises receiving subsets of instructions corresponding to different portions of a program, each subset assigned to one of the computation units; scheduling instructions in a given subset for execution on the assigned computation unit, including scheduling communication instructions that send to or receive from a different computation unit over the interconnection network; allocating registers in a given computation unit for storing values accessed by instructions in a subset assigned to the given computation unit; and scheduling instructions after allocating registers to account for spills of values stored in allocated register to memory, preserving the order of communication instructions scheduled before allocating registers. |
| US08291398B2 |
Compiler for optimizing program
A compiler system and method for calculating a value to be assigned to a variable for optimizing a program. The apparatus includes a subrange analysis unit for analyzing, for an instruction to assign a value to a variable in the program, a range of the value being assignable to the variable by the instruction, as a subrange of the variable in a case where instruction is executed; a determination unit for determining if the execution result of the program changes if the instruction assigns any value in the subrange of the variable to the variable on the basis of the analyzed subrange of the variable; and a replacement unit for replacing the instruction to assign the value to the variable with an instruction to assign a constant value in the subrange of the variable to the variable. |
| US08291397B2 |
Compiler optimized function variants for use when return codes are ignored
A mechanism and functionality are provided for generating and using compiler optimized function variants. These variants may be used, for example, in situations where return values of functions called by code are not thereafter used by the code calling the functions. In particular, for a function called by computer code, at least two variants for the function may be generated. A function call, for calling the function, within original computer code may be analyzed to determine which variant of the at least two variants to use for the function call. The function call may be modified in the original computer code, to generate modified computer code, based on results of the analysis identifying which variant of the at least two variants to use for the function call. |
| US08291395B2 |
Fast function call dispatching
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for locating a function call site in a code segment of a running application, the code segment including a plurality of instructions. The call site is the location of an invocation of a function and includes a first reference, the first reference being a reference to a first dispatcher. The call site in the code segment is modified by replacing the first reference with a second reference, the second reference being a reference to second dispatcher, the second dispatcher different from the first dispatcher. |
| US08291391B2 |
Java bytecode translating method
Provided is a Java bytecode translating method which includes: a bytecode fetch step (S1 10) that fetches a Java bytecode from a Java class file; a static field address detection and data processing step (S140) which gains access to a field (130) according to a first field address (FA1) and processes data; a static field address storage step (S 150) that stores a first upper field address (FAU1) including upper bits among bits of the first field address (FA1) in a first storage portion (110), and which stores a first lower field address (FAD1) including remainder lower bits excluding the first upper field address (FAU1) among the bits of the first field address (FA1) in an operand field (120b); a static operation code translating step (S 160) that translates an operation code stored in an operation code field (120a) into a new static field accessing operation code (NOPA); a first field address creation step (S240) that creates a second field address (FA2); and a first data processing step (S250) that gains access to the field (130) according to a second field address (F A2) and processes data. |
| US08291390B2 |
Testing a graphical program intended for a programmable hardware element
Testing a first graphical program intended for implementation on a programmable hardware element. The first graphical program may be stored. The first graphical program may include a first plurality of nodes connected by lines which visually specify first functionality. The first graphical program may be intended for implementation by the programmable hardware element. A second graphical program may be stored which visually specifies testing functionality for the first graphical program. The second graphical program may be executable by a host computer to simulate input to the programmable hardware element when configured by the first graphical program. The first graphical program and the second graphical program may be executed (e.g., by a host computer) to test the first functionality when implemented by the programmable hardware element. During execution, simulated outputs may be monitored. |
| US08291388B2 |
System, method and program for executing a debugger
A method for controlling a debugger, the method includes: determining whether to execute a certain breakpoint of the debugger in view of certain breakpoint conditional information and in view of at least one previous visit, during the execution of the debugger, to at least one other breakpoint of the debugger; and selectively executing the certain breakpoint in response to the determination. |
| US08291386B2 |
System and process for debugging object-oriented programming code
A process and system for interactive debugging of a computer program, is provided. One implementation involves providing a class for an object oriented computer program capable of executing on a computer system, the class having class methods defining a semantic field of the class; automatically monitoring the class during execution of the program, and leveraging said class methods by executing the class methods upon object-typed variables to obtain a pseudo-field value; and presenting the pseudo-field value along with fields of the said object-typed variables, on a user interface for debugging purposes. |
| US08291385B2 |
Method and system for testing a software program
Methods and systems for testing a software program are provided. The methods include receiving a textual input for testing at least one static type used by the software program. The textual input of an embodiment is pre-linked to the at least one static type. The method includes creating a dynamic type based on the textual input in a dynamically typed language. The dynamic type is populated based on a predefined set of test vectors and is then passed on to the software program. The software program is executed using the dynamic type. Executing the software program by using the dynamic type invokes the at least one static type used by the software program. |
| US08291384B2 |
Weighted code coverage tool
A method, system, and article are provided for evaluating software test comprehensiveness of an application. A subset of the software-under-test basic blocks is identified for emphasized and/or deemphasized testing. During test, execution of the basic blocks is monitored, and then aggregated into a weighted code coverage result which factors in the prioritization assignments of the subset of basic blocks. |
| US08291383B1 |
Code analysis via dual branch exploration
A method, computer program product, and system are provided to explore branches of a conditional statement in software code. For example, an embodiment of the method includes selecting a first branch of the conditional statement to evaluate, placing a second branch of the conditional statement in a pending branch list, storing checkpoint information on a program state for the conditional statement associated with the second branch, and evaluating the second branch after an evaluation of the first branch. The evaluation of the second branch is based on the checkpoint information. By exploring the first and second branches of the conditional statement (e.g., true and false conditions), wide coverage is possible in the analysis of software code. |
| US08291381B2 |
Call stack parsing in multiple runtime environments
Where a process in a computing system comprises mixed code, having different sections of code managed by different runtimes, the call stack used to coordinate function invocations may comprise call stack frames created according to multiple calling conventions. In order to analyze this call stack in a stack walk or unwinding, a debugger may be configured to request the runtimes managing the process to claim a particular call stack frame, and to request the runtime that claims it to parse the contents of the frame, or to utilize call stack analysis techniques if the call stack frame was created by unmanaged code. |
| US08291379B2 |
Runtime analysis of a computer program to identify improper memory accesses that cause further problems
Runtime analysis of a computer program can be performed. An improper memory access to a memory location can be detected during runtime of the computer program. A record of the improper memory access can be stored during runtime. A subsequent error condition in the computer program can be detected during runtime. The error condition can be compared with the record corresponding to the improper memory access. Based upon the comparison, an indication that the error condition is related to the improper memory access can be provided. |
| US08291376B2 |
Method and system to automatically regenerate software code
According to a second aspect there is provided a method and system to automatically regenerate software for an object to relational mapping system. The system automatically regenerates a first set of classes. For each class, the system reads class information; reads meta-data based on the class information; and automatically regenerates the class based on the meta-data without overwriting associated custom code. The first set of classes includes base code that is associated with the custom code. The first set of classes and the base code are utilized by the object to relational mapping system to enable access to data that is persistently stored in a database. |
| US08291374B2 |
System and method for generating modified source code based on change-models
A computer implemented method for automatically generating domain specific applications based on model driven changes of the source code base for existing applications. Abstracted declarative design change-models, separate from detailed implementation source coding, are used to define the possible set of changes for specific application domains. Generalized implementations of the design changes, mapped to the defined Change-Model abstracted representations but separate from the representations themselves, are implemented via Application-Templates consisting of existing source code plus mark-up. The application domain is thus defined by the change-model linked to allied application-templates. Meta generation facilities are implicitly provided as the code generator for a specific application domain is defined by the Change-Model plus related set of Application-Templates. Additionally, the generator GUI is automatically modified or generated from the Change-Model with optional GUI model extensions definitions to tailor the generator GUI for each specific application domain. |
| US08291369B2 |
Computer-readable recording medium storing verification support program, verification support apparatus, and verification support method for supporting verification of hardware system design including different hardware models
A verification support apparatus and method are provided. The verification support apparatus executing a simulation controlling a communication between a first hardware model in communication with a bus model and adapted to the same first specifications as the bus model, and a second hardware model in communication with the bus model and adapted to second specifications differing from those of the bus model, the apparatus includes a reception unit that receives data based on the second specifications from the second hardware model, a conversion unit that, based on the first specifications, converts the data received by the reception unit into data adapted to the first specifications; and a transmission unit that transmits the data converted by the conversion unit, via the bus model, to a hardware model which is a transmission destination. |
| US08291368B2 |
Method for reducing surface area of pad limited semiconductor die layout
A method for reducing a surface area of a pad limited semiconductor die layout includes choosing an outer die pad row from a group of outer die pad rows on the semiconductor die, each of the outer die pad rows being adjacent an edge of the semiconductor die. Next, the method performs selecting, from the outer die pad row, a common die pad group with die pads that are arranged to be electrically connected to an external connection pad. The method then performs repositioning a subgroup of the common die pad group on an inner die pad row, the inner pad row being adjacent the outer die pad row. After he repositioning there is performed a step of adjusting positions of at least some of the remaining pads in the outer die pad row thereby reducing an overall length of the outer die pad row. The method then provides for repeating the above steps until the surface area of a pad limited semiconductor die cannot be reduced any further by the step of adjusting positions or until every common die pad group, on every one of the outer die pad rows, has been selected by the selecting step. |
| US08291366B2 |
Routing system and method using a routing tree rip-up
A routing system is improved by performing three steps sequentially to complete an execution process. The first step estimates a normalized criticality score for each design net. The second step arranges the scores for each design net in descending order. Third step rips up and reroutes the design so as to make it more feasible. |
| US08291364B2 |
Automated digital circuit design tool that reduces or eliminates adverse timing constraints do to an inherent clock signal skew, and applications thereof
The present invention provides an automated digital circuit design tool that reduces or eliminates adverse timing constraints due to an inherent clock signal skew, and applications thereof In an embodiment, an automated design tool according to the invention generates a clocking system that includes a clock signal generator, control logic, enable logic, and at least one clock gater. The clock signal generator generates a clock signal that is distributed to various logic blocks of the digital circuit using a buffered clock tree. The enable logic receives input values from the control logic and provides a control signal to the clock gater. When enabled, the clock gater allows a clock signal to pass through to multiple registers. An early clock signal is provided to register(s) in the control logic, which allows for an increased clock frequency while still meeting timing constraints. |
| US08291361B2 |
System and method for supporting layout design of semiconductor integrated circuit
In a layout design method of a semiconductor integrated circuit, an IR drop data is calculated to indicate a voltage drop for every local area, and a virtual arrangement library is generated which stores data of a circuit cell to be arranged based on the IR drop data for every circuit module. A virtual arrangement net list is generated by converting the circuit cell contained in a net list into a virtual arrangement cell which is registered on the virtual arrangement library. The circuit module is automatically arranged based on the virtual arrangement net list; and the virtual arrangement cell contained in the automatically arranged circuit module is replaced with the circuit cell contained in the net list. |
| US08291358B2 |
Synchronous to asynchronous logic conversion
Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to generate a synchronous netlist from a synchronous circuit design representation, automatically substitute asynchronous components taken from an asynchronous standard cell component library for corresponding standard cell synchronous components in the synchronous netlist to form an asynchronous core, and convert the synchronous netlist to an asynchronous circuit design representation. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed. |
| US08291353B2 |
Non-linear rasterized contour filters
A system includes a conversion module that preserves the shape of a contour when converting an image to a different resolution. The conversion module receives a first image and divides the first image into regions of pixel values. For each region, a contribution of the region to the pixel values in the second image is determined. The contribution is selected from a set of pre-determined contributions that are a nonlinear function of the values in the region, and the selection is made based at least in part on the values in the region. The contributions are accumulated together to generate a second image. The conversion module may be, for example, part of a design flow for an integrated circuit that connects a mask simulation stage with an optical simulation stage. |
| US08291350B1 |
Gesture-based metadata display
In general, embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to techniques for quickly displaying metadata of media objects (e.g., music files) using gestures. In one example a method includes, generating for display a browsing view including browsing content, wherein the browsing content includes one or more media objects; receiving user input including one or more gestures to select at least one media object; determining an input operation that selects a quantity of metadata associated with the selected media object, wherein the metadata includes information that describes the selected media object, and wherein the quantity of the metadata is proportional to a detected property of the one or more gestures to select the media object; and generating for display in an expanded view, the metadata associated with the at least one selected media object. |
| US08291349B1 |
Gesture-based metadata display
In general, embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to techniques for quickly displaying metadata of media objects (e.g., music files) using gestures. In one example a method includes, generating for display a browsing view including browsing content, wherein the browsing content includes one or more media objects; receiving user input including one or more gestures to select at least one media object; determining an input operation that selects a quantity of metadata associated with the selected media object, wherein the metadata includes information that describes the selected media object, and wherein the quantity of the metadata is proportional to a magnitude of the one or more gestures to select the media object; and generating for display in an expanded view, the metadata associated with the at least one selected media object, wherein the expanded view is generated for display without changing the browsing content. |
| US08291346B2 |
3D remote control system employing absolute and relative position detection
The present invention can include three-dimensional remote control systems that can detect an absolute location to which a remote control is pointing in first and second orthogonal axes and an absolute position of the remote control in a third orthogonal axis. Remote control systems of the present invention can employ absolute position detection with relative position detection. Absolute position detection can indicate an initial absolute position of the remote control and relative position detection can indicate changes in the position of the remote control. By combining absolute and relative position detection, remote control systems of the present invention can track remote controls more precisely than systems that only employ absolute position detection. The present invention also can include methods and apparatus for zooming in and out of an image shown on a display based on the absolute position of the remote control in the third axis. |
| US08291344B2 |
Device, method, and graphical user interface for managing concurrently open software applications
A method includes displaying a first application view. A first input is detected, and an application view selection mode is entered for selecting one of concurrently open applications for display in a corresponding application view. An initial group of open application icons in a first predefined area and at least a portion of the first application view adjacent to the first predefined area are concurrently displayed. The initial group of open application icons corresponds to at least some of the concurrently open applications. A gesture is detected on a respective open application icon in the first predefined area, and a respective application view for a corresponding application is displayed without concurrently displaying an application view for any other application in the concurrently open applications. The open application icons in the first predefined area cease to be displayed, and the application view selection mode is exited. |
| US08291343B2 |
Display control apparatus, display control method, and program
A display control apparatus is disclosed which includes: an application configured to display a plurality of first icons each representing a category; and a plurality of plug-ins each of which is assigned items represented by second icons; wherein one of the plurality of plug-ins associates the items assigned thereto with a plurality of categories; and wherein, if one of the categories represented by the first icons is selected and if the selected category is found associated with the items assigned to the one plug-in, then that one plug-in displays the second icons representing the items belonging to the selected category. |
| US08291341B2 |
Accelerated panning user interface interactions
A computer-implemented user interface method includes displaying on a touch screen a portion of a large scale graphical space that is at least multiples larger than the device display, receiving from a user of the device an input to pan within the graphical space, automatically generating a pop up graphical panning control in response to receiving the user input, and receiving a user input to the panning control and providing panning in the graphical space, wherein movement of the panning control in a single selection is able to pan the display across a substantial portion of the large scale graphical space. |
| US08291333B2 |
Air conditioning controller
An air conditioning controller includes a storage component, a data receiving component configured to receive set numeric data, a display component configured to display data, and a control component. The storage component has stored operation explanation data, relationship explanation data, and setting layout display data stored therein. The stored operation explanation data defines operations of functions executed in the air conditioner. The relationship explanation data defines relationships between explanations of operations of functions and values that are set. The setting display layout data includes setting display region data and explanation display region data. The control component is configured to cause the set numeric data that the data receiving component has received to be displayed in a setting display region while causing the operation explanation data and the relationship explanation data to be displayed in an explanation display region in accordance with the setting display layout data. |
| US08291329B2 |
Automatically merging graphical programs
System and method for merging differences between graphical programs. Information is received regarding matches and differences, e.g., in hardware, software, configuration, and/or connectivity, between first and second graphical programs, each comprising respective pluralities of interconnected nodes. The information is analyzed to merge differences between the first and second graphical programs, e.g., for each difference: removing all non-common nodes and connections thereto in the second sub-graph from the second graphical program, adding all common nodes and connections thereto in the first sub-graph to the second graphical program, determining all edges in the first sub-graph that connect common nodes to non-common nodes; and for each determined edge, adding to the second graphical program an edge that connects a corresponding common node in the second sub-graph with a corresponding non-common node added from the first sub-graph. A merged graphical program is displayed on a display, e.g., graphically indicating the merged matches and/or differences. |
| US08291328B2 |
System and method for synchronizing a real-time performance with a virtual object
There is presented a system for recording a performance by a real-time performer interacting with a virtual object. The disclosed system comprises a projection module including a polarizing filter, the projection module configured to generate a polarized visible image corresponding to the virtual object. The system includes a surface for displaying the polarized visible image, the surface viewable by the real-time performer. The system also includes a recording module including a reverse-polarizing filter, the reverse-polarizing filter configured to reverse-polarize images of the performance by the real-time performer and the surface displaying the polarized visible image to produce reverse-polarized images. The recording module is configured to record the reverse-polarized images. In one embodiment, the system further comprises a rendering module configured to render the virtual object into the recorded performance. |
| US08291326B2 |
Information-processing apparatus, information-processing methods, recording mediums, and programs
An information-processing apparatus including a reproducer for synchronously reproducing content data common to another information-processing apparatus, a user information input for inputting first user condition information including a voice and image of a user, a user information receiver for receiving second user condition information including a voice and image of an other user from the other information-processing apparatus, a synthesizer for synthesizing a voice and image of the content data synchronously reproduced by the reproducer with the voice and image of the second user condition information received by the user-information receiver; an information analysis unit for analyzing at least either the first user condition information input or the second user condition information; and a parameter-setting unit for setting a control parameter used for controlling a process on the basis of an analysis result produced by the information analysis unit. |
| US08291325B2 |
Location specific display of information resources on a host interface
A computer implemented method and system is provided for displaying information resources linked from a host interface on selected locations on the host interface. A processing element is defined for a link referenced in the host interface. The processing element determines an address of an information resource referenced by the link. An area representation element specifies locations for displaying the information resource on the host interface. A display element is defined for displaying content of the information resource on the host interface and is linked to the processing element and the area representation element. The linked display element retrieves the address of the information resource from the processing element and retrieves the location selected by the user from the area representation element. The linked display element retrieves content of the information resource from the retrieved address and displays the retrieved content in the selected location on the host interface. |
| US08291320B2 |
Graphical user interface for browsing, searching and presenting media items
Improved graphical user interfaces suitable for reviewing, browsing, previewing and/or purchasing media items are disclosed. The graphical user interfaces are particularly useful for a system that provides purchase and distribution of media in a client-server environment. |
| US08291319B2 |
Intelligent self-enabled solution discovery
Solutions for solving a problem experienced by a user are retrieved. In response to receiving a query from the user describing the problem, relevant candidate solutions to the problem are sent to the user. In response to receiving a selection of one relevant candidate solution from the relevant candidate solutions, instructions steps within the one relevant candidate solution selected by the user are analyzed. An instruction step similarity is calculated between the instruction steps within the one relevant candidate solution selected and other instructions steps within other solutions stored in a storage device. Then, similar solutions are sent to the user containing similar instruction steps to the instruction steps contained within the one relevant candidate solution selected based on the calculated instruction step similarity. |
| US08291313B1 |
Generation of a container hierarchy from a document design
In an example embodiment, a container hierarchy may be determined for a document design, such as, for example, a web page design, through an iterative technique for partitioning a plurality of containers into one or more rows and one or more columns. |
| US08291312B1 |
Displaying web pages without downloading static files
A computing device is configured to receive a configuration file. The configuration filed includes at least one reference to a static file associated with a web page of a website. The static file is ranked as a most-downloaded static file, of a plurality of static files, by a provider of the configuration file and the website. The computing device is further configured to retrieve the static file based on the reference; store the static file in a memory local to the computing device; receive a request for the web page; identify the static file for the web page; and use the static file to display the web page in a browser associated with the computing device. |
| US08291306B2 |
Encoder of cyclic codes for partially written codewords in flash memory
Provided is a systematic encoder of cyclic codes for partially written codewords in flash memories wherein all bits of an erased but unwritten area have a default value such as one. In the case where the host writes data to one or a plurality of discontinuous fragments in an area reserved for storing the message section of a codeword in the flash memory, the encoder computes the parity of the codeword by using only the data written to the flash memory as input and by asserting that all bits in the gaps between the written fragments have the default erased value, such that after both the data and the parity are written to the flash memory, the area reserved for storing the codeword would contain a valid codeword. On read back, the host reads the entire codeword area from the flash memory without having to distinguish between the written and unwritten fragments. |
| US08291302B2 |
State metrics memory reduction in a turbo decoder implementation
Methods and apparatus are described for reducing memory storage cells in a turbo decoder by storing only half the state metrics generated during a scan process. States associated with each bit transmission may be divided into couples and only one state from every state couple may be stored. In one example embodiment, only the state metric for a losing state of every state couple is saved, along with a single bit, e.g., 1 or 0, indicating whether the upper state or lower state of the state couple was the winner. The winning state may be reconstituted at a later stage. In this manner, for a code rate 1/3 and constraint length 3 turbo code, instead of storing 8*10=80 bits of state metrics for each systematic bit, only (4*10)+(4*1)=44 bits of scan state metrics data need be stored, a savings of nearly 50% regardless of the transistor technology used. |
| US08291301B2 |
Data transfer method capable of saving memory for storing packet in USB protocol and apparatus thereof
A data transfer method is utilized for saving memory for storing packet in USB protocol. When a transmitter is to send a payload, the protocol layer of the transmitter writes the payload into a shared payload memory. The protocol layer generates a corresponding header according to the payload, and writes the corresponding header into a shared header memory. The data-link layer of the transmitter generates a packet by means of directly combining the payload saving in the shared payload memory and the header saving in the shared header memory, and sends the packet. Hence, when the transmitter is to send the payload, the transmitter only requires a memory of which the size is equal to a packet. In this way, the memory can be saved, reducing the cost. |
| US08291300B2 |
Outer coding methods for broadcast/multicast content and related apparatus
Transmission techniques are provided that improve service continuity and reduce interruptions in delivery of content that can be caused by transitions that occur when the User Equipment (UE) moves from one cell to the other, or when the delivery of content changes from a Point-to-Point (PTP) connection to a Point-to-Multipoint (PTM) connection in the same serving cell, and vice-versa. Such transmission techniques enable seamless delivery of content across cell borders and/or between different transmission schemes such as Point-to-Multipoint (PTM) and Point-to-Point (PIP). Mechanisms for adjusting different streams and for recovering content from each data block during such transitions are also provided so that data is not lost during a transition. In addition, mechanisms for realigning data during decoding at a receiving terminal are also provided. |
| US08291298B2 |
Analog iterative decoder with early-termination
An iterative decoder comprising a transconductance amplifier, a sampler, a Min-Sum decoder, and an early determination module is provided. The transconductance amplifier outputs a current proportional to the voltage of the coded bit stream. The sampler converts the amplified current into a plurality of currents and stores the sampled currents in a plurality of buffers. The Min-Sum decoder receives parallel currents, wherein currents represent the message of each variable node. The Min-Sum decoder exchanges the message of variable nodes and check nodes iteratively and outputs a set of decode codewords according to the possibilities. The early terminating module stops the iterative decoding when the decoded codeword converged. |
| US08291291B1 |
Data resequencing
Interleaving in which functions relating final and original positions are implemented with low complexity using inequalities based on the functions. |
| US08291290B1 |
Methods and algorithms for joint channel-code decoding of linear block codes
Circuits, architectures, methods and algorithms for joint channel-code decoding of linear block codes, and more particularly, for identifying and correcting one or more errors in a code word and/or for encoding CRC (or parity) information. In one aspect, the invention focuses on use of (i) remainders, syndromes or other polynomials and (ii) Gaussian elimination to determine and correct errors. Although this approach may be suboptimal, the present error checking and/or detection scheme involves simpler computations and/or manipulations than conventional schemes, and is generally easier to implement logically. Since the complexity of parity-based error correction schemes increases disproportionately to the number of potential error events, the present invention meets a long-felt need for a scheme to manage error detection and/or correction in systems (such as magnetic recording applications) where there may be a relatively large number of likely error events, thereby advantageously improving reliability and/or performance in channel communications. |
| US08291288B2 |
Method and device for encoding the low density generator matrix code
A method and system for encoding the low density generator matrix code are disclosed. The encoding method includes the following steps: S102, constructing a generator matrix Gldgc with L rows and N+L−K columns, wherein a phalanx Gldgc(1:L, 1:L) which consists of L rows and the first L columns of the generator matrix Gldgc is an upper triangular matrix or a lower triangular matrix, the K, L and N being positive integers, and K |
| US08291282B2 |
Apparatus and method for encoding and decoding channel in a communication system using low-density parity-check codes
An apparatus and method for generating a parity-check matrix of a Low-Density Parity-Check (LDPC) code are provided. Parameters for designing the LDPC code are determined, and a first parity-check matrix of a quasi-cyclic LDPC code is formed according to the determined parameters. A second parity-check matrix is created through the elimination of a predetermined portion of a parity part in the first parity-check matrix, and a third parity-check matrix is created by rearranging the second parity-check matrix. |
| US08291281B2 |
Optical transmitter and receiver and optical transmission and reception system
An optical transmitter and receiver has stored in advance therein FEC techniques and applicable conditions for applying the FEC techniques to a counterpart optical transmitter and receiver. The optical transmitter and receiver measures a state of receiving data transmitted from the counterpart optical transmitter and receiver, determines an applicable condition satisfying the measured data reception state from among the stored applicable conditions, and selects a FEC technique stored in association with the applicable condition determined as satisfying. The optical transmitter and receiver then notifies the counterpart optical transmitter and receiver of the selected FEC technique. |
| US08291279B2 |
Memory-efficient LDPC decoder and method
To decode a representation of a codeword that encodes K information bits as N>K codeword bits, messages are exchanged between N bit nodes and N−K check nodes of a graph in which E edges connect the bit nodes and the check nodes. While messages are exchanged, fewer than E of the messages are stored, and/or fewer than N soft estimates of the codeword bits are stored. In some embodiments, the messages are exchanged only within sub-graphs and between the sub-graphs and one or more external check nodes. While messages are exchanged, the largest number of stored messages is the number of edges in the sub-graph with the most edges plus the number of edges that connect the sub-graphs to the external check node(s), and/or the largest number of stored soft estimates is the number of bit nodes in the sub-graph with the most bit nodes. |
| US08291277B2 |
Data distribution utilizing unique write parameters in a dispersed storage system
A method begins by a processing module receiving a plurality of record requests to record a broadcast of data. The method continues with the processing module encoding the data using an error coding dispersal storage function to produce a plurality of sets of encoded data slices. The method continues with the processing module generating a list of requesting device identities corresponding to the plurality of requests and storing the plurality of sets of encoded data slices and the list of requesting device identities in a dispersed storage network memory. The method continues with the processing module receiving a playback request from a device identified in the list of requesting device identities, generating a unique retrieval matrix for the device, and outputting a unique plurality of sets of encoded data slices from the plurality of sets of encoded data slices in accordance with the unique retrieval matrix. |
| US08291274B2 |
Radio communication apparatus and a method of transmitting a retransmission packet
A radio communication apparatus having a retransmission function includes a pattern storing unit configured to store a correspondence between resource blocks used for a transmission packet and resource blocks used for a retransmission packet; and a packet scheduling unit configured to arrange the retransmission packet based on the correspondence. |
| US08291273B2 |
Communication device, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a communication program
In a transmitter (2001), when generating a transmission frame having no limitation to a window size, a batch-transmission-end flag generating circuit (2004) and a sequence number generating circuit (2005) respectively adds a batch-transmission-end flag and a sequence number to the transmission frame. In a receiver, if an omission of a sequence number is detected as a result of analyzing sequence numbers of frames having received from the transmitter (2001), retransmission request is made when receiving a frame whose batch-transmission-end flag indicates the end. In this way, retransmission is possible in data transmission using UI frames, and the communication efficiency can be improved. |
| US08291272B2 |
Macro and command execution from memory array
Methods and apparatus for executing internal operations of memory devices utilizing instructions stored in the memory array of the memory device are disclosed. Decode blocks adapted to interpret instructions and data stored in the memory device are also disclosed. Methods can be used to perform internal self-test operations of the memory device by executing test procedures stored in the memory array of the memory device performing a self-test operation. |
| US08291270B2 |
Request processing device, request processing system, and access testing method
A request processing device includes a request sender that sends a write request or a read request to a storage device, a response processor that receives a response to a request which the request sender has sent, and a test request processor that converts a read response which is a response to a read request, into a test write request, and converts a write response which is a response to a write request into a test read request, from among responses that the response processor has received or from among responses that have been input from a device which is provided outside the request processing device. |
| US08291268B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method to provide alert notification with reconcile actions
A method to provide an alert notification and a reconcile action to a client computing system, the alert notification being responsive to an error condition in a target computing system, and the reconcile action being responsive to the alert notification, wherein the method supplies a client computing system and a target computing system, wherein the target computing system is in communication with the client computing system. The method further forms an alert notification responsive to an error condition detected in the target computing system, and generates a reconcile action responsive to the alert notification. The method provides the alert notification and the reconcile action to the client computing system. The client computing system returns a selected reconcile action, which is implemented by the target computing system, wherein that implementing step is performed without logging into said target computing system. |
| US08291267B2 |
System for determining real time network up time
The inventive system and method for determining the availability of a computer network comprises a device operable to connect to at least the computer network using internet communications and using GSM, and an alarm service and/or a central server, wherein the device attempts to connect to the computer network using the internet communications and if the device fails to connect within a predetermined value, such as an amount of time or a number of tries, the device uses the GSM to notify the alarm service of the failure to connect. In one embodiment, after the device notifies the alarm service and/or central server of the failure to connect, the device continues to attempt to connect to the computer network, and if the device connects within another predetermined value, the device notifies the alarm service and/or central server of the restoral of service. |
| US08291266B2 |
Server network diagnostic system
Methods and systems for implementing such methods for providing server diagnostic and system management information may include, but are not limited to: receiving a network fault status request input; illuminating one or more server node fault indicators for one or more degraded server nodes having one or more faults; receiving a server node fault status request input for a degraded server node having one or more faults; and displaying one or more diagnostic service notifications for one or more faults of the degraded server node. Display of diagnostic service notifications may allow for completion of various service operations associated with service notifications once information specific to a fault is presented. Such service operations may include placing a system in standby mode, transferring workloads to other systems, initiating a firmware update, placing the system in a mode that allows for physical maintenance, or ordering parts associated with one or more faults. |
| US08291264B2 |
Method and system for failure prediction with an agent
A system, a computer program product and a method for failure prediction are implemented on an agent. The agent is installed on a machine to be monitored. The method includes detecting service data on the machine. A reference database is accessed, and a failure pattern is provided. The detected service data are analyzed in view of the provided failure pattern by applying a correlation mechanism, such that a prediction for future failures is generated and depicted as a result. |
| US08291262B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing system
An image processing apparatus includes an input portion for inputting image information, an information storage portion for storing the input image information, a transmission portion for transmitting the image information, and a control portion for processing input, storage and transmission of image information in parallel. The control portion, in the case where an input error occurs in the middle of performing input of image information, causes a transmission portion to transmit an instruction to delete information that has been transmitted to a transmission destination, and to start a retransmission after combining the image information before the input error occurs with the image information input after the input error occurred to form one file. |
| US08291259B2 |
Delete of cache line with correctable error
A processing unit includes a processor core and a cache memory coupled to the processor core. The cache memory includes a data array, a directory of the data array, error detection logic that sequentially detects a first, second and third correctable errors in the data array of the cache memory and provides indications of detection of the first, second and third correctable errors, and control circuitry that, responsive to the indication of the third correctable error and an indication that the first and second correctable errors occurred at too high a frequency, marks an entry of the data array containing a cache line having the third correctable error as deleted in the directory of the cache memory regardless of which entry of the data array contains a cache line having the second correctable error. |
| US08291253B2 |
Interface device, circuit module, circuit system, device for data communications and method for calculating a circuit module
An interface device allows data communication between a controller and a plurality of circuit units. The interface device has a first interface for a connection to the controller, a second interface for a connection to a second circuit unit, and a third interface for a connection to a second circuit unit. An interface calibrating unit is coupled to the second and third interfaces and a non-volatile calibrating parameter memory is arranged in the interface calibrating unit or coupled to the calibrating unit. The memory is adapted to store calibrating parameters for the second and third interfaces. |
| US08291244B2 |
Power management in a data processing device having masters and slaves
A device, such as an integrated circuit is described including master units, and slave units connected by an interconnect. In addition to the normal data signals and address signals passed with a transaction, there are also passed usage signals which specify the time interval until a next transaction will be sent to a slave unit. A local slave power controller is responsive to such usage signals to switch into a low power mode and pre-emptively switch back to an operational mode in time to respond to the next transaction to be received. |
| US08291242B2 |
Method for transforming voltage identification code of a microprocessor
The disclosure is related to a method for transforming voltage identification codes of a microprocessor. The method comprises the steps of: receiving a first voltage identification code of a first voltage regulation standard, wherein the first voltage identification code is in correspondence with a first voltage; and transforming the first voltage identification code into a second voltage identification code of a second voltage regulation standard, wherein the second voltage identification code is in correspondence with a second voltage, and the second voltage is the same as the first voltage. |
| US08291238B2 |
Systems and methods for secure transaction management and electronic rights protection
The present invention provides systems and methods for electronic commerce including secure transaction management and electronic rights protection. Electronic appliances such as computers employed in accordance with the present invention help to ensure that information is accessed and used only in authorized ways, and maintain the integrity, availability, and/or confidentiality of the information. Secure subsystems used with such electronic appliances provide a distributed virtual distribution environment (VDE) that may enforce a secure chain of handling and control, for example, to control and/or meter or otherwise monitor use of electronically stored or disseminated information. Such a virtual distribution environment may be used to protect rights of various participants in electronic commerce and other electronic or electronic-facilitated transactions. Secure distributed and other operating system environments and architectures, employing, for example, secure semiconductor processing arrangements that may establish secure, protected environments at each node. These techniques may be used to support an end-to-end electronic information distribution capability that may be used, for example, utilizing the “electronic highway.” |
| US08291235B2 |
Method and system for controlling access of clients and users to a print server
A method of controlling use of a printer on a network includes providing a key to a client on the network. The key is then used to submit a print job from the client to a printer on the network. |
| US08291232B2 |
Method and a system for a secure execution of workflow tasks of a workflow in a decentralized workflow system
Secure execution of workflow tasks are executed according to a given execution pattern in a decentralized workflow system with a central workflow engine and multiple task execution agents. The method starts at an i'th execution agent which is selected by at least one preceding execution agent in accord with the execution pattern to perform an i'th task of the workflow. The method includes receiving, from the at least one preceding execution agent via a secure channel, a task-based private key generated by the at least one preceding execution agent, signing workflow information of the workflow for at least one subsequent execution agent with a workflow signature, selecting at least one appropriate subsequent execution agent, computing a task-based private key for the at least one subsequent execution agent, and forwarding to the at least one subsequent execution agent the workflow information with its associated workflow signature. |
| US08291225B2 |
Communications apparatus, communications system, and method of setting certificate
An apparatus in a system which includes at least a high-level apparatus and a plurality of low-level apparatuses, said apparatus being one of the low-level apparatuses. The apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store an individual certificate set and a common certificate set and a communication unit configured to transmit own authentication information to the high level apparatus to allow the high level apparatus to perform decryption to authenticate the validity of the apparatus. |
| US08291221B2 |
Method and apparatus for implementing a novel one-way hash function on highly constrained devices such as RFID tags
A method and apparatus for implementing a novel one-way hash function with provable security properties for authentication and non-authentication applications on highly constrained devices, with particular application to RFID tags. |
| US08291218B2 |
Creating and using secure communications channels for virtual universes
A system and method provides secure channels for communication in a virtual universe by employing a packet interception layer for incoming and outgoing data packets. A data path is defined and is sequentially encrypted with the public keys of servers in the path. Decryption and identification of the next server occurs in a sequential manner in which the path is known only to the sender. |
| US08291214B2 |
Apparatus and method for secure remote processing
A method and apparatus for providing on-demand services to an organization. The services are provided by a hosting center. The apparatus comprises an on-premises connectivity agent at the organization, which receives requests or commands from computing platforms within the organization and concentrates all communication to and from the hosting center. The on-premises connectivity agent embeds or otherwise introduces organization metadata to the messages. The apparatus further comprises a hosted connectivity agent associated with the hosting center. The apparatus may further comprise a central connectivity component for routing communication between the on-premises connectivity agent and the hosted connectivity agent, in accordance with the metadata. Communication between the on-premises connectivity agent and the central connectivity component flows through a secure channel and comprises only communications related to the organization. Communication between the central connectivity component and the hosted connectivity agent may comprise communications related multiple organizations. Such communications may be multiplexed. |
| US08291213B2 |
Techniques for secure network searching
Techniques for network searching are provided. A search is defined and the search is encrypted in a format known to a search service. Return instructions are defined for delivering search results of the search to a principal that defined the search and the return instructions. The return instructions are encrypted in a different format know to a return search process. The encrypted search is delivered to the search service for processing the search and the encrypted return instructions are delivered to the return search process for handling search results provided by the search service and for conforming delivery of the search results to the return instructions. |
| US08291209B2 |
Integration model for instant-on environment
An instant-on environment consists of components residing in a computer boot ROM and/or also on a mass storage device. Main components to the instant-on environment include a loader, EPG1, and EPG2. The loader is a module that is integrated into the computer boot ROM, based on an embedded OS, that functions to load other instant-on environment components. There are various methods of integrating the loader into boot firmware to optimize for different requirements. EPG1 is a first user screen that appears on the computer display within seconds after power-on, and from which the user can choose to launch one of the instant-on environment's applications or launch the primary OS. EPG2 is launched if the user chooses to launch an instant-on environment application. EPG2 is a Linux-based desktop environment that the user enters once he selects an application from EPG1. |
| US08291191B2 |
System and method for safely automating the generation of multiple data definition language statements
A system and method includes steps or acts of: organizing table partitions in logical order; presenting the partition table numbers and their current ending values in logical order to a user; receiving an alter command from the user, the alter command specifying at least one logical partition number and its corresponding ending value; internally matching the specified logical partition number to its corresponding physical partition number; altering the physical partitioning of the table by manipulating one or more current ending values of partitions by altering the current ending value of the physical partition to which the specified logical partition is associated, such that new ending values are generated; and automatically generating at least one data definition language statement corresponding to the alter command, using the new ending value. |
| US08291184B2 |
Copy control apparatus
A copy control apparatus for controlling a copy process between disks includes a copy process execution unit, a data capacity measuring unit, and a changing unit. The copy process execution unit executes the copy process between disks by securing a storage area on a cache. The data capacity measuring unit measures a data capacity contained in a write request accepted from a host system during execution of the copy process between disks by the copy process execution unit. The changing unit changes a capacity of the storage area secured by the copy process execution unit in accordance with the data capacity measured by the data capacity measuring unit. |
| US08291183B2 |
Assisted mainframe data de-duplication
Data de-duplication (“de-dupe”) allows IT organizations to replace aging tape systems with disk-based backup solutions and minimize the storage allocated to backup and data protection. The effectiveness of de-dupe technology is dependent on the data being protected. Data streams with little data repetitiveness provide disappointing results when processed through a block-level de-dupe engine. To avoid this problem, Assisted Mainframe De-Dupe (AMDD) technology can insure that filesystem block-level de-dupe products efficiently de-dupe tape backup streams received from IBM™and/or compatible mainframes. By pre-processing backup tape volumes before sending the data to storage, AMDD insures that large amounts of unchanged data lines up on de-dupe block boundaries each time the data is sent to the de-dupe process engine. By providing “well-behaved” data to the de-dupe process, AMDD can improve the effectiveness of de-dupe processing and substantially reduce the storage used to backup critical mainframe DASD resources. |
| US08291182B2 |
Methods, systems, and products for recording media
Methods, devices, and products are disclosed for recording media. An input is received via a user interface to record media. An entry is created in a recording schedule to record the media. The recording schedule is sent to a restoration server, such that the recording schedule is mirrored to the restoration server. |
| US08291180B2 |
Loose synchronization of virtual disks
Computer implemented methods, computer program products and computer systems synchronize copies of a virtual disk. A record of blocks that are modified during an access session of a copy of the virtual disk is maintained. For each partition of the virtual disk, a file system level indication of currently relevant blocks is obtained. Only those blocks that were modified during the access session and are currently relevant are copied to at least one additional copy of the virtual disk. |
| US08291177B2 |
Systems and methods for allocating control of storage media in a network environment
A method for dynamically allocating control of a storage device, the method comprising receiving an access request from a first computer requesting access to a storage device; directing, based upon the access request, a first storage controller computer to assume an inactive state with respect to control of the storage device; and directing, based upon the access request, a second storage controller computer to assume an active state with respect to control of the storage device. |
| US08291176B2 |
Protection domain groups to isolate access to memory windows
The disclosed embodiments may relate to protection domain group, which may include a memory region associated with a process. The protection domain group may also include a plurality of memory windows associated with the memory region. Also included may be a plurality of protection domains, each of which may correspond to a memory window. The protection domains may allow access to the memory region via a corresponding memory window. |
| US08291175B2 |
Processor-bus attached flash main-memory module
A method for processing a read request identifying an address. The method includes receiving, at a module including a flash memory and a memory buffer, the read request from a requesting processor, mapping, using a coherence directory controller within the module, the address to a cache line in a cache memory associated with a remote processor, and sending a coherency message from the module to the remote processor to change a state of the cache line in the cache memory. The method further includes receiving, at the module, the cache line from the remote processor, sending, using processor bus and in response to the read request, the cache line to the requesting processor, identifying a requested page stored within the flash memory based on the address, storing a copy of the requested page in the memory buffer, and writing the cache line to the copy of the requested page. |
| US08291174B2 |
Memory device and method having on-board address protection system for facilitating interface with multiple processors, and computer system using same
A memory device includes an address protection system that facilitates the ability of the memory device to interface with a plurality of processors operating in a parallel processing manner. The protection system is used to prevent at least some of a plurality of processors in a system from accessing addresses designated by one of the processors as a protected memory address. Until the processor releases the protection, only the designating processor can access the memory device at the protected address. If the memory device contains a cache memory, the protection system can alternatively or additionally be used to protect cache memory addresses. |
| US08291173B2 |
Apparatus and method for data bypass for a bi-directional data bus in a hub-based memory sub-system
A memory hub includes first and second link interfaces for coupling to respective data busses, a data path coupled to the first and second link interfaces and through which data is transferred between the first and second link interfaces, and further includes a write bypass circuit coupled to the data path to couple write data on the data path and temporarily store the write data to allow read data to be transferred through the data path while the write data is temporarily stored. A method for writing data to a memory location in a memory system is provided which includes accessing read data in the memory system, providing write data to the memory system, and coupling the write data to a register for temporary storage. The write data is recoupled to the memory bus and written to the memory location following provision of the read data. |
| US08291169B2 |
Cache line use history based done bit modification to D-cache replacement scheme
A method of providing history based done logic includes receiving a cache line in a L2 cache; determining if the cache line has a history of access at least three times on a previous call into the L2 cache; providing the cache line directly to a processor if the history of access was less then the at least three times; and loading the cache line into an L1 cache if the history of access was the at least three times. |
| US08291168B2 |
Disabling cache portions during low voltage operations
Methods and apparatus relating to disabling one or more cache portions during low voltage operations are described. In some embodiments, one or more extra bits may be used for a portion of a cache that indicate whether the portion of the cache is capable at operating at or below Vccmin levels. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US08291156B2 |
Memory system having hybrid density memory and methods for wear-leveling management and file distribution management thereof
The present invention discloses a memory system having a hybrid density memory. The memory system includes a plurality of storage spaces whereby the storage spaces have respective levels of endurance and each storage space has a plurality of blocks and pre-determined weighting factors corresponding to the levels of endurance of the storage spaces. After executing a command of erasing a specific block, the system records the erase in accordance with the weighting factor of the storage space to which the specific block belongs. Whereby, the erase counts of all the blocks of different storage spaces are able to reach respective levels of endurance as simultaneously as possible. |
| US08291154B2 |
Memory device accepting write data and inverted write data from a host circuit
The memory device electrically connectable to a host circuit includes a nonvolatile data memory section, a data reception section, a determination section, and a data transmission section. The data reception section receives, from the host circuit, data including first data to be written into a memory array, and second data generated from the first data. The determination section determines the consistency the first data and the second data. The data transmission section transmits the result of the determination to the host circuit. |
| US08291153B2 |
Transportable cache module for a host-based raid controller
In accordance with the present disclosure, a system and method for an information handling system having transportable cache module is disclosed herein. The information handling system has a memory controller coupled to a central processing unit and a plurality of memory modules. The transportable cache module has a protected memory module, a nonvolatile memory module, a module controller, and an independent power source. The module controller is operative to copy a protected memory region from the protected memory module to a nonvolatile memory region on the nonvolatile memory module. The independent power source is operative to supply power to the protected memory module, the nonvolatile memory module, and the module controller. |
| US08291152B2 |
Method for operating non-volatile memory and data storage system using the same
A method for operating a non-volatile memory is provided. The non-volatile memory includes a plurality of physical blocks having a plurality of data blocks and spare blocks. An index is obtained by comparing an average erase count of selected physical blocks with a first threshold. Each erase count for each physical block is the total number of the erase operations performed thereon. A performance capability status for the memory is determined according to the index. The performance capability status is set to a first status when the average erase count exceeds the first threshold. An indication is generated based on the performance capability status. A limp function is performed in response to the first status for configuring a minimum number of the at least some spare blocks reserved and used for data update operations. |
| US08291151B2 |
Enhanced host interface
A memory system that is compatible with hosts using different protocols includes protocol adapters for the different protocols. Protocol adapters allow a common backend system to be used for data that is provided in different formats. A protocol adapter generates responses to a host and generates commands for a backend as appropriate. |
| US08291150B2 |
Table device, variable length coding apparatus, variable length decoding apparatus, and variable length coding and decoding apparatus
A table device includes a match cell number output unit 25 for outputting a match cell number showing a cell PE which outputs a matching signal, and an address decoder 26 for specifying a node from among nodes in a search tree which construct a conversion table, the node corresponding to the match cell number. The table device acquires a data conversion value assigned to the above-mentioned node from a configuration memory 21, and, when the data conversion value is data showing a coded result or the like, outputs the data conversion value to outside the table device, whereas when the data conversion value is a branch code of the search tree, updates the cell PE to which a comparison instruction signal is furnished. |
| US08291143B1 |
Single line communication
A system and method for communication over a single communication line. The system includes an interface logic component for sending and receiving information for a processing component. The system further includes a single line interface module for sending and receiving data over a single communication line. The single line interface module uses a preamble for sending and recovering a clock signal for sending and receiving data over the single communication line. |
| US08291141B2 |
Mechanism to flexibly support multiple device numbers on point-to-point interconnect upstream ports
A method and apparatus for supporting multiple device numbers on point-to-point interconnect upstream ports. In one embodiment, the method includes a downstream component (DC) that performs discovery of internal device components of the DC during initialization of the DC. Subsequent to the discovery of internal devices of the DC, the DC may issue a multiple device number (MDN) request to an upstream component (UC) of the DC. In one embodiment, the MDN request may include an indication that the DC supports a “multiple device number capability,” as well as a quantity of the internal device components of the DC. The DC may receive an acknowledgement MDN from the UC to indicate a quantity of device numbers allocated to the DC. Subsequently, the DC may assign device numbers to the internal device components of the DC according to configuration requests received from the UC. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08291135B2 |
Guest/hypervisor interrupt coalescing for storage adapter virtual function in guest passthrough mode
A system and method are provided that involve a host computing machine and an SR IOV storage adapter in which the host machine hosts a virtual machine having a guest operating system (guest) coupled for direct passthrough IOV data path and also hosts a virtualization intermediary; a guest operating system (guest) and a virtualization intermediary exchange information concerning IO completions through a shared memory space; the guest writes information to a shared memory space that is indicative of whether an IO completion queue has reached a fill level since the most recently dispatched interrupt at which it is unsafe to coalesce an interrupt; the virtualization intermediary writes information to the shared memory space that is indicative of the interrupt most recently delivered to the guest; the virtualization intermediary reads the information written by the guest to the shared memory space that is indicative of whether an IO completion queue has reached a fill level since the most recently dispatched interrupt at which it is unsafe to coalesce an interrupt; the guest reads the information written to the shared memory space that is indicative of the interrupt most recently delivered to the guest; virtual interrupt coalescing determinations are made based upon the information shred through the shared memory space. |
| US08291128B2 |
Systems configured to identify an operating mode
Systems having a host computer system, a memory device coupled to the host computer system, and identification circuitry. The identification circuitry is configured to identify an operating mode of the host computer system from comparing applied signals to sensed signals. |
| US08291124B2 |
Semiconductor device and data processing system having a reduced number of terminals allocated for externally accessed address
There is provided a semiconductor device having a reduced number of external terminals allocated for address input to receive access from outside, while realizing a high-speed response to an access from outside.The semiconductor device employs, in order to allow other external devices to directly access resources it possesses in its own address space, in an external interface circuit, external terminals which input a part of the address signal required for access from outside, a supplementary register which supplements the upper portion of address information that has been input from the external terminals, a mode register accessible from outside, and an address control circuit which generates an address signal to access the address space in a form based on information input from the external terminals, required supplementary information, and mode information of the mode register. |
| US08291119B2 |
Method and systems for securing remote access to private networks
A method for securing remote access to private networks includes a receiver intercepting from a data link layer a packet in a first plurality of packets destined for a first system on a private network. A filter intercepts from the data link layer a packet in a second plurality of packets transmitted from a second system on the private network, destined for an system on a second network. A transmitter in communication with the receiver and the filter performing a network address translation on at least one intercepted packet and transmitting the at least one intercepted packet to a destination. |
| US08291116B2 |
Communications system
A method of performing a multimedia communication session over a communication link using Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and over a communication link using User Datagram Protocol (UDP), including the acts of: receiving a request, over the TCP link, to register from a client terminal located within a private network; a probe data packet to the client terminal, over the TCP link, requesting to send a data packet over the UDP link; and receiving a data packet from the client terminal that contains information relating to an address of the client terminal and a dynamic port over which the multimedia communication session is to be established. |
| US08291112B2 |
Selective a priori reactive routing
In one embodiment, a more capable device (MCD) in a computer network may determine one or more a critical destinations (CDs), and may transmit an unsolicited reactive routing route request (RREQ) message to each CD. The MCD may then receive a route reply (RREP) message from the CDs having a route from the MCD to the CD, and may store the route at the MCD. Subsequently, the MCD may transmit a RREP message of its own to one or more less capable devices (LCDs) to provide the route from each respective LCD to the CD via the MCD. |
| US08291107B1 |
Dynamic multimedia content change based on sector loading
Disclosed herein are methods and systems using a Media Channel Descriptor (MCD) file to manage media streams in a coverage area of a wireless access network. For example, an exemplary method involves (a) receiving a request for a media stream in the first format (that was specified by the MCD file), wherein the request is received from an access terminal that is operating in a coverage area of a wireless access network; (b) in response to the request, initiating a media stream in the first format, to the access terminal; (c) making a determination as to whether or not, with the media steam in the first format, traffic in the coverage area has reached a threshold level; and (d) in response to the determination that the traffic in the coverage area has reached the threshold level, modifying the MCD file to indicate a second format for new media streams. |
| US08291103B1 |
Method and system for streaming multimedia transmissions
A customer-premises equipment (CPE) gateway and methods for operation thereof, and a multimedia server and methods for operation thereof are disclosed. The method for the CPE gateway including: (a) receiving, by the CPE gateway, a first internet group management protocol (IGMP) compliant command; (b) generating by the CPE gateway, in response to the first IGMP compliant command, a unicast command that instructs a multimedia server to generate a unicast media stream; wherein the generating including concealing multicast information from at least one IGMP compliant entity that follows the CPE gateway; and (c) transmitting, by the CPE gateway, the unicast command to the at least one IGMP compliant entity; wherein the unicast command passes through the at least one IGMP compliant entity and reaches the multimedia server. |
| US08291102B2 |
Method and apparatus for improved multicast streaming in wireless networks
The invention includes a method and apparatus for providing multimedia content. The method includes receiving, at a network element having a first buffer, a data stream conveying a media clip having an associated media bit rate, the media clip intended for transmission toward a wireless terminal having a second buffer, and transmitting the data stream toward the wireless terminal at a media transmission rate determined according to a data rate supported by a radio access network over which the data stream is transmitted toward the wireless terminal. The buffers bridge a mismatch between the media bit rate and media transmission rate. The wireless terminal may select one of a plurality of presentation modes, where the selected presentation mode controls streaming of the media clip to the wireless terminal and presentation of the media clip at the wireless terminal. |
| US08291100B2 |
Service managing apparatus and method, and service providing system and method
A service providing system is provided which enables the users of an information transmission service in which information is sent and received in real time over a network to recognize their respective environment and conditions for provision of their own information. The service providing system (1) includes a service provider (2) including a communication server (11), a Web server (12) and a DB server (13) and a plurality of communication terminals (4) connected to the service provider (2) via the network, and it provides an information transmission service in which information is provided from one of communication devices to the other, or vice versa, in real time. The communication terminal (4) at the information provider first registers explanatory information, such as content, offering price, etc. of offered information to be provided into the DB server (13), and updates the information registered in the DB server (13) to a log-in status when the information provider has become able to provide the information in real time; and the Web server (12) updates the Web page at each time so that the explanatory information having thus been in the log-in status will be included in choices. |
| US08291099B2 |
Protocol conversion using facilities and utilities
A method includes receiving first data in accordance with a first protocol from a first node using a first facility. The method further includes setting a semaphore in a semaphore field of a first entry in a process table. The method further includes translating the first data into second data using a first utility. The method further includes setting a second semaphore in a second semaphore field of a second entry in the process table. The method further includes sending the second data from a second facility to a second node in accordance with a second protocol. |
| US08291093B2 |
Peer-to-peer remediation
A network in which peer-to-peer remediation is provided to keep clients in the network up-to-date. As network clients establish peer-to-peer connections, they exchange status information. The status information allows the clients to mutually identify whether one client is more out-of-date than another. The more up-to-date client provides update information to the more out-of-date client. To preserve the integrity of the update process, updates are provided as signed binary files and are only applied by the client receiving the update if the binary file may be authenticated by the recipient. |
| US08291092B2 |
Managing IPMI sessions
Technologies are described herein for managing Intelligent Platform Management Interface (“IPMI”) sessions between an application module and a target IPMI device. A session abstraction layer module receives an IPMI request from the application module over a first communication link. The session abstraction layer module establishes an IPMI session with the target IPMI device over a second communication link and forwards the IPMI request to the target IPMI device via the established IPMI session. The session abstraction layer module then receives a response to the IPMI request from the target IPMI device via the established IPMI session, and forwards the response to the application module over the first communication link. |
| US08291091B2 |
Method and apparatus for sharing data in near field communication network
A method for managing data between a plurality of electronic devices in a Near Field Communication (NFC) network in which a first electronic device initially establishes a communication link with at least one of the plurality of electronic devices. The desktop configuration information is then exchanged with at least another electronic device. Thereafter, desktop data of the first electronic device can be shared with the at least one of the plurality of electronic devices. |
| US08291085B2 |
Value information transfer system and value information transfer method
A value information transfer system transfers value information held by a transfer source communication device, which is connected via a network to a transfer management server, to a transfer destination communication device. The transfer source communication device includes a transfer request acceptor for accepting a transfer request for transfer of the value information held by the transfer source communication device to the transfer destination communication device, a transfer request information transmitter for transmitting the request as transfer request information to the transfer management server, and a command executor for executing a command generated by the transfer management server. The transfer management server includes a command generator for generating at least one command and a command transmitter. The transfer destination communication device includes a command receiver for receiving the command using wireless communication and a value information increasing unit for increasing the value information held by the transfer destination communication device. |
| US08291081B2 |
Meta-data based method for local cache utilization
A system and method for caching data and verifying cached data using a client-server model and meta-data. In particular, a client proxy and a server proxy are in communication with each other and with the client and the server, respectively; client proxy meta-data and server proxy meta-data related to the data cached by the client proxy and server proxy, respectively, are calculated and communicated between the client proxy and the server proxy; and the client proxy meta-data and the server proxy meta-data are compared to determine a cache hit or miss. |
| US08291079B1 |
System and method for developing, deploying, managing and monitoring a web application in a single environment
A system and method for developing, deploying, managing and monitoring a web application in a single environment is disclosed herein. The single environment is preferably an integrated development environment (“IDE”). The system and method preferably allows for deployment to a cloud provider, and preferably allows for use of Web resources from multiple cloud providers. One preferred IDE is the APTANA® STUDIO IDE. |
| US08291078B2 |
Multi-process browser architecture
Systems and methods for multi-process browser architecture are described herein. In an embodiment, a system for providing multi-process browser architecture includes at least one rendering process for each browser instance that renders a content area; and at least one browser process that communicates with one or a plurality of rendering engine processes. In another embodiment, a method for providing a multi-process browser architecture includes instantiating a unique rendering process for each content area instance and instantiating a unique browser process. In this way browsers may avoid the effects of faulty processes affecting other browser processes. This may improve user efficiency while enhancing user experience. |
| US08291075B1 |
Detecting events of interest
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for detecting events of interest. In one aspect, a method includes generating a network traffic model that includes forecasted time series data representative of a frequency of actions related to a network traffic entity, and identifying that an event of interest has occurred based on a comparison of actual time series data related to the network traffic entity with the forecasted time series data. |
| US08291074B2 |
Network type content reproducing system
A network AV system comprises a controller, a client connectable to the controller via a network, and an AV equipment connectable to the client. The controller includes a first transmitting unit transmitting a command for controlling a controlled element of the AV equipment to the client. The client includes a first receiving unit receiving the command from the controller, and a second transmitting unit transmitting the command to the AV equipment. The AV equipment includes the controlled element, a second receiving unit receiving the command from the client, and a controlling unit controlling the controlled element according to the received command. |
| US08291070B2 |
Determining an operating status of a remote host upon communication failure
Methods for monitoring operating statuses of hosts are described herein. Operating statuses for one or more hosts are monitored by a management server over a network using a network management protocol. In response to a failure to obtain an operating status of a first host over the network using the network management protocol, the management server instructs a second host to access a predetermined storage location to obtain the operating status of the first host. The predetermined storage location is specifically allocated for the first host from a storage space shared by all the hosts. Thereafter, the management server is configured to determine an operating condition of the first host based on the operating status obtained via the second host. |
| US08291069B1 |
Systems, devices, and/or methods for managing sample selection bias
A method for managing sample selection bias is disclosed. Embodiments of the method can include automatically determining an unbiased estimate of a distribution from occurrence data via a special purpose processor. The occurrence data that is utilized in determining the estimate may have an occurrence data sample selection bias that is substantially equivalent to a background data sample selection bias associated with background data. Additionally, the occurrence data may be related to the background data, and the background data may be chosen with the background data sample selection bias. Furthermore, the occurrence data may represent a physically-measurable variable associated with one or more physical and tangible objects or substances. |
| US08291064B2 |
Method, system and program product for optimizing event monitoring filter settings and metric threshold
Under the present invention indications of an event are monitored based upon a comparison of a computer system metric to a corresponding metric threshold over time. It is then determined whether a predetermined probability is reached that the indications will persist at least as long as a minimum detection and repair time for the event. Determining whether the predetermined probability is reached is typically accomplished based upon the monitoring of the indications over time and historical data for past instances of the event. The present invention will then optimize the filter setting for the event to minimize false positives and optimize the metric threshold so that indications are more accurately monitored. |
| US08291063B2 |
Method and apparatus for communicating between an agent and a remote management module in a processing system
A processing system includes control circuitry to control the processing system, a remote management module to enable remote management of the processing system via a network, and an agent to operate as an intermediary between the remote management module and the control circuitry. The agent and the remote management module are configured to cooperatively implement an abstraction layer through which the agent and the remote management module communicate. |
| US08291060B2 |
Providing information corresponding to a data group identifier for a network interconnect device
A network interconnect device (NID) includes an interface to receive a configuration data request for the NID. The configuration data request may include data identifiers determined from a data identifier group for the NID, wherein the data identifier group comprises a reference to a parent data identifier group from which the data identifier group inherits data type information, and a data specification which overrides a corresponding data specification in the parent data identifier group. The NID also includes a data storage to store information for the NID and a logic device to retrieve information from the data storage corresponding to the data identifiers and to transmit a message including the retrieved information corresponding to the data identifiers. |
| US08291058B2 |
High speed network data extractor
The present invention describes a system and method of extracting and storing data elements from network packets, thus performing the task of data mining. In one embodiment of the present invention incoming packets are decomposed one protocol layer at a time to extract data elements contained in the protocol headers. Layer-specific parsers perform deep packet inspection in order to extract data elements from upper-level protocols. Extracted data is arranged in rows, which are subsequently stored into a memory-based accumulator. After some length of time the accumulator is flushed to disk files. Another process reads the flushed disk files row-by-row, inserting each row into a relational database. Standard SQL operations are performed on the relational database in order to generate and display reports of the collected data. |
| US08291057B2 |
Data transferring method and content transferring method
In a method of transferring data in a data interoperable environment, a secure authenticated channel is established with a receiving entity corresponding to receiver information included in a received control message, when the control message is received from a control entity, a plurality of data designated by the control entity are transmitted to the receiving entity through the established secure authenticated channel, and an event message for representing a transmission status of the transmitted data is transmitted to the control entity. Accordingly, it is possible to transmit the plurality of data through a single transmission session and provide a transmission status of each data through an event. |
| US08291056B2 |
Method and apparatus for performance and policy analysis in distributed computing systems
One embodiment of the present method and apparatus for performance and policy analysis in distributed computing systems includes representing a distributed computing system as a state transition model. A queuing network is then superimposed upon the state transition model, and the effects of one or more policies on the distributed computing system performance are identified in accordance with a solution to the queuing network. |
| US08291053B2 |
Method and apparatus for management and transmission of classified conditional access application to provide downloadable conditional access system service
A method and apparatus for management and transmission of a classified conditional access application to provide Downloadable Conditional Access System (DCAS) service according to disclosed embodiments is an effective managing method according to a type of a conditional access module in a software version in the DCAS. In particular, it relates to a method and apparatus which can continuously provide Pay per View (PPV) service during movement in a DCAS service operator (SO) network, such as maintaining independence of CAS SO in DCAS, provide adaptability to adapt to a variety of policies of the SO, and install an optimum application in a terminal. |
| US08291052B2 |
Method, apparatus, and computer program product for determining a path update via distributed information management
An apparatus for distributed information management may include a processor. The processor may be configured to select one or more network domain features and one or more information domain features. In this regard, the network domain features may be based on the connectivity of a network, and the information domain features may be based on meta-data associated with information stored within the network. The processor may also be configured to determine a network domain covariance based on the one or more network domain features and determine an information domain covariance based on the one or more information domain features. Further, the processor may be configured to combine the network domain covariance and the information domain covariance to determine a path update. Associated methods and computer program products may also be provided. |
| US08291048B2 |
Multilingual domain name registration
A method, system, and computer-readable medium are described for registering and using multilingual domain names that include characters outside the ASCII character subset supported by the DNS system. Such multilingual domain names can in some situations be registered by first being converted into appropriate ASCII-Compatible Encodings (ACEs) that represent the corresponding multilingual domain names and that use only characters within the ASCII character subset. In addition, a variety of binary variants may be generated at registration for each multilingual domain name and then used as equivalents for the multilingual domain name, such as by storing the variants in the registry as alternative domain names or by otherwise reserving the binary variants. When requests to resolve such a registered multilingual domain name into a corresponding IP address or URL are received, the stored binary variants and/or ACE information can then be used to respond in an appropriate manner. |
| US08291047B2 |
Screen scraping interface
An interface can serve as a client-mainframe interface, enabling clients to develop applications without a need to understand mainframe processes and screen flows. Extended Tool Command Language (Tcl) can define services that can include a series of interactions with a mainframe system and service definitions can be added or updated on the interface during operation of the interface without disrupting processing. The service definitions can enable the interface to receive XML requests from a client, parse the XML requests, execute the service scripts to interact with the mainframe systems, generate the result in a XML format and send the XML file back to the client. Fundamental Mainframe Interactions (FMI) commands can interact with the mainframe systems and enable the specification of the XML structure of the request and response. The interface can provide efficient connection pooling management and connection life cycle control to improve the performance of the mainframe system interactions. |
| US08291046B2 |
Shared content delivery infrastructure with rendezvous based on load balancing and network conditions
A method of processing requests for resources in a system in which a plurality of content providers provide multiple resources. Content providers offload the serving of some of their resources to a shared content delivery network (CDN) formed by a plurality of servers. The CDN is shared among the content providers. Some of a content provider's content may be served from an origin server associated with that content provider, while requests for other content from that content provider are served from the shared CDN. Requests for content are directed to servers in the CDN based on load conditions on the CDN servers and network conditions. |
| US08291044B2 |
Brokering network resources
A method of brokering a network resource. The method includes providing a service broker processor and a service broker registry. Upon receiving a request at the service broker processor to register a network resource to provide a network service, the service broker processor authenticates the request and authorizes registration in the service broker registry. A network client is updated with the availability of the registered network resource so that on receiving a third party request for the network service, the network client requests allocation of the registered network resource. A bearer path is set up between the third party and the network resource to provide the requested network service. |
| US08291041B1 |
Systems and methods for disseminating content to remote devices
Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems and methods for disseminating content to remote devices. According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method is provided that can include receiving, at a computer system, registration information for one or more remote devices; registering the one or more remote devices; selecting content to associate with a selected subset of the one or more registered remote devices for presentation; generating a message comprising a primary uniform resource identifier (URI) corresponding to a source for the content; selecting at least one of the one or more registered remote devices for presenting the content; and sending the generated message to the at least one selected registered remote device, wherein the at least one selected registered remote device is configured to automatically retrieve and present the retrieved content from the source identified by the primary URI in the message. |
| US08291039B2 |
Establishing a virtual tunnel between two computer programs
A system transfers data via a communication session between a client application and a server application, where the client application runs on a first network and the server application runs on a second network. The system includes a proxy having a socket to the client application. The proxy converts data between a local protocol run on the first network to a non-local protocol. An agent creates a socket to the server application. The agent converts data between a local protocol run on the second network and the non-local protocol. A server is in communication with the proxy and the agent. The server contains a message queue dedicated to the communication session. The message queue stores data transmitted during the communication session. |
| US08291037B2 |
Networked local media cache engine
A local media cache engine stores content locally for a particular local device. The content is downloaded or copied from other source devices within a network of devices, when the particular local device is coupled to the network. The content is then available to the local device even when that device is not coupled to the network or when the source device is not coupled to the network. Further, even when the source device of the content is coupled to the network, the local cache provides an easier and faster source of desired content for the local device. The content from the local cache is available to be loaded on a portable device through a synchronization operation. The local media cache engine also has the capability to automatically search for content from the source devices within the network and download the content to the local cache, based on user defined preferences and criteria. |
| US08291031B1 |
Sender control of expiry of an electronic message
A system and machine-implemented method for deleting an electronic correspondence stored on a server is provided. A command for sending an electronic correspondence from a sender to a recipient is received. The electronic correspondence is provided for delivery to the recipient based on an electronic correspondence address for the recipient included in the electronic correspondence. A sender specified time value associated with the electronic correspondence is received from the sender of the electronic correspondence. The electronic correspondence is deleted from the server on which the electronic correspondence is stored when the received time value has elapsed. |
| US08291024B1 |
Statistical spamming behavior analysis on mail clusters
A clustering technique is utilized to group similar e-mail messages into clusters. Statistical spamming behavior analysis is then applied to each cluster, focusing on finding e-mail messages within each cluster that differ from other e-mail messages in the cluster. The degree of variance and the type of variance can provide important clues as to whether the email is spam or not. Appropriate measures are then taken to block, filter, or otherwise handle the suspected spam e-mail messages. |
| US08291020B2 |
Wireless email communications system providing subscriber account update features and related methods
A wireless communications system may include a plurality of mobile wireless communications devices each having a subscriber account associated therewith including a respective personal identification number (PIN) and a unique identification (ID). The system may further include at least one electronic mail (email) server comprising a database of subscriber accounts and for sending emails to and receiving emails from the mobile wireless communications devices based upon the PINs and unique IDs. The at least one email server may compare a given PIN and unique ID, based upon a communication from a given mobile wireless device, with a corresponding PIN and unique ID for the corresponding subscriber account in the database, and update the corresponding subscriber account based upon a discrepancy. |
| US08291017B1 |
Generating communities using a mediating server and the semantic web
A system and method are provided for creating communities based on a semantic understanding of content requested by a number of user devices. More specifically, a mediating server operates to interconnect a number of user devices to destination servers. In operation, the mediating server routes requests from the user devices to the appropriate destination servers. The mediating server examines the responses from the destination servers to gain a semantic understanding of the content requested by the user devices. Thereafter, the mediating server establishes communities for the user devices based on the semantic understanding of the content requested by the user devices. For example, the mediating server may invite users of the user devices that have requested semantically similar content to join a chat session around a common topic. |
| US08291016B1 |
System and method of social commerce analytics for social networking data and related transactional data
A computer-implemented system and method is provided herein for social commerce analytics and optimization. A hosted platform collects and stores online visitor traffic data from social media platforms and from commercial platforms linked to social media campaigns operating on the social media platforms. Algorithms are executed to establish baseline performance parameters for the commercial platforms based on the stored data, and visitors of the social media campaigns and commercial platforms are identified and scored based on predetermined scoring metrics. The scores are aggregated with respect to the social media campaigns and/or the commercial platforms, and actual performances based on the aggregated scores are compared with the established baseline performance parameters. An interface may be generated for a client user associated with the commercial platform to represent one or more of the performance comparisons, and optionally provide alerts to underperformance or suggest future actions based on predicted performance. |
| US08291015B2 |
System and method for modeling video network reliability
A program product for modeling video network reliability includes a computer-usable medium that encodes computer instructions. The computer instructions cause a data processing system to perform modeling operations. Those operations include obtaining historical data for multiple video conferences, and executing a modeling algorithm that produces a model representing the historical data. The model can be analyzed to identify opportunities for improving reliability of a video network. In an example embodiment, the computer instructions output results that a user can use reconfigure the video network for improved reliability. In another embodiment, the computer instructions analyze the model to identify opportunities for improving reliability of the video network, and the computer instructions automatically reconfigure the video network, based on the identified opportunities. The modeling algorithm may be a decision tree algorithm, such as the ID3-based algorithm known as C4.5. |
| US08291010B2 |
Virtual connection of a remote unit to a server
Apparatus and associated methods are provided which allow a remote user to maintain a virtual session with a server. A virtual session allows a remote and possibly mobile user to maintain a virtual presence in an office environment without actually being present. Using the present invention, a remote user can access a central application program such as an Internet service provider, a database system, an inventory system or billing system. Likewise, the remote user can receive calls and other forms of communications as though he or she were present in an office environment. A virtual session does not require a physical connection to be continuously present in order to provide a virtual connectivity. This is especially important for mobile applications where the remote user may incur long distance and/or wireless toll charges. Also, methods are presented to allow a remote unit to rapidly reconnect in a transparent and seamless way without burdening the user with the need to connect and reconnect or to upload and download information. Related methods are provided to allow the virtual session to be established, operated and maintained. |
| US08291006B2 |
Method for generating a distributed stream processing application
Techniques for generating a distributed stream processing application are provided. The techniques include obtaining a declarative description of one or more data stream processing tasks, wherein the declarative description expresses at least one stream processing task, and generating one or more execution units from the declarative description of one or more data stream processing tasks, wherein the one or more execution units are deployable across one or more distributed computing nodes, and comprise a distributed data stream processing application. |
| US08291002B2 |
Barrel shifter
A data processing apparatus includes a register file having a set of registers for storing data values for processing by processing circuitry. The apparatus has first shift circuitry arranged to receive a data value from the register and selection circuitry is responsive to a second control signal to select between the first shifted data value and a load data value received from a memory. Second shift circuitry is arranged to receive the data value selected by the selection circuitry and is responsive to a third control signal indicating a second shift amount S2 of a x (n+1) bit positions to generate a second shifted data value by shifting bit values within the received selected data value by the second shift amount S2, where a is zero or an integer. The second shift circuitry is then operable to output the second shifted data value to the register file. |
| US08290996B2 |
Data sharing for file clones using reverse ditto references
A method, system, and computer program product for creating and implementing file clones using reverse ditto references. A clone inode is created as a copy of an original inode. The clone inode and the original inode are indistinguishable to an end user. Each additional file clone created spawns a clone inode. An immutable clone-parent inode is created that contains the disk block addresses, while writable clones inode instead contain dittos linking the clone inode to data blocks referenced in the clone-parent inode. Data block address links in the original inode are moved to the new clone-parent inode and dittos replace the original data block address links in the original inode. When a clone file is updated, the new data is written to a new disk location and a corresponding ditto in the clone inode is replaced with a data block link address, keeping the data of the clone-parent inode intact. |
| US08290994B2 |
Obtaining file system view in block-level data storage systems
A computer implemented method is disclosed for obtaining file-level information from block level information of files stored on a storage medium. The method includes accessing the storage medium to obtain metadata available in block level on the storage medium and building an inverse block-to-file map of the files stored on the storage medium. The method also includes listening online to incoming block-level commands communicated from a host to the storage medium, parsing the incoming block-level commands, inferring file-level information from the parsed block level commands; and updating the inverse file-level map. Also disclosed are corresponding computer program product and processing system. |
| US08290990B2 |
System and method for managing and exchanging data of a technical project, technical installation and individual installation components
Systems and methods are disclosed for managing and exchanging data relating to an automation project. The automation project has a data-processing system with a conversion device that converts data from at least one proprietary data format into a standardized data format, and vice versa. The conversion device uses at least one data assignment to assign at least one first piece of information, given in the standardized data format, to a second piece of information, given in the proprietary format, and/or vice versa. In addition, the conversion device is configured to locate at least one first piece of information, given in the proprietary data format, the corresponding data assignment assigned to it from among the data assignments that are present, and based on the located data assignment, transform the proprietary first piece of information into a standardized second piece of information specified in the data assignment, or vice versa. |
| US08290989B2 |
Data model optimization
A name of one or more entity classes of the data model may be refined to conform to a naming convention. A semantic meaning of each of the names and one or more attributes of each entity class may be determined. It may be determined that the name of a first entity class is semantically similar to the name of a second entity class based on a semantic distance between the semantic meaning of the names, where a substantial similarity may be determined between the first entity class and the second entity class by comparing the semantic meaning of the one or more attributes of the first entity class to the semantic meaning of the one or more attributes of the second entity class. The data model may be normalized based on the substantial similarity. |
| US08290984B2 |
Configuration deployment management
Applications, code modules, and other such software objects are able to be deployed and/or ported even when the corresponding configuration data is spread between a relational database management system (RDBMS) database and a meta data services (MDS) database, even where the configuration data is spread across any disparate databases. Configuration data also can be stored in a custom repository, such as a custom extensible markup language (XML) file. One approach involves detecting foreign keys, creating logical references to replace the foreign keys, and resolving the foreign keys to new references in the deployed environment by using the logical references. Code can be stored in the databases in order to help resolve the foreign keys. |
| US08290983B2 |
System and method for searching for documents
A computer system is disclosed. The computer system includes one or more processors, and a memory storage storing one or more instructions for implementing a search tool. The instructions, when executed, instruct the computer system to perform a set of steps. The steps include receiving a search query from a user computer, the search query including one or more search terms to use to perform a first search. The steps further include, based on the one or more search terms, performing the first search, and providing for display at the user computer a list of one or more law-related documents responsive to the search query, a list of one or more recommended sources in which to perform a second search for documents, and a list of legal topics associated with the responsive documents. |
| US08290981B2 |
Social network system and member searching and analyzing method in social network
A social network searching system includes a user profile storage, a profile search engine and a linkage construction engine. The user profile storage stores user profiles. The profile search engine obtains a target member by searching the user profile storage based on a profile query from a query user. The linkage construction engine constructs a relationship linkage and extracting an optimal path from at least two paths from the query user to the target member according to a relationship linkage. A member searching and analyzing method of social network is also disclosed. |
| US08290976B2 |
Systems and methods for executing a navigation query
Systems and methods consistent with the invention may include receiving a navigation query including input text, determining, via a processor, whether the input text is satisfies a predetermined criteria, generating a response including data representing a screen associated with the input text when the input text satisfies the predetermined criteria, selecting a language preference when the input text fails to satisfy the predetermined criteria, performing a fuzzy search based on the input text, the language preference, and usage history, and generating a response to the navigation query based on a result of the fuzzy search. |
| US08290973B2 |
Determining influencers
The present disclosure relates generally to determining influencers in a Web 2.0 environment. More specifically, in some implementations, an influence of an electronically-accessed content on an involvement between an accessor and a third party is determined. In further implementations, a provider of the electronically accessed content is rewarded based on the assessed influence. |
| US08290969B2 |
Systems and methods for validating interpolation results using monte carlo simulations on interpolated data inputs
Embodiments relate to systems and methods for validating interpolation results using Monte Carlo simulations on interpolated data inputs. A database can store sets of operational data, such as financial, medical, climate or other information. For given data, a portion of the input data can be known or predetermined, while for a second portion can be unknown and subject to interpolation. The interpolation engine can generate a conformal interpolation function and interpolated input sets that map to a set of target output data. In aspects, in order to test the interpolated input data, the operator can initiate a Monte Carlo or other variational analysis using access a validation dialog. The Monte Carlo process can apply randomized perturbations to the values of the interpolated input variables, and track the results of that perturbation on the other interpolated inputs. A set of validation rules can be applied to those randomized results, to determine whether the remaining interpolated variables remain in conformance with expected ranges or values or demonstrate anomalous responses. |
| US08290966B2 |
System and method for implementing a non-destructive tree filter
A system and method are described for filtering certain rows of a table while at the same time maintaining rows illustrating the ancestry of the filtered rows. For example, a computer-implemented method according to one embodiment of the invention comprises: receiving user-specified filtering criteria from a client comprising a value or range of values for filtering the rows of a table; filtering the table rows as indicated by the user-specified filtering criteria to generate a set of filtered rows; and generating a table containing the filtered rows and other rows which are ancestor rows to the filtered rows, notwithstanding the fact that one or more of the ancestor rows are not part of the set of filtered rows based on the user-specified filtering criteria, and excluding all other rows from the table. |
| US08290965B2 |
Apparatus and method for the automatic discovery of control events from the publication of documents
A method and system for discovering a control event from electronically published documents and received data streams is provided, in which a computer control program identifies electronically published documents and data stored in a plurality of network servers which potentially contain control events relevant to the control of goods and/or services, the control events identified by reference to user interest identifiers. Identified material is analyzed by a classification program to determine whether control events are present. A control event classification is assigned to documents and received data determined to contain at least one discovered control event, the assigned control event classification and information identifying the associated document and data is stored in a classification database, and a report of discovery of documents and data containing control events is to be provided to a user. The report may include a link to the control event classification and/or its associated document or data. |
| US08290964B1 |
Method and apparatus for obtaining recommendations from trusted sources
One embodiment of the present invention comprises a system that provides recommendations to a user. During operation, the system performs a computer-based lookup operation to identify trusted entities that the user trusts (or is likely to trust) to make recommendations. Next, the system performs another computer-based lookup operation to obtain recommendations associated with the identified trusted entities. The system then uses the obtained recommendations to provide recommendations to the user. In a variation on this embodiment, the system additionally receives information indicating that the user trusts recommendations associated with an entity. The system then stores a corresponding record for the trust relationship between the user and the trusted entity in a computer-based lookup structure to facilitate subsequently identifying trusted entities that the user trusts to make recommendations. |
| US08290956B2 |
Methods and systems for searching and associating information resources such as web pages
A method manages information resources in a computer system. The method includes receiving user information from an input device. The user information is representative of a declaration that a second resource accessible by the system should be associated with a first resource. The method further includes storing in association with the second resource an identifier of the first resource. The method identifies other resources that are relevant with respect to the second resource using a relevance scoring process. The method further determines whether the second resource with respect to other relevant resources has a first identifier associated herewith when one of the other resources is to be accessed by the system for display, and if it does, displays signaling information distinct from the display of the other resource itself signaling of the existence of the first resource. |
| US08290955B2 |
Classification of data in a hierarchical data structure
Embodiments of the invention are generally related to data security, and more specifically to data classification. The nodes of a hierarchical data structure may be displayed in a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI may be configured to receive selection of a data classification type. Upon receiving a selection of a data classification type, a probability of a node containing data objects that may be classified as the selected data classification type may be displayed adjacent to the node, thereby allowing efficient location and classification of the data objects. |
| US08290953B2 |
Resource name reconciliation in a configuration database
A Configuration Management DataBase (CMDB) is utilized to reconcile names of enterprise computer resources in a Configuration Management Database (CMDB). Steps taken include creating a resource that belongs to a class that has multiple naming rules; in response to determining that more than one set of naming attributes is provided by the multiple naming rules, generating a set of valid names, in a priority order, for the resource; and correlating different names for the resource by, in accordance with the priority order, assigning one name for the resource to be a master name and assigning all other names for the resource to be alias names. |
| US08290949B2 |
Resource name reconciliation in a configuration database
A Configuration Management DataBase (CMDB) is utilized to reconcile names of enterprise computer resources in a Configuration Management Database (CMDB). Steps taken include creating a resource that belongs to a class that has multiple naming rules; in response to determining that more than one set of naming attributes is provided by the multiple naming rules, generating a set of valid names, in a priority order, for the resource; and correlating different names for the resource by, in accordance with the priority order, assigning one name for the resource to be a master name and assigning all other names for the resource to be alias names. |
| US08290940B2 |
System and method for presentation of local and remote message search results
There is disclosed a system and method for presenting message search results at a wireless handheld device. In an embodiment, the method comprises conducting a search of local messages stored in the wireless handheld device using at least one search term to obtain a local search result; retrieving a search of remote messages stored in a message server using the at least one search term to obtain a remote search result; comparing the local and remote search results to identify any duplicate messages; and if the size of the local message is greater than or equal to the size of the remote message, then selecting the local message for presentation; else selecting the remote message for presentation. |
| US08290939B2 |
Visualizing query results in stream processing systems
In a method for visualizing query results in stream processing systems, a visualization service receives a query from a client to visualize data in a stream processing application. The query is sent from the visualization service to a query-able operator of the stream processing application. At the query-able operator, an operation is performed using history data in the query-able operator to produce a first result that satisfies the query and the first result is sent to the visualization service. At the query-able operator, another operation is performed using new data received by the query-able operator to produce a second result that satisfies the query and the second result is sent to the visualization service. The first and second results are output from the visualization service to the client. |
| US08290937B2 |
Estimating and monitoring query processing time
Techniques are described for managing query execution by estimating and monitoring query execution time. Embodiments of the invention may generally receive a query to be executed and calculate an initial estimated execution time for the received query. If the initial estimated execution time does not exceed a threshold amount of time, embodiments of the invention may submit the query for execution. Once execution of the query has begun, embodiments of the invention may calculate an updated estimated execution time for the executing query, and if the updated estimated execution time exceeds the threshold amount of time, may halt the execution of the query. |
| US08290930B2 |
Query result generation based on query category and data source category
A method includes receiving a query that identifies an input data source. A query category for a query operator in the received query is identified. A data source category for the input data source is also identified. A results object is generated based on the identified query category and the identified data source category. The results object supports at least one of random access and sequential access to results produced by the query operator. |
| US08290928B1 |
Generating sitemap where last modified time is not available to a network crawler
Methods, systems and apparatus, including computer program products, for generating a sitemap where a last modified time of website content is not available to a network crawler. A sitemap generator determines that a file has a previously stored version number, compares a current version number of the file to the previously stored version number of the file, generates a sitemap having an entry corresponding to the file if the current version number of the file is changed from the previously stored version number, and assigns a new last modified time to a last modified time value for the entry wherein an actual last modified time of the file is not available. A search engine receives the sitemap, determines that the entry was previously indexed at a time before the last modified time value, and accesses file information associated with the file to update an index with the file information. |
| US08290925B1 |
Locating product references in content pages
Disclosed are various embodiments for locating product references in community content. Character sequences (n-grams) are extracted from a page of text content. Each n-gram is evaluated as a potential product reference using a product catalog search for the n-gram or a conditional probability for the n-gram. The conditional probability is obtained from behavior-based search data. When the search was used for the evaluation, each n-gram is found to be a potential product based on results from the product catalog search. When the behavior-based search data was used for the evaluation; each n-gram is found to be a potential product based on the conditional probability exceeding a threshold. |
| US08290924B2 |
Providing answer to keyword based query from natural owner of information
A type of search engine (referred to as the “Get Engine”) receives one or more keywords, semantically formulates a question being asked from the keywords, generates specifications for the query, and searches a website index to determine websites that are likely owners of the answer to the question based on the query specifications and website classifications. The Get Engine determines a website that is most likely the owner of the answer based on credibility, searches the pages of the website using the keywords and additional keywords related to the query, retrieves the answer from the pages of the website, and receives feedback used in part to determine the credibility of the website. |
| US08290923B2 |
Performing large scale structured search allowing partial schema changes without system downtime
A method and apparatus is provided for hosting within a search engine, large-scale heterogeneous repositories of searchable and navigable content. Customers of the hosting platform are customers wanting to outsource the management of their searchable content. Content domain experts from each customer independently define a taxonomy of categories and attributes for their structured content that form a hierarchical set of nodes (a directed graph) that are mapped to a common physical search engine infrastructure. The mapping algorithm that maps unique attributes across potentially very different subject domains onto the same physical infrastructure is introduced. Once the physical structure is created, the search engine can use it for searching or navigating just within one customer's domain or users can search across multiple customer domains. When a customer makes changes to the logical structure, each individual change is categorized as compatible and incompatible, and executed in different time frames based on the amount of disruption it will require to the operational system. |
| US08290921B2 |
Identification of similar queries based on overall and partial similarity of time series
Techniques for identifying similar queries based on their overall similarity and partial similarity of time series of frequencies of the queries are provided. To identify queries that are similar to a target query, the query analysis system generates, for each query, an overall similarity score for that query and the target query based on the time series of the query and the target query. The query analysis system also generates, for each query, partial similarity scores for the query and the target query based on various time sub-series of the overall time series of the queries. The query analysis system then identifies queries as being similar to the target query based on the overall similarity scores and the partial similarity scores of the queries. |
| US08290920B2 |
System and method for remote updates
In one embodiment, accessing, using a computing device, a batch file comprising a plurality of events generated by a remote game client application executing an instance of a computer-implemented game; accessing, in response to the batch file, a game state data object associated with the instance of the computer-implemented game, wherein the game state data object includes one or more game state parameters formatted as serialized unstructured data; parsing the game state data object to identify the one or more game state parameters; processing the plurality of events in the batch file against game logic to update one or more of the game state parameters; re-serializing the one or more game state parameters into an updated game state data object; and storing the game state data object in a memory cache. |
| US08290916B2 |
Rule-based record profiles to automate record declaration of electronic documents
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for automatic record declaration is provided. The method includes providing a plurality of record profiles including information that uniquely defines how a new record is to be declared. A plurality of mapping definitions are provided including a set of rules to select a particular record profile, each mapping definition being associated with only one document class. A new document is received and the set of rules applied to the new document until a matching record profile is found. The matching record profile is used to declare a new record for the new document. |
| US08290913B2 |
Techniques for multi-variable analysis at an aggregate level
Techniques for multi-variable analysis at an aggregate level are provided. Two or more datasets having different statistical data distributions and which are not capable of being aggregated are acquired. The values for variables in the two or more datasets are normalized to produce a single integrated dataset of normalized values. The normalized values are then used to produce a demand model that represents and integrates multiple disparate products or services from the two or more datasets into a single demand model. |
| US08290911B1 |
System and method for implementing data deduplication-aware copying of data
A system and method for implementing data deduplication-aware copying of data are provided. In response to a request to copy a source file between a source filesystem and a destination filesystem, file mapping information corresponding to the source file is retrieved. The file mapping information is stored in a source filesystem map. The source filesystem accesses a source logical volume. The source logical volume maps to a deduplication storage area. The destination filesystem accesses a destination logical volume. The destination logical volume maps to the deduplication storage area. The source file comprises data stored in the deduplication storage area. A destination file is allocated, based on the file mapping information, in the destination filesystem. The destination file is mapped to the data stored in the data deduplication storage area. |
| US08290910B2 |
Semantic replication
Replicating data in a distributed database having a plurality of nodes is disclosed. Replicating includes receiving a semantic command at a local version of the database at a node, interpreting the semantic command, and applying the semantic command to the local version of the database. |
| US08290909B2 |
Access manager for databases
The present invention provides methods and systems for database replication. In general, a source database management system is configured with an access manager. The access manager implements a replication schedule for replicating data to one or more client systems. Replication is performed for a particular client when the access manager determines that one or more threshold criteria have been satisfied. |
| US08290908B2 |
Synchronization server process
Processing data synchronization sessions includes processing a request to initiate a synchronization session from one or more clients to update one or more data records that include one or more data items. The one or more clients are selectively identified as one of a trusted client and an untrusted client based on one or more properties of the synchronization session, wherein the trusted client is configured to support all data classes defined by the server. The one or more clients are detected as being configured to support field level differencing that sends changed data items only for the one or data records or record level differencing that sends all of the data items included in the one or more data records. |
| US08290900B2 |
Apparatus, and associated method, for synchronizing directory services
An apparatus, and an associated method, synchronizes directory services based on group membership. A synchronization scope is defined by the group membership to a specified nesting level of nestable groups. Groups within the synchronization scope are fetched and de-nested. And, once fetched, the members of the fetched and de-nested groups are fetched. The fetched object names are used to update the destination directory service. |
| US08290898B2 |
Interactive database systems and methods for environments with high concentrations of mobile users
A database system usable in a high user concentration environment includes a central database containing content relating to associated users. Software is configured for loading onto associated portable computers carried by the users. The software when executed on one of the associated portable computers performs a method including: (i) downloading from the central database a selected sub-set of the content before the associated portable computer enters the high user concentration environment; (ii) generating modifications or additions to the downloaded sub-set of the content; and (iii) at least while the associated portable computer is within the high user concentration environment, occasionally wirelessly connecting with the central database to upload at least some of the generated modifications or additions to the central database and to download other modifications or additions to the selected sub-set of content. |
| US08290896B2 |
Statistical applications in OLTP environment
The present disclosure provides a method of statistical application in an OLTP environment to reduce the intensive computational load of invoking SQL statements for statistical calculations. The method introduces a time element into statistical records, and use the time element to determine the time status of previously computed statistical records. Upon receiving a query for a statistical record, the system first searches for an existing copy of the statistical record, and checks the time status of the statistical record if found. The system sends the statistical record to the inquirer if the record exists and is unexpired, and invokes an SQL statement to compute the statistical record only if the record does not exist or has expired. The statistical records may be placed in statistical table in a database and/or a cache of an application server. The disclosed strategy may also increase attack resistance of the system. |
| US08290895B2 |
Handheld electronic device with reduced keyboard and associated method of providing quick text entry in a message
An improved handheld electronic device having a reduced keyboard provides facilitated language entry by making available to a user certain words that a user may reasonably be expected to enter. In some situations, certain words can be stored, for example, in a temporary dictionary for use in particular situations. For instance, the names of the recipients of an electronic message might be stored in a temporary dictionary for rapid retrieval when entering a salutation in the message. As another example, a number of the words in an existing electronic message may be stored in a temporary dictionary and made available to a user when replying to or forwarding the message since the existing message might include words that the user might reasonably be expected to type in the reply message or the forwarded message. |
| US08290887B2 |
Learning device, learning method, and program for implementing a pattern learning model
A device for implementing a pattern learning model, the device including a plurality of learning modules, each of which performs update learning to update a plurality of model parameters of the pattern learning model that learns a pattern using input data. The device further including a model parameter sharing means for causing two or more learning modules from among the plurality of learning modules to share the model parameters; and a classification means for classifying the plurality of learning modules on the basis of the plurality of model parameters of each of the learning modules after the update learning. |
| US08290886B2 |
Trainable hierarchical memory system and method
Memory networks and methods are provided. Machine intelligence is achieved by a plurality of linked processor units in which child modules receive input data. The input data are processed to identify patterns and/or sequences. Data regarding the observed patterns and/or sequences are passed to a patent module which may receive as inputs data from one or more child modules. the parent module examines its input data for patterns and/or sequences and then provides feedback to the child module or modules regarding the parent-level patterns that correlate with the child-level patterns. These systems and methods are extensible to large networks of interconnected processor modules. |
| US08290883B2 |
Learning system and learning method comprising an event list database
A learning system according to the present invention includes an event list database for storing a plurality of event lists, each of the event lists being a set including a series of state-action pairs which reaches a state-action pair immediately before earning a reward, an event list managing section for classifying state-action pairs into the plurality of event lists for storing, and a learning control section for updating expectation of reward of a state-action pair which is an element of each of the event lists. |
| US08290882B2 |
Evaluating decision trees on a GPU
Methods and apparatus for evaluating decision trees on a GPU are described. In an embodiment, the structure of a decision tree is converted into a 2D “tree” array with each row representing a node in the tree. Each row comprises details of any child nodes and the parameters which are required to perform the binary test at the node. A pixel shader can then be used to evaluate the decision tree in parallel for each input data point in an input array by navigating through rows in the 2D tree array. For each row, data is read from the input array dependent upon the parameters in the row and the shader moves to another row dependent upon the result of the binary test. On reaching a row which represents a leaf node, the pixel shader outputs evaluation results, such as a leaf node index or a probability distribution over classes. |
| US08290880B2 |
System and method for estimating a parameter that represents data describing a physical system
There is provided a system and method for estimating a parameter that represents data describing a physical system. An exemplary method comprises randomizing data representative of a population of items for which the parameter is known. The method may additionally comprise generating data representative of a pseudo population of items using a known perturbation, the data representative of the pseudo population of items being included with the data representative of the population of items for which the parameter is known to form a revised population and selecting a bootstrap sample of a minimum sample size of the revised population. A sensitivity study is performed on the parameters of the items comprising the bootstrap sample to determine a level of change of a predicted parameter value relative to a parameter value of the sample. At least one of a range, a probability distribution or the minimum sample size is revised based on the parameter for items comprising the bootstrap sample to produce at least one of a revised range, a revised probability distribution or a revised minimum sample size, taking into account an effect of the known perturbation applied to the pseudo population. The steps of selecting, performing and revising are repeated until the sensitivity study indicates that the level of change of the parameter is acceptably small. A value of the parameter is estimated for the population based on a parameter corresponding to the acceptably small level of change. |
| US08290877B2 |
Techniques for temporary access to enterprise networks
Techniques for temporary access to enterprise networks are provided. Devices of customers are detected and authenticated for temporary enterprise network access to a facility of an enterprise when the customers are in a configurable geographic distance to that facility. Temporary access credentials for accessing select resources of the facility or enterprise network are pushed to the processing device upon successful authentication. When one or more terminating actions are detected, the temporary access credentials are revoked and access to the enterprise network ceases. |
| US08290875B2 |
Authentication system and authentication method
In order appropriately to prevent leakage of an authentication symbol string such as a credit card number, and for it to be possible for a user to be authenticated as a legitimate user: an ID issuance server 20 receives the first eight digits of the credit card number from a portable telephone device 10 of the user and issues a one-time ID to the portable telephone device 10; a service provision server 30 receives the last eight digits of the credit card number and the one-time ID from a PC 11, and transmits the one-time ID and those last eight digits to a number construction and authentication processing server 40; and the number construction and authentication processing server 40 receives the one-time ID and the last eight digits from the service provision server 30, communicates with the ID issuance server 20 and acquires the first eight digits which correspond to the one-time ID, reconstructs the credit card number, and performs authentication with the credit card number. |
| US08290868B2 |
Financial cards and methods for per-transaction personal financial management
Systems and methods for personal financial management using a financial card having a body with a front side and a back side, and a primary account number user associated with a primary account of a user of the financial card. A user interface is configured for receiving input from the user at a time of use of the financial card for selecting a subaccount indicator from among a plurality of subaccount indicators each of which is associated with a subaccount within the primary account. A magnetic strip is positioned on the back side and includes a user definable portion configurable by the user at a time of use of the financial card for a transaction. The user interface is adapted to configure the user definable portion to include the user selected subaccount indicator. |
| US08290867B2 |
Micro-payment system architecture
A micro-payment system has buyers, sellers, and a broker. The buyers establish accounts with the broker and provide payment information allowing the broker to invoice the buyers. The sellers establish accounts with the brokers and specify terms for accessing items, including electronic content, available from the sellers. The sellers also provide payment information that allows the broker to credit the sellers for sales of the items. The broker aggregates the buyers' micro-payment purchases and invoices the buyers. The broker also aggregates the sellers' micro-payment sales and credits the sellers. |
| US08290865B2 |
Push payment system and method including billing file exchange
Systems and methods for processing bill payments. A consumer may send a bill payment request online to a payment processing network, such as through an online bill payment interface. The payment processing network can coordinate with a non-bank acquirer to settle the bill payment with the biller. The liability for the transaction may fall on the issuer, who may be responsible for all parties fulfilling the transaction. The non-bank acquirer may coordinate among the various parties, but may not have liability for fulfillment of the transaction. The non-bank acquirer can deposit funds for the bill payment in a biller bank, and accounts receivable data can be sent to the biller for reconciliation of the bill. |
| US08290864B2 |
Method and system for facilitating credit transactions
Disclosed is a system and method for Facilitating Credit Transactions, which may allow for the division of a given purchase or cash-withdrawal transaction amount, into periodical installments by enabling the financing of said transaction. |
| US08290863B2 |
Method and system for expediting payment delivery
A method and system of the present invention are directed to expediting payments for scheduled delivery (e.g., same day delivery, next day delivery) to various payees or recipients. A computer implemented method and system for expediting payments may include receiving recipient data and payment data from a customer at a remote location; wherein recipient data comprises recipient identifier and payment data comprises payment type and delivery time; obtaining a payment instrument based at least in part on the payment data; debiting an amount of the payment instrument from an account identified by the customer; and delivering the payment instrument to a facility; wherein the facility delivers the payment instrument to a recipient identified by the recipient data entered by the customer. |
| US08290862B2 |
Method and system for expediting payment delivery
A method and system of the present invention are directed to expediting payments for scheduled delivery (e.g., next day delivery) to various payees or recipients. A computer implemented method and system for expediting payments may include receiving recipient data and payment data from a customer at a remote location; wherein recipient data comprises recipient identifier and payment data comprises payment type; obtaining a payment instrument based at least in part on the payment data; debiting an amount of the payment instrument from an account identified by the customer; and delivering the payment instrument to a facility; wherein the facility delivers the payment instrument to a recipient identified by the recipient data entered by the customer. |
| US08290860B1 |
Systems and methods for providing enhanced account management services for multiple banks
This invention includes methods for delivering account management services to multiple financial institutions that provide for customer deposit accounts without transaction but than nevertheless offer interest and receive enhanced deposit insurance. The methods apply at least one customer transaction to that customer's deposit account, and then re-allocate customer-deposited funds among the plurality of financial institutions in order that, for each customer, the risk of loss is not substantially increased, and that, for each financial institution, the amount of customer-deposited funds is not substantially decreased. Preferably, risk of loss is reduced by increasing the fraction of each customer's deposited funds covered by FDIC deposit insurance, and interest and enhanced insurance are available by innovative management of customer transactions and accounts. This invention also includes computer systems for practicing the methods and program products for accordingly configuring such computer systems. |
| US08290854B2 |
Securitization of a commercial transaction
A method and apparatus for generating a tradable security includes confirming a vendor's compliance with predefined terms of a commercial transaction, such that a buyer is obligated to make a due payment. The method and apparatus further includes electronically rating a financial commitment relating to a receivable account for the commercial transaction. This receivable account is rated based on conditions and factors known to a system facilitating the commercial transaction. Based on the ability for the financial commitment to be rated, a financial exchange is operative to transfer entitlement rights to monies due under the receivable account where the terms for the transfer of the entitlement rights are based at least in part on the electronic rating. Thereby, receivable accounts to commercial transactions may be tradable by one or more investors as properly rated investment. |
| US08290851B2 |
System and method for management and analysis of electronic trade orders
A system and methods are provided for using order descriptor identifiers in relation to orders being used in trading strategies. According to one example method, when a hedge order is submitted upon detecting a fill of another order, the hedge order includes one or more order descriptor identifiers conveying a purpose of the hedge order to a user. The order descriptor identifiers can be used to search for desired orders and perform more effective order management and post trade analysis. |
| US08290839B1 |
Computer driven simulator and optimizer for distributed capture implementation
A computer-implemented system to simulate, analyze, and optimize the financial aspects of a banking institution's plan to convert existing depository locations to distributed capture technology. |
| US08290838B1 |
Indicating irregularities in online financial transactions
A system and method for preventing fraud in an online transaction is shown. Requests for financial transactions between on-line account holders are detected as well as relationships between the accounts. A fraud value related to a likelihood that a fraud is occurring in the transactions is determined based on the relationship. An indication of a likelihood of fraud is provided if the fraud value exceeds a predetermined amount. Thus the transaction is terminated and the appropriate parties are automatically notified. |
| US08290834B2 |
Ad-hoc updates to source transactions
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with handling a change to a transaction at an application level are described. One exemplary method includes receiving, in a sub-ledger accounting (SLA) logic, from a sub-ledger logic, data that characterizes a transaction(s) receivable from a sub-ledger. The data includes a field of interest identifier and a downstream column impact identifier that identifies a column that is affected by a change to the field of interest. The method includes storing the data and processing transactions from the sub-ledger in light of the stored data. The method includes selectively storing a difference between a value associated with a previously processed version of a transaction and a value provided in a changed transaction. The value may be stored in a new transaction to reconcile the difference between the stored value and the changed transaction value. |
| US08290828B2 |
Item recommendations
A system gathers user behavior data from a group of web retailers and/or non-web retailers, analyzes the user behavior data to identify product recommendations for products offered by the web retailers, and provides one of the identified product recommendations in connection with a product page associated with one of the web retailers. |
| US08290825B1 |
Auction system with credit information
An Internet-based auction of items for sale is hosted in a server computer. Different members who want to participate in the Internet-based auction establish credit information. That credit information is shown to other users in the auction. The credit information for example can be shown as colors or the like. |
| US08290822B2 |
Product configuration server for efficiently displaying selectable attribute values for configurable products
A computer-implemented system leverages binary decision diagram (BDD) structures to provide selectable attribute values for one or more configurable products. The BDD structures may define offering attribute nodes and non-offering attribute nodes. The offering attribute nodes may represent product attribute values selectable by the user based on product configuration rules, and the non-offering attribute nodes may represent product attribute values not selectable by the user based on the product configuration rules. The computer-implemented system may further include at least one memory storage device that stores one or more product configuration rules used to define permissible product configurations and attributes of the products. By evaluating the BDD structures and the product configuration rules, the computer-implemented system may prepare a customized set of product records for transmission to a user, wherein the customized set of product records contains product attribute values corresponding to the offering attribute nodes. |
| US08290819B2 |
Electronic commerce transactions over a peer-to-peer communications channel
A system, method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium are provided for completing e-commerce transactions over a P2P communications channel. According to one method, a secure P2P communications channel is established between a buyer node and a seller node. A request to perform an e-commerce transaction is transmitted from the buyer node to the seller node. In response to the request, a third-party clearinghouse is added to the P2P communications channel. Once the clearinghouse has been added to the P2P communications channel, a request is transmitted to the clearinghouse over the P2P communications channel to charge an account associated with the buyer node. The clearinghouse charges an account associated with the buyer node for the purchase. The clearinghouse also transmits a confirmation over the P2P communications channel indicating that the charge has been completed. When the seller node receives the confirmation, the seller node delivers the purchased good to the buyer node over the P2P communications channel. |
| US08290810B2 |
Realtime surveying within mobile sponsored content
In embodiments, the present invention provides a method and system for associating a survey question with an interactive sponsored content, selecting the interactive sponsored content based at least in part on a mobile subscriber characteristic associated with a mobile communication facility, presenting the interactive sponsored content to the mobile communication facility, receiving a response to the survey question from the mobile communication facility, analyzing a plurality of user responses to the survey question, and presenting a survey analytic to the mobile communication facility based at least in part on the analysis. |
| US08290809B1 |
Determining a community rating for a user using feedback ratings of related users in an electronic environment
Community ratings are determined for users of an electronic marketplace. In a typical configuration, the community rating of an individual reflect the individual's reputation in the electronic community (e.g. feedback rating) as well as the reputations of the users the individual sponsors and the reputations of each user they sponsor, and so on. Various methodologies are provided for determining a community rating, such as aggregating feedback ratings, or weighting or thresholding these feedback ratings. |
| US08290807B2 |
Systems, program products and methods of human resources planning and development
Systems, program products, and methods of human resources planning and development are provided. An example of a system includes a server in communication with a plurality of client computers over a communication network and program product stored in the memory of the server adapted to predict a future number of employees desired within the organization for a preselected period of time to define a human resource manning plan, to assign a plurality of employment development activities to each of a plurality of participating employees in the organization to define an employment development plan for each participating employee, to form a recruitment plan for the organization, and to provide continuous feedback loops so that revisions in the human resource manning plan, the recruitment plan, or at least one of the employment development plans are accounted for in each other of such plans. |
| US08290806B2 |
Method and system for estimating financial benefits of packaged application service projects
A system for calculating financial benefit estimations and generating reports for multi-dimensional project plans for implementing packaged software applications, the system includes: a view layer configured to act as a user interface for user inputs and system outputs; a model and control layer configured to implement rules based on a series of estimation and implementation models, and to perform calculations to determine financial benefits of implementing multi-dimensional project plans; an estimation knowledge base layer configured to hold and derive the series of estimation and implementation models; and wherein the system for generating financial benefit estimations and reports for the implementation of packaged software applications is carried out over networks comprising: the Internet, intranets, local area networks (LAN), and wireless local area networks (WLAN). |
| US08290805B2 |
Project management system
A project management system having executable program modules, including a first module to create a requirement by a requestor. A second module receives an identity of a first receiver and sends the requirement to the first receiver. A third module sends an acceptance of the requirement to the requestor, and a fourth module sends a rejection to the requestor as specified by the first receiver. A fifth module sends a notification of completion of the requirement from the first receiver to the requester. A sixth module partitions the requirement into sub requirements as specified by the first receiver. The first receiver uses the second module to send the selectable number of sub requirements to at least one second receiver. The second receivers use the third, fourth, and fifth modules to respond to the first receiver, and also use the sixth module to further partition the sub requirements. |
| US08290799B2 |
System and method for building knowledgebase for software system
A system and associated method for building a knowledgebase for a software system. The knowledgebase has multiple problem-solution records for problems that may occur in the software system. A user of the knowledgebase requests a solution to a problem by submitting a problem description and payment information. The payment information is separately verified and the knowledgebase is searched for a problem-solution record that has the same problem description provided by the user. A solution of the matched problem-solution record is presented to the user and the user provides a feedback rating how effective the solution is in solving the problem. The feedback may be another solution for the problem or evidences supporting the feedback. If the feedback is evaluated to be valuable, the knowledgebase may be updated with the feedback. An author of an existing valuable solution and/or the user who provided another solution is rewarded. |
| US08290796B1 |
System and method for reducing worker's compensation insurance reportable incidents
A business method, and more particularly, a system and method for reducing worker's compensation insurance reportable incidents to identify sources of Worker's Compensation Insurance claims over a web based delivery system administered to employees. This allows for fewer reportable incidents to be presented by employees against their employer's Worker's Compensation Insurance policy. The system and method for reducing worker's compensation insurance reportable incidents allows corrections to be suggested to employees and employers prior to an occurrence of a reportable incident, which reduces the possibility of these claims occurring and thus lowers the cost of Worker's Compensation direct and indirect costs to the employer. |
| US08290794B2 |
Device for automatically processing and monitoring dangerous events
A single-stage or multi-stage damage coverage method and system for transport devices, including a central unit that includes a user factor and a central unit factor, the central unit storing backing amount parameters assigned to accumulable damage risks, the backing amount parameters being divisible by a split module with money amount values of a specified damage risk on the basis of the user factor and the central unit factor into backing amount parameters of the accumulable damage risks. The system includes one or more decentralized risk devices, the backing amount parameters being transmitted bidirectionally for one of the damage risks and corresponding compensation parameters between the one central unit and the one or more decentralized risk devices, and also includes an extrapolation module configured to specify one of the backing amount parameters and the compensation parameters of the specifiable damage risk for a future time interval. |
| US08290790B1 |
Systems and methods for managing and/or administering prescription benefits
Systems and methods for allowing a user (e.g., a benefits administrator) to maintain and modify a contract or a group for a prescription drug plan may be provided. In response to receiving a request to modify a contract or a group, a prescription benefits management application may retrieve data relating to the contract or group and allow the user to input information relating to the contract or group, input broker information, input billing information, select a pharmacy network, select pricing options for the prescription plan, create a customized prescription plan, input brand/generic difference overrides, etc. In some embodiments, the modifications and/or additions made to a contract or group may be transmitted to a pharmacist, thereby allowing the pharmacist to fill one or more prescriptions in real-time or upon updating the system (e.g., within 48 to 72 hours). |
| US08290780B2 |
Dynamically extending the speech prompts of a multimodal application
Dynamically extending the speech prompts of a multimodal application including receiving, by the prompt generation engine, a media file having a metadata container; retrieving, by the prompt generation engine from the metadata container, a speech prompt related to content stored in the media file for inclusion in the multimodal application; and modifying, by the prompt generation engine, the multimodal application to include the speech prompt. |
| US08290777B1 |
Synchronizing the playing and displaying of digital content
The techniques disclosed herein allow a user to synchronize the playing and displaying of digital content on an electronic device. The device may render a first portion of digital content so it may be displayed. The device may also play a segment of the digital content as audio using text to speech software. The device may also render a second portion of digital content for display depending on whether the position of the last word read is greater than the last position in the first portion of digital content. |
| US08290767B2 |
Handheld electronic device having selectable language indicator for language selection and method therefor
A method of enabling the selection of a language to be employed as a method input language by a disambiguation routine of a handheld electronic device having stored therein a plurality of method input languages and disambiguation routine number, includes detecting a selection of a language, detecting as an ambiguous input an actuation of one or more input members, outputting at least a plurality of the language objects that corresponds to the ambiguous input, outputting an indicator which one of the method input languages is currently employed by the disambiguation function, and enabling an alternate one of the input language methods to be selected in response to a selection of the indicator in lieu of one of the plurality of language objects. |
| US08290765B2 |
Handheld electronic device with reduced keyboard and associated method of providing improved disambiguation
An improved handheld electronic device having a reduced keyboard provides facilitated language entry by making available to a user certain words that a user may reasonably be expected to enter. In some situations, certain words can be stored, for example, in a temporary dictionary for use in particular situations. For instance, the names of the recipients of an electronic message might be stored in a temporary dictionary for rapid retrieval when entering a salutation in the message. As another example, a number of the words in an existing electronic message may be stored in a temporary dictionary and made available to a user when replying to or forwarding the message since the existing message might include words that the user might reasonably be expected to type in the reply message or the forwarded message. |
| US08290762B2 |
Graphically configuring program invocation relationships by creating or modifying links among program icons in a configuration diagram
A system and method for creating and using configuration diagrams for configuring distributed systems. The methods described herein may be used for various types of operations in configuring distributed systems, including creating programs, managing programs in the distributed system, deploying programs to various distributed devices, configuring remote execution or inter-operation of distributed programs, and executing distributed applications. Embodiments of the invention utilize graphical iconic-based techniques for performing the above operations. The configuration diagram may include device icons which represent devices and program icons which represent programs. Device icons and program icons may be associated with each other to accomplish various program creation and deployment operations. Device icons and program icons may also interact with graphical program nodes or icons. Context sensitive device connections and/or program connections are displayed. An asynchronous data flow node may be used to facilitate asynchronous data flow between two graphical programs. The distributed system may also support distributed graphical debugging. |
| US08290756B2 |
Method for simulating the thermomechanical behavior of a tire rolling on the ground
A process for simulating the physical behavior of a vehicle tire rolling on the ground with which the tire tread has an area of contact including at least one adherent contact zone and at least one sliding contact zone, which process includes at least modeling operations, wherein the modeling operations, by applying physical laws that are known and/or developed by specific experimentation, as a first model, a model of the longitudinal forces (Fx), the transverse forces (Fy), and a self-alignment torque (Mz), including an adherence coefficient and a shear modulus of the rubber of the tire, and on the basis of dynamic parameters associated with the physical conditions of rolling and use of the tire, in which the self-alignment torque is associated with the intensity of the longitudinal and transverse forces and their distribution in the contact area, a second model of a local heating model expressing variations in a temperature of contact of the tread with the ground, and a third model of a general heating and thermal flux model, in which said third model in a peripheral tread temperature and an internal tire temperature, a coefficient of thermal conductivity of the tread, and phenomena with a thermodynamic component such as internal deformations of the tire, heat transfers between the tire and its environment, and slip of the tread on the ground, in which at least the adherence coefficient and the shear modulus are involved in the first models as variable. |
| US08290755B2 |
System for testing at least one electronic control unit and method
The present invention relates to a test device for testing a control system and an associated method for operating the test device. The test device includes an addressable memory. The test device is configured to calculate at least one environment model and to execute at least one test model. The environment model is described by environment model variables whose values are filed at fixed physical addresses in memory locations of the memory. The test device further comprises an allocation unit, in which the allocation of all or a part of the environment model variable to the allocated physical addresses of the memory is filed such that the test model can read the allocation of the environment model variables to their specific memory addresses so as to modify the environment model variable values in the environment model during its execution. |
| US08290752B2 |
Method for designing an automotive vehicle
The present invention relates to a method for designing an automotive vehicle, wherein an automotive module is an automotive vehicle part (1, 2) or a group of automotive vehicle parts, comprising: the step of modeling the automotive modules; the step of mapping the automotive module models; the step of integrating, in a modeling assembly, the links (3) between the automotive modules, which is realized directly between the modules and neither between their models nor between their mappings. |
| US08290751B2 |
Multi-gain adaptive linear processing and gated digital system for use in flow cytometry
Disclosed is an electronic processing system for a flow cytometer that uses a processing chip that processes data in a parallel architecture on a sample by sample basis and provides for high throughput of data. In addition, multi-gain linear amplifiers are used which are matched using feedback circuits to provide accurate data and high resolution data having high dynamic range. |
| US08290746B2 |
Embedded microcontrollers classifying signatures of components for predictive maintenance in computer servers
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that analyzes data from a computer system. During operation, the system obtains the sensor data from a component in the computer system using a set of sensors. Next, the system transmits the sensor data to a microcontroller unit (MCU) coupled to the sensors and stores the sensor data in internal memory of the MCU. Finally, the system assesses the integrity of the component by analyzing the sensor data using a pattern-recognition apparatus in the MCU. |
| US08290745B2 |
Systems and methods for identifying faulty sensors within a power generation system
A photovoltaic (PV) power generation system is described. The system includes at least one PV module comprising a plurality of PV cells, a plurality of sensors, and a processing device communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors. The processing device is configured to determine a power output each of the plurality of PV cells, receive data from the plurality of sensors, and identify a faulty sensor within the plurality of sensors based at least partially on the determined power output and the received data. |
| US08290740B2 |
Form measuring instrument, form measuring method, and program
Form measuring instrument includes: first measuring means which moves contact piece from first position in parallel with second axis to trace surface of workpiece, measure amount of displacement of contact piece, to obtain first profile; second placing means which rotates workpiece about first axis by 90 degrees to place workpiece at second position from first position; second measuring means which moves contact piece from second position in parallel with second axis to trace surface of workpiece, measure amount of displacement of contact piece, to obtain second profile; extremum position calculating means which fits circles to first and second profiles and calculate positions, in direction parallel with second axis, of first and second extremums indicating circles' extremums; and moving means which moves workpiece in direction parallel with second axis and direction parallel with third axis such that positions, in direction parallel with second axis, of first and second extremums become 0. |
| US08290739B2 |
Method for determining relative mobility of regions of an object
A method for determining a mobility of an object includes the steps of measuring at least a portion of a shape of an object under an initial increment of a weight load of a plurality of increments of a total weight load using a device and measuring at least a portion of the shape of the object under a next increment of a total weight load of a plurality of increments of a weight load using the device. Repeating the measurements until a total weight load is achieved and comparing the measurements from the device under the plurality of incremental weight loads, thereby determining a mobility of at least the portion of said object under the plurality of increments of weight loads. The method further includes adjusting the elevation and angular orientation of a support surface for the object to achieve further measurements and a device for obtaining such measurements. The method further includes comparing the mobility of a present object to a normal-object to determine a deviation. The normal-object is a statistical sample of a prior normal-object mobility. |
| US08290734B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit
A semiconductor integrated circuit including: a data input circuit inputting a data input signal from outside and outputting the signal; a comparison value register memorizing an expectation value of the output signal varying in accordance with an input to the data input circuit; and a comparing circuit comparing a value in accordance with a switching number of the output signal of the data input circuit and the expectation value, is provided. |
| US08290731B2 |
Calibration method for inertial drive actuator, inertial drive actuator device, and method of calculating position of moving body
A method includes an electrostatic capacitance detecting step of detecting electrostatic capacitances of opposing parts of a moving body side electrode and an oscillating plate electrode; an electrostatic capacitance storing step of storing the electrostatic capacitances at the first movement limit position and the second movement limit position detected at the electrostatic capacitance detecting step; a ratio calculating step of calculating a ratio of the electrostatic capacitances at the first movement limit position and the second movement limit position stored at the electrostatic capacitance storing step to a movement limit distance that is a distance between the first movement limit position and the second movement limit position; and an absolute position calculating step of calculating an absolute position of the moving body between the first movement limit position and the second movement limit position from the ratio. |
| US08290722B2 |
Method for determining refrigerant charge
A method for determining the adequacy of the refrigerant charge in an air conditioning system based upon both the instantaneous degree of subcooling present in the liquid refrigerant in the refrigerant line at a location whereat only liquid refrigerant is present and a calculated average subcooling value based upon accumulated instantaneous subcooling values. The adequacy of the refrigerant charge in the system may be indicated by an alert indicating “check charge” or by a series of lights including a first indicator light indicating that the refrigerant charge is low, a second indicator light indicating that the refrigerant charge is high, and a third indicator light indicating that the refrigerant charge is correct. |
| US08290720B2 |
Ultrasonic flaw detector and ultrasonic flaw detection method
An ultrasonic probe issues an ultrasonic wave to an object, receives a reflected wave from an object, and is provided with multiple piezoelectric elements. A three-dimensional display section displays three-dimensional flaw detection data superimposed on three-dimensional shape data of an object. The computer acquires a reflected ultrasonic wave signal from a reference object (reference). Based on the acquired signal, the computer corrects a reflected ultrasonic wave signal acquired from another object having the same material and shape as the reference. The computer allows the three-dimensional display section to display three-dimensional flaw detection data generated from a reflected ultrasonic wave signal resulting from a difference between a reference and an object. |
| US08290717B2 |
Methods and apparatus for wafer area pressure control in an adjustable gap plasma chamber
In a plasma processing chamber, a method and an arrangement to stabilize pressure are provided. The method includes providing coarse pressure adjustments in an open-loop manner and thereafter providing fine pressure adjustments in a closed-loop manner. The coarse pressure adjustments are performed by rapidly re-position confinement rings employing an assumed linear relationship between the conductance and the confinement rings position to bring the pressure in the plasma generating region quickly to roughly a desired set point. The fine pressure adjustments are performed by at least employing mechanical vacuum pump(s), turbo pump(s), confinement ring positioning and/or combinations thereof to achieve a derive pressure set point. |
| US08290716B2 |
Methods and systems for conservative extraction of over-represented extensible motifs
Methods and systems of extracting extensible motifs from a sequence include assigning a significance to extensible motifs within the sequence based upon a syntactic and statistical analysis, and identifying extensible motifs having a significance that exceeds a predetermined threshold. |
| US08290714B2 |
Monitoring and manipulating cellular transmembrane potentials using nanostructures
The use of nanostructures to monitor or modulate changes in cellular membrane potentials is disclosed. Nanoparticles having phospholipid coatings were found to display improved responses relative to nanoparticles having other coatings that do not promote localization or attraction to membranes. |
| US08290712B2 |
Food content detector
A system may include utensil means for portioning a foodstuff into a first portion and a second portion, a means for detecting a first portion size for the first portion with the utensil means, a means for detecting a second portion size for the second portion with the utensil means, and a means for determining a cumulative amount of portioned foodstuff based upon the first portion size and the second portion size. |
| US08290708B2 |
Method and system for determining a servicing requirement
A method determines the servicing requirements of axes of a robot arm of an industrial robot. The data of a movement sequence of at least one axis during at least one working cycle of the industrial robot is made available. The rotational movements of the at least one axis are established on the basis of the data, and a servicing interval for the at least one axis is determined by an assessment of the rotational movements established. A system for determining a servicing requirement performs the method. |
| US08290704B2 |
System and method for collecting and conveying point of interest information
A system and method for collecting and conveying point of interest (POI) information is disclosed. The system detects when a vehicle is at a previously unknown POI, gathers information related to the new POI, and updates a central server with the new POI location information. In this context, a POI may be any type of location including roads, gas stations, strip malls, retail establishments, eating establishments, hospitals, police stations, etc. POI information may include a variety of data including new road locations, new entrances to roads, toll amounts, gas station names, gas prices, strip mall names, retail establishment names, eating establishment names, sales and specials, hospital names, emergency room entrance locations, police station entrances, etc. |
| US08290702B2 |
Method for displaying a navigation mode of a navigation device
After a navigation device performs navigation positioning, the moving speed of the navigation device and the distance between the position of the navigation device and a destination can be acquired. If the moving speed of the navigation device is slower than a predetermined speed and if the distance between the navigation device and the destination is smaller than a predetermined distance, the navigation device displays a pedestrian mode or a slow driving speed mode; otherwise the navigation device displays a normal driving speed mode. |
| US08290695B2 |
Method for computing an energy efficient route
Probe data is analyzed to derive Longitudinal Speed Profiles (LSPs) and an Optimal Longitudinal Speed Profile (18) for each road segment or link in a digital map network. The Longitudinal Speed Profiles (LSPs) profiles are calculated during defined time spans whereas the Optimal Longitudinal Speed Profile (18) is based on the LSP for the time span corresponding only to free flow traffic conditions. All of the LSPs can used to create a respective energy cost for each time span, or only the OLSP (18) can be used (or alternatively the RRDSL 16 or LRRDSL 17) to calculate an energy cost for the free flow conditions only. The energy cost can be used to predict the energy required by a vehicle to traverse the link. Navigation software can use the energy cost to plan the most energy efficient route between two locations in the digital map. Sensory signals can be activated if a driver strays from the Optimal Longitudinal Speed Profile (18) to achieve extremely high levels of energy efficiency. |
| US08290694B2 |
Method for sensing covering state according to velocity and system for providing traffic information using the same method
Disclosed is a method for sensing a traveling state based on a speed. The method for sensing the traveling state based on the speed includes outputting a mean speed C for each link with respect to a number of total traversing times of a predetermined path, and updating a reference speed B with the outputted mean speed C, and measuring a speed A while traversing the predetermined path, and comparing the measured speed A with the updated reference speed B, thereby displaying the traveling state. |
| US08290693B2 |
Internal-combustion-engine automatic stop and restart system
An internal-combustion-engine automatic stop and restart system performs restarting control by making the pinion pushing unit push out the pinion gear so as to engage with the ring gear, when the restarting condition is satisfied in a time period from a time when the automatic stopping condition is satisfied to a time when the rotation of the internal combustion engine stops. A throttle valve control unit opens the throttle valve even when the restarting condition has not been satisfied and stops control of the throttle valve in a time period from when the rotation of the internal combustion engine stops to when the restarting condition is satisfied, when the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine becomes lower than a predetermined value in a time period from when the automatic stopping condition is satisfied to when the rotation of the internal combustion engine stops. |
| US08290686B2 |
Method for controlling combustion mode transitions for an internal combustion engine
Transitioning between combustion modes includes an intermediate combustion mode. Transitions are controlled in accordance with a preferred fuel mass and permissible fuel mass ranges corresponding to changing intake airflow. |
| US08290682B2 |
Engine control device and method for a hybrid vehicle
The invention comprises an engine control device and method for use in a vehicle incorporating an internal combustion engine and a motor that are capable of transmitting motive power to an axle. The device has an engine utilization reduction portion configured to reduce the power supplied by the engine when a requested engine power is above a predefined engine power minimum value when the device is in a hybrid mode thereby increasing power provided by the electric motor. The device also may have a computer readable engine off portion configured to prevent the engine from starting or consuming fuel thereby causing the vehicle to be directionally powered by the electric motor only. The device may also have a warm up portion configured to operate the engine in warmup mode and limit the power supplied by the engine when the engine temperature is below a predefined engine operating temperature thereby reducing emissions during engine warmup. |
| US08290681B2 |
Method and apparatus to produce a smooth input speed profile in mode for a hybrid powertrain system
A method for controlling a powertrain including an electro-mechanical transmission coupled to an engine and an electric machine includes monitoring a desired input speed; signal processing the desired input speed to create a lead control signal to control the engine, wherein the signal processing includes low pass filtering the desired input speed and applying system constraint limits upon the desired input speed; signal processing the desired input speed to create an immediate control signal to control the electric machine, wherein the signal processing includes delaying the desired input speed by a lead period, low pass filtering the desired input speed, and applying system constraint limits upon the desired input speed; and controlling the powertrain through a powertrain transition based upon the lead control signal and said immediate control signal. |
| US08290678B2 |
Brake control method and brake control device for two-wheeled motor vehicle
To further improve, in a brake control method and device for a two-wheeled motor vehicle that utilizes a wheel cylinder pressure as a parameter for predicting the potential for lifting of a rear wheel, the accuracy of predicting lifting of the rear wheel.A brake control method of the present invention comprises the steps of inputting a signal of an input sensor (step 100); detecting a front wheel cylinder pressure (step 102); detecting an amount of change in the front wheel cylinder pressure (step 104); determining whether or not the front wheel cylinder pressure and the amount of change in the front wheel cylinder pressure that have been detected correspond to a brake condition where lifting of a rear wheel can occur (step 106); and, when it is determined that the front wheel cylinder pressure and the amount of change in the front wheel cylinder pressure that have been detected correspond to the brake condition, reducing a pressure amplification gradient of the front wheel cylinder pressure. |
| US08290675B2 |
Recovery of energy in a hybrid vehicle having a hydraulic or pneumatic braking system
In a method for recovering energy in a braking process of a hybrid vehicle which has an internal combustion engine and an electric drive, as well as a hydraulic or pneumatic braking system, the exploitation of the electric drive is able to be optimized if the braking system includes at least one pressure reduction valve, using which the braking pressure exerted by the driver is able to be reduced as a function of the deceleration proportion of the electric machine. |
| US08290673B2 |
System and method of detecting a failed friction element
A system includes a friction element having a driving mechanism and a driven mechanism. At least one of the driving mechanism and the driven mechanism is configured to rotate. A drive unit is configured to provide a torque to at least one of the driving mechanism and the driven mechanism. A control processor is configured to diagnose a friction element failure based on a slip speed, which is the difference between rotational speeds of the driving mechanism and the driven mechanism. The control processor is further configured to induce a slip condition as part of a shift process and diagnose the friction element failure if the derived slip speed is substantially zero after inducing the slip condition. |
| US08290671B2 |
Control system for automatic transmission
A control system for an automatic transmission that does not require a cut-off valve, and that can inhibit a reverse control even if a detection unit for detecting a shift range fails. The control system includes a first friction engagement element, which is engaged in predetermined forward and reverse shift speeds, a detection unit that detects a shift range from shift ranges that include a forward range and a reverse range; a failure judgment unit for judging failure of the detection unit, and an avoidance unit for shifting to a forward shift speed that does not engage the first friction engagement element if the failure judgment unit determines that the detection unit has failed. |
| US08290670B2 |
Clutch control device and clutch control method
A clutch control device includes: a plurality of hydraulic clutches built into a transmission; a clutch switching pattern storage device in which a plurality of clutch switching patterns, each defining engage/release changeover timing with which the plurality of hydraulic clutches are engaged/released are stored in correspondence to individual speed change patterns adopted by the transmission; a clutch switching pattern selection device that selects a clutch switching pattern stored in the clutch switching pattern storage device in correspondence to a speed change pattern for the transmission at a time of speed change; and a hydraulic control device that executes hydraulic control for the plurality of hydraulic clutches in correspondence to the clutch switching pattern selected by the clutch switching pattern selection device. |
| US08290667B2 |
Method for the operation of a traveling power take-off shaft coupled to a driving motor
A method for the operation of a traveling power take-off shaft clutch connected to a drive motor, in a case of known wheel or vehicle speed, the speed of rotation of the power take-off shaft, electronically evaluated through the speed of rotation of the motor, can be made to agree in ratio with the wheel speed. |
| US08290663B2 |
Vehicle electronic control system, vehicle electronic control unit, and vehicle control synchronization method
A vehicle electronic control system includes a first electronic control unit executing a control process A, and a second electronic control unit connected to the first electronic control unit and executing a control process B inseparable from the control process A. The first electronic control unit includes a synchronization signal transmit unit transmitting a synchronization signal to the second electronic control unit; and a first control process execution unit starting execution of the control process A after transmission of the synchronization signal. The second electronic control unit includes a synchronization signal receive unit receiving the synchronization signal from the first electronic control unit; a first time measuring unit measuring a predetermined time Tb since reception of the synchronization signal; and a second control process execution unit starting execution of the control process B when the predetermined time Tb elapses. |
| US08290662B2 |
System and method for tire cornering power estimation and monitoring
A tire cornering power estimation and monitoring system, comprising a steering torque sensor, a steering wheel angle sensor, a yaw rate sensor, a lateral acceleration sensor, a speed sensor, and at least one controller configured to receive signals from the sensors and send a notification if the signals indicate that one or more of the vehicle's tires need to be checked or serviced. The system also comprises a notification system configured to indicate that one or more of the vehicle's tires need to be checked or serviced. |
| US08290661B2 |
Simulation test system and method for testing vehicle electronic component
Disclosed is a simulation test system and method for testing a vehicle electronic component capable of easily testing performance of the electronic component anytime regardless of location without repeating the same driving test. |
| US08290658B2 |
Vehicle control system and method for judging abnormality in vehicle control system
The main calculation section (37a) of a toe angle alteration control ECU (37) in a vehicle control system receives target toe angles αTL and αTR. from a steering control ECU (130) and controls a motor (31L) for changing the toe angles of a left rear wheel and a motor (31R) for changing the toe angle of a right rear wheel independently. Stroke sensors (38L, 38R) detect actual toe angles αL and αR and inputs to the judging portion (85) of actuations of the sub calculation section (37c). In accordance with a pre-stored judgment table (85a), the judging portion (85) of actuations calculates an allowable actuation range, which is a combination of the toe angles αL and αR of the left-and-right rear wheels depending on vehicle speed VS, and judges whether the actuation of the motor (31L, 31R) is suitable for the turning of a vehicle or not depending on whether the actual toe angles αL and αR. is within the allowable actuation range or not. |
| US08290657B2 |
Direction determination for active park assist
A vehicle has a hybrid electric system and a parking assist system. The hybrid electric system includes at least one motor outputting a direction-indicating speed signal. The parking assist system configured for affecting steering and speed control of the vehicle for maneuvering the vehicle into a target parking location. Affecting the steering and speed control of the vehicle dependent upon parking assist control information derived using the direction-indicating speed signal. |
| US08290656B2 |
Controller and controlling method of electric vehicle
A controller of electric vehicle includes: sensor sensing vehicle information; torque target value setter; torque command value calculator; first paragraph calculator implementing first filtering treatment of the torque command value, the first filtering treatment including transmission characteristic having hand pass filter characteristic; second paragraph calculator implementing second filtering treatment of motor revolution speed which is one of pieces of the vehicle information, the second filtering treatment including: the transmission characteristic having band pass filter characteristic, and model of a transmission characteristic between: torque input to the vehicle, and the motor revolution speed; torque target value calculator calculating the second torque target value. Based on the first torque target value and the second torque target value, the torque command value calculator calculates the torque command value. In the second filtering treatment, the second paragraph calculator uses attenuation coefficient which is larger than identification value of the model of the transmission characteristic. |
| US08290655B2 |
Hybrid drive motor vehicle control system comprising distributed functional components for controlling hybrid drive operating status
A control system for controlling a vehicle with a hybrid drive comprising an internal combustion engine and an electric motor and a plurality of functional components each divided into strategy, control and actuator sub-components. The functional components include engine, transmission and hybrid functional components. The strategy sub-component of the hybrid functional component comprises an operating status prescription module which determines a recommended value for the operating status of the hybrid drive and transmits the recommended value to the control sub-component. The possible recommended value that can be determined by the operating status prescription module is a preselected hybrid driving condition, and if the operating status prescription module of the strategy sub-component transmits the preselected hybrid driving condition, as the recommended value, to the control sub-component, then the strategy sub-component prescribes a change from electric to hybrid driving, while the control sub-component determines when change occurs. |
| US08290639B2 |
Managing control surfaces for an aircraft
A method and apparatus for managing a number of control surfaces for an aircraft. A current configuration for the number of control surfaces for the aircraft is identified during flight of the aircraft. A selected point in time at which the current configuration for the number of control surfaces is to be changed to a new configuration for the number of control surfaces is identified. A portion of time relative to the selected point in time during which the current configuration for the number of control surfaces is to be changed to the new configuration is identified based on a difference between a current amount of energy for the aircraft and an expected amount of energy for the aircraft. |
| US08290635B2 |
Reducing power consumption in a network by detecting electrical signatures of appliances
An apparatus, system and methods system for reducing power consumption in a network including electrical appliances connected via electrical outlets to an electricity supplier and/or a system managing power consumption. The system comprises a management system and apparatuses, each comprising a measurement unit, a processing unit, an optional communications unit and a control unit, such that each apparatus is connected to an electrical outlet and is associated with an appliance or a group of appliances. Control units inject electrical signals via the associated electrical outlet to the electrical appliance. The measurement unit measures electrical parameters at the outlet, and the processing unit analyzes the electrical parameters measured in view of the electrical signal and detects the electrical signature of the associated electrical appliance therefrom. The electrical signature is utilized to characterize various characteristics of the electrical appliances and manage power consumption of the network. |
| US08290632B2 |
Method for controlling production and downhole pressures of a well with multiple subsurface zones and/or branches
A method for controlling the influx of fluids into a multizone well in which each inflow zone is provided with an inflow control device, comprises: assessing the flux of oil, gas, water and other effluents from the well; monitoring production variables, including ICD position and/or fluid pressure in each inflow zone upstream of each ICD and/or downstream of each ICD; sequentially adjusting the position of each of the ICDs and assessing the flux of crude oil, natural gas and/or other well effluents; monitoring production variables; deriving a zonal production estimation model for each inflow zone of the well; and adjusting each ICD to control the influx of crude oil, natural gas and/or other effluents into each inflow zone on the basis of data derived from the zonal production estimation model for each inflow zone of the well. |
| US08290629B1 |
Airflow management
A method and system are provided for airflow management in a data center. The data center includes network elements, sensors, and heating, cooling and ventilation (HVAC) equipment. The sensors measure climate conditions in the data center and provide an airflow management system with measurements that are utilized to determine which areas in the data center violate data center temperature thresholds and require more air capacity. The airflow management system increases the airflow to areas that contribute to the violation by controlling HVAC equipment to increase air movement or by selecting other areas in the data center or external to the data center that have excess capacity and routing the excess capacity to the areas that contribute to the violation. |