| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08407809B2 |
Delivery of non-permanent media files to a mobile station
A media file content provider 30 sends a non-permanent copy of a media file, such as a music or video file, to a second mobile station MS 34 in response to a request from a first MS 22. The copy may be rendered non-permanent by streaming it, by encrypting it, and by appending a first instruction to automatically delete it after playing. The first MS 22 may be given an option of delivery pathways, such as cellular 76, 78, WLAN 80, or DVB-H 84. After playing, an offer is made to the second MS 34 to purchase a permanent copy of the media file. If accepted, the content provider may provide another copy of the media file, or preferably a permanent decryption key or a second instruction that defeats the first instruction prior to its deletion of the media file. |
| US08407807B2 |
Dynamic assertion providers for logic-based security policy languages
Architecture that employs dynamic assertion providers in logic-based security policy languages. The dynamic assertion providers provide a mechanism by which data can be processed in an efficient, goal-directed manner. The application of dynamic assertion providers enables the inferencing over type hierarchies, including hierarchies of personally identifiable information and also for file systems which are hierarchal in nature. When searching for facts to bind against for a given subgoal, dynamic assertion providers are also queried. These objects follow an interface which can implement an arbitrary method to provide facts to the logic engine in a goal-directed, on-demand manner. Hierarchical types can be implemented using a hierarchy provider. |
| US08407802B2 |
Method and system for providing security seals on web pages
A method of providing web site verification information to a user includes receiving a DNS query including a host name and a seal verification site name, parsing the DNS query, and extracting the host name from the DNS query. The method also includes accessing a DNS zone file including a list of Trust Services customers and determining if the host name is associated with a Trust Services customer in the list of Trust Services customers. The method further includes transmitting a positive identifier to the requester if the host name is associated with a Trust Services customer and transmitting a negative identifier to the requester if the host name is not associated with a Trust Services customer. In a specific embodiment, the Trust Services include issuance of digital certificates. |
| US08407801B2 |
Security countermeasure function evaluation program
In a security countermeasure function evaluation apparatus, an estimator operates an input unit, whereby an evaluation point calculation unit makes an evaluation as to whether each item of countermeasure information representing a security countermeasure function in detail satisfies each item of sufficient condition table information, and the evaluation point is calculated from the evaluation result of each item, whereby the transition probability calculation unit calculates a transition probability based on the evaluation point. |
| US08407798B1 |
Method for simulation aided security event management
A method for simulation aided security event management, the method includes: generating attack simulation information that comprises multiple simulation data items of at least one data item type out of vulnerability instances data items, attack step data items and attack simulation scope data items; wherein the generating of attack simulation information is responsive to a network model, at least one attack starting point and attack action information; identifying security events in response to a correlation between simulation data items and event data; and prioritizing identified security events. |
| US08407795B2 |
Systems and methods to secure backup images from viruses
A system and method provide for storing virus metadata with a backup image. Upon restoring files or data from the backup image, the virus metadata from the backup image is compared with current virus data. The comparison yields a list of new viruses that have been discovered after the backup image was created. The restore process may cause restored files to be scanned for the new viruses, while excluding previously known viruses from the scan. |
| US08407794B2 |
Signature searching method and apparatus using signature location in packet
A method of and apparatus for searching for a signature in a packet according to a signature location. The method may include extracting a sub-payload to be compared with a signature from a payload of a packet, generating an offset that is location information about a location of the sub-payload in the payload, generating a search key that includes the extracted sub-payload and the generated offset, and performing ternary content addressable memory (TCAM) matching to check if the generated search key matches a TCAM entry. |
| US08407793B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing mobile device malware defense
A method and apparatus for protecting a wireless communication network are disclosed. For example, the method identifies an infected mobile endpoint device via at least one audit by a mal-ware defense platform, and performs an anti-malware application update on the infected mobile endpoint device. |
| US08407792B2 |
Systems and methods for computer security
A method for maintaining computer security comprises receiving an incoming email destined for an email server, determining whether the received incoming email is infected with malicious code and blocking the incoming email determined to be infected with malicious code from reaching the email server. |
| US08407787B1 |
Computer apparatus and method for non-intrusive inspection of program behavior
A computer-implemented method for malicious code detection. An emulator is initialized, and import dynamic link libraries are processed. Instructions of a target program are emulated using the emulator. Select application programming interface calls are intercepted using an intercept list during the program emulation. |
| US08407786B1 |
System, method, and computer program product for displaying the rating on an electronic mail message in a user-configurable manner
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for displaying an electronic mail message in a user-configurable manner. In use, an electronic mail message is identified. Additionally, a risk of the electronic mail message is rated based on predefined criteria. Furthermore, the electronic mail message is displayed in a user-configurable manner based on the rating. |
| US08407783B2 |
Computing system providing normal security and high security services
A computing system and method providing normal security services and high security services are disclosed. The computing system includes hardware resources, a processor core and an access right checker. The hardware resources are grouped into resource security levels. The processor, switching between a normal security and a high security state, assigns a user access right to a request. In comparison with the normal security state, user access right assigned in the high security state further allows the request to use the hardware resources of a higher resource security level. According to the assigned user access right and the resource security levels of required hardware resources of the request, the access right checker determines whether the request has the authority to use the hardware resources, and thereby, the access right checker executes the request or responds the issued request with an exception. |
| US08407782B2 |
Data copyright management
Embodiments of methods, apparatuses, devices, and/or systems for data copyright management are described. According to one embodiment of this disclosure, data copyright management may include displaying, storing, copying, editing, and/or transferring digital data. According to an embodiment, data copyright management may include protecting digital data copyrights. Various embodiments of this disclosure may use cryptographic keys to implement portions of the data copyright management disclosed. |
| US08407779B1 |
Transposing a packet firewall policy within a node
A system is configured to receive a set of rules that specify how packets are to be processed by a node, where the set of rules include one or more negative rules that identify operations to be performed, by the node, when information associated with the packets does not match information specified by the negative rules, and one or more positive rules that identify other operations to be performed, by the node, when the information associated with the packets matches information specified by the positive rules. The system is also configured to create a group of modified rules by converting the negative rules into a corresponding group of positive rules; and install the modified rules in the node that allows the node to process the packets, using the modified rules, as though the node was processing the packets using the set of rules. |
| US08407773B1 |
Data and application access combined with communication services
An apparatus conveniently provides a user with access to applications and data that the user accesses on other devices in a secure and authenticated manner. The apparatus detects the presence of a second device, such as a mobile phone. The apparatus authenticates a user based at least on identifying information provided by the second device. The apparatus locates one or more applications based on resource access information provided by a server based on the identifying information. While the second device remains present, upon authenticating the user, and further upon successfully locating the application(s), the apparatus provides the user with access to the one or more applications. User data for the one or more applications is made available from the second device and/or a server. The data is synchronized across all sources. The data is encrypted at the apparatus, and rendered unreadable when the second device is no longer present. |
| US08407770B2 |
System and method for managing user token in client device on network
A user token management system in a client device on a network comprises an obtaining module, a web controller and a processing module. The obtaining module obtains a user token from a database in response to a retrieving request for retrieving authorization of a web service provider on the network. The web controller transmits an authenticating request for authenticating the user token to the web service provider and receives an authentication result authenticating the user token. The processing module deletes the user token from the database when that user token is not authenticated by the web service provider. |
| US08407768B1 |
Data and application access combined with communication services
An apparatus conveniently provides a user with access to applications and data that the user accesses on other devices in a secure and authenticated manner. The apparatus detects the presence of a second device, such as a mobile phone. The apparatus authenticates a user based at least on identifying information provided by the second device. The apparatus locates one or more applications based on resource access information provided by the second device. While the second device remains present, upon authenticating the user, and further upon successfully locating the one or more applications, the apparatus provides the user with access to the one or more applications. User data for the one or more applications is made available from the second device and/or a server. The data is synchronized across all sources. The data is encrypted at the apparatus, and rendered unreadable when the second device is no longer present. |
| US08407767B2 |
Provisioning of digital identity representations
A system and method for provisioning digital identity representations (“DIRs”) uses various techniques and structures to ease administration, increase accuracy, and decrease inconsistencies of a digital-identity provisioning system. Various methods are provided for creating new DIRs, requesting DIRs, notifying principals of available DIRs, and approving issuance of new DIRs. |
| US08407765B2 |
System and method for restricting access to network performance information tables
A system and method for restricting access to network performance information associated with communications over a packet network. A request may be received from a user to access network performance information associated with communications of data packets over a packet network. A determination as to whether the user has permission to access the network performance information may be made. In response to determining that the user has permission to access the network performance information, the user may be enabled to access the network performance information; otherwise, the user may be prevented from accessing the network performance information. The network performance information may include information associated with communications of data packets including real-time content and non-real-time content. |
| US08407761B2 |
Encrypting operating system
A method of and system for encrypting and decrypting data on a computer system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system comprises an encrypting operating system (EOS), which is a modified UNIX operating system. The EOS is configured to use a symmetric encryption algorithm and an encryption key to encrypt data transferred from physical memory to secondary devices, such as disks, swap devices, network file systems, network buffers, pseudo file systems, or any other structures external to the physical memory and on which can data can be stored. The EOS further uses the symmetric encryption algorithm and the encryption key to decrypt data transferred from the secondary devices back to physical memory. In other embodiments, the EOS adds an extra layer of security by also encrypting the directory structure used to locate the encrypted data. In a further embodiment a user or process is authenticated and its credentials checked before a file can be accessed, using a key management facility that controls access to one or more keys for encrypting and decrypting data. |
| US08407760B2 |
Apparatus and method for transitioning access rights for role-based access control compatibility
Disclosed is a method for transitioning access rights, in a remote station with role-based access control, for an unknown role having access rights defined by a central access control management module. In the method, a role capability table is maintained in the remote station specifying centrally-defined access rights of roles that are interpretable in the remote station. An access request associated with an unknown role that is not interpretable in the remote station is received. The access request includes a role transition list that relates the unknown role to other centrally-defined roles. At least one of the other centrally-defined roles is interpretable in the remote station. A role is selected, from the role transition list, that is interpretable in the remote station for interpreting the unknown role of the access request. Access is granted based on the access request associated with the unknown role using the access rights of the interpretable role selected from the role transition table. |
| US08407754B2 |
Efficient mobile receiver autoprogramming
A mobile receiver is programmed with available channels by initially searching for all potentially available channels and autoprogramming the receiver with channels that are detected by the receiver. Subsequently, only potentially available channels that have not been programmed into the receiver are searched for to reduce autoprogramming time when, e.g., the mobile receiver is carried to a higher elevation. |
| US08407749B2 |
Communication system and method
A television receiver system and corresponding method, the television receiver system comprising: a television receiver for receiving broadcast television signals, signal processing apparatus operable to process the received television signals for output to a television screen, and a control device allowing a user to select a viewing activity by controlling the output to the television screen. The television receiver further comprises a memory storing a communication client application; and communications processing apparatus operable to execute the communication client application. The client application is programmed so as when executed to allow the user to establish bidirectional communications with one or more other users via a packet-based communication network, and to provide notifications to the user of incoming communication events from other users. The client application is further programmed to control the notifications of incoming communication events in dependence on the selection of viewing activity. |
| US08407748B2 |
Image processing apparatus, control method thereof
An image processing apparatus includes a reception unit configured to receive a transmission request of information on a directory for managing contents from a display apparatus, a transmission unit configured to transmit a response to the transmission request received by the reception unit, and a notification unit configured to notify the display apparatus of a change in a predetermined directory, thereby causing the display apparatus to transmit a transmission request of information on the predetermined directory again. When a new directory is formed on the same layer as that of the directory for managing the contents as a result of addition of the contents in the storage medium, the notification unit notifies the display apparatus of a change in a directory located on a layer above the directory for managing the contents. |
| US08407744B2 |
Snapshot recognition for TV
A system may include logic to provide a video program to a video display, logic to provide interactive content to indicate that a snapshot of the video program can be captured, and snapshot capturing logic to capture a video frame of the video program. |
| US08407741B2 |
System, server and method for providing supplementary information service related to broadcast content
The present invention relates to a system and method for providing a supplementary information service related to broadcast content. The system for providing a supplementary information service related to broadcast content being broadcasted to user terminal comprises a Time Information Creating Server for Identifying a start time information of the broadcast content; and a Supplementary Information Service Providing Server for receiving the start time information of the broadcast content from the Time Information Creating Server, calculating elapsed time for a specific scene based on the start time information, and providing a user terminal with an supplementary information corresponding to the scene based on the elapsed time, through a communication network. And the method for providing a supplementary information related to broadcast content being broadcasted to user terminal comprises steps of identifying a start time information of the broadcast content; calculating elapsed time for a specific scene based on the start time information; and providing a user terminal with an supplementary information corresponding to the scene based on the elapsed time, through a communication network. |
| US08407734B2 |
Broadcasting receiver and method of transmitting / receiving broadcasting signal
A method of transmitting/receiving a broadcasting signal and a broadcasting receiver are disclosed. A rating region table (RRT) including a rating value identifier identifying rating information is stored, and, when broadcasting contents are received, the rating value identifier is obtained from a descriptor (or service discovery information) including the rating information of the contents. Then, the received broadcasting contents can be blocked according to the rating value identifier obtained from the descriptor and the rating value identifier of the RRT. Accordingly, although the RRT is changed, the broadcasting contents can be conveniently blocked using the unchanged rating value identifier. |
| US08407730B2 |
Objective lens actuator for enabling to reduce the dynamic tilt between optical disc and objective lens
An objective lens actuator 25, for driving an objective lens 1 for focusing lights upon a recoding surface of an optical disc, comprises a moving part 2, which comprises the objective lens 1 and a coil; a magnet, which is fixed on a yoke and drives the moving part 2; a plural number of elastic support parts, each of which supports the moving part 2 at an end thereof; a first fixing portion 5a and a second fixing portion 5b, which fix other ends of the plural number of elastic support parts 4 and are disposed opposite to each other in a focus direction; and a moving mechanism 6, which is provided on the first and second fixing portion 5a and 5b, so that the first and second fixing portions 5a and 5b can move in the focus direction, relatively, and thereby providing the objective lens actuator 25 enabling to reduce the dynamic relative tilt between the optical disc and the objective lens 1 (i.e., reducing the tilt of the objective lens 1 in the tangential direction when operating), as well as, an optical pickup and an optical disc drive. |
| US08407729B2 |
Optical disk record and playback apparatus and pickup protecting method thereof
The present invention avoids a case in which a pickup lens and a lens protector come into contact with a structure of a disk cartridge and are damaged. When an operation distance is short and there is a disk cartridge 203 and the disk cartridge 203 is not an exclusive cartridge, a moving range of the pickup 107 is restricted or an actuating operation thereafter is stopped depending upon whether the optical disk medium 101 loaded into the optical disk apparatus is an optical disk medium having a short operation distance, whether there is a disk cartridge 203, and whether a structure of the disk cartridge 203 is prevented from coming into contact with a pickup lens or the lens protector which is exclusive for the optical disk medium having the short operation distance. |
| US08407728B2 |
Data flow network
A compositional model referred to as a source-target pattern for connecting processes into process networks in a general, flexible, and extensible manner is provided. The model allows common process algebra constructs to be combined with data flow networks to form process networks. Process algebraic operations may be expressed in terms of the compositional model to form data flow networks that provide fully interoperable process algebraic operations between processes. |
| US08407727B2 |
Method and apparatus for driving printer driver according to a determined application and method and apparatus for installing the printer driver
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for driving a printer driver based on a determined type of application, and driving one of an extensible markup language (XML) paper specification (XPS) driver and a legacy driver in accordance with the determined type of application. The most appropriate printer driver may be automatically selected in accordance with the determined type of application. Thus, a user does not have to inconveniently select a printer driver whenever the user prints data and the data may be printed using the most appropriate printer driver. Furthermore, an optimized printing operation may be performed even when a user does not check whether an application to be used is a particular type of application, or whether a printer driver corresponding to the application is an XPS driver or a legacy driver. |
| US08407722B2 |
Asynchronous messaging using a node specialization architecture in the dynamic routing network
A network routes update messages containing updates to properties of live objects from input sources to clients having the objects. When the clients receive live objects, the clients identify the object IDs associated with the objects and register the object IDs with the routing network. The routing network is adapted to selectively send update messages to nodes in the network and the nodes forward the messages to the clients. One implementation uses a hierarchy of registries to indicate which nodes and clients receive which update messages. Another implementation assigns update messages to one or more of N categories and nodes to one or more of M types, and the gateways maintain mapping between categories and types. To ensure that clients receive all of the update messages for which they register, the clients connect to client proxies that in turn connect to at least one node of each type. |
| US08407714B2 |
Arithmetic device for processing one or more threads
An arithmetic device simultaneously processes a plurality of threads and may continue the process by minimizing the degradation of the entire performance although a hardware error occurs. An arithmetic device 100 includes: an instruction execution circuit 101 capable of selectively executing a mode in which the instruction sequences of a plurality of threads are executed and a mode in which the instruction sequence of a single thread is executed; and a switch indication circuit 102 instructing the instruction execution circuit 101 to switch a thread mode. |
| US08407712B2 |
Updating workflow nodes in a workflow
Provided a method, system, and article of manufacture for updating workflow nodes in a workflow. A workflow program processes user input at one node in a workflow comprised of nodes and workflow paths connecting the nodes, wherein the user provides user input to traverse through at least one workflow path to reach the current node. The workflow program transmits information on a current node to an analyzer. The analyzer processes the information on the current node to determine whether there are modifications to at least one subsequent node following the current node over at least one workflow path from the current node. The analyzer transmits to the workflow program an update including modifications to the at least one subsequent node in response to determining the modifications. |
| US08407703B1 |
Quiensce termination/suspension in a multithreaded enviroment
In response to the detection of an external event by the first thread, the first thread sends a quiesce event to each additional thread of the application and suspends execution. The quiesce event may be either a suspension event requesting suspension of the additional threads or a termination event requesting termination of the additional threads. Each additional thread, upon receiving the quiesce event, checks its environment to determine whether it is holding any critical system resource. If the additional thread determines that is not holding any critical system resource and that it is therefore safe to quiesce, the additional thread quiesces. Before quiescing, the last additional thread to quiesce resumes the first thread, which is now free to perform critical operations without interference from the additional threads. If the quiesce type is suspension, the first thread resumes the additional threads upon completing its critical operations, whereupon the application resumes its normal operation. |
| US08407702B2 |
Computer system for managing virtual machine migration
In a system including a plurality of physical machines to execute virtual machines (VM1, VM2), migration virtual machine information and definition information are saved in a physical machine executing a virtual machine (VM1) to be migrated and a storage of a physical machine as a migration destination. During the migration of the virtual machine, machine identification information of a migration partner, unique information assigned to the virtual machine, and information indicating whether the physical machine executing the processing is a migration-source or migration-destination physical machine are saved in a migration information storage area. A migration recovery section examines information stored in a definition information storage area and a migration information storage area to determine a recovery procedure to restore the virtual machine. |
| US08407695B2 |
Control device setting method and program
Execution is provided of at least: the first processing for making the installer software store the group information that relates to information which classifies a plurality of apparatuses into groups and specifies the apparatuses belonging to each group or the address information indicating the location storing this group information, at the time of building the installer software for installing the universal control software that provides universal control of a plurality of the apparatuses; the second processing for notifying about the group information or address information to prompt the group setting of a plurality of the apparatuses when installing the universal control software using installer software; and the third processing for selecting an apparatus as the object of control from among the apparatuses specified by group information acquired from the storage location having been notified or specified by the address information, when universal control software is executed. |
| US08407694B2 |
System and method for facilitating installing software
A system and method for facilitating installing software includes steps and means for identifying whether the phase of a software installing process changes and, responsive to the identifying a change in the phase of the software installing process, executing an additional task of the current phase of the software installing process. |
| US08407691B2 |
User interface for automated provision of build images
A method for automated provision of build images is disclosed. The method includes identifying the network location of build scripts that provide information regarding the installation of installation files and copying the build scripts from the location on the network to a memory, e.g., a disk drive of a target computer system. In addition, the method includes copying installation files that correspond to the build scripts to the drive of the target machine. The installation files are subsequently installed on the target machine to create the build image. |
| US08407689B2 |
Updating nodes considering service model constraints
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for deploying an update to nodes propagated throughout a data center are provided. Launching new upgrade to hosting environment residing on the nodes typically invokes a mechanism (e.g., fabric controller) to form a group of nodes that are independent of one another with respect to upgrade domains, which are assigned to tenants (e.g., program components of service applications running within the data center) presently hosted by the nodes. The constraints of the update domains are articulated by service level agreements established for the service applications, respectively. Forming the group involves identifying independent nodes for membership, where no two members of the group host analogous tenants (belonging to a common service application) that are assigned to distinct update domains. However, it is acceptable to join to the group those nodes hosting analogous tenants that are each assigned to the same update domain. |
| US08407678B2 |
Method of array interception using data-flow analysis
An apparatus and a method for Java array interception using bytecode manipulation and data flow analysis. In one embodiment, a user-provided object class is identified. An array access operation of the user-provided object class is intercepted. The intercepted array access operation is translated with an emulator class of a native Java array. The translated array access operation is sent to an emulator class to determine whether to dispatch to the native Java array or an alternate data source. |
| US08407662B2 |
Apparatus and method for network driver injection into target image
A method provides network driver injection into a target image to transform the target image to be compatible with one or more source machines, for facilitating operating system streaming over a network. The method may include: facilitating access to a source system registry file of a source machine; facilitating access to a target system registry file of the target image, without copying the target image; determining whether source network interface cards of the source machine are compatible with the target image; and if the source network interface cards are not compatible with the target image, performing network interface driver injection into the target image. The target image may include an operating system. A machine-readable storage medium and apparatus are provided. A method is described for building a program for providing network driver injection into a target image to transform the target image to be compatible with computing machines. |
| US08407661B2 |
Method and system for creating HMI applications for an automation process
There is described a method and system for developing for an automation process a screen viewable on a target computer that has user interface objects. A development computer has a set of common design time components from a general purpose software development kit that also has a databinding facility and a set of customization components. Those components have an interface that allows access to the available for use automation process data objects and a process object picker that act as a user interface to the databinding facility to allow the browsing of a subset of the available for use data objects and selecting of one or more of the objects in the subset for binding by the databinding facility either to one or more members of the user interface objects or one or more of the user interface objects or a combination of the same. |
| US08407660B2 |
Interconnect architecture in three dimensional network on a chip
The connection architecture of a network on a chip (NoC) is described in which (a) nodes in octahedron sections are connected in an arc Benes network, (b) a hierarchy of node clusters are connected using a globally asynchronous locally asynchronous (GALA) configuration, (c) a double wishbone 2D torus ring is applied to connection between network layers and (d) data is routed using buffer modulation. |
| US08407659B2 |
Method of designing a printed circuit board
In a method of designing a printed circuit board, a package capacitance, a package inductance, and a chip capacitance of an actual memory device are calculated. A signal line capacitance and a signal line inductance per unit length of a signal line are calculated based on characteristics of the printed circuit board. A length of the signal line for each pin is determined based on the package capacitance and the signal line capacitance. |
| US08407655B2 |
Fixing design requirement violations in multiple multi-corner multi-mode scenarios
Systems and techniques for fixing design requirement violations in a circuit design in multiple scenarios are described. During operation, a system can receive a scenario image and a multi-scenario ECO database. The scenario image can store parameter values for circuit objects in a scenario, and the multi-scenario ECO database can store a subset of parameter values for a subset of circuit objects in multiple scenarios. Next, the system can determine an engineering change order to fix one or more design requirement violations, which can involve estimating parameter values for circuit objects in multiple scenarios using parameter values stored in the scenario image and the multi-scenario ECO database. |
| US08407654B2 |
Glitch power reduction
A method comprises reducing power consumption of an electronic circuit, wherein the electronic circuit comprises at least one logic cone with at least one gate having a single output net, wherein representations of the at least one gate are instances of elements from a standard cell library. Reducing of the power consumption comprises determining an upper bound for dynamic power consumption by calculating transition metrics and power metrics for each gate. Reducing of the power consumption comprises selecting gates with an upper bound for power consumption greater than a predetermined threshold value. For each selected gate, performing operations comprising: testing multiple configurations from the standard cell library for the selected gate by calculating respective upper bound for power consumption for each of the multiple configurations; selecting gate configuration with minimum upper bound for power consumption; and modifying the gate-level design representation according to the selected gate configuration. |
| US08407653B1 |
Method and system of estimating a derating factor for soft errors in a circuit
Approaches for estimating a derating factor for a plurality of potential soft errors in a circuit implementation of a circuit design. A plurality of respective estimated toggle rates are determined for a plurality of circuit elements for implementing the circuit design. A derating factor of the circuit design is determined as a function of the estimated toggle rates of the plurality of circuit elements. The derating factor is an estimation of a fraction of the plurality of potential soft errors that would cause functional failure of the circuit design. |
| US08407650B1 |
Method for repeated block modification for chip routing
In various embodiments, each possible different instance of a repeated block can be concurrently modified for chip routing. Repeated blocks can be implemented where all instances of a repeated block are identical or substantially identical. Pin placement may be determined based on analysis of the I/O for all instances. The pin placement may be generated to be identical or substantially similar for all instances. Flyover blockages can be designed into repeated blocks to enable the global router to wire through the repeated block. Buffers and associated pins can be inserted into repeated block within the flyover space where the global router wires to the needed buffer through area pins. |
| US08407640B2 |
Sensitivity-based complex statistical modeling for random on-chip variation
The invention provides a method for performing statistical static timing analysis using a novel on-chip variation model, referred to as Sensitivity-based Complex Statistical On-Chip Variation (SCS-OCV). SCS-OCV introduces complex variation concept to resolve the blocking technical issue of combining local random variations, enabling accurate calculation of statistical variations with correlations, such as common-path pessimism removal (CPPR). SCS-OCV proposes practical statistical min/max operations for random variations that can guarantee pessimism at nominal and targeted N-sigma corner, and extends the method to handle complex variations, enabling graph-based full arrival/required time propagation under variable compaction. SCS-OCV provides a statistical corner evaluation method for complex random variables that can transform vector-based parametric timing information to the single-value corner-based timing report, and based on the method derives equations to bridge POCV/SSTA with LOCV. This significantly reduces the learning curve and increases the usage of the technology, being more easily adopted by the industry. |
| US08407638B2 |
Methods and apparatus for boolean equivalency checking in the presence of voting logic
In a first aspect, a first method of designing a circuit is provided. The first method includes the steps of (1) providing a model of an original circuit design including a latch; (2) providing a model of a modified version of the original circuit design, wherein the modified version of the original circuit design includes a set of latches associated with the latch of the original circuit design and voting logic having inputs coupled to respective outputs of latches in the latch set; and (3) during Boolean equivalency checking (BEC), injecting an error on at most a largest minority of the inputs of the voting logic to test the voting logic function. |
| US08407636B2 |
Clock domain crossing verification support
A computer-readable, non-transitory medium stores therein a verification support program that causes a computer to execute a procedure. The procedure includes first detecting a state change in a circuit and occurring when input data is given to the circuit. The procedure also includes second detecting a state change in the circuit and occurring when the input data partially altered is given to the circuit. The procedure further includes determining whether a difference exists between a series of state changes detected at the first detecting and a series of state changes detected at the second detecting. The procedure also includes outputting a determination result obtained at the determining. |
| US08407633B2 |
Dynamically reconfigurable self-monitoring circuit
A method configures a plurality of circuit elements for execution of an application in a first configuration. The method monitors the execution of the application on the plurality of circuit elements to produce monitoring information, using a computerized device, and stores the monitoring information in a storage structure. The method selectively communicates the monitoring information to an external element separate from the computerized device. The external element transforms the first configuration into a second configuration based on the monitoring information. The computerized device receives the second configuration from the external element and reconfigures the plurality of elements into the second configuration. |
| US08407629B2 |
Pattern verification-test method, optical image intensity distribution acquisition method, and computer program
A pattern verification-test method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: deriving an illumination condition at a verification-test subject position in a photomask surface of a mask pattern as a verification or a test subject based on the verification-test subject position and illumination condition information about a distribution of an illumination condition in a photomask surface of exposure light incident on the mask pattern, performing lithography simulation on the mask pattern based on the derived illumination condition and the mask pattern, and verifying or testing the mask pattern based on a result of the lithography simulation. |
| US08407628B2 |
Photomask manufacturing method and semiconductor device manufacturing method
This invention discloses a photomask manufacturing method. A pattern dimensional map is generated by preparing a photomask in which a mask pattern is formed on a transparent substrate, and measuring a mask in-plane distribution of the pattern dimensions. A transmittance correction coefficient map is generated by dividing a pattern formation region into a plurality of subregions, and determining a transmittance correction coefficient for each of the plurality of subregions. The transmittance correction value of each subregion is calculated on the basis of the pattern dimensional map and the transmittance correction coefficient map. The transmittance of the transparent substrate corresponding to each subregion is changed on the basis of the transmittance correction value. |
| US08407626B2 |
Gestured movement of object to display edge
The use of gestures to organize displayed objects on an interactive display. The gesture is used to move the displayed object to the edge of the interactive display so that the displayed object is only partially displayed after being moved. The size of the displayed object may be reduced and/or the displayed object may be rotated such that an identified portion of the displayed object remains in the display after moving. A gesture may also be used to move multiple displayed objects to the edge of the display. |
| US08407624B2 |
Mouse movement using multiple thresholds utilizing linear exponential acceleration and sub-pixel precision
Moving a pointer in a graphical user interface environment is provided. An input comprising an initial delta value determined by a device driver is received from the device driver. The initial delta value is located in a data structure. A new delta value associated with the initial delta value is selected from the data structure. A new position of a pointer in the graphical user interface environment is calculated based on the new delta value. The new position of the pointer is sent to the graphical user interface environment for rendering. |
| US08407623B2 |
Playback control using a touch interface
This is directed to controlling media playback based on particular touch gestures detected by a touch-sensing interface. The electronic device can identify particular touch inputs, such as combinations of tapping and holding a touch sensitive surface, or circular motions. In response to detecting a particular touch gesture, the electronic device can perform a playback operation specifically associated with the detected touch gesture. To provide a consistent user interface with the device, some of the particular touch gestures can match other inputs provided using a button, for example a button integrated on a wired headset. In such an embodiment, the same combination of tapping and holding a touch input and pressing and holding a button can control the same electronic device operations. |
| US08407621B1 |
Enabling participation in an online community using visual machine-readable symbols
A facility for coordinating an online discussion is described. The facility receives an indication that a user has captured a machine-readable symbol encoding an identifier that identifies a particular online discussion. In response, the facility incorporates into an online forum that hosts this online discussion an indication that this user captured a symbol encoding an identifier that identifies this online discussion. |
| US08407615B2 |
Method of displaying and interacting with information on a rotary fabric
A system and method by which menus, displays, charts, maps and pictures may be presented to a user and very quickly seen and used in the context of a larger display without obscuring key elements of that display. Menus or other graphical displays are anchored to the sides of a solid figure, which can be rotated to display the menu panels and other textual and graphical information. |
| US08407612B2 |
Pinning of tabs in tab groups
A multi-document application that includes a multi-document interface that includes a view area that displays one document at a time and includes a tab group element that displays tabs, each tab having a control that permits a corresponding document to be visualized in the view area. A user may then designate that one or more of the tabs are to be pinned to thereby have the multi-document application assign a pinned status to the tab. The pinned status may be persisted such that when the multi-document application is closed and reloaded, the pinned status remains. Further, when a tab receives a pinned status, the tab does not display less information regarding the corresponding document as compared to before the tab was pinned. |
| US08407610B2 |
Executable and declarative specification for graphical user interfaces
Techniques for decoupling models created during design-time from the runtime environment. A declarative and executable representation for GUIs for applications is provided that is independent of any particular runtime platform, GUI framework, device, or programming language and which acts as an interface between the design environment and the runtime environment. |
| US08407609B2 |
System and method for providing and tracking the provision of audio and visual presentations via a computer network
A method for tracking digital media presentations: providing a corresponding web page for each digital media presentation to be delivered; providing identifier data to the user's computer; providing a timer applet to the user's computer; and, storing data indicative of received identifier data; wherein each provided webpage causes corresponding digital media presentation data to be streamed from a second computer system distinct from a first computer system directly to the user's computer independent of the first computer system; and stored data is indicative of an amount of time the digital media presentation data is streamed from the second computer system to the user's computer. |
| US08407597B1 |
Event-based user interface customization
A computing device receives a setting of a customizable preference for an interface element of a user interface and receives a definition for an event associated with the setting. The computing device monitors for an occurrence of the event and receives an indication of the occurrence of the event. The computing device also obtains the setting associated with the event, applies the setting to the interface element, and renders, for presentation on a display, the interface element based on the setting. |
| US08407593B2 |
Method, apparatus and computer program product to utilize context ontology in mobile device application personalization
A mobile terminal includes a user interface specified at least in part by a user. The mobile terminal includes a user interface specification unit that operates in accordance with a programmed data processor to select, in cooperation with the user, at least one trigger and an action, which together form a rule; to automatically generate a directory structure comprising a set of available events in accordance with a hierarchical information model; to select, in cooperation with the user, at least one trigger value from the available set of events and to define an action to be performed by the mobile terminal in responsive to the at least one trigger value being satisfied. |
| US08407591B2 |
Image processing apparatus, computer program product, and preview image displaying method
An image processing apparatus includes a preview creating unit, a storage unit, and a display unit. The storage unit stores therein in advance a sample image. The display unit displays, prior to receipt of image data, an input screen that displays the sample image and independent setting items, among a plurality of setting items available for the image data, independent of contents of the image data. The creating unit creates a preview image based on setting specified with respect to any of the independent setting items for the sample image, and the display unit displays the preview image. |
| US08407588B1 |
Large columnar text file editor
The different advantageous embodiments provide a method for loading and editing text files. A text file is identified as input. A determination is made as to whether the text file is a columnar text file. If the text file is columnar, data information is retrieved for the text file. Pre-defined cache settings are identified. A determination is made as to whether the data information retrieved fits within the pre-defined cache settings. If the data information retrieved fits within the pre-defined cache settings, a determination is made as to whether the first row of the text file is a header row in a view. If the first row of the text file is not a header row, the text file is normalized. A view mode is selected for load and edit operations of the text file. |
| US08407583B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, computer-readable medium and computer data signal
An information processing apparatus comprises a memory that stores structure information indicating a structure of functions of a Web application. Upon acquiring extension page information defining an extension function of the Web application, the apparatus sets up the extension page information in the memory according to a setup command, and determines, based on the setup command and the structure information, an insertion position of the extension function in the structure of functions of the Web application. Then, upon receipt of a request for generation of a Web page that represents the structure of functions of the Web application, the apparatus generates an extended Web page based on the structure information and the insertion position, by inserting extension function information indicating the extension function into a Web page according to the structure information. |
| US08407582B2 |
Browser program for performing table-layout
There is provided a method of laying out contents targeted for a first device having a first screen size on a screen of a second device having a second screen size smaller than the first screen size. The method includes analyzing a table width of the table in accordance with a predetermined criterion; and performing in response to a result of the analyzing step one of layout operations of: (p1) laying out the table using a typical technique in accordance with the second screen size, and (p2) laying out a row of cells in the table so that at least two cells arranged adjacently in a horizontal direction in the row of the table are aligned horizontally on the screen of the second device based on a predetermined algorithm. |
| US08407581B2 |
Reverse mapping method and apparatus for form filling
In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, every time a user submits a form the client software tries to match the submitted information with the stored profile of that user. If a match is discovered, the program tags the field of the recognized data with a corresponding type. The resulting profile can be used after that to help all subsequent users to fill the same form. |
| US08407580B2 |
Method and system for presenting input expressions and evaluations of the input expressions on a workspace of a computational system
In a method for presenting information, an interactive document, for example, may be created that includes both an input expression and a result generated by evaluating the input expression, and where the input expression can be selectively hidden. This may permit “decluttering” of the document so that it may be easier to follow. At the same time, user interface mechanisms allow a viewer to reveal the input expression if the viewer desires to see the input expression. In this method, an input expression and a result corresponding to an evaluation of the input expression are presented on a workspace associated with a computational software application. Additionally, a first user interface mechanism associated with the input expression is presented on the workspace. In response to an activation of the first user interface mechanism, the input expression may be hidden on the workspace, while the result is presented on the workspace. |
| US08407578B2 |
Chemical web browser
The present invention relates to a system, method and program product for a chemical web browser. A chemical web browser including a document system for accessing a document containing at least one chemical name is provided. A chemical annotation system identifies the at least one chemical name within the document. A chemical formulae conversion system associates a chemical structure with the identified chemical name. The chemical structure is displayed. |
| US08407570B1 |
Decoding methods and apparatus for fractional multidimensional trellis coded modulation systems
Systems and methods for encoding user information and decoding signal vectors using fractional encoding/decoding and set partitioning. A fractional encoder can select a coset for transmitting or storing user information based on one or more deterministic bits and on encoded user information. The deterministic bits limit the encoder to using only a subset of the available signal vectors in a modulation scheme. A fractional decoder can receive a signal vector, and can find at least two nearest neighbors in each dimension. The fractional decoder can form a set of potential signal vectors using only the at least two nearest neighbors. The decoder may determine which of these potential signal vectors are valid within the fractional signaling scheme, and can decode the received signal vector based on the valid potential signal vectors. |
| US08407559B2 |
Monitoring memory
Devices, systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with monitoring memory are described. In one embodiment, a method determines a first data quality associated with a set of data stored in flash memory. Based, at least in part, on the first data quality, the flash memory is controlled to correct the set of data to produce a corrected set of data. The corrected set of data is reprogrammed into the flash memory. |
| US08407556B2 |
LDPC (low density parity check) coding and interleaving implemented in MIMO communication systems
LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) coding and interleaving implemented in multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) communication systems. As described herein, a wide variety of irregular LDPC codes may be generated using GRS or RS codes. A variety of communication device types are also presented that may employ the error correcting coding (ECC) using a GRS-based irregular LDPC code, along with appropriately selected interleaving, to provide for communications using ECC. These communication devices may be implemented to in wireless communication systems including those that comply with the recommendation practices and standards being developed by the IEEE 802.11n Task Group (i.e., the Task Group that is working to develop a standard for 802.11 TGn (High Throughput)). |
| US08407554B2 |
Method and apparatus for quantification of DNA sequencing quality and construction of a characterizable model system using Reed-Solomon codes
Data extracted from fluorosphore responses of fluorophore labeled bases in genetic material used in sequencing of unknown fragments from a defined set of for example a model system are converted into a class of block codes that are then employed in a computer-based process to compare and correct preliminary calls of calls of the categorically known genetic material. In a specific embodiment, the Reed-Solomon codes are employed to identify one or more errors as may occur in a finite block of codes. The methodology is also useful to identify elements of a real system containing known elements in the form of a tag. Reed-Solomon sensors may be employed with and in addition to other types of genome sensors. |
| US08407549B2 |
Method for operation of synchronous HARQ in a wireless communication system
A method for operating synchronous HARQ between a transmitting station and a receiving station in a TDD communication system, includes configuring a plurality of HARQ processes at the transmitting station, and transmitting a data burst in a first subframe to the receiving station via one of the plurality of HARQ processes and using a frame structure including a plurality of regions of subframes. The method also includes receiving a second subframe transmitted from the receiving station and containing a HARQ feedback indicative of whether the data burst was correctly received at the receiving station. Further, the method includes determining whether the HARQ feedback is an acknowledgement (ACK) or a negative acknowledgement (NACK), and retransmitting, via the one of the plurality of HARQ processes, the data burst in a third subframe to the receiving station if it is determined that the HARQ feedback is a NACK. A total number of plurality of HARQ processes is determined based on a total number of uplink subframes between the first subframe and the third subframe. |
| US08407548B2 |
Data link layer tunneling technique for high-speed data in a noisy wireless environment
A data link layer tunneling technique improves the throughput of high speed data in noisy wireless environments. Recovering lost frames transmitted between a packet sending unit and a packet receiving unit in a data communications system generally comprises (a) identifying a failure to successfully receive a missed frame at the packet receiving unit; (b) establishing a logical tunnel channel at the packet receiving unit to acknowledge the next successfully received frame; (c) starting a first timer at the packet receiving unit; (c) upon receiving a tunnel establishment request from the packet receiving unit, the packet sending unit resending the missed frame on the logical tunnel channel and starting a second timer; and (d) the packet sending unit resending the missed frame a specified number of times until receiving an acknowledgement from the packet receiving unit. |
| US08407540B2 |
Low overhead circuit and method for predicting timing errors
A data processing circuitry includes a data input, a data output and a processing path arranged between the data input and the data output. The circuitry includes a plurality of retention circuits arranged in parallel with the processing path. At least one potential error detecting circuit including a potential error detecting path for transmitting the data signal pending at an input of one of a plurality of synchronization circuits to one of the retention circuits where the potential error detecting path includes delay circuitry for delaying the data. Also included is comparison circuitry for comparing a value of the data signal captured by one of the synchronization circuits with a value of the data signal captured by a corresponding one of the retention circuits. A comparison circuitry is configured to signal a potential error in response to detecting a difference in the captured data values. |
| US08407539B2 |
Semiconductor device test circuit, semiconductor device, and its manufacturing method
The test circuit can apply a stress to each node of each object combinational circuit in the semiconductor device and suppress the semiconductor circuit overhead when in burn-in or leak test operations for the semiconductor device while it has been impossible to apply such a stress to any of such nodes only with use of an F/F circuit in any conventional environments. The test circuit is disposed in the semiconductor and combined with first and second combinational circuits therein. In the semiconductor device, a transfer gate switch is connected between first and second nodes and a first transistor is connected between the second node and a power supply. The second transistor is connected between the second node and a ground. Each of the transfer gate switch and the first and second transistors operates according to at least one of the control signals supplied from outside the semiconductor device. |
| US08407538B2 |
Semiconductor package
A semiconductor package includes a memory controller chip, a plurality of first memory chips configured to store normal data, a second memory chip configured to store error information for correcting or detecting error of the normal data, and an interface unit configured to interface the memory controller chip, the plurality of first memory chips, and the second memory chip. |
| US08407537B2 |
Error recover within processing stages of an integrated circuit
An integrated circuit includes a plurality of processing stages each including processing logic 1014, a non-delayed signal-capture element 1016, a delayed signal-capture element 1018 and a comparator 1024. The non-delayed signal-capture element 1016 captures an output from the processing logic 1014 at a non-delayed capture time. At a later delayed capture time, the delayed signal-capture element 1018 also captures a value from the processing logic 1014. An error detection circuit 1026 and error correction circuit 1028 detect and correct random errors in the delayed value and supplies an error-checked delayed value to the comparator 1024. The comparator 1024 compares the error-checked delayed value and the non-delayed value and if they are not equal this indicates that the non-delayed value was captured too soon and should be replaced by the error-checked delayed value. The non-delayed value is passed to the subsequent processing stage immediately following its capture and accordingly error recovery mechanisms are used to suppress the erroneous processing which has occurred by the subsequent processing stages, such as gating the clock and allowing the correct signal values to propagate through the subsequent processing logic before restarting the clock. The operating parameters of the integrated circuit, such as the clock frequency, the operating voltage, the body biased voltage, temperature and the like are adjusted so as to maintain a finite non-zero error rate in a manner that increases overall performance. |
| US08407535B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating jitter test patterns on a high performance serial bus
The present invention provides a method for generating random jitter test patterns by generating a sequence of maximum-size asynchronous packets according to the P1394b standard and transmitting the sequence to the device under test. The present invention provides a method for generating jitter test patterns by disabling the transmitter data scrambler of the second device; clearing the port_error register of the device under test; and sending a test pattern to said device under test. The present invention provides for a method for generating supply noise test patterns comprising: transmitting a test pattern to the DUT comprising a maximum length asynchronous packet containing alternate 0016 and FF16 bytes. |
| US08407533B2 |
Method of recording/reproducing digital data and apparatus for same
A digital data recording/reproducing method includes the steps of: interleaving data on a PI code for each PI code of a 208-row ECC block; and converting a short burst error into random errors by dispersing errors on the PI codes. Moreover, the digital data recording/reproducing method increases correction capability against several bytes to several tens bytes of errors generated at random without changing burst error correction length by performing this processing for respective PI codes by using interleave rules that are different as much as possible from one another. |
| US08407531B2 |
Method of collecting and correlating locking data to determine ultimate holders in real time
A technique for collecting and correlating locking data collects and correlates information on a plurality of programs waiting on or holding a plurality of resources in a multi-computer database system. The technique identifies a program executing on one computer of the multi-computer database system that is waiting on a resource. The technique also identifies a second program, executing on another computer, as the ultimate holder of the resource. An operator display screen displays information corresponding to the first program and the second program. The operator display screen may be switched between a multiline display format and a single line display format. The collection, identification, and display of the locking data is performed periodically, to allow the operator to discover locking problems and take a desired corrective action. |
| US08407529B2 |
Trace synchronization
A data processing apparatus having one or more trace data sources. At least one of said trace data sources includes a trace data generator responsive to activity in monitored circuitry to generate trace data representing said activity. A synchronization marker generator is coupled to the trace data generator and operates to generate a synchronization marker and insert the synchronization marker into the trace data stream. A controller is coupled to the synchronization marker generator to generate and insert a synchronization marker into the trace data stream. The controller controls initiation in dependence on behavior of the data processing apparatus downstream of the trace data generator. In this way, the downstream behavior of the data processing apparatus can be made to influence the rate and timing of insertion of synchronization markers into a trace data stream. |
| US08407527B1 |
Diagnosing hardware faults in a data storage system
Hardware faults in data storage systems are diagnosed. User I/O errors are received. Disk drive port error counters, primary port error counters, and expansion port error counters are read. A user I/O error threshold is modified based on the error counter readings. Depending on the type of errors counted, the user I/O error threshold may be increased or decreased. Once a first quantity of user I/O errors exceeds the modified user I/O error threshold, a faulty component is identified. |
| US08407525B2 |
Method for debugging reconfigurable architectures
A method for debugging reconfigurable hardware is described. According to this method, all necessary debug information is written in each configuration cycle into a memory, which is then analyzed by the debugger. |
| US08407522B2 |
Test apparatus and recording medium
Provided is a test apparatus that tests a device under test, comprising a plurality of test modules that test the device under test; and a control section that controls the plurality of test modules. Each test module includes a test section that tests the device under test; and a self-diagnostic section that diagnoses operation of the test section based on diagnostic data supplied thereto. The control section supplies the diagnostic data in parallel to self-diagnostic sections for which the same type of diagnostic data is set, and supplies the diagnostic data sequentially to self-diagnostic sections for which a different type of diagnostic data is set. |
| US08407518B2 |
Using virtual machine cloning to create a backup virtual machine in a fault tolerant system
Techniques for creating a fault tolerant system in a virtual machine environment utilize a primary VM and a backup VM. To initialize the fault tolerant system, the backup VM and primary VM start from the same state. To achieve this in one embodiment, the primary VM is suspended and the state of the primary VM is copied to the backup VM. Once the backup VM has received all the primary VM's state, the primary VM is resumed. Subsequent state changes of the primary VM are buffered until the backup VM resumes, connects to the primary VM, and starts consuming the buffered content. Thereafter, synchronization is maintained by the primary VM's writing relevant state changes to a log and the backup VM's reading such relevant state changes from the log. |
| US08407515B2 |
Partition transparent memory error handling in a logically partitioned computer system with mirrored memory
A method and apparatus for transparently handling recurring correctable errors and uncorrectable errors in a mirrored memory system prevents costly system shutdowns for correctable memory errors or system failures from uncorrectable memory errors. When a high number of correctable errors are detected for a given memory location, a memory relocation mechanism in the hypervisor moves the data associated with the memory location to an alternate physical memory location transparently to the partition such that the partition has no knowledge that the physical memory actualizing the memory location has been changed. When a correctable error occurs, the memory relocation mechanism uses data from a partner mirrored memory block as a data source for the memory block with the uncorrectable error and then relocates the data to a newly allocated memory block to replace the memory block with the uncorrectable error. |
| US08407511B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating early or late sampling clocks for CDR data recovery
Methods and apparatus are provided for a clock phase generator for CDR data sampling that generates early and/or late sampling clocks, relative to ideal transition and sample points. An early sampling clock is generated by generating a plurality of transition and data sampling clock signals having a substantially uniform phase separation; and delaying at least one of the transition clock signals to generate one or more early clock signals. A late sampling clock is generated by generating a plurality of transition and data sampling clock signals having a substantially uniform phase separation; and delaying at least one of the data sampling clock signals to generate one or more late clock signals. The early clock signals can be employed, for example, in a threshold-based decision feedback equalizer. The late clock signals can be employed, for example, in a classical decision feedback equalizer. |
| US08407510B1 |
DDR interface bus control
Systems and techniques for improved bus control, which may be particularly useful for double data rate (DDR) data transfer. A circuit may include a clock transmitter in communication with a clock bus, a clock receiver in communication with the clock bus, and a driver in communication with the clock bus. The driver may drive a voltage of the clock bus to a first voltage level when the clock transmitter is not transmitting a clock signal on the clock bus and the clock receiver is not receiving a clock signal on the clock bus. |
| US08407509B2 |
Method for compensating for variations in data timing
A method for compensating for variations in timing of data sent to a processor on data bit lines relative to a strobe clock sent to the processor on a strobe clock line that can be used in a dual data rate (DDR) memory identifies discrete minimum and maximum time offset values for test data in selected data bit patterns for the data bit lines. The discrete minimum time offset value is the minimum timing adjustment required to allow the processor to receive the data in a steady-state condition during a data valid window of the strobe clock and the discrete maximum time offset value is a maximum timing adjustment required to allow the processor to receive the data in a steady-state condition during a data valid window of the strobe clock. The discrete minimum and maximum time offset values identify a valid range when the data bit lines supply data in a steady-state condition for latching into the processor by the strobe clock. |
| US08407506B2 |
Dynamic allocation of processor cores running an operating system
An apparatus and method for dynamic allocation of multiple processor cores in a computer running an operating system includes providing a program operable to halt a core from processing instructions from a respective ready queue. A next step includes establishing a maximum count of tokens available to allow the program execution, wherein the maximum count is less than a total number of cores. A next step includes obtaining tokens by the cores, wherein at least one core will not be able to obtain a token. If a token has been obtained by a core, executing the program by that core, or otherwise not executing the program by that core and remaining active to process instructions from the respective ready queue of that core. |
| US08407505B2 |
Power consumption control method in multicore CPU
A power consumption control method for a multicore CPU containing a plurality of cores each occupying a memory with partial array self refresh mode. The method includes making, when a core in the multicore CPU enters a power save mode, another core in the multicore CPU compress data in the memory occupied by the core entering the power save mode, store back compressed data in the memory, and control the memory to perform refresh operations to one or more banks retaining the compressed data. |
| US08407504B2 |
Systems and methods for implementing reduced power states
In some embodiments, provided is a way for devices to request S0ix (or the like) entry and exit. |
| US08407502B1 |
Power saving techniques for battery-powered computing devices
A computer-implemented technique is presented. The technique can include determining, at a computing device including one or more processors, a power remaining in a battery of the computing device. The technique can include determining, at the computing device, a selected operating mode from a plurality of operating modes for the computing device based on the power remaining in the battery. Each of the plurality of operating modes can correspond to a different range of power remaining in the battery of the computing device. The technique can also include adjusting, at the computing device, operation of the computing device based on the selected operating mode. The selected operating mode can be associated with one or more display functions of the computing device, and adjusting operation of the computing device can include adjusting operation of the one or more display functions to adjust power usage of the computing device. |
| US08407500B2 |
Anticipatory power management for battery-powered electronic device
Methods and apparatus for managing power consumption of a battery-powered electronic device are disclosed. According to one embodiment, power management can take action to reduce power consumption to accommodate estimated power requirements. According to another embodiment, power management can notify a user when a power deficiency is anticipated. According to still another embodiment, power management can advise a user to charge a battery of the battery-powered electronic device. According to still another embodiment, a user can influence power management by user selections. |
| US08407498B2 |
Power control using in-situ test circuit to measure performance capability of processing circuitry
A method comprising: sensing an ambient temperature at an electronic apparatus; and switching between a first processing mode of the electronic apparatus and a second processing mode of the electronic device, in response to an increase in the ambient temperature above a threshold. |
| US08407497B2 |
Frequency and voltage scaling architecture
A method and apparatus for scaling frequency and operating voltage of at least one clock domain of a microprocessor. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to techniques to divide a microprocessor into clock domains and control the frequency and operating voltage of each clock domain independently of the others. |
| US08407489B2 |
Method and apparatus for quick resumption
When transitioning from sleep mode to active mode, a processing system loads first stage resume content and second stage resume content into a volatile memory of the processing system. The first stage resume content may contain contextual data for a first program that was in use before the processing system transitioned to sleep mode. The second stage resume content may contain contextual data for another program that was in use before the processing system transitioned to sleep mode. The processing system may provide a user interface for the first program before all of the second stage resume content has been loaded into the volatile memory. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08407488B2 |
Semiconductor device including encryption section, semiconductor device including external interface, and content reproduction method
A secure LSI device 1 includes an encryption section 2 for encrypting a program, and an external I/F 50 for inputting/outputting a program or data from/to an external memory 100. In the encryption section 2, the operation of a private key arithmetic processing section 20 is prohibited with respect to a sequence whose execution is determined by a key-generation/update sequencer 30 to be impermissible. In the external I/F 50, a program processing section 51 and a data processing section 55 are structured independently from each other. |
| US08407483B2 |
Apparatus and method for authenticating personal use of contents by using portable storage
A system for authenticating personal use of contents by using a portable storage medium includes: a portable personal use authentication device configured to store domain authentication information; and a contents personal use authentication apparatus configured to extract playback information for playing a provided content based on the domain authentication information and provide the extracted playback information to a player. |
| US08407477B2 |
Information distribution system and program for the same
The present invention is made to provide an information distribution system capable of securely storing digitized personal information in an encrypted state in a storage section and securely transferring/disclosing the stored digitized information only to a particular third person via a network. Communication of the information is securely performed in the encrypted state between information terminals connected to the communication network (between a client and a server or between peer-to-peer client terminals). An information terminal which has created information encrypts the original information by a common key generated upon communication and stores the information in a secure storage of one of the information terminals connected to the communication network while maintaining the encrypted state. Further, the system creates a mechanism for authenticating a person having a particular authority for viewing the encrypted information and index information having an encrypted common key and link information indicating the location of the information for supply to a user. |
| US08407476B2 |
Method and apparatus for loading a trustable operating system
An article of manufacture is provided for securing a region in a memory of a computer. According to one embodiment, the article of manufacture comprises a machine-accessible medium including data that, when accessed by a machine, causes the machine to: halt all but one of a plurality of processing elements in a computer, where the halted processing elements enter into a special halted state; load content into the region only after the halting of all but the one of the plurality of processing elements and the region is protected from access by the halted processing elements; place the non-halted processing element into a known privileged state; and cause the halted processing elements to exit the halted state after the non-halted processing element has been placed into the known privileged state. |
| US08407474B2 |
Pre-authentication method, authentication system and authentication apparatus
A pre-authentication method and an authentication system related to the mobile communications field are disclosed. The pre-authentication method includes: when a mobile node (MN) enters a visited network other than a home network, the MN obtains the identity information of the visited network, selects, according to the identity information of the visited network, a first pre-auth-key-file corresponding to the visited network and a first ticket corresponding to the visited network, where the first ticket carries the first pre-auth-key-file, and authenticates the visited authentication, authorization and accounting (VAAA) server according to the first pre-auth-key-file. |
| US08407466B2 |
Controlling download and playback of media content
Systems and methods provide for controlling download and playback of media content. A system includes a client, which can play content, and a server. The server includes a permission system that can determine whether a client request to download or play content should be granted. All purchase, download, and playback requests require permission from the permission system. The server also includes a DD module system that transfers a DD module to the client. The DD module includes a content key decryption module, a content decryption module, and a content decompression module. The content key decryption module decrypts an encrypted content key that was received from the server. The decryption uses a unique DD module key that has been hard-coded into the content key decryption module. The content decryption module uses the content key to decrypt encrypted content. The content decompression module decompresses compressed content so that it can be played. |
| US08407465B2 |
Mobile authentication framework
Disclosed are apparatus and methods for associating a mobile device with a web service or a user account. A unique code is displayed on the mobile device. The unique code is associated with a user account or web service to be utilized with the mobile device. Instructions for a user to enter the unique code in an authentication process via an authentication portal of a management device are also displayed. After it is determined that a user has performed the authentication process, any user identification, which has been associated with the unique code, is then obtained from the management device. The obtained user identification is then stored for use by the mobile device. After user identification has been obtained and stored, the stored user identification is used for the mobile device to participate in an authentication process for authorizing the mobile device to utilize a web service or user account associated with the user identification. The authentication process is participated in by the mobile device without requiring input from the user during such authentication process. |
| US08407463B2 |
Method of authentication of users in data processing systems
A method of authentication of users in a data processing system is provided. The method includes a “Challenge” univocally associated with a user to be authenticated; processing the “Challenge” to generate an expected answer code, to be compared with an answer code that the user has to provide for authentication; encoding the generated “Challenge” for obtaining an image displayable through a display device; sending the image containing the “Challenge” to the user; displaying the image containing the “Challenge”; through a user device provided with an image-capturing device, optically capturing the displayed image; through the user device, processing the captured image for extracting from the captured image the “Challenge”, and subsequently processing the obtained “Challenge” for generating the answer code; receiving the answer code from the user and comparing it to the expected answer code; and, in case of positive comparison, authenticating the user. One among the actions of generating a “Challenge” and an expected answer code, and the action of processing the captured image that generates the answer code exploit secret information univocally associated with the user. |
| US08407462B2 |
Method, system and server for implementing security access control by enforcing security policies
A method for implementing network security access control is provided, including: receiving and decrypting terminal identity information that is encrypted in a bi-directional encryption mode and forwarded by a switch, and authenticating the decrypted terminal identity information; returning an authentication result to the switch so that the switch controls access of a terminal to a network according to the authentication result; encrypting the decrypted terminal identity information in a solo-directional encryption mode and authenticating the encrypted terminal identity information; returning an authentication result to a security access control gateway so that the security access control gateway controls access of the terminal to network resources according to the authentication result; delivering a security policy to a security control module on the terminal so that the security control module controls the terminal according to the security policy. A server is provided, including a first authentication module and a second authentication module. A system for implementing network security access control is provided, including a server, a switch, a security access control gateway and a terminal. |
| US08407460B1 |
System and method for a software application to determine if the storage device and the operating system is an internal drive or an external drive
Software program or application can determine if the storage device it was launched from is connected to the host computer system on an internal bus or an external bus. The ability of a software application to determine from where it and the operating system was launched allows it to perform a plurality of actions based on the launch location such as limiting the functionality of an application depending on its launch location. If a software company does not want its software to be installed or executed from an external drive or executed on multiple computers then it can limit the users ability to moved the software from one computer to another on a portable drive connected through a USB or IEEE-1394 port. |
| US08407459B2 |
Information processing apparatus and boot completion notification program
In an information processing apparatus, a stopwatch unit detects boot-up of an information processing apparatus, and measures as a boot time a time elapsed from the detection of the boot-up. A determination unit determines whether the boot time has reached notification timing. An output unit outputs a boot completion notification when the determination unit determines that the boot time has reached the notification timing indicated by boot completion notification timing information as a result of comparison therebetween. |
| US08407456B2 |
Method and instruction set including register shifts and rotates for data processing
A method includes identifying a first register with M bits and a second register with N bits. The process also includes shifting K bits, where K<=N, from the second register into the first register. The shifting operation executes a left shift operation including reading bits K . . . N−1 from the first register, writing bits K . . . N−1 into bit positions O . . . N−K−1 of the first register, reading K bits from the second register, and writing K bits from second register into bit positions N−K . . . N−1 of first register, or a right shift operation including reading bits O . . . N−K−1 from the first register, writing bits O . . . N−K−1 into bit position K . . . N−1 of the first register, reading the K bits from the second register, and writing K bits from second register into bit positions O . . . K−1 of first register. |
| US08407450B2 |
Electronic device, time difference data acquisition method, and data structure for time difference data
An electronic device receives satellite signals from positioning information satellites and acquires positioning information and time information. A stored data table comprises a first block of data having a first array of time difference data and a second block of data having a second array of time difference data that is different than the first array of time difference data. A stored memory address table stores the memory address of each of the first and second blocks of data, at least one the blocks of data being stored a plurality of times in the memory address table. The data block corresponding to the acquired positioning information is identified, the memory address corresponding to that data block is read, the data block data indicated by the memory address is acquired, and the time difference data for the segment corresponding to the positioning information is acquired from the data block. |
| US08407449B1 |
Non-volatile semiconductor memory storing an inverse map for rebuilding a translation table
A non-volatile semiconductor memory is disclosed comprising a non-volatile memory array including a plurality of blocks, each block comprising a plurality of memory segments each assigned a physical address. A logical address is read from a first block, wherein the logical address corresponds to a physical address of one of the memory segments. When the memory segment corresponding to the logical address is valid, a translation table is updated using the logical address, wherein the translation table for mapping logical addresses to physical addresses. When the memory segment corresponding to the logical address is invalid, a dirty table is updated using the logical address. The dirty table is used to perform a garbage collection operation, wherein invalid memory segments are erased without being relocated. |
| US08407448B1 |
Shared storage I/O elimination through mapping client integration into a hypervisor
This invention is a system and a method for performing an I/O in a virtual data storage environment using a new architecture. The system of performing an I/O includes a mapping client integrated into a client of the storage server which in communication with the mapping server included in the storage server retrieves the mapping of the special data sharing storage objects and caches the shared objects in the data cache include in the client environment. The method of accessing the data sharing storage objects by one or more applications running on a client reduces the number of I/O on the storage objects by caching the storage objects in the data cache and bringing the knowledge of data sharing into the client environment. |
| US08407445B1 |
Systems, methods, and computer readable media for triggering and coordinating pool storage reclamation
Systems, methods, and computer readable media for triggering and coordinating pool storage reclamation are disclosed. According to one example, the method includes receiving an issued hint triggered by the execution of a data storage optimization operation applied to a mapped logical unit (MLU), wherein the MLU is one of a plurality of MLUs residing in a storage array, and computing an unused portion amount of an allocated storage space in the MLU, wherein the allocated storage space comprises a plurality of slices. If the unused portion amount exceeds a predetermined threshold value, detecting at least one of the slices to be released from the allocated storage space. The method also includes transferring data contained in a detected slice to at least one of the remaining slices in the allocated storage space, and removing the detected slice from the allocated storage space in the MLU to a common storage pool in the storage array, wherein the removed slice is allocated to any one of the plurality of MLUs. |
| US08407442B2 |
Preemptive in-pipeline store compare resolution
A computer-program product that includes a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method. The method includes receiving a plurality of stores in a store queue, via a processor, comparing a fetch request against the store queue to search for a target store having a same memory address as the fetch request, determining whether the target store is ahead of the fetch request in a same pipeline, and processing the fetch request when it is determined that the target store is ahead of the fetch request. |
| US08407436B2 |
Methods and apparatus for migrating thin provisioning volumes between storage systems
Multiple storage systems have capability to provide thin provisioning volumes to host computers and capability to transfer (import/export) management information regarding thin provisioning between storage systems. Moreover, at least one of the storage systems posses capability to provide storage area of other storage system as own storage area virtually via connection to the other storage system (i.e. external storage). Target storage system achieves efficient migration and unifying storage resource pool by importing or referring the management information obtained from source storage system and by utilizing the source storage system as external storage. One implementation involves method and process for migration of thin provisioning volumes using chunks having same length between source storage system and destination storage system. In this implementation, storage resource pool is unified by importing management information from the source storage system, and automated page-based relocation is performed to adjust actual location of data. |
| US08407435B2 |
Efficiently creating a snapshot of a large consistency group using multiple commands including a snapshot preparation command
Preparation of a snapshot for data storage includes receiving a first command to prepare to create a snapshot of a set of data stored on at least one source storage volume in a data storage system. The data storage system is prepared to expedite creation of the snapshot in response to the first command. A second command to create the snapshot is received subsequent to the first command. The snapshot is created, in response to the second command, by copying the set of data onto at least one target storage volume at an event time. The set of data may comprise a consistency group comprising a set of data blocks, and preparing the system to create the snapshot may include reserving resources, throttling an incoming data rate, starting a timer after receiving the first command, and/or copying data from a plurality of storage volumes into a memory cache. |
| US08407434B2 |
Sequentially written journal in a data store
Systems, methods, and computer storage media for storing and retrieving data from a data store in a distributed computing environment are provided. An embodiment includes receiving data at a data store comprising a sequential journal store, RAM, and a non-sequential target store. When RAM utilization is below a threshold, received data is stored to the RAM as a write cache for the target store and the journal store. But, when the utilization is above the threshold, the data is stored to the journal store without write-caching to the RAM for the target store. When the RAM utilization falls below a threshold, data committed to the journal store, but not write-cached to the RAM for the target store, is later read from the journal store and write-cached to the RAM for a target store. |
| US08407433B2 |
Interconnect implementing internal controls
In an embodiment, an interconnect for an integrated circuit communicates transactions between one or more initiator Intellectual Property (IP) cores and multiple target IP cores coupled to the interconnect. Two or more memory channels make up a first aggregate target of the target IP cores. The two or more memory channels populate an address space assigned to the first aggregate target and appear as a single target to the initiator IP cores. The interconnect implements chopping logic to chop individual two-dimensional (2D) transactions that cross the memory channel address boundaries from a first memory channel to a second memory channel within the first aggregate target into two or more 2D transactions with a height value greater than one, as well as stride and width dimensions, which are chopped to fit within memory channel address boundaries of the first aggregate target. |
| US08407430B2 |
Analysis technique of computer system
This invention is to provide a technique to obtain data concerning a proper transaction amount. An information processing method to achieve the object comprises: obtaining data concerning a transaction amount presumed as being processed in a system to be analyzed for a plurality of business items; calculating a first load amount from the data concerning said transaction amount, obtaining data concerning operating state of the system to be analyzed, calculating a second load amount from the data concerning the operating state; and judging whether or not data that is a basis of the first load amount calculation is appropriate by determining whether or not the first load amount and the second load amount are satisfied with a predetermined condition. |
| US08407428B2 |
Structured memory coprocessor
Intercepting a requested memory operation corresponding to a conventional memory is disclosed. The requested memory operation is translated to be applied to a structured memory. |
| US08407427B2 |
Method and system for improving serial port memory communication latency and reliability
A method, apparatus and system for reducing memory latency is disclosed. In one embodiment, data between a host computer system and a memory is communicated via a port or a group of ports at the memory over multiple time intervals, wherein the host computer is coupled to the memory. Further, a command associated with the data is communicated between the host computer system and the memory via the port or the group of ports over a single time interval. |
| US08407426B2 |
Data storage and access in multi-core processor architectures
Technologies are generally described for a system for sending a data block stored in a cache. In some examples described herein, a system may comprise a first processor in a first tile. The first processor is effective to generate a request for a data block, the request including a destination identifier identifying a destination tile for the data block, the destination tile being distinct from the first tile. Some example systems may further comprise a second tile effective to receive the request, the second tile effective to determine a data tile including the data block, the second tile further effective to send the request to the data tile. Some example systems may still further comprise a data tile effective to receive the request from the second tile, the data tile effective to send the data block to the destination tile. |
| US08407423B2 |
Automatic determination of read-ahead amount
Read-ahead of data blocks in a storage system is performed based on a policy. The policy is stochastically selected from a plurality of policies in respect to probabilities. The probabilities are calculated based on past performances, also referred to as rewards. Policies which induce better performance may be given precedence over other policies. However, the other policies may be also utilized to reevaluate them. A balance between exploration of different policies and exploitation of previously discovered good policies may be achieved. |
| US08407421B2 |
Cache spill management techniques using cache spill prediction
An apparatus and method is described herein for intelligently spilling cache lines. Usefulness of cache lines previously spilled from a source cache is learned, such that later evictions of useful cache lines from a source cache are intelligently selected for spill. Furthermore, another learning mechanism—cache spill prediction—may be implemented separately or in conjunction with usefulness prediction. The cache spill prediction is capable of learning the effectiveness of remote caches at holding spilled cache lines for the source cache. As a result, cache lines are capable of being intelligently selected for spill and intelligently distributed among remote caches based on the effectiveness of each remote cache in holding spilled cache lines for the source cache. |
| US08407419B2 |
System and method for managing a cache using file system metadata
Systems and methods for management of a cache are disclosed. In general, embodiments described herein store access counts in file system metadata associated with files in the cache. By encoding access counts in the file system metadata, file I/O operations are reduced. Preferably, the reference count is encoded in an access count timestamp in the file system metadata. The access counts can be decoded based on the difference between the access count time stamp and a base time value, with larger differences reflecting a larger access count. The cache can be aged by advancing the base time value, thereby causing the access count for a file to drop. The base time value can also be stored in file system metadata, thereby reducing file I/O operations when performing aging. |
| US08407417B2 |
Storage system providing virtual volumes
Multiple storage area groups into which multiple storage areas provided by multiple storage devices are classified with reference to storage area attributes are managed. The multiple logical volumes to which, in accordance with a write request to at least one address included in multiple addresses in the logical volume, at least one storage area included in the multiple storage areas is allocated are provided. In accordance with the access condition of the at least one address in the logical volume, the data written to the at least one address by the write request is migrated from the at least one storage area included in one of the multiple storage area groups to at least one storage area in another storage area group included in the multiple storage area groups. |
| US08407415B2 |
De-icing of multi-layer storage media
A device for recording information on a record carrier (11) is arranged for formatting a multilayer record carrier. The device has formatting means (16) for formatting the record carrier according which formatting includes de-icing by, in the event that locations in the user data area have not yet been recorded, writing dummy data (60) on the locations. The formatting means (16) determine a first radial position (50) and a first layer (40), which first radial position is indicative of a location on the first layer on which user data will be recorded first according to a predefined recording format. Subsequently said de-icing is started by writing of dummy data on a second layer (41) of the record carrier at the first radial position, opposite the location of the first user data (55). Hence a de-iced area (58) is created opposite the user data (55). |
| US08407412B2 |
Power management of memory circuits by virtual memory simulation
An apparatus and method are provided for communicating with a plurality of physical memory circuits. In use, at least one virtual memory circuit is simulated where at least one aspect (e.g. power-related aspect, etc.) of such virtual memory circuit(s) is different from at least one aspect of at least one of the physical memory circuits. Further, in various embodiments, such simulation may be carried out by a system (or component thereof), an interface circuit, etc. |
| US08407407B1 |
Solid state drive access control system with equalized access timing
A drive control module of a solid-state drive (SSD) includes a first module that receives host commands from one of a host command buffer and a drive interface of the SSD, converts the host commands to stage commands, and determines whether to store the stage commands in a stage slot of a staging memory or leave the stage slot empty. A second module transfers data between a buffer and a flash memory based on the stage commands. The flash memory comprises flash arrays. A third module detects a first empty stage of one of the flash arrays and based on an empty stage timer value triggers at least one of an end of the first empty stage, a start of an at least partially full stage of the one of the flash arrays, or a start of a second empty stage of the one of the flash arrays. |
| US08407406B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method of testing the same
According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device is disclosed. The semiconductor memory device can include a first memory cell array and a second memory cell array acting in parallel each other, the first memory cell array including a plurality of first blocks and the second memory cell array including a plurality of second blocks, and each of the blocks being an erase unit, a plurality of flag resistors configured to correspond to each of the first blocks and each of the second blocks, a flag data is capable of being written to the flag resistors by selecting block address, a control circuit reading out the flag data in the flag resistor corresponding to the first block and the flag data in the flag resistor corresponding to the second block in parallel fashion, a first counter resistor storing a counting value of the flag data in the flag resistors corresponding to the first blocks of the first memory cell array, and a second counter resistor storing a counting value of the flag data in the flag resistors corresponding to the second blocks of the second memory cell array. |
| US08407403B2 |
Extending SSD lifetime using hybrid storage
A hybrid storage device uses a write cache such as a hard disk drive, for example, to cache data to a solid state drive (SSD). Data is logged sequentially to the write cache and later migrated to the SSD. The SSD is a primary storage that stores data permanently. The write cache is a persistent durable cache that may store data of disk write operations temporarily in a log structured fashion. A migration policy may be used to determine how long to cache the data in the write cache before migrating the data to the SDD. The migration policy may be implemented using one or more migration triggers that cause the contents of the write cache to be flushed to the SSD. Migration triggers may include a timeout trigger, a read threshold trigger, and a migration size trigger, for example. |
| US08407400B2 |
Dynamic SLC/MLC blocks allocations for non-volatile memory
Apparatus and methods are disclosed, such as those that provide dynamic block allocations in NAND flash memory between single-level cells (SLC) and multi-level cells (MLC) based on characteristics. In one embodiment, a memory controller dynamically switches between programming and/or reprogramming blocks between SLC mode and MLC mode based on the amount of memory available for use. When memory usage is low, SLC mode is used. When memory usage is high, MLC mode is used. Dynamic block allocation allows a memory controller to obtain the performance and reliability benefits of SLC mode while retaining the space saving benefits of MLC mode. |
| US08407398B2 |
Cache mapping for solid state drives
An approach is provided that loads software files, such as an operating system, on a hybrid storage device. The hybrid storage device is a device that includes a nonvolatile storage device and a nonvolatile memory cache. The nonvolatile memory cache has less storage capacity than the nonvolatile storage device. The nonvolatile memory cache is preset (“pinned”) to data corresponding to an initial set of address ranges of the nonvolatile storage device, such as all or part of the operating system that was loaded onto the nonvolatile storage device. A system usage metric is initialized along with a threshold value. The nonvolatile memory cache remains pinned to the initial set of address ranges until the system usage metric reaches the threshold value. When the system usage metric reaches the threshold value, then a caching algorithm is used to determine what data should be cached to the nonvolatile memory cache. |
| US08407394B2 |
System and methods for memory expansion
This document discusses, among other things, an example system and methods for memory expansion. An example embodiment includes detecting a memory command directed to a logical rand and a number of physical ranks mapped to the logical rank. The example embodiment may also include issuing the memory command to the number of physical ranks based on determining that the memory command is to be issued to the number of physical ranks. |
| US08407391B2 |
Computer system managing I/O path and port
It is provided a computer system comprising a plurality of computers; a PCI switch; and a plurality of I/O devices connected to the PCI switch, wherein the communication path includes a virtual switch and virtual bridges, and the PCI switch comprises a communication path generating module for setting the virtual switches and the virtual bridges, a virtual switch group management module for creating a virtual switch group including the at least one of the virtual switches, and setting an enabled flag to one of the virtual switches included in the virtual switch group, and a port management module for managing relation between each of the generated communication paths and the plurality of ports included in the each of the generated communication paths. |
| US08407381B2 |
Keypad de-bouncing apparatus and method
An apparatus and method for de-bouncing keypad inputs is disclosed including interrupting a processor upon detecting a key press, reading input signals from the key pad to determine an initial port value and starting a timer. A keypad interrupt is disabled and processing resumes until expiration of the timer. The timer interrupts the processor and the input signals are read a second time and combined with the initial port value to determine a key identifier. The timer is started again and processing resumes. Upon expiration of the timer the processor checks for key release. If release is not detected, the timer is again started. If release occurs, the timer is disabled and the keypad interrupt is enabled. |
| US08407379B2 |
Efficient low-latency buffer
An efficient low latency buffer, and method of operation, is described. The efficient low latency buffer may be used as a bi-directional memory buffer in an audio playback device to buffer both output and input data. An application processor coupled to the bi-directional memory buffer is responsive to an indication to write data to the bi-directional memory buffer reads a defined size of input data from the bi-directional memory buffer. The input data read from the bi-directional memory buffer is replaced with output data of the defined size. In response to a mode-change signal, the defined size of data is changed that is read and written from and to the bi-directional memory buffer. The buffer may allow the application processor to enter a low-powered sleep mode more frequently. |
| US08407378B2 |
High-speed inline data compression inline with an eight byte data path
Several methods and a system to implement data compression inline with an eight byte data path are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes acquiring a data from a host. In addition, the method includes applying an eight byte data path to the data. The method also includes compressing the data inline. The method may further include writing the data in a memory through a memory controller using a RAID engine. The method may also include manipulating the data through the RAID engine. In addition, the method may include reading the data through a Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) core. The method may further include writing the data to a non-volatile storage. The method may include applying a compression technique based on a data history. The method may also include maintaining a consistent order of a sequence of the data during a data compression operation and a decompression operation. |
| US08407374B2 |
Intelligent resource state memory recall
Intelligent resource state memory recall techniques, and associated apparatus and methods, are disclosed. States of one or more video switcher resources in a resource state memory may be recalled to the same or different resources, depending on resource availability at the time of memory recall. A memory recall need not affect an on air signal. The memory may be recalled to recreate a desired program output, as defined in the memory, on a preview output of the video switcher, which leaves a current program output of the video switcher undisturbed when the memory is recalled. |
| US08407365B2 |
Method and system for autodiscovery of a network path
A method and apparatus for discovering network paths sets a bit, normally used for purposes other than tracing a network path, in an overhead portion of a signal for causing state changes at nodes along a network path. The state changes are correlated with information about the signal to determine link connectivity between nodes to identify the network path. In a network of DS3 circuits, a non-critical alarm bit is set in a signal to transmit Remote Alarm Indications (RAI) which activate alarms at nodes of the network path. A response signal from the nodes can be sent through a network to a main node for correlation purposes. The method of discovering network paths can be used to update network path databases of network carriers and can be offered as a service to network carriers. |
| US08407359B2 |
Campaign for downloading data into portable communicating objects
The downloading of data from a server into one (Cn) of the portable communicating objects (C1 CN), such as chip cards or mobile terminals, over a radiocommunications network involves: a preprocessing of data (PRET) in the server into at least one data message intended for the communicating object; a sending (E) of the data message from the server to the communicating object; a reception (R) by the server of an acknowledgement of reception by the communicating object, and; a post-processing of data (POST) in the server contingent on the acknowledgement of reception. The pre-processings of data (P1) and post-processings of data (P3) concerning the communicating objects are respectively executed before and after sending the data message and receiving the acknowledgements of reception (P2) concerning the communicating objects. The server communicates with the radiocommunications network only during the sending and receiving of messages. |
| US08407354B2 |
System and method for determining trust for SIP messages
A method for performing registration is provided. The method includes receiving a server timeout message, the server timeout message including at least a field set to a value equal to a value received during a first registration. The method further includes initiating restoration procedures by performing a second registration in response to receiving the server timeout message. |
| US08407353B2 |
Method and system for sharing different web components between different web sites in a portal framework
The sharing of objects may be executed by performing various share type administrations. Objects may be shared directly to a site or may be made available indirectly for reuse by a site. The objects shared and made available for reuse may be added to the site to which they are shared and made available for reuse. References to the objects shared and made available for reuse are stored in repositories in response to, and in accordance with, the share type administration performed. The storage of the references to objects is based on privileges associated with at least one of a repository, a site and a user. Objects made available for reuse by, and shared to, a site may be made unavailable for reuse by, and unshared to, the site through the execution of a share type administration. |
| US08407352B2 |
Method and application server for using a SIP service from a non-SIP device
A method and an Application Server for enabling a non-SIP device to use a SIP service are described. The method is executed in an Application Server and comprises the steps of receiving a request for a SIP service from a non-SIP device. The method comprises retrieving a contact card corresponding to the non-SIP device from a Contact Server, the contact card containing at least one identity. The method also comprises inserting the at least one identity retrieved from the contact card in the request for the SIP service and forwarding the request for the SIP Service to the Service Server. |
| US08407351B2 |
Method and apparatus for ensuring transport of user agent information
Techniques to ensure that user agent information is transported includes determining whether both a type field and a client platform information field are included in a first portion of a uniform resource locator field (URL) of a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) request message received from a remote client process. The first portion is different from a domain portion of the URL. The type field holds data that indicates whether the remote client inserted the client information field into a URL of an original HTTP request message. If both the type field and the client platform information field are included, then it is determined, based on data in the type field, whether to include both the type field and the client platform information field in a first portion of a URL in a link in a HTTP response message. The HTTP response message is sent to the remote client process. |
| US08407349B2 |
Discovering and identifying manageable information technology resources
A computer-executable method for allocating resource discovery and identification processes among a plurality of management tools and resources in a distributed and heterogeneous IT management system includes providing at least one authoritative manageable resource having minimal or no responsibility for reporting its identity, minimal or no responsibility for advertising any lifecycle-related creation event for the resource, and minimal or no responsibility for advertising any lifecycle-related destruction event for the resource; using a service oriented architecture (SOA) to define one or more services needed to manage the resource within the management system; and using a component model to define one or more interfaces and one or more interactions to be implemented by the manageable resource within the management system. |
| US08407342B2 |
System and method for detecting and preventing denial of service attacks in a communications system
A method and system are provided for use in detecting and preventing attacks in a communications network. In one example, the method includes calculating first and second traffic volumes based on messages received at a first time and a second time, respectively. An average acceleration is calculated based on the first and second traffic volumes, and the method identifies whether the average acceleration has crossed a threshold. The messages are serviced only if the average acceleration has not crossed the threshold. |
| US08407339B2 |
Star network and method for preventing a repeated transmission of a control symbol in such a star network
A star network (1) having a star coupler (14) and at least a first and second network branch (112, 122), wherein each network branch (112, 122) comprises at least one network node (110, 120) and a bus driver (11, 12) connected between the star coupler (14) and the at least one network node (110, 120). A first bus driver (11) of the first network branch (112) is adapted to detect a symbol pattern comprising at least two predetermined equal control symbols, which are transmitted from the first network node (110) to the second network node (120), wherein a control symbol is part of a control pattern. The control pattern is used to force at least the second network node (120) to switch into a predetermined state. The first bus driver (11) is disabling the first network branch (112) from the star network (1) based on whether the transmitted symbol pattern is detected. By using the protection mechanism a reliable detection of babbling idiots is provided. Moreover, in case of detecting such babbling idiots the remaining network nodes are separated and the network can operate without being influenced by the faulty network node. |
| US08407338B2 |
Methods and systems for polling an on demand service
Systems and methods for automatically polling for data changes in an on-demand database service environment. A polling server communicates with application servers and client systems. Application servers send update messages to the polling server identifying which database objects have been updated, and client systems communicate with the polling server on a regular basis, rather than with the application server, to determine whether updates to a data object may have been made. When it has been determined that an update may have been made, the client system then sends a refresh request to the application server to request an update to the data object, thereby controlling (e.g., reducing) the number of refresh requests sent to the application server. |
| US08407337B2 |
Multiple instance commercial browser website test agent
A website test environment invokes multiple instances of a commercial browser, and captures invocations of browser operations for gathering performance data without interference from other instances or multiple occurrences of the operating system (OS). Commercial browsers often employ constraints that assume only a single instantiation is executing on a particular machine. Configurations allow each instance to present as a separate user, thus avoiding conflicts that may arise from temporary files and network connections, for example. Each browser instance operates as a performance agent and dynamically links with a set of entry points for accessing performance related browser operations. As each agent invokes native (OS specific) machine functions for network access via particular entry points, configurations disclosed herein redirect the entry points to a collection layer of instructions (code) for capturing performance data in addition to invoking the native OS function called for by the browser operation. |
| US08407333B2 |
Method and apparatus for inexpensively monitoring and controlling remotely distributed appliances
A method and associated apparatus are described that enables unattended, remotely distributed appliances, such as vending machines, utility meters, thermostats and kitchen appliances (ovens, washing machines, refrigerators, etc.) to be connected inexpensively to each other and to a centrally located server. The apparatus 1) uses relatively simple “personality” modules to adapt the apparatus to the application in combination with a sophisticated core module that provides the intelligence needed to process data locally, to format that data and to transfer it to a remote server and 2) uses existing Internet-based communication links, thereby avoiding the costly proprietary links used with current state-of-the-art solutions. |
| US08407332B1 |
System and method for in-network power management
A system and method are provided for in-network power management of network-connected devices. A first computing device, having a power management module, is able to access an in-network computing device table stored in a local memory, of network-connected computing devices cross-referenced to computing device processing capabilities. The power management module retrieves processing capabilities from the in-network computing device table for a network-connected second computing device, and sends a Wake-on-Local Area Network (LAN) message to the second computing device. Subsequently, the power management module sends a server-on-cloud power management message (power management packet) to the second computing device, with instructions for enabling capabilities related to processing or memory management. |
| US08407331B2 |
Codeless provisioning
Managing resources. A resource manager includes programmatic code for managing resources in the computing environment. Resources available from resource systems within the computing environment are managed. Methods may include receiving user input indicating one or more of that a new entity should be added to the resource manager, that an entity represented by an entity object of the resource manager should have permissions removed at the resource manager, or that an entity represented by an entity object of the resource manager should have permissions added at the resource manager. In response to receiving user input, events may be generated and objects created or removed from the resource manager for from downstream resource systems. The events may specify workflows that should be executed to perform synchronization between objects at the resource manager and objects at a downstream resource system by adding or changing rules in an expected rules list. |
| US08407330B2 |
Method and apparatus for the addition and removal of nodes from a common interconnect
An electronic system interconnect. The interconnect comprises a first node and a second node coupled to the first node. The interconnect is initially configured to include the first and second nodes. A third node is added to the interconnect after the interconnect is initially configured, and the first node responds to the addition of the third node by initiating a new connect handshake with the third node. The first node begins by transmitting a first signal to the third node. The first node signals that the third node has been added to the interconnect if the third node responds to the first signal by transmitting a second signal. The first node causes the interconnect to be reconfigured if the third node transmits a third signal in response to receiving the first signal. |
| US08407328B2 |
A/V equipment control over a network
Audio visual or other equipment modules in a common enclosure are controlled through an SNMP control agent by interrogating module locations for the presence of an equipment module; determining an equipment type; determining a list of available control objects associated with that equipment type; associating values identified by equipment type and by control parameter with the control objects of equipment modules to be controlled; and communicating said values across a network. |
| US08407326B2 |
Anchoring method for computing an XPath expression
An anchoring method for generating an XPath expression. The method can include identifying a stable anchor in the transcodable markup along an axis shared by the selected node. An XPath expression can be generated for the stable anchor. Subsequently, an offset between the stable anchor and the selected node can be computed. Finally, the XPath expression for the stable anchor and the offset can be concatenated, the concatenation forming the XPath expression for the selected node. |
| US08407323B2 |
Network connectivity wizard to support automated creation of customized configurations for virtual private cloud computing networks
A method of implementing a cloud computing network includes defining, for a cloud computing network including tangible network storage elements and tangible network computing elements, a library of network connectivity building blocks for designing a virtual private cloud computing network within the cloud computing network. Each building block has user-definable attributes and each building block is translatable into a set of network element configuration statements that instantiate an action particular to the building block. Usage rules specifying how the building blocks can be used are defined for the cloud computing network. Dynamically-selected building blocks from the library are accepted and assembled into a configuration template. The configuration template is validated against the usage rules. The virtual private cloud computing network is implemented in accordance with the validated configuration template. |
| US08407322B1 |
Runtime negotiation of execution blocks between computers
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for providing software code capable of automated runtime negotiation of computation block execution between different computers. In one aspect, a method includes storing, on each of multiple devices, code blocks for a software application that performs a particular set of functions and assigning at runtime of the software application which of the devices is to execute each of the code blocks. Each of the code blocks is executed on the assigned devices and data is communicated between the assigned devices to facilitate executing different code blocks on different devices. |
| US08407319B1 |
Event-driven module loading
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for event-driven module loading. In one aspect, a method includes obtaining a mapping for a resource, wherein the mapping identifies one or more events that, upon occurrence, will trigger a dynamic loading of one or more code modules that are referenced by the resource, determining that an event has occurred, identifying one or more of the code modules that are associated with the event, based on the mapping, and dynamically loading the identified code modules. |
| US08407318B2 |
Managing services on a network
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for providing real-time, two-way transactional capabilities on the Web. Specifically, one embodiment of the present invention discloses a method for enabling object routing, the method comprising the steps of creating a virtual information store containing information entries and attributes associating each of the information entries and the attributes with an object identity, and assigning a unique network address to each of the object identities. A method is also disclosed for enabling service management of the value-added network service, to perform OAM&P functions on the services network |
| US08407317B2 |
Method and system to process issue data pertaining to a system
A computer-implemented method to processes issue data in a system. A plurality of issue reports are received from respective reporting entities, each issue report being in respect of a system issue which requires a response activity. The issue reports are parsed to obtain priority criterion data relating to at least one priority criterion. The priority criterion is unrelated to the dates and/or times of the issue reports and may include visibility data, severity data, exposure data, and performance data relating to past performance of a reporting entity or a reported entity. The reported issues are then prioritized for order of response based at least partially on the associated criterion data. |
| US08407315B2 |
Method for horizontal scale delta encoding
Data can be transferred between computers at remote sites by transferring the data itself, or by transferring files showing how data at an originating site can be recreated from data already present at a receiving site. As part of the data transfer, a determination can be made as to what is the most appropriate way for the transfer to take place. Further, in cases where data is not transferred directly between originating and receiving sites, it is possible that some preparatory steps might be performed to improve the efficiency of the transfers to the receiving sites when they do take place. Additional efficiencies can be obtained in some cases by using the parallel processing capabilities provided by a cloud based architecture. |
| US08407308B2 |
Adaptive and configurable application sharing system using manual and automatic techniques
Described is a method for adapting an application sharing system for a network of computers according to user specific requirements. The method includes dynamically configuring system components and manually implementing user specific preferences to achieve a better user experience than is possible in typical application sharing systems. Users can configure the application sharing system based on their individual needs, and may need to modify their settings based on changing operating environments or usage patterns. The application sharing system can be dynamically configured based on content, current tasks, and changes in network conditions. System administrators can configure the application sharing system according to their general needs without preempting the needs of an individual user. |
| US08407305B2 |
System and method for pushing information from a mobile computer to another device
An embodiment of a mobile computer includes a component configured for generating a command, responsive to a user's input, to a host system to commence redirection of user data items from the host system to the mobile computer. Also included is a component for detecting an event trigger at the mobile computer as well as a redirector component, responsive to detecting the event trigger at the mobile computer, for pushing at least a portion of a user data item received from the host system to another device from the mobile computer. |
| US08407304B2 |
Method and system for email notification
A method of configuring a system for providing notification of a new email received at a user's mailbox stored by a first mail storage system for retrieval by a second mail storage system. The method comprises configuring a mail sender to send a notification email to the second mail storage system comprising data to notify the second mail storage system of the new email, receive a rejection message from the second mail storage system, and interrupt the sending of further data of the notification email in response to the rejection message, wherein the receipt by the second mail storage system of the notification email triggers the second mail storage system to retrieve the new email from the first mail storage system. |
| US08407303B2 |
Remote email or SMS control of CE device such as TV
A user can control a CE device such as a TV using another CE device to send email or text message commands to an Internet server, which relays the commands to the device to be controlled when polled. |
| US08407301B1 |
Systems and methods for creating incremental images of cluster volumes
A computer-implemented method for creating incremental images of cluster volumes. The method may include 1) maintaining a parallel cluster comprising a plurality of cluster nodes connected to a cluster volume; 2) creating a first incremental image of the cluster volume by capturing changes to the cluster volume on a first mirror during a first period of time; 3) for each cluster node in the parallel cluster, blocking write completions for writes to the cluster volume; 4) while the write completions are blocked, switching to a second mirror to create a second incremental image of the cluster volume by capturing changes to the cluster volume on the second mirror during a second period of time; and 5) after switching to the second mirror, unblocking the write completions for writes to the cluster volume. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US08407297B2 |
Systems and methods to receive information from a groupware client
A system may include reception of an internet electronic mail message associated with a standards-compliant groupware object, and conversion of the internet electronic mail message to a message associated with the standards-compliant groupware object and compliant with a Web service message interface. |
| US08407295B2 |
Method and system for managing data, and a corresponding computer program and a corresponding computer-reading storage medium
The invention relates to a method and a system for managing data, and a corresponding computer program and a corresponding computer-readable storage medium, which can be used, in particular, to save, for example, e-mails in a folder structure on a server by using an e-mail push client, which are known, for example, as Blackberry devices.It is a method for managing data, the data are saved as e-mail or messages on a mail server and/or a server of a message signaling system. At least one application with at least one function for data processing is installed on a terminal. In addition, the terminal sends a request for managing data to the mail server and/or the server of a message signaling service by using the data managing function, and the data are transmitted to a file server according to the request from the mail server and/or the server of a message signaling service, where they are saved in a file system, wherein the stored data can be accessed from a file management program. |
| US08407288B2 |
Efficient network routing to reduce bandwidth usage and latency
A method (and corresponding system and computer program product) for efficiently routing a multi-person conference to reduce bandwidth usage and latency is described. Computing devices used by the participants to participate in the conference are separated into proximity pools based on direct accessibility. For each proximity pool, a computing device is selected as the key node. Only the key node communicates directly with a server, and redistributes data received from the server to its pool peers. Communications between computing devices within a same pool are routed directed to one another. Proximity pools can be refined to factor in distances among the computing devices. Multiple servers may be used to reduce latency. Proximity pools are assigned to nearby servers. Communications between computing devices in different proximity pools are routed through the server(s) associated with the different proximity pool. |
| US08407285B2 |
Method and system for controlled distribution of information over a network
An information management and distribution system is disclosed. The information management and distribution system includes a client-side application and a server application that interact to facilitate the controlled exchange of contact information over a network. The client-side application can provide creation and design, rolodex, exchange, and update features. The information management and distribution system can also include a corporate administrator application. Still another aspect of the invention is that contact information can be distributed to registered users in a common format. |
| US08407284B2 |
Systems and methods for cloud data deployment based on preferential and/or existing subscription relationships
Embodiments relate to systems and methods for transporting data to a cloud network. In aspects, an administrator of a data payload may wish to transport the data payload from a data distribution service to a candidate cloud provider to leverage cost, security, redundancy, consolidation, or other advantages. The data distribution service can identify candidate cloud providers that are able to host the data payload. Further, the data distribution service can examine any relationships between the administrator and the candidate cloud providers, and, based on the relationships, can present the administrator with respective offers from the candidate cloud providers to host the data payload. The administrator can review the offers, make a selection, and the data payload can be transported to the selected candidate cloud provider for hosting. |
| US08407282B2 |
Systems and methods for determining electronic relationships
Systems and methods are provided for measuring the level of relative activity (relationship) between two entities (e.g., people, companies, organizations, etc.) in a group as compared with others in that group or in a subset of that group. A group or subset of a group can be defined manually or automatically by the program. Once the activity is measured, it is further analyzed to generate behavioral attributes (e.g., trust, respect, mutually enjoyable company or personal relationship, reciprocity and shared experience) of the relationship. These attributes may be employed to derive characteristics such as the strength of the relationship for each pair of entities. The relationships and characteristic and/or attributes may then be displayed in a simple to understand manner. |
| US08407278B2 |
Link-based registry federation
Some embodiments of a system and a method to implement a link-based registry federation have been presented. For instance, a registry federation having a set of registries may be stored in some storage devices. The registries may include Universal Description, Discovery, and Integration (UDDI) registries. Each registry includes one or more records. In response to a request to promote a record of a first registry of the registry federation into a second registry of the registry federation, a delegation link can be inserted into the second registry to refer to the record in the first registry, without fully replicating the record in the second registry. |
| US08407277B1 |
Full subtractor cell for synthesis of area-efficient subtractor and divider
A full subtractor cell is disclosed including an XNOR gate having first and second inputs coupled to first and second bits; an XOR gate having first and second inputs coupled to an XNOR gate output and a carry input bit; a first AND gate having first and second inputs coupled to an XNOR gate output and the carry input bit; an inverter gate having an input coupled to the second bit to generate a complemented second bit; a second AND gate having first and second inputs coupled to the first bit and an inverter output to receive the complemented second bit; and an OR gate having first and second inputs coupled to a first AND gate output and a second AND gate output. An XOR gate output and an OR gate output generate the sum output bit and the carry output bit. |
| US08407276B2 |
Apparatus for calculating absolute difference
Provided is an apparatus for calculating an absolute difference capable of efficiently performing an absolute difference using an adder. The apparatus for calculating an absolute difference includes a comparator comparing values of two integers, first and second selectors each selecting and outputting one of the two integers according to the comparison results of the comparator, an inverter complementing the result value selected by the second selector; and an adder adding up the result value selected by the first selector, the value complemented by the inverter, and 1. |
| US08407272B2 |
Exploitation of topological categorization of chaotic and fractal functions, including field line calculations
A topological categorization method, based on inclusive intervals, provides a general method of analyzing escape topologies for discrete dynamic systems, in complex and higher dimensions, including the calculation of both potential for complex and hypercomplex and field lines for complex iterations |
| US08407270B2 |
Methods of calculating negative inverse of modulus
Provided is a method of calculating a negative inverse of a modulus, wherein the negative inverse, which is an essential element in Montgomery multiplication, is quickly obtained. The method includes setting a modulus, defining P obtained by converting the modulus to a negative number, and defining S obtained by subtracting 1 from P, and calculating a negative inverse of the modulus by using P and S. |
| US08407268B2 |
Method for determining an optimum sampling frequency, and a power analyzer performing the method
A method for determining an optimum sampling frequency to be performed by a power analyzer includes the following computer-implemented steps: sampling a time domain signal to obtain a sampling signal according to a predetermined sampling frequency; obtaining two reference sampling signals using higher and lower sampling frequencies compared to the predetermined sampling frequency; transforming the sampling signal and the reference sampling signals to frequency domain signals; computing a sum-of-amplitudes for each of the three frequency domain signals; estimating a minimum sum-of-amplitudes value and a corresponding re-sampling frequency; obtaining a new reference sampling signal using the re-sampling frequency; transforming the new reference sampling signal to a frequency domain signal, and computing a sum-of-amplitudes therefor; and re-estimating the minimum sum-of-amplitudes value and the corresponding re-sampling frequency. The re-sampling frequency that conforms with a predetermined convergence standard is the optimum sampling frequency. |
| US08407267B2 |
Apparatus, method, system and computer-readable medium for storing and managing image data
An apparatus, method, system and computer-readable medium store and manage image data with automatic labeling of image data corresponding to body slices, such as obtained by a computed tomography scanner. The labels include a body coordinate value along the body axis. The respective body coordinate value can be determined by comparing received image data sets with reference data sets with known attached coordinate values utilizing pattern recognition techniques. Applications include medical image data management in hospitals or operating and providing medical networks. Queries for images that include particular body regions are processed more efficiently. This results in less local memory required and narrower bandwidth resources of transmission networks. |
| US08407265B1 |
Hierarchical mapping of free blocks of cylinder groups of file systems built on slices of storage and linking of the free blocks
In a file server, a file system is built upon a volume of data storage. The file system includes multiple cylinder groups. Each cylinder group includes file system blocks. The file system blocks include allocated blocks and free blocks. The volume includes slices of storage, and each slice stores at least one of the cylinder groups. A hierarchical slice map has a top level that includes a count of free blocks in the file system, an upper level that includes a count of free blocks in groups of the slices, an intermediate level that includes a count of the free blocks in sub-groups of the slices, and a bottom level that includes a count of the free blocks in each slice of storage. To find a free block for allocation to a file, the slice map hierarchy is searched in a top-down fashion. |
| US08407263B2 |
Collaboration portal—COPO—a scaleable method, system and apparatus for providing computer-accessible benefits to communities of users
The present invention, known as The Collaboration Portal (COPO), relates generally to the field of automated entity, data processing, system control, and data communications, and more specifically to an integrated method, system, and apparatus for providing computer-accessible benefits for communities of users. It provides a framework for provisioning computer-accessible benefits for communities of users, and can efficiently and robustly distribute the processing in behalf of those users over a decentralized network of computers. The field of the invention generally encompasses enabling appropriate and desired communication among communities of users and organizations, and providing information, goods, services, a works, opportunities, and connections among users and organizations. |
| US08407262B2 |
Systems and methods for generating an entity diagram
Methods and systems for generating an entity diagram include, in one exemplary embodiment, a user using a processor that executes the program code to generate the entity diagram. The process for generating the entity diagram includes generating an entity diagram with one or more entities and one or more relationships, grouping the one or more entities by a first dimension, and grouping the one or more entities by a second dimension. The process further includes rearranging the groups based on the grouping according to the first dimension, rearranging the entities based on the grouping according to the second dimension, and adjusting one or more relationship links corresponding to the one or more relationships. After the one or more entities and relationships are rearranged and adjusted, the user may access an updated entity diagram. |
| US08407259B2 |
System and method for storing and retrieving data from storage
A system and method are provided which avoid the storage of multiple objects for a single entry in memory, in particular where the entry needs to be stored at least once anyway, a reusable data structure can be implemented which allows both easy and efficient use/reuse of Patricia tree components that are already in use. The data structure can be an integer built from a combination (e.g. concatenation) of a location where the corresponding string has been stored in memory, an offset for finding the word within the string, and a length for extracting all characters from the string that make up the word. Another data component can also be added, which can encode any other feature associated with the word such as a bias level for sorting multiple search results. |
| US08407257B2 |
System and method for mutating polymorphic object components
Embodiments of the present invention provide for techniques for enabling mutation of an instantiated object between multiple underlying object types at run time. The object may alter its behavior from one object type to another at anytime without requiring a new object to be instantiated. The object's behavior may be implemented by other objects which are retrieved at run time, thus disconnecting the direct link between the object's behavior and the object. |
| US08407253B2 |
Apparatus and method for knowledge graph stabilization
A method for stabilizing a knowledge graph includes: generating a knowledge graph in which same entities in a semantic relation list between entities provided as an input are represented as a single node based on names and types of the entities; computing, on the knowledge graph, semantic similarities between all potential entity pairs of same entity types by comparing, for each potential entity pair, a type of relation associated with an entity in the entity pair and an opponent entity to the entity; and selecting, based on the semantic similarities, a representative entity from each of semantically similar entity pairs on the knowledge graph and integrating an opponent entity to the representative entity into the representative entity. The method further includes computing relation weighted values between the entities by using a graph analysis and statistic information, and adding the weighted values to the knowledge graph. |
| US08407247B2 |
Universal resource locator watchdog
A watchdog system for identifying failures in uniform resource locators (URLs) respective of advertized content. The system comprises a database containing at least campaign information, the at least campaign information containing at least a URL to be monitored by the watchdog system, the URL directs to advertized content; and a server connected to the database and operative to monitor the at least URL for identification of a failure in the URL providing the advertized content, and performing a corrective action for correcting the URL based on definitions in the at least campaign information. |
| US08407246B2 |
Anonymity measuring device
The invention concerns a data anonymity measuring device for selectively transmitting an anonymised database to a third party comprising: calculation means (402) coupled to at least one memory, the memory storing an original database (204) and said anonymized database (206), said calculation means arranged to calculate the conditional entropy for each entry in said anonymized database based on entries in said original database; comparing means (406) arranged to compare at least one of said conditional entropies with a threshold value; and output means (410) arranged to transmit said anonymized database based on the result of said comparison. |
| US08407243B2 |
Device and methods for presenting a scrollable user interface
Methods and apparatus are provided for presenting a user interface. In one embodiment, a method includes displaying a scrollable list of characters associated with a character set, and detecting a selection of a displayed character of the scrollable list of characters. The method may further include displaying a search query based on the selection, updating a character set of the scrollable list based at least in part on the search query and index elements of a dataset, and displaying a result listing based on the search query, wherein the result listing identifies one or more index elements including a matching character sequence relative to the search query. Generating a search query may be based on adaptive updating of a list of characters that may be employed for generating search queries. Display of a result list may include an identification of matching character sequence. |
| US08407238B2 |
System and methods for enabling arbitrary developer code consumption of web-based data
A structured file includes information to bind a web data source to a web data query system. Code is embedded within the structured file and is in a code language understood by the web data query system. The code is unrestricted in function. Code language objects are exposed within the web data query system for use by the code to interface with the web data query system and the web data source. A URL is associated with the structured file to enable access of the structured file through the Internet. A unit-based quota method is implemented to manage execution of code in the structured file. The unit-based quota method collapses multiple dimensions of computing resource control into a single unit value, tracks a number of units expended by the code, and stops execution of the code when the number of units expended by the code reaches a set limit. |
| US08407234B1 |
Ordering a list embodying multiple criteria
A computer-automated system orders a list of elements according to multiple criteria. Each element in a data set may have any number of attributes. Attributes may have corresponding weights which differ from each other. The system orders the elements based on the weight of the attributes and the attributes associated the elements. In particular, the system may combine the weights of all attributes associated with a particular element to produce a combined weight for the element. The system may tend to place elements having relatively high combined weights closer to the beginning of the list than elements having relatively low combined weights. The system may be used in a variety of applications, such as coordinating the schedules of multiple workers in a hospital or other workplace, based on multiple needs of the workplace and multiple preferences of the workers. |
| US08407233B2 |
Method for calculating relevance between words based on document set and system for executing the method
A method and system for calculating a relevance between words using a document set is provided. The method of calculating the relevance between words based on a document set, includes: obtaining statistical information about the words based on at least one of the words, documents, a word classification of the words, and a document classification of the documents, wherein the words and the documents are included in the document set; standardizing the statistical information; and calculating the relevance between the words based on the standardized statistical information. |
| US08407229B2 |
Systems and methods for aggregating search results
Systems and methods for aggregating search results are disclosed herein. The systems and methods include receiving a user search query, analyzing the user search query to identify a plurality of properties of the user search query, identifying a plurality of search results that match the user search query, each search result being based on a different scheme, and aggregating the search results to produce a search results list. The search results list may be a combined and selected results list. Feedback-based optimization is also disclosed. |
| US08407225B2 |
Organizing nearby picture hotspots
A method of accessing an image database containing location data and determining one or more clusters of the digital images based on their location data. A hotspot location is determined for representing the cluster of the digital images and the results are stored for later access. The computer is connected to a network and receives data from a device including data identifying a current location. After determining that the device is within a selected notification distance from the hotspot location, a notification is transmitted over the network. |
| US08407224B2 |
Apparatus and method for generating a collection profile and for communicating based on the collection profile
An apparatus for generating a collection profile of a collection of different media data items has a feature extractor for extracting at least two different features describing a content of a media data item for a plurality of media data items of the collection, and a profile creator for creating the collection profile by combining the extracted features or weighted extracted features so that the collection profile represents a quantitative fingerprint of a content of the media data collection. This collection profile or music DNA can be used for transmitting information, which is based on this collection profile, to the entity itself or to a remote entity. |
| US08407223B2 |
System for information discovery in video-based data
A system for information discovery of items, such as individuals or objects, from video-based tracks. The system may compute similarities of characteristics of the items and present the results in a matrix form. A similarity portrayal may have nodes representing the items with edges between the nodes. The edges may have weights in the form of vectors indicating similarities of the characteristics between the nodes situated at the ends of the edges. The edges may be augmented with temporal and spatial properties from the tracks which cover the items. These properties may play a part in a multi-objective presentation of information about the items in terms of a negative or supportive basis. The presentation may be partitioned into clusters which may lead to a merger of items or tracks. The system may pave a way for higher-level information discovery such as video-based social networks. |
| US08407220B2 |
Apparatuses, methods and systems for ambiguous code-triggered information querying and serving on mobile devices
The disclosure details the implementation of apparatuses, methods, and systems for ambiguous code triggered information querying and serving on mobile devices. Information and/or advertisement providers may use a code triggered information server to serve context, demographic, and behavior targeted information to users via mobile devices. Users, in turn, trigger the provision of information by scanning or observing codes or information. Often, codes scanned by novice users and/or using mobile devices may be ambiguous and/or obscured. Consequently, the present system may implement disambiguation processes to the code scans so as to clarify their identity. The disambiguated scans, together with geographic, temporal, and user-specific information, are obtained by the server that receives, processes, and records the message. Based on these messages and a user profile—which may include continuously updated user-specific behavior information, situational and ambient information, an accumulated history of scanned code messages, and integration with outside database information—the server selects information to serve to the users' mobile devices from an information base. The code triggered information server allows for the serving of information that is demographic, interest, location, and time specific. It also allows providers to track user behavior and provide anticipatory information. |
| US08407216B2 |
Automated tagging of objects in databases
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for automatically generating tag terms (or tags) for objects in databases of a web site. The metadata of the objects (or data) of the web site are processed and parsed to automatically generate tag terms for the corresponding objects. Information (or data, or content) downloaded from the Internet often comes with metadata, which can exist in titles, description, sources, and authors of the information, etc. The metadata of downloaded information can be process and parsed to generate tag terms for the corresponding objects. The system can automatically generate tag terms for the data, which are stored as objects in the databases, and make the data (or objects) searchable. In addition, the automatically generated tag terms allow associated data to maintain their relationship. For example, data from the same sources, same authors, or same subjects can be identified based on the common tag terms. Automatically generated tag terms enable searching and association of data (or objects) in databases in a web site. |
| US08407214B2 |
Constructing a classifier for classifying queries
To construct a classifier, a data structure correlating queries to items identified by the queries is received, where the data structure contains initial labeled queries that have been labeled with respect to predetermined classes, and unlabeled queries that have not been labeled with respect to the predetermined classes. The data structure is used to label at least some of the unlabeled queries with respect to the predetermined classes. Queries in the data structure that have been labeled with respect to the predetermined classes are used as training data to train the classifier. |
| US08407213B2 |
System and method for identifying a location of interest to be named by a user
An apparatus for identifying a location for naming includes a monitoring module that is configured to monitor actions taken by a user via a mobile communication device and to monitor a location of the mobile communication device when an action is taken by the user and at predetermined time intervals. The apparatus also includes a data store for storing user-specific location information and user-specific action information associated with the location monitored by the monitoring module and a location naming module that is configured to calculate a relevance rating of the location based on the user-specific action information associated with the location and on the user-specific location information, and to prompt the user to name the location based on its relevance rating. |
| US08407212B2 |
System and method for generation of a customized web page based on user identifiers
A system for generating a customized web page is provided. The system comprising an identifier generator and manager (IGM) for generating a plurality of identifiers from data collected respective of usage of information by a user over time and for providing an answer responsive to a query. The query answer is based on the plurality of identifiers. Also provided is an auto-discovery and management unit for determining relevancy to the user of information retrieved from an information source in which the determination is based on answers received from the IGM and a web page generator for generating a web page containing at least a snippet of the relevant information in a designated display area of the generated web page. |
| US08407209B2 |
Utilizing path IDs for name and namespace searches
In a database system, names and namespace of XML nodes are computed from path ids. The path ids are constructed from tokens, each of which represents a particular name or namespace-name pair. |
| US08407204B2 |
Minimizing visibility of stale content in web searching including revising web crawl intervals of documents
A method and system is disclosed for associating an appropriate web crawl interval with a document so that the probability of the document's stale content being used by a search engine is below an acceptable level when the search engine crawls the document at its associated web crawl interval. The web crawl interval of a document is determined through an iterative process and updated dynamically by the search engine after every visit to the document by a web crawler. A multi-tier data structure is employed for managing the web crawl order of billions of documents on the Internet. The search engine may move a document from one tier to another if its web crawl interval is changed significantly. |
| US08407202B2 |
Embedded business metadata
A methodology is disclosed for improving searches of a distributed Internet network. A distributed Internet network is searched for a particular information type, searching for a field identified using a predetermined identifier indicating that the field comprises information of the particular information type. When the field identified using the predetermined identifier is found, an association of the contents of the field with the search results is made, and repeated using the same predetermined identifier. Information of a particular information type may then be served in a field identified using a predetermined identifier that identifies the field as containing information of the particular information type. |
| US08407199B2 |
Graphic query suggestion apparatus and program product
An apparatus and a program product which generates at a user's computer system a display which graphically shows the relationships among a core query and one or more suggested related queries in a search conducted through an online search engine. The display preferably is a set of partially overlapping geometric figures such as circles, with the size of each circle indicating the number of resources found by the search queries and the overlap indicating commonality between a core query and a suggested related query. |
| US08407198B2 |
Information processing apparatus and method, recording medium, and program
Information processing apparatus and method, recording medium, and program are provided. An information processing apparatus includes the following elements. A receiver receives a command requesting for the execution of predetermined processing. A storage unit stores data and first information indicating, among a plurality of stages in a lifecycle of the information processing apparatus, the current stage determined by the stored data and second information indicating an executable command in the current stage, the executable command being determined for each of the plurality of stages. A determining unit determines on the basis of the first information and the second information whether the command received by the receiver is an executable command in the current stage. |
| US08407196B1 |
Object-oriented database for file system emulator
A system and computer program product for implementing an object-oriented hierarchical database architecture that supports functionality of an emulator. The hierarchical data architecture is created for implementing a files system and/or a system registry inside the emulator, where malware components are emulated and tested. The data architecture supports the emulator and provides for effective recovery of a database fragments after modifications of the fragments by the emulated malware. The non-relational object-oriented database consists of database objects. Each of the database objects has various data fields. Special user types are assigned to the database objects. Each user type is defined by a selected set of data fields. The database objects have a parent-child relationship. Each database object has a unique parent object and a unique set of index fields. The unique set of the index fields is a unique set of data fields of an object. The database has a root object which is unique for the database. |
| US08407193B2 |
Data deduplication for streaming sequential data storage applications
Data deduplication compression in a streaming storage application, is provided. The disclosed deduplication process provides a deduplication archive that enables storage of the archive to, and extraction from, a streaming storage medium. One implementation involves compressing fully sequential data stored in a data repository to a sequential streaming storage, by: splitting fully sequential data into data blocks; hashing content of each data block and comparing each hash to an in-memory lookup table for a match, the in-memory lookup table storing all hashes that have been encountered during the compression of the fully sequential data; for each data block without a hash match, adding the data block as a new data block for compression of fully sequential data; and encoding duplicate data blocks using the in-memory lookup table into data segments. |
| US08407188B1 |
Methods and systems for providing data form management
Providing data form management may comprise receiving form definition data, transforming the form definition data into an internal data structure, and storing the internal data structure in a form definition data table. In addition, providing data form management may comprise creating a form input data table corresponding to the form definition data table and notifying a form datastore that caches the internal data structure stored in the form definition data table. Furthermore, receiving the form definition data may further comprise providing a data page including at least one form component being user arrangeable on the data page and providing the ability to move, add, or delete at least one form component on the data page. The form definition data may define one of the form component or the location of the form component on the data page. |
| US08407186B1 |
Systems and methods for data-selection-specific data deduplication
A computer-implemented method for data-selection-specific data deduplication associated with a single-instance-storage computing subsystem may comprise: 1) detecting a request to store a data selection to the single-instance-storage computing subsystem, 2) identifying a data-selection-specific fingerprint set associated with the data selection and stored on a storage device, and 3) utilizing the data-selection-specific fingerprint set associated with the data selection for data deduplication associated with the request to store the data selection to the single-instance-storage computing subsystem. Other exemplary data deduplication methods, as well as corresponding exemplary systems and computer-readable media, are also disclosed. |
| US08407178B2 |
Increasing the diversity of item recommendations by filtering
A recommendation system increases the diversity of item recommendations provided to a target user by using item similarity data to filter an initial recommendation set. In one embodiment, selected items are filtered from the initial recommendation set based on similarity scores that represent degrees of similarity between particular items. The similarity scores may be generated based on an automated comparison of item attributes or content, or based on another measure of item similarity. |
| US08407177B2 |
System and associated method for determining and applying sociocultural characteristics
A computer system and associated method are provided for evaluating a sociocultural event associated with a target human subject. An analytical processing device analyzes a communication sample associated with the sociocultural event involving the target human subject to determine an apparent cultural data element, an apparent linguistic data element, a contextual data element, and/or a communicative data element associated with the communication sample. A correlative processing device correlates the contextual data element with a projected cultural data element and/or a projected linguistic data element expected of a corresponding hypothetical human subject. A comparative processing device compares the apparent cultural data element and/or the apparent linguistic data element with the corresponding projected linguistic data element and/or the projected cultural data element to determine whether the sociocultural event is consistent with the target human subject. |
| US08407175B2 |
Method, apparatus and product for SAT solving using templates clauses
A method to solve a template SAT problem associated with a bounded model that is modeled checked, said method comprising: receiving the template SAT problem, the template SAT problem comprising a plurality of clauses including a template clause that represents a plurality of concrete clauses each associated with a different temporal shift, the template clause is associated with a literal; determining a value of the literal in a cycle based on the template clause and a temporal shift, said determining comprises: determining a concrete clause of the plurality of concrete clauses based on the template clause and the temporal shift; determining a new template clause based on at least two clauses; determining a deduced clause based on at least the value of the literal in the cycle; deducing a solution to the template SAT problem; and outputting the solution. |
| US08407173B2 |
System and method for comparing system features
Embodiments of the disclosed systems and methods establish quantitative relationships between system features and system objectives. In some embodiments, the features have a plurality of feature values related to the objective and the methods comprise analyzing a mathematical functional relationship between the plurality of feature values and the objective to create a plurality of objective values reflecting the ability of the feature values to satisfy the objective, selecting a feature value and analyzing the relationship to create an objective value; and generating an objective measure reflecting the objective value. In some embodiments, the mathematical function comprises a polynomial interpolation. In some embodiments, the features are a fidelity dimension and the feature values are values of fidelity in a processor based aircraft simulator. |
| US08407169B2 |
Expert system and method
A system and method is provided for representation of a real world problem situation. The system includes a computer software process which can acquire or accept a set of input data. The input data generally includes seed facts and user entered facts. The set of input data represents real world objects which pertain to a real-world problem situation. The computer software process generates new data. The new data consists of additional not-previously-known facts about the real-world problem situation. The additional not-previously known facts include acquired facts and reasoned facts. The computer software process utilizes a fact structured representation method. The fact structured representation method represents a first group of facts about a problem situation. It also represents a rule structured representation method for representing a first group of rules about a class of problem situations. The computer software process also represents a plurality of causal features of the problem situation so that a reasoning process results. The reasoning process is characterized as performing some elements of deep reasoning. |
| US08407159B2 |
Automatic batching of GUI-based tasks
Described herein are techniques for automatically batching GUI-based (Graphical User Interface) tasks. The described techniques include automatically determining whether a user is performing batchable tasks in a GUI-based environment. Once detected, the described techniques include predicting the next tasks of a batch based upon those detected batchable tasks. With the described techniques, the user may be asked to verify and/or correct the predicted next tasks. Furthermore, the described techniques may include performing a batch and doing so without user interaction. |
| US08407157B2 |
Locating harvested material within a work area
A method and system for locating harvested material comprises receiving material data including material location data on a material location of harvested material within a work area. Background data is obtained. A location-determining receiver determines a forwarder location of a forwarder. An estimator estimates economic cost factors associated with corresponding candidate paths or segments of candidate paths between the forwarder location and the material location. A selector selects a preferential planned path between the forwarder location and the material location consistent with the material data, background data, and minimization of the economic cost factors. |
| US08407156B2 |
Closed loop postage metering system
A closed loop postage metering system includes networked meters that provide mailers and/or recipients the capability to request additional or modified services during processing of a mail piece by a carrier. The networked meter allows the Post to charge the mailer, or even the recipient for these services or to provide them with a refund or credit. The services can include changing the processing of the mail piece. Further, the closed loop postage metering system enables more precise methods of paying for services when multiple carriers handle a mail piece. A special case of such multiple carriers handling is the handling of international mail. |
| US08407152B2 |
Commercial and residential backups
A computer system that is configured to: (A) define a geofence surrounding a geographic area; (B) gather information associated with the geofenced area; and (C) assign one or more parameters to the geofenced area based on the information gathered, wherein at least one of the assigned parameters is used to monitor the performance of a delivery vehicle driver while the delivery vehicle driver is operating a delivery vehicle within the geofenced area. In particular embodiments, the parameters include a backup limit defining a number of times a delivery vehicle operating within the geofenced area is permitted to back up while operating the delivery vehicle within the geofenced area (e.g., during a particular delivery cycle). In other embodiments, the parameters include a maximum speed limit for the geofenced area. The system may be adapted to automatically generate an alert in response to the delivery vehicle operating outside of the defined parameters. |
| US08407151B1 |
System and method for generating shipment forecasts for materials handling facilities
Embodiments may include a forecasting component that, for each of different service levels offered to customers, generates a projection of the quantity of shipments to be shipped according to that service level during a time period. Based on an aggregate quantity of shipments projected to be shipped, projected quantities of shipments for the multiple service levels may be modified. The forecasting component may, for each service level, receive information specifying a distribution of different shipment methods that are projected to be utilized to ship shipments of a particular priority designation to meet requirements of that service level. Based on the distribution for each service level and the modified projected quantity of shipments for each service level, a forecast specifying quantities of shipments that are to be shipped during the time period according to each of the different shipment methods may be generated. |
| US08407149B1 |
Method and system for automated property valuation adjustment
A method and machine-readable media are provided for estimating property values. An exemplary method includes obtaining a first estimate of a property from a first property valuation database, the first estimate exhibiting price tier effect bias. The method further includes deriving a price tier effect adjustment factor based on a price tier associated with the property and purchase transaction data. The method further includes adjusting the first estimate to reduce the price tier effect bias using price tier effect adjustment factor, thereby providing a second estimate having reduced price tier effect bias. |
| US08407145B1 |
Transaction ID system and process
A system and process for creating, maintaining, and using transaction identifiers, i.e. a transaction DNA, is provided. The DNA, along with other transactional information, is sent through a set of intermediary entities as found in a standard transaction processing system. The DNA is based on information that may include source ID, merchant ID, and order ID. The order ID is a unique number that can be generated by the merchant. The DNA is maintained throughout the lifecycle of the transaction, including authorization requests, settlement requests, and exception item processing. The DNA allows the bank to provide precise transactional matching to the original transaction for the merchant, making reconciliation always possible, fast, and automatic, and ensuring information is presented in a manner that the merchant chooses. |
| US08407144B2 |
Vehicular-based transactions, systems and methods
Various systems and methods are described for conducting and staging money transfer transactions from a vehicle. The systems and methods may include using a wireless transmitter on board the vehicle for wirelessly communicating with a money transfer system. Also, a user-input device integrated with the vehicle's navigation system, entertainment system, and/or climate system may be used. Using the wireless transmitter, the user-input device may interface with the money transfer system. Also, one or more identity authentication devices may be integrated with the vehicle that collect information to authenticate a user's identity. |
| US08407124B2 |
Method for managing buyer transactions and settlements using communication network between computers, and method for relaying information following buyer consumption trends to the buyer
Described herein are methods and apparatus for the processing of electronic invoices. A server for processing invoices communicates with computing systems such as a supplier system (used by a supplier), a buyer system (used by a buyer), and finance systems (which manage bank accounts of the supplier and buyer). The server communicates with the supplier system and the buyer system regarding an electronic invoice that relates to a transaction between the supplier and the buyer, and that includes a unique identification code. When the buyer has approved the electronic invoice, the supplier system and/or the server is able to settle the invoice using the unique identification code. |
| US08407122B2 |
High speed processing of financial information using FPGA devices
Methods and systems for processing financial market data using reconfigurable logic are disclosed. Various functional operations to be performed on the financial market data can be implemented in firmware pipelines to accelerate the speed of processing. Also, a combination of software logic and firmware logic can be used to efficiently control and manage the high speed flow of financial market data to and from the reconfigurable logic. |
| US08407121B2 |
Location-based money transfer
The invention provides various systems and methods for performing money transfers using location information. The method includes staging, at computer system, a money transfer transaction from a sender to a receiver. The method further includes providing the receiver's mobile number to the computer system, and tracking the receiver's location using a location tracking computer system. Further, the method includes determining if the receiver is within a proximity threshold to an agent location. The agent location is configured to distribute funds from the money transfer. The method then, in response to the receiver being within the proximity threshold to the agent location, notifies the receiver of the agent location's address, and dispenses the funds from the agent location. |
| US08407120B1 |
System and method for providing an adjusted weighted repeat sale index
Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media are described for estimating real estate property values based on an adjusted repeat sales model. In one exemplary embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises calculating data for estimating the adjustments from aggregated levels to disaggregated levels by marking a first transaction to a second transaction using a repeat sales house price index function at an aggregated level; determining, using the calculated data, an estimate of the deviation between the repeat sales house price index at the aggregated level and a repeat sales house price index at a disaggregated level; and calculating the repeat sales house price index at the disaggregated level based on the determined estimate of the deviation from the aggregated level. |
| US08407110B1 |
Method and apparatus for registration of fulfillment services
Various embodiments of a method and apparatus whereby a single action may control fulfillment services are described. Various embodiments may include an inventory management system associated with a fulfillment services provider. The inventory management system may be configured to implement a fulfillment services management interface configured to generate a user interface providing an indication of item(s) listed for sale by a merchant. In various embodiments, order fulfillment services for such items may not be provided by a fulfillment services provider. Additionally, the user interface may provide a single action user interface element for the merchant to register the one or more items for fulfillment by a fulfillment services provider. The inventory management system may, in response to receiving an indication of activation of the single action user interface element, register the item(s) for fulfillment by the fulfillment services provider. |
| US08407109B2 |
Information processing apparatus, consumables stock management system, consumables stock managing method, consumables stock managing program, and memory medium
A frequency of a residual amount signal which includes the absence of consumables and is issued by a printing apparatus is analyzed, whether new consumables have been attached or not is properly discriminated, and proper stock management is made. |
| US08407098B2 |
Method, medium, and system for ordering a playlist based on media popularity
This is directed to systems and methods for ordering a playlist of media items. An existing playlist can include media sharing some characteristics, where some of the media items are unfamiliar to the user. To provide the user with a sense of the unfamiliar media items, the electronic device can order the playlist media items based on a familiarity or popularity measure. For example, the electronic device can determine the chart rankings of each media item in the playlist, and play back the media items in the order of chart ranking. This may allow a user to first listen or watch the most familiar or popular media items and get a sense for the less familiar or popular media items in the playlist. |
| US08407097B2 |
Proximity transaction apparatus and methods of use thereof
The invention is a transaction terminal configured to perform a financial transaction intermediated by an RFID bearing payment token. The financial transaction is of a general type. |
| US08407094B1 |
Providing links to related advertisements
A document, such as a Web page, includes content and a set of related ad links. When a user selects one of the related ad links, they are brought to a linked document including a set of one or more ads. Unless there is an agreement to the contrary (such as a pay per impression agreement), the advertisers do not compensate the document owner for the selection of a related ad link. However, when a user selects one of the ads on the linked document, they are brought to a corresponding ad landing page linked from the ad. The advertisers may compensate the Web page owner for such selections. The related ad links may be automatically generated using document content information, the number, performances, and/or compensation offers of ads corresponding to the related ad link, etc. |
| US08407093B2 |
Advertising technique
A method for purchase of goods and/or services comprising the steps of,(a) a user placing a personal advertisement through a service provider or vendor with a image or picture which is blurred on partially blurred as to body portions or plurality of body portions, or to which contains text which is strategically blurred, and(b) the service provider or vendor alerting the user to one or more responses to the advertisement or other message, optional with blurred and/or partially obscured images on pictures of a respondent or text by way of e-mail, television, written or printed material, SMS, EMS and/or MMS messaging. |
| US08407090B2 |
Dynamic reassignment of advertisement placements to maximize impression count
A method for dynamically reassigning in-game advertisements within a video game in order to maximize impression counts for the advertisements includes the steps of: determining when an advertisement at a first view location qualifies as on screen and incrementing an elapsed time for the advertisement while it qualifies as on screen. The method also includes the steps of calculating a current impression count for the advertisement and determining whether a maximum impression count for the advertisement has been reached or is within a prescribed value of being reached. If so, another advertisement is dynamically assigned to the first view location by removing the initial advertisement therefrom in order to maximize the cumulative impression counts for the advertisements. |
| US08407088B2 |
Rebate card system
A method and system for using a rebate card are disclosed. The method may comprise initiating a purchase transaction for one or more products at a point of sale, determining whether the purchase transaction qualifies for a rebate, determining a rebate value based on the purchase transaction and the rebate, activating a rebate value in a rebate card account associated with a rebate card based on the determining action, and delivering the rebate card to a customer of the one or more products during the purchase transaction. |
| US08407084B2 |
User selectable game information associated with an asset
Systems, apparatus and methods for interacting with a virtual world being displayed on a video display are described. The virtual world includes user selectable tagged images. The tagged images are related to an asset and can include a redemption feature that can be used when acquiring the asset. A user interacting with a game console can select the tagged images. Upon selection of the tagged image the game console can communicate information related to the tagged image, the related asset and/or the redemption feature to a mobile device. The tagged images can also be associated with distribution rules that can be evaluated to determine when and to whom to distribute digital coupons associated with the tagged images. |
| US08407080B2 |
Managing and monitoring continuous improvement in information technology services
A method for managing performance of an IT service delivery process to ensure the changes meet service performance objectives. Key performance metrics (KPIs) of a service delivery process are collected in a continuous manner at defined time intervals, both before a change to improve performance is applied to the process (baseline measurements) and after a change is applied to the process (post-change measurements). A process behavior graph is generated comprising each baseline and post-change performance measurement at the time interval collected, the time interval at which the change was applied to the process, and the performance objectives for the process. The graph is displayed to a user to enable the user to determine the impact the change has on the service delivery process in view of differences between the baseline and post-change performance measurements, and to determine whether the process meets performance objectives in view of the performance objectives. |
| US08407073B2 |
Scheduling resources from a multi-skill multi-level human resource pool
Each work item from a group of work items is categorized as either complex or intense, and a unique work requirement statement is derived for each work item based on whether it is complex or intense. A unique resource value statement is assigned to different human resources. Past performances of the human resources are analyzed against completed work items in order to adjust the unique resource value statement, thus creating updated human resource value statements. An optimized work requirement statement is created by recalculating the unique work requirement statement for each work item based on the updated human resource value statements. A schedule for automated allocation of human resources to functional areas of an enterprise activity environment and scheduling of work items to the functional areas is formulated based on the optimized requirement statement for each work item in the group of work items. |
| US08407071B2 |
Method and apparatus for repricing a reimbursement claim against a contract
A method for repricing a reimbursement claim under at least one contract is provided herein. The method may include a combination of steps such as: converting each contract into a series of contractual terms; converting a claim into a series of claim lines, containing claim codes, unit numbers and corresponding charges for the claim codes; comparing claim codes and contractual terms and identifying matches therebetween; determining any priority conditions associated to the matching contractual terms, and eliminate any matching contractual terms that are excluded by the priority conditions; calculating the reimbursement amount for the claim by determining the reimbursement charges for the non-excluded matching contractual terms; and determining and making any adjustments depending upon any discount terms for the entire reimbursement amount. |
| US08407068B2 |
Medicine management apparatus and medicine management system
A medicine management apparatus includes: a medicine storage which stores a plurality of medicines used at a site of medical care; a storage and retrieval detector which, when a medicine handling personnel manipulates the apparatus to store or retrieve an accommodated medicine to be accommodated in the apparatus, physically detects the target accommodated medicine for which the apparatus is manipulated, differentiating it from the other accommodated medicines; and a counter which counts each type of the plurality of accommodated medicines. An injection prescription receiver receives injection prescription data from an external prescription analyzer. A retrieval determining unit determines whether the accommodated medicine detected as being retrieved is the accommodated medicine directed by the injection prescription data to be retrieved. A retrieval completion notification unit transmits a retrieval completion signal to the prescription analyzer, prompted by the completion of the retrieval of the accommodated medicine directed by the prescription data to be retrieved. |
| US08407065B2 |
Wound care treatment service using automatic wound dressing fabricator
A method and/or system allowing patients to receive consistent, effective and convenient reliable wound care by applying customized wound dressings fabricated at automatic wound dressing fabricators deployed in medical facilities. Wound dressing specifications are generated with the aid of a computer-based configuration algorithm based on characteristics of the wounds. The generated wound dressing specifications are communicated between the medical facilities to provide consistent and reliable wound dressings without duplicative diagnosis of the wound. Further, telemedicine for wound care may be implemented by communicating the wound dressing specifications to automatic wound dressing fabricators that are remotely located. |
| US08407064B1 |
Method and system for healthcare benefit plan selection
A method and system for healthcare benefit plan selection determines a healthcare consumer's projected/predicted healthcare service utilization for a defined timeframe using a personalized healthcare service utilization model created based on: general/demographic data associated with the healthcare consumer; the healthcare consumer's historical healthcare service utilization; and the healthcare consumer's personal health profile data. Data associated with the rules governing the operation and use of two or more candidate healthcare benefit plans is also obtained. The operation and rules of use are then applied to healthcare consumer's projected healthcare service utilization for the defined timeframe to create expected healthcare consumer experience model data under each of two or more candidate healthcare benefit plans. In one embodiment, comparison data and/or a plan recommendation is then provided to the healthcare consumer. |
| US08407063B2 |
Multi-user remote health monitoring system with biometrics support
A method for monitoring a physiological condition of a user with an apparatus in a computer network is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) storing authorization information in a nonvolatile condition within the apparatus, the authorization information being suitable for identifying at least one of (i) one or more authorized patients among a plurality of medical patients of a health monitoring service and (ii) one or more authorized types among a plurality of patient types of the health monitoring service, (B) sensing biometric data from the user of the apparatus and (C) identifying the user as a particular patient from at least one of (i) the authorized patients and (ii) the authorized types in response to matching the biometric data to the authorization information. |
| US08407057B2 |
Machine, system and method for user-guided teaching and modifying of voice commands and actions executed by a conversational learning system
A machine, system and method for user-guided teaching and modifications of voice commands and actions to be executed by a conversational learning system. The machine includes a system bus for communicating data and control signals received from the conversational learning system to a computer system, a vehicle data and control bus for connecting devices and sensors in the machine, a bridge module for connecting the vehicle data and control bus to the system bus, machine subsystems coupled to the vehicle data and control bus having a respective user interface for receiving a voice command or input signal from a user, a memory coupled to the system bus for storing action command sequences learned for a new voice command and a processing unit coupled to the system bus for automatically executing the action command sequences learned when the new voice command is spoken. |
| US08407051B2 |
Speech recognizing apparatus
A speech recognizing apparatus includes a speech start instructing section 3 for instructing to start speech recognition; a speech input section 1 for receiving uttered speech and converting to a speech signal; a speech recognizing section 2 for recognizing the speech on the basis of the speech signal; an utterance start time detecting section 4 for detecting duration from the time when the speech start instructing section instructs to the time when the speech input section delivers the speech signal; an utterance timing deciding section 5 for deciding utterance timing indicating whether the utterance start is quick or slow by comparing the duration detected by the utterance start time detecting section with a prescribed threshold; an interaction control section 6 for determining a content, which is to be shown when exhibiting a recognition result of the speech recognizing section, in accordance with the utterance timing decided; a system response generating section 7 for generating a system response on the basis of the determined content to be shown; and an output section 8 and 9 for outputting the system response generated. |
| US08407049B2 |
Systems and methods for conversation enhancement
This invention description details systems and methods for improving human conversations by enhancing conversation participants' ability to: —Distill out and record core ideas of conversations. —Classify and prioritize these key concepts. —Recollect commitments and issues and take appropriate action. —Analyze and uncover new insight from the linkage of these ideas with those from other conversations. |
| US08407046B2 |
Noise-feedback for spectral envelope quantization
A method of transmitting an input audio signal is disclosed. A current spectral magnitude of the input audio signal is quantized. A quantization error of a previous spectral magnitude is fed back to influence quantization of the current spectral magnitude. The feeding back includes adaptively modifying a quantization criterion to form a modified quantization criterion. A current quantization error is minimized by using the modified quantization criterion. A quantized spectral envelope is formed based on the minimizing and the quantized spectral envelope is transmitted. |
| US08407041B2 |
Integrative and discriminative technique for spoken utterance translation
Architecture that provides the integration of automatic speech recognition (ASR) and machine translation (MT) components of a full speech translation system. The architecture is an integrative and discriminative approach that employs an end-to-end objective function (the conditional probability of the translated sentence (target) given the source language's acoustic signal, as well as the associated BLEU score in the translation, as a goal in the integrated system. This goal defines the theoretically correct variables to determine the speech translation system output using a Bayesian decision rule. These theoretically correct variables are modified in practical use due to known imperfections of the various models used in building the full speech translation system. The disclosed approach also employs automatic training of these variables using minimum classification error (MCE) criterion. The measurable BLEU scores are used to facilitate the implementation of the MCE training procedure in a step that defines the class-specific discriminant function. |
| US08407040B2 |
Information processing device, method and program
A translation apparatus capable of producing an optimal translation of an input sentence is provided. A template in a first language and a template in a second language include a fixed portion consisting of a prescribed word/phrase and a variable portion replaceable by any of a predetermined plurality of words/phrases at corresponding positions, and the translation apparatus includes: a determining unit for determining, for a plurality of templates in the first language, whether or not a word/phrase included in the input sentence in the first language matches any of the prescribed word/phrase and the predetermined plurality of words/phrases; a selecting unit for selecting at least one of the plurality of templates based on the result of determination; and a replacing unit for replacing, if a template including a variable portion replaceable by the matched word/phrase is selected, the variable portion corresponding to the variable portion replaceable by the matched word/phrase of the template in the second language corresponding to the selected template, by a word/phrase in the second language corresponding to the matched word/phrase. |
| US08407039B2 |
Method and apparatus of translating language using voice recognition
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus of translating a language using voice recognition. The present invention provides a method of translating a language using voice recognition, comprising: receiving a voice input comprising a first language; acquiring at least one recognition candidate corresponding to the voice input by performing voice recognition on the voice input; providing a user interface for selecting at least one of the acquired at least one recognition candidate; and outputting a second language corresponding to the selected at least one recognition candidate, wherein the type of the user interface is determined according to the number of the acquired at least one recognition candidate, and an apparatus of translating a language using voice recognition for implementing the above method. |
| US08407038B2 |
Method for simulating a communication network that considers quality of service
A method for simulating a telecommunications network through objects that model respective network devices provides for simulating through the objects, the supply of network services according to respective quality of service profiles, by selectively identifying at least one quality of service profile, and dynamically configuring the objects to simulate the supply of the service corresponding to the selectively identified quality of service profile. In the simulation of networks having mobile terminals, the quality of service profile preferably has parameters chosen from traffic class, maximum transfer time of a data unit, guaranteed transfer speed for data transmitted by mobile terminal toward the network, maximum transfer speed for data transmitted from mobile terminal toward the network, guaranteed transfer speed for data transmitted by the network toward mobile terminal, and maximum transfer speed for data transmitted by the network toward mobile terminal. |
| US08407037B2 |
Methods and apparatus for clock simulation with calibration
A method for clock modeling in a simulation tool is described. An internal time (I) may be defined that governs the simulator tool's clock period. An external time (E) may be defined. The internal time may have a smaller resolution than the external time. A calibration period (C) may be defined for the clock. The calibration period may be smaller than 0.5E and greater than I. The largest inaccuracy of any clock edge may be monitored, and the clock may be calibrated if the largest inaccuracy is greater than (C−1). |
| US08407035B2 |
Dynamically adjusting simulation fidelity in a self-optimized simulation of a complex system
Mechanisms are provided for controlling a fidelity of a simulation of a system. A model of the system is received, the model of the system having a plurality of individual components of the system. Fidelity values are assigned to models of the individual components of the system. A required fidelity value is assigned to transactions between components in the plurality of individual components of the system. A simulation of the system is executed using the model of the system and the models of the individual components of the system. The fidelity values of one or more of the models of the individual components of the system are dynamically adjusted during the execution of the simulation based on the required fidelity values assigned to the transactions. |
| US08407034B2 |
Method and apparatus for identification of an access network by means of 1-port measurements
Method and apparatus for modeling a network are described in which a 1 port measurement is made on the network by inputting an excitation signal at one port of the network and recording the results reflected back to the port. A 1 port parametric model of the network is generated whereby as much information about the topology of the network is included in calculating initial values of the parameters. Then the values of the parameters of the 1 port parametric model are optimized by reducing the difference between the results of the measurement step and results calculated using the 1-port parametric model and the excitation signal. |
| US08407025B2 |
Operating parameter control of an apparatus for processing data
An apparatus for processing data 2 is provided with a time-to-digital converter 18 which serves to measure signal processing delay through one or more signal paths through a processing stage. This measured delay generates a delay value representing a plurality of instances of the signal processing delay which have been measured. Analysis is performed under software control to estimate a worst case signal processing delay through the processing stage based upon the delay values which have been generated. An adjustment of the operating parameters, such as supply voltage and clock frequency, of the apparatus is made to provide a timing margin through the processing stage sufficient to satisfy the worst case signal processing delay which has been estimated without an excessive margin. |
| US08407020B1 |
Fast method to search for linear frequency-modulated signals
A computer implemented method for determining frequency and slope of a linear frequency modulated signal. Windowed signal data is collected and used for formulating a search surface function which can be calculated recursively. The function is divided into parts. Part values are calculated at an underspecified number of points corresponding to the number of parts. The search surface function part values are interpolated at values between frequency values. An interpolation geometry is chosen and then the function part values are interpolated at values between frequency values and slopes. Function parts are added together giving a restored search surface function. The frequency and slope values can be searched to find the values that maximize the search surface function. Other embodiments result in faster execution. |
| US08407017B2 |
Automated emergency power supply test with variable, priority-based transfer times
An automated emergency power supply system (EPSS) and testing solution that records generator load values and engine exhaust temperature values to evaluate whether an EPSS test satisfies legislated test criteria. The EPSS test is carried out under software control, which initiates a test by instructing an automatic transfer switch (ATS) to change its status to a test status, causing the essential loads to be powered by a generator instead of a main utility power source. Power monitors record the ATS and generator status during the test as well as electrical parameter data from the ATS and generator and exhaust temperature data and other engine parameter data from the generator. When the test is concluded, the ATS is instructed to return the status to normal so that power delivery is resumed from the main power source. The electrical and engine parameter data is analyzed and compared against legislated test criteria to determine a pass/fail result of the EPSS test. |
| US08407016B2 |
System and method for synchronizing an auxiliary electrical generator to an electrical system
There is provided herein methods and apparatus for apparatus for controlling the interconnection of an auxiliary AC generator with an electrical system, such as an electrical distribution system, e.g., a utility grid. A measuring circuit measures the frequency of an auxiliary AC generator and the phase angle between one voltage phase of the generator and the correspondent voltage phase of the electric utility's electricity supply lines, i.e., the grid, each of which are averaged and filtered. The measured frequency of the auxiliary AC generator is matched to the frequency of the electrical system and the measured phase angle of the generator is matched to the electric utility's electricity supply lines. Once matching is achieved to within a defined tolerance, interconnecting contactors are closed. |
| US08407012B2 |
Methods and systems of DNA sequencing
Methods and systems of DNA sequencing that compensate for sources of noise in next-generation DNA sequencers are described. |
| US08407001B2 |
Systems and methods for using location data to electronically display dispensing of markers by a marking system or marking tool
Information is electronically displayed relating to use of a marking system or a marking tool configured to dispense one or more markers to mark, on ground, pavement, or other surface, a location of an underground utility. Location data and/or time data relating to the use of the marking system or the marking tool are used to control a display device so as to visually display a dispensing of the one or more markers on an electronic representation of an area that is marked and includes the location of the underground utility. |
| US08406996B2 |
Cordless inertial vehicle navigation
Inertial navigation systems for wheeled vehicles with constrained motion degrees of freedom are described. |
| US08406993B2 |
Cart braking control during mechanized cart retrieval
A vehicle tracking system includes a wheel containing sensor circuitry capable of sensing various types of conditions, such as wheel rotation, wheel vibration caused by skidding, and specific electromagnetic and/or magnetic signals indicative of particular wheel locations. The sensor circuitry is coupled to an RF transceiver, which may but need not be included within the wheel. The wheel may also include a brake mechanism. In one embodiment, the wheels are placed on shopping carts and are used to collect and monitor shopping cart status and location data via a wireless network. The collected data may be used for various purposes, such as locking the wheel of an exiting cart if the customer has not paid, estimating numbers of queued carts, stopping wheel skid events that occur during mechanized cart retrieval, store planning, and providing location-based messaging to customers. |
| US08406991B2 |
In-vehicle device and wireless communication system
Upon detection of a portable terminal positioned at a predetermined distance allowing wireless communication with an in-vehicle device, the in-vehicle device in an in-vehicle system performs a pairing process with respect to the detected portable terminal to establish wireless communication with the detected portable terminal. Thereafter, the in-vehicle device acquires an image and sound acquired by an application being executed on the portable terminal from the portable terminal, with which wireless communication has been established. The in-vehicle device converts acquired various types of data into an outputtable format of the in-vehicle device and outputs the converted data to at least one of a display unit and a speaker. |
| US08406984B2 |
Method and system for pre-ignition control
Methods and systems are provided for addressing cylinder-to-cylinder imbalances in the incidence of pre-ignition and/or knock. Engine cylinders are fueled based on each cylinder's pre-ignition count to balance the incidence of pre-ignition in each cylinder. The fueling is adjusted to maintain engine exhaust at stoichiometry. |
| US08406983B2 |
Engine idle speed and turbocharger speed control
Various methods are described for controlling engine operation for an engine having a turbocharger and direction injection. One example method includes performing at least a first and second injection in response to a driver action. The first and second injection may be performed during a cylinder cycle, the first injection generating a lean combustion and the second injection injected after combustion such that it exits the cylinder unburned into the exhaust upstream of a turbine of the turbocharger. |
| US08406982B2 |
Fuel injection detecting device
A fuel injection detecting device computes a maximum-fuel-injection-rate-reach timing and a fuel-injection-rate-decrease-start timing based on a falling waveform of the fuel pressure and a rising waveform of the fuel pressure. The falling waveform represents the fuel pressure detected by a fuel sensor during a period in which the fuel pressure increases due to a fuel injection rate decrease. The rising waveform represents the fuel pressure detected by the fuel sensor during a period in which the fuel pressure decreases due to a fuel injection rate increase. The rising waveform and the falling waveform are respectively modeled by modeling function. In a case of small fuel injection quantity, an intersection timing at which lines expressed by the modeling functions intersect with each other is defined as the maximum-fuel-injection-rate-reach timing and the fuel-injection-rate-decrease-start timing. |
| US08406978B2 |
Gas turbine control method and device
Provided is a gas turbine control method and control device whereby a design performance and an operating state based on ideal fuel flow rate and air flow rate simulated at the time of designing can be maintained by preventing an operation deviated from an operating condition that is based on ideal fuel flow rate and air flow rate simulated by initial design values, in a gas turbine control method designed to search optimal operating conditions automatically using control inputs such as a pilot ratio. The gas turbine controller comprises a second database that stores load sensitivity, i.e. the correlation between the load amount of a gas turbine and control inputs such as a fuel flow rate, air flow rate, pilot fuel ratio, and top hat fuel ratio in the gas turbine, wherein the amount of load variation for at least one of control inputs, a fuel flow rate or an air flow rate supplied to a combustor is predicted according to operational conditions obtained by searching using the load sensitivity, regulation is made according to the prediction results, and the regulation results are stored in the second database. |
| US08406977B2 |
Driving support apparatus
A driving support apparatus includes: a driving support controller for starting to execute a driving support control when a support start condition is met; a current position detector; and a driving direction determination unit for successively determining whether there is a possibility of a vehicle turning at an intersection in a direction, to which a blinker turns. The driving support controller sets an enforcement notification state when the driving direction determination unit determines the possibility after the driving support controller starts to execute the driving support control. The driving support control provides to notify information in the enforcement notification state even when the blinker turns off, and ends the enforcement notification state when the driving direction determination unit determines no possibility. |
| US08406976B2 |
Clutch control device and clutch control correction amount calculating method
Oil pressure detecting means 150 detects a clutch oil pressure in driving a clutch in its engaging direction against a biasing force of a return spring 12 for normally disengaging the clutch. Stroke end detecting means 140 detects that the clutch has reached a stroke end position where clutch disks are in contact with each other when the amount of change in clutch oil pressure becomes larger than a predetermined value. Clutch control correction amount calculating means 130 calculates a work load generated in the return spring 12 according to the clutch oil pressure detected at the stroke end position and then calculates a control correction amount for the clutch according to the difference between the work load calculated above and a predetermined reference value. |
| US08406975B2 |
Control apparatus and control method for vehicle mounted with automatic transmission
An ECU executes a program including the steps of: determining whether or not the conditions for execution of low-temperature neutral control: the temperature of the automatic transmission hydraulic fluid is at most a threshold value; the shift position is D or R position; the vehicle speed is zero; and the brake is ON and the vehicle is stopped, are continuously satisfied for a period of time represented by a threshold value; executing the neutral control when the conditions for execution of low-temperature neutral control are continuously satisfied for at least the period represented by the threshold value; returning from the neutral control when the conditions for execution of low-temperature neutral control are not satisfied; and restricting the throttle opening position in returning from the neutral control. |
| US08406967B2 |
Control apparatus and method for automatic transmission system
A control apparatus for an automatic transmission system having a serial arrangement of a stepwise variable automatic transmission mechanism and a continuously variable automatic transmission mechanism, the control apparatus being disposed in the automatic transmission system and performing a shift control of the continuously variable automatic transmission mechanism in accordance with variation in transmission ratio of the stepwise variable automatic transmission mechanism, the control apparatus including a control section configured to execute a retardation processing upon shift control of one of the continuously variable transmission mechanism and the stepwise variable transmission mechanism which has a smaller response delay of an actual transmission ratio from a target transmission ratio than that of the other transmission mechanism. |
| US08406966B2 |
Draft control method for operating an earth moving machine
The hitch on a vehicle is moved by a hydraulic actuator. A method for controlling the hydraulic actuator defines a draft force setpoint in response to separately averaging two forces acting on lateral sides of the hitch, while operating in a configuration mode. During regular operation, a draft load is calculated from sensing those two forces and deriving a draft force error from difference between the draft load and the draft force setpoint. The draft force error is used to control fluid flow to and from the hydraulic actuator. One aspect of the control method derates the draft force error as the hitch moves beyond a predefined threshold position. |
| US08406965B2 |
System for monitoring for risk of road shoulder collapse, and transport vehicle
Disclosed herein is a shoulder collapse risk monitoring system capable of alerting a driver to a risk of a road shoulder collapse during approach operations to the shoulder.The system includes: a shoulder shape measuring device 101 that measures a shape and slope angle of a road shoulder around a vehicle; a measurement position identification section 121 that identifies a wheel position relative to the shoulder when the shape and slope angle of the shoulder are measured by the shoulder shape measuring device; a shoulder strength calculating section 122 that calculates, from the shape and slope angle of the shoulder measured by the shoulder shape measuring device, strength of the shoulder at the wheel position identified by the measurement position identification section; a wheel load measuring section 123 that measures a wheel load of the wheel whose position has been identified by the measurement position identification section; and an alert device 105 that presents information on a risk of a collapse of the shoulder at the identified wheel position by comparing the wheel load measured by the wheel load measuring section, with the shoulder strength calculated by the shoulder strength calculating section. |
| US08406959B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling an actuatable restraint device using a side pressure sensor
An apparatus for controlling an actuatable occupant restraint device of a vehicle comprises a central crash accelerometer that senses crash acceleration at a vehicle location and that provides a first crash acceleration signal indicative thereof. A side pressure sensor senses pressure in a chamber disposed at a side of the vehicle and provides a side pressure signal indicative thereof. A controller actuates the actuatable occupant restraint device in response to the first crash acceleration signal and the side pressure signal. The controller determines a first moving average of acceleration value comprising a moving average of acceleration in a direction generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle determined from the first crash acceleration signal. The controller determines a change in pressure value comprising a change in pressure in the chamber determined from the side pressure signal. The controller actuates the actuatable occupant restraint device when both the first moving average of acceleration value exceeds a first threshold and the change in pressure value exceeds a second threshold. |
| US08406955B2 |
Hydraulic suspension system for work vehicle
The hydraulic suspension system comprises a suspension mechanism (100) for a traveling vehicle body, a suspension reference position variation mechanism (18) for varying a reference position of a suspension stroke of the suspension mechanism, and a stopped state detector (58) for detecting a state in which operation of the suspension mechanism (100) has stopped. The control management unit (60) controls the suspension reference position variation mechanism (18) so that when operation of the suspension mechanism (100) is detected by the stopped state detector (58) to be in a stopped state, the operation of the suspension mechanism (100) moves toward a target range, in preference to control based on a suspension stroke position obtained from a suspension stroke position sensor (37). |
| US08406947B2 |
Vehicle body speed calculation device
A vehicle body speed calculation device includes a wheel speed derivation mechanism deriving wheel speeds based on detection signals from wheel speed sensors which detect the speeds of wheels of a vehicle; a rotational speed derivation mechanism deriving a rotational speed based on a detection signal from a rotational speed detection sensor which detects the rotational speed of an energy conversion device, the energy conversion device being connected to the wheels and being capable of mutual conversion between electric energy and rotational energy; and a body speed calculation mechanism calculating a body speed by using the rotational speed of the energy conversion device derived by the rotational speed derivation mechanism when the vehicle is travelling in a predetermined low speed range but for calculating the body speed by using the wheel speeds derived by the wheel speed derivation mechanism when the vehicle is travelling in a predetermined high speed range. |
| US08406945B2 |
Method and apparatus to control logic valves for hydraulic flow control in an electro-mechanical transmission
A method for controlling an electromechanical transmission includes monitoring a current hydraulic circuit oil temperature, monitoring a current state of flow management valves, monitoring a command for cooling of electric machines, monitoring a desired transmission operating range state, utilizing a state machine to determine a sequence for controlling positions of the flow management valves to achieve the desired transmission operating range state based upon the monitored properties. |
| US08406944B2 |
Control system and method for starting and stopping marine engines
The present invention relates to a start-protection system for an engine of a marine vessel. The engine has gears and a shift actuator for operatively shifting the gears. The system includes a first position sensor disposed to operatively sense whether the engine is in a forward, neutral or a reverse gear position. The first position sensor generates a signal representative of the gear position. The system includes a second position sensor adjacent to a shift control which controls shift functions of the engine. The second position sensor generates a signal representative of the position of the shift control. The system includes processing means. The processing means are configured to receive the signals of the position sensors, determine the gear position and the position of the shift control and enable the engine to start upon determining that both the shift control and the engine are in neutral positions. |
| US08406941B2 |
Adaptive brake scheme during a distributed power communication loss
An adaptive brake system for a distributed power train responsive to an interruption in a communication system for the train and a brake application initiated at the lead locomotive, reduces the brake pipe fluid pressure at a lead locomotive and a remote locomotive to a predetermined pressure level to reduce in-train forces that may occur as a result of the pressure differentials in the brake pipe line of the lead and remote locomotives. |
| US08406939B2 |
Systems and methods for RTA control of multi-segment flight plans with smooth transitions
Methods, systems and device are provided for smoothing a required time of arrival (RTA) speed transition for an aircraft in a multi-segmented speed profile including at least one preceding region with a first predetermined speed pad and at a speed constrained region with a second predetermined speed pad. Exemplary methods include, but are not limited to determining whether a speed constrained region is engaged by a preceding region based at least in part on a speed of an aircraft. If the speed constrained region is engaged, the instructions determine a revised second speed pad for the speed constrained region. If the speed constrained region is not engaged then the instructions assign a default speed pad as the second speed pad for the speed constrained region. The instructions also compile a new speed profile that is defined by one of the revised second speed pad and the default speed pad for the speed constrained region and transmit commands that accelerate the aircraft to a new speed based on the new speed profile. |
| US08406936B1 |
Modular battery network system with life-optimal power management
A system and methods for life optimal power management of a distributed or centralized battery network system for use in aircraft functions and subsystems are disclosed. The method determines power priority of the subsystems, and selectively distributes power from the battery network system to the subsystems based on the power priority. Concurrently with distributing power, the method manages the energy in the battery network system. To determine whether the battery power is sufficient for aircraft functions, the method also computes and indicates the actual available energy left in the battery network systems. With this approach, the system and methods can provide a persistent power supply in the event an unexpected battery failure occurs, thereby enabling the aircraft to safely maintain flight operability despite a battery failure. |
| US08406935B2 |
Load forecasting analysis system for calculating customer baseline load
A load forecasting analysis system for calculating a customer baseline load (CBL). The load forecasting analysis system includes a CBL forecaster for receiving a load profile and providing a CBL forecasting method, a period selector for selecting conditions used to calculate the CBL using the load profile, a CBL processor for calculating a forecasting value by forecasting the CBL using the CBL forecasting method according to the load profile and the conditions, and a CBL determiner for calculating an error value by comparing the load profile with the forecasting value. |
| US08406933B2 |
Systems and methods for estimating the effects of a request to change power usage
Systems and methods for estimating the effects of a request to change power usage are described. Device data about one or more devices may be received. User behavior data about past and anticipated user behavior may be received. Effects of a request to change power usage on a power grid may be estimated using the device data and the user behavior data. Whether to send the request to change power usage may be determined based on the estimated effects. |
| US08406928B2 |
Methods for controlling polyolefin reactor temperature
Methods for controlling polyolefin reactor temperature. In one embodiment, a simulation model is constructed for improving control of polymerization temperature in a polyethylene loop slurry reactor. The model is used to design the reactor coolant system to capacity and to improve tuning of system controllers, such as the reactor temperature controller and coolant temperature controller. A coolant control valve is sized having a bilinear flow characteristic that improves Cv reproducibility at low coolant flow rates and thus improves reactor temperature control. |
| US08406925B2 |
Panoramic attention for humanoid robots
A robot using less storage and computational resources to embody panoramic attention. The robot includes a panoramic attention module with multiple levels that are hierarchically structured to process different levels of information. The top-level of the panoramic attention module receives information about entities detected from the environment of the robot and maps the entities to a panoramic map maintained by the robot. By mapping and storing high-level entity information instead of low-level sensory information in the panoramic map, the amount of storage and computation resources for panoramic attention can be reduced significantly. Further, the mapping and storing of high-level entity information in the panoramic map also facilitates consistent and logical processing of different conceptual levels of information. |
| US08406917B2 |
System and method for random mixed palletizing of products
A system and method of the present invention randomly mixes and palletizes various containers received from a conveyor. A control system received an order in advance to cooperate with an automatic storage and retrieval system to pick the containers, ordered by various customers, and to place them on a second conveyor. A robotic device, such as a robotic arm or a gantry system, selectively picks the containers from the second conveyor and places the containers on a pallet in a mixed fashion. The pallets are delivered to the respective customers. |
| US08406912B2 |
System and method for data mining and feature tracking for fab-wide prediction and control
System and method for data mining and feature tracking for fab-wide prediction and control are described. One embodiment is a system comprising a database for storing raw wafer manufacturing data; a data mining module for processing the raw wafer manufacturing data to select the best data therefrom in accordance with at least one of a plurality of knowledge-, statistic-, and effect-based processes; and a feature tracking module associated with the data mining module and comprising a self-learning model wherein a sensitivity of the self-learning model is dynamically tuned to meet real-time production circumstances, the feature tracking module receiving the selected data from the data mining module and generating prediction and control data therefrom; wherein the prediction and control data are used to control future processes in the wafer fabrication facility. |
| US08406911B2 |
Implementing sequential segmented interleaving algorithm for enhanced process control
A method and apparatus are provided for implementing Advanced Process Control (APC) for enhanced electrical, magnetic, or physical properties process output control using a sequential segmented interleaving algorithm. The sequential segmented interleaving algorithm includes two tuning equations running in parallel. A deposition time is calculated after a production run based upon the relationship between the electrical, magnetic, or physical properties process output and deposition time process input. A deposition rate offset value is calculated after a calibration run based upon the relationship between a calibration deposition thickness process output and an updated deposition time process input calculated after a last production run. |
| US08406902B2 |
Intrapericardial lead with precurved distal end portion
The intrapericardial lead includes a lead body having a proximal portion and a flexible, pre-curved distal end portion. The distal end portion carries at least one electrode assembly containing an electrode adapted to engage pericardial tissue. The distal end portion further carries a pre-curved flexible wire member having ends attached to spaced apart points along the distal end portion of the lead body, the flexible wire member having a normally expanded state wherein an intermediate portion of the wire member is spaced apart from the distal end portion, and a generally straightened state wherein the wire member and the distal end portion are disposed in a more parallel, adjacent relationship so as to present a small frontal area to facilitate delivery into the pericardial space. The wire member re-expands to its normal state after delivery into the pericardial space to anchor the distal end portion of the lead body relative to the pericardial tissue. |
| US08406900B2 |
Implantable lead
This invention relates to an implantable lead, which comprises a conductor; an electrode assembly, arranged at a distal end of the lead, and comprising a housing defining an internal cavity; a helical guide spring arranged in a proximal portion of the cavity and having several spaced turns, and a fixation assembly, which is rotatable relative to the housing, and which includes a shaft extending into the cavity from a proximal end of the housing; and an extendable helical fixation element attached to the shaft at a distal end thereof and protruding beyond the distal end thereof. The fixation assembly has an interaction portion, which interacts with the helical guide spring for causing longitudinal movement of the fixation element when the shaft is rotated. |
| US08406899B2 |
Bundle of his stimulation system
A system for therapeutically stimulating a His bundle includes an implantable pulse generator and a multi-polar medical electrical lead. The generator is configured for subcutaneous implantation and to generate a pacing stimulus. The lead includes a connector assembly, a flexible tubular body, a distal tip assembly and coil conductors. The body extends intravascularly from the generator to a location proximate the His bundle and includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal lumen. The tip assembly includes an electrode, a fixation helix, and a shank portion. The helix extends to a location proximate the His bundle and is operable as an electrically isolated electrode. The shank portion extends within the lumen and includes a receptacle for receiving a stylet tip. The conductors extend longitudinally through the lumen and are coupled to the electrode and the helix. One or both of the conductors defines a stylet lumen. |
| US08406897B2 |
Systems and methods for disposing one or more layers of material between lead conductor segments of electrical stimulation systems
An implantable lead includes a lead body having a plurality of electrodes disposed on a distal end, a plurality of terminals disposed on a proximal end, and a plurality of conductors, each conductor electrically coupling at least one of the electrodes to at least one of the terminals. At least one of the conductors includes at least one unit having a multi-layer region of overlapping conductor segments. The unit including a first conductor segment extending from a beginning point to a first position, a second conductor segment extending from the first position to a second position, and a third conductor segment extending from the second position to an endpoint. The first position is between the second position and the endpoint. The second position is between the beginning point and the first position. An interlayer material is disposed between the overlapping conductor segments of the at least one multi-layer region. |
| US08406896B2 |
Multi-element contact assemblies for electrical stimulation systems and systems and methods of making and using
An implantable lead includes a lead body having a plurality of electrodes disposed on a distal end of the lead body, a plurality of terminals disposed on a proximal end of the lead body, and a plurality of conductors disposed along the lead body such that each conductor electrically couples at least one of the electrodes to at least one of the terminals. At least one of the electrodes or terminals includes a multi-element contact assembly. The multi-element contact assembly includes at least one conductive inner element and at least one conductive outer element disposed over the inner element. At least one of the plurality of conductors is electrically coupled to one of the multi-element contact assemblies such that the conductor is positioned against the at least one inner element. The at least one outer element includes a region that is in contact with the at least one inner element. |
| US08406895B2 |
Implantable electrical lead including a cooling assembly to dissipate MRI induced electrode heat
An implantable medical device lead includes an insulative lead body, an outer conductive coil extending through the lead body, and an inner conductive coil extending coaxially with the outer conductive coil. The outer conductive coil is coupled to a proximal electrode at a distal end of the outer conductive coil, and the inner conductive coil is coupled to a distal electrode at a distal end of the inner conductive coil. A cooling assembly is thermally coupled to the distal electrode to dissipate heat generated at the distal electrode during exposure to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) fields. |
| US08406894B2 |
Systems, apparatus, methods and procedures for the noninvasive treatment of tissue using microwave energy
The present invention is directed to systems, apparatus, methods and procedures for the noninvasive treatment of tissue using microwave energy. In one embodiment of the invention a medical device and associated apparatus and procedures are used to treat dermatological conditions using microwave energy. |
| US08406881B2 |
Variable voltage compliance for current output generator
A system for providing stimulation current in implantable medical devices is provided. One aspect of this disclosure relates to an apparatus including a power supply terminal adapted to be connected to a power supply. The apparatus embodiment also includes circuitry connected to the power supply terminal and adapted to detect a parameter dependent on tissue/electrode impedance. The apparatus embodiment further includes a current output pulse generator adapted to deliver electrical therapy. The current generator includes an adjustable compliance voltage source connected to the power supply terminal. The compliance voltage source has a programmable amplitude and is adapted to provide different potentials for different tissue/electrode interface impedances. According to various embodiments, the apparatus embodiment also includes at least one stimulating electrode, and the current generator is adapted to deliver electrical therapy using the electrode. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein. |
| US08406878B2 |
Method for treating myocardial infarction
A method for treating patients after a myocardial infarction which includes pacing therapy is disclosed. A cardiac rhythm management device is configured to deliver pre-excitation pacing to one or more sites in proximity to an infarcted region of the ventricular myocardium. Such pacing acts to minimize the remodeling process to which the heart is especially vulnerable immediately after a myocardial infarction. |
| US08406877B2 |
Selective nerve stimulation with optionally closed-loop capabilities
Systems and methods for steering one or more stimulation fields to a selected nerve target, thereby optimizing one or a combination of low stimulation thresholds, desired therapy outcomes, or a minimization of adverse stimulation side-effects. An array of electrodes disposed, at least in part, on two or more neural stimulation leads are used for steering the stimulation fields to the selected nerve target and are positioned adjacent the selected target. The stimulation may be titrated based on, among other things, a detected physiologic response to the applied stimulation. |
| US08406875B2 |
Routing of pacing signals
An apparatus includes a sensing unit and control circuitry. The sensing unit is connected to a channel that delivers Electro-Physiological (EP) signals from a cardiac catheter to an EP recording system and pacing signals from the EP recording system to the catheter. The sensing unit is configured to automatically identify time intervals during which the pacing signals are delivered. The control circuitry is configured to route the EP signals on the channel from the catheter to the EP recording system via an intervening system that is detrimental to the pacing signals, to switch the channel to an alternate path that bypasses the intervening system during the identified time intervals, and to route the pacing signals from the EP recording system to the cardiac catheter over the alternate path. |
| US08406870B2 |
Treating cancer using electromagnetic fields in combination with other treatment regimens
Chemotherapeutic treatment for certain cancers may be combined with low intensity, intermediate frequency alternating electric fields that are tuned to a particular type of target cell. When the tuned fields were combined with Paclitaxel, Doxorubicin or Cyclophosphamide, excellent results were obtained against human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) and non-small cell lung (H1299) carcinomas in culture. More specifically, cell proliferation inhibition similar to that obtained by drug alone was reached by exposure to the combined treatment at drug concentrations between one and two orders of magnitude lower than for drug-only regimens of treatment. |
| US08406868B2 |
Therapy using perturbation and effect of physiological systems
Methods for treating a patient and further to devices for performing such treatment, e.g., methods and devices to perturb at least one physiological system and deliver therapy to the patient based on the effects of such perturbation. For example, a method for using an implantable medical device is disclosed that involves delivering electrical stimuli to an efferent nerve associated with the selected organ. Afferent electrical activity is monitored during delivery of electrical stimuli to the efferent nerve, the monitored afferent electrical activity includes an indirect component of a compound action potential (CAP). A status of the selected organ is assessed based upon the indirect component. A determination is made as to whether to deliver therapy to the selected organ in response to assessing the status of the selected organ. |
| US08406864B2 |
Assessing cardiac activity
A method of assessing contractility of a cardiac muscle which has at least one activation parameter, the method comprising: (a) utilizing time correlated data pertaining to at least one activation parameter to produce a profile of said parameter; (b) identifying from measurement of said at least one parameter a time interval during which interference from an artificial signal occurs; (c) ameliorating effects of said interference; and (d) analyzing changes in said profile to generate an indication of contractility, as a function of time to generate a cardiac activation profile. |
| US08406861B2 |
Detecting optical properties of a turbid medium
A device for measuring light scattering and absorption properties of a tissue, the device comprising: a probe comprising first and second optical fibers for irradiation and detection. The optical fibers are substantially parallel to each other at the distal end, and are separated by a distance of less than 2 mm, wherein said first and second optical fibers are arranged in said probe at an angle, 6=10 deg. to 45 deg., to the plane perpendicular to the distal end of said probe and wherein the tips of the optical fibers at the distal end are polished parallel to the plane perpendicular to the distal end of said probe. |
| US08406860B2 |
Method for evaluating blush in myocardial tissue
Vessel perfusion and myocardial blush are determined by analyzing fluorescence signals obtained in a static region-of-interest (ROI) in a collection of fluorescence images of myocardial tissue. The blush value is determined from the total intensity of the intensity values of image elements located within the smallest contiguous range of image intensity values containing a predefined fraction of a total measured image intensity of all image elements within the ROI. Vessel (arterial) peak intensity is determined from image elements located within the ROI that have the smallest contiguous range of highest measured image intensity values and contain a predefined fraction of a total measured image intensity of all image elements within the ROI. Cardiac function can be established by comparing the time differential between the time of peak intensity in a blood vessel and that in a region of neighboring myocardial tissue both pre and post procedure. |
| US08406858B2 |
Multi-excitation diagnostic system and methods for classification of tissue
Methods and systems for in vivo classification of tissue are disclosed. The tissue is irradiated with light from multiple light sources and light scattered and fluoresced from the tissue is received. Distinct emissions of the sample are identified from the received light. An excitation emission matrix is generated (1002). On-diagonal and off diagonal components of the excitation emission matrix are identified (1004, 1006, 1008). Spectroscopic measures are derived from the excitation emission matrix (1014), and are compared to a database of known spectra (1016) permitting the tissue to be classified as benign or malignant (1018). An optical biopsy needle or an optical probe may be used to contemporaneously classify and sample tissue for pathological confirmation of diagnosis. |
| US08406857B2 |
Apparatus for and method of processing ultrasonic signal
RF signals in predetermined time regions are extracted respectively from a plurality of RF signals which are produced when an examinee is scanned by an ultrasonic wave, and respective IB values are calculated in the time regions. A variance value of the calculated IB values is calculated, and information based on the calculated variance value is output. |
| US08406856B2 |
Optically characterizing turbid media and substances in turbid media
For optically interrogating substances overlaid by turbid media a method of wavefront manipulation by means of binary phase masking is disclosed. Through altering the degree of mode conformity between the fields reaching the collection optics and the field distributions of the propagation modes of optical waveguides the disclosed method can be used to suppress the collection of short-range light originated near the collection optics while permitting unimpeded collection of light originated from sites substantially behind turbid media. |
| US08406850B2 |
Method for estimating the physiological parameters defining the edema induced upon infusion of fluid from an intraparenchymally placed catheter
A method for estimating the physiological parameters defining the edema induced upon infusion of fluid from an intraparenchymally placed catheter including; a) acquisition of patient-specific medical data; b) estimation of pertinent tissue microstructure based on the patient-specific medical data and/or generalized information derived or drawn from one or more of the following: experience, literature, modeling, studies, research, analysis; c) acquisition of information about delivery parameters, and/or delivery device geometry, and/or fluid properties; and d) computing a field of values of predicted extracellular volume fraction over the tissue region using the information obtained in (b) and (c). According to a further aspect, a method of infusing or planning and/or monitoring an infusion of a contrast agent such that the distribution of such agent can be detected and observing and/or measuring the backflow length along the catheter track. |
| US08406849B2 |
Systems and methods for magnetic resonance imaging
Methods and apparatus for operating an MRI system is provided. The disclosure provides a diffusion-prepared driven-equilibrium preparation for an imaging volume and acquiring 3-dimensional k-space data from said prepared volume by a plurality of echoplanar readouts of stimulated echoes. An excitation radio-frequency signal and first and second inversion RF signals are provided to define a field-of-view (FOV). |
| US08406848B2 |
Reconstructing three-dimensional current sources from magnetic sensor data
Magnetic source imaging (MSI) involves the reconstruction of the current sources in a portion of a body, such as an organ, from measured magnetic field data. The measured magnetic field data may be from one-dimensional or three-dimensional sensors. Aspects of the present invention include systems and methods for reconstructing the electrical current of an organ given magnetic data. In embodiments, reconstruction of three-dimensional current sources is accomplished knowing or estimating the position, or offset, of the sensor plane with respect to the patient in order to form a set of linear equations. Alternatively, reconstruction of three-dimensional current sources is accomplished without knowing the offset of the sensor plane with respect to the patient. In embodiments, the linear and nonlinear systems of equations are iteratively used to obtain the current source information. In embodiments, multi-scale strategies are employed. |
| US08406843B2 |
ECG monitoring electrode
A self-prepping ECG electrode assembly is provided. The electrode assembly includes an electrode element, an electrode stud, an abrasive member, an electrolyte gel, a cover member and a securing member. The electrode element and electrode stud are adapted to be rotatable within the electrode assembly. The electrode assembly may be used with a drive tool. The electrode assembly may be placed on the skin of a patient. The skin of the patient may be prepped for an ECG by inserting the drive tool into a bore formed in the electrode stud and turning the drive tool to achieve an oscillating rotation. In this manner the abrasive pad preps the patient's skin for the ECG procedure. |
| US08406836B2 |
Optical sensor for medical device
An optical sensor for a medical device includes a fixed lens spacing between emit and receive modules to achieve target sensor sensitivity, while varying other sensor parameters in order to increase signal amplitude without increasing power demand. The arrangement of an opto-electronic component within an optical sensor receive module is improved by masking the receive module lens with an opaque member to create a masked lens leading edge that is aligned with a leading edge of the opto-electronic component. |
| US08406835B2 |
Probe head for spectroscopic analysis of a fluid
A spectroscopic system for determining a property of a fluid flowing through a volume of interest underneath the surface of the skin of a patient is described. The spectroscopic system comprises: a probe head having an objective for directing an excitation beam into the volume of interest and for collecting return radiation from the volume of interest; a base station having a spectroscopic analysis unit and a power supply; and a cable connecting the probe head and the base station for transmission of the return radiation from the probe head to the base station and for providing the probe head with power from the power supply of the base station. |
| US08406831B2 |
Adjustment of electromagnetic fields produced by wireless communications devices
Methods and apparatus are provided for adjusting the electromagnetic fields produced by telephones or other mobile devices capable of wireless communication. A wireless communication device includes a substrate having a ground plane. An antenna is coupled to the ground plane, and electrical currents are produced in the ground plane during operation of the antenna. A switchable counterpoise circuit that includes a conducting element and an inductor in series is provided on the substrate. The switchable counterpoise is selectively coupled to the ground plane based upon an operating mode of the wireless communications device, thereby adjusting the electrical currents flowing in the ground plane when the counterpoise is active. The changes in the ground plane currents can produce adjustments in the electromagnetic fields produced by the device, thereby improving hearing aid compatibility (HAC) of the device. |
| US08406830B2 |
Radio frequency signal transmission system, radio frequency signal transmission connector and radio frequency signal transmission cable
A radio frequency signal transmission system is provided which includes a radio frequency signal transmission connector including an antenna for radiating a radio frequency signal having a predetermined frequency band, and a first dielectric body made of a material having a predetermined first permittivity and having the antenna cast therein, and a radio frequency signal transmission cable including a dielectric transmission path formed of a second dielectric body made of a material having substantially the same second permittivity as the first permittivity of the first dielectric body of the radio frequency signal transmission connector. The radio frequency signal transmission connector is connected with the radio frequency signal transmission cable thereby to form a radio frequency signal transmission path through which the radio frequency signal radiated from the antenna is transmitted to the dielectric transmission path via the first dielectric body. |
| US08406827B2 |
Housing for electronic device and method for making the same
A housing for an electronic device is provided. The housing includes a substrate made of a light-transmittable ceramic. The substrate has an outer surface and an opposite inner surface defining at least one recess configured with patterns or symbols. An opaque layer is formed on the inner surface to prevent light penetrating through the substrate except through the at least one recess. |
| US08406821B2 |
In-vehicle hands-free phone system, and tone sending-out method
An in-vehicle hands-free phone system includes: a base station; a portable terminal that is wirelessly connected to the base station; and an in-vehicle device that includes: an information acquisition portion that acquires information about a portable terminal that is connected to the in-vehicle device; a storage portion that stores a number sequence whose intermediate portion includes a predetermined code; and a tone sending-out control portion that sends the number sequence stored in the storage portion to the portable terminal and causes the portable terminal to send out the number sequence in a tone. The tone sending-out control portion determines a tone sending-out behavior about a number sequence part that is subsequent to the predetermined code on the basis of the information acquired by the information acquisition portion. |
| US08406820B2 |
Radio transmission signal detection circuit
A detection circuit has a detector unit for detecting a transmitted signal from a mobile radio terminal. The detection circuit forms a part of a circuit arrangement for processing or influencing received signals and transmitted signals associated with the mobile radio terminal (accessory circuit). It is involved in the accessory circuit via a switching means, which is arranged in a transmission path upstream of at least one transmission power amplifier which can be activated upon detection of a transmitted signal, and is coupled to the transmission path via a coupling element which is arranged downstream of the transmission power amplifier. At the start of the transmission burst, the whole power of the transmitted signal is first of all supplied to the detector unit before said detector unit changes over the transmitted signal to the transmission power amplifier by operating the switching means. The detection circuit has a self-hold function, so that the detector unit leaves the accessory circuit in its operating state which is provided for the presence of a transmitted signal, even after the switching means has been changed over, at least until the transmission power amplifier has completed the circuit and the component of the amplified transmitted signal which is coupled out by means of the coupling element is applied to the detector unit. |
| US08406813B2 |
System and method for restricting wireless communication
A system and a method for restricting wireless communication are provided. A wireless communications device stores a list of geographic characteristics such as, for example, area codes representing either area codes to which calls are only allowed or area codes to which calls are not allowed. If the stored area codes are area codes to which calls are only allowed, then the wireless communications device only allows calls to one of the stored area codes. If the stored area codes are area codes to which calls are not allowed, then the wireless communications device does not allow calls to any of the stored area codes. |
| US08406810B1 |
Magnetic semiconductor element for authentication and user device using such an element
An authentication semiconductor element (such as a chip for a user identity card) and an associated user device include magnetic elements for automatically aligning and holding in place the authentication element on electrical contacts of the user device. The authentication semiconductor element includes a substrate, an electrical circuit, electrical contacts formed on the surface of the substrate, and at least two magnetic elements located on the substrate. The user device includes a communication interface, a processor, and a socket for receiving an authentication semiconductor element. The socket includes electrical contacts and at least two magnetic elements positioned to magnetically interact with the magnetic elements of the authentication element and automatically align the electrical contacts of the authentication element on corresponding electrical contacts of the socket. |
| US08406809B2 |
Configuration with the payment button in the mobile communication device, the way the payment process is started
On the interface side (7), a removable memory card (2), on which at least one payment card unit is located (5), appears to be a removable memory card (2) for the extension of the mobile communication device's (4) memory capacity up till the moment when the payment purpose button (1) is physically pressed. Then the removable memory card (2) switches into the payment function's access mode and is made accessible on its interface (7) as a card with a Secure Element (3) having at least one payment card unit (5). After the termination and/or interruption of the payment process, the removable memory card (2) switches into the access mode for the memory capacity extension function of the mobile communication device (4). This configuration and method increase the security of the payment process while retaining high level of manipulation comfort. At the mobile communication device with a payment purpose button (1) it is possible to switch the access mode exclusively by physical press of the hardware payment button (1) by which the unauthorized start of the payment application without the user's knowledge is prevented. |
| US08406806B2 |
Mobile telephone capable of automatically switching antenna according to user's hand position
A mobile communication device includes a first antenna configured to transmit and receive RF signals, a first capacitive sensor adjacent to the first antenna, a second antenna configured to transmit and receive RF signals, a second capacitive sensor adjacent to the second antenna, a sensing circuit in communication with the first capacitive sensor and the second capacitive sensor, the sensing circuit being that can determine the position of a user's hand adjacent to the first antenna or the second antenna in response to sensing signals received from the first capacitive sensor and the second capacitive sensor, and an antenna switching circuit that can select the first antenna or the second antenna to transmit and receive RF signals to enable wireless communications in response to the position of the user' hand relative to the first antenna and the second antenna as determined by the sensing circuit. |
| US08406803B2 |
Multi-cell communication apparatus and method using rate-splitting scheme and transmission frame
Provided is a multi-cell communication system using a rate-splitting scheme and a transmission frame for the multi-cell communication system. The multi-cell communication system may determine whether to perform a rate-splitting based on channel information of a macro base station and a femto base station in a multi-cell environment. The multi-cell communication system may allocate a power or a bandwidth to a message to be transmitted based on the channel information. In the multi-cell environment, a terminal may receive MAP information from a base station and may decode the received MAP information, determining a base station that performs the rate-splitting. |
| US08406801B1 |
Communication systems and methods
Systems and methods for selectively replaying voice data. Voice data received in a communication session is both buffered by the device and played by the device. When input is received from a recipient, the voice data currently being received is no longer played and buffered voice data is replayed to the recipient. While the buffered voice data is replayed, the device continues to buffer any voice data received by the device to ensure that the recipient can listen to all of the voice data in the communication session. By only storing voice data in the buffer, replaying the buffered voice data can catch the real-time voice data. At this point, the device reverts to playing voice data being received while continuing to buffer the voice data. |
| US08406797B2 |
System and method for transmitting and playing alert tones in a push-to-talk system
A system and method for transmitting alert tone information among communicating wireless devices to identify a speaker in a push-to-talk system. A predefined set of alert tones is stored in a wireless device, and when a user presses a push-to-talk button on the wireless device, the wireless device displays a list of predefined alert tones to the user to select. After the user selects an alert tone, the wireless device transmits an alert tone code associated with the selected alert tone to a server for relaying to every wireless device in a push-to-talk communication group. When a receiving wireless device receives the alert tone code, it retrieves an alert tone corresponding to the alert tone code from the predefined set and plays the alert tone to the user of the wireless device. |
| US08406793B2 |
Method and apparatus for message delivery
An apparatus for delivering a message from an originating subscriber to a target subscriber across a communication network comprising; means for receiving in a first network a message from an originating subscriber to a target subscriber and an identifier of the target subscriber, the target subscriber being associated with the first network and the originating subscriber being associated with a second network, the message and identifier being received from the second network; means for identifying at least one network node associated with the target subscriber and being responsible for delivering messages to the target subscriber; means for selecting a network node from the at least one network node for delivery of the message; means for receiving from the second network an allowed time period for delivery of the message; means for determining the expected delivery time of the message for the selected network node; means for comparing the expected delivery time with the allowed time period for delivery; and means for forwarding the message to the selected network node for delivery to the target subscriber in dependence on the allowed time period exceeding the expected delivery time. |
| US08406792B2 |
Message modification system and method
A method of, and system for, performing message modification on the basis of group membership of the sender and/or recipient of the message. The system includes a device which modifies a message for transmission through a data communications network. The message includes transmission data which identifies a sending party and a recipient of the message and a message body identifying content thereof, at least part of which is specified by the sending party. The system includes a data processor device arranged to identify membership of a group in relation to a sending party and a recipient of a the message, identify an action in dependence on concordance between respective group memberships, modify the message on the basis of the identified action; and transmit the modified message to the recipient in accordance with the transmission data. |
| US08406787B2 |
Positioning in telecommunication systems
A method for providing a position determination comprises obtaining (210) of data representing signal properties of a cellular communication network associated with a user equipment and determining of a position for the user equipment based on the signal properties. The method further comprises obtaining (212) of data representing a precoder selection for spatial multiplexing for the user equipment. The determining (214) of a position for the user equipment is based also on the data representing the precoder selection. An arrangement for providing a position determination is also disclosed. |
| US08406786B2 |
Methods and apparatus for extended generic messaging in a networked geolocation system
Generic messaging and protocols are provided for handset-to-handset communications in accordance with, for example, the Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) protocol. A mobile device initiates a geolocation-related session with a second mobile device by sending a message, including a payload, to a server (e.g., an H-SLP server) over a network. A data connection is the established between the second mobile device and the server in response to the message. A message, including the payload, is then sent to the second mobile device. The payload may include geolocation (e.g., GPS) information, such that two mobile devices may collaboratively share information regarding the other's geographical location. |
| US08406779B2 |
Method and system for processing resource in process of connection mobility management
The prevent invention discloses a method for processing resources in a process of connection mobility management. The method includes: a Radio Bearer Control (RBC) module receiving resource configuration related messages sent by a Connection Mobility Management (CMM) module and a network side, and configuring resources included in the resource configuration related messages. The prevent invention further provides a system for processing resources in a process of connection mobility management. Based on the method and system, processing procedures of the resources in the process of connection mobility management are simplified and the processing efficiency is improved. |
| US08406777B2 |
Systems and methods of dynamic segregation of managed wireless resources by traffic type
Systems and methods are described for segregating airlink resources in a wireless communication network by traffic type. When voice data and traffic data are sent simultaneously in a wireless network using a limited set of frequency resources, the data traffic can cause unacceptable interference in the voice traffic. Accordingly, transceivers share their voice traffic and data traffic demands and may allocate portions of an airlink resource into resource zones for exclusive use by voice traffic and data traffic. Within each resource zone, the transmission can be optimally managed for each traffic type, and interference between voice traffic and data traffic is reduced. |
| US08406772B2 |
Computer readable medium and method to facilitate handover
A computer readable medium has machine readable instructions that can include a fingerprint detector to evaluate input data relative to mobility fingerprint data that defines at least one predetermined zone that is a proper subset of overlap in coverage areas between first and second radio technologies to determine whether to trigger a handover between the first and second radio technologies for a mobile unit based on an evaluation of the mobility fingerprint data relative to the input data. |
| US08406770B2 |
Method and system for using cellular date for transportation planning and engineering
Using data from a wireless telephony network to support transportation planning and engineering. Data related to wireless network users is extracted from the wireless network to determine the location of a mobile station. Additional location records for the mobile station can be used to characterize the movement of the mobile station: its speed, its route, its point of origin and destination, and its primary and secondary transportation analysis zones. Aggregating data associated with multiple mobile stations allows characterizing and predicting traffic parameters, including traffic speeds and volumes along routes. |
| US08406766B2 |
Radio communication system, neighbor cell list optimizing system, base station, and neighbor cell list updating method
A neighbor cell list optimizing system according to the present invention is a neighbor cell list optimizing system that updates a neighbor cell list that is provided in a base station that manages a cell to which a mobile terminal establishes a connection and to which specific neighbor cells that are candidates of a handover destination cell for said mobile terminal of neighbor cells that are in the vicinity of said cell are registered, comprising: priority computation section that computes priorities of said neighbor cells to be registered to said neighbor cell list based on measurement information that represents radio communication qualities of neighbor cells in which the measured radio communication qualities exceed a threshold; and neighbor cell list updating section that registers neighbor cells in descending order of the priorities up to an upper limit of radio cells that can be registered to said neighbor cell list. |
| US08406757B1 |
Wireless device network rescan rate determination based on wireless coverage availability
What is disclosed is a method of operating a wireless communication device. The method includes receiving home wireless access to communication services over a first wireless communication mode from a home wireless access node associated with a first wireless system identifier, and determining availability of roaming wireless access over a second wireless communication mode from a roaming wireless access node. The method also includes processing the first wireless system identifier to determine a first geographic group associated with the home wireless access node, and determining a network rescan timer for the roaming wireless access over the second wireless communication mode based on the first geographic group and the availability of the roaming wireless access. |
| US08406747B2 |
Communication system and a personal communication proxy
The communication system has service providers arranged to receive service requests. In order to obtain a user friendly solution the system further has a service gateway that has a data storage configured to route a received service request to one of the service providers based on information included in the service request, a personal communication proxy that has a memory, a receiver for receiving a service request over a short-range radio system, and a processor identifying a service provider selected by the subscriber for the service in question, and for sending the service request to the identified service provider, and at least one subscriber apparatus for transmitting a service request. |
| US08406743B2 |
Systems and methods for consolidating wireline and wireless voicemail boxes
Voicemail systems (24, 26, 28) can include at least one memory and at least one processor. A memory can store data relating to one or more users. An incoming communication can be handled by the voicemail system (24, 26, 28), forwarded to another voicemail system (24, 26, 28), provided with functionality based upon a user's preferences, and the like. The voicemail systems (24, 26, 28) can include functionality to allow a user to consolidate voicemail messages and/or calls at one or more designated destinations, for example, a voicemail system (24, 26, 28) and/or a mobile device (18). |
| US08406740B2 |
Computerized system and method of recording communications between parties using telecommunications devices
A computerized system of recording communications between a first party and a second party automatically notifies the second party to the recording of the communication. A request is received at a first telecommunications device, utilized by the first party, to initiate the communications between the parties, either by receiving or placing a call or text message. A unique identifier identifying a second communications device, utilized by the second party, is received by the first telecommunications device. A warning message is then automatically sent to the second communications device that the communications are being recorded. The communications between the devices is then recorded. |
| US08406734B2 |
Resource access control for mobile terminal
When an application activation instruction is input, it is decided whether the application is expected to access a high-level protection resource or low-level protection resource (step S31). If the decision is affirmative, display is done to prompt the user to select whether to permit activation of the application (step S32). When the user inputs an activation permission instruction, the application is activated (steps S33 to S36). As a result, only when the user permits an application, which is expected to access a high-level protection resource or low-level protection resource, to access a predetermined resource immediately before its execution, the application is executed. Hence, the basic processing part and application can operate in cooperation with each other while limiting access to various kinds of resources by the application in a reasonable range. |
| US08406732B2 |
Rule based hierarchical account resource management system and method
A system and method for allocating system resources through a rule based account hierarchy is provided. An Account Manager attempts to apply a system charge to an account. In applying the charge to the account, the Account Manager examines balance selection rules associated with the account. If, after examining the balance selection rules the Account Manager determines that the balance selection rules are satisfied, then the Account Manager attempts to charge the account. If the balance is owned by a parent account, then the charge is routed to that parent account. If the balance is not owned by a parent account, then the balance is charged. If, after examining all the balance selection rules of an account the Account Manager cannot find a balance to charge, then the communication session is disallowed. |
| US08406730B1 |
Possession confidence metric for a wireless communication device
A communication system comprises a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) service system and a location determination system. The VoIP service system is configured to receive a call request for an emergency service from a user, process the call request to determine a wireless communication device identifier associated with the user, and transfer a location request for delivery to a location determination system in a wireless network serving the wireless communication device. The location determination system is configured to receive the location request, process the location request to determine a location of the wireless communication device and a possession confidence metric that indicates a level of confidence that the user is in possession of the wireless communication device, and transfer a location response for delivery to the VoIP service system. The VoIP service system is configured to, if the possession confidence metric exceeds a threshold, transfer the call request for the emergency service for delivery to an emergency service provider that serves the location. |
| US08406725B2 |
Method and system for coordinating necessary radio transmission events with unrelated opportunistic events to optimize battery life and network resources
A method and apparatus for sending an event from user equipment operating in a mobile network, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring whether an unrelated opportunistic event has occurred; and sending said event with said unrelated opportunistic event. |
| US08406721B2 |
Method and system for reusing antennas in a multi-antenna system while operating in a narrowband receiving mode
Certain aspects of a method and system for reusing antennas in a multi-antenna system are disclosed. Aspects of one method may include suppressing a blocking signal received via at least one of a plurality of receiving antennas that is unused within a wideband diversity radio frequency (RF) receiver comprising a plurality of receiving antennas, when the wideband diversity RF receiver is operating in a narrowband receiving mode. The phase of the combined blocking signal and received data signal at the unused antenna may be adjusted to suppress the blocking signal. |
| US08406718B2 |
Method for implementing continuous radio frequency (RF) alignment in advanced electronic warfare (EW) signal stimulation systems
A method for characterizing the effect of each step attenuator state, on phase and amplitude, which may include in an exemplary embodiment: activating each step attenuator state as the sole contributor to attenuation, and measuring at least one of a step attenuator amplitude contribution (SAAC) and/or a step attenuator phase contribution (SAPC). |
| US08406717B1 |
Digital FM stereo receiver architecture to recover carrier information based on stereo or mono signals
Systems and techniques for digital processing of FM stereo signals are described. In some implementations, a receiver system is provided. The receiver system can include a received signal input configured to receive a digital signal based on a received mono signal or a received stereo signal. The receiver system can also include a stereo detector coupled with the received signal input, the stereo detector configured to produce a stereo detection signal indicating either a received stereo signal or a received mono signal. The receiver system can further include a digital signal processor coupled with the stereo detector, the digital signal processor configured to process the digital signal based on stereo transmission when the stereo detection signal indicates a received stereo signal and process the digital signal based on mono transmission when the stereo detection signal indicates a received mono signal. |
| US08406709B2 |
Carrier recovery in re-modulation communication systems
A communication apparatus includes transmission circuitry and a frequency conversion unit. The transmission circuitry is configured to down-convert an input Intermediate Frequency (IF) signal using a transmit (TX) Local Oscillator (LO) signal so as to produce a TX baseband signal, to up-convert the TX baseband signal to produce an output Radio Frequency (RF) signal, and to send the output RF signal to an antenna. The frequency correction unit is configured to estimate a frequency of the TX baseband signal or of the input IF signal, and to adjust the TX LO signal based on the estimated frequency so as to cause the transmission circuitry to down-convert the input IF signal to a predefined target frequency. |
| US08406708B2 |
Joint process estimator with variable tap delay line for use in power amplifier digital predistortion
Methods and circuits for pre-distorting a signal to compensate for distortion introduced by an electronic device operating on the signal. In an example method, first and second signal samples representing the input and output of the electronic device are generated. The first and second signal samples are spaced at unit-delay intervals, and each of the second signal samples corresponds in time to one of the first signal samples. Pre-distortion weights are then calculated from the first and second signal samples, the pre-distortion weights corresponding to a pre-distortion model comprising a lattice-predictor memory model structure having multiple delays and having at least one multi-unit delay interval between adjacent delays. The calculated pre-distortion weights are then applied to the input signal, using a predistorter with a structure corresponding to the lattice-predictor memory model, to produce a pre-distorted input signal for input to the electronic device. |
| US08406707B2 |
Systems and methods for implementing a harmonic rejection mixer
Various embodiments of systems and methods for generating local oscillator (LO) signals for a harmonic rejection mixer are provided. One embodiment is a system for generating local oscillator (LO) signals for a harmonic rejection mixer. One such system comprises a local oscillator, a divide-by-N frequency divider, a divide-by-three frequency divider, and a harmonic rejection mixer. The local oscillator is configured to provide a reference frequency signal. The divide-by-N frequency divider is configured to divide the reference frequency signal by a value N and provide an output signal. The divide-by-three frequency divider is configured to receive the output signal of the divide-by-N frequency divider and divide the output signal into three phase-offset signals. The harmonic rejection mixer is configured to receive the three phase-offset signals and eliminate third frequency harmonics. |
| US08406706B2 |
Mobile terminal and method of controlling a driving voltage of a power amplifier therein
A mobile terminal and method of controlling a driving voltage of a power amplifier therein are provided. The present invention includes a power amplifier module having a plurality of operative modes, the power amplifier module configured to amplify a power strength of an RF signal, a modem configured to deliver the RF signal to the power amplifier module, and to control the operative modes of the power amplifier module, a power detecting unit configured to output a reference voltage by detecting the power strength of the RF signal outputted from the power amplifier module, and a DC/DC converter configured to supply a driving voltage to the power amplifier module by adjusting a detected power value according to a gain corresponding to each of the operative modes of the power amplifier module. |
| US08406703B2 |
Sliding hinge and a portable device with the sliding hinge
A portable device has lower and upper casings. A sliding hinge has a stationary frame attached to the lower casing, a sliding frame attached to the upper casing and a resilient positioning assembly mounted between the stationary and sliding frames. The sliding frame has multiple pushing pins protruding toward the stationary frame. The resilient positioning assembly has two sliders and multiple resilient elements disposed between and abutting the sliders. When the upper casing slides relative to the lower casing, the pushing pins move along and push corresponding sliders and pressing the resilient elements. As long as the pushing pins are moved to the other sides of the corresponding sliders, the resilient elements push the sliders back and the upper and lower casings of the portable device are open relative to each other. |
| US08406702B2 |
Clock signal generating arrangement for a communication device
A clock signal generating arrangement for a communication device generates a system clock signal at an output for use as a timing reference. The clock signal generating arrangement comprises a reference clock generator for generating a reference clock signal, a main clock generator for generating a main clock signal having a greater accuracy than the reference clock signal, a clock adjust circuit coupled to the reference clock generator for generating a compensated reference clock signal to compensate for error in the reference clock signal and a clock signal selector coupled to the reference clock generator the main clock generator and the clock adjust circuit. The clock signal selector selectively provides to the output of the clock signal generating arrangement as the system clock signal the compensated reference clock signal when an error in the reference clock signal reaches a first predetermined threshold and until the error in the reference clock signal has been compensated and otherwise the reference clock signal when the communication device is operating in an idle mode or the main clock signal when the communication device is operating in an active mode. |
| US08406695B2 |
Joint interference cancellation of pilot, overhead and traffic channels
A method and system for interference cancellation (IC). One aspect relates to traffic interference cancellation. Another aspect relates to joint IC for pilot, overhead and data. Another aspect relates to improved channel estimation. Another aspect relates to adaptation of transmit subchannel gains. |
| US08406690B2 |
Data transmission system
A system is provided for transmitting data between a first component and a second component, which rotates relative to the first component. The system includes a first coupling element of limited angular extent mounted to the first component, and a second coupling element of limited angular extent mounted to the second component. The first and second coupling elements come into angular alignment once per revolution of the second component relative to the first component. The system further includes a first transceiver connected to the first coupling element, and a second transceiver connected to the second coupling element. The first and second transceivers are configured to detect the angular alignment of the first and second coupling elements. The first and second transceivers are further configured to transmit data between the first and second transceivers via the first and second coupling elements when the angular alignment is detected. |
| US08406676B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier carrying a latent image, a charging device uniformly charging a surface of the image carrier, an exposure device performing, in accordance with image data, an exposure operation on the charged image carrier surface to write the latent image, a development device supplying toner to the latent image to develop a visible image, a transfer device transferring the visible image to an intermediate transfer member or a recording medium, a lubricant application device applying lubricant to the image carrier surface, a cleaning device cleaning the image carrier surface after a transfer operation, a fixing device fixing the transferred image on the recording medium, and a control device controlling, in accordance with recent print information, the operation in a lubricant application mode in which the lubricant application device applies the lubricant to the image carrier surface. |
| US08406674B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method of controlling the same
An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive medium to be charged with a predetermined potential by a charging member, an exposing unit to expose the photosensitive medium to vary a charging level of the photosensitive medium, a developing unit to form an image for one or more colors on the photosensitive medium, a transfer medium to transfer the image from the photosensitive medium, a cleaning unit to clean the transfer medium, and a controller to control an optical power of the exposing unit to be lower than that during forming of the image when a toner band is applied to lubricate at least one of the cleaning unit and the transfer medium. |
| US08406673B2 |
Rotatable member cleaner for electrophotographic printer
In an electrophotographic (EP) printer, a rotatable member includes a deposition area and a non-deposition area. A toner supply supplies toner to the member, and a moving receiving member receives from the deposition area of the rotatable member while the rotatable member rotates. The rotatable member is cleaned with a selectively-retractable blade in mechanical contact with the member so that toner is removed from the deposition area while the rotatable member rotates. An artifact sensor automatically detects a toner image artifact on the receiver. A controller responsive to the artifact sensor causes the blade to retract when an artifact is detected, and a blade cleaner cleans the blade while the blade is not in mechanical contact with the member. |
| US08406672B2 |
Bending receiver using heat-shrinkable toner
Apparatus for bending a receiver having an image side and a non-image side in a bend area having a bend axis. Toner is deposited on the image side of the receiver in the bend area. A device compresses the deposited toner to form a toner film using a heated anvil and a selectively-cooled quencher that stretch and cooled the toner in the bend area below its Tg to form a toner film disposed over the surface of the receiver in the bend area. A heater reheats the bend area of the receiver so that temperature of the toner in the bend area rises above its Tg, so that the toner contracts and the receiver bends at the bend axis. |
| US08406669B2 |
Fixing device, fixing method, and image forming apparatus for fixing a toner image using a first laser unit and a second laser unit
According to an aspect of the invention, a fixing device includes a first laser unit and a second laser unit. The first laser unit outputs a first laser beam to irradiate a visible image formed of image forming material on a recording medium with the first laser beam. The second laser unit outputs a second laser beam to irradiate the visible image with the second laser beam after being irradiated with the first laser beam. The first laser beam and the second laser beam is configured to satisfy relations: W1 |
| US08406667B2 |
Fixing device, image forming apparatus, and fixing method using an oiling unit and removing member
A fixing device includes: a fixing member that fixes a toner image onto a recording medium; a pressing member that presses the recording medium against the fixing member; an oiling unit that applies release oil onto a surface of the fixing member to clean the surface; a removing member that is arranged between an downstream side of the oiling unit and an upstream side of the pressing member in a rotating direction of the fixing member and movable between an in-contact state where the removing member is in contact with the surface of the fixing member and an out-of-contact state where the removing member is out of contact with the surface; a drive unit that drives the removing member; and an oiling control unit that, when starting earliest fixing, controls the drive unit to gradually move the removing member from the in-contact state into the out-of-contact state. |
| US08406665B2 |
Belt driving device and image forming apparatus using the same
A steering controller uses a photointerrupter that detects the position of a filler when a steering roller is in a predetermined reference inclined position. The steering controller drives a steering motor to bring the steering roller to the reference inclined position based on a detection result obtained by the photointerrupter every time predetermined adjustment timing arrives or every time the power is turned on. Using the rotation angle of the steering motor in this condition as a reference rotation angle, the steering controller controls the rotation of the steering motor. |
| US08406664B2 |
Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and developing device
An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image carriers, a latent image forming unit, and a plurality of developing units. Each of the developing unit forms an image to have a color difference of equal to or less than about five with respect to an initial unicolor image formed by using a toner not containing a reversely-transferred toner of another color when a toner contained in a toner container is consumed by about 70%. |
| US08406663B2 |
Developing roller for electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and manufacturing method of the same
The disclosure provides a developing roller for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and a method of manufacturing the same. The developing roller includes a shaft member and a resilient member provided on the shaft member. The resilient member includes a conductive resilient layer in contact with the shaft member and a conductive resin layer defining the outer surface of the resilient member. The conductive resin layer includes a resin and a surface-treated metal oxide. The developing roller is capable of an increased amount of toner charging while stably maintaining optical density. |
| US08406662B2 |
Developer supply device
A developer supply device, comprising: a casing; first electrodes located at a first most downstream position defining a certain distance with respect to the supply target and positions between the casing and the first most downstream position to form a first traveling electric field; a second electrodes that are located at a second most downstream position defining the certain distance with respect to the supply target and positions between the casing and the second most downstream position to form a second traveling electric field; a power circuit that supplies a first voltage and a second voltage having a same frequency respectively to the first electrodes and the second electrodes such that a phase of voltage change of a first most downstream electrode and a phase of voltage change of a second most downstream electrode shift with respect to each other. |
| US08406660B2 |
Image forming apparatus including counter-rotating developing rollers and controlling method
The disclosed image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image holding body configured to hold an electrostatic latent image on a surface of the image holding body, a developing device including a forward rotation developing roller rotatable in a same rotational direction as that of the rotatable image holding body and a reverse rotation developing roller rotatable in a reverse rotational direction to that of the rotatable image holding body, which supply a two-component developer to the surface of the image holding body to form a toner image corresponding to the electrostatic latent image, and a control unit configured to control rotation of the image holding body, the forward rotation developing roller, and the reverse rotation developing roller to supply the two-component developer. The control unit controls the rotation of the image holding body to start after a predetermined time period from starting the rotation of the forward rotation developing roller and the reverse rotation developing roller. |
| US08406656B2 |
Dismounting and mounting methods for coupling and electrophotographic photosensitive drum unit
An electrophotographic photosensitive drum unit includes (a) a cylinder having a photosensitive layer at an outer periphery thereof, and (b) a drum flange provided at one end of the cylinder. The drum flange includes (i) a plurality of projections provided inside the drum flange and projected radially inwardly of the drum flange with a space between projections diametrically around the drum flange, and (ii) a recess provided at a position radially outside of an innermost portion of the projections. |
| US08406655B2 |
Image-forming device capable of positioning developing unit and developer cartridge precisely
An image-forming device which may include a casing and a developing unit that is detachably mounted in the casing and formed with a first opening. The developer unit may have a developer carrying member carrying a developer, wherein the developing unit includes one end. The image-forming device may also include a first shutter configured to open and close the first opening and a developer cartridge that is configured to be detachably mounted in the casing, accommodate the developer, and is formed with a second opening. The second opening may be in alignment with the first opening when the developing unit and the developer cartridge are mounted in the casing. The image-forming device may also include a second shutter configured to open and close the second opening. The image-forming device may also include an alignment member between the developing unit and the developer cartridge. |
| US08406654B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of photosensitive members, an endless belt, and a separation mechanism. The photosensitive members are arranged in parallel with and spaced from one another and correspond to respective colors. The plurality of photosensitive members includes a first photosensitive member and at least one second photosensitive member. Each of the photosensitive members has a first end portion and second end portion that is opposite to the first end portion in a longitudinal direction of each of the photosensitive members. The endless belt contacts the photosensitive members. The separation mechanism is configured to swing the second photosensitive member around the first end portion of the second photosensitive member as a fulcrum between a contact position at which the second photosensitive member contacts the endless belt and a separated position at which the second photosensitive member is separated from the endless belt. |
| US08406651B2 |
Apparatus and method for removing toner deposits from the surface of a cleaning element
In a method to remove toner deposits on a surface of a cleaning element, electrically charged toner particles are transferred from a transfer element surface to a photoconductor. On the cleaning element, untransferred, electrically charged toner particles as residual toner from the transfer element surface are received. Electrically charged toner particles on the cleaning element are directed past an electrode arrangement arranged at a distance from the surface of the cleaning element. An alternating electrical field is generated which acts on the toner particles to loosen them. The toner particles remaining on the surface of the cleaning element are brought into contact with a mixture of carrier particles and toner particles during further transport along a transport direction of the cleaning element. |
| US08406645B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method for adjusting developing bias
Developing bias is set as follows. An electric field intensity between a developing roller and a photoconductor is set to cause normally-charged toner to fly in an image area and not to cause the toner to fly in a background area. Thus, the normally-charged toner does not fly in the background area. The normally-charged toner caused to fly is therefore unlikely to flick low-charged toner and oppositely-charged toner. The low-charged toner and the oppositely-charged toner will not adhere to the background area and cause image fogging. Accordingly, an image forming apparatus can be provided to prevent the low-charged toner and the oppositely-charged toner from adhering to the background area of an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor and to avoid the occurrence of image fogging in the background area on a printed material. |
| US08406644B2 |
Image forming apparatus with temperature-based color control
In an image forming apparatus that forms a color image by transferring toner images for respective colors formed on plural rotary photoreceptor drums onto a sheet through an intermediate transfer member, when a controller judges that magnification deviation is generated in a main-scanning direction in superposition of the toner images for respective colors, the controller forms a first color registration deviation detecting mark for detecting at least an amount of deviation in the main scanning direction on the intermediate transfer member, and when the controller judges that the magnification deviation is not generated in the main-scanning direction in the superposition of toner images for respective colors, the controller forms a second color registration deviation detecting mark for detecting only an amount of deviation in a sub scanning direction perpendicular to the main-scanning direction on the intermediate transfer member. |
| US08406636B2 |
Method, system and device for passive optical network data transmission
A central office optical line terminal (S-OLT) and a local optical line terminal (L-OLT) are connected to through a transmission link form a transmission network. The S-OLT sends service data sent by a service network to the L-OLT through a transmission channel, receives the service data sent by the L-OLT from the transmission channel, and sends the service data to the service network. The L-OLT receives the service data sent by the S-OLT from the transmission channel and sends the service data to an optical network unit (ONU), and sends the service data sent by the ONU to the S-OLT through the transmission channel. Thus, the service data of the L-OLT is sent to the service network through the S-OLT, thereby solving a problem in the existing PON that the service data requires another transmission of the transmission network to reach the service network. |
| US08406634B2 |
Method and apparatus for optical signaling
A method and apparatus for optical signaling. In one embodiment, a laser driver converts a digital voltage sequence to a current signal having a bias mode adjustable by a bias control and a modulation mode adjustable by a modulation control. A laser generates an optical signal responsive to the current signal of the laser driver. In one embodiment, a photo-detector receives an optical signal and generates a single ended current signal. A transimpedance amplifier circuit converts the single ended current signal to a differential voltage signal. A clock recovery circuit generates an aligned clock signal and a sampler circuit uses the aligned clock signal to retrieve a digital voltage sequence. |
| US08406632B2 |
Infrared communications receiver
An objective of one embodiment of the present invention is to perform infrared communications without error by reducing abrupt noise included in a data signal when a light source of a display device is driven by PWM drive. When a control portion is provided with a drive setting signal for determining whether to drive lamps of a liquid crystal television by pulse width modulation drive or by continuous drive, the control portion sets a threshold in a register for a frequency filter portion based on the provided drive setting signal. Furthermore, upon reception of infrared light from the lamps, the threshold being set is reviewed based on an occurrence frequency for abrupt noise provided by a waveform analysis portion. Thereafter, abrupt noise included in a data signal transmitted from a cell phone is reduced by the frequency filter portion, and then the data signal is transmitted to the liquid crystal television. |
| US08406622B2 |
1:N sparing of router resources at geographically dispersed locations
Systems and methods are described that that dynamically configure high-speed data link lightpaths between access routers and backbone routers at geographically dispersed locations to reassign traffic when a backbone router fails or is removed from service. Embodiments reduce the quantity of backbone router ports used in dual backbone router-homed networks. |
| US08406617B2 |
Photographic optical device
A photographic optical device may include a movable module having a camera module on which a lens and an imaging element are mounted, a support body, and a shake correction mechanism. The movable module may be provided with a sensor for detecting an inclination of the camera module and a cover member which structures an outer peripheral face of the movable module. The shake correction mechanism may be provided with a swing drive mechanism for swinging the movable module so that the optical axis is inclined. The swing drive mechanism may be provided with a drive magnet and a drive coil. |
| US08406616B2 |
Tablet and device for the evaporation of volatile substances
The present invention refers to a tablet (1) for retaining a volatile substance in a liquid or solid state, such as a perfume and/or an insecticide. The tablet comprises at least a first and a second layers (2,4) of volatile substance retaining material, said first and second layers being spaced apart from each other at a selected distance, and wherein it further comprises a layer of impermeable material (3) joined to said layers and located in between said first and second layers. |
| US08406607B2 |
Selection of content from a stream of video or audio data
A main stream contains successive content elements of video and/or audio information that encode video and/or audio information at a first data rate. A computation circuit (144) computes main fingerprints from the successive content elements. A reference stream is received having a second data rate lower than the first data rate. The reference stream defines a sequence of the reference fingerprints. A comparator unit (144) compares the main fingerprints with the reference fingerprints. The main stream is monitored for the presence of inserted content elements between original content elements, where the original content elements have main fingerprints that match successive reference fingerprints and the inserted content elements have main fingerprints that do not match reference fingerprints. Rendering of inserted content elements to be skipped. In an embodiment when more than one content element matches only one is rendered. In another embodiment matching is used to control zapping to or from the main stream. In another embodiment matching is used to control linking of separately received mark-up information such as subtitles to points in the main stream. |
| US08406600B2 |
Imaging apparatus
A imaging apparatus includes a storage unit that stores registration information in which information relevant to a feature of an object, of a subject, to be recognized, personal information relevant to attribute of the subject, and non-personal information which is different from the personal information are related with each other and registered. A video generator captures a subject image to generate video data, and a detector detects an object having the same feature as that registered in the registration information. An embedding unit embeds non-personal information relating to the object to be recognized into the video data to be generated, and a management file generator generates a management file. The management file includes the non-personal information to be embedded into the video data and the personal information related to the non-personal information to be embedded into the registration information. |
| US08406598B2 |
Apparatus for shaping the end of an optical fiber
An apparatus is provided for shaping an end of an optical fiber. The apparatus may include a frame and a clamp constructed to hold the optical fiber in a fixed location relative to the frame. The apparatus may further include a tip shaper supported by the frame and movable in a first direction toward and away from the clamp, and moveable in a second direction that lies in a plane transverse to the first direction to shape the end of the optical fiber when the tip shaper is placed in contact with the optical fiber. The apparatus may include an abrasive substrate which abrades the end of the fiber. |
| US08406596B2 |
Optical fiber containing multi-layered coating system
The present invention relates to an optical fiber that includes a glass fiber and three or more coatings that encapsulate the glass fiber, where the three or more coatings include a primary coating in contact with said glass fiber, one or more intermediate coatings that surround the primary coating, and a secondary coating that surrounds the intermediate coatings. Both three-coating and four-coating systems are described that afford improve microbend performance. |
| US08406588B2 |
Optical connector and method of connecting fiber array
An optical connector includes a fiber-support block configured to couple cores of a plurality of optical fibers, and a lens-support block including a contact surface provided with a plurality of openings, the contact surface contacted to a contact surface of the fiber-support block, the cores of the optical fibers projecting from the contact surface of the fiber-support block insertable into the respective openings, the lens-support block having pairs of collimate lenses and convex lenses in the respective openings, each of the collimate lenses and a corresponding one of the convex lenses being spaced apart from each other in an optical-axis direction, the collimate lenses being movable in the optical-axis direction and being pressed by elastically deformable members, respectively, in the optical-axis direction and toward the contact surface of the fiber-support block. |
| US08406577B2 |
Optical modulator
An optical modulator includes a substrate that is formed of a material having an electro-optic effect, an optical waveguide 2 that is formed on the substrate 1, the optical waveguide 2 having at least an input waveguide 21 leading the optical wave input to the optical modulator, branch waveguides 23, 24, 27, and 28 branching from the input waveguide, and an output waveguide 30 coupling the branch waveguides and leading the optical wave to the outside of the optical modulator, modulation electrodes 61 and 62 that are formed on the substrate to modulate an optical wave propagating on the waveguide, modulation means 25 and 26 that are provided at apart of the branch waveguides to modulate the optical wave propagating on the branch waveguide, where at least a part of the modulation electrodes is provided, polarization plane selection means 4 that is provided at a part of the optical waveguide up to a part where the branch waveguides are coupled, and controls the polarization plane of the optical wave modulated by the modulation means, and polarization plane adjustment means 5 that is provided at a part of the optical waveguide up to a part where the branch waveguides are coupled, and adjusts the polarization planes such that the polarization planes of the optical waves propagating on the branch waveguides are made orthogonal effectively. |
| US08406575B2 |
Junction field effect transistor geometry for optical modulators
An optoelectronic apparatus for controlling a signal includes an optical waveguide having a variable refractive index; an active device formed within the waveguide, the device having three electrodes, a drain, a source and a gate; and wherein the device is located within the waveguide so that current flowing from the drain to the source changes the refractive index. |
| US08406569B2 |
Methods and systems for enhanced dynamic range images and video from multiple exposures
Aspects of the present invention relate to systems and methods for video coding and decoding. Some aspects relate to coding and decoding of enhanced dynamic range video sequences based on a series of low-dynamic-range (LDR) frames, captured at a first exposure configuration, that are multi-plexed with a series of enhancement frames that are captured at a second exposure configuration. |
| US08406561B2 |
Methods and systems for estimating illumination source characteristics from a single image
Certain embodiments provide systems and methods for determining light source characteristics from an image. An image having pixels is received that is affected by a light source. A silhouette boundary is received. The image may be filtered to decrease diffuse reflectivity. The presence of light sources is estimated by identifying a local maxima pixel around the silhouette boundary. The local maxima pixel may be associated with the light source. A slant angle that is associated with the light source is estimated using the silhouette boundary. A tilt angle associated with the light source is estimated using the slant angle and local maxima pixel intensity. The relative intensity of each light source may be determined. The ambient light intensity of the image may be determined. The characteristics, such as the slant angle and tilt angle, may be provided to a user. |
| US08406557B2 |
Method and apparatus for correcting lens shading
A lens shading correction method and apparatus are provided for removing vignetting occurring in digital images due to lens shading. A white image captured by an image pickup device and an image pickup unit is separated into reference white images corresponding to color channels. A vignetting center having a maximum light intensity is estimated in each of the reference white images. Multiple reference segments on each of the reference white images are defined. A lens shading correction value corresponding to each pixel constituting the reference segments are calculated using a corresponding light intensity. A lens shading correction function corresponding to each reference segment is derived using a corresponding lens shading correction value. Vignetting of a general image received in a general image processing mode is removed, using the derived multiple lens shading correction functions. |
| US08406555B2 |
Method and related apparatus for modifying color saturation of a display device
A method of modifying color saturation for a display device includes receiving an image data including a brightness data and a saturation data of a frame, generating a brightness statistic result according to the brightness data, comparing the brightness statistic result with a predetermined value for generating a comparison result, and adjusting the saturation data of the frame according to the comparison result. |
| US08406550B2 |
Electronic device and method for filtering noise in an image
A method for filtering noise in an image filters noise pixels in a discrepant block between a current image and a background image firstly, and further filter each small block whose area is less than a preset value from the discrepant block. The method further calculates a total area of each big block whose area is greater than or equal to the preset value from the discrepant block, and adds the current image to a background list of the current image if the total area is less than another preset value. |
| US08406546B2 |
Adaptive entropy coding for images and videos using set partitioning in generalized hierarchical trees
Adaptive entropy encoding and decoding utilizing set partitioning within generalized hierarchical trees which is applicable to both embedded and non-embedded encoding. After decorrelation and quantization during encoding, a tree structure is selected from multiple candidates, based on geometric relationships within the image block, for coding the coefficients toward improving coefficient zero clustering. The tree structure has leaf and non-leaf nodes in a specified arrangement, with leaf nodes containing coefficients associated with each non-leaf node. By proper tree selection, the number of zero clustered coefficients which may be eliminated from the encoded output stream is increased. During decoding, a tree structure compatible with the encoding for the current block is used for decoding the existing coefficients from the symbol stream and restoring missing zero coefficients. |
| US08406538B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus includes: an intermediate code generating unit that, when a data string that matches an input data string of image data is found from data string of the image data input in the past, outputs a length and a position of the found data string and, when a data string that matches with the input data string is not found, outputs the input data string as escape data; and an encoding unit that performs encoding with the length of the found data string, the position of the found data string, and the escape data. When a plurality of the escape data are successively output from the intermediate code generating unit, the encoding unit encodes the plurality of escape data collectively by adding, to the plurality of the escape data, information representing a count value obtained by counting a number of the plurality of the escape data. |
| US08406535B2 |
Invariant visual scene and object recognition
A method for performing image recognition is disclosed. The method includes obtaining a collection of pixels and grouping at least some of the pixels into a set of cluster features based on gradient magnitude. For each cluster feature in the set, statistical variables are generated. The statistical variables represent a collective property of the pixels in the cluster feature. The statistical variables are utilized as a basis for comparing the collection of pixels to a different collection of pixels. |
| US08406534B2 |
System and method for video based scene analysis
A method comprises searching in a video stream a first frame and a second frame that each has enough point correspondence with a image model, wherein the first frame is the nearest previous frame prior to a third frame, and the second frame is the nearest subsequent frame to follow the third frame. The method further comprises calculating an interpolation between a first mapping matrix of the first frame and a second mapping matrix of the second frame to obtain a third mapping matrix of the third frame that has insufficient point correspondence with the image model. |
| US08406533B2 |
Image comparing apparatus and method therefor, image retrieving apparatus as well as program and recording medium
A coding parameter extracting unit extracts and supplies coding parameters of a code stream to an image characteristic amount output unit. A code stream characteristic amount extracting unit outputs a first vector calculated based on the number of zero bit planes for each code block extracted by analyzing the code stream. The image characteristic amount output unit uses the coding parameters other than a quantization step size of the code stream to output a second vector calculated based on the number of zero bit planes for each code block of a specific image. A comparing unit compares the first and second vectors for each code block and makes a matching decision between the code stream and the specific image. |
| US08406531B2 |
Data access based on content of image recorded by a mobile device
Embodiments of the invention are directed to using image data and contextual data to determine information about a scene, based on one or more previously obtained images. Contextual data, such location of image capture, can be used to determine previously obtained images related to the contextual data and other location-related information, such as billboard locations. With even low resolution devices, such as cell phone, image attributes, such as a histogram or optically recognized characters, can be compared between the previously obtained images and the newly captured image. Attributes matching within a predefined threshold indicate matching images. Information on the content of matching previously obtained images can be provided back to a user who captured the new image. User profile data can refine the content information. The content information can also be used as search terms for additional searching or other processing. |
| US08406530B2 |
Methods and systems for detecting numerals in a digital image
Aspects of the present invention are related to systems and methods for determining the location of numerals in an electronic document image. |
| US08406527B2 |
Pattern model positioning method in image processing, image processing apparatus, image processing program, and computer readable recording medium
There is provided a matching method, capable of positioning with higher accuracy at higher speed. The method includes the steps of: constructing a pattern model of a registered image in which a plurality of reference points are set on an extracted contour and a corresponding point search line having a predetermined length and passing through each reference point; acquiring an image and acquiring an initial position corresponding to the registered image to arrange the corresponding point search line of the pattern model; finding a corresponding point on the image corresponding to each reference point with regard to each corresponding point search line at a position along the corresponding point search line on the image; and regarding a relation between each reference point and the corresponding point as an evaluation value and performing fine positioning such that an accumulated value of the evaluation values becomes minimal or maximal. |
| US08406526B2 |
Two-dimensional code generation method, two-dimensional code, two-dimensional code recognition method, and image recognition device
A two-dimensional code in which given data is encoded as a two-dimensional image. The two-dimensional code includes as image elements: points each of which is placed at point placement reserved position in a two-dimensional region based on a binary data string uniquely associated with the given data according to a preset binary data string placement condition; and a line connecting each of the points and a connection target point according to a preset connection condition. The two-dimensional code is formed as a two-dimensional image by causing the line connecting the points to have a given width. |
| US08406525B2 |
Recognition via high-dimensional data classification
A method is disclosed for recognition of high-dimensional data in the presence of occlusion, including: receiving a target data that includes an occlusion and is of an unknown class, wherein the target data includes a known object; sampling a plurality of training data files comprising a plurality of distinct classes of the same object as that of the target data; and identifying the class of the target data through linear superposition of the sampled training data files using l1 minimization, wherein a linear superposition with a sparsest number of coefficients is used to identify the class of the target data. |
| US08406523B1 |
System, method and computer program product for detecting unwanted data using a rendered format
A system, method and computer program product are provided for detecting unwanted data. In use, data is rendered, after which it may be determined whether the rendered data is unwanted, utilizing either a neural network or optical character recognition. |
| US08406521B2 |
OCR interface to single result diagnostic interface
A method and apparatus are provided. The method includes the steps of an imaging device capturing an image of a display of a medical instrument, an image processor determining a location of a patient biometric measurement within the image, an optical character recognition module recognizing a set of alphanumeric characters within the determined location and a communication processor sending the recognized characters to a remotely located healthcare database. |
| US08406518B2 |
Smoothed local histogram filters for computer graphics
Local histogram and local histogram-based functions can be determined by generating offset-kernel images based on domain-shifted tonal filter kernels. The offset-kernel images can be reused for multiple image locations and/or local neighborhood sizes, shapes, and weights. A neighborhood filter representing the desired local neighborhood size, shape, and frequency domain characteristics is applied to each of the offset-kernel images. Neighborhood filters may include a temporal dimension for evaluating neighborhoods in space and time. Neighborhood filtered offset-kernel images' values represent samples of local histogram or local histogram-based function corresponding with the domains of their associated domain-shifted tonal filter kernels. Arbitrary functions may be used as tonal filter kernels. A histogram kernel may be used to sample values of local histogram functions. A tonal filter kernel that is a derivative or integral of another tonal filter kernel may be used to sample a derivative or integral, respectively, of a function. |
| US08406516B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing system, image processing method and image processing program for performing color classification of image data
An image processing apparatus MFP includes a memory for storing color data of a plurality of picture elements together with a correlation to identification information for identifying each picture element, and storing a reference value and a statistical value for each of a predetermined number of baskets; a classifying unit for classifying each of the plurality of picture elements into one of the baskets based on the color data and the reference value corresponding to the basket; a calculating unit for calculating the statistical value and the reference value of the basket accommodating the classified picture element based on the color data corresponding to the picture element; and a determining unit for determining a representative color of each basket based on the statistical value, and outputting the representative color of each basket and a result of the classification of each picture element. |
| US08406515B2 |
Method for automatically cropping digital images
The present invention is a digital image manipulation system for automatically cropping acquired digital images, including a memory device configured to store at least one acquired digital image, a crop analysis segmentation subsystem configured to divide at least one image into a set of similarly colored regions, a classification subsystem configured to classify each region into one of a set of possible classes which include subject background and distraction at a minimum, an optimization search configured to search possible crop boundaries and a selection module configured to automatically select a highest rated crop boundary determined from the search and based on an optimization criterion that is derived from results of the crop analysis segmentation and classification subsystems. |
| US08406506B2 |
Fast sub-pixel optical flow estimation
A system and method are disclosed for fast sub-pixel optical flow estimation in a two-dimensional or a three-dimensional space. The system includes a pixel-level optical flow estimation module, a matching score map module, and a sub-pixel optical flow estimation module. The pixel-level optical flow estimation module is configured to estimate pixel-level optical flow for each pixel of an input image using a reference image. The matching score map module is configured to generate a matching score map for each pixel being estimated based on pixel-level optical flow estimation. The sub-pixel optical flow estimation module is configured to select the best pixel-level optical flow from multiple pixel-level optical flow candidates, and use the selected pixel-level optical flow, its four neighboring optical flow vectors and matching scores associated with the pixel-level optical flows to estimate the sub-pixel optical flow for the pixel of the input image. |
| US08406503B2 |
Mounted component inspection apparatus, component mounting machine comprising the mounted component inspection apparatus, and mounted component inspection method
A mounted component inspection apparatus according to the present invention includes: a component library holding inspection information; an inspection processing unit for inspecting a component under inspection using the component library; a match rate acquisition unit for acquiring a match rate indicating the degree to which the inspection information is suitable for the inspection by the inspection processing unit, on the basis of the result of the inspection by the inspection processing unit; and a judgment unit for selecting the inspection information having a higher match rate, of the inspection information before updating and the inspection information after updating. The component library can hold the inspection information before and after updating, and the inspection processing unit carries out the inspection using the inspection information before and after updating held in the component library. |
| US08406501B2 |
Method and system for inspection of tube width of heat exchanger
A method and system for appearance inspection of a core of a heat exchanger provided with fins and tubes, performing averaging and dynamic binarization on the imaging data to extract an image of only a tube, then calculating, with respect to the extracted tube image, a center axis across a long direction of the tube comprised of the center coordinates of the tube width direction, comparing the discovered center axis with a reference value to find the maximum displacement across the long direction of the tube, and judging the tube is a defect when the maximum displacement is greater than a predetermined threshold. |
| US08406500B2 |
Simultaneously scanning multiple checks
Simultaneous scanning of multiple checks. In one example embodiment, a method for simultaneous scanning of multiple checks with a flatbed scanner includes several acts. First, a front side of a transparent sleeve is scanned on a flatbed scanner in order to create a first image. The sleeve has multiple pockets with a check positioned in each pocket. The sleeve further has multiple alignment markings on the front side and on a back side of the sleeve. Next, the back side of the sleeve is scanned on the flatbed scanner in order to create a second image. Then, it is determined from the respective positions of the alignment markings on the first image and on the second image that the sleeve was rotated between scans. Finally, one of the first and second images is automatically rotated to match the other image in order to align each front/back check image pair. |
| US08406499B2 |
Counterfeit detector pen
A counterfeit currency detector including a tubular body having a forward end and a rearward end, a contact assembly mounted at the forward end of the tubular body, and a counterfeit solution applicator mounted at the rearward end of the tubular body. The contact assembly includes an ultraviolet light source. |
| US08406498B2 |
Blood and cell analysis using an imaging flow cytometer
Multimodal or multispectral images of cells comprising a population of cells are simultaneously collected. Photometric and/or morphometric image features identifiable in the images are used to identify differences between first and second populations of cells. The differences can include changes in a relative percentage of different cell types in each population, or a change in a first type of cell present in the first population of cells and the same type of cell in the second population of cells. The changes may be indicative of a disease state, indicative of a relative effectiveness of a therapy, or indicative of a health of the person from whom the cells populations were obtained. |
| US08406496B2 |
Method and system for left ventricle detection in 2D magnetic resonance images
A method and system for left ventricle (LV) detection in 2D magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images is disclosed. In order to detect the LV in a 2D MRI image, a plurality of LV candidates are detected, for example using marginal space learning (MSL) based detection. Candidates for distinctive anatomic landmarks associated with the LV are then detected in the 2D MRI image. In particular, apex candidates and base candidates are detected in the 2D MRI image. One of the LV candidates is selected as a final LV detection result using component-based voting based on the detected LV candidates, apex candidates, and base candidates. |
| US08406490B2 |
System and methods for determination of procedure termination
This invention relates to a system and methods for determining the initiation and/or the termination of an autonomous in vivo imaging procedure, such as by a capsule imaging the gastro intestinal tract. |
| US08406488B2 |
Systems, methods and apparatus for plaque visualization and quantification using fuzzy and adaptive region classes
Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which coronary plaque is classified in an image and visually displayed using an iterative adaptive process, such as an expectation maximization process. |
| US08406482B1 |
System and method for automatic skin tone detection in images
Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for automatically detecting skin tones in an input image are disclosed. An initial skin tone mask for the image may be created dependent on a general skin tone model. An upper threshold and/or a lower threshold may be applied to the initial skin tone mask to identify pixels most likely to be skin pixels and least likely to be skin pixels, respectively. These pixels may be used to produce an image-specific skin tone model, including one or more truncated Gaussian models for skin pixels and/or non-skin pixels defined in a three-dimensional color space. The image-specific skin tone model may be applied to the image to generate a final skin tone mask. Skin tone detection may be automatically or selectively performed in conjunction with image editing or image feature identification operations to target or exclude skin pixels or non-skin pixels during execution of the operations. |
| US08406480B2 |
Visual credential verification
A solution for visual credential verification. The solution includes an apparatus, system, and method embodiment. The apparatus for visual credential verification includes an input module, a comparison module, and a response module. The input module receives from a security official an image of an unverified credential, such as a badge, that an individual has presented to the security official. The comparison module determines whether or not the unverified credential is valid or invalid. The determination includes comparing the image of the unverified credential with known good images of valid credentials. The comparison module may also compare authentication information such as a photo of the individual, a name, or a badge number, with known good authentication information. Based on the comparison module's determination, the response module notifies the security official that the unverified credential is either valid or invalid. A system for visual credential verification may be implemented with a server in communication with a security official's electronic device, such as a cell phone. |
| US08406478B2 |
Distributed processing in authentication
Identity authentication systems and techniques are disclosed which solves the problem associated with limited processing power and smart card technology in the handling of biometric authentication. By distributing the processing of an identity authenticating process between a smart card and a computer terminal, the complicated calculation involved in a biometrics matching process can be carried out to allow verification using biometric parameters stored on smart cards. There is disclosed a system and technique for user authentication, together with a system and technique for distributed processing. A registration method is also described. |
| US08406475B2 |
Method and device for analyzing berries
Method for analyzing berries, characterized in that: berries are arranged on an analysis plate, an image of the berries is recorded, the image consisting of pixels of at least one component of an elementary color, the contours of the berries are identified, and geometric and/or colorimetric characteristics of the berries are determined. The number of berries can then be determined, or a volume, a surface area, a surface area to volume ratio, and a characteristic concentration for each berry can be determined, in addition to an average, for all of the pixels inside the contour of a defined berry, of the values of a component of an elementary color of a component of interest. A device for implementing the method is also disclosed. The invention especially relates to viticulture and to the analysis of the maturity of the grape. |
| US08406473B2 |
Information processing apparatus and information processing method
An information processing apparatus and method for processing an input image by comparing a stored background image with the input image to obtain a difference, collating a change in the difference and time of the change with conditions for the occurrence of a periodic event and information as to the time of occurrence of the periodic event, which are previously stored in a storage unit, to determine whether the change in state of the input image is the periodic or a non-periodic movement of an object, and selecting, according to a result of the determination, any one of operations according to the periodic or the non-periodic movement of an object. |
| US08406469B2 |
System and method for progressive band selection for hyperspectral images
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for progressive band selection for hyperspectral images. A system having module configured to control a processor to practice the method calculates a virtual dimensionality of a hyperspectral image having multiple bands to determine a quantity Q of how many bands are needed for a threshold level of information, ranks each band based on a statistical measure, selects Q bands from the multiple bands to generate a subset of bands based on the virtual dimensionality, and generates a reduced image based on the subset of bands. This approach can create reduced datasets of full hyperspectral images tailored for individual applications. The system uses a metric specific to a target application to rank the image bands, and then selects the most useful bands. The number of bands selected can be specified manually or calculated from the hyperspectral image's virtual dimensionality. |
| US08406468B2 |
Image capturing device and method for adjusting a position of a lens of the image capturing device
A method for adjusting a position of a lens of an image capturing device obtains a plurality of images of a monitored scene by the lens, detects a motion area in the monitored scene, and detects if a human face is in the motion area. The method further moves the lens according to movement data of the human face if the human face is detected, or moves the lens according to movement data of the motion area if the human face is not detected. |
| US08406467B2 |
Method and system for actively detecting and recognizing placards
A method and a system for actively detecting and recognizing a placard are provided. In the present method, an image capturing device is moved according to a maneuver rule, wherein the image capturing device captures an image continuously during the movement. Then whether a placard exists in the image or not is determined. If a placard exists in the image, a content of the placard is identified and a corresponding action is executed. The method repeatedly processes the foregoing steps to further continuously move the image capturing device and determine whether the placard exists in a newly captured image so as to achieve a purpose of detecting and recognizing placards actively. |
| US08406466B2 |
Converting aircraft enhanced vision system video to simulated real time video
A method for overcoming image latency issues of a synthetic vision system include generating (602, 704) a video comprising a plurality of images (300, 400, 500) of a target (208, 212) viewed from a moving platform (202), enhancing (604, 704) the resolution of the video, processing (606, 706) a parameter of the moving platform (202) related to the relative position of the platform to the target (208, 212), adjusting each of the plurality of images based on the processed parameter to simulate a real time video, and displaying (610, 710) the simulated real time video. |
| US08406462B2 |
Signature derivation for images
Deriving a fingerprint of an image corresponding to media content involves selecting at least two different regions of the same image, determining a relationship between the two regions, and deriving a fingerprint of the image based on the relationship between the two regions of the image. |
| US08406460B2 |
Automated template layout method
A method for producing an image template having one or more openings for displaying images. The openings as well as the images are each associated with a season. The images are automatically analyzed to determine which season they most likely depict. Images are then selected to be placed in a template opening designated for a particular season. This method can be used to automate calendar production. |
| US08406457B2 |
Monitoring device, monitoring method, control device, control method, and program
The present invention relates to a monitoring device, monitoring method, control device, control method, and program that use information on a face direction or gaze direction of a person to cause a device to perform processing in accordance with a movement or status of the person. A target detector 251 detects a target object. A face direction/gaze direction detector 252 detects a face direction and gaze direction of a person, determines a movement or status of the person on the basis of the relationship between the detected target object and the face direction or gaze direction of the person, and notifies face direction/gaze direction information using portions 253-1 to 253-3 of a result of the determination. The face direction/gaze direction information using portions 253-1 to 253-3 cause the device to execute predetermined processing on the basis of the result of the determination. The present invention can be applied to, for example, an on-vehicle system. |
| US08406456B2 |
Methods and systems for image fingerprinting
The present invention provides methods and systems to protect an organization's secure image information from unauthorized disclosure. In one embodiment, methods and systems to generate image fingerprints are provided. The fingerprints are generated for each feature point of an image data. Because the fingerprints take into account the neighborhood features around each feature point, the image fingerprints are robust against derivate images where the original image may have been altered. Methods and systems to maintain a fingerprint database for an organization's secure image data is also provided. In one embodiment, client fingerprints are generated for image data that a user intends to transmit outside of the organization. In some embodiments, suitable security actions are initiated if any of the client fingerprints match any of the fingerprints in the fingerprint database. |
| US08406453B2 |
Security system and method of in-flight entertainment device rentals having self-contained audiovisual presentations
A security method for in-flight entertainment device (IFED) rentals having self-contained audiovisual presentations is disclosed. A self-contained IFED has internal storage configured to contain current releases of movies and other audiovisual presentations. The method provides layers of security including a unique bit stream encoding format, watermarking, camera artifacts, file encryption, hard drive encryption, input-output encryption, physically unique connectors, and a tamper-resistant casing for the self-contained IFEDs. |
| US08406452B2 |
Diaphragm for speaker, speaker using the diaphragm, and system using the speaker
A loudspeaker diaphragm contains polylactic acid, and bamboo charcoal mixed in the polylactic acid. The diaphragm does not affect environment and provides a loudspeaker with high sound quality. |
| US08406451B2 |
Capacitive electroacoustic transducer and microphone
There is provided a capacitive electro-acoustic transducer comprising an active diaphragm (20) and a first and a second diaphragm carrier (60). The active diaphragm (20) is accommodated between the first and second diaphragm carriers (60). The first and second diaphragm carriers (60) each have a respective flat electrode (30). The diaphragm carrier and the electrode are connected together in such a way that the diaphragm carrier projects beyond the electrode by a predetermined amount. |
| US08406449B2 |
Portable audio amplifier with interchangeable housing and storage compartment
A portable audio amplifier for a portable audio device or musical instrument that includes an internal housing and an exchangeable external housing and exchangeable cover, as well as a storage compartment is described. The storage compartment, which is contained in the internal housing, may contain a cord and other audio accessories such as picks, batteries, adapters, or personal items. The storage compartment can be opened through various methods, including translation, swiveling, pivoting, or sliding of a cover. The amplifier's external housing and/or cover may be customized by the user after purchase using exchangeable elements. Exchangeable external housing options, which act like a skin for the amplifier, include both manufactured housings (designed specifically as an external housing for the audio amplifier) and repurposed housings (designed for a primary purpose other than audio amplification). An adaptive structure may be used to adapt the dimensions of the internal housing to a larger, external housing. |
| US08406442B2 |
Hearing aid apparatus
There is described a hearing aid comprising input transducer means for converting input acoustic signals into electrical input signals, signal processor means and output transducer means. The signal processor means is operable to divide said electrical input signals into a plurality of frequency bands and to perform a contrast enhancement operation in each said frequency band, to increase the difference between the amplitudes of those frequency components of the input signals having a relatively high amplitude and those frequency components thereof having a relatively low amplitude to produce output electrical signals in each said respective frequency bands. The output transducer means is operable to produce an output acoustic signal corresponding to a combination of said output electrical signals. |
| US08406439B1 |
Methods and systems for synthetic audio placement
Methods and systems for providing synthetic audio placement are described herein. In different aspects, the methods and systems may include a connection port to receive a plurality of remote audio signals included in a conference call, at least one of the plurality of remote audio connections being a single channel audio signal, a processor configured with the connection port to provide a sound field for placing the plurality of audio signals, the sound field providing synthetic audio placement of each of the plurality of remote audio signals, and a rendering output configured with the processor to project the plurality of remote audio within the sound field to a listener. |
| US08406434B2 |
Audio processing system
The audio processing system disclosed in the invention comprises an audio processor and an audio amplifier. The audio processor receives a data signal to generate a processed signal, and comprises at least one gain control circuit and at least one operational amplifier. The gain control circuit generates a gain signal according to a volume control signal, a reference signal, and a feedback signal. The operational amplifier couples to the gain control circuit and amplifies the data signal by the gain signal to generate a processed signal. The audio amplifier couples to the audio processor to receive and amplify the processed signal, wherein an amplified signal is generated. |
| US08406432B2 |
Apparatus and method for automatic gain control using phase information
An apparatus and a method for automatically controlling a gain using phase information are provided. The apparatus includes a frequency conversion unit converting each of input signals received from a plurality of acoustic input apparatuses to frequency input signals, a factor determination unit determining a scaling factor according to a gain difference between the input signals based on a phase difference of the frequency input signals, and a scaling performance unit performing scaling for gain compensation between the input signals based on the scaling factor. |
| US08406426B2 |
Method and apparatus for storing and retrieving encrypted programming content such that it is accessible to authorized users from multiple set top boxes
A set top box is provided that includes a receiver/tuner for receiving programming content over a broadband communications network, an encrypter/decrypter for encrypting and decrypting the programming content, and a secure memory configured to store at least a first cryptography key to be used by the encrypter/decrypter to encrypt and decrypt the programming content. The set top box also includes a digital storage medium for storing encrypted programming content, a multimedia processor operationally associated with the receiver/tuner, the decrypter, and the digital storage medium, and a user interface operationally associated with the multimedia processor. The multimedia processor is configured to: encrypt decoded programming content using the first cryptography key stored in the secure memory and uniquely associated with the set top box; store the encrypted content on the digital storage medium; encrypt the first cryptography key using a second cryptography key to form an encrypted first cryptography key; and store the encrypted first cryptography key on the digital storage medium. |
| US08406424B2 |
Visual universal decryption apparatus and methods
Disclosed is a virtual universal decryption (VUD) service that provides a mechanism for allowing users of camera enabled mobile devices to use their camera to decrypt messages. The VUD service can provide a mechanism for a user of a VUD enabled device to authorize one or more other users of VUD enabled and camera enabled devices to use their cameras to decrypt messages sent by the authorizing user. The VUD service may then provide mechanisms for the authorized users to decrypt messages, which have been encrypted by the authorizing users, by simply capturing an image/video of the encrypted text with a camera of their VUD enabled devices. |
| US08406423B2 |
Multi-bit cryptographically secure encryptor for M-ary spectral phase encoder optical code division multiple access
A system and methods are provided for transmitting an encrypted data word of two or more bits. This involves identifying a random key word comprising two or more bits for encrypting the data word and identifying a set of unique orthogonal codes. This also involves selecting a code from the set of unique orthogonal codes that corresponds to a result of an exclusive-or (XOR) operation between the two or more bits of the data word and the random key word. This also involves encoding a signal with the code and transmitting the encoded signal as encrypted data. |
| US08406418B2 |
Headset with a 360 degrees rotatable microphone boom and function selector
A headset and method for voice communication comprising a housing (2) and a pickup unit (8) rotatably connected to the housing via a joint (7). The pickup unit (8) transmits its position to circuitry which in turn enables functions according to its position. When the unit is moved to a predetermined position and a function is enabled, the user is preferably notified by an audible signal in the earphone. The unit may be rotated, pivoted or twisted and even ratcheted to various positions to engage different functions, such as mute, volume up/down, activate Bluetooth® link etc. One position detection includes a sliding contact (20, 70) mutually rotatable about a rotational axis (26) and a annular ring (50) arranged so that the ring (50) is positioned around the rotational axis (26) so as to provide an electrical connection between the first annular ring (50) and the contact members (30). |
| US08406416B2 |
Configuring virtual noise parameters of very high-speed digital subscriber line
An apparatus comprising a transmitter configured to transmit a digital subscriber line (DSL) signal in a line from a plurality of subscriber lines according to a reference virtual noise power spectral density (PSD), wherein the reference virtual noise PSD is based on an upper bound for a worst-case far-end crosstalk (FEXT) PSD in the subscriber lines. Also included is an apparatus comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising obtaining an upper bound for a worst-case FEXT PSD for a plurality of subscriber lines, obtaining a referred virtual noise PSD based on the worst-case FEXT PSD for the lines, and determining a bit-loading for the lines based on the referred virtual noise or a scaled version of the receiver-referred virtual noise. |
| US08406413B2 |
Method and apparatus for universal xDSL demarcation interface with multi-functional capability and signal performance enhancement
Provided is an apparatus for splitting an input signal, the apparatus including a xDSL profile filter for filtering a first sub-signal from the input signal, the first sub-signal according to a xDSL profile, and outputting a xDSL profile output signal; a voice-band filter for filtering a second sub-signal from the input signal, the second sub-signal according to a voice frequency band, and outputting a voice-band output signal; and a user interface for selecting a xDSL profile mode, wherein the xDSL profile mode is consistent with one of a plurality of xDSL profiles, and wherein the xDSL profile filter filters the first sub-signal according to the xDSL profile mode. |
| US08406412B2 |
System and method for call flow generation via real-time tracking of guided problem resolution
Systems and methods for adapting an existing call flow wherein the call flow further comprises an associated data set, comprising: activating the existing call flow, the existing call flow generating a series of questions designed to obtain information from a caller; determining if an exception condition has occurred; allowing a user to activate an exception call flow in response to the exception condition; retaining the data set associated with the call flow when the exception condition occurred; adapting the data set such that the call flow addresses the exception condition; analyzing the adapted data set to determine if it is unique; and, modifying the existing call flow to incorporate the adapted data set if the adapted data set is unique. |
| US08406409B2 |
Treatment of electronic communications based on user association with one or more online groups
A method is described for call treatment based on user association with one or more user groups. The method includes receiving a phone call from a call source that is directed to a call recipient, identifying a user group associated with the call recipient, and determining a number of received indications assigned to the user group. The received indications are assigned to the user group by users associated with the user group, and the received indications reflect a desire by the users for a special treatment of future calls from the call source. The method also includes distinguishing treatment of the phone call from the call source based on the number of received indications. |
| US08406406B2 |
Apparatus and method for performing call connection in a communication system
A call connection method and apparatus in a communication system are provided, in which a call connection request message is received from each of first and second terminals, it is determined whether the first and second terminals are requesting a call connection to each other, one of the first and second terminals is selected if the first and second terminals are requesting a call connection to each other, the call connection request of the selected terminal is rejected, and a call is connected between the first and second terminals by performing a call connection to the selected terminal according to the call connection request of the non-selected terminal. |
| US08406405B2 |
Teleconferencing system for allowing one touch transfer from a facilitator LED discussion
A teleconferencing system that enables facilitator-led teleconferences in which a caller can transfer their call to a different conference group, facilitator, or another party by initiating a transfer command, such as by pushing a particular key on their telephone keypad. Application software controls a switch that automatically transfers a caller to a different conference group, facilitator, or party when a transfer-initiating act, such as pressing a key on a keypad, is sensed. The transfer is reported to the current facilitator and to the new facilitator, if any, who is provided with contact information regarding the transferring-in caller. |
| US08406404B2 |
Method for setting up a conference call in telecommunications network using the SIP protocol
This invention relates to a method for setting up a conference call in a telecommunications network using the SIP protocol to set up a communication between a first terminal (30) and a second terminal (32), call controllers (36ca30, 36ca32) relaying signals for this communication.According to the invention, such a method is characterized in that it comprises the following steps: the step to interrupt communication of the first terminal (30) with the second terminal (32) to set up a communication between this first terminal (30) and a conference bridge (38pc), the step to simulate the second terminal (32) maintaining its communication with the first terminal (30) using at least one of the call controllers (36ca30, 36ca32), and the step to simulate the second terminal (32) interrupting its communication with the first terminal (30) to set up a communication between this second terminal and the conference bridge (38pc). |
| US08406403B2 |
Conference call participant management system and method
A participant may join a conference call whenever a person specific attribute is read by an interrogator and verified as being authorized to participate in the call. The interrogator may be integrated into a telephone and manually activated or periodically activated. The attribute is an RFID tag, bar code, fingerprint, etc. Conference calls may be joined and rejoined when moving from room to room. Further, real-time participant lists may be accessed during the call and archived. |
| US08406386B2 |
Voice-to-text translation for visual voicemail
A system may include servers. The servers may include memories including a first database to store voicemail message information associated with a voicemail mailbox and a user device, and a second database to associate a plurality of user devices with a voice-to-text transcription service; and a receiver to receive a new voicemail message associated with the voicemail mailbox. The servers may also include a processor to query to the second database to determine whether to request a voice-to-text transcription of an audio file associated with the new voicemail message and to determine whether to notify the user device of the new voicemail message before or after receiving the voice-to-text transcription of the audio file. The servers may also include a transmitter to send a notification of the new voicemail message to the user device according to the determination of whether to notify the user device of the new voicemail message before or after receiving the voice-to-text transcription of the audio file. |
| US08406385B2 |
Messaging translation services
One embodiment of a method for translating a message can be broadly summarized by the following steps: generating an electronic message in an understood language of an originating party; receiving instructions to translate contents of the electronic message to another language; converting the electronic message to the another language in accordance with the instructions; and delivering the converted electronic message to the receiving party. Other methods and devices are also provided. |
| US08406384B1 |
Universally tagged frequent call-routing user queries as a knowledge base for reuse across applications
A computer-implemented method is described for developing query tags for classification of user queries to a call routing application. Multiple user query corpuses are accessed that contain user queries from multiple call routing applications in multiple different vertical domains. A set of frequent user queries are selected which appear in multiple different query corpuses in multiple different vertical domains. From these are developed frequent query tags for semantic classification of the frequent user queries. The frequent query tags are then stored in a query tag database. |
| US08406382B2 |
Transparent voice registration and verification method and system
A method includes registering a voice of a party in order to provide voice verification for communications with an entity. A call is received from a party at a voice response system. The party is prompted for information and verbal communication spoken by the party is captured. A voice model associated with the party is created by processing the captured verbal communication spoken by the party and is stored. The identity of the party is verified and a previously stored voice model of the party, registered during a previous call from the party, is updated. The creation of the voice model is imperceptible to the party. |
| US08406380B2 |
Test phone using SIP
The invention provides a test phone whereby the test phone comprises means to communicate to a server, means to generate SIP signaling towards the server, whereby the test phone by means for SIP signaling may request the server to set-up a test call using specific resources for routing said test call. |
| US08406379B2 |
Curvature distribution crystal lens and X-ray reflectometer
In one embodiment of the present invention, a curvature distribution crystal lens of the present invention is obtained via press-molding. In the case of a Ge single crystal plate, a temperature for the press-molding is in a range 1° C. to 120° C. lower than a melting point. In the case of a Si single crystal plate, a temperature for the press-molding is in a range 1° C. to 200° C. lower than a melting point. The curvature distribution crystal lens has a crystal lattice plane forming a 1D cylindrically curved surface or a 1D logarithmically curved surface whose valley is in a direction perpendicular to a direction having a maximum curvature, the direction having the maximum curvature being within 30° from a [001] or [1-10] direction in a (110) plane. As a result, it is possible to make an integrated reflection intensity uniform and to make a half-value width uniform in a wide range. Consequently, it is possible to achieve a curvature distribution crystal lens having a wide incident angle range and a high light focusing accuracy. |
| US08406377B2 |
Radiographic apparatus and method
A timing to acquire a still image signal is controlled such that a sum (Tst+Trd) of a storage period Tst and a readout period Trd for the still image signal is an integral multiple (Ts+Tr=Tck×n, where n is an integer of 2 or greater) of a cycle Tck of a moving image capturing mode, when a detector controller acquires the still image signal while acquiring a moving image signal from a radiation detector during the cycle Tck (Ts+Tr) of the moving image capturing mode. |
| US08406376B2 |
Radiographic apparatus
An air grid is constructed such that absorbing foil strips, which absorb scattered X-rays, are arranged in a direction parallel to the direction of rows of detecting elements, and that spacing between adjacent shadows among shadows of the absorbing foil strips formed on a flat panel X-ray detector (FPD) as a result of the absorbing foil strips absorbing X-rays is larger than spacing between pixels forming an X-ray image. An image data acquiring unit, a transmittance smoothing unit, a grid data acquiring unit, a shadowless pixel calculating unit, a shadow total quantity calculating unit, a transmittance correcting unit and an X-ray image acquiring unit are provided to remove the shadows with high accuracy by using corrected image data (X-ray transmittances) which constitutes a profile of shadows occurring at an actual time of X-ray imaging of a subject. |
| US08406365B2 |
Frequency reacquisition in a clock and data recovery device
A system and method are provided for reacquiring a non-synchronous communication signal in a clock and data recovery (CDR) device frequency synthesizer. The method initially acquires the phase of a non-synchronous communication signal having an input data frequency. In response to acquiring the phase of the input data frequency, a synthesized signal is generated having an output frequency. Also as a result of acquiring the input data frequency, a frequency ratio value is selected. The output frequency is divided by the selected frequency ratio value, creating a divisor signal having a divisor frequency, which is compared to a reference signal frequency. In response to the comparison, the frequency ratio value is saved in a tangible memory medium. In response to losing phase-lock with the communication signal, the frequency ratio value is retrieved from memory. After acquiring the input data frequency, the phase of the communication signal is reacquired. |
| US08406364B2 |
Fractional frequency divider PLL device and control method thereof
In the following B cycles, the second frequency-divided signal fA is maintained at a low level, while the third frequency-divided signal fB is maintained at a high level. The three-modulus prescaler 13 has a frequency division value (M−1) if the pseudo random values are negative values, and a frequency division value (M+1) if the pseudo random values are positive values, in accordance with the signs of the pseudo random values outputted from the ΣΔ modulator 8. After that, the frequency division value becomes M. A frequency division value of (MN+A+Bx) including the pseudo random value Bx is obtained in the comparison frequency divider 4. A fractional frequency division operation can be realized through ΣΔ modulation by using the pseudo random numbers including negative values, as they are. |
| US08406361B2 |
Fast powering-up of data communication system
A data communication system has a transmitter with a first clock-generation circuit, and a receiver with a second clock generation circuit. At least a specific one of the clock-generation circuits is powered-down between consecutive data bursts. The system expedites the starting up of operational use of the system upon a power-down of the specific clock-generation circuit. The system presets at a predetermined value an operational quantity of the specific clock-generation circuit at the starting up. |
| US08406346B2 |
Code error detecting device, wireless system and code error detecting method
A code error detecting device that can more precisely detect a code error due to a delayed wave is disclosed. The code error detecting device includes a receiving antenna (121) for receiving a on-off keying modulated pulse and its code-reversed pulse, a pulse detector (124) for outputting detected data in accordance with the pulses, a code comparing unit (128) for comparing each code of first received data (R1) with one of second received data (R2), wherein the first and second received data are derived from the output detected data, and an error detecting unit (129) for detecting an error of each code from a comparison result (D2) indicative of a result compared in the code comparing unit (128). |
| US08406341B2 |
Variable encoding and detection apparatus and methods
Apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture for media monitoring are disclosed. In particular, the example apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture determine a media source type associated with a media signal and select an encoding or decoding mode based on the media source type. An encoding operation encodes the media signal using the selected encoding mode and a decoding operation decodes the media signal using the selected decoding mode. |
| US08406340B2 |
Distortion and aliasing reduction for digital to analog conversion
Distortion and aliasing reduction for digital to analog conversion. Synthesis of one or more distortion terms made based on a digital signal (e.g., one or more digital codewords) is performed in accordance with digital to analog conversion. The one or more distortion terms may correspond to aliased higher-order harmonics, distortion, nonlinearities, clipping, etc. Such distortion terms may be known a priori, such as based upon particular characteristics of a given device, operational history, etc. Alternatively, such distortion terms may be determined based upon operation of a device and/or based upon an analog signal generated from the analog to conversion process. For example, frequency selective measurements made based on an analog signal generated from the digital to analog conversion may be used for determination of and/or adaptation of the one or more distortion terms. One or more DACs may be employed within various architectures operative to perform digital to analog conversion. |
| US08406336B2 |
Communication device and receiving method thereof
A communication device and receiving method thereof are disclosed in embodiments of the present invention. The communication device includes an extra digital to analog converter, an inverse partial response filtering circuit and an analog to digital converter. The extra digital to analog converter receives a first digital signal and generates a pulse shaped analog signal. The inverse partial response filtering circuit receives a first difference signal, and adjusts a response of the inverse partial response filtering circuit to generate an adjusted signal, wherein the first difference signal equals the result of subtracting the pulse shaped analog signal from a receiving signal. The analog to digital converter converts the adjusted signal to generate a second digital signal. |
| US08406334B1 |
Overflow resistant, fixed precision, bit optimized systolic array for QR decomposition and MIMO decoding
In one embodiment, a circuit for matrix decomposition is provided. The circuit includes an input circuit for receiving a first matrix. A permutation circuit is coupled to the input circuit and configured to interchange columns of the first matrix according to a selected permutation to produce a second matrix. A systolic array is coupled to the permutation circuit and configured to perform QR decomposition of the second matrix to produce a third matrix and a fourth matrix. A reverse permutation circuit is coupled to the systolic array and configured to interchange rows of the third matrix according to an inverse of the selected permutation to produce a first factor matrix and interchange rows of the fourth matrix according to the inverse of the selected permutation to produce a second factor matrix. |
| US08406332B2 |
Downlink transmission in a multiple-user multiple-input multiple-output (“MU-MIMO”) wireless communication system
Information transmission in a multiple-input multiple-output (“MIMO”) wireless communication system is provided. In one embodiment, a method for transmitting information in a MIMO wireless communication system, comprising updating channel quality information (“CQI”) values of a plurality of wireless devices, wherein updating said CQI values consider the effects of interference from transmissions to those wireless devices associated with a pre-assigned companion codeword set; pairing said plurality of wireless devices using at least said CQI values, a precoding matrix index (“PMI”) value and said pre-assigned companion codeword set, wherein said pre-assigned companion codeword set, pre-assigned companion codewords associated with said pre-assigned companion codeword set and said PMI value are updated for each of said plurality of wireless devices; precoding the information for each of said plurality of wireless devices using said PMI value; and transmitting said precoded information to each of said plurality of wireless devices. |
| US08406331B2 |
Method for signaling the status of a subcarrier in a MC network and a method for adaptively allocating the subcarriers in a MC network
A fast method for allocating those channels or subcarriers of a multicarrier network to an ahead lying transmission is to let a transmitting terminal and a receiving terminal which intend to access the medium determine the status of the channels or subcarriers that are within their reception range and send a signal indicating the determined status to the corresponding terminal which will select those channels or subcarriers for the eventual transmission which fit best. Other terminals within the transmission range of the transmitting or the receiving terminal respect the reservation and wait for the current transmission to find out which channels or subcarriers are actually used. |
| US08406327B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus, wireless communication system, and transmission method
A wireless communication apparatus (a) generates a transmission symbol; (b) assigns, to the transmission symbol, a given number of units each formed of a symbol and a subcarrier in a frame which is formed of M (M is a positive integer) symbols and N (N is a positive integer) subcarriers and includes M×N units, and the given number being not more than M×N, to obtain the given number of identical transmission symbols; (c) multiplies the identical transmission symbols by a code sequence including a plurality of different elements; and (d) transmits the identical transmission symbols multiplied by the code sequence. |
| US08406326B2 |
Exploiting channel time correlation to reduce channel state information feedback bitrate
The required bitrate for reporting channel state information from a network transceiver to the network is dramatically reduced, while maintaining fidelity of channel estimates, by exploiting prior channel estimates and the time correlation of channel response. For a selected set of sub-carriers, the transceiver estimates channel frequency response from pilot signals. The transceiver also predicts the frequency response for each selected sub-carrier, by multiplying a state vector comprising prior frequency response estimate and a coefficient vector comprising linear predictive coefficients. The predicted frequency response is subtracted from the estimated frequency response, and the prediction error is quantized and transmitted to the network. The network maintains a corresponding state vector and predictive coefficient vector, and also predicts a frequency response for each selected sub-carrier. The received prediction error is inverse quantized and subtracted from the predicted frequency response to yield a frequency response corresponding to that estimated at the transceiver. |
| US08406325B2 |
Methods and receivers of carrier frequency offset detection
A receiver used for an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) system is provided. A signal processing device receives an OFDM symbol and processes the OFDM symbol according to the OFDM symbol and a carrier frequency offset compensation coefficient to generate a processed signal. The OFDM symbol includes pilots which have been hierarchically modulated and the processed signal includes the processed pilots. A signal analysis device collects the processed pilots of the processed signal and detects carrier frequency offset to generate the carrier frequency offset compensation coefficient to the signal processing device according to the processed pilots and a plurality of target decision bit error rates. A channel detection module detects a channel response of the processed signal according to the processed pilots and compensates the processed signal to generate an output data. |
| US08406311B2 |
System and method for embedding additional information in video data
A method and system for embedding an electronic watermark directly in an MPEG stream is provided. An intra-macroblock of an I-frame or of a P or B-frame is detected in an MPEG stream, and following the detection of an intra-macroblock of the I-frame or of the P or B-frame, data for one macroblock are extracted from the MPEG stream and buffered. An embedding pattern is embedded in the buffered macroblock without changing the length of VLC, and the resultant macroblock is returned to the MPEG stream. More specifically, a DC factor is extracted from the buffered macroblock, and a pseudorandom number is generated to produce an embedding pattern. Then, whether the bit length of the DC factor will not be changed by embedding the obtained embedded pattern is determined. When the bit length of the DC factor not be changed, the embedding pattern is embedded in the buffered macroblock. When the bit length will be changed, whether ½ of the embedding pattern can be embedded is determined. If possible, ½ of the embedded pattern is embedded in the macroblock. |
| US08406308B2 |
Encoding apparatus for encoding binary signals generated from binarized multivalued syntax elements and method for performing the same
An encoding device encoding binary signals using arithmetic-encoding. The encoding device includes a binarization unit binarizing multivalued syntax elements in order to generate the binary signals. The generated binary signals are stored on an intermediate buffer. Further, the encoding device includes an arithmetic-encoding unit performing the arithmetic-encoding on the binary signals stored on the intermediate buffer. Additionally, the generated binary signals are binary representations of values of the multivalued syntax elements. |
| US08406306B2 |
Image decoding apparatus and image decoding method
An image decoding apparatus that performs decoding using motion compensation includes: a reference area specifying unit that specifies, prior to decoding performed on a block-by-block basis, a reference area that is an existing range of reference pixels in a reference picture based on a block on which motion compensation is to be performed; a decoded pixel memory which stores decoded pixel data; a reference pixel buffer that holds reference pixel data; a reference-pixel-reading control unit that copies pixel data of an area including the reference area specified by said reference area specifying unit, from said decoded pixel memory into said reference pixel buffer; a motion compensation unit that generates interpolation pixel data by performing the motion compensation using reference pixel data copied into said reference pixel buffer; and a pixel value decoding unit that generates decoded pixel data using the interpolation pixel data. |
| US08406296B2 |
Video refresh adaptation algorithms responsive to error feedback
In general, this disclosure relates to techniques for adaptively determining a rate for intra-coding segments (e.g., macro-blocks) of video data within a sequence of video units (e.g., frames) in response to the receipt of error feedback that is provided by a video decoder. One example method includes receiving feedback from a video decoder that indicates an error associated with coded video data, and, upon receipt of the feedback, determining a rate for intra-coding a specified number of segments of video data for each video unit within a sequence of video units, wherein an intra-coding of segments of video data within one video unit is independent of a coding of segments of video data within other video units within the sequence. |
| US08406293B2 |
Multi-pass video encoding based on different quantization parameters
A novel multi-pass encoding method that encodes several images (e.g., several frames of a video sequence) is described. The method iteratively performs an encoding operation that encodes these images. The encoding operation is based on a nominal quantization parameter, which the method uses to compute quantization parameter for the images. During several different iterations of the encoding operation, the method uses several different nominal quantization parameters. The method stops its iterations when it reaches a terminating criterion (e.g., it identifies an acceptable encoding of the images). |
| US08406291B2 |
Method, medium, and apparatus for encoding and/or decoding video
A method, medium, and apparatus for encoding and/or decoding video by generating a scalable bitstream formed with a base layer bitstream and an enhancement layer bitstream in order to provide forward compatibility, the scalable bitstream comprising a base layer bitstream including a base quantized level and a base quantization parameter corresponding to a base bit-depth, and an enhancement layer bitstream including a residue between an extended quantized level and a compensated quantized level that is predicted from the base quantized level, and additional quantization information for refining the difference between an extended bit-depth and the base bit-depth, wherein a process for improving image quality is applied to at least one of the base layer and the enhancement layer. |
| US08406290B2 |
User sensitive information adaptive video transcoding framework
A video system includes a sensitive-information generator to generate a definition of sensitive information parts (SIP) areas. The video system also includes a transcoder to transcode the SIP areas at a higher bit rate than non-SIP areas in the frames based on bandwidth available for transmitting the transcoded frames. The SIP areas are generated statically or dynamically. The video system adapts to various network conditions and utilizes the bandwidth efficiently to deliver the sensitive information of high quality and to enhance the user experience. |
| US08406289B2 |
Method and device for selecting a transcoding method among a set of transcoding methods
Selecting a method from a set of methods of transcoding digital video data, the data being transferable between at least two communication apparatuses via a communication network, including, for each transcoding method, obtaining a distortion value from a mathematical model for establishing the distortion taking into account the transcoding method, the distortion model being applied to information representing the content of the signal represented by the digital data to be transcoded, and selecting a transcoding method as a function of the different distortion values obtained for the set of transcoding methods, the set of transcoding methods including at least two different types of transcoding methods, each type of transcoding method being selected from at least one of a plurality of methods of reducing a spatial resolution, a plurality of a re-quantization methods, and a plurality of methods of reducing a frame rate. |
| US08406286B2 |
Method and device for selecting best mode of intra predictive coding for video coding
A method for selecting the best mode of intra prediction coding for video coding applied in video coding and decoding field is provided. The method includes: constructing a rate distortion cost function based on an estimated rate to be encoded; computing the rate distortion costs for all predictive modes by using the constructed function, and selecting the predictive mode with the minimum rate distortion cost as the best mode of intra prediction coding according to the computing result. Accordingly, a device for selecting the best mode of intra prediction coding for video coding is provided. By the method, the selected mode is closer to the best mode selected by original rate distortion optimization model, thereby the need to code every block actually in the process of rate distortion optimization is effectively avoided. |
| US08406284B2 |
Receiver with adaptive equalizer
Receivers and methods for receiving a signal may result in improved performance by resolving specific impairments at particular levels. For example, bit error ratio (BER) in the downstream signal of an HFC network may be improved by resolving up to 6% AM hum. Thus, the receivers and methods described herein may function with dramatically improved error rates and continuous FEC lock, in relation to conventional receivers, in the presence of SCTE 40 impairments and full channel loading over the receivers entire input dynamic range. |
| US08406282B2 |
Multiplexing strip and data channels in a time division duplex communication system
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate generating and/or analyzing downlink transmission units in OFDM TDD environments. Strip OFDM symbols may be selectively inserted within downlink transmission units; for example, the position of strip OFDM symbols may vary from cell to cell. Further, the position may be a function of a characteristic of a cell (e.g., cell identifier) and/or an expected drift. Moreover, a strip OFDM symbol may be interjected at a location in a downlink transmission unit so as to mitigate alignment with disparate strip OFDM symbols in downlink transmission units associated with differing cells. |
| US08406279B2 |
System and method for pilot design for data transmitted in wireless networks
A method for pilot design for data to be transmitted by an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) based communication system, the data being represented by a plurality of OFDM symbols. The method includes allocating pilot symbols for a data stream to be included in ones of the OFDM symbols; and performing a frequency shift on at least one of the OFDM symbols, to reduce frequency distance disparities among the pilot symbols. |
| US08406276B2 |
Communications system employing orthogonal chaotic spreading codes
Methods for code-division multiplex communications. The methods involve generating orthogonal or statistically orthogonal chaotic spreading codes (CSC1, . . . , CSCK) using different sets of polynomial equations (f0(x(nT)), . . . , fN-1(x(nT))), different constant values (C0, C1, . . . , CN-1) for the polynomial equations, or different sets of relatively prime numbers (p0, p1, . . . , pN-1) as modulus (m0, m1, . . . , mN-1) in solving the polynomial equations. The methods also involve forming spread spectrum communications signals using the orthogonal or statistically orthogonal chaotic spreading codes, respectively. The method further involve concurrently transmitting the spread spectrum communications signals over a common RF frequency band. |
| US08406267B2 |
Grazing-incidence-disk laser element
A solid-state gain element including a thin doped region in which an optical signal propagates through the thin doped region at a large angle with respect to the normal to the thin doped region, reflects at a boundary of the thin doped region, and passes through the thin doped region again. An optical pump beam propagates through the thin doped region also at a large angle with respect to the normal to the thin doped region. In one example, the gain element and source of the pump beam are configured such that there is total internal reflection of the pump beam at the boundary of the thin doped region for a second pumping pass through the thin doped region. In another example, an elliptically symmetric laser beam is used to create a circularly symmetric gain region in the thin doped region. |
| US08406264B2 |
Nitride semiconductor laser element
A nitride semiconductor laser element includes a laminate. The laminate includes on a substrate a first conductivity type nitride semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second conductivity type nitride semiconductor layer, and constitutes a cavity resonator. The laminate includes an element region, an exposed region and an island layer. The element region is a region in which the laser element is formed. The exposed region is a region in which at least the first conductivity type nitride semiconductor layer is exposed on both sides of the element region in the cavity direction, and which is provided continuously in a cavity resonating direction of the laser element. The island layer is separated from the element region by the exposed region, and that is disposed in a corner of the nitride semiconductor laser element. |
| US08406262B2 |
LD-driver improving falling edge of driving signal
An LD driver is disclosed, which improves the rising and falling times of the driving current for the LD. The LD driver includes an inverting amplifier, an emitter follower connected in down stream of the inverting amplifier, a driving transistor driven by the emitter follower, and a current-mirror circuit connected in series to the inverting amplifier. The mirror current generated from the current flowing in the inverting amplifier is provided to the output of the emitter follower served for discharging the input capacitance of the driving transistor. |
| US08406258B1 |
Apparatus and methods for low-jitter transceiver clocking
One embodiment relates to an integrated circuit which includes multiple communication channels, a clock multiplexer in each channel, two low-jitter clock generator circuits, and clock distribution circuitry. Each channel includes circuitry arranged to communicate a serial data stream using a reference clock signal, and the clock multiplexer in each channel is configured to select the reference clock signal from a plurality of input clock signals. The first low-jitter clock generator circuit is arranged to generate a first clock signal using a first inductor-capacitor-based oscillator circuit, and the second low-jitter clock generator circuit is arranged to generate a second clock signal using a second inductor-capacitor-based oscillator circuit The first and second inductor-capacitor-based oscillator circuits have different tuning ranges. The clock distribution circuitry is arranged to input the first and second low-jitter clock signals to each said clock multiplexer. Other embodiments and features are also disclosed. |
| US08406257B2 |
Method and system for synchronization of content rendering
A method and system for synchronizing the rendering of content at various rendering devices. Each rendering device has a device time and a rendering time. The synchronization system designates one of the rendering devices as a master rendering device and designates all other rendering devices as slave rendering devices. Each slave rendering device adjusts the rendering of its content to keep it in synchronization with the rendering of the content at the master rendering device. The master rendering device sends a message with its rendering time and corresponding device time to the slave rendering devices. Each slave rendering device, upon receiving the message from the master rendering device, determines whether it is synchronized with the master rendering time. If not, the slave rendering device adjusts the rendering of its content to compensate for the difference between the master rendering time and the slave rendering time. |
| US08406255B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling data transmission in a wireless communication system
Techniques for controlling data transmission are described. In an aspect, a user equipment (UE) determines whether to send a packet based on available transmit power. The UE determines a first packet size based on the available transmit power and sends a packet of the first packet size if it is equal to or larger than a minimum packet size. The UE sends a packet of a second packet size (e.g., the minimum packet size) if the first packet size is smaller than the minimum packet size and if at least one condition is met, e.g., the available transmit power is greater than a power threshold and the delay of a packet to send is larger than a delay threshold. In another aspect, the UE operates in a discontinuous transmission (DTX) mode and cancels the DTX mode if the delay of a packet to send exceeds a threshold. |
| US08406253B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing system, and program product
An information processing apparatus includes two communication units having different communication areas from one another and a processing unit. When a mobile terminal is within the communication area of a first communication unit, the first communication unit receives setting information for establishing communication between the mobile terminal and a second communication unit, and function information indicating a function for processing substantial information including a document and/or an image to be communicated by the second communication unit. The second communication unit establishes communication with the mobile terminal based on the setting information received by the first communication unit, and communicates the substantial information to the mobile terminal. The processing unit processes the substantial information with the function corresponding to the function information received by the first communication unit. |
| US08406249B2 |
Communication device comprising a carrier sense function and communication method
A communication device of an example of the present invention comprises a first unit determining that whether a state is a first state indicating that a transmission medium is in use, a second state indicating that the transmission medium is not in use, or a third state indicating that whether or not the transmission medium is in use is being determined, and a second unit prohibiting a data transmission in the first and third states, and permitting the data transmission in the second state. |
| US08406242B2 |
Communication system, terminal device, and communication method for performing communication based on the real-time transport protocol/RTP control protocol
A communication system for performing communication based on the Real-time Transport Protocol/RTP Control Protocol (RTP/RTCP) comprises a communication control device, a first NAT device and a second NAT device, a caller terminal device, and a callee terminal device. The caller terminal device transmits a first packet to the communication control device, receives a second packet that contains a second port number that is stored in the second NAT device, determines whether the second port number is one of an odd number and an even number; and transmits, in a case where it has been determined that the second port number is an odd number, an RTP packet to a port number that is computed by adding 2n−1 to the second port number, then transmits an RTCP packet to a port number that is computed by adding 2n to the second port number. |
| US08406238B2 |
Portable electronic device and image data communication method thereof
A portable electronic device and an image communication method thereof are provided. The portable electronic device includes a display, a processing module and a memory. The processing module provides frame data of a corresponding frame for the display to show, enables the portable electronic device to emulate a virtual storage device under a communication link, and produces image data compliant with a file format according to the frame data of the frame. The memory stores the image data, which can be read through the communication link. The processing module provides a frame data update for the display to show and updates the image data according to the frame data update. |
| US08406237B2 |
Methods and apparatus for implementing proxy mobile IP in foreign agent care-of address mode
A method for implementing proxy mobile Internet protocol (PMIP) in mobile IP foreign agent care-of-address mode may include determining a home address of an access terminal. The method may also include communicating with a home agent in order to bind an address of the network node with the home address of the access terminal and establish a tunnel between the network node and the home agent. The method may also include receiving first packets destined for the access terminal from the home agent via the tunnel and sending the first packets to the access terminal. The method may also include receiving second packets sent by the access terminal that are destined for a correspondent node and sending the second packets to the home agent via the tunnel. |
| US08406222B2 |
Control system of communication network
A smooth and seamless terminal switching guaranteeing continuity of communication at an application level is realized. A call control part for setting and managing a physical and logical transmission path between communication terminals, a session management part for managing establishment of data communication between the communication terminals, and a switching request processing unit for controlling interruption and resumption of a session are provided, wherein the switching request processing unit exercises a function to temporarily interrupt a session after receiving a session switching request signal from a communication terminal, a function to instruct the call control part to establish a call connection with a switch destination communication terminal, a function to establish a session with an application on the switch destination communication terminal, and a function to resume, after establishing the session, a session with a communication terminal of an opposite side. |
| US08406220B2 |
Method and system for integration of wireless devices with a distributed control system
A method includes determining first and second communication paths from a leaf node of a plurality of leaf nodes to first and second gateway nodes, respectively, of a plurality of gateway nodes. The first and second communication paths may include first and second intermediate nodes, respectively, of a plurality of intermediate nodes. A wireless message is sent from the leaf node to the first and second gateway nodes via the first and second communication paths, respectively. Information in the wireless message is communicated from at least one of the first and second gateway nodes to a component of a process control system. |
| US08406218B2 |
Cell search method, forward link frame transmission method, apparatus using the same and forward link frame structure
A method of and an apparatus therefor searching a cell in a mobile station of a communication system in which a plurality of cells are grouped into a plurality of cell groups, and each cell group includes at least two cells. The method includes detecting a primary synchronization signal and a secondary synchronization signal from a received signal, and identifying a cell based on a combination of the primary synchronization signal and the secondary synchronization signal. The secondary synchronization signal is related to the cell group to which the mobile station belongs and the primary synchronization signal is related to the cell to which the mobile station belongs within the cell group. |
| US08406212B2 |
Service flow with robust header compression (ROHC) in a WiMAX wireless network
A robust header compression (ROHC) controller provides for service flow processing of a ROHC channel in a WiMAX wireless communication system. The ROHC controller controls the negotiations of the MS ROHC capabilities during its registration and the negotiations of the ROHC channel parameters during ROHC enabled service flow setup; the MS ROHC capabilities including ROHC compression and decompression capabilities and ROHC channel and feedback strategies; the channel parameter negotiation covers the ROHC profile set and feedback channel information in addition to the 16e/12D standard. The ROHC controller receives a service flow request for a ROHC enabled service flow, wherein the request includes a QoS profile. |
| US08406210B2 |
Apparatus and method for allocating radio network temporary identifier for random access in a mobile communication system
An apparatus and method for allocating Radio Network Temporary Identifiers (RNTIs) for random access in a mobile communication system are provided. An Evolved Node B (ENB) determines the number of RNTIs allocated to at least one User Equipment (UE) that transmitted a random access preamble, determines an average number of random access preambles received during a Transmission Time Interval (TTI), and sets a timer based on the number of allocated RNTIs and the average number of random access preambles. If a cell identifier corresponding to a first UE is not received from an upper layer before expiration of the timer, the ENB releases the RNTI allocated to the first UE, and allocates the released RNTI to a second UE different from the first UE. |