| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08549653B2 |
Secure wildcard searchable database
A system and method for providing access to data stored in encrypted form in a physically non-secure database without compromising security of the data in the physically non-secure database is disclosed. A representation of at least some of the data from the database in unencrypted form is stored in volatile memory associated with the server. The wildcard search is performed on the representation. Search results are displayed to the user to allow the user to select database contents to be retrieved. The user's selection is retrieved from the database and decrypted. Finally, the unencrypted selection results are provided to the user. |
| US08549651B2 |
Determining a trust level in a social network environment
A system and method for determining a trust level for a non-approved user in a social network is described. The method includes monitoring requests for social network interactions between an approved user and the non-approved user and determining if each interaction requested is of a first type or a second type. The method further includes increasing a first trust value when the interaction requested is of the first type and increasing a second trust value when the interaction requested is of the second type. The method further includes determining the trust level based on the first trust value and the second trust value. The method further includes changing the status of the non-approved user to an approved user based on the trust level, the first trust value and/or the second trust value. |
| US08549649B2 |
Systems and methods for sensitive data remediation
Systems and methods for sensitive data remediation include calculating a Probability of Loss of data on a given computer based on measures of control, integrity, and potential avenues of exploitation of the given computer, determining an Impact of Loss of the data on the given computer based on a type, volume, and nature of the data, and correlating the Probability of Loss with the Impact of Loss to generate a risk score for the given computer that can be compared to other computers in the network. The computers with higher risk scores can then be subjected to data remediation activity. |
| US08549648B2 |
Systems and methods for identifying hidden processes
A security module may be configured to execute on the electronic device at a level below all of the operating systems of an electronic device accessing the one or more system resources. The security module may be configured to: trap one or more attempts to access system resources of the electronic device, the one or more attempts made from a less privileged ring of execution than the first security module; record information identifying one or more processes attempting to access the system resources of the electronic device; compare the information identifying one or more processes attempting to access the system resources with the enumerated one or more processes visible to the operating system; and based on the comparison, determine one or more hidden processes, the hidden processes determined by at least identifying processes whose information was recorded by first security module but were not enumerated by the second security module. |
| US08549647B1 |
Classifying portable executable files as malware or whiteware
An improved approach for classifying portable executable files as malicious (malware) or benign (whiteware) is disclosed. The invention classifies portable executable files as malware or whiteware after using Bayes Theorem to evaluate each observable feature of each file with respect to other observable features of the same portable executable file with reference to statistical information gathered from repositories of known whiteware and malware files. |
| US08549630B2 |
Trojan-resistant bus architecture and methods
A method of securing bus architecture from a Trojan attack. A restricted address access detector generates an unauthorized access detection signal when a master ID signal is within a restricted range. The unauthorized access detection signal disables the requested slave select signal, and the address decoder instead outputs a default slave select signal. A counter determines the duration of a lock signal from a master, and a comparator activates a malicious bus lock signal if the lock signal duration exceeds a threshold. The master mask register forcibly gates the lock signal upon receipt of the malicious bus lock signal. If the duration of a wait request from a slave exceeds a maximum duration register value, a comparator activates a malicious wait detection signal to disable the wait request signal. The method might include storing identifying information about the malicious master and storing a slave ID corresponding to the malicious slave. |
| US08549629B1 |
Classification and identification of computer use
Methods, programs, and systems for classifying and monitoring user-computer interactions include monitoring keystroke characteristics, mouse characteristics, and application frequency and garnering associated data. Metrics associated with the monitored data are then analyzed and used for a several business and security applications: Security-Impersonation, Security-Profiling, Business-Training, and Business-Application Development. The methods of the present disclosure enable greater insight into user-computer interactions. |
| US08549623B1 |
Detecting suspicious domains using domain profiling
Outbound communication from a computer is monitored, and requests to access remote links are identified. This process identifies attempts by users to access links provided by third parties in emails and such, as well other attempts by users to access remote domains. Domains in the identified requests are profiled, by testing them for properties associated with known legitimate domains, and for properties associated with known fraudulent domains. A trustworthiness score for a domain is calculated based on the results of the profiling. The trustworthiness score is compared to a predetermined threshold, and from the results it is determined whether or not the domain is legitimate. If the domain is fraudulent, appropriate action is taken, such as blocking the attempt to access the domain. |
| US08549622B2 |
Systems and methods for establishing trust between entities in support of transactions
Systems and methods for determining the identity of entities who meet trust requirements of a privilege grantor include an identity and trust management system including at least one computing device in communication with at least one entity, at least one privilege grantor, and at least one authoritative source. At least one rule is received from the at least one privilege grantor that must be satisfied for the at least one privilege grantor to trust an entity. A database is established of at least one entity with information about the at least one entity. The at least one authoritative source is queried to determine whether at least a portion of the information about the at least one entity is correct. A response is received from the at least one authoritative source as to whether or not the portion of information is correct. The database stores a result of the query without storing data underlying the result. The information stored in the database is compared with the at least one rule to determine if the at least one entity meets the at least one rule. The at least one privilege grantor is notified whether the at least one entity meets the at least one rule based on the comparison, without providing the at least one privilege grantor with either data stored in the database for the at least one entity or the data underlying the result. |
| US08549620B2 |
Information processing device, data processing method, and program
An information processing device includes: a local memory unit for storing data including an encrypted content; a memory for storing data including key information used to reproduce the encrypted content; and a data processing unit performing a process of writing data to the local memory unit and the memory, and a process of reproducing the encrypted content, wherein the data processing unit performs a process of writing encrypted content downloaded from a server or encrypted content copied from a medium to the local memory unit, and performs a process of decoding the encrypted content or a validity authenticating process using the data stored in the local memory unit and the data stored in the memory when reproducing the encrypted content written to the local memory unit. |
| US08549617B2 |
Multi-service VPN network client for mobile device having integrated acceleration
An integrated, multi-service virtual private network (VPN) network client for cellular mobile devices is described. The multi-service network client can be deployed as a single software package on cellular mobile network devices to provide integrated services including secure enterprise VPN connectivity, acceleration, security management including monitored and enforced endpoint compliance, and collaboration services. The multi-service client integrates with an operating system of the device to provide a VPN handler to establish a VPN connection with a remote VPN security device. The VPN network client includes to data acceleration module exchange network packets with the VPN handler and apply at least one acceleration service to the network packets, and a VPN control application that provides a unified user interface that allows a user to configure both the VPN handler and the data acceleration module. |
| US08549615B2 |
Method and apparatuses for end-to-edge media protection in an IMS system
An IMS system includes an IMS initiator user entity. The system includes an IMS responder user entity that is called by the initiator user entity. The system includes a calling side S-CSCF in communication with the caller entity which receives an INVITE having a first protection offer and parameters for key establishment from the caller entity, removes the first protection offer from the INVITE and forwards the INVITE without the first protection offer. The system includes a receiving end S-CSCF in communication with the responder user entity and the calling side S-CSCF which receives the INVITE without the first protection offer and checks that the responder user entity supports the protection, inserts a second protection offer into the INVITE and forwards the INVITE to the responder user entity, wherein the responder user entity accepts the INVITE including the second protection offer and answers with an acknowledgment having a first protection accept. A method for supporting a call by a telecommunications node. |
| US08549614B2 |
Establishing internet protocol security sessions using the extensible messaging and presence protocol
Techniques are provided for sending from a client in a first network device a session initiate message over a first secure network connection that is configured to initiate a communications session with a client in a second network device. The session initiate message is configured to supply connection information for the second network device to establish a second secure network connection with the first network device. A session accept message is received from the client in the second network device over the first secure network connection that is configured to accept the communications session with the client in the first network device. The session accept message is configured to supply connection information for the first network device to establish the second secure network connection with the second network device. The second secure network connection is established between the first network device and the second network device using the connection information. |
| US08549610B2 |
Network-based security services for managed internet service
Data traffic is routed from a customer edge (CE) router to an Ethernet services router via a generic routing encapsulation (GRE) tunnel. Upon routing the data traffic from the CE router to the Ethernet services router, the data traffic is routed from the Ethernet services router to an aggregation switch. Upon routing the data traffic from the Ethernet services router to the aggregation switch, the data traffic is routed from the aggregation switch to a service switch through a security module, the security module configured to filter the data traffic. The filtered data traffic is routed from the service switch to the Ethernet services router. Upon routing the filtered data traffic from the service switch to the Ethernet services router, the filtered data traffic is routed from the Ethernet services router to a provider edge (PE) router. |
| US08549606B2 |
Device for protecting digital content, device for processing protected digital content, method for protecting digital content, method for processing protected digital content, storage medium storing program for protecting digital content, and storage medium storing program for processing protected digital content
There is provided a device for protecting a digital content. The device includes a digital content processing section that causes a digital content to be protected using security information; and an encrypting section that encrypts the security information, using a key acquired from a Digital Right Management system of an electronic ticket system. |
| US08549604B2 |
User authentication method and system
A user authentication method and system. A computing system receives from a user, a first request for accessing specified functions executed by a specified software application. The computing system enables a security manager software application and connects the specified software application to a computing apparatus. The computing system executes first security functions associated with the computing apparatus. The computing system executes second security functions associated with additional computing apparatuses. The computing system determines if the user may access the specified functions executed by the specified software application based on results of executing the first security functions and the second security functions. The computing system generates and stores a report indicating the results. |
| US08549602B2 |
System and method for handling permits for user authentication tokens
The invention consists of a method of handling permits, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a user with a user permit linked to a user authentication token, the user permit defining permissions granted to the user and the user token containing identity authentication information for the user; (b) presenting the user token to a gatekeeper to confirm the user's identity; (c) validating the user permit based on the permit issuer's digital signature; and, (d) granting the user access based on said permissions within the user permit. |
| US08549596B2 |
Systems and methods for secure handling of secure attention sequences
A method for authenticating, by a trusted component, a user of a desktop appliance to a remote machine includes executing, by a desktop appliance, a user interaction component, responsive to receiving a secure attention sequence from a user. The user interaction component receives authentication credentials associated with the user. The desktop appliance transmits, to a broker service, the received authentication credentials. The broker service authenticates the user, responsive to the received authentication credentials. The broker service transmits, to a remote machine, authentication data associated with the received authentication credentials. The remote machine authenticates the user, responsive to the received authentication data. The remote machine provides, to the desktop appliance, access to a resource requested by the user. In another aspect, a trusted component provides, to a user of a desktop appliance, access to secure desktop functionality provided by a remote machine. |
| US08549594B2 |
Method of identity authentication and fraudulent phone call verification that utilizes an identification code of a communication device and a dynamic password
A method of identity authentication and fraudulent phone call verification uses an identification code of a communication device and a dynamic password. The “dynamic password” is directly sent to an Internet user via a dynamic web-page of a specific website instead of by means of a traditional telephone short message. Thus, the “dynamic password” cannot be copied from the spyware infected communication device of the Internet user. Furthermore, even if the “dynamic password” is intercepted or otherwise discovered by a hacker or intruder, authentication is still secure because the dynamic password must be sent back to the specific website via a short message or the like from the same communication device having the corresponding identification code that was initially input by the Internet user in order to generate the dynamic password. |
| US08549589B2 |
Methods and apparatus for transacting with multiple domains based on a credential
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving from a credential a credential-owner authentication information associated with an identity of an individual. A issuer validation information associated with an issuer of the credential is also received. The method also includes providing a plurality of options, including a first option associated with a first domain and a second option associated with a second domain mutually exclusive from the first domain. The method also includes sending to a portion of the first domain the credential-owner authentication information and the issuer validation information in response to the first option being selected. |
| US08549579B2 |
Dynamic data-protection policies within a request-reply message queuing environment
A request to process a request message using a request queue within a request-reply messaging environment is detected at a dynamic data protection module. At least one authorized sender module and a sole authorized recipient module of a response message to the request message is identified using a request queue policy of the request queue. A reply queue policy is dynamically created to process the response message using the identified at least one authorized sender module and the sole authorized recipient module of the response message. The dynamically-created reply queue policy is associated with a reply queue. The response message is processed responsive to a request to process the response message using the dynamically-created reply queue policy and the associated reply queue. |
| US08549578B2 |
Video interaction with a mobile device and a video device
A method and apparatus for displaying information and content on a handheld wireless or other mobile device that is related to video content being presented on a nearby video device. The video content presented on the video device is delivered over a first communication channel and the related information and content displayed on the mobile device is delivered over a separate second communication channel from a remote server. The information and content received over the second communication channel is synchronized with the first primary video content so as to change automatically to correspond as the primary video content is presented on the video device. |
| US08549577B2 |
Methods and apparatus for frequency agile band-pass filtering of broadcast signals
Example frequency agile band-pass filtering methods disclosed herein include monitoring reception quality of a media broadcast signal received at a headend including a frequency agile band-pass filter to receive the media broadcast signal, sending a first set of commands to cause the frequency agile band-pass filter to tune to and attenuate a first channel included in the media broadcast signal, the first set of commands being sent in response to determining that the first channel is experiencing a degradation of reception quality determined to be caused by a first type of channel interference, and sending subsequent second set of commands over the communication network to the frequency agile band-pass filter to override attenuation processing invoked by the first set of commands in response to determining that the degradation of reception quality is caused by fading in addition to the first type of channel interference. |
| US08549574B2 |
Method of combining linear content and interactive content compressed together as streaming interactive video
A method comprising combining Internet linear video together with interactive video content into a single video stream that is compressed and transmitted in the form of streaming interactive video through the Internet to a user client device. |
| US08549572B2 |
Hand-held test device with two tuners
A portable network test meter device for a CATV network is disclosed which permits simultaneous operation of a measurement system including a first tuner and a communication system including a cable modem including a second tuner. Only a single RF input/output port is necessary for connection to the CATV network. |
| US08549571B2 |
Video streaming method and system
One embodiment comprises a method of streaming video data comprising, outputting video data from a video capture device comprising a first video resolution, determining a desired viewable area of the video data, removing a first portion of the video data comprising video data outside of the desired viewable area, and streaming the video data comprising the desired viewable area to a client device. |
| US08549569B2 |
Alternative audio content presentation in a media content receiver
Presented herein is a method of presenting alternative audio content for an audio/visual content segment, such as a television program or a motion picture. In the method, the audio/visual content segment is received into a media content receiver. The audio/visual content segment includes primary visual content and primary audio content. A request to receive alternative audio content for the audio/visual content segment is transmitted. After transmitting the request, the alternative audio content is received into the media content receiver. The primary audio content is replaced with the alternative audio content to generate a revised audio/visual content segment. The revised audio/visual content is transferred for presentation to a user. |
| US08549568B2 |
Digital content processing apparatus and method of digital video receiver
A digital content processing apparatus and method of a digital video receiver is provided for controlling playback speed of digital content. The method includes receiving content data from a content provision server; buffering the received content data; demultiplexing the buffered content data to extract video data; indexing GOPs including specific frames in the content data; storing running times and file sizes of the GOPs as index data; demultiplexing the stored content data to extract the video data, when a request for a multiple speed playback is input; and decoding the GOPs corresponding to the multiple speed playback in the extracted video data by referencing the index data. |
| US08549563B2 |
Interactive television systems with conflict management capabilities
An interactive television system is provided in which a user can use an interactive television application to establish time-based settings. The user may set television program reminders, advance-order pay-per-view programs, schedule programs for recording, and establish parental controls to prevent television viewing during certain times on certain channels. The interactive television application may be used to support video recorder functions such as personal video recorder functions implemented locally on the user's set-top box or other equipment and network-based video recorder functions implemented using servers at cable television headends and other network locations. The interactive television application may also be used to deliver video-on-demand content. When the user requests that video be delivered, conflicts may arise between the requested video delivery and the previously-established time-based settings. The interactive television application may provide the user with on-screen options that allow the user to select how to resolve these conflicts. |
| US08549558B2 |
System and method for targeted advertisement delivery
The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for the delivery of programming content with targeted advertisements. One embodiment of a method according to the present invention comprises receiving a request for programming content from a given user, determining a given demographic group to which the given user belongs and determining whether the requested programming content is being streamed to one or more users associated with the given demographic group. If the requested programming content is being streamed to one or more users associated with the given demographic group, the requested programming content is streamed with advertisements targeted to the given demographic group to the given user. If not, a new stream is generated for the requested programming content with advertisements targeted to the given demographic group, which is streamed to the given user. |
| US08549551B2 |
System and method for cleaning television viewing measurement data
A system and method for cleaning television viewing behavior data collected from set top boxes by detecting and correcting various problems that can occur in the viewing data. Three problems that may be detected and corrected by the system include: overflows of memory buffers; inclusion of non-human generated tuning events; and presence of clock offsets. After cleaning the television viewing behavior data, the cleaned data may be used to analyze audience viewing behavior in a manner that achieves a higher degree of accuracy than can be achieved by using uncleaned television viewing behavior data. |
| US08549550B2 |
Method and apparatus for passively monitoring online video viewing and viewer behavior
Various user behaviors are passively monitored and recorded when a user/viewer interacts with a network video player, e.g. a web video player, while watching an online video clip. For one embodiment, a data collection agent (DCA) is loaded to the player and/or to a web page that displays the video clip. The DCA passively collects detailed viewing and behavior information without requiring any specific input or actions on the part of the user. Indications of user preferences are inferred by user actions leading up to viewing the video, while viewing the video, and just after and still related to viewing the video. The DCA periodically sends this information to a central server where it is stored in a central database and where it is used to determine preference similarities among different users. Recorded user preference information may also be used to rate a video itself. |
| US08549549B2 |
Optical disk device having an air flow shielding portion
Provided is an optical disk device, including a top case and a bottom case which constitute a housing having a substantially box shape in which: the top case includes, on one side thereof, a hook which engages with the bottom case; the bottom case includes an engaging portion which is provided with a cutout which engages with the hook; and a shielding portion for preventing an air flow passing through the cutout is provided in an inside of the cutout. |
| US08549542B1 |
Correlating information from modeled and non-modeled domains
Methods and apparatus provide for an event identity manager that defines a topology of resources. The topology of resources represents relationships amongst the resources in a data center and each of the resources comprises resource attributes described in a data model. The event manager acquires event data describing an event that occurred amongst the resources. In addition, the event data comprises a format that is incompatible with the data model. The event manager correlates the event data with the data model in order to determine a locus of the event data within the topology of resources, the locus of the event data being a resource where the event is most likely associated. |
| US08549541B2 |
Bridging local device communications across the wide area
In a network of devices having a plurality of local domains, each local domain is likely to comprise a plurality of networks or communities of devices that communicate using a shared native protocol such as Jini, UPnP, Bluetooth, HAVi, WiFi, WiMAX or other standard architectures and protocols. The Open Services Gateway initiative (OSGi) created a platform and method for various networks to communicate with one another in a local domain. OSGi does not, however, solve the problems associated with communication across local domains. An instant messaging protocol such as Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and a remote services register are used to provide a means for communication between local devices in a plurality of local OSGi domains using native communications protocols. |
| US08549540B1 |
Message queue transaction tracking using application activity trace data
An approach is provided that detects inbound messages being put to message queues managed by a middleware message queuing platform. The approach retrieves activity trace data corresponding to each of the inbound messages, with the activity trace data maintained by the middleware message queuing platform. The approach generates inbound event records corresponding the inbound messages based on the activity trace data. The approach then detects outbound messages retrieved from the message queues. Activity trace data corresponding to the outbound messages is retrieved and the approach generates an outbound event record for each outbound message. The approach receives a transaction request from a requestor that corresponds to a message. The approach retrieves and returns the inbound event records and outbound event records that correspond to the requested message. The retrieved event records are used for transaction tracking: to build transaction flow topologies and to report transaction performance metrics. |
| US08549538B2 |
Coordinating communication medium state for subtasks
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for coordinating communication medium state for subtasks. Embodiments of the invention use a received view of the contents of a message to produce a stream of subtask messages. Subtask message properties are each connected to the mechanism for performing the state coordination pattern on the original message. Subtask messages may each have the same message contents as the original message or may have message contents that vary according to the subtask. A message processor may then consume subtask messages from the subtask message stream and perform the state coordination pattern on each subtask message to reflect partial forward progress executing the original message. The outcome of the state coordination pattern for the original message is responsive to the collective outcomes of the state coordination patterns for the subtask messages. |
| US08549536B2 |
Performing a workflow having a set of dependancy-related predefined activities on a plurality of task servers
A technique of performing a workflow on a plurality of task servers involves starting a plurality of task server processes on the plurality of task servers. Each task server provides an operating system which is constructed and arranged to locally run a respective task server process. The technique further involves receiving a workflow which includes a set of dependency-related predefined activities, and placing task identifiers in a queue structure based on the received workflow. The task identifiers identify tasks to be performed in a distributed manner by the plurality of task server processes started on the plurality of task servers. Each task is a specific execution of a dependency-related predefined activity of the workflow. Progress in performing the workflow is made as the plurality of task server processes (i) claim task identifiers from the queue structure and (ii) perform the tasks identified by the claimed task identifiers. |
| US08549532B2 |
Parallel checkpointing for migration of workload partitions
A method includes receiving a command for migration of a workload partition having multiple processes from a source machine to a target machine. The method includes executing, for each of the multiple processes at least partially in parallel, an operation to create checkpoint data. The operation to create the checkpoint data provides an estimation of a size of the checkpoint data that is needed for migration, wherein the operation to create the checkpoint data is independent of storing the checkpoint data in the file. The method includes allocating areas within the file for storage of the checkpoint data for each of the multiple processes. The method includes storing the checkpoint data, for each of the multiple processes at least partially in parallel, into the areas allocated within the file based on offsets in the file for each of the multiple processes. |
| US08549530B1 |
System and method for distributed login with thread transfer to a dedicated processor node based on one or more identifiers
A distributed networked computer system is provided. The distributed networked computer system receives processing threads from a plurality of workstations and distributes the processing threads to selected processing nodes through a load balancer. The load balancer is configured to recognize certain enterprise users and transfer the processing threads from the certain enterprise users to dedicated processing nodes dedicated to processing threads of those certain users. |
| US08549528B2 |
Arrangements identifying related resources having correlation with selected resource based upon a detected performance status
Provided is a storage system including a host computer, a memory device, a plurality of resources for allocating a volume of the memory device to an access from the host computer, a memory for storing a correspondence relationship of the plurality of resources, an input module to be used by an administrator for selecting a prescribed resource among the plurality of resources, and a controller for extracting other resources related to the selected resource by using the correspondence relationship, detecting the performance status of the extracted other resources, identifying a related resource having a correlation with the performance of the selected resource among the other resources based on the detection result, and causing an output module to output the association of the selected resource and the related resource. |
| US08549524B2 |
Task scheduler for cooperative tasks and threads for multiprocessors and multicore systems
In a computer system with a multi-core processor, the execution of tasks is scheduled in that a first queue for new tasks and a second queue for suspended tasks are related to a first core, and a third queue for new tasks and a fourth queue for suspended tasks are related to a second core. The tasks have instructions, the new tasks are tasks where none of the instructions have been executed by any of the cores, and the suspended tasks are tasks where at least one of the instructions has been executed by any of the cores. New tasks are popped from the first queue to the first core; and in case the first queue being empty, tasks are popped to the first queue in the following preferential order: suspended tasks from the second queue, new task from the third queue, and new tasks from the fourth queue. |
| US08549521B2 |
Virtual devices using a plurality of processors
An approach is provided to allow virtual devices that use a plurality of processors in a multiprocessor systems, such as the BE environment. Using this method, a synergistic processing unit (SPU) can either be dedicated to performing a particular function (i.e., audio, video, etc.) or a single SPU can be programmed to perform several functions on behalf of the other processors in the system. The application, preferably running in one of the primary (PU) processors, issues IOCTL commands through device drivers that correspond to SPUs. The kernel managing the primary processors responds by sending an appropriate message to the SPU that is performing the dedicated function. Using this method, an SPU can be virtualized for swapping multiple tasks or dedicated to performing a particular task. |
| US08549503B2 |
Detecting dangling pointers and memory leaks within software
Dangling pointers and memory leak locations within software are detected. As the software allocates and deallocates memory, lists of pointers referencing the memory, and pointer status, are maintained. As the software writes new addresses within pointers and reads addresses referenced by the pointers, the pointer lists are maintained to determine whether the pointers are dangling and to detect memory leak locations. A balanced binary tree having a number of nodes can be maintained. The nodes represent heap or stack records. Each heap record corresponds to heap memory that has been allocated and has a list of pointers referencing the heap memory. Each stack record corresponds to a stack within which a stack frame is allocated each time a function is entered. The stack record has frame records corresponding to the stack frames. Each frame record has a list of pointers referencing the corresponding stack frame. |
| US08549502B2 |
Compiler with user-defined type inference rules
Performance of a program written in dynamic languages is improved through the use of a compiler that provides type inference for methods having a user-defined element. The user-defined element may be an input in a user-defined type. Though, the user-defined element may reflect that the method is user-defined. Type inference may be performed based on a user-defined mapping, relating input types to output types for one or more methods. The mapping may be specified as a data table provided to the compiler or as one or more functions that register with the compiler such that, as the compiler processes portions of a source program and detects a method with a user-defined element, the compiler may access the mapping and infer the type of an output of the method. The inferred type may then be used to optimize code dependent on that output. |
| US08549493B2 |
Defining a MIDlet region space
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to MIDlet execution in a desktop environment and provide a method, system and computer program product for clip region definition for a MIDlet region space. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for clip region definition for a MIDlet region space can be provided. The method can include extracting a raster image from a MIDlet, computing a clip region from the extracted raster image for the MIDlet, deploying the MIDlet to a desktop environment through an emulator, and applying the clip region to the MIDlet through the emulator to deploy the MIDlet as a widgetized application in the desktop environment. |
| US08549492B2 |
Machine declarative language for formatted data processing
A machine declarative language for formatted data processing is provided. The machine declarative language may be used to generate constraints which can be projected onto a string according to one or more anchor points. The constraints can correspond to evaluation criteria. At least a portion of a string can be evaluated according to the evaluation criteria. |
| US08549480B2 |
Maintenance for automated software testing
Embodiments of a maintenance mode for automated testing are provided. In this regard, an embodiment of a system, among others, comprises a software application; a test script for testing the software application; an object repository comprising objects belonging to the software application; and a maintenance mode, wherein if a step in the test script fails, the maintenance mode prompts a tester to change at least one of the test script and the object repository. |
| US08549478B2 |
Graphical user interface input element identification
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with graphical user interface input element identification are described. One example system identifies a graphical user interface (GUI) element through which an input to an application was received based on comparing images generated from data provided by the application. Data that describes the GUI element may then be provided. |
| US08549476B2 |
Comparison of result of program operation to result of an operation of a different version of the program
A system comprises a first computer on which a software program is executed. The software program causes an operation to be performed. The system also comprises a second computer coupled to the first computer and executes a different version of the software program. The second computer automatically duplicates the operation on the different version of the software program. An activity server is also coupled to the first and second computers to analyze a result of the operation on the first computer against a result of the operation on the second computer and to generate a notification when the result of the operation on the second computer is different. |
| US08549472B1 |
System and method for web design
A system for creating an application comprises a user interface receiving user interaction that specifies visual properties and actions of a web application, and a code unit generating application data that describes the specified visual properties and actions of the web application. |
| US08549468B2 |
Method, system and computer readable storage device for generating software transaction-level modeling (TLM) model
The present invention discloses a system for generating a software TLM model, comprising a processing unit; a compiler coupled to the processing unit to generate target binary codes of a target software; a decompiler coupled to the processing unit to decompile the target binary codes into high level codes, for example C or C++ codes, to generate a functional model of the target software, wherein the functional model includes a plurality of basic blocks; an execution time calculating module coupled to the processing unit to calculate overall execution time of the plurality of the basic blocks of the functional model; a sync point identifying module coupled to the processing unit to identify sync points of the software transaction-level modeling model; and a time annotating module coupled to the processing unit to annotate the overall execution time of the basic blocks and the sync points into the functional model to obtain the software transaction-level modeling model. |
| US08549467B2 |
Integrating software components in a software system using configurable glue component models
A method that includes: modeling a software system having pairs of coupled software components to yield a platform-independent model of pairs of respective platform-independent software component models associated with platform-specific software components; applying a materialization process to the platform-independent model to yield a platform-specific model by selecting respective concrete platform specific software components for the software component models; analyzing the platform-specific model to identify mismatched pairs of concrete platform-specific software components; re-modeling the platform-specific model such that each identified mismatched pair becomes coupled together via a configurable glue component model which comprises interface maps usable to eliminate the mismatch; configuring the glue component models by determining, in response to a feedback from a user, code snippets associated with any of the interface maps; and transforming the configured glue component model into a computer code in the platform-specific language by assembling all code snippets into a single piece of code. |
| US08549465B2 |
Automated defect classification for program code
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to defect classification for software development and provide a method, system and computer program product for automated defect classification in a software development tool. In an embodiment of the invention, a defect classification method can be provided. The method can include computing differences between versions of a line of source code, lexically analyzing the computed differences to produce a lexical construct, mapping the lexical construct to a classification, and assigning the defect classification to the line of source code. |
| US08549459B1 |
Systems for automatic circuit routing with object oriented constraints
In one embodiment of the invention, an object oriented autorouter is disclosed for routing nets in a circuit. The object oriented autorouter includes a routing data model (RDM); at least one routing engine, such as a single connection router (SCR), a topographical (TOPO) transformation engine, and a detail geometric (DETAIL) engine, and a command and control module (CCM) coupled together. The RDM reads and write data with a design database as well as reading one or more object oriented design constraints. Each of the routing engines have at least one action to operate on the design database to improve compliance of the circuit to a constraint. The CCM controls the overall routing process of the nets in the circuit and includes at least one director to invoke at least one of the routing engines to achieve compliance with one or more constraints. |
| US08549458B2 |
Method, system, and program product for routing an integrated circuit to be manufactured by sidewall-image transfer
Disclosed is a method, apparatus, and program product for routing an electronic design using sidewall image transfer that is correct by construction. The layout is routed by construction to allow successful manufacturing with sidewall image transfer, since the router will not allow a routing configuration in the layout that cannot be successfully manufactured with a two-mask sidewall image transfer. A layout is produced that can be manufactured by a two-mask sidewall image transfer method. In one approach, interconnections can be in arbitrary directions. In another approach, interconnections follow grid lines in x and y-directions. |
| US08549457B1 |
Method and system for implementing core placement
Disclosed is an improved method, system, and computer program product for performing core placement when presented with an I/O ring design. A multi-pass approach is taken to place and shape core objects into the available core area formed by the inner surface of the I/O ring. The multi-pass approach permits very fast placement of the core objects, which still provides for an accurate estimation of the die size and configuration requirements for the electronic design. Moreover, the present approach allows core objects to be placed in a way that retains any preferred affinities for the objects to be located near other objects, e.g., near specific I/Os on the I/O ring. |
| US08549456B2 |
System and method for circuit design floorplanning
Circuit floorplanning is performed on a combination central processing unit and multiprocessor. A B*-tree data structure of a floorplan and circuit related constants reside in a central processing unit data storage. The B* tree structure of a floorplan along and said circuit related constants are copied to a multiprocessor data storage where multiple thread blocks, each consisting of a single thread, copy the tree to their own shared memories. The multiprocessor concurrently evaluates different moves in different thread blocks. The multiprocessor then evaluates objective function results and stores those results. The best result for floorplanning is selected from the multiple circuit evaluations. |
| US08549453B2 |
Semiconductor device feature density gradient verification
A method for verifying that acceptable device feature gradients and device feature disparities are present in a semiconductor device layout, is provided. The method provides for dividing a device layout into a plurality of windows and measuring or otherwise determining the device feature density within each window. The device layout includes various device regions and the method provides for comparing an average device feature density within one region to surrounding areas or other regions and also for determining gradients of device feature densities. The gradients may be monitored from within a particular device region to surrounding regions. Instructions for carrying out the method may be stored on a computer readable storage medium and executed by a processor. |
| US08549450B1 |
Methods and software for determining net bounds for placing and routing
Methods and software for determining one or more boundary conditions for nets in a signal path are disclosed. The method generally includes determining an expected characteristic for at least one net in the signal path and determining a boundary characteristic for that net. Determining a boundary characteristic for the net may include multiplying the expected characteristic by a scaling factor to produce a scaled characteristic for the net, performing timing analysis of the signal path in accordance with the scaled characteristic (e.g., by calculating timing while assuming that the net has the scaled characteristic), determining if the signal path violates a timing constraint when the net has the scaled characteristic, and repeating the determination with a new scaled characteristic if timing is violated. Advantageously, maximum and/or minimum values may be determined for characteristics of signal path nets that still satisfy timing constraints. |
| US08549445B2 |
Targeted production control using multivariate analysis of design marginalities
Targeted production control using multivariate analysis of design marginalities. A list of a plurality of metrology operations is accessed during production of an integrated circuit device. The list is generated from operations performed in the design of the integrated circuit device. At least one of the plurality of metrology operations is performed on the integrated circuit device. A manufacturing process of the integrated circuit device may be adjusted responsive to results of the performing. |
| US08549437B2 |
Downloading and synchronizing media metadata
For a first device, some embodiments provide an application for displaying several media content stored on a second device communicably connected to the first device. The application includes a graphical user interface (“GUI”). The GUI includes a media content display area for displaying the media content stored on the second device. The GUI includes a selectable item for activating a synchronization feature that automatically modifies a clock of the second device to match a clock of the first device. |
| US08549436B1 |
Visual web search interface
Displaying search query records as moveable thumbnail objects in a flip page metaphor whereby mouse-dragging on a first axis pages the objects from background to foreground, a mouse-down event over an object fires an event to retrieve data at a uniform resource location associated with the object. |
| US08549433B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing a user interface in association with a recommender service
A method for providing a user interface in connection with a recommendation service may include causing communication of a request for content where the request includes context information and preference information associated with a user of a device causing communication of the request, receiving a response to the request in response to the request being serviceable where the response includes a series of recommendations serialized in protocol-specific data structure, and causing rendering of content associated with the recommendations as graphical tiles according to the protocol-specific data structure such that a plurality of recommendations associated with a same primary context are associated with each other in a common channel. An apparatus and computer program product corresponding to the method are also provided. |
| US08549431B2 |
Content display device and content display method
The invention aims to provide a user interface for efficiently displaying desired content from among a large number of contents.An operation location and an operation amount of an operation that has been made on an operation member is detected. Based on the operation location, one content is selected from among a plurality of contents that have been arranged in sequence, and a display unit displays the selected one content. The display unit displays another content when the operation location has moved during the display of the selected one content, an order of said another content being different from an order of the selected one content by a number based on the operation amount detected by a detection unit. |
| US08549430B2 |
Using expanded tiles to access personal content
A navigation system which provides: a navigation system which provides tiles that are easily identifiable and content-driven vs. context-driven; a navigation system that includes an expanded view/tile paradigm; and a navigation system that allows users to interact with the native operating system environment of the information handling system. |
| US08549429B2 |
Multi-window management apparatus and program, storage medium and information processing apparatus
A multi-window management apparatus includes: an activating icon display unit for displaying activating icons 60, 62, 64 and 66 on a display screen 56; a window display unit opening, when activating icon 64 is designated, a window 72 corresponding to activating icon 64 next to activating icon 64; and a window arranging unit for rearranging and displaying, when activating icon 64 is designated, a window 68 that has been open, and activating icons 60, 62 and 66 other than the designated activating icon 64, such that these are arranged along the longer side direction of display screen 56 not to be overlapping on an area where the new window 72 is to be opened. |
| US08549425B2 |
Visual treatment for a user interface in a content integration framework
In a method, system, and computer-readable medium having instructions for a visual treatment for a user interface in a content integration framework, information is received on a tile size for a matrix of tiles and the matrix has one or more tiles with the tile size displayed on a user interface, one or more content images is received for display on the user interface, a position is determined within a first tile of the matrix for rendering a first content image from the one or more content images, a first area of excess space is determined within the tile after positioning the first content image within the first tile and the first area of excess space is dependent on at least one of an aspect ratio of the first content image and a size of the first content image, a reflection of the first content image is rendered within at least a portion of the first area of excess space within the first tile, the first content image is rendered within the first tile of the matrix, and descriptive text associated with the first content image is displayed so that the descriptive text overlays the reflection and not the first content image. |
| US08549422B2 |
Graphical approach to setup data sharing between two controllers
A graphical approach to setup data sharing between two controllers. Symbols that represent controllers may be placed on a wiresheet. A link may be constructed between the controllers by connecting the symbols with a line drawn between them. The resulting link information may lead to a compile and download of binding tables to the pertinent controller. The designer or user need not setup several levels of mapping by populating multiple tables to effect the binding for a link between the controllers. This binding may be done automatically under a hood without the designer or user needing to be aware of the binding activity. This approach for graphically constructing a link may be particularly applicable to BACnet controllers. |
| US08549418B2 |
Projected display to enhance computer device use
Methods, apparatuses and systems to receive, via at least one sensor device, data related to an area around the at least one sensor device. A target area around the sensor device to project an interactive display space via a projector is determined based, at least in part, on the data received from the at least one sensor device. The target area will include a projected interactive display space wherein interactions and objects within the projected interactive display space are to be processed via a computing device operatively coupled to the at least one sensor device. |
| US08549416B2 |
Feature codes and bonuses in virtual worlds
An Entertainment System including a website, in combination with a commercially purchased product, wherein the system allows a product user to register a primary product online using a registration code, allowing the user access to various activities and scenarios in a “virtual world” including a virtual representation of the product, via a computer connected to the Internet. Additional ancillary products are also provided that may be related to the primary product or the virtual world, with these ancillary products also being provided with one or more codes to provide additional content, bonus items, and/or bonus access in the virtual world. |
| US08549413B2 |
Discriminating among resources to share
An activity tracker defines a context for a screen sharing session, wherein the context includes at least one term of metadata. The activity tracker establishes a shared link to a second computer, comprising authenticating the second computer. The activity tracker shares at least a first resource rendered by a first application, wherein the first application renders data of the first resource. The activity tracker receives a preliminary user input to access a second resource, wherein the preliminary user input to access is a command to render a resource. The activity tracker or sharing controller renders the second resource to form a rendered second resource, wherein a computer environment comprises the first resource and the second resource. The activity tracker determines that the second resource fails to satisfy the context. |
| US08549412B2 |
Method and system for display of information in a communication system gathered from external sources
Among other disclosures, a method may include identifying one or more of personal or public data that is related to a party in a message. The message delivered by a communication system where the personal or public data is unrelated to and otherwise inaccessible to the communication system. The method may include displaying the personal or public data upon a predetermined trigger. |
| US08549410B2 |
Method of reactive targeted advertising
In one inventive aspect, a method of reactive targeted advertising provides for display of advertising, via the internet, to computers of users. In a particular example, a plurality of keywords are stored in a memory. The method comprises determining whether one or more of those keywords are used in a web page, and for any keywords determined to be used, an advertisement is selected using those keywords. The advertisement is for display on the computer of the user who is accessing the web page. A request is received for the selected advertisement, and the advertisement is provided, from an advertising server and over the internet, for display on the computer of the user. |
| US08549403B2 |
Image tracking and substitution system and methodology
The present invention relates to a system and method for processing a video input signal providing for tracking a selected portion in a predefined audiovisual presentation and integrating selected user images into the selected portion of the predefined audiovisual presentation. |
| US08549402B2 |
System and method for providing internet radio service
A stand-alone desktop application (i.e., client) that resides on an end user's local computer and receives customized music playlists and content via the Internet from a network of distributed servers. The end user may install the application in a variety of ways, including, but not limited to, downloading it from the Internet or installing it from a CD that has been pre-loaded with the client. Songs downloaded through the application may be cached locally. The application forms a playlist based on user-entered preferences, an analysis of music already existing on the computer, and previous user interactions with the application. Similar or related songs, albums, bands, or artists can be displayed graphically in a “song cloud” around a graphical representation of the song being played. |
| US08549398B2 |
Method and system for handling non-presence of elements or attributes in semi-structured data
The invention relates to detecting non-presence of nodes in a document of semi-structured data and to creating a values index which properly reflects this non-presence. The document of semi-structured data, comprising multiple hierarchically organized nodes, is scanned for values (step 110). Subsequently, these values are indexed (step 120). As non-presence of at least one node is detected (step 140), this non-presence is documented by enhancing the values index (12) by a pseudo key (20) (step 150). |
| US08549396B2 |
Matching various combinations of XPATH URIs to the same XML node
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to subscribing and updating nodes within XML documents and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for matching various combinations of XML Path Language (XPATH) Uniform Resource Identifiers (URIs). In one embodiment of the invention, a method for matching various combinations of XML Path Language (XPATH) Uniform Resource Identifiers (URIs) that includes receiving a XPATH expression for a node in an XML document, retrieving the node identified by the XPATH expression, determining if a template exists for the identified node, where the template resides in a database of a document management system, comparing the template expression to the XPATH expression and determining if the expressions match. The method can further include modifying the XPATH expression to account for a dominant attribute required by the template when the XPATH expression does not match the template expression and returning the modified XPATH expression. |
| US08549391B2 |
System and method for tagging data
A system and related methods for tagging data, especially in the context of a web-based application, includes various features associated with a tag bar. A text field is displayable in conjunction with such tag bar, as is a list of any potential tags. Data can be received corresponding to a tag to be added to the tag bar. Once the tag bar has been added, it is displayed in the tag bar. |
| US08549388B2 |
Controller, storage apparatus, and computer program product
According to one embodiment, a controller controls writing into and reading from a storage apparatus that includes a first data-storage unit and a second data-storage unit. The second data-storage unit stores user data and parity data of the user data. The first data-storage unit stores the parity data. The controller includes a parity updating unit and a parity writing unit. When parity data is updated, the parity updating unit writes the updated parity data into the first data-storage unit. When a certain requirement is satisfied, the parity writing unit reads the parity data written in the first data-storage unit, and writes the parity data thus read into the second data-storage unit. |
| US08549384B1 |
Method and apparatus for determining, based on an error correction code, one or more locations to store data in a flash memory
Apparatus having corresponding methods and computer-readable media comprise an encoder configured to provide encoded data according to an error correction code; a flash memory interface configured to write the encoded data to a location in flash memory, and to read the encoded data from the location in the flash memory; a decoder configured to decode the encoded data read from the location in the flash memory, and to indicate a number of resulting decode errors; and a retirement module configured to retire the location responsive to a number of resulting decode errors reaching an error threshold T. |
| US08549381B2 |
Storage subsystem
The storage system includes a plurality of flash memory devices, each of the flash memory devices including a flash memory controller and flash memory chips, which are configured as a RAID group and a storage controller, coupled to the plurality of flash memory devices, configured to receive data from a computer and send the data to a first flash memory device of the plurality of flash memory devices. The flash memory controller of the flash memory device is configured to receive the data from the storage controller and execute a parity operation using the data. |
| US08549375B2 |
Decoder and decoding method for low-density parity check codes constructed based on reed-solomon codes
Configurable permutators in an LDPC decoder are provided. A partially-parallel architecture combined with the proposed permutators is used to mitigate the increase in implementation complexity for the multi-mode function. To overcome the difficulty in efficient implementation of a high-throughput decoder, the variable nodes are partitioned into several groups, and each group is processed sequentially in order to shorten the critical-path delay and, hence, increase the maximum operating frequency. In addition, shuffled message-passing decoding can be adopted in decoders according to the invention to increase the convergence speed, which reduces the number of iterations required to achieve a given bit-error-rate performance. |
| US08549365B2 |
Method and device for flexible error correction encoding and corresponding computer program
An error correction encoding device is provided that combines redundancy data with source data, said device including: at least three encoding stages and at least two permutation stages. Each encoding stage implements at least one set of three basic encoding modules, in which a first encoding stage receives said source data and a last encoding stage provides said redundancy data. Each encoding module implements a basic code and includes c inputs and c outputs, c being an integer. The permutation stages are inserted between two consecutive encoding stages and each permutation stage implements a c-cyclic permutation. |
| US08549362B2 |
Memory device
A first module calculates a failure occurrence risk index of each data storage area address. A second module calculates a power saving index of each data storage area address. A third module calculates an access speed index per unit data volume necessary to access each data storage area address. A fourth module generates a distribution table that represents the failure occurrence risk index, the power saving index, and the access speed index for each candidate address, with respect to data to be distributed. A fifth module selects a candidate address in the distribution table such that the power saving index and the access speed index meet restricting conditions and the failure occurrence risk index is minimized, and distributes the data to the candidate address. |
| US08549361B2 |
System and method for construction, fault isolation, and recovery of cabling topology in a storage area network
System and method for construction, fault isolation, and recovery of cabling topology in a storage area network (SAN) is disclosed. In one embodiment, in a method for construction, fault isolation, and recovery of cabling topology in a SAN, subsystem information associated with each subsystem in the SAN is obtained. Then, an IP port and zoning information associated with connections of each subsystem is obtained. Component information associated with each component is also obtained. Any other relevant information associated with each subsystem and each component is obtained from users. The obtained subsystem information, IP port and zoning information, component information, and any other relevant information are compiled. Test packets are then sent from end-to-end in SAN using compiled information. The sent test packets are tracked via each component in each subsystem in the SAN. The cabling topology of the SAN is then outputted based on the outcome of the tracking. |
| US08549360B2 |
Early collection of diagnostic information
Generation of diagnostic information of a computer-implemented system is made early so that the data is closer to the causation of errors or for performance analysis. At least one selected activity of the system is monitored from initiation of the activity, and the monitoring is for successful completion. Early collection of diagnostic information is provided by comparing the time of the activity without successful completion to an initial trigger, where the initial trigger is less than the time period for a time-out for the activity. If the time of the activity without successful completion exceeds the initial trigger, diagnostic information is collected and an initial dump of the diagnostic information is taken. In one example, a notification that the dump of diagnostic information has been taken is directed to the host or diagnostic terminal. |
| US08549358B2 |
Method and apparatus for session establishment management
A method, computer readable medium and apparatus for performing session establishment management. For example, the method detects an evolved packet system establishment success rate that is measured over a predefined period of time falling below a predefined threshold, and performs, via a rule management server, an analysis on a bearer portion. The method then associates, via the rule management server, a root cause that contributed to the evolved packet system establishment success rate falling below the predefined threshold. |
| US08549356B2 |
Method and system for recovery of a computing environment via a hot key sequence at pre-boot or runtime
A method and system for recovery of a computing environment includes monitoring during a pre-boot phase and a runtime phase of a computing device for selection of a hot key sequence by a user and performing a recovery action in response to the selection of the hot key sequence by the user. The recovery action may be any one of a number of predetermined and/or selectable actions such as restoring system defaults, migrating memory, displaying a menu of options, setting various software flags, restarting or rebooting the computing device, and/or the like. |
| US08549350B1 |
Multi-tier recovery
A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for restoring data. In some embodiments, this includes backing up data in a first form with a backup application, updating the backup application, and using the updated backup application to restore the backed up data in a second form. In some embodiments, the first form includes a backup image. In some embodiments, the second form is individual files. |
| US08549349B2 |
Storage controller and storage control method
This storage controller includes a port unit and multiple processing units for inputting and outputting data to and from a storage apparatus. The port unit sorts the data I/O requests given from a host system to the corresponding processing units according to a table pre-defining the storage apparatus or a storage area in the storage apparatus to perform data I/O processing allocated to each of the processing units. The processing unit inputs data in the corresponding storage apparatus or the corresponding storage area according to the data I/O request sorted to itself from the port unit and, upon detecting a blockage of the other processing unit due to a failure, updates the table retained in each of the port units so as to sort the storage apparatuses or the storage areas allocated to the other processing unit to the remaining unblocked processing units. |
| US08549348B2 |
Coordinated disaster recovery production takeover operations
For coordinated disaster recovery, a reconciliation process is performed for resolving intersecting and non-intersecting data amongst disaster recovery systems for takeover operations. An ownership synchronization process is coordinated for replica cartridges via the reconciliation process at the disaster recovery systems. The disaster recovery systems continue as a replication target for source systems and as a backup target for local backup applications. |
| US08549340B2 |
Power line communication apparatus and method for controlling the same
The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a PLC apparatus and a method for controlling the PLC apparatus. The method includes: acquiring a working state and a network state of the PLC apparatus; and switching the working state of the PLC apparatus in accordance with the working state and the network state of the PLC apparatus. The PLC apparatus includes: a working state acquiring unit adapted to acquire a working state of the PLC apparatus; a network state acquiring unit adapted to acquire a network state of the PLC apparatus; a switching unit adapted to switch the working state of the PLC apparatus in accordance with the network state of the PLC apparatus acquired by the network state acquiring unit and the working state of the PLC apparatus acquired by the working state acquiring unit. The embodiments of the disclosure are used in the design of controlling the PLC apparatus. |
| US08549337B2 |
Memory card control device and method for controlling the same
A memory card control device includes an insertion unit to which a memory card is inserted, a memory card controller to control writing and reading of data to/from the memory card inserted in the insertion unit, an interface controller to send and receive the data written or read to/from the memory card to/from a host computer, a clock supplier to supply a clock signal to the memory card controller and the interface controller, a memory card detector to detect presence or absence of the memory card inserted in the insertion unit, and a low power consumption mode switching unit to switch the memory card controller and the interface controller to a low power consumption mode in response to the absence of the memory card detected by the memory card detector. |
| US08549333B2 |
System and method for managing energy consumption in a compute environment
A system and method for reducing power consumption in clusters, grids, on-demand centers, etc. These principles can reduce both direct and indirect power consumption while maintaining either full cluster performance or adequate SLA based cluster performance. The method includes receiving at least one state data point regarding power consumption or temperature of at least one resource within the compute environment. Using intelligent policies to control power consumption, the method implements and interfaces with power managements facilities within the cluster, grid or on-demand center to implement policies, make dynamic changes, make predictions or actions, etc., to reduce the direct or indirect power consumption associated with a compute environment. Methods can include analysis of current workload and/or future workload in taking energy saving actions, and also involve reporting state information and updating algorithms based on historical experience or outside sources of information. |
| US08549332B2 |
System for combined input output module and zero power optical disk drive with advanced integration and power
An information handling system includes a module bay, a voltage control switch, and a controller. The module bay configured to receive a module, and to connect the module to the information handling system. The voltage control switch is in communication with the module bay, and is configured to provide power to the module bay. The controller is in communication with the module bay and with the voltage control switch. The controller is configured to detect a type of the module connected to the module bay, and to send a power control override signal to the voltage control switch when the type is a specific type, wherein the power control override signal causes the voltage control switch to disregard a power down signal received for the module bay and continue to provide power to the module bay. |
| US08549331B2 |
Redundant power and data in a wired data telecommunications network
Redundancy of data and/or inline power in a wired data telecommunications network from a pair of network devices via a selection device is provided by communicating redundant signals with each of the pair of network devices and coupling ports of the first network device and corresponding ports of the second network device to paired inputs of the selection device. The selection device operates: 1) under the control of the pair of network devices, one acting as master and one as slave, the master selecting (for each port or for all ports) one of the two paired inputs and causing the selection device to communicate data and/or inline power via a third port of the selection device to a third network device receiving data connectivity and/or inline power from the selection device; or 2) to route two redundant signals to a third network device which then selects one for use. |
| US08549324B2 |
Method for protecting a motor vehicle component against manipulations in a control device and control device
The invention relates to a method for protecting at least one motor vehicle component against manipulation in a control device, which comprises at least one microcomputer (μC) and at least one memory module (2, 3), characterized in that the code which is necessary for operation of the control device (1) is divided into at least one master code (MC) which comprises information essential for operation of the control device (1), and at least one sub-code (SC) which comprises additional information for operation of the control device (1), at least the master code (1) being stored in the microcomputer (μC) and the master code (MC) monitoring the manipulation of the sub-code (SC). The invention furthermore relates to a control device for a motor vehicle component which comprises at least one microcomputer (μC) and at least one memory module (2, 3), the code which is necessary for operation of the control device (1) being divided into at least one master code (MC) which comprises information which is essential for operation of the control device (1), and at least one sub-code (SC) which comprises additional information for operation of the control device (1), and at least the master code (MC) being stored in the microcomputer (μC) and the master code (MC) containing a software function module for detection of manipulation within the sub-code (SC). |
| US08549323B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information recording medium, information processing method, and computer program
An information processing apparatus includes: a data processing unit that generates data for copy of data recorded on an information recording medium, wherein the information recording medium has a configuration in which data encrypted by applying an individual unit key in unit of a unit, which is segment data corresponding to an individual title, is recorded, and the data processing unit acquires title information recorded in copy processing information acquired from the information recording medium or a management server, acquires a unit key corresponding to the acquired title information, and executes decryption processing in unit of the unit by the acquired unit key to generate the data for copy. |
| US08549320B2 |
Verifying loaded module during debugging
A debugger traps a module load operation and computes a hash of the loaded module. The hash is compared with a hash of a module file, and a warning is issued if the checksums are different. Systems and software implementing similar methods are also described and claimed. |
| US08549318B2 |
Method and system for preventing unauthorized use of a vehicle by an operator of the vehicle
A method and system for preventing use of a vehicle by an operator of the vehicle. The system includes a system controller; a biometric authenticator coupled to the system controller; and a substance detecting device adapted to provide a substance level in the operator to the system controller. Here, the system controller is adapted to communicate a driving restriction to the vehicle if the substance level in the operator is above a tolerance level or if the operator is not authenticated by the authenticator, the substance level is determined at an extremity of the operator, the operator is also authenticated at the extremity, and the extremity is selected from the group consisting of finger, thumb, toe, ear, palm, sole, foot, hand, and head. |
| US08549317B2 |
Authentication method, authentication apparatus and authentication program storage medium
When only a fingerprint authentication approach is set, it is displayed that only authentication by the fingerprint authentication approach is accepted, and authentication by the fingerprint authentication approach is performed. Meanwhile, at least a system administrator is enabled to perform authentication by a password authentication approach. |
| US08549316B2 |
Method and apparatus for password output
A method and an apparatus for account and/or password output are disclosed. In the present invention, a hot-key corresponding to an account and/or a password is set in advance. By entering the hot-key, the related account and/or password is transferred and login automatically, thus the purpose of making login more conveniently is achieved. Besides, the present invention combines various input device to make the way of setting hot-key become more diversely, therefore security of password login is also enhanced. |
| US08549312B2 |
Mobile terminal and method for protecting its system data
A mobile terminal and a method for protecting system data of the mobile terminal, wherein the critical system data of the mobile terminal is stored into the singlechip with 128-bits ID code, and the method of the public password encryption of the mobile terminal is applied such that the user has to pass the password authentication when the user accesses the data stored in the singlechip, thus protecting important system data of the mobile terminal, thereby protecting the legal right of the mobile terminal manufacturer, avoiding the counterfeit mobile terminal stealing the related technique of the mobile terminal, and prompting the normal development of the mobile terminal market at the same time. |
| US08549307B2 |
Forensic marking using a common customization function
Methods, systems, and apparatus are disclosed which enable flexible insertion of forensic watermarks into a digital content signal using a common customization function. The common customization function flexibly employs a range of different marking techniques that are applicable to a wide range of forensic marking schemes. These customization functions are also applicable to pre-processing and post-processing operations that may be necessary for enhancing the security and transparency of the embedded marks, as well as improving the computational efficiency of the marking process. The common customization function supports a well-defined set of operations specific to the task of forensic mark customization that can be carried out with a modest and preferably bounded effort on a wide range of devices. This is accomplished through the use of a generic transformation technique for use as a “customization” step for producing versions of content forensically marked with any of a multiplicity of mark messages. |
| US08549299B2 |
Accelerated key agreement with assisted computations
A method is provided for obtaining a secret value for use as a key in a cryptographic operation, the secret value combining a private key, x, of one computing device with a public key, Y, of another computing device to obtain a secret value xY. The method includes obtaining a pair of scalars x0, x1 such that x=x0+x1 t where t is a scaling factor; obtaining a supplementary public key tY; combining the scalars and the public keys to obtain a representation of the secret value xY as a linear combination of the scalars and the public keys; and utilising the secret value as a key in a cryptographic operation performed by the one computing device. |
| US08549297B1 |
Data transfer device library and key distribution
A method of distributing a key to encrypt data for storing on a removable data storage item in a data transfer device library, the library comprising a controller having a key associated therewith and being connected to a plurality of data transfer devices each being operable to transfer data to a removable data storage item and having a key store, the method comprising: providing the key for the library to the controller; the controller providing the key to the key store of each data transfer device connected to the controller. A data transfer device library is also disclosed. |
| US08549296B2 |
Simple authentication of messages
Methods and systems for using simple authenticated messages are disclosed for use with implementing (i) synchronization schemes, (ii) encoded control messaging schemes, and (iii) encrypted data communication schemes. Messages are authenticated by applying a secure hash function to one or more authentication tokens to produce hash results which are compared to stored trusted bit strings, wherein the stored trusted bit strings are replaced with the most-recently received authentication token whose corresponding hash result matched the stored bit string. |
| US08549293B2 |
Method of establishing fast security association for handover between heterogeneous radio access networks
A method of establishing security association between heterogeneous networks is disclosed. The method comprises a first step of receiving information of heterogeneous networks near a mobile station; a second step of transmitting a request message requesting authentication related information transfer to a target heterogeneous network where the mobile station intends to perform handover, among the heterogeneous networks near the mobile station; and a third step of receiving authentication related information and key related information of the target heterogeneous network. At this time, the first step, the second step, and the third step are preferable performed before handover is performed between heterogeneous networks. |
| US08549290B2 |
Secret sharing system, sharing apparatus, share management apparatus, acquisition apparatus, processing methods thereof, secret sharing method, program, and recording medium
A secure secret sharing system is implemented. Shares SH(α, h(α)) are generated by secret sharing of secret information separately for each subset SUB(α); each of share management apparatuses PA(α, h(α)) generates a shared secret value DSH(α, h(α)) by performing a common operation to a corresponding share SH(α, h(α)) and common information containing a common value σ(α) shared in each subset SUB(α); and an acquisition apparatus generates a reconstructed secret value SUBSK(α) by reconstruction processing for each subset SUB(α), using a plurality of shared secret values DSH(α, h(α)) corresponding to the same subset SUB(α), and generates generation information SK by using the reconstructed secret values SUBSK(α). |
| US08549284B1 |
Tunable schemes and evaluation for certificate validity check in vehicle-to-entity communications
A method and system is provide for performing a certificate validity check between a vehicle receiving a message and an entity transmitting the message in a vehicle-to-entity communication system. The message includes a digital certificate. A determination is made whether the digital certificate is expired. A determination is made whether the digital certificate is listed in a local certificate revocation list stored in a memory of the vehicle in response to a determination that the digital certificate is not expired, otherwise, disregarding the message. An elapsed time is determined since a last freshness check in response the digital certificate not listed in the local certificate revocation list. The elapsed time is compared to a threshold requirement. The digital message is accepted for additional processing in response to the freshness check meeting the threshold requirement, otherwise, the message is disregarded. |
| US08549280B2 |
System, device and method for securely transferring data across a network
A method, system, server device and computer program product for securely transferring data from one or more non-subscribers to a subscriber or subscriber-defined destination, via a network, are provided. Access is provided, to one or more non-subscriber, to a network location indicator (NLI) and a private data transfer conduit is established, accessible via the NLI and configured to accept data from the non-subscribers. Data received at the conduit is transformed into secured data and transferred to the subscriber or subscriber-defined destination. In some embodiments, access to the NLI may be provided by accepting a request from a subscriber and sending, upon receipt of the request, a notification to at least one non-subscriber. |
| US08549278B2 |
Rights management services-based file encryption system and method
Windows Rights Management Services (RMS) are leveraged to provide protection and sharing of encryption keys to file systems. An encrypting file system (EFS) delegates key sharing, management and recovery to the RMS system. User rights to file encryption keys (FEKs) are derived from files' security descriptor information or as explicitly specified by users. Whenever an encrypted file is created, its FEK is protected using RMS, as a byte stream stored in file encryption metadata information. When a user with access tries to access an encrypted file without having a private key to decrypt the FEK, the EFS transparently extracts the RMS protected byte stream from the file encryption metadata information and uses RMS to access the FEK stored in the bytes stream using the user security context. The FEK is protected with the user master key, encryption certificate or password and cached for the next user file access. |
| US08549277B2 |
Server system including diplexer
A server system includes a BMC, a BIOS chip, an IPMI and a diplexer. The BMC includes a first chip-selecting signal output terminal, a second chip-selecting signal output terminal, a first updating output terminal and a controlling input terminal. The BIOS chip includes a second chip-selecting signal input terminal and an updating input terminal. The IPMI has a controlling output terminal. The diplexer includes a first input terminal and an updating output terminal. The first input terminal of the diplexer is electrically coupled to the first updating output terminal of BMC. The updating output terminal of the diplexer is electrically coupled to the updating input terminal of the BIOS chip. The controlling output terminal of the IPMI is electrically coupled to the controlling input terminal of the BMC. The second chip-selecting signal input terminal of the BIOS chip is electrically coupled to the second chip-selecting signal output terminal of the BMC. |
| US08549271B1 |
Method, system, and computer readable medium for updating and utilizing the contents of a non-essential region of a memory device
A method and system are provided for updating an utilizing the contents of a non-essential region in a memory device in a computer system. A computer program is utilized to build an image file. The image file may include program code and data for operating a computer system. The image file includes an essential region for storing program code required to boot the computer system and a non-essential region for storing program code and data which is not required to boot the computer system. The non-essential program code may include graphics data, a language module, or diagnostic tools for the computer system. After building the image file, the image file is then copied to a memory device in the computer system. Finally, only the non-essential region in the memory device is updated. A method may also be utilized to execute program code contained in the non-essential region prior to executing program code contained in the essential region. |
| US08549267B2 |
Methods and apparatus to manage partial-commit checkpoints with fixup support
Example methods and apparatus to manage partial commit-checkpoints are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes identifying a commit instruction associated with a region of instructions executed by a processor, identifying candidate instructions from the region of instructions, and generating a processor partial commit-checkpoint to save a current state of the processor, the checkpoint based on calculated register values associated with live instructions, and including instruction reference addresses to link the candidate instructions. |
| US08549266B2 |
System and method of instruction modification
A method and system of instruction modification. A first machine language instruction, which may comprise a plurality of discrete instructions, is fetched. Responsive to a trigger pattern in the first machine language instruction, a segment of the first machine language instruction is modified. Information can be substituted into the segment based on specifics outlined in the trigger pattern. Alternatively, information can be combined with the segment via logical and/or arithmetic operations. Modification of the segment produces a second machine language instruction that is executed by units of the processor. In one embodiment, information may be taken from a queue and used to replace data from the segment. How information is taken from the queue and how the information so taken is used to replace fields of the segment are defined by the trigger pattern. |
| US08549265B2 |
Processing vectors using wrapping shift instructions in the macroscalar architecture
Embodiments of a system and a method in which a processor may execute instructions that cause the processor to receive an input vector and a control vector are disclosed. The executed instructions may also cause the processor to perform a shift operation on another input vector dependent upon the input vector and the control vector. |
| US08549264B2 |
Add instructions to add three source operands
A method in one aspect may include receiving an add instruction. The add instruction may indicate a first source operand, a second source operand, and a third source operand. A sum of the first, second, and third source operands may be stored as a result of the add instruction. The sum may be stored partly in a destination operand indicated by the add instruction and partly a plurality of flags. Other methods are also disclosed, as are apparatus, systems, and instructions on machine-readable medium. |
| US08549262B2 |
Instruction operand addressing using register address sequence detection
A circuit arrangement and method support efficient indexing into large register files by utilizing register address sequence detection, wherein register addresses to be used by an instruction are produced by concatenating a portion of the address that is contained in the instruction with another portion that is speculatively produced by sequence detection logic. The portion of the correct full address that is not contained in the instruction is stored in a software accessible special purpose register. If the end of a particular sequence of addresses is detected by the sequence detection logic, the invention speculatively assumes that the next address in the sequence will be used. Since only a portion of the full addresses are stored in the instruction, they occupy less instruction space than the full address widths. An instruction may include at least one address portion that identifies a register address. |
| US08549260B2 |
Apparatus for processing data and method for generating manipulated and re-manipulated configuration data for processor
Some embodiments comprise an apparatus for processing data, the apparatus having a second configurable processor configured to process data using second configuration data, and a configuration data re-manipulator configured to retrieve manipulated second configuration data and first data of a first processor, to re-manipulate the manipulated second configuration data depending on the first data, and to feed the re-manipulated second configuration data to the second configurable processor as the second configuration data. |
| US08549259B2 |
Performing a vector collective operation on a parallel computer having a plurality of compute nodes
Systems, methods and articles of manufacture are disclosed for performing a vector collective operation on a parallel computing system that includes multiple compute nodes and a network connecting the compute nodes that includes an ALU. A collective operation may be performed to determine displacements for the vector collective operation. Descriptors for the vector collective operation may be generated based on the displacements. The vector collective operation may then be performed using the descriptors. |
| US08549256B2 |
Tightly coupled scalar and boolean processor with result vector subunit controlled by instruction flow
Methods and apparatus relating to a tightly coupled scalar and Boolean processor are described. In an embodiment, a Boolean unit may include a result vector subunit. The result vector subunit may be controlled by an instruction flow that is managed by a scalar unit. Other embodiments are also disclosed. |
| US08549255B2 |
Microprocessor, method and computer program product for direct page prefetch in millicode capable computer system
A microprocessor equipped to provide hardware initiated prefetching, includes at least one architecture for performing: issuance of a prefetch instruction; writing of a prefetch address into a prefetch fetch address register (PFAR); attempting a prefetch according to the address; detecting one of a cache miss and a cache hit; and if there is a cache miss, then sending a miss request to a next cache level and attempting cache access in a non-busy cycle; and if there is a cache hit, then incrementing the address in the PFAR and completing the prefetch. A method and a computer program product are provided. |
| US08549252B2 |
File based volumes and file systems
A file-mapped volume is a logical volume in which the data storage of the logical volume is the data storage of a regular file associated with the logical volume. The regular file can be a file of a first file system, and a second file system can be built upon the file-mapped volume. These two file systems can have distinct inode address spaces, yet files of the first file system are easily moved to the second file system by changing pointers to inodes of these files. The second file system can be easily copied, attached, or transported by copying, attaching, or transporting the regular file containing the second file system, yet files in the second file system can be accessed in real time via file access routines of the operating system. |
| US08549250B2 |
Apparatus and method for producing IDs for interconnected devices of mixed type
A plurality of memory devices of mixed type (e.g., DRAMs, SRAMs, MRAMs and NAND-, NOR- and AND-type Flash memories) having associated device type information is serially interconnected. A serial input (SI) containing a device type (DT) and a device identifier (ID) is fed to one device of the serial interconnection. Upon a match between the fed DT matches the DT of the device, the fed ID is latched in a register of the device and an ID for another device is generated, which is then transferred to the next device in the serial interconnection. Otherwise, ID generation is skipped. These steps are performed in all devices. Thus, sequential IDs are generated for the different device types and also the total number of each device type is recognized. If the fed DT is “don't care”, sequential IDs are generated for all devices and the total number of the devices is recognized. |
| US08549249B1 |
Supporting secondary atomic operations using primary atomic operations
Performing atomic operations in a computing system includes: acquiring a lock by performing a primary atomic operation that is directly supported in circuitry of the computing system on a first memory address in a memory of the computing system; accessing a second memory address in the memory of the computing system after the lock has been acquired; completing a secondary atomic operation based on accessing the second memory address; and releasing the acquired lock after the secondary atomic operation has been completed. |
| US08549248B2 |
Data migration method and information processing system
A volume group comprising one or a plurality of logical volumes is set. A coexistence avoidance volume group having different array groups can be set to the volume group. Upon execution of preset volume search criteria, a logical volume is specified by carrying out a search in which are excluded array groups to which logical volumes in the coexistence avoidance volume belong. |
| US08549247B2 |
Storage system, management method of the storage system, and program
Provided is a technique for realizing allocation of pool areas to virtual volumes in accordance with the use environment of the user with proper cost, while improving the capacity efficiency of media. For this purpose, in the present invention, a pool is constituted by selecting or limiting combinations of tiers of media in the pool to be used (range of tiers that can be used in each pool) for each virtual volume set in a storage system (see FIG. 5). |
| US08549246B2 |
SPI NAND protected mode entry methodology
One or more techniques are provided for restricting access to protected modes of operation in a memory device. In one embodiment, detection circuitry is provided and configured to receive and evaluate a protected mode entry sequence for accessing a protected mode of operation. The detection circuitry may be further configured to temporarily enable an output pin on a serial interface between the memory device and a master device to receive inputs, such that a entry sequence may be entered on both the input and output pins. In another embodiment, the detection circuitry may be enabled only if a security code is first provided, thus requiring both the correct security code and entry sequence before protected mode access is allowed. The memory device may also include a parallel NAND memory array, and detection logic may be further configured to enable a serial-to-parallel NAND translator once protected mode access is allowed. |
| US08549242B2 |
Volume swapping of point-in-time read-only target volumes
A mechanism is provided for adding point-in-time copy relationships to a data processing system. A request is received to establish a first point-in-time copy relationship. Responsive to determining that a first target of the first point-in-time copy relationship is target write inhibited, that a source of the first point-in-time copy relationship is a source of a first continuous synchronous copy relationship, that a target of the first continuous synchronous copy relationship is part of a second point-in-time copy relationship, and that the source of the first point-in-time copy relationship is part of a volume swap configuration, a volume swap relationship is added between the first point-in-time target volume and the second point-in-time target volume to the volume swap configuration. Both point-in-time copy relationships are established and any continuous synchronous copy requirements of the volume swap relationship between the first point-in-time target volume and the second point-in-time target volume are disabled. |
| US08549240B2 |
Apparatus and methods for an appliance to recover data from a storage device
Disclosed is a data recovery mechanism associated with a data writing process in a storage area network (SAN). In general, a data writing mechanism is provided so that a particular host can write data to a storage device in a particular SAN session. One specific example of a data writing mechanism is a data tapping mechanism that provides a copy of this data to an appliance. The data recovery mechanism allows the appliance to recover data from the particular target, for example, when the data was unsuccessfully mirrored to the appliance during the data tapping or when the appliance needs to obtain the data that was written prior to a data tapping procedure being initiated. In one embodiment, the data recovery mechanism is set up so that the appliance can recover data from the target by mimicking the particular host. |
| US08549233B2 |
Managing shared data objects to provide visibility to shared memory
Managing shared data objects to share data between computer processes, including a method for executing a plurality of independent processes on an application server, the processes including a first process and a second process. A shared memory utilized by the plurality of independent processes is provided. A single copy of the data and metadata are stored in the shared memory. The metadata includes an address of the data. The first process initiates the storing of the data in the shared memory. An address of the metadata is transferred from the first process to the second process to notify the second process about the data. The second process determines the address of the shared memory by reading the metadata. The data in the shared memory is accessed by the second process. |
| US08549231B2 |
Performing high granularity prefetch from remote memory into a cache on a device without change in address
Provided is a method, which may be performed on a computer, for prefetching data over an interface. The method may include receiving a first data prefetch request for first data of a first data size stored at a first physical address corresponding to a first virtual address. The first data prefetch request may include second data specifying the first virtual address and third data specifying the first data size. The first virtual address and the first data size may define a first virtual address range. The method may also include converting the first data prefetch request into a first data retrieval request. To convert the first data prefetch request into a first data retrieval request the first virtual address specified by the second data may be translated into the first physical address. The method may further include issuing the first data retrieval request at the interface, receiving the first data at the interface and storing at least a portion of the received first data in a cache. Storing may include setting each of one or more cache tags associated with the at least a portion of the received first data to correspond to the first physical address. |
| US08549230B1 |
Method, system, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for implementing caching in a storage system
A method, system, apparatus, and computer-readable medium are provided for implementing caching in a data storage system. According to aspects of the invention, a cache module is provided that utilizes cache lines sized according to a snapshot chunk size or an allocation unit size. The cache module utilizes cache header data structures corresponding to cache lines, each of which is assigned a device and logical block access range when active. The active headers are arranged in a set of hash queues. A free queue corresponds to the list of unused cache headers and a dirty queue corresponding to a list of unflushed cache headers. The cache header contains sector-level bitmaps of the cache line, specifying on a per sector granularity the bits that are dirty and valid. Flushing is performed by copying the dirty bitmap into a temporary memory location and flushing the bits set in it, while resetting the dirty bitmap and allowing writes to it. A read-ahead algorithm is used to perform read-ahead operations only in the event of a sequential read. |
| US08549228B2 |
Processor and method of control of processor
A processor includes: a processing unit that has a first unit; a second unit that holds part of the data held by the first unit; a third unit that receives from the processing unit a first request including first attribute information for obtaining a first logical value and a second request including second attribute information for obtaining a second logical value and that holds the first request until receiving a completion notification of the first request or holds the second request until receiving a completion notification of the second request; and a control unit that receives the first and second requests from the third unit and, replaces the first attribute information by the second attribute information when data of the addresses corresponding to the first and second request are not in the second unit, and supplies the completion notification for the second request to the first unit. |
| US08549226B2 |
Providing an alternative caching scheme at the storage area network level
Methods and systems for providing an alternative caching scheme at the storage area network level are disclosed. In one embodiment, it is determined that the number of accesses to a portion of data associated with a storage device exceeds a threshold that is greater than one access. A copy of the portion of data is associated with a caching resource that provides auxiliary caching for the storage device. The auxiliary caching resource is at the storage area network level. The copy of the portion of data is accessed instead of the portion of data for subsequent accesses. |
| US08549224B1 |
Migration analyzer for hardware-based storage tiering
In an analyzer device, a method for identifying a logical unit (LUN) of a data storage system as a candidate for migration to a second storage group is presented. The method includes receiving, by the analyzer device, a set of data associated with activity of the LUN of a first storage group, comparing, by the analyzer device, a performance metric value of a performance metric of the set of data, associated with the LUN, to a performance metric threshold associated with the performance metric, and when the performance metric value corresponds to the performance metric threshold, categorizing, by the analyzer device, the LUN as a candidate for storage on the second storage group, the second storage group distinct from the first storage group and having a disk type different from that of the first storage group. |
| US08549222B1 |
Cache-based storage system architecture
A cache-based storage architecture has primary and secondary storage subsystems that are controlled by first and second data layout engines to provide a high-performance storage system. The primary storage subsystem illustratively comprises non-volatile electronic storage media configured as a cache, while the secondary storage subsystem comprises magnetic storage media configured as a disk array. The data layout engines illustratively implement data layout techniques that improve read and write performance to the primary and secondary storage subsystems. To that end, the data layout engines cooperate to optimize the use of the non-volatile cache as a primary storage stage that efficiently serves random data access operations prior to substantially transposing them into sequential data access operations for permanent (or archival) storage on the disk array. |
| US08549220B2 |
Management of write cache using stride objects
Method, system, and computer program product embodiments for, in a computing storage environment for destaging data from nonvolatile storage (NVS) to a storage unit, identifying working data on a stride basis by a processor device are provided. A multi-update bit is established for each of a plurality of strides in a modified cache, wherein the multi-update bit is adapted to indicate a corresponding stride is part of at least one track in a working set that refers to a group of frequently updated tracks. The plurality of strides are scanned based on a schedule to identify tracks for destaging. An operation to destage is performed on a selected track identified during the scanning, if the multi-update bit of a selected stride on the selected track is set to indicate the selected track is part of the working set and if the NVS is about 90% full or greater. |
| US08549214B2 |
Protection against data corruption for multi-level memory cell (MLC) flash memory
Apparatus having corresponding methods and non-transitory computer-readable media comprise a flash controller configured to control a multi-level memory cell (MLC) flash memory, wherein the MLC flash memory includes a plurality of memory blocks, wherein each memory block includes a plurality of memory cells defining a plurality of pages, wherein each memory cell spans a group of the pages in one of the memory blocks, and wherein the flash controller comprises circuitry configured to receive data to be written to the MLC flash memory, select only one page, from each group of the pages, in one or to more of the memory blocks, and write the data only to the selected pages. |
| US08549211B2 |
Method and system for providing hardware support for memory protection and virtual memory address translation for a virtual machine
A method for providing hardware support for memory protection and virtual memory address translation for a virtual machine. The method includes executing a host machine application within a host machine context and executing a virtual machine application within a virtual machine context. A plurality of TLB (translation look aside buffer) entries for the virtual machine context and the host machine context are stored within a TLB. Memory protection bits for the plurality of TLB entries are logically combined to enforce memory protection on the virtual machine application. |
| US08549206B2 |
Method of establishing virtual USB interface for non-USB apparatus and the non-USB apparatus thereof
A method of establishing a virtual USB interface for a non-USB device, comprising the steps of establishing a non-USB interface to communicate with the non-USB device, generating a virtual USB physical device object to provide a USB transport layer driver, establishing the virtual USB interface to communicate with the USB transport layer driver, filtering a transmitting command of the USB transport layer driver based on the virtual USB interface, and filtering a returned information of the non-USB device based on the non-USB interface. |
| US08549203B2 |
Multi-protocol bus interface device
A bus interface device is configured to receive data from one or more devices via a bus. The bus interface device is also configured to process first data received via the bus according to a transport protocol of the bus. The bus interface device is further configured to process second data received via the bus according to a native coding/decoding (CODEC) protocol that is distinct from the transport protocol. |
| US08549200B2 |
Multiprocessor system configured as system LSI
A multiprocessor system includes a plurality of processor units each transmitting an interrupt request signal indicating an interrupt request for which an interrupt-request destination processor unit is specified and receiving an interrupt signal and an interrupt control circuit receiving the interrupt request signal from each of the plurality of processor units and transmitting the interrupt signal to each of the plurality of processor units, wherein, the interrupt control circuit transmits the interrupt signal to the interrupt-request destination processor unit specified by the interrupt request signal if the specified interrupt-request destination processor unit is not in a low power consumption state and transmits the interrupt signal to another processor unit different from the processor unit specified by the interrupt request signal if the specified interrupt-request destination processor unit is in the low power consumption state. |
| US08549196B2 |
Hardware support for software controlled fast multiplexing of performance counters
Performance counters may be operable to collect one or more counts of one or more selected activities, and registers may be operable to store a set of performance counter configurations. A state machine may be operable to automatically select a register from the registers for reconfiguring the one or more performance counters in response to receiving a first signal. The state machine may be further operable to reconfigure the one or more performance counters based on a configuration specified in the selected register. The state machine yet further may be operable to copy data in selected one or more of the performance counters to a memory location, or to copy data from the memory location to the counters, in response to receiving a second signal. The state machine may be operable to store or restore the counter values and state machine configuration in response to a context switch event. |
| US08549194B2 |
Data transmission apparatus, image processing apparatus and program of the same
There is provided a data transmission apparatus, an image processing apparatus and a program, capable of preventing data from being transmitted to a destination to which the data should not be transmitted, in the case where there is a possibility that the data is forwarded to a destination other than the destination designated at the time of the transmission. When an address designated as a transmission destination has a possibility that data is forwarded to another address, such as an address of a mailing list, a forward destination information determining/acquiring unit acquires the information of the forward destination. When the forward destination includes the address that does not correspond to the transmission-permitted address held in a transmission-permitted address holder unit, an e-mail transmission canceling unit cancels the transmission to the address to which the transmission is not permitted. |
| US08549190B2 |
Information processing device and consumable item management method
An information processing device, to which a peripheral device 3 using a consumable item is connected, includes: an information acquisition section 101 that acquires peripheral device information including a use amount of the consumable item used on the peripheral device 3, acquires a cumulative use amount of the consumable item by accumulating the use amount, and acquires an event log including contents of an event that has occurred on the information processing device and an occurrence date/time of the event; a limit value calculation section 104 that calculates an estimated limit value of the use amount of the consumable item based on the cumulative use amount of the consumable item obtained at the occurrence date/time of the event regarding the event log including the contents regarding the consumable item; and a threshold value calculation section 106 that calculates a threshold value for judging a timing to output a replacement/replenishment prompt notification in comparison with a current cumulative use amount based on a use tendency of the consumable item and the limit value. |
| US08549184B2 |
USB transaction translator with buffers and a bulk transaction method
The present invention is directed to a universal serial bus (USB) transaction translator and an associated IN/OUT bulk transaction method. A device interface is coupled to a device via a device bus, and a host interface is coupled to a host via a host bus, wherein the host USB version is higher than the device USB version. At least two buffers configured to store data are disposed between the device interface and the host interface. A controller stores the data in the buffers alternately. In a bulk-IN transaction, before the host sends an IN packet, the controller pre-fetches data and stores the data in the buffers until all the buffers are full or a requested data length has been achieved; the pre-fetched data are then sent to the host after the host sends the IN packet. In a bulk-OUT transaction, the controller stores the data sent from the host in the buffers, and the data are then post-written to the device. |
| US08549177B2 |
Communication server, method and systems, for reducing transportation volumes over communication networks
Method for delivering data streams over communication networks is disclosed, the method comprising determining reference points in a stream of data being locations in the stream where predefined number of characters fulfill a predetermined criterion; registering digital signatures being values returned from a predetermined function taken over predefined ranges of content, the ranges are in correlation with the reference points; using the digital signatures to locate locally stored content, and using the reference points or creating a dictionary and using it to synchronize between currently received pieces of data and between locally stored matching content. Communication server implementing the method is also disclosed, and further disclosed are communication systems comprising at least one said server. |
| US08549176B2 |
Propagation of routing information in RSVP-TE for inter-domain TE-LSPs
A technique dynamically retrieves reachability information from a target node, including a tail-end or any intermediate node, along a traffic engineering (TE) label switched path (LSP) that spans multiple domains in a computer network. The interdomain information retrieval technique is illustratively based on a request/response signaling exchange whereby at least a portion of the reachability, i.e., routing, information maintained by the target node is propagated to a head-end node of the TE-LSP. The routing information may comprise a list of address prefixes reachable by the target node, but may optionally include next-hop and metric attributes associated with those prefixes. The head-end node uses the retrieved routing information to calculate routes reachable from the target node for insertion into its routing table. |
| US08549171B2 |
Method and apparatus for high-speed processing of structured application messages in a network device
A method is disclosed for high-speed processing of structured application messages in a network device. According to one aspect, a network device receives a set of message classification rules that have been prepared beforehand by a system administrator or customer. The system analyzes the message classification rules to determine what part(s) of the message are necessary to classify a message according to the message classification rules. This allows the system to consider only the relevant parts of the message and ignore the rest of the message. The system extracts the portion of the message necessary for classifying the message and classifies the message using the values of the extracted information and the message classification rules. A unique sequence of operations is implied by the message classification and those operations must then be applied to the message. |
| US08549170B2 |
Retransmission system and method for a transport offload engine
A system and method are provided for performing the retransmission of data in a network. Included is an offload engine in communication with system memory and a network. The offload engine serves for managing the retransmission of data transmitted in the network. |
| US08549169B2 |
Overloading processing units in a distributed environment
Techniques are disclosed for overloading, at one or more nodes, an output of data streams containing data tuples. A first plurality of tuples is received via a first data stream and a second plurality of tuples is received via a second data stream. A first value associated with the first data stream and a second value associated with the second data stream are established based on a specified metric. A third plurality of tuples is output based on the first value and the second value, wherein the third plurality of tuples is a subset of the first plurality of tuples and the second plurality of tuples. |
| US08549168B2 |
Reliable messaging using redundant message streams in a high speed, low latency data communications environment
A method includes receiving active application messages that are part of an active message stream in a subscribing client device from an active feed adapter. Each active application message is characterized by an active source stream identifier, an active source stream sequence number, and an active message sequence number. The method includes receiving, in response to a failover from the active feed adapter to a backup feed adapter, backup application messages in the subscribing client device from the backup feed adapter. Each backup application message is characterized by a backup source stream identifier, a backup source stream sequence number, and a backup message sequence number. The method includes administering, by the subscribing client device, the backup application messages in dependence upon the active stream source identifier, the active stream source sequence number, the backup stream source identifier, and the backup stream source sequence number. |
| US08549166B2 |
Execution of unverified programs in a wireless, device operating environment
A computer device having wireless communication capability and a computer platform with a resident application environment for selectively downloading applications to the platform across the wireless network with a predefined security protocol for downloading and executing applications at the platform, such as verifying the presence of a certificate. The download manager is resident on the computer platform and allows download, storage, and execution of applications that do not otherwise comply with the security protocol of the resident application environment. |
| US08549159B1 |
Providing a presentation on a network having a plurality of synchronized media types
A presentation system and method is disclosed for presenting a presentation via a communications network. The presentation system includes one or more client nodes structured to receive presentation data. One or more leader stations of the presentation is structured to control content of the presentation data at the one or more client nodes, and one or more content server sites is structured to provide the presentation data to the one or more client nodes. The presentation system further includes one or more content managers structured to manage the delivery of the presentation data to the one or more content server sites and verify that the presentation data is operable to being presented at the one or more client nodes. |
| US08549148B2 |
Domain name system security extensions (DNSSEC) for global server load balancing
Techniques are provided to enable a network device, such as a switch, to perform global server load balancing (GSLB) while operating as a proxy to a domain name system security extensions (DNSSEC)-capable authoritative DNS server. The network device preserves an original signature generated by the DNSSEC-capable authoritative DNS server for a resource record set contained in a DNSSEC reply. |
| US08549143B2 |
Specification of a software architecture for capability and quality-of-service negotiations and session establishment for distributed multimedia applications
A system offering an Application Programming Interface for multi-stream multimedia applications running on at least two registered end peers participating in a mobile telecommunication session and/or middleware being connected to a mobile network. The system providing guaranteed end-to-end quality and resource capabilities using the concept of concatenated E2ENP phases and providing a pre-negotiation of a multiplicity of alternative capabilities and QoS Contracts, management of leased pre-negotiated information, session establishment between said end peers with negotiation of a multiplicity of alternative capabilities and/or QoS Contracts, and a dynamic re-negotiation of the end-to-end quality and capabilities. The information to be negotiated is expressed in an interchangeable format allowing multi-stream multimedia applications to agree on a specific reference model of the negotiated information, which can then be used for dynamically configuring Finite State Machines to orchestrate local, peer, and network resources according to the preferences and profiles of the respective user. |
| US08549140B2 |
Method and system for indicating and documenting associations, disclosures and instructions using visually identifiable description references and a standardized framework of coded instructions, hyperlinks and related visual display elements
Methods and system for a unique coding framework used to create, manage and track instructions for documentation and dissemination of instructions, indicate a particular association or activate a given process. In one example, the present disclosure relates to the online publishing of documentation to demonstrate relationships of parties and compliance with regulatory and other requirements. The present disclosure uses URL hyperlinks, badges, watermarks, icons and visual displays that are representative of a given function and that may be identified by reference of unique coding structure. The present disclosure relates to the publishing and display of relevant visual codes or images for viewing by members of the public, (human readable) as well as machines. The present disclosure enables the tracking and measurement of uses of coded representations in public or private channels. Structured hyperlink codes allow brief messages to be sent in shortened form to instruct or deliver messages or processes. |
| US08549137B2 |
Monitoring device, monitoring system, monitoring method, and program
Diverting condition storage unit 15 stores diverting conditions describing conditions for hardware configurations and software configurations. Monitoring data storage unit 13 stores monitoring data on the hardware configurations and the software configurations on monitored devices. Monitoring setting information storage unit stores monitoring setting information on the monitored devices. By referencing monitoring data and diverting conditions, first setting-diverting unit judges if monitoring setting information set in a monitored device may be diverted as monitoring setting information on another monitored device and outputs the result to a management terminal. The system administrator diverts the monitoring setting information among multiple monitored devices based on judgment result. |
| US08549136B2 |
System for operating at least one non-safety-critical and at least one safety-critical process
For the operation of at least one non-safety-critical application process and at least one safety-critical application process, the invention proposes a data processing and transmission system with a data transmission network, at least one non-safety-related network element linked to the non-safety-critical application process and connected to the network, and with at least one safety-related network element linked to the safety-critical application process, as well as with at least one master unit connected to the network, and a server unit connected to the network separately from the master unit, wherein the safety-related server unit controls the at least one safety-critical application process, specifically by processing safety-relevant data necessary for controlling the safety-critical application process and by organizing the transmission of the safety-relevant data over the network by means of at least one of the network elements and/or the master unit. |
| US08549132B2 |
Apparatus and method for managing a network
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a network element having a controller to obtain network information associated with establishing a network among a group of communication devices, and provide the network information to a plurality of network set-up devices removably connected to the network element, where each of the plurality of network set-up devices is connectable with a communication device of the group of communication devices to provide at least a portion of the network information to the communication device, and where the network is established based at least in part on the at least a portion of the network information. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08549128B2 |
Digital media device and method for sharing data using the digital media device
A digital media device and a method for sharing data include a source device sending a search request to search digital media devices under a power-on status, and sending a control command to a middle device from the found digital media devices, to control the middle device to search at least one target device under a power-off status. The data sharing method further includes sending a power-on command to the middle device to power on the target device. The data sharing method further includes sharing data with the target device when the target device powering on successfully and supporting DLNA network. |
| US08549127B2 |
Activating a blade server in a blade server system
A method, apparatus, and computer program product are provided for activating a blade server in a blade server system. The method comprises receiving a request for activating the blade server and obtaining a hardware feature of the blade server. The method further comprises determining a virtual machine management program corresponding to the hardware feature of the blade server in accordance with a correspondence relationship between the hardware feature of the blade server and the virtual machine management program and remotely activating the blade server via a management bus by using the determined virtual machine management program. In accordance with the method, a suitable built-in virtual machine management program may be determined according to user requirements, and system security and stability upon blade server activation may be ensured. |
| US08549124B2 |
Network management discovery tool
A method, apparatus, and computer program product for discovering network paths between network devices in a distance-vector network are provided. The method may include providing a node model of network devices in a distance-vector network. The node model may include a network address corresponding to a network device. The network address may be used to query the network device for routing information. This routing information may be used to identify another network address corresponding to a second network device, and to identify a path from the first network device to the second network device. These devices and the path therebetween may be mapped in the node model. Finally, the second network device may be queried for subsequent routing information to identify and map subsequent devices and paths. |
| US08549122B2 |
System and method for communication agent within a fully distributed network
A computer-enabled agent and method to support the communication within a fully distributed network comprises an agent core with an agent facade, wherein the agent facade enables the agent to communicate with other applications without predetermined programming and the agent core enables the agent to operate without a central message broker for communication across a network; and a network layer that handles low-level network operations and is capable of finding the least expensive way to send a message to one or more destinations. |
| US08549121B2 |
Stateless-agentless system and method of managing data in a computing environment
A data management system and method including a point of control configured to manage one or more target systems. The point of control divides a command sequence into a number of individual commands, and provides the individual commands to the stateless-agentless target system for execution. Furthermore, the point of control maintains the state of the command sequence and monitors the target system. As such, the target system is both “stateless” (i.e., the target system maintains no state information related to the command sequence) and “agentless” (i.e., the target system includes no software for the purpose of monitoring the target system. |
| US08549114B2 |
Method and system for model-based heterogeneous server configuration management
A method and system for configuring heterogeneous servers across a network through modules that can browse, snapshot, track changes, track compliance, correct server objects on each of the servers, and provision new servers is provided. In one embodiment, server objects on multiple servers can be browsed in real time. While browsing, a collection of server object identifiers can be selected and collected in a template. The values of the server objects identified in the template can be recorded for a “gold server” through a “snapshot” process, which collects the values and saves them in a reference model. By comparing other live servers to the reference model, discrepancies in configuration of the other live servers can be identified and corrected. The reference models can also be used to provision a new server. Alternative to the reference model, an arbitrary snapshot or scheduled snapshots of a server can be used to track change and compliance in that server. |
| US08549111B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing a web page to a call member
One problem with web-based information is that it is typically presented without being personalized or tailored to fit a particular user's needs and requirements. Another problem relates to calls such as telephone calls, video calls or other multimedia calls made between two or more call members. Here it is often required to provide detailed information during the call. By storing a plurality of web pages and associating each of those web pages with information about one or more potential calls, it is possible to select one of those web pages for provision to a particular call member. For example, a user may store a web page for provision to family members, another for customers, and another for new enquiries. Information about a call is obtained and used to select an appropriate one of the stored web pages. This selected web page is then provided to the call member which is for example a wireless terminal with a web browser arranged to display the web page. The web pages may be stored on a web server or alternatively on the terminal used by the call member to take part in the call. |
| US08549107B2 |
Systems and methods for handling a plurality of communications for different companies
A distributed communication center configured to handle a plurality of communications includes a user zone, a web zone, and a network zone. The user zone includes a plurality of remote terminals that enable communication center personnel and end users to remotely interface with the distributed communication center through the web zone. The web zone includes one or more web servers configured and one or more mail servers to interface the remote terminals in the user zone with the network zone. The network zone includes one or more telephony servers and one or more application servers. |
| US08549105B1 |
Map tile data pre-fetching based on user activity analysis
Map tile data for displaying graphic elements of a web-based mapping system in a smart phone or other mobile computing device may be pre-fetched to the device based on device activities. For example, a user activity system may receive user activity data from the mobile device. The user activity system may then extract geographic location data from the user activity data and send the geographic location data to a mapping system via a network connection. The mapping system may then match map tile data to the geographic location data extracted from the user activity data and send the matched map tile data to the mobile computing device for cache storage at the mobile computing device. The user activity system may also analyze the user activity data to determine whether the extracted geographic location data is relevant enough to warrant pre-fetching the tile data. |
| US08549100B2 |
Technique for previously providing estimate of time required for processing
Provided is a client device communicating with a server device, the client device including: a display section for displaying a page including at least one display object on a screen; a transmitting section for transmitting a processing request to the server device in response to an event where the display object receives an operation by a user; an obtaining section for obtaining, before the operation by the user, an estimate of time required for processing that will be executed by the server device in response to the processing request; and an output section for outputting the obtained estimate of the required time in association with the display object. |
| US08549098B2 |
Method and system for protocol offload and direct I/O with I/O sharing in a virtualized network environment
Methods and systems for protocol offload and direct I/O with I/O sharing in a virtualized network environment are disclosed. Aspects of one method may include a plurality of GOSs sharing a single network interface circuitry, or a network interface card, (NIC) that may provide access to a network. The NIC may directly handle processing of data to be transmitted to the network and/or data received from the network for each of the GOSs without a TGOS for the GOSs handling the data to be transmitted to the network and/or data received from the network. The data may be copied directly from a buffer in the single NIC to an application buffer for one of the plurality of GOSs and/or directly from an application buffer for one of the plurality of GOSs to the buffer in the single NIC. |
| US08549089B2 |
Method for sending messages to a mobile telephone
A method is described for providing a user of a telephone device with a capability to receive an indication that a message has been sent to that user via an Internet-based application, irrespective whether the user is currently actively connected to that application or not. The method comprises the steps of receiving a message addressed to said user at a second server associated with the Internet-based application, forwarding the message towards a first server at which a virtual client entity was previously created to allow conducting a communication session that was held between the user and the Internet-based application, determining whether the user is currently connected to the Internet-based application, storing the message if the user is not currently connected to that Internet application and providing the user with an indication that at least one message addressed to him/her has been stored. |
| US08549087B2 |
Methods and systems for allocating and indicating trustworthiness of secure communications
Embodiments of the present invention enable allocating and indicating the trustworthiness of a message, especially messages that comprise content that has been digitally signed. In some embodiments, a provider of assurance services and assurance software provides trust attestations related to messages and may manipulate the user interface used to view these messages. The trust attestations may be computed by various methods. The trust attestations may then be presented when the message is displayed to the user using the assurance software. For example, the trust attestations may be displayed as user interface elements in a designated portion of the chrome of a messaging service, such as a webmail service. In one embodiment, the assurance software can run on the webmail service and the trust attestations in the chrome are served up via techniques for delivery of client-server presentation data. In another embodiment, the assurance software is implemented as software that runs on the client and may perform some computations on the client in order to manipulate the messaging service's chrome. In yet another embodiment, the assurance software may run as an extension to an e-mail client that runs on a user's machine. The assurance software is configured to work with the presenter of the message, but independently of the presenter. |
| US08549083B2 |
Message waiting notification to external message centers
Systems and methods are disclosed for notifying external message centers when a mobile device becomes available to receive a text message. One embodiment includes a message waiting system that identifies a failed delivery attempt of a text message to a mobile device that is unavailable, where the text message originated from an external message center. The system identifies routing information for the external message center based on the failed delivery attempt, generates a Message Waiting Indicator (MWI) record for the text message that includes the routing information for the external message center, and stores the MWI record. When the system identifies that the mobile device becomes available, the system identifies the MWI record that includes information on the failed delivery attempt to the mobile device, and sends a notification indicating that the mobile device is available to the external message center based on the routing information in the MWI record. |
| US08549080B2 |
Method to identify and display contributions by author in an e-mail comprising multiple authors
A method, system and computer program product for displaying authorship and time stamp data within an electronic mail (e-mail) message comprising multiple contributors. The recipient of a multiple author e-mail may view an e-mail inclusive or exclusive of an author's comments. The e-mail client is capable of identifying the author and insertion date of content included within an e-mail message by hovering on or near the word(s)/or phrase utilizing a pointing device. E-mail content may be viewed in chronological order of contribution(s) as selected by the recipient. Contributed content may be displayed chronologically, or color coordinated to avoid displacing key information. |
| US08549079B2 |
Drag and drop forward E-mail reply utility
Methods and Systems are provided for efficiently forwarding e-mail. The e-mail is forwarded in response to being dragging and dropping it into another e-mail. A user selects the e-mail to be forwarded, drags and drops it into another e-mail with the desired distribution list, resulting in a third e-mail being created addressed to the desired distribution list and including the e-mail to be forwarded. |
| US08549078B2 |
Communications system providing load balancing based upon connectivity disruptions and related methods
A communications system may include a plurality of target servers and a plurality of source servers connected to the Internet via respective different portions thereof. The source servers may be for establishing connections to desired target servers via the Internet, and they may also be subject to connectivity disruptions. Further, the source servers may generate connectivity disruption information for respective target servers. The communications system may further include a dispatcher for collecting the connectivity disruption information from the source servers, and for distributing jobs to the source servers based upon a respective target server associated with each job and the connectivity disruption information for the respective target server. |
| US08549077B2 |
Usage parameters for communication content
In one aspect, a method related to data management. In addition, other method, system, and program product aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and/or text forming a part of the present application. |
| US08549076B2 |
Large group interactions
A method of managing an on-going interactive event. The method includes transferring statements between participants over a computer network, during a live interactive event, analyzing, by a computer, at least some of the transferred statements, so as to generate feedback on said event and controlling the event responsive to the generated feedback. |
| US08549073B2 |
Cross social network data aggregation
Disclosed in some examples is a method of aggregating social networking data by receiving first authentication information for a first social networking service, the first authentication information being associated with a user and being received from a first social networking application, receiving second authentication information for a second social networking service, the second authentication information being associated with the user and being received from a second social networking application, requesting first information regarding the user from the first social networking service using the first authentication information, receiving the first information regarding the user from the first social networking service and storing the received first information, requesting second information regarding the user from the second social networking service using the second authentication information; and receiving the second information regarding the user from the second social networking service and storing the received second information. |
| US08549071B2 |
Methods and systems for transferring client device data over a network
Systems and methods for the transfer of client device data on a network are described. One described method comprises causing non-time-sensitive client device data to be identified on a client device, causing the non-time-sensitive client device data to be prepared for output and stored by the client device, and causing the non-time-sensitive client device data to be output with a request signal upon satisfaction of a condition. |
| US08549070B2 |
Method and device for RTP packet transmission and receipt
A request for real-time transfer protocol (RTP) data is sent from the caching proxy server to the server. The request may be for one specific type of data or multiple unrelated types of data. The server responds to the request indicating its support for the requested data. The caching proxy server determines whether to proceed or terminate the data transmission process based on the response provided by the server. If it is determined to proceed with the data transmission process, the caching proxy informs the server to send the requested data. The server sends the requested data in a body of a RTP packet. The RTP packet uses a RTP Meta-Info payload format, which includes a body and a field header. The field header includes fields to identify the streaming media data, and the field body includes the requested streaming media data. |
| US08549065B2 |
Method and device for client/server communication according to the standard protocol OPC UA
A method and a corresponding device are disclosed for communicating between clients and servers of a client/server system using the standard protocol OPC UA, and for the interaction of an OPC UA client with an OPC UA server, OPC UA service calls are used. In order to integrate a transaction context in OPC UA service calls, all OPC UA servers of the system are complemented by a transaction management component, and in order to carry out transactions, appropriately configured OPC UA clients communicate with respective OPC UA servers using transactions. |
| US08549064B2 |
System and method for data management
A data processing system that includes a processor and a metadata repository storing data describing a plurality of systems and applications. The data processing system also includes integration rules describing a plurality of data distribution formats corresponding to the plurality of systems. The data processing system correlates data between the metadata repository and the integration rules to produce and store an impact analysis of the effect a change would have on the plurality of systems and applications. There is also a master data management system including a metadata repository and integration rules. The master data management system correlates data between the metadata repository and the integration rules to produce and store an impact analysis of the effect a change would have on the plurality of target systems and applications. The master data management system is configured to publish data to the plurality of target systems over a network. |
| US08549063B2 |
System and method for providing service
A system comprises a service anchor apparatus having a unit configured to hold an original of an application program for providing a service; an end-user accommodation apparatus having a unit configured to connect with a terminal of an end user; and a relay apparatus located on a route between the service anchor apparatus and the end-user accommodation apparatus. The system creates, via the relay apparatus, a copy of the application program in the end-user accommodation apparatus, the original of the application program being held by the service anchor apparatus, and the end-user accommodation apparatus runs the copy of the application program, thereby providing the service to the terminal of the end user. |
| US08549062B2 |
Network remote power management outlet strip
A vertical-mount network remote power management outlet strip embodiment of the present invention comprises a long, thin outlet strip body with several independently controllable power outlet sockets distributed along its length. A power input cord is provided at one end, and this supplies AC-operating power to relays associated with each of the power outlet sockets. The relays are each addressably controlled by a microprocessor connected to an internal I2C-bus serial communications channel. The power-on status of each relay output to the power outlet sockets is sensed and communicated back on the internal I2C-bus. A device-networking communications processor with an embedded operating system translates messages, status, and controls between the internal I2C-bus and an Ethernet port, and other external networks. |
| US08549059B2 |
In-place fast fourier transform processor
An N-point Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) using mixed radix stages with in-place data sample storage may be performed by decomposing N into a product of R sequential mixed radix stages of radix-r(i). N data samples are partitioned into at least B memory banks, where B is equal to a largest radix of the R radix stages. Each input data sample to each radix-r(i) butterfly comes from r(i) different memory banks and the output data samples are written to the same memory locations in the r(i) memory banks. Determining from which memory bank the input data samples and output data samples of the butterflies are stored is done based on the radix size and sequential position of the radix stage. Determining the address of the input data samples and the output data samples within each memory bank is based on the radix size and sequential position of the radix stage. |
| US08549056B2 |
Apparatus and program for arctangent calculation
An arctangent calculation apparatus includes a phase angle memory unit in which a phase angle is stored in advance, the phase angle corresponding to a two-dimensional vector value corresponding to in a range of 0° to substantially 22.5°; a vector rotation unit that performs a vector rotation operation on a two-dimensional vector value corresponding to in a range of 0° to 360° and converts the two-dimensional vector value corresponding to in a range of 0° to 360° into a two-dimensional vector value corresponding to in a range of 0° to substantially 2.5°; an arctangent calculation unit that outputs, from the phase angle memory unit, a phase angle that corresponds to the two-dimensional vector value corresponding to in a range of 0° to substantially 22.5°; and a phase angle conversion unit that converts the phase angle into a phase angle in a range of 0° to 360°. |
| US08549055B2 |
Modular digital signal processing circuitry with optionally usable, dedicated connections between modules of the circuitry
Digital signal processing (“DSP”) circuit blocks are provided that can more easily work together to perform larger (e.g., more complex and/or more arithmetically precise) DSP operations if desired. These DSP blocks may also include redundancy circuitry that facilitates stitching together multiple such blocks despite an inability to use some block (e.g., because of a circuit defect). Systolic registers may be included at various points in the DSP blocks to facilitate use of the blocks to implement systolic form, finite-impulse-response (“FIR”), digital filters. |
| US08549053B2 |
Method of generating increased applications for enrollment at educational institutions
A method of increasing the number of applications for enrollment at an educational institution including the profiling of an educational institution's candidate database and inquiry pool against its particular enrollment objectives and personalized communication with selected candidates. The method also provides candidates who are interested in an educational institution with an opportunity and selected incentives to electronically access, complete and submit partial or complete applications for admission. The method also provides for personalized follow-up communications with selected candidates and for the monitoring, compilation and reporting of applications received using the method. |
| US08549047B2 |
Computer implemented methods and apparatus for feed-based case management
Techniques for providing feed-based case management on an online social network. A user interface that includes a publisher and an information feed is provided. Information associated with a record is received and the record is updated in a database system. A feed item associated with the database system update is generated and provided in the information feed. The feed item includes one or more actionable selections providing a reference to the publisher. Selection of one of the one or more actionable selections causes the publisher to be operable to receive further information associated with the record. The record is capable of being updated based on the further information. In some implementations, the record is a case and the user interface serves as a single interface for all interactions required in solving the case. |
| US08549044B2 |
Range-centric contextual information systems and methods
A computer implemented method for providing location-based services using a mobile device is provided. A first anchor is generated by sensing a location-identifying physical characteristic proximate to a mobile device present at a first location and generating a representation of the location-identifying physical characteristic; determining a descriptive identification of the first location; and combining the descriptive identification and the representation of the location-identifying physical characteristic. The first anchor is transmitted to a computer remote from the first location. A request is made to a remote computer for a chronotope retrieved from a database of previously generated anchors, the received chronotope indicating a logical distance between the first anchor and a second anchor, wherein the second anchor is associated with a second location distinct from the first location. Information including the logical distance between the first and second anchors indicated by the received chronotope is conveyed to a user of the mobile device. |
| US08549042B1 |
Systems and methods for sorting and displaying search results in multiple dimensions
A system plots results of a data search. The system executes one or more search queries to search stored data. The system receives results of the executed one or more search queries, where the results are orderable by at least one search characteristic. The system designates a visual representation for each of the results. The system plots each of the visual representations on a multi-dimensional graphical display, where at least one dimension of the multi-dimensional graphical display corresponds to the at least one search characteristic. |
| US08549036B2 |
Information technology enterprise manager and product portfolio manager application module
This document discusses, among other things, an information technology (IT) enterprise manager system. In one example, the system includes data groups organized into IT Services, IT Resources, and IT Consumers data groups. The IT Resources data group may include one or more of an IT Applications data group, an IT Assets data group, an IT Staff Data group, and an IT Vendors data group. The IT Consumers data group may include one or both of a Business Processes data group and an IT Clients data group. Information in one data group may use a link to other information in another data group. In one example, the system provides tools and methods for managing a portfolio IT projects through various phases of their lifecycles, such as during project definition, establishing a business case for the project, project design and implementation, and/or project wrap-up. For example, the system may provide user interface displays and report generation that permit the user to compare different projects, such as using business value, probability of success and/or other factors for performing the comparison. |
| US08549032B1 |
Determining proximity to topics of advertisements
Methods, and systems, including computer programs encoded on computer-readable storage mediums, including a method for determining a relevance of search keywords to an advertisement. The method includes accessing ad keyword data specifying an ad keyword associated with an advertisement; identifying a keyword cluster specifying terms related to a topic of the advertisement; determining whether the ad keyword occurs in the at least one keyword cluster; identifying one or more search keywords to which the advertisement is responsive; determining whether the one or more search keywords occur in the at least one keyword cluster; and determining, by one or more data processors, a relevance of the one or more search keywords to the advertisement based on the determination of whether the ad keyword occurs in the at least one keyword cluster and the determination of whether the one or more search keywords occur in the at least one keyword cluster. |
| US08549029B2 |
Method for generating data enabling the search for content, system, terminal, and server complements to implement the method
A method for generating data enabling searching for content complements intended for terminals of a telecommunication network is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes selecting content from a terminal, generating identification information of the selected content, sending a marker generation request to a content complement server, and, in response to receiving the request, generating and saving a marker at the content complement server. The request includes the user's identification data and the identification information of the selected content. The marker includes the user's identification data, the identification information of the selected content, and search characteristics data enabling an additional search for content related to the selected content. A system, a terminal, and a server associated with the method are also provided. |
| US08549028B1 |
Incident tracking systems and methods
Various embodiments of the present invention are related to incident tracking systems and methods. A method allows for receiving input that specifies an incident at a facility, defining a search area adjacent to a position of the incident, and displaying one or more other incidents that occurred at the facility within the search area. A further method allows for dynamically plotting, each time a search area is changed on a map of a facility and an associated date range is indicated, positions on the map within the search area so as to indicate where incidents have occurred at the facility within the date range. Another method allows for receiving input that specifies a name of a person associated with an incident at a facility, and automatically flagging the person as being of interest if the person has been involved in one or more other incidents at the facility. |
| US08549026B2 |
Standardized database access system and method
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a technique for accessing data from a database. The technique may include providing a group of hyper objects each containing a different rule. When a hyper object query language (HOQL) query is received using an HOQL engine, at least one hyper object is selected using the HOQL engine in response to the HOQL query, A data request is sent via the selected hyper object to retrieve data from the database, to be received from the database to be used by the selected hyper object. The requested data is used according to the rule associated with the selected hyper object to provide a desired standardized output. |
| US08549022B1 |
Fingerprint generation of multimedia content based on a trigger point with the multimedia content
Surrogate heuristic identification is described, including a memory configured to store data associated with content, and a processor configured to select a portion of the content and the portion is standardized, to identify a characteristic associated with the portion, to use the characteristic to generate a data representation, the data representation being used to provide heuristic data, and to process the heuristic data to generate a fingerprint configured to compare against one or more stored fingerprints. |
| US08549009B2 |
XML data processing system, data processing method and XML data processing control program used for the system
XML analyzer 11 analyzes and decomposes XML data ina into nodes and assigns node identifiers to the nodes to produce XML data inb while creating indexes ix for specifying node identifiers for XML data inb on the basis of XPath expression F. Storage 12 stores XML data inb while index storage 13 stores indexes ix. XPath expression processor 14 uses indexes ix to acquire the node identifiers corresponding to XPath expression F while acquiring XML data inc corresponding to the node identifiers from stored XML data inb. |
| US08549008B1 |
Determining section information of a digital volume
A system, method, and computer program determines section information of a digital volume. Digital volumes include digital representations of human-readable content, such as digitized books. Phrases are extracted from a table of contents of a digital volume. Matching phrases that at least approximately match the extracted phrases are identified in the body of the digital volume. A best matching phrase is determined for each extracted phrase based on the ordering of the extracted phrases and the matching phrases, and based on match scores indicating the quality of the matches. Section information is generated, including section headings and section start locations based on the best matching phrases. The digital volume is presented to users with links from the table of contents to the section headings on the section start pages. The section information is also used to enhance searching of the digital volume by users. |
| US08549007B1 |
System and method for indexing meta-data in a computer storage system
Instead of using a separate database to store meta-data for computer files, the file system itself is used to store the meta-data associated with computer files and meta-data index files that allow searches to performed quickly on meta-data values according to example systems and methods. The meta-data associated with a computer file may be stored in a meta-data file with a filename derived from the filename of the original computer file. The meta-data index files associated with a particular type of meta-data type and meta-data value of that meta-data type may be stored in a meta-data index file with a filename derived from the meta-data type and meta-data value of that meta-data type. In this manner, the meta-data associated with computer files may easily be searched using the meta-data index files. |
| US08549006B2 |
Phrase matching in documents having nested-structure arbitrary (document-specific) markup
A method of searching a document having nested-structure document-specific markup (such as Extensible Markup Language (XML)) involves 112 receiving a query that designates at least (A) a phrase to be matched in a phrase matching process, and (B) a selective designation of at least a tag or annotation that is to be ignored during the phrase matching process. The method further involves 114 deriving query-specific indices based on query-independent indices that were created specific to each document, and 116 carrying out the phrase matching process using the query-specific indices on the document having the nested-structure document-specific markup. |
| US08549003B1 |
System and method for clustering host inventories
A method in one example implementation includes obtaining a plurality of host file inventories corresponding respectively to a plurality of hosts, calculating input data using the plurality of host file inventories, and then providing the input data to a clustering procedure to group the plurality of hosts into one or more clusters of hosts. The method further includes each cluster of hosts being grouped using predetermined similarity criteria. In more specific embodiments, each of the host file inventories includes a set of one or more file identifiers with each file identifier representing a different executable software file on a corresponding one of the plurality of hosts. In other more specific embodiments, calculating the input data includes transforming the host file inventories into a matrix of keyword vectors in Euclidean space. In further embodiments, calculating the input data includes transforming the host file inventories into a similarity matrix. |
| US08549001B1 |
Method and system for gathering and providing consumer intelligence
A method for gathering and providing consumer intelligence includes the steps of receiving and storing data in a first database relating to a transaction between a consumer and a business enterprise, receiving and storing cognitive data in the first database, wherein at least some of the cognitive data relates to the consumer's emotions during a transaction between the consumer and the business enterprise, receiving and storing data in the first database relating to a transaction between two or more business enterprises, and providing data from the first database to a business enterprise in response to a request for data sent by the business enterprise. |
| US08548999B1 |
Query expansion
An expanded queries data structure is described. The data structure is produced on the basis of a set of seed queries, and consists of entries each specifying an expanded query submitted by a user that has been determined to have a high degree of relatedness to at least a plurality of the seed queries of the set. The expanded queries specified by the entries of the expanded queries data structure can be used to define a segment of users expected to have interests characterized by the seed queries. |
| US08548996B2 |
Ranking content items related to an event
Ranking content items is disclosed. A user input is received from each of one or more users indicating an opinion of the user with respect to a content item included in a plurality of content items. Based at least in part on a number of users from whom user input has been received, a degree is determined to which a ranking of the content item relative to one or more other content items in the plurality of content items is determined by user input. |
| US08548993B2 |
Method, system and apparatus for dynamic book registry of books and for modeling real-time demand for books within academic sectors
A system provides a connection between education administration, particularly as such administration assigns or selects books, and the marketing and use of those books. Such marketing and use of those books and information related to those books can include, without limitation, consumer product information, the publishing industry and specifically book publishing, and market analysis, analysis of data, markets, demand and supply chain and inventory management. |
| US08548992B2 |
User interface for a digital content management system
A graphical user interface and digital content processor for the management of digital data. The graphical user interface is characterized by two treeview controls capable of transforming the screen display of items under management by acting as a filtering mechanism for the category value pairs inherent in every item under management. The treeview controls folders, or nodes, transform the screen display of data under management to filter by the category values represented by the treeview controls' folders when selected. |
| US08548991B1 |
Personalized browsing activity displays
A system records browsing activity of a user using a browser. The system determines browsing statistics from the recorded browsing activity and graphically displays the browsing statistics to the user via the browser. |
| US08548988B2 |
System and method for comparing universities based on their university model graphs
An educational institution (also referred as a university) is structurally modeled using a university model graph. Such a model helps compare educational institutions at various levels—university level, department level, faculty member level, or student level. One of the requirements of comparison is to normalize the similarities and identify and elaborate the differences across multiple educational institutions. A way to achieve this is to model the educational institutions using comparable elements; specifically, the university model graph allows for such comparison as multiple educational institutions are modeled based on the same set of concepts and notions. A system and method for comparing educational institutions based on their respective university model graphs is discussed. |
| US08548984B2 |
Providing efficient access to redundant number representations
Disclosed are an apparatus, method, and program product which each provide an enhanced database engine. Access to precise values is provided while permitting unfettered access to those who are not interested in precise values. This is accomplished via an enhanced database index and indexing method. The entries of the database index are normalized to exclude precision. Individuals interested in precision can then specify precision as part of their query through use of a PRECISE keyword. Results are then filtered to account for the specified precision. |
| US08548981B1 |
Providing relevance- and diversity-influenced advertisements including filtering
Methods, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for enhancing selecting of relevant and diverse advertisements by selecting additional queries relating to an initial query, and by filtering additional queries and their associated advertisements. |
| US08548976B2 |
Balancing load requests and failovers using a UDDI proxy
A method for connecting to a web service includes selecting a web service, selecting a server among one or more servers capable of running the selected web service, determining a real address for the selected web service running on the selected server and connecting to the selected web service running on the selected server using the determined real address. |
| US08548973B1 |
Method and apparatus for filtering search results
A method, apparatus, and computer program product for filtering search results is disclosed herein. A method for filtering search results may extract metadata attributes and associated attribute values from web search results. The method includes presenting the extracted metadata attributes to a user for selection by the user and receiving input from the user indicating a selected metadata attribute. The method includes presenting attribute values associated with the selected metadata attribute to the user for selection by the user and receiving input from the user indicating a selected attribute value. The method includes filtering the web search results based on the selected attribute value. Each entry in the filtered web search results includes the selected attribute value. The method includes displaying a filtered results list to the user where the filtered results list includes the filtered web search results. |
| US08548968B2 |
Vehicle identification number decoder
A VIN decoder system includes a VIN decoder configured to search a database for a vehicle type associated with the received VIN, determine a VIN structure associated with the vehicle type, parse the received VIN according to the VIN structure to identify one or more VIN elements of the received VIN. The VIN decoder then determines VIN element descriptions associated with values of the one VIN elements and communicates the information that includes the VIN element descriptions to the user. |
| US08548963B2 |
Context sensitive media and information
A system and method for making media content sensitive to a context, such that the media content carries information needed to automatically process the media content in a target environment which includes a context processing engine. The engine processes a first set of rules and methods for media content objects and compares the first set to a second set of rules and methods for media context to decide which methods are to be applied on the media object to process the media content in a target environment. |
| US08548959B2 |
System and method for minimizing data recovery window
A computer-based system includes a backup server, a production server, a recovery agent that executes on the production server, a database on the production server, a backup database on the backup server, and a meta data file on the backup server. The meta data file includes file names, a file directory, and file attributes. The system is configured to copy the metadata file from the backup server to a production server. When the copying of the metadata file from the backup server to the production server is complete, and before or during a time period in which backup data is copied from the backup server to the production server, the system is configured to receive a request from the production server to restore a file from the backup server with a higher priority than other files on the backup server. |
| US08548954B2 |
Archiving system for massive databases using pre-computed data lifecycles
An enterprise management system includes transaction/analytic applications and an archiving system in which data object lifecycles are pre-computed when the data object is created by the transaction application or analytic application. Having pre-computed the data lifecycle via the transaction/analytic applications, an archiving system need not re-determine whether the criteria for archiving are met. When the archiving system is initiated, the archiving system may identify the data objects having lifecycle dates that match the current date and archive them directly. |
| US08548953B2 |
File deduplication using storage tiers
A method and apparatus for removing duplicated data in a file system utilizing the concept of storage tiers. A synthetic namespace is created via file virtualization, and is comprised of one or more file systems. Deduplication is applied at the namespace level and on all of the file systems comprising the synthetic namespace. All files in a file system in a higher storage tier whose contents are identical to at least one other file in the synthetic namespace are moved to a destination file system in a lower storage tier. For each set of duplicated files that are moved from the original servers, a single instance copy of the file is left behind as a mirror copy. Read access to a duplicated file is redirected to its mirror copy. When the first write to a duplicated file is received, the association from the duplicated file stored in the destination server to its mirror copy that is stored in the origin server is discarded. Access to the “modified” duplicated file will then resume normally from the destination server. |
| US08548952B2 |
Methods and systems for providing fault recovery to side effects occurring during data processing
Embodiments may recover from faults by forming a new set of rows by removing rows associated with faulting save operations and repeating the saving and forming operations using the new set of rows until a set of rows that can be saved from the known start state without fault is determined. When the subset of successful rows is found, embodiments are able to provide assurance that no side effects (i.e., code or operations triggered by saving of a data to a particular location) have been executed on behalf of any of the failed rows (side effects from custom PL/SOQL code included) by deferring execution of triggers until an entire set of rows can be saved and committed. |
| US08548949B2 |
Methods for dynamic consistency group formation
A method for dynamic consistency group formation, in one embodiment, includes creating a snapshot of first data stored on a source storage system with respect to data content and data structure, copying the snapshot to a target storage system, detecting one or more write operations affecting data on the source storage system while copying the first data, detecting one or more collisions affecting the first data on the source storage system, wherein a collision occurs whenever the write operations affect the first data prior to the first data being written, setting a consistency group interval which represents an interval duration between successive snapshot create-and-copy events, and altering the consistency group interval to minimize collisions affecting data on at least one of the storage systems. Other methods for dynamic consistency group formation are also described. |
| US08548945B2 |
Database caching utilizing asynchronous log-based replication
A database table within a database to persist within a cache as a cached table can be identified. The database can be a relational database management system (RDBMS) or an object oriented database management system (OODBMS). The cache can be a database cache. Database transactions within can be logged within a log table and the cached table within the cache can be flagged as not cached during runtime. An asynchronous replication of the database table to the cached table can be performed. The replication can execute the database transactions within the log table upon the cached table. The cached table can be flagged as cached when the replication is completed. |
| US08548943B2 |
Systems and methods for continuous PIM synchronization between a host computer and a client handheld device
A wireless handheld device operable to continuously synchronize PIM information with a host desktop computer. The device comprises a software module for updating a handheld PIM database to reflect a change to PIM information, a software module for updating a handheld mirror database to reflect the change to PIM information, a software module for generating a PIM message relating to the change to the PIM information, a software module for translating the PIM message from a handheld data format into a network data format and a software module for sending the PIM message from the client wireless handheld device to the host desktop computer via a wireless network. |
| US08548942B2 |
Methods and systems for recursive saving of hierarchical objects to a database
Methods and systems include embodiments that recursively save parent, grandparent, and other records in a database that depend from a record. User-provided code within a save event or trigger can thus call further save methods without corrupting the database. Junction objects, objects that reflect records with two or more parents, can also be recursively saved. |
| US08548941B2 |
Document management system and method
A document management system allows designation of process owners, approvers, trainers and users of specified documents. The system automatically notifies designated participants of documents to be created, documents awaiting approval, training required, training schedules, and tests. Notifications of approved documents are automatically sent to designated users and trainers for scheduling and tracking user training. The system accommodates requests for document revisions and justifications and allows custom reports to be created and tracked. The system allows for the creation of custom tests that are linked to documents and graded automatically to be used as a final phase of training. |
| US08548940B1 |
System, method and computer program product for executing recall actions with respect to an approval process in a multi-tenant an on-demand database service
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for recalling execution of an approval process on a data object. These mechanisms and methods for recalling execution of an approval process on a data object can enable actions to be automatically performed in association with the recall of the execution of the approval process on the data object. Thus, manual initiation of actions associated with a recall may be avoided. |
| US08548939B2 |
Methods, systems and computer programs for processing data in a world-wide-web service environment
Methods, systems and computer programs are provided for processing data in a web service environment. In accordance with one embodiment, a data processing method is provided that comprises: entering data values into respective data entry fields of an electronic data entry form of a first computer; entering an identifier of a web service into the first computer; initiating a data processing stage to be performed by a second computer on the basis of the data values entered into the electronic data entry form by the first computer; sending signalling data for signalling initiation of the data processing stage to a web service; and sending a result of the data processing stage to a third computer, the third computer being coupled to the web service. |
| US08548937B2 |
Medical care treatment decision support system
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will assist patients with their investigation of, and decision making about, the treatments that are available to them using conjoint analysis methods that measure individual preferences for risk-associated treatment options, while maintaining an acceptable interview length. In exemplary embodiments, such individual preferences, known as “utilities” in economics literature, will be combined with evidence-based outcomes data regarding the probabilities of treatment outcomes; exemplary embodiments will use “decision analysis” and modified “conjoint analysis” methods, to dynamically generate for patients real-time individualized, evidence-based feedback, rankings and recommendations regarding medical treatment alternatives that are available to the patient based on the patient's medical condition and prognostic indicators. |
| US08548934B2 |
System and method for assessing risk
The invention describes systems and methods of assessing risk using a computer. A computer-based system including an enrollment module, a data aggregation module, a risk assessment module, and a memory is provided for assessing risks. The enrollment receives, at a computer, personal information regarding at least one entity. The data aggregation module receives, at the computer, risk information regarding the entity according to the personal information from at least one data source. The risk assessment module converts the risk information to assessment information. The memory stores the personal information, the risk information, and/or the assessment information on the computer. |
| US08548928B1 |
Method and system for providing search assistance via a communications network
A system and method for providing search assistance over a communications network to an employer or a job seeker advertising positions at or applying to positions at higher education learning institutions. The method enables an employer to submit information about their open positions into categorized online system accessible to persons looking for employment in higher education. The categories are specially selected to reflect current market conditions in higher education. Employers utilize a specialized posting system to make their postings. Postings are viewed and polished prior to being made available to job seekers to ensure proper categorization, content, and completeness.Job seekers may view posted positions by entering search criteria into a search engine to produce a list of jobs matching the criteria. Job seekers may also browse listed positions by clicking through a series of categories that describe an academic discipline or administrative department. The system and method also provides tools which allow the job seeker to upload resumes, curriculum vitae, cover letters, and other relevant documents and connects the job seeker to a docketing system to schedule events related to the job seeking campaign. |
| US08548927B2 |
Biometric registration for facilitating an RF transaction
A method for registering biometric information for use in a transponder-reader system is disclosed. The method includes steps of detecting, verifying and storing a proffered biometric sample. During detecting, a sensor detects a proffered biometric to obtain a biometric sample. During the verifying step, the biometric sample is compared with other stored samples and/or other information. During the storing step, the biometric sample is stored on a database, for use by the transponder-reader system in authorizing transactions. |
| US08548926B2 |
Method and apparatus for global replacement card services
A prompt-response card issuing system providing temporary financial transaction cards includes a communications module, a personal account number (PAN) mapping module, and a security measure determination module. The communications module communicates with a plurality of financial card issuers, each having different profile standards for generating security measures, and also receives, from an issuer, an authorization for a new PAN associated with a financial account of a cardholder. The PAN module maps the new PAN to a temporary personal account number (TPAN) for the cardholder. The security measure determination module determines at least one security measure requirement according to a system profile standard of said prompt-response card issuing system rather than the system profile standard of the authorizing issuer. The TPAN, the security measure requirement, and personal information regarding the cardholder are communicated to a physical card producer so that a physical card bearing the TPAN, the security measure, and at least one item of personal information about the cardholder, can be produced and delivered to the cardholder. |
| US08548923B2 |
Method and system for facilitating data access and management on a secure token
A system for facilitating data access and management on a smart card is provided. According to one exemplary aspect of the system, a storage architecture is provided in the smart card which allows data stored thereon to be shared by multiple parties. Access to data stored on the smart card is controlled by various access methods depending on the actions to be taken with respect to the data to be accessed. |
| US08548919B2 |
System and method for self-provisioning of virtual images
A system, method, and computer-readable medium are disclosed for automatically provisioning a virtual image on a target system. A service operating system comprising a virtual machine monitor and a personalization agent is installed on a target system. A set of digital assets entitlement data is provided along with an associated set of digital assets data contained in a virtual software image, which is then installed on the target system by the personalization agent. |
| US08548914B2 |
Method and system for photo identification in a payment card transaction
A method and system for a photo ID payment card transaction verification system for use with a payment card interchange network is provided. The system is programmed to receive a photo of a cardholder, the photo verified to be of the cardholder, assign a unique photo identifier to the photo, the unique photo identifier associated with the cardholder's payment card account, receive payment card transaction information for a payment cardholder from the interchange network, the interchange network configured to process payment card transactions between a merchant through a merchant bank and a cardholder through an issuer bank, the payment card transaction information including data relating to a purchase of goods or services made by the cardholder at a merchant, and transmit at least one of the photo and an access to the photo to the merchant with an authorization request response during a payment card transaction. |
| US08548911B2 |
Devices and methods for disaster-relief support
Methods and apparatus according to the invention are directed towards providing a client support in the wake of a disaster impacting a locale. Support may include transporting support-means to the locale, authenticating identification of the client, interfacing with an entity administering an account for the client, and facilitating access by the client to the account. The methods and apparatus may also provide support of non-account-related disaster-relief efforts associated with the locale. |
| US08548909B1 |
Method and system for building an internet portal
A method and system for building an Internet portal provides a portal toolkit platform consisting at least in part of a portal application server and a web server associated with the portal toolkit platform that is accessible by at least one end user. A business is allowed to access the portal application server and fill one or more content management templates from a selection of content management templates governing content elements to be presented to end users via the website server. When an end user accesses the website server, content governed by the template is presented for the end user by the portal application server via the web server. The business can populate a database with content and populate the web server, for example, with a set of images, HTML files, and other assets such as PDF files and build an Internet portal on top of the toolkit as an approach to integrating transaction systems. The portal toolkit platform provides internationalization, content management, scalability and performance, personalization, navigation, and allows legacy systems to be quickly leveraged. |
| US08548908B2 |
Mobile commerce infrastructure systems and methods
Methods, systems, and machine readable media are disclosed for utilizing mobile electronic devices in various types of financial transactions. According to one embodiment, a system for supporting mobile commerce applications can include a management and control layer. The management and control layer can be adapted to control communications to and from mobile wallet applications. The system can also have a gateway services layer communicatively coupled with the management and control layer and a plurality of content provider systems communicatively coupled with the gateway services layer. The content provider systems can be adapted to provide financial transaction content or services related to the mobile commerce functions of the mobile wallet applications via the management and control layer and gateway services layer. |
| US08548905B1 |
System and methods for determining the likelihood that a loan closes
Systems and methods are provided for determining an indication that an application for a mortgage loan to secure a property may result in closing of the loan transaction. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving application information, such that the application information includes at least borrower information, property information, and a first interest rate; receiving home value information, such that the home value information represents an estimated value of the property; receiving a second interest rate; and determining the indication based on the received application information, received home value information, and received second interest rate, such that the indication represents a likelihood that the mortgage loan may result in closing. |
| US08548903B2 |
Systems and methods for minimizing effects of authorized user credit tradelines
Systems and methods for identifying, evaluating, and accounting for effects of authorized user trade lines are disclosed. The systems and methods incorporate use of credit characteristics that describe the nature of authorized user trade lines on a credit file or across credit files, and the influence of those authorized user relationships relative to the non-authorized user trade lines on the credit file in the evaluation of credit risk. Systems and methods incorporating these credit characteristics can be used in identifying any bias in perceived credit risk, in the evaluation of credit risk, or other credit-related evaluation. |
| US08548901B1 |
Methods, software programs, and systems for managing one or more liabilities
The present invention relates to various methods, software programs, and systems for managing one or more liabilities. More particularly, certain embodiments of the present invention relate to methods, software programs, and systems for managing debt in the form of at least one credit issued by a borrower. |
| US08548898B2 |
Electronic securities marketplace having integration with order management systems
An electronic trading marketplace (ETM) communicates with interfacing modules interfacing directly with order management systems (OMS's) at trading institutions. The interfacing modules automatically transmit orders from the OMS databases to the ETM and update the OMS databases in response to orders executed at the ETM. Traders can communicate with the ETM to anonymously negotiate trades of securities. |
| US08548897B2 |
System for matching orders for futures contracts which facilitate electronic trading of over the counter futures contracts
An electronic trading system and method is disclosed for matching orders for various asset classes including futures contracts and the subsequent settlement and clearance of such contracts. The electronic trading system is configured to be connected to one or more electronic exchanges and is also configured to interface with the existing infrastructure of the front office software of a trading firm, broker or dealer to provide the best fill for traders by enabling electronic trades to be executed both on the exchange and over the counter. In one embodiment of the invention, a local order book is established thereby establishing an independent pool of liquidity of the asset class of interest. |
| US08548893B2 |
Systems and methods for automated repurchase agreement matching
A system and method for facilitating tri-party repurchase (or other) agreement transactions. A dealer or trader sends instructions to an intermediary third party characterizing a previously agreed-upon set of terms for a repurchase agreement between the dealer and an investor. The parties can thereafter approve or reject the deal allegement via an on-line system. In addition to, or instead of, dealer or investor approval, an instruction matching utility is provided to automatically or substantially automatically match instructions received from dealers and investors related to a plurality of deal allegements. In either case the status of the trade will be displayed to all parties. |
| US08548881B1 |
Credit optimization to minimize latency
Embodiments of systems and methods are described for reducing latency during invoice generation involving credit distribution. In some implementations, references to invoice line items are sorted by supplemental charge rate and credits are applied to the invoice line items in decreasing supplemental charge rate order. An invoice is generated that includes the invoice line items and associated credits. The process of generating applying the credits is optimized to minimize latency and to provide the greatest financial benefit to the user. |
| US08548880B2 |
Methods, apparatus, systems and computer readable mediums for use in association with determination of customs duties
According to some embodiments, a system, a method and/or a computer readable medium are provided. According to some embodiments, a method includes receiving, by a processor, data indicative of a plurality of imported components, each one of the plurality of imported components being subject to an import duty if a respective condition associated with the imported component is not satisfied; maintaining, by a processor, data indicative of ones of the plurality of imported components for which the respective condition has not been satisfied; wherein the maintaining data indicative of ones of the plurality of imported components for which the respective condition has not been satisfied comprises: providing data indicative of ones of the plurality of imported components for which the respective condition has not been satisfied; and updating the data indicative of ones of the plurality of imported components for which the respective condition has not been satisfied; and after the maintaining data indicative of ones of the plurality of imported components for which the respective condition has not been satisfied, determining, by a processor, a respective duty owed for each of the ones of the plurality of imported components for which the respective condition has not been satisfied. |
| US08548877B2 |
Expense tracking, electronic ordering, invoice presentment, and payment system and method
Systems and methods are described for electronic invoice presentment and payment processing. Requestors may place an order to purchase goods or services from one or more vendors. Invoice processing includes approval routing and dispute resolution. |
| US08548872B1 |
Generating product feeds
Disclosed are various embodiments for generating product feeds associated with a product catalog for a third party site. Entries in a product feed that are associated with products that are in turn associated with a price that is below a threshold specified by a minimum advertised pricing restriction can be flagged. A hyperlink can be provided through which a user can add the product to a shopping cart in an electronic commerce system, which can allow the third party site to display pricing information for the product. |
| US08548871B2 |
System and method for allocating business to one of a plurality of sellers in a buyer driven electronic commerce system
A system and method for allocating conditional purchase offers (CPO) among a plurality of agency-based and broadcast-based sellers in a buyer-driven commerce system. In one embodiment, the system determines which agency-based or broadcast-based sellers can fulfill or satisfy the CPO and orders those sellers in a priority order. In another embodiment, the priority is determined by relative market share and number of recent opportunities to satisfy the CPO. In another embodiment, the priority is also determined by metrics and buyer information. In another embodiment, the priority is determined randomly. The system ensures that when a buyer can satisfy the CPO at multiple prices levels, the highest price level fulfills the CPO. This ensures maximum seller revenue for each CPO. |
| US08548869B2 |
System to determine posting payment amount based on specific type of item
Products and processes are provided in which information is received about a post for an item to be sold. The information may include type data identifying the item for sale as being a specific type of item. Based on the received type data, a posting payment amount is determined. |
| US08548868B1 |
Method and apparatus to aggregrate demand for buyer specified goods and services
The present invention is a method and apparatus for buyers to specify goods and services then aggregate demand to reduce price and minimize seller surplus. This enables consumers and small organizations to specify and obtain goods and services on terms usually available only to large organizations. An author can draft a RFQ or RFP then solicit comments and endorsements from opinion leaders who influence demand. The author will then publish the RFQ or RFP globally to prospective buyers to solicit binding commitments then offer the RFQ or RFP globally to prospective sellers to solicit binding bids. As the bid price declines the number of buyers will increase motivating a further reduction in bid price. The author can accept or reject each bid or make a counter-offer. If a bid is accepted, payment is exchanged for the specified goods and services. |
| US08548866B2 |
Methods and systems to supplement a listing via a third party trust provider
Various embodiments include a method and system to request supplemental trust information (STI), from over a network, from a third party trust provider. The requesting uses a first predetermined criterion from an item listing that describes a particular item that is offered for sale on a network-based marketplace. The STI includes history information for the particular item that is generated by the third party trust provider. The system then stores and presents at least a portion of the STI. |
| US08548865B1 |
System and method for group gift exchanges
Systems and methods for organizing and conducting group gift exchanges among two or more participants generally enable multiple participants to order an item and to receive an item in return. Items may be allocated on a random basis, or on some other basis, such as the cost or other characteristic of the respective items, or the known preferences or interests of the respective participants. The systems and methods may take the form of free-standing applications or may be incorporated into existing merchant web sites or social networks, and may include components or processes for receiving orders of items and for allocating items among each of the participants. |
| US08548864B2 |
Managing transmission of information
A method, a computer program product, and an apparatus for managing transmission of information are provided. A determination is made as to whether a pattern in a set of patterns is present in the information to be transmitted by a first user. Responsive to a determination that the pattern in the set of patterns is present in the information to be transmitted, the information is inhibited from being transmitted by the first user. A request is sent to a mobile device of a second user for an approval of the information to be transmitted. Responsive to receiving the approval of the information to be transmitted from the second user, the information is transmitted. |
| US08548859B2 |
Point of sale network router
Systems and methods are provided for routing data. A device is provided that includes a first data port configured to be coupled to a printer port of a point of sale system, a second data port configured to be coupled to a remote system, an optional third data port configured to be coupled to a printer, and a computing device configured to receive, via the first data port, printer control codes and receipt data from the point of sale system printer port, transmit at least a portion of the receipt data to the remote system, and optionally transmit at least a portion of the printer control codes and receipt data to the printer. |
| US08548858B2 |
Method and system for detecting fraud
A system and method for detecting fraud when facilitating a payment transaction over a global wide area network. The method comprises receiving a sale information, receiving a payment information from a buyer, and analyzing a transaction information for fraud. If the analyzing indicates fraud, an enhanced transaction information is communicated to a human for fraud analysis. In one embodiment, the method comprises performing rule-based analyses to determine whether the transaction appears to be fraudulent. Rule-based analyses may include suspect data rules and velocity rules. Velocity rules generally determine whether there has been excessive activity that may lead to a conclusion that the transaction may be fraudulent. Suspect data rules are used to determine whether the billing, shipping, selling addresses, telephone numbers, and account numbers, and other data are in a syntactically correct format and whether they exist. In one embodiment, the method further comprises performing simple screening of the transaction information. In one embodiment, the method further comprises seeking approval from a third party such as a financial institution based on the payment information. The method may be implemented as part of a system that includes personal computers, server computers, and other personal computing devices, some of which may communicate over the Internet, and others which may communicate via dedicated communication lines. |
| US08548856B2 |
Apparatus, system and method for providing a signal to request goods and/or services
An apparatus, a system and a method for displaying a visual signal that requests a good and/or service are provided. The system and the method have a communication device having a screen to display a signal that requests the good and/or the service. The signal may be, for example, a logo, a text, a picture, a color, and/or a shape. The signal may describe, characterize or otherwise relate to the good and/or the service requested by a user. Further, the communication device may access, connect to and/or be in communication with a database storing the signal. The communication device may input information into the database relating to a user of the communication device. The communication device may design, modify and/or transmit the visual using a server and/or a network. The communication device may have a memory for storing and/or accessing the signal. The screen of the communication device may emit the signal. |
| US08548854B2 |
Content distribution utilizing access parameter data
Systems and methods for providing content to a user at an account accessing device is described A first user input may be received at a first account processing device. A type of channel between the user and the account accessing device, a temporal parameter associated with the first access, user used financial entity services associated with at least one account of the user and current allowable actions on the first account by the user may be determined. A second user input may be received indicating an action, of the current allowable actions, of the user at the first account accessing device. Content for output to the user upon another occurrence of the user accessing the first account accessing device may be determined. The content may be based upon at least one behavioral characteristic of the user and may be an offer for at least one user unused financial entity service. |
| US08548851B2 |
Conversion path performance measures and reports
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for providing conversion path performance measures and reports. In one aspect, user interaction data are obtained, were the user interaction data specify user interactions for a plurality of conversions. User interactions that are associated with each conversion are selected from the user interaction data, where the associated user interactions for each conversion are user interactions with a converting user during the conversion cycle for the conversion. Using the user interaction data for the selected user interactions, a quantity of user interactions that are associated with each conversion and occurred during the conversion cycle for the conversion are determined. In turn, conversion path performance measures are computed and reports specifying the conversion path performance measures are generated. |
| US08548849B1 |
Customer generated promotions
Disclosed are various embodiments for enabling customers to generate promotions. A specification of a promotion is obtained from a user. The promotion provides an incentive for ordering one or more items from a merchant. An electronic commerce application of the merchant is configured to offer the promotion. An account associated with the user is maintained such that a promotion expense is debited from the account relative to a number of orders to which the incentive is applied. |
| US08548848B1 |
Mobile interstitial ads
Systems and methods for pre-loading and displaying intervening content, such as advertisements, on a mobile device during latency periods, such as when an advertiser landing page is requested by that device, are provided herein. Intervening content may be pre-loaded on to the device and associated with one or more particular advertisements such that selecting/interacting with the associated advertisement triggers intervening content display during known or detected periods of latency. In some cases, a latency threshold or thresholds may determine one or more types of content to present, and/or a content presentation sequence. |
| US08548844B2 |
Apparatus, system and method for a brand affinity engine using positive and negative mentions and indexing
An apparatus, system and method of implementing a computerized brand affinity engine. The apparatus, system and method include at least a plurality of computerized access points having accessible thereto a plurality of sites mentioning at least one sponsor, a categorized, hierarchical database of keywords, wherein at least the keywords falling in at least one category of the hierarchy correspond to a sponsor category of the at least one sponsor, and a tracker, wherein the tracker tracks positive ones of the mentions of the at least one sponsor on ones of the plurality of sites and negative ones of the mentions of the at least one sponsor on ones of the plurality of sites, in accordance with positive and negative keywords of the categorized, hierarchical database in the sponsor category, and wherein the tracker issues an rating with regard to the at least one sponsor in accordance with the positive ones and the negative ones of the mentions. An assessment of optimal sponsors for particular markets and/or in particular geographies that additionally increases sponsorship opportunities in particular markets and/or in particular geographies is thereby provided. |
| US08548842B1 |
Systems, methods and computer program products for assessing delivery affectivity in quality function deployment
Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for a quantifiable assessment of the delivery effectiveness of Quality Function Deployment (QFD) planning designs. In this regard, present embodiments provide quantifiable metrics that help a key stakeholder, such as a product or service provider, determine the level of success for each design requirement or Critical-To-Quality (CTQ) attribute defined in the QFD design process. Thus, based on presently described embodiments, the stakeholder can assess how well the deployment of their product or service met the original defined CTQs and/or design requirements and which CTQs and which design requirements related to those CTQs should garner further attention to ensure that the CTQ meets its objective, which in turn allows for the opportunity for the highest possible customer satisfaction with the new or re-designed product, process or service. |
| US08548840B2 |
Method and system for managing a strategic plan via defining and aligning strategic plan elements
A method and system for managing a strategic plan via developing and aligning strategy elements that include required business outcomes (RBOs), strategic business objectives (SBOs), and desired business outcomes (DBOs). RBOs are developed and assigned to key result areas (KRAs). RBOs are operational goals required by a higher-level organization, and deliverable via an execution of operational activities of a subordinate organization. KRAs are performance measurement categories included on the subordinate organization's scorecard and the higher-level organization's scorecard. SBOs are developed and assigned to KRAs, resulting in a first alignment of RBOs with SBOs. SBOs are strategic objectives of the subordinate organization. DBOs are developed and assigned to KRAs, resulting in a second alignment of DBOs with SBOs. DBOs are desired results of the subordinate organization. Strategic goals of the higher-level organization are monitored using RBO and DBO statuses and the first and second alignments. |
| US08548837B2 |
E-business value web
A method and system is provided to manage and track changes in enterprise architectures. The invention provides a hierarchical visual management tool to manage and update relational information within an enterprise in a controlled fashion. The relationship may be maintained in a database and displayed via graphical user interface. Enterprise assets are categorized into such categories as goals, customer values or requirements, capabilities, resources, and the like. A hierarchy is constructed so that relationships between these various categories are identified and captured using the invention. Weights may be assigned to each element of the categories so that any proposed change to an enterprise architecture may be viewed so that a value can be ascertained and compared between other values of other proposed changes. In this manner, tracking and management of evolutionary changes to an architecture may be accomplished using relational information. |
| US08548835B2 |
Modeling tool for determining an organization's supply chain emissions footprint
A CO2e modeling system is implemented via a host server that is remotely accessible by a large number of clients (organizations) and suppliers of goods and services to the clients. The host server accesses a database containing CO2e emission-related data from a large number of suppliers. The client, when determining their indirect CO2e emissions resulting from their supply chain network, then identifies to the host server, via the web, the various suppliers used by the client and the client's amount of usage of the various suppliers. The host server uses its stored conversion factors and other data from the database to calculate the client's indirect CO2e emissions as a result of the client's usage of the particular suppliers. The server may calculate the total CO2e emissions generated by the entire chain of suppliers that are involved with providing a particular product to the client. |
| US08548819B2 |
Method of providing a consumer profile accessible by an on-line interface and related to retail purchase of custom personalized toys
A method for continuing the purchase experience of a personalized semi-custom toy in a follow-up on-line interface experience or in a physical retail experience. The method includes the steps of a consumer assembling a semi-custom toy configuration by selecting from among multiple major component styles and assembling the major component styles selected and selecting additional optional accessories to add to the major components resulting in a semi-custom toy configuration; the consumer inputting identifiers for the selected major component styles and accessories so that an over all toy identifier can be assigned, which is associated with and correlates to the resulting configuration; memorializing the information electronically into a consumer/toy-configuration profile stored in a database having electronic memory for future retrieval and manipulation. |
| US08548818B2 |
Method and system for authenticating customer identities
This disclosure describes, generally, methods and systems for authenticating the identities of customers. For example, a method comprising receiving a service request from a customer and retrieving customer profile information related to the customer is described. The method further comprises generating questions based on the customer profile information and receiving answers to the questions from the customer. Furthermore, the method comprises analyzing the answers by comparing the answers with the customer profile information and calculating an authentication score based on the analysis of the answers. The method further authenticates the customer based on the authentication score being greater than a threshold score level. |
| US08548817B2 |
Method for designing an oral pet product using biometric analysis
Methods are provided for designing an oral dog product that is safe and functionally effective for a class of dogs. A product is formulated and/or shaped based on biometric analysis of the capabilities of the class of dogs. |
| US08548816B1 |
Efficient scalefactor estimation in advanced audio coding and MP3 encoder
An efficient approach for estimating scalefactors for use in the quantization of audio signal spectrum values is described. The scalefactor estimation approach can be implemented in multiple stages. A first stage estimates a distortion level for a selected scalefactor band spectrum value based on a received maximum tolerant distortion threshold and the spectrum values in the scalefactor band. A second stage determines an interim process value based on the previously estimated distortion level and generates a scalefactor for a selected scalefactor band spectrum value based on the generated interim process value and a statistically predetermined fraction. A third stage generates a scalefactor that applies to the whole scalefactor band based on the scalefactor generated for the selected scalefactor band spectrum value. The approach provides a performance gain of 40% over previous techniques, thereby reducing device power requirements and audio encoder bottlenecks. |
| US08548813B2 |
Electronic book with voice emulation features
A method and system for providing text-to-audio conversion of an electronic book displayed on a viewer. A user selects a portion of displayed text and converts it into audio. The text-to-audio conversion may be performed via a header file and pre-recorded audio for each electronic book, via text-to-speech conversion, or other available means. The user may select manual or automatic text-to audio conversion. The automatic text-to-audio conversion may be performed by automatically turning the pages of the electronic book or by the user manually turning the pages. The user may also select to convert the entire electronic book, or portions of it, into audio. The user may also select an option to receive an audio definition of a particular word in the electronic book. The present invention allows a user to control the system by selecting options from a screen or by entering voice commands. |
| US08548810B2 |
Orchestrated encoding and decoding multimedia content having plural digital watermarks
Orchestrated encoding schemes facilitate encoding and decoding of data in content signals at several points in the distribution path of content items. Orchestrated encoding adheres to a set of encoding rules that enables multiple watermarks and corresponding applications to co-exist, avoids collisions among watermarks, and simplifies metadata and routing database infrastructure. |
| US08548808B2 |
Speech understanding apparatus using multiple language models and multiple language understanding models
A speech understanding apparatus includes a speech recognition unit which performs speech recognition of an utterance using multiple language models, and outputs multiple speech recognition results obtained by the speech recognition, a language understanding unit which uses multiple language understanding models to perform language understanding for each of the multiple speech recognition results output from the speech recognition unit, and outputs multiple speech understanding results obtained from the language understanding, and an integrating unit which calculates, based on values representing features of the speech understanding results, utterance batch confidences that numerically express accuracy of the speech understanding results for each of the multiple speech understanding results output from the language understanding unit, and selects one of the speech understanding results with a highest utterance batch confidence among the calculated utterance batch confidences. |
| US08548806B2 |
Voice recognition device, voice recognition method, and voice recognition program
A voice recognition device, a voice recognition method and a voice recognition program capable of appropriately restricting recognition objects based on voice input from a user to recognize the input voice with accuracy are provided. The voice recognition device includes a first voice recognition processing unit for executing processing of assigning weights of a first ratio to a sound score and a language score calculated for the input voice and recognizing the voice using the obtained scores to determine a type of a domain representing the control object based on a result of the processing, and a second voice recognition processing unit, using the domain of the determined type as a recognition object, for executing processing of assigning weights of a second ratio to the sound score and the language score calculated for the input voice, the weight on the sound score being greater in the second ratio than in the first ratio, and recognizing the voice using the obtained scores to determine the control content of the control object based on a result of the processing. |
| US08548803B2 |
System and method of processing a sound signal including transforming the sound signal into a frequency-chirp domain
A system and method may be configured to process an audio signal. The system and method may track pitch, chirp rate, and/or harmonic envelope across the audio signal, may reconstruct sound represented in the audio signal, and/or may segment or classify the audio signal. A transform may be performed on the audio signal to place the audio signal in a frequency chirp domain that enhances the sound parameter tracking, reconstruction, and/or classification. |
| US08548800B2 |
Substitution, insertion, and deletion (SID) distance and voice impressions detector (VID) distance
A device may receive user input, select two strings to compare based on the user input, obtain a first set of keyboard codes for a first of the two strings, obtain a second set of keyboard codes for a second of the two strings, and determine a distance between the two strings based on the first and the second set of keyboard codes. In addition, the device may send a result associated with determining the distance to another device, store the result in a storage device, or display the result. |
| US08548798B2 |
Representations for graphical user interfaces of operators, data types, and data values in a plurality of natural languages
A natural language-independent computer program is constructed. A data element is defined by a graphical representation in a user interface. A data element has a data type and a value. An operator is defined on multiple data elements by association of the graphical representations in the user interface. A natural language-independent graph data structure is defined by the association of data elements representing the logic of a computer program. The data types and operators have referenced descriptions in one or more natural languages, enabling a logical expression such as a computer program to be defined and understood in one or more natural languages. |
| US08548796B2 |
Statistical machine translation system and method for translation of text into languages which produce closed compound words
A translation system and method for translating source text from a first language to target text in a second language are disclosed. A library of bi-phrases is accessed to retrieve bi-phrases which each match a part of the source text. Each of the bi-phrases includes respective text fragments from the first and second language. Words of some (or all) of the bi-phrases are tagged with restricted part of speech (RPOS) tags. At least one of the RPOS tags is configured for identifying a word from the second language as being one which also forms a part of a closed compound word in the library. At least one target hypothesis is generated from the bi-phrases, which includes text fragments in the second language. The target hypothesis or hypotheses are evaluated, based at least in part on combinations of the restricted part of speech tags. Based on the evaluation, one of the at least one target hypothesis is output as the optimal hypothesis for forming the translation. |
| US08548795B2 |
Method for translating documents from one language into another using a database of translations, a terminology dictionary, a translation dictionary, and a machine translation system
In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for translating a document in an input language into an output language comprising: a) for each document fragment for which a translation is readily available, translating said document fragment based on said readily available translation; and b) for each remaining untranslated fragment for which a translation is not readily available, translating said untranslated fragment based on a model-based machine translation technique. A translation is readily available if a search reveals at least one matching translation for the document fragment in a translation database. |
| US08548794B2 |
Statistical noun phrase translation
A statistical machine translation (MT) system may include a noun phrase/prepositional phrase (NP/PP) translation subsystem to translation NP/PPs as a subtask in an MT operation. The NP/PP translation subsystem may use a model trained on an NP/PP corpus and a decoder to generate an n-best list of candidate translations and a re-ranker to re-rank the candidate translations based on a machine learning method and additional features based on known properties of NP/PPs. |
| US08548793B2 |
Handheld electronic device having selectable language indicator for language selection and method therefor
A method of enabling the selection of a language to be employed as a method input language by a disambiguation routine of a handheld electronic device having stored therein a plurality of method input languages and disambiguation routine number, includes detecting a selection of a language, detecting as an ambiguous input an actuation of one or more input members, outputting at least a plurality of the language objects that corresponds to the ambiguous input, outputting an indicator which one of the method input languages is currently employed by the disambiguation function, and enabling an alternate one of the input language methods to be selected in response to a selection of the indicator in lieu of one of the plurality of language objects. |
| US08548787B2 |
Simulating a chemical reaction phenomenon in a semiconductor process
A calculating unit calculates either one of a reaction probability between a chemical species used in a semiconductor process and a semiconductor device and a deactivation probability of the chemical species, according to either one of a structure of the semiconductor device and a plurality of materials. A simulation unit performs a simulation of a physical phenomenon occurring in a reaction chamber based on either one of the reaction probability and the deactivation probability. |
| US08548786B2 |
Neuronal avalanche assay
Method and system for determining a cognitive enhancement and/or anti-epileptic effect comprising: detecting synchronized neuronal activity in neuronal tissue (601), monitoring spreading of the synchronized neuronal activity (602), determining a parameter (604, 605) indicative of the closeness of the synchronized neuronal activity to the critical state and comparing (613) the parameter to a predetermined value. |
| US08548780B2 |
Method for predicting the dynamic behavior of an aircraft structure
A method for predicting dynamic behavior of an aircraft structure, the aircraft including at least one rotary device including at least one rotor guided in rotation by at least one fixed-bracket bearing containing a shock-absorbing fluid film. The method includes using a global digital model of the aircraft structure including a basic digital model of each rotary device, generating a non-linear digital model of each shock-absorbing film (for example by developing a cavitation-free model and a model with cavitation), integrating the model of each shock-absorbing film with the global model, applying interference to at least one rotor of a rotary device, and calculating the vibration frequency of at least one rotor of each rotary device and the corresponding frequency of the vibrations generated in a critical portion of the aircraft structure. |
| US08548779B2 |
Method for determining a position for and positioning a detection device of a navigation system
The invention relates to a method for determining a position for and positioning a detection device (E) of a navigation system. First, a computer simulation of a system is done that comprises a robot (R) which has first markers (M1) of a navigation system or first prominent points, a three-dimensional object (P) which has second markers (M2) of the navigation system or second prominent points, and a detection device (E) of the navigation system. Various positions of the robot (R), the object (P), and/or the detection device (E) are simulated, and the quality of the detectability of the first markers (M1) or the first prominent points on the robot (R) and/or the second markers (M2) or the second prominent points on the object (P) are automatically determined for the simulated positions by means of the detection device (E). The determined qualities and the corresponding simulated positions and/or the simulated position having the highest or at least a sufficiently high determined quality is/are output. |
| US08548773B2 |
High speed chip screening method using delay locked loop
A voltage controlled delay line (VCDL) for measuring the maximum speed of a chip includes a first input configured to receive a reference clock signal, a first output configured to output an output clock signal, and a second input configured to receive a phase error signal representing a phase delay between the reference and output clock signals. A register stores a delay code applied by the VCDL to the reference clock signal to delay the reference clock signal to generate the output clock signal. The delay code is adjusted according to the phase error signal until the phase delay is equal to a predetermined value. A second output is coupled to an interface that reads the delay code from the register and outputs the delay code to automated testing equipment when the phase delay is equal to the predetermined value. The outputted delay code corresponds to the maximum chip speed. |
| US08548771B2 |
Out-of-round container detection system and method
An improved system and method for automatically inspecting the quality of newly-manufactured containers is disclosed that detects containers that are out-of-round by more than a predetermined amount so that they may be rejected to ensure that containers that are passed are of acceptable quality. One or more ultrasonic sensors are located at fixed positions with reference to a container that is rotated. If any sensor detects that the distance between the sensor and the container falls outside of an acceptable range, the container is rejected. |
| US08548769B2 |
Device and method for detecting stopped state of vehicle, and alignment adjusting device
Provided are a device and a method for detecting a stopped state of a vehicle which are capable of precisely detecting the stopped state of the vehicle in order to automate an operation which is externally provided to the stopped vehicle such as an alignment adjusting operation; and an alignment adjusting device to which the device and the method for detecting a stopped state of a vehicle are applied. An arithmetic unit detects, with respect to the left-front tire, for example, an evaluation point of the left-front tire on the basis of the gravity point of a triangle comprising, as vertexes, a point A, a point B, and a point C which are detected by a group of distance sensors; detects an evaluation point of the left-front fender on the basis of a point detected by the group of distance sensors; and detects the stopped state of the vehicle on the basis of the respective evaluation points of the respective tires and the respective evaluation points of the respective fenders. |
| US08548764B1 |
Method and system for increasing optical instrument calibration and prediction accuracy within and across different optical instrument platforms
A method and system for increasing optical instrument calibration and prediction accuracy within and across different optical instrument platforms can include two main submethods or routines. The first routine can include one for correcting differences among optical instruments of different model types regardless of the manufacturer and correcting differences among optical instruments of the same model type. The second main routine or sub-method can include one for analyzing new samples of a product over time and maintaining prediction accuracy as compared to a reference method over time. The first routine can include a “TRANS” procedure, a “MIN” procedure, and checkcell tests. The second main routine provides techniques on how a product database can be cleaned, condensed, and expanded automatically as it is used by one or more different optical instruments. |
| US08548762B2 |
Method of estimating the non-measurable characteristics of an electrochemical system
The present invention relates to a method of estimating the internal state of an electrochemical system by a zero-dimensional (0D) electrochemical mathematical model for estimating the characteristics of a battery that are not directly measurable during operation thereof. For applications relating to hybrid and electric vehicles, the most significant internal characteristics are the state of charge (SoC), the state of health (SoH) and the thermal state (T). Reconstruction of the internal characteristics is achieved using a mathematical model of the battery. The method can be used with the operation of the battery itself (real time) with a concentrated-parameter (0D) or off-line mathematical model, for calibration, an optimization or a validation of management and estimation strategies. The method allows simulation of the thermal and electrical behavior of a battery. The method according to the invention can also be useful for battery dimensioning and for optimization of the energy and thermal management strategies as a function of the desired application. |
| US08548761B2 |
Method for measuring SOC of a battery management system and the apparatus thereof
This invention is related to a method and an apparatus for choosing SOCi (State Of Charge based on current) or SOCv (State Of Charge based on voltage) as the SOC (State Of Charge) of a battery depending on a condition in a battery management system by using an equivalent circuit model. In this invention, a method for measuring SOC of a battery in a battery management system is characterized by comprising the steps of: obtaining voltage data and temperature by measuring the current, voltage and temperature of a battery; calculating SOCi by accumulating the current data; calculating open circuit voltage by using an equivalent circuit model which simply presents the current data, the voltage data and the battery through an electric circuit; calculating SOCv by using the temperature data and the open circuit voltage; and choosing at least one of the SOCi and the SOCv as SOC of the battery by using the SOCi and the SOCv based on the judgment on the current state of a vehicle for a certain time interval. |
| US08548758B1 |
Computer readable medium for calculating maximum allowable operating pressure and maximum operating pressure of a pipeline
A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising a plurality of computer instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, causes the processor to perform operations for providing MAOP information for gas pipelines and MOP information for hazardous liquid pipelines, that is accessible continuously via a network. The processor performs operations including obtaining an identifier for a specific pipeline segment; collecting authenticated pipeline segment information related to the specific pipeline segment; collecting non-authenticated pipeline segment information related to the specific pipeline segment; performing dynamic segmentation, calculating smart segmentation for the specific pipeline segment; identifying gaps in MAOP or MOP data; filling the gaps in MAOP or MOP data; calculating MAOP or MOP value for the specific pipeline; and showing valid and invalid MAOP or MOP value to at least one user using an executive dashboard. |
| US08548754B2 |
Flowmeter
Detecting a leak, or the like, with high accuracy on the basis of pressure and a flow volume acquired during use of fluid is made possible. A volume of gas flowing through a flow path 102 is measured by a flow volume measurement unit 106, and pressure is measured by a pressure measurement unit 108. Measured flow data and measured pressure data are input to an analysis unit 112, to thus analyze following of a pressure change by a flow volume change. A determination showing that a following flow volume change is present, that a following flow volume change is not present, or that a following flow volume change is uncertain is made according to a magnitude correlation between an amount of pressure change of a predetermined level or more and an amount of flow volume change. |
| US08548752B2 |
System for investigating collisions between test body and physical structure
A device for investigating a collision between a test body and a physical structure, wherein the device comprises a mounting unit for mounting the test body, an electric drive unit adapted for mechanically driving the mounting unit and the test body mounted thereon, and a control unit adapted for controlling the electric drive unit to accelerate the test body mounted on the mounting unit and for controlling release of the test body from the mounting unit to direct the accelerated test body towards the physical structure for collision, wherein the device is adapted so that the mounting unit and the test body mounted thereon are mechanically driven exclusively by the electric drive unit. |
| US08548751B2 |
Method and system for measuring deflection of a hollow component of a wind energy system from a normal position
The invention relates to a method for measuring deflection of a substantially elongated hollow component (B) of a wind energy system from a normal position, extended such that it can be used to determine the deflection of the hollow component (B) of a of a wind energy system from a normal position in a simple and accurate manner, and to reliably monitor the same. To this end, the invention proposes that at least one distance sensor (8.1) for measuring distance in a non-contacting, directed manner is disposed at a first position, taking distance measurements from a target point in the direction of a second position within the hollow component (B), and that a measurement target (9.1) is further disposed in the interior of the hollow component (B) at the second position, said target comprising a target surface extending in a direction (x) transverse to a reference plane (R) perpendicular to the measurement direction (10) of the distance sensor (8.1) in a measurement area, and that distance measurements to the target surface are taken continuously or at intervals by the distance sensor (8.1), wherein the results of the distance measurements are evaluated in a processing unit, and an associated deflection of the hollow component (B) from the normal position is determined from said measurements, each with regard to the directional component of the direction (x) in which the target surface extends transverse to the reference plane (R). |
| US08548746B2 |
Methods for monitoring multiple gene expression
The present invention relates to methods for monitoring differential expression of a plurality of genes in a first filamentous fungal cell relative to expression of the same genes in one or more second filamentous fungal cells using microarrays containing Trichoderma reesei ESTs or SSH clones, or a combination thereof. The present invention also relates to computer readable media and substrates containing such array features for monitoring expression of a plurality of genes in filamentous fungal cells. |
| US08548744B1 |
Computer-implemented cellular modeling having parallel pathways
A computer-implemented method for cellular modeling is provided. The computer-implemented method for cellular modeling may include generating a cellular model, the model comprising a plurality of compartments, each compartment comprising at least one reaction, at least one species, or a combination of at least one reaction and at least one species; receiving a selection of at least one compartment for simulation to obtain at least one selected compartment; simulating the at least one selected compartment to obtain a result; and providing an output of the result from simulating the compartment; wherein at least two of the compartments comprise parallel pathways through the cellular model. |
| US08548737B2 |
Navigation apparatus
A navigation apparatus comprises a map display control unit that displays a map on a display monitor, a voice information outputting unit that outputs voice information related to traveling of a vehicle, and a highlighting unit that highlights a part of the map that corresponds to the voice information in synchronization with output of the voice information by the voice information outputting unit. |
| US08548736B2 |
Historical data based navigational routing
Navigational routing is generated incorporating an estimation of future traffic conditions. The future traffic conditions are estimated based on historical traffic data, e.g., obtained over a recent period of time. The system provides navigational routing based on historical traffic data incorporated into a calculated route of travel. The historical data is used to calculate a probability that given roads along the route will be problematic at a certain time of the day, i.e., at the time, day of week, and place that you would be expected to be traveling on that certain road. Accordingly, historical traffic data is used to help determine a best route based on the probability of certain roads being problematic at a certain time of day. |
| US08548726B2 |
Marker system for determining the diameter and axial location of a hole in an instrument
A marker system and method are provided that can determine a shape and an axial location of a rotationally symmetrical hole in an instrument having a plurality of instrument markers. |
| US08548722B2 |
Tilt sensor and method for determining the tilt of a vehicle
A tilt sensor and method comprises a first accelerometer for measuring a first acceleration level associated with a first axis of the vehicle. A second accelerometer measures a second acceleration level associated with a second axis of the vehicle that is generally perpendicular to the first axis. A data processor is capable of determining an arcsine-derived tilt based on an arcsine equation and the determined first acceleration level. The data processor is capable of determining an arc-cosine-derived tilt based on an arccosine equation and the determined second acceleration level. The data processor comprises a selector for selecting the arcsine-derived tilt as the final tilt of the vehicle if the determined arcsine-derived tilt is lesser than the determined arccosine derived tilt such that the final tilt compensates for vertical acceleration associated with changes in the terrain in the direction of travel of the vehicle. |
| US08548721B2 |
Method and system for maneuvering an aircraft by shifting its center of gravity
A method to maneuver an aircraft in flight, in which the center of gravity of the aircraft is shifted by transferring fuel from at least one first fuel tank to at least one second fuel tank of the aircraft. A system implementing this method, the system including: at least one first fuel tank and at least one second fuel tank, a flight control unit capable of sending out a maneuver command upon being handled. A computer capable, as a function of this command, of determining a quantity of fuel to be transferred from the first tank to the second tank, at least one means of transfer connecting the first and second tanks and being controlled by the computer, to transfer the fuel from the first tank to the second tank. |
| US08548718B2 |
Air/fuel ratio variation abnormality detection apparatus, and abnormality detection method
In an abnormality detection apparatus and an abnormality detection method for a construction in which each of cylinders is provided with a plurality of fuel injection valves, if it is discerned that a cause of the inter-cylinder variation abnormality exists in one of the fuel injection valves, an air/fuel ratio fluctuation parameter as an index value that represents the degree of the abnormality is calculated by normalizing the air/fuel ratio fluctuation parameter regarding that fuel injection valve on the basis of the injection proportion used when the parameter is measured. |
| US08548712B2 |
Acceleration-based safety monitoring of a drive of a motor vehicle
An acceleration-based method and device for the safety monitoring of a drive is provided. In the method a setpoint torque is calculated in a safety function as a function of the position of the accelerator pedal. An expected vehicle acceleration is determined, as a function of the setpoint torque, in the safety function. An actual vehicle acceleration is determined, preferably by an acceleration sensor. A fault situation may be detected by comparing the actual vehicle acceleration and the expected vehicle acceleration. A device, preferably included in the vehicle electronics, is configured to implement the acceleration-based method. |
| US08548701B2 |
Control device and control method for continuously variable transmission
A transmission controller determines whether an oil temperature in the CVT is higher than a high oil temperature control starting temperature or not. If it is determined that the oil temperature is higher than the high oil temperature control starting temperature, a first oil temperature lowering processing which limits an input rotation speed of the CVT by changing a speed ratio of the CVT smaller is executed. If the input rotation speed of the CVT reaches a predetermined lower limit rotation speed during execution of the first oil temperature lowering processing, the first oil temperature lowering processing is ended and a second oil temperature lowering processing that limits a torque of an engine is executed. |
| US08548700B2 |
Control system of automatic transmission
A control system for controlling an automatic transmission that is capable of establishing a given speed stage by engaging a given frictional element. The control system comprises an actual time lag measuring section that measures an actual time lag from the time when a speed change instruction for the given speed stage is issued to the time when a gear ratio of the automatic transmission starts to change for the purpose of establishing the given speed stage, a torque detecting section that detects a torque from an engine, a time lag map that provides a suitable time lag in accordance with the detected torque from the engine, a learning correction section that corrects, by learning control, an instruction value for the hydraulic pressure led to the frictional element in a manner to cause the actual time lag to have the same value as the suitable time lag; and a time lag map correcting section that corrects the suitable time lag in accordance with an operation condition of an associated motor vehicle. |
| US08548693B2 |
Control device and control method for working mechanism of construction vehicle
A control device for a work machine on a construction vehicle is provided so that a bucket cylinder is stopped at a target position, with high accuracy achieved in a bucket cylinder length, and with chock held down to a low level. A bucket cylinder length detection section refereces a cylinder length detection table on the basis of a boom angle and a bell crank angle, thereby detecting a bucket cylinder length. A bucket attitude control section controls the bucket cylinder length so that a target position will be reached. Feedback control is performed until a set value which is set short of a target value is reached. After the bucket cylinder length reaches the set value, open loop control is performed until the target value is reached. |
| US08548692B2 |
Travel vibration suppressing device of work vehicle
A travel vibration suppressing device is connected to a hydraulic cylinder for operating a work machine, and utilizes an accumulator to suppress vibration during travel of the vehicle. Upon determining that the state of the work machine is the excavating state, the control unit switches from a state of communication between a hydraulic cylinder and the accumulator to a blocked state when the vehicle speed changes from a speed exceeding a first speed to a speed equal to or less than the first speed. Upon determining that the operating state is the normal state, the state of communication between a boom cylinder and the accumulator is switched to the blocked state when the vehicle speed changes from a second speed lower than the first speed to a speed equal to or less than the second speed. |
| US08548690B2 |
Blade control system and construction machine
A blade control system of the present invention includes a distance calculating part, a blade load obtaining part and a lift cylinder controlling part. The distance calculating part is configured to obtain distance between a designed surface and a cutting edge of a blade. The blade load obtaining part is configured to obtain blade load acting on the blade. The lift cylinder controlling part is configured to execute a dozing control when the aforementioned distance is greater than a first distance. Further, the lift cylinder controlling part is configured to execute a dozing control when the aforementioned distance is less than a second distance. |
| US08548688B2 |
Method and control device for triggering passenger protection means for a vehicle
A method and a control device for triggering passenger protection devices for a vehicle are provided, a rollover event causing the triggering of the passenger protection devices. The rollover event is detected as a function of kinematic and rotation variables, an adhesion, and a static stability factor. A state of rotation is ascertained via a rotation rate and a rotation angle. A state of adhesion is ascertained from a vehicle transverse acceleration and a vehicle vertical acceleration. The rollover event is detected via the state of adhesion and the state of rotation, the adhesion being much greater than the static stability factor. |
| US08548687B2 |
Vehicle seat power track enhancements
A vehicle seat power track for an automobile vehicle seat which includes a sensor arrangement to detect the seat position along the track relative to a front airbag apparatus and generate a signal to control the apparatus of the airbag. The vehicle seat power track also includes brackets configured to reduce horizontal movement of the track components. |
| US08548685B2 |
Integrated vehicular system for low speed collision avoidance
A method of providing range measurements for use with a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: a) visually sensing (2) the area adjacent the vehicle to produce visual sense data (22); b) range sensing (26) objects around the vehicle to produce range sense data; c) combining the visual sense data and the range sense data to produce, with respect to the vehicle, an estimate of ranges to the objects around the vehicle (28). The estimate of ranges to the objects around the vehicle may be displayed (29) to a driver. |
| US08548683B2 |
Active steering controller
A system for controlling a vehicle. The vehicle has a steerable front axle and at least one further steerable axle. The system determining the path of a reference lead point at the front of the vehicle and determining the path of a follow point at the rear of the vehicle. A controller for driving the at least one further steerable axle of the vehicle such that the deviation between the path of the lead point of the vehicle and the follow point is within a predetermined range while the vehicle is in motion. |
| US08548680B2 |
Steering system with automated articulation control
An articulated machine and method of operation, the articulated machine having a first frame with a first traction device and a steering apparatus that controls a steering angle thereof, the first frame pivotally coupled to a second frame at an articulation joint, the second frame having a second traction device, a steering sensor configured to provide a steering signal indicative of the steering angle, and an electronic controller configured to automatically control an articulation angle based on the steering signal. |
| US08548678B2 |
Active suspending
An apparatus has an active suspension including an electromagnetic actuator coupled to a plant in a vehicle. A force bias eliminator is coupled to the plant for causing the actuator to experience a zero-mean load, and a vibration isolation block generates a control signal based on the response of a nominal plant to measured disturbances of the actively suspended plant. A compensation system modifies the control signal in response to a difference between the response of the nominal plant to the control signal and a measured response of the actively-suspended plant to the control signal. |
| US08548677B2 |
Display control apparatus
A content management section rearranges contents in an order from a content having a greater information value, preparing a content list. With respect to assignable areas of a display apparatus, a region value is compared with an information value of each content; the content may be assigned to the area when the information value exceeds the region value. The contents are associated with information values and the areas are associated with region values; thus, the content can be assigned to the area that is more suitable. When there are several assignable areas, a target content is assigned to an area having a highest region value. |
| US08548676B2 |
Vehicle braking device and control device
A vehicle braking device including a braking operation judging unit that judges that a braking operation is input when a fluid pressure detected by a pressure detecting sensor is not smaller than a threshold value set in advance in a process of a first mode in which it is judged that the device normally operates, and judges that the braking operation is input when judging that wheel deceleration of a tire detected by a wheel speed detecting sensor is larger than a threshold value in a process of a second mode in which it is judged the pressure detecting sensor does not normally detect a pressure or it is judged that a failure occurs in the fluid pressure, and a control unit puts a brake lamp arranged on a vehicle body into a lighting state from a non-lighting state when it is judged that the braking operation is input. |
| US08548671B2 |
Method and apparatus for automatically calibrating vehicle parameters
A method and apparatus for automatically calibrating vehicle parameters is described. In one embodiment, the method includes measuring a parameter value during vehicle operation; comparing the measured parameter value to an actual parameter value to identify at least one vehicle parameter bias as an actual measurement error; and modifying at least one vehicle parameter based on the at least one vehicle parameter bias. |
| US08548666B2 |
Auto-guidance
Auto-guidance may be provided. First, location information may be received and a location of a machine may be determined based on the location information. Once the location of the machine is determined, an auto-guidance data file may be loaded based on the determined location of the machine. |
| US08548664B2 |
Autonomic traveling apparatus for a vehicle
In an autonomic traveling apparatus for a vehicle, vehicles usually travel an independent travel lane and when there are two approaching vehicles on the independent travel lane, they switch to pass-by lanes to pass by each other. To do this switching operation effectively, respective vehicles check and obtain road conditions around them while they are traveling and the obtained road conditions are transmitted to and collected by a travel administration center so that the road conditions at various points along the lanes can be obtained from the travel administration center. Accordingly, when the autonomic traveling trucks approaching each other and supposed to pass by each other, switch to the associated pass-by lanes, they change travel lanes avoiding the point of bad road condition on the basis of the road conditions sent from the travel administration center. |
| US08548663B2 |
Main pump to auxiliary pump hand-off strategy in hybrid electric vehicle
A method and system of reducing an occurrence of hydraulic pressurization loss during the transition from gas-powered engine operation to electric motor operation in a hybrid electric vehicle. The method includes maintaining operation of the gas-powered engine while initiating an auxiliary pump with its associated electric motor. A master timer is initiated. Once the auxiliary pump exceeds a minimum speed threshold, a delay time period is determined during which operation of the auxiliary pump is tested. If the auxiliary pump does not stall during the delay time period and the master timer has not yet expired, the gas-powered engine is allowed to shut-off. |
| US08548662B2 |
Transmission control for a hybrid electric vehicle with regenerative braking
The present invention provide a hybrid vehicle comprising a first and a second transmission mechanisms, an electric motor connected to the first transmission mechanism, an internal combustion engine, a motor control unit and a transmission control unit. The transmission control unit changes, when the motor control unit executes a decelerating regeneration in response to a braking request of a driver, and when a braking request amount of the braking request is decreased by a predetermined amount while a predetermined shift range attained by the first transmission mechanism is selected, a shift range to a shift range on a lower-speed side than the predetermined shift range, which is attained by the first transmission mechanism, and to maintain the predetermined shift range when the braking request amount is not decreased. |
| US08548661B2 |
Hybrid working machine and controlling method thereof
A control unit of a hybrid working machine calculates an actual hydraulic pressure output from the output of an engine (30) and the output of a motor generator (34), and calculates an assumed hydraulic pressure output (Win) as an output of a hydraulic pump (21) using a predetermined algorithm. The control unit corrects a hydraulic pump characteristic parameter used in the predetermined algorithm based on an assumed hydraulic pressure output error being a difference between an assumed hydraulic pressure output and an actual hydraulic pressure output, calculates an assumed hydraulic pressure correction output, and controls the motor generator (34) based on the assumed hydraulic pressure correction output. |
| US08548659B2 |
Vehicle and system for charging the same
Provided is a practical plug-in hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle as well as a charge system, a fuel consumption measurement system, and an environment protection system for the vehicles. The charge system includes an electric power source charging a vehicle having a battery, a power supply unit for supplying electric power from the electric power source to the vehicle, and a power cable communication unit for performing power cable communication concerning the vehicle and the charging via the power supply unit. The vehicle includes a fuel tank for receiving oil from outside, a storage unit for storing oil supply information, a power source which consumes the fuel in the fuel tank and provides a travel power, a travel distance information acquisition unit, and a control unit which automatically calculates the fuel consumption according to the oil supply information in the storage unit and the travel distance information in the travel distance acquisition unit. |
| US08548657B2 |
Control apparatus for hybrid vehicle
A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle includes an internal combustion engine and a generator motor, a capacitor, and a driving force assisting unit. Further, the control device includes a switching unit that selects an appropriate traveling range from a plurality of traveling ranges including at least a normal traveling range and a charging priority range for preferentially charging the capacitor and switches the range, and a threshold value increasing unit that increases, when the charging priority range is selected by the switching unit, the predetermined determination threshold value as compared to when the normal traveling range is selected by the switching unit. |
| US08548655B2 |
Method and system for grade crossing protection
Apparatus and methods for a grade crossing protection system include at least one camera providing surveillance of a grade crossing, the at least one camera coupled to a transmitter configured to transmit a signal that includes imagery of the grade crossing to a transceiver onboard a train. A display unit onboard the train is provided to allow the train operator to view the grade crossing. A control unit in communication with the transceiver is configured to monitor the received signal and, based upon a determined location of the train relative to the train crossing, issue a command to the train's brake system to reduce the speed of the train, or stop the train, before the train reaches the grade crossing. |
| US08548654B2 |
Signaling system
A message that contains train on-track information and reservation information of a train detection section and direction information and reservation information of a switch is circulated among a train detector, switch machine, signal device controller and a route indicating device. Via a signaling message, the train detector transmits the train detection result to the signal device controller and the route indicating device, the switch machine can transmit switch condition to the signal device controller, the route indicating device transmits route reservation to the switch machine and the signal device controller. Based on the transmitted train detection result, switch condition and route reservation condition, the signal device controller transmits travel permission or travel non-permission for the assigned route to a train. |
| US08548648B2 |
Fly-by-wire flight control system with electronic lead/lag damper algorithm
An electronic lead/lag damper algorithm implemented as part of the fly-by-wire flight control system to minimize or eliminate mechanical lead/lag dampers of a rotary wing aircraft. The electronic lead/lag damper algorithm uses a cross-feed control methodology that band-pass filters pitch and roll rates and feeds back a signal to the lateral and longitudinal cyclic inputs to provide electronic stability to rotor lag modes. |
| US08548645B2 |
Two step keyless start system
A keyless ignition start system in which authentication of a coded key fob is carried out twice, first to activate the ignition switch to allow starting the engine and second at the time when the brake pedal is depressed to put the car in a drive gear. The two step authentication prevents driving off a car which has been started without having the key fob for security purposes and also to avoid inconvenient situations that can otherwise occur. |
| US08548641B2 |
Load drive circuit
According to the present invention, the operation of a diagnostic circuit within a load drive circuit, which has been built into an electronic control device, is checked without modifying the electronic control device or the like. The load drive circuit, which drives a load such as a solenoid using a DC power supply as a power supply, includes a drive circuit and a diagnostic circuit which is independently provided within the drive circuit. Upon input of a drive-stop signal from a control circuit that controls the drive circuit, the operation of at least the drive circuit stops, so that whether the diagnostic circuit, which diagnoses the condition of the load, is normally operating or not is checked in a condition in which the load drive circuit has been built into the electronic control device. |
| US08548639B2 |
Temperature monitoring systems and methods
This disclosure is related to systems and methods for temperature monitoring of electronics, such as a controller or processor within a data storage device. In one example, a controller may be configured to determine an operation to perform and determine a temperature of electronics associated with executing the operation. The controller may then delay execution of the operation when the temperature is greater than a threshold. |
| US08548636B2 |
Engineered setpoints for autonomous distributed sensors and actuators
Loads on an electric power system are configured with under-frequency relays in which the frequency setpoints and delay times for reclosure are uniformly distributed. If demand exceeds supply in the system, frequency will decrease. The decrease in frequency will actuate relays and reduce load to the point where demand will meet the available supply. After its engineered delay time, each relay will attempt to close contact and reestablish the load. |
| US08548634B2 |
Information processing device and network system
In an information processing device, an operation executing unit executes a requested operation in one of a plurality of operating modes. A monitoring unit monitors an electric power consumed by the execution of the requested operation. Information related to the consumed electric power is stored in a memory unit. A setting unit defines a consumption period and an allowable consumed electric power within the consumption period. A control unit computes a consumed-electric-power log of the consumed electric power monitored at intervals of a predetermined time and a consumed-electric-power total log, and stores consumed-electric-power log related information in the memory unit. When an operation request is received within the consumption period, the control unit controls the execution of the requested operation based on the consumed-electric-power log related information and the allowable consumed electric power. |
| US08548626B2 |
Method and device for manipulating an object
A method and device for manipulating an object is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a gripping device configured to grasp the object includes a housing, a jamming material inside the housing, a first actuator to actuate the jamming material, a first pressure activation device disposed on a first outer portion of the housing and configured to exert a constricting force on the first outer portion of the housing, and a second actuator to actuate the first pressure activation device. After the end effector is pressed against the object, the second actuator actuates the first pressure activation device to exert an inward force on the first outer portion of the housing and the first actuator actuates the jamming material to grasp the object. |
| US08548624B2 |
Appliance having a user interface panel and a beverage dispenser
An appliance including a housing, a dispenser, and a water supply mechanism. The appliance includes a drink supply mechanism configured to removably hold a plurality of drink supply containers, a user interface panel, and a computer. The computer is configured to: cause the user interface panel to display a plurality of different images, each image associated with a different one of a plurality of different beverages which correspond to a drink supply in at least one of the plurality of drink supply containers held by the drink supply mechanism, enable the user interface panel to receive an input from a user of a selected one of the plurality of different displayed images, and after receiving the input from the user of the selected one of the plurality of different displayed images, cause the dispenser to dispense the beverage corresponding to the selected image. |
| US08548621B2 |
Production system control model updating using closed loop design of experiments
Methods and production control systems are presented in which design of experiments are performed in situ and produce model parameter estimates that relate actuator set points to any number of response variables, and the model is periodically updated based on these designed experiments and used as the basis for determining actuator set points. |
| US08548617B2 |
Sound output control device
A sound output control device is disclosed. The sound output control device includes an application information acquisition section and a control section. The application information acquisition section is configured to acquire application information from an external device having multiple applications for sound output. The control section is configured to process audio data streamed from the external device through causing the external device to start one of the multiple applications. The control section has a predetermined selection criterion to select a start-candidate application from the plurality of applications. The control section is further configured to select the start-candidate application according to the application information acquired from the external device and the predetermined selection criterion, and cause the external device to start the selected start-candidate application. |
| US08548616B2 |
Digital audio device
A digital audio device has a plurality of input ports that are provided with a plurality of digital audio signals. A plurality of extraction parts extract a clock signal from the digital audio signal, when the clock signal is superimposed in the digital audio signal provided to corresponding input ports. A first selection part selects the extracted clock signal as a word clock when the clock signal is extracted by any one of the plurality of the extraction parts. A frequency storage part stores a frequency of the clock signal selected by the first selection part. An internal clock generator outputs a clock signal having a frequency as specified. A second selection part selects the clock signal output from the internal clock generator as a word clock when no clock signal is extracted by the plurality of the extraction parts, the frequency of the clock signal output from the internal clock generator being set to the frequency stored in the frequency storage part. A reception part receives the digital audio signals provided to the plurality of the input ports in synchronization with the word clock selected by one of the first selection part and the second selection part. |
| US08548614B2 |
Dynamic range control and equalization of digital audio using warped processing
This invention describes a method for adjusting the loudness and the spectral content of digital audio signals in a real-time using warped spectral filtering. A warped processing module modifies a spectral content of a digital audio signal with a set of gains for a plurality of non-linearly-scaled frequency bands determined by a warping factor λ of a warped delay line. Warped delay line signals, generated by the warped delay line, are processed by a warped filter block containing multiple warped finite impulse response filters, e.g., Mth band filters, using individual warped spectral filtering in said plurality of the non-linearly-scaled frequency bands, which is followed by a conventional processing by a dynamic range control/equalization block. The present invention describes another innovation, that is embedding the warped processing module in a two-channel quadrature mirror filter (QMF) bank for improving processing efficiency at high sample rates. |
| US08548609B2 |
Method and software product for designing drilling pattern for rock cavity excavation
A method for designing a drilling pattern for rock cavity excavation and a software product implementing the method. The drilling pattern is created by means of a design program. The drilling pattern defines several starting points of drill holes in a navigation plane, end points of the drill holes on the bottom of a round and further the directions and lengths of the drill holes. The face of the round is designed to have a desired shape by determining the locations of the end points for the desired face profile. A three-dimensional face profile is entered into the design program, which subsequently places end points to the face profile automatically. |
| US08548606B2 |
Apparatus and method for managing tasks in an industrial plant
An apparatus for managing tasks in an industrial plant comprises a task generator for generating at least one task to be performed in the industrial plant; a task scheduler for assigning a priority to each of the at least one task by analyzing the information of the plant; and a communication module for exchanging task information with a mobile device. The information of the plant may comprise static information and dynamic information of the plant. Preferably, the at least one task may comprise an event task dynamically generated by the task generator. |
| US08548604B2 |
Implantable microstimulators and methods for unidirectional propagation of action potentials
Miniature implantable stimulators (i.e., microstimulators) are capable of producing unidirectionally propagating action potentials (UPAPs). The methods and configurations described may, for instance, arrest action potentials traveling in one direction, arrest action potentials of small diameters nerve fibers, arrest action potentials of large diameter nerve fibers. These methods and systems may limit side effects of bidirectional and/or less targeted stimulation. |
| US08548598B2 |
Nerve stimulation apparatus
Provided is a nerve stimulation apparatus that is capable of performing effective nerve stimulation depending on a therapeutic purpose without adversely affecting a heart. Further provided is a nerve stimulation apparatus including: a stimulation-pulse output unit that outputs a stimulation pulse; a cardiac-event detector that detects a cardiac event; and a controller that controls the stimulation-signal output unit so as to output, during a cardiac refractory period, the nerve stimulation signal having an intensity that corresponds to the heart rate obtained on the basis of the cardiac event detected by the cardiac-event detector. |
| US08548596B2 |
Therapy program modification based on an energy threshold
A therapy program is modified to decompose an electrical stimulation signal defined by the therapy program into a plurality of sub-signals based on a comparison between an energy associated with the stimulation signal and a threshold value. An electrical stimulation signal defined by a therapy program may be decomposed into a plurality of subsignals when an electrical stimulation energy of the stimulation signal exceeds the maximum energy output of the medical device or of a channel of the medical device. The energy associated with each one of the subsignals may be less than the energy threshold value of the medical device. |
| US08548589B2 |
Inducing premature atrial contractions for the purpose of monitoring autonomic tone risk of sudden cardiac death and ischemic events
Implantable systems, and methods for use therein, perform at least one of a cardiac assessment and an autonomic assessment. Premature atrial contractions (PACs) are induced to thereby cause corresponding premature contractions in the ventricles. Short-term fluctuations in cardiac intervals, that follow the premature contractions in the ventricles caused by the induced PACs, are monitored. At least one of a cardiac assessment and an autonomic assessment is performed based on the monitored fluctuations in cardiac intervals that follow the premature contractions in the ventricles caused by the induced PACs. This can include assessing a patient's risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD), assessing a patient's autonomic tone and/or detecting myocardial ischemic events based on the monitored fluctuations in cardiac intervals that follow the premature contractions in the ventricles caused by the induced PACs. |
| US08548588B1 |
CRM-device ventricular-pacing blanking control
A system, operatively connectable both to a cardiac-rhythm-management (CRM) subject, and to a CRM device associated with that subject, and an associated method, operable, in relation to received-and-processed, real-time, CRM-subject-specific, simultaneous ECG and heart-sound information, and other information including measurement time markers where available, for blocking, under all circumstances during the ventricular relative refractory period lying within each of successive CRM-subject cardiac cycles occupying a span of such cycles, the ventricular pacing activity of the subject-associated CRM device—the beginning and ending of such blocking in each cardiac cycle being system-defined to lie preferably, and respectively, (a) within the real-time, ventricular depolarization window in the cycle, and (b) at the time of the real-time, S2 heart-sound, plus or minus any user-defined time-delta. |
| US08548587B2 |
Devices, systems and methods for characterizing a tachycardia and/or selecting treatment for a tachycardia using results of a fractionation analysis
Provided herein are implantable systems, and methods for use therewith, for characterizing a tachycardia and/or selecting treatment for a tachycardia using results of a fractionation analysis. One or more electrogram (EGM) signal(s) indicative of cardiac electrical activity are obtained. At least one of the EGM signal(s) is analyzed to determine whether the EGM signal is fractionated, and the results of the analyzing are used to characterize a tachycardia and/or to select treatment for a tachycardia. |
| US08548586B2 |
Configurable intermittent pacing therapy
This document discusses, among other things, an apparatus comprising at least one implantable cardiac depolarization sensing circuit, an electrical stimulation circuit, and a pacing mode controller. The implantable cardiac depolarization sensing circuit is configured to obtain a sensed depolarization signal from a ventricle and the electrical stimulation circuit is configured to provide pacing electrical stimulation energy to at least one implantable ventricular electrode. The pacing mode controller delivers pacing therapy according to a first pacing mode that is a normal operating mode, and delivers pacing therapy according to second and third pacing modes. The second and third pacing modes increase mechanical stress on at least a particular portion of the ventricle as compared to the pacing therapy delivered during the first pacing mode. The pacing mode controller alternates between the second and third pacing modes when switched from the normal operating mode to a stress augmentation mode. |
| US08548583B2 |
Protein activity modification
A method of modifying tissue behavior, comprising: determining a desired modification of tissue behavior for at least one of treatment of a disease, short or long term modification of tissue behavior, assessing tissue state and assessing tissue response to stimulation; selecting an electric field having an expected effect of modifying protein activity of at least one protein as an immediate response of a tissue to the field, said expected effect correlated with said desired modification; and applying said field to said tissue. |
| US08548579B2 |
System and methods for performing surgical procedures and assessments
The present invention involves systems and related methods for performing surgical procedures and assessments, including the use of neurophysiology-based monitoring to: (a) determine nerve proximity and nerve direction to surgical instruments employed in accessing a surgical target site; (b) assess the pathology (health or status) of a nerve or nerve root before, during, or after a surgical procedure; and/or (c) assess pedicle integrity before, during or after pedicle screw placement, all in an automated, easy to use, and easy to interpret fashion so as to provide a surgeon-driven system. |
| US08548578B2 |
Living body state monitor apparatus
A living body state monitor apparatus includes: a living body information acquisition device to acquire living body information containing an electrocardiography waveform and a pulse waveform from a user; an irregular heartbeat detection section to detect an irregular heartbeat from the electrocardiography waveform; and a pulse wave feature quantity extraction section to extract a pulse wave feature quantity from a pulse wave corresponding to the irregular heartbeat. Further, a living body state determination section is included to determine a danger degree on user's living body state using both of (A) information on kind and/or continued time period of an irregular heartbeat detected by the irregular heartbeat detection section, and (B) a pulse wave feature quantity extracted by the pulse wave feature quantity extraction section, and/or a variation of the extracted pulse wave feature quantity. |
| US08548577B2 |
Detection of electrical and mechanical cardio-vascular activities
A device detects electrical and mechanical cardio-vascular activities of patient, especially early decompensation detection of congestive heart failure patients (CHF). The device includes a transmitter for transmitting electromagnetic signals of a predefined frequency into the chest of the patient, a Doppler radar sensor (1) for detecting a Doppler radar signal reflected in the patient's chest, and an ECG unit (3) for capturing an ECG signal of the patient's heart. This device allows for simultaneous detection of electrical and mechanical cardio-vascular activities of a patient which can be used in an easy and reliable way and which allows for implementation in a hand-held or wearable device. |
| US08548574B2 |
Hybrid 2-D ECG data compression based on wavelet transforms
Implementations and techniques for hybrid 2-D ECG data compression based on wavelet transforms are generally disclosed. In accordance with some implementations, a method for compressing electrocardiogram (ECG) data may include receiving a one-dimensional (1-D) ECG signal, generating a two-dimensional (2-D) ECG data array from the 1-D ECG signal, wavelet transforming the 2-D ECG data array to generate wavelet coefficients including a low frequency subband, a first intermediate frequency subband, a second intermediate frequency subband, and a high-frequency subband, and encoding the wavelet coefficients to generate compressed ECG data. Encoding the wavelet coefficients may include subjecting the low frequency subband, the first intermediate frequency subband, the second intermediate frequency subband, and the high frequency subband to different encoding schemes. |
| US08548573B2 |
Dynamically filtered beat detection in an implantable cardiac device
Methods and implantable devices that detect cardiac events using dynamic filtering. Illustratively, default filtering is performed except for a predefined period of time following detection of cardiac events, during which post-beat filtering is performed instead. The example post-beat filtering applies a narrower pass-band to the signal than the default filtering in order to attenuate T-waves more greatly than the default filtering during a time period after a detected event that is expected to correspond to occurrence of T-waves. |
| US08548570B2 |
Hyperspectral imaging of angiogenesis
The invention is directed to methods and systems of hyperspectral and multispectral imaging of medical tissues. In particular, the invention is directed to new devices, tools and processes for the detection and evaluation of diseases and disorders such as, but not limited to diabetes and peripheral vascular disease and cancer, that incorporate hyperspectral or multispectral imaging. |
| US08548568B2 |
Methods and apparatus for motion compensation
A method includes fitting a motion map from a first imaging modality with a first FOV to a second imaging modality different from the first with a second FOV sized differently than the first FOV. |
| US08548567B2 |
System for performing and monitoring minimally invasive interventions
The present invention relates to a system for performing and monitoring minimally invasive interventions with an x-ray unit, in which at least one x-ray source and one x-ray detector can traverse a circular track through an angle range, an ECG recording unit, an imaging catheter, a mapping unit with a mapping catheter and an ablation unit with an ablation catheter. The system comprises a control and evaluation unit with interfaces for the units and catheters, which enable an exchange of data with the control and evaluation unit. The control and evaluation unit is designed for processing measurement or image data which it receives from the catheters and units, and for controlling the catheters and units for the capture of the measurement or image data. The workflow from the examination through to the therapy, particularly with regard to the treatment of tachycardial arrhythmias, is covered completely and continuously by the proposed system. |
| US08548565B2 |
Registration of human anatomy integrated for electromagnetic localization
A method for use during a procedure on a body. The method generates a display representing relative positions of two structures during the procedure. The method comprises the steps of storing an image data set in memory, the image data set representing the position of the body based on scans taken of the body prior to the procedure; reading the image data set stored in the memory, the image data set having a plurality of data points in known relation to a plurality of reference points for at least one of the two structures; placing one or more magnetic field sensors in known relation to the reference points of the two structures; generating a magnetic field; detecting the magnetic field with the magnetic field sensors; ascertaining the locations of the sensors based upon the magnetic field detected by the sensors and processing the locations of the sensors to generate a displaced image data set representing the relative position of the two structures during the procedure; and generating a display based on the displaced image data set illustrating the relative position of the two structures during the procedure. |
| US08548563B2 |
Method for registering a physical space to image space
A method and apparatus for registering physical space to image space is disclosed. The system allows for determining fiducial markers as pixels or voxels in image data. The system can correlate and register the determined fiducial points with fiducial markers in physical space. |
| US08548562B2 |
System and method of guided treatment within malignant prostate tissue
An imaging and diagnostic system and method to differentiate between malignant and non-malignant tissue of a prostate and surrounding region. The system acquires imaging data from the prostate and surrounding proximal region, and processes the data to differentiate areas of tissue malignancy from non-malignant tissue. A sectioning device or ablative device is provided. The ablative device is operable by automation for receiving the imaging output coordinates and defining the trajectory and quantity of energy or power to be delivered into the malignant tissue. A control system determines calculated energy or power to be deposited into the malignant tissue during ablation, to minimize destruction of the non-malignant tissue within the prostate and surrounding tissue. The system operates on generated ablative device output data. |
| US08548554B2 |
Dry electrode cap for electro-encephalography
An electro-encephalography electrode cap for contacting the scalp of a head with a number of pin-shaped electrodes for contacting the scalp, and an electrode holding device. The electrodes are mounted on the electrode-holding device through at least one elastic joint. |
| US08548552B2 |
Implantable biosensor with automatic calibration
Implantable self-calibrating biosensor Subcutaneously or intracorporeally implantable biosensor, characterized by a closed microfluidic circuit with calibrating fluids, which communicates by a backward micro-dialysis logic with the exterior of said circuit, an open and in contact with the tissues and the interstitial fluid working electrode, for its self-calibration. One or more working electrodes may be positioned inside openable boxes from EAP, and be opened for the duration of the measurement and closed immediately after, succeeding one another in the measurement, as their sensitivity is diminished. |
| US08548551B2 |
Transcutaneous analyte sensor
The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for measuring an analyte in a host. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for transcutaneous measurement of glucose in a host. |
| US08548550B2 |
Optical sensor including disposable and reusable elements
An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a noninvasive optical sensor or probe including disposable and reusable components. The assembly of the disposable and reusable components is straightforward, along with the disassembly thereof. During application to a measurement site, the assembled sensor is advantageously secured together while the componentry is advantageously properly positioned. |
| US08548545B2 |
Method for measuring a concentration of a biogenic substance contained in a living body
One of the purposes of the present invention is to provide a biogenic substance concentration measuring method with improved measuring accuracy. An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for measuring a concentration of a biogenic substance contained in a living body, the method comprises steps of preparing a measuring device, wherein the measuring device comprises a light source, an optical filter, and a light receiver; irradiating a substantially-parallel light from the light source onto a particle chip implanted in a skin though a position on the surface of the skin to generate a reflected light; inclining the light source and calculating the concentration of the biogenic substance on the basis of the difference of signals before and after the inclination. |
| US08548542B2 |
SQUID magnetic sensor
There is provided a directly-coupled high-temperature superconductor SQUID magnetic sensor in a single thin film structure, which suppresses flux trapping or jumping generated in the sensor in a magnetic field, prevents the degradation in performance of the SQUID sensor, and operates stably with high sensitivity even in the magnetic field. The SQUID magnetic sensor including a bi-crystal substrate 1 having a bi-crystal grain boundary, pickup loops 7a-7d formed from a first high-temperature superconducting thin film on the bi-crystal substrate 1, and a SQUID ring 3 formed from the first high-temperature superconducting thin film on the bi-crystal grain boundary, directly connected with the pickup loops 7a-7d, wherein a plurality of pickup loops 7a-7d are disposed equally spaced from a bi-crystal grain boundary line 2 so as not to overlap with the bi-crystal grain boundary. |
| US08548539B2 |
Casing for a portable terminal
Provided is a mobile communication terminal that includes a case with internal and external surfaces, antenna patterns that transmit or receive radio signals corresponding to frequency bands, a circuit board that processes signals that conform to the transmitted or received radio signals, a connection unit that electrically connects the antenna patterns to the circuit board, an accommodation chamber that accommodates a battery, and a cover detachably mounted on the case and covering the accommodation chamber and the antenna patterns. |
| US08548538B2 |
Multi-button control headset for a mobile communication device
The invention is directed at a headset for a mobile communication device having a multi-button control and is implemented with a standard headset jack. The multi-button control is decoded by a microprocessor after which an encoded signal is then transmitted from the processor to the handset. In this manner, by using the standard jack, no additional hardware is required on the handset. |
| US08548537B2 |
Mobile wireless communications device including shared voice coil to provide hearing aid compatibility and related methods
A mobile wireless communications device is for use with a hearing aid including a hearing aid compatible (HAC) coil. The device may include a portable housing and a wireless receiver carried by the portable housing. The device may also include at least one image capture component and a positioning coil associated therewith and carried by the portable housing. A controller may also be carried by the portable housing for selectively operating the positioning coil for image capture, and for inductively coupling received signals from the wireless receiver to the HAC coil. |
| US08548536B1 |
Smart phone case with carry stand
A smart phone case with carry stand that includes a carry stand centrally disposed on a rear surface of a polymeric case, the carry stand including a parallelepiped member having an aperture centrally disposed therethrough, said aperture configured to removably receive a finger of a user therethrough whereby a user may securely grasp the smart phone case with carry stand with one hand, and wherein an outside edge of the carry stand, disposed parallel the rear surface of the case, contacts an extant horizontal surface when the smart phone case with carry stand is placed on said horizontal surface to prop the smart phone case with carry stand angularly upon said horizontal surface and enable hands free viewing of an extant cellular phone used in conjunction with the present device. |
| US08548525B2 |
Systems and methods using antenna beam scanning for improved communications
Systems and methods which utilize antenna pattern or antenna beam scanning techniques to provide communication of payload traffic are shown. A base station radio is provided wireless communication links with a plurality of stations for communication of payload traffic between the base station and stations using a succession of antenna patterns. The antenna patterns are scanned in succession, such as randomly, quasi-randomly, sequentially, or according to a schedule. An antenna pattern scheduler may be used to implement antenna pattern scanning and traffic timing. Cooperative scheduling with respect to a plurality of base stations may be provided. Selection of the plurality of antenna patterns used by a base station is preferably adjusted from time to time, such as based upon environment, usage patterns, etcetera. |
| US08548523B2 |
Methods, apparatus, and computer program products for changing ring method based on type of connected device
Methods, apparatus, and computer program products for changing alert setting of a communication device are provided. An operative connection of a communication device to a connected device is detected. Based on the operative connection to the connected device, it is determined whether an alert setting for the communication device should be changed. In response to determining that the alert setting should be changed, the alert setting for the communication device is automatically changed. The connected device is a network interface, a power adapter, and/or a headset. |
| US08548521B2 |
Base station with coordinated multiple air-interface operations
Base stations with coordinated multiple air-interface operations are provided. In some embodiments, multi-mode base station (BTS) systems operate with different air-interfaces, functionality, or configurations in a coordinated manner. For example, typical applications of such systems can include Macrocell BTS, Picocell BTS, Femtocell BTS, or Access Point (AP), Set Top Box (STB), or Home Gateway, Hot Spot Devices, User Terminal with the capability to perform required base station operations. In some embodiments, various techniques are provided for system improvements and optimizations via radio resource management, including user and system throughput optimization, QoS improvement, interference management, and various other improvements and optimizations. In some embodiments, a system (e.g., a multi-mode device, such as a base station, a repeater, and/or a terminal) includes a multi-mode communication unit, in which the multi-mode communication unit allocates access for communication using at least two modes; and a processor configured to implement at least in part the multi-mode communications unit. In some embodiments, the at least two modes include one or more of the following: frequency band, protocol standard, duplexing format, broadcast mode (e.g., television broadcast and/or a radio broadcast), and one-way communication mode. |
| US08548519B2 |
Wireless communication device
A wireless communication device for effecting wireless communication using a short-range wireless communication method having a ranging function, which carries out wireless connection establishment/disconnection control using ranging information. For example, the wireless communication device determines the range to another wireless communication device within wireless communication range, and if it finds a wireless communication device present within a predetermined range establishes a wireless connection with that wireless communication device, and disconnects the connection if the wireless communication device with which the device is in wireless connection passes beyond a predetermined range. |
| US08548518B2 |
Method of controlling user equipment in wireless telecommunications network
The application discloses a method of controlling user equipment in a wireless telecommunications network in which a mobility characteristics of said user equipment is determined (102) and then recorded (106) in an assigned (104) information element. The information element is then transmitted (108) to a control node adapted to control at least part of the functions of the wireless telecommunications network and in return the user equipment receives (110) from said control node a control message that is optimised for mobility characteristics of said user equipment. |
| US08548515B2 |
Open loop power offset update
Provided is an feedback mechanism to correct power control information in a broadcast signal that is determined to be incorrect by one or more devices that receive and rely on the broadcast information. A device that receives the incorrect broadcast information can determine a correction and to the information and provide a recommendation to tilt source of the broadcast information. The source can selectively determine whether to modify the broadcast information based on the recommendation from one or more devices. If the broadcast information is modified, subsequent devices that receive the broadcast information are provided with the modified information. If further changes are needed, the subsequent devices can provide further recommended changes. |
| US08548511B2 |
Energy saving mode with maintained number of advertised transmit antennas
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for wireless communications, wherein first number of transit antennas is advertised, but a different number of transmit antennas are actually used for transmission. |
| US08548509B2 |
System and method of automatically generating and sending text messages
A method of automatically generating text messages in response to a telephone call is disclosed and may include receiving an incoming telephone call at a text message capable device from a calling device, determining whether a text message engine within the text message capable device is enabled, automatically generating a text message when the text message engine is enabled and transmitting the text message to the calling device. |
| US08548508B2 |
Method of identifying telematics calls
A method of identifying telematics calls includes the steps of receiving at a vehicle telematics unit a paging message used to connect a call over a wireless carrier system; determining at the vehicle telematics unit if the paging message used to connect the call includes a Mobile Identification Number (MIN) or a Mobile Equipment Identifier (MEID); and establishing the call and, if the vehicle telematics unit determines that the paging message includes the MEID, entering into a mode in which the vehicle telematics unit uses a modem for receipt and transmission of data. |
| US08548507B2 |
Apparatus and method for receiving system information in mobile communication terminal
An apparatus and a method for receiving system information in a mobile communication terminal are provided. In the method, system information including scheduling information for at least one additional system information is received from a base station. Whether validity of the system information is determinable is determined. If it is determined that the validity of the system information is not determinable, system information including scheduling information for at least one additional system information is received again from the base station. |
| US08548505B2 |
System and method of accessing and recording messages at coordinate way points
A method and system for leaving and retrieving messages at specific coordinate way points within a commercial mobile radio service (CMRS) provider network are disclosed. Users carry or transport interface devices for communicating over the network and are able to record and view messages at specific coordinate locations while traveling in the network. The location of the device is calculated by the device or by the network while the device is powered on and within the physical boundaries of the network, or through a combination of both. Messages can be made available to network subscribers when their interface devices come within an area centered about a physical coordinate location. Personalized messages can also be left by subscribers at any coordinate point within the boundaries of the network. Access of information about an asset is facilitated when a technician comes within a physical proximity threshold relative to the asset. |
| US08548504B2 |
Communication method of a mobile terminal and method of advertising to a mobile terminal
A communication method of a macro base station including reporting information about a broadcast channel section in order to identify a femtocell in the macrocell, is provided. The macro base station receives position information of a mobile terminal and a request for information about neighboring femto base stations from the mobile terminal, when the mobile terminal identifies an accessible femto base station in the broadcast channel section. The macro base station generates a list of the neighboring femto base stations and information about the neighboring femto base stations based on the position information of the mobile terminal, and transmits the list and the information about the neighboring femto base stations to the mobile terminal. |
| US08548498B2 |
Anonymous positioning of a wireless unit for data network location-based services
This invention concerns a process and a system for providing location information for a wireless unit in a wireless network to a location-based service provider, using a data network. In particular, the location information is provided to the location-based service provider without necessarily providing the identity of wireless unit, e.g., a subscriber's wireless identification number, to the service provider. In this regard, a subscriber's identification number may be hidden from the positioning service provider via a process in which an alias is used instead of the subscriber's normal identity. The subscriber's number may further be concealed from the service provider via a process wherein encrypted information is used instead of the subscriber's normal identity. |
| US08548495B2 |
System and method for determining a position of a mobile wireless device by accessing access points alamanacs database
A system and method for determining a position of a mobile wireless device using wireless local area network access points (APs). In one embodiment, a mobile wireless device includes an AP positioning system configured to estimate a position of the device based on locations of APs disposed about the device. The AP positioning system is configured to: 1) access an AP database; and 2) provide, to the database, one or more medium access controller (MAC) addresses and an area of interest value. The AP positioning system is also configured to retrieve, from the database: 1) location information for each AP having a provided MAC address, or located within the area of interest; and 2) at least one of: signal parameters for the APs nearby the device, a geographic area within which each MAC address can be received, and an indication of a scan type to used for identifying APs. |
| US08548494B2 |
Localization of mobile computing devices in indoor environments
Various technologies pertaining to localizing multiple mobile computing devices in an indoor environment are described. Pairs of microphone arrays are selectively positioned in an indoor environment. A localization service assigns a frequency and schedule to a mobile telephone, and the mobile telephone begins outputting vibrations at the assigned frequency and in conformance with the assigned schedule. The microphone arrays sense the vibrations, and angles between the microphone arrays, respectively, and the mobile computing device are computed based upon the sensed vibrations. Such angles are subsequently employed to compute the location of the mobile computing device in the indoor environment. |
| US08548493B2 |
Location tracking
One or more systems, devices, and/or methods for tracking a wireless device are disclosed. For example, a method includes receiving signal strength data for each of a plurality of access points. The signal strength data from the plurality of access points is compared to identify an anchor access point having a highest signal strength. Remaining signal strength data from the plurality of access points are compared to a threshold signal strength to identify at least one attractor access point. A memory is accessed for locations of the anchor access point and the at least one attractor access point. A pull point is calculated along a line from the anchor access point to the at least one attractor access point. A location of the wireless device is estimated as an average of the pull point and the location of the anchor access point. |
| US08548492B2 |
System and method for locating WiMAX or LTE subscriber stations
A system and method for estimating a location of a subscriber station receiving a first signal from a first base station and receiving a second signal from a second base station where the first and second base stations are nodes in a WiMAX or LTE network. A message may be received from the subscriber station containing first and second information, and a range ring determined from the first base station using the first information. A location hyperbola may be determined using the second information wherein the location hyperbola has the first and second base stations as foci. A location of the subscriber station may be estimated using the range ring and the location hyperbola. |
| US08548487B2 |
Signaling for administrative domain change during location tracking
An approach provides signaling for administrative domain change during location tracking. Departure of a mobile node from a first administrative domain is detected during a position reporting session. It is determined whether a first, configured to determine position, within the first administrative domain is inaccessible. If inaccessible, signaling for a handoff is initiated for assignment of a second, configured to determine position, within a second administrative domain to continue the position reporting session. |
| US08548485B2 |
Methods and systems for adaptive broadcasting and multicasting in a wireless network
Systems and methods are provided for adaptively transmitting information to a plurality of nodes in a local area of a base station. The base station receives channel quality information from one or more of the nodes within the local area, selects a transmission rate for a downlink transmission corresponding to the lowest channel qualities, and simultaneously transmits a message to the nodes at the selected transmission rate. |
| US08548483B2 |
Feedback mapping for D2D control signals
A position of a device within a cluster of multiple devices is determined and stored in a memory. An uplink radio resource is mapped from a downlink radio resource in dependence on the determined position of the device within the cluster of multiple devices. In an embodiment the respective uplink and downlink radio resource is a PUCCH and PDCCH of a cellular network, and the cluster is a D2D network. In one embodiment the device position is an index j which is used to offset from a predetermined mapping pattern. In another embodiment the position of the device corresponds to an individual field of a transmission on the PDCCH and the mapping is in dependence on a bit value in the individual field. |
| US08548477B2 |
Mobile communication method and radio base station
A mobile communication method according to the present invention includes the steps: transmitting, from an exchange (MME) to a first radio base station (eNB), a location information reporting instruction which provides an instruction to report location information on a mobile station (UE); reporting, the first radio base station (eNB) to the exchange (MME), the location information on the mobile station (UE), in accordance with the location information reporting instruction; transmitting, the location information reporting instruction to a second radio base station (eNB), in a handover procedure of the mobile station (UE) from the first radio base station (eNB) to the second radio base station (eNB); and reporting, from the second radio base station (eNB) to the exchange (MME), the location information on the mobile station (UE), in accordance with the location information reporting instruction. |
| US08548473B2 |
Wireless terminal device to selectively switch among communication systems to provide overlap for performing communication
A mobile telephone device includes: an instruction reception unit which, when a predetermined communication is transferred to a CDMA communication system, receives a handover instruction signal in the LTE communication system; a communication request unit which, when the signal is received, captures the CDMA communication system and requests a start of the communication; a communication processing unit which, when receiving an enabling signal for the request, performs communication in the CDMA communication system; and a storage unit which, when the enabling signal is not received, stores a combination of calling zones of both communication systems; wherein when a combination of a calling zone of the CDMA communication system newly captured in accordance with a new handover instruction and a calling zone in the LTE communication system matches with the stored combination, the communication request unit requests the start of the communication after performing a new location registration. |
| US08548472B2 |
Method and apparatus for cell selection in wireless communication system
A Mobile Station (MS) operation method for cell selection at initial access in a wireless communication system in which one or more small Base Stations (BSs) are included within a macro BS service coverage area is provided. The method includes performing synchronization based on a preamble signal, after performing the synchronization, transmitting a ranging code to a first BS, after transmitting the ranging code, transmitting a ranging request message including position information of the MS, to the first BS, and receiving a ranging response message including information on at least one candidate BS from the first BS. Thus, the MS can select a BS using position information of the MS in a wireless communication system in which various types of BSs coexist. |
| US08548468B2 |
Method for providing service of femtocell, and transmitter and receiver for the same
A service method of a femtocell for simultaneously providing a plurality of femto services to a plurality of mobile stations, and a transmitter and receiver for the same. When a femto advanced base station supports a plurality of femtocell subscription types, and it simultaneously provides data services with different qualities to mobile stations having subscribed to different femtocells. The femtocell subscription type supported by the femto advanced base station is advertised to the mobile station through an identifier at a PHY level or an identifier at a MAC level. A CSG-closed femtocell provides a high-quality data service to limited subscribers, a CSG-open femtocell provides a relatively low quality data service to limited subscribers, and an OSG femtocell provides the lowest quality data service to all mobile stations irrespectively of subscription states. |
| US08548465B2 |
Methods and apparatus for providing dynamic information in a wireless information channel
Methods and apparatus for transmission of selected segments of information (such as system context information). In one embodiment, a cognitive pilot channel base station (CPC-BS) is disclosed that enables the distribution of context information to various user equipment and mobile devices in an efficient manner. The exemplary CPC-BS is also optionally capable of distributing sensing tasks to external entities, and compiling the data results from these distributed tasks for use in performing future CPC transmissions based e.g., on the operational mode of the system. On-demand provisioning of context information over both broadcast and peer-to-peer communications with served users is also disclosed. In addition to the distribution of context information via the use of a single CPC-BS, master-slave relationships between multiple CPC-BSs are also described, which permit for a distributed architecture in providing context information to served users. |
| US08548463B2 |
PCRN roaming agreement
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method performed by a policy and charging rules node (PCRN) for managing a session for a roaming subscriber. The method may include: defining a roaming agreement associated with at least one roaming partner and including at least one limitation; receiving a session establishment request; extracting a subscription identifier; determining an active roaming partner by comparing the subscription identifier to the roaming partner profile; selecting the roaming agreement including the active roaming partner; and enforcing the at least one limitation when processing the session establishment request. The PCRN may include: a roaming agreement storage; a first interface configured to receive a session establishment request for a roaming subscriber; a roaming manager configured to identify a roaming partner associated with the roaming subscriber and a roaming agreement associated with the roaming partner; and a second interface configured to communicate session information with a roaming partner PCRN. |
| US08548461B2 |
Device roaming in hybrid Wi-Fi/wireline and multi-AP networks
A method for communication includes communicating between a first transceiver and a wireless communication terminal on a first channel, while identifying the first transceiver to the terminal with a transceiver identity. A roaming condition, which determines whether the terminal is to roam to a second transceiver operating on a second channel, is evaluated. Upon meeting the roaming condition, the terminal is instructed to switch to the second channel, and the terminal is subsequently communicated with using the second transceiver on the second channel while identifying the second transceiver to the terminal with the same transceiver identity as the first transceiver. |
| US08548459B1 |
Replacing field hardware involving utilization of a smart phone
A technique enables robust and reliable replacement of field hardware. The technique involves providing a set of instructions to a user from a smart phone. The set of instructions directs the user to perform a field hardware replacement operation at a field hardware installation site. The technique further involves, in accordance with the set of instructions, collecting field hardware data from the field hardware installation site using the smart phone prior to performing the field hardware replacement operation. The technique further involves receiving additional field hardware data regarding the field hardware installation site using the smart phone after performing the field hardware replacement operation. |
| US08548457B2 |
Providing flexible RF channel to port mappings
Methods, systems, and apparatus can be used to flexibly allocate RF channels to output ports on edge termination systems. Flexible edge termination systems can include multiplexing modules operable to combine signals together inside of the flexible edge termination system to provide a flexible mapping of RF channels to output ports. |
| US08548451B2 |
Information processing system, apparatus, and method
An information processing system includes a first apparatus including a position information transmission unit to transmit information on the position of the first apparatus; and a second apparatus including, a position information acquisition unit to acquire a position of the second apparatus; a position information receiving unit to receive the information on the position of the first apparatus; a relative-position information acquisition unit to acquire relative-position information of the second and the first apparatus on the basis of the information on the position of the second and the first apparatus; and a control unit to control a coupling mode of the second and the first apparatus on the basis of the relative-position information. |
| US08548450B2 |
Scrolling based pagination by mobile wireless communications device and method thereof
A mobile wireless communications device may include a housing, and a wireless transceiver carried by the housing. The mobile wireless communications device may also include a display carried by the housing, and a controller carried by the housing and coupled to the display and the wireless transceiver. The controller may be configured to wirelessly download a first page from among a plurality of pages collectively including a sequential listing of a plurality of selectable files. The controller may also be configured to display the first page with a scrollable cursor thereon, and wirelessly download a second page based upon the scrollable cursor being positioned at a threshold number of selectable files in the first page. |
| US08548437B2 |
System and method for controlling mobile device profile tones
A system and method are provided that utilize a set of heuristics to more intelligently determine when to utilize an audible tone associated with a notification profile or other mechanism used to alert a user of events such as an incoming instant message. The heuristics employed consider the layering of the message screens for the corresponding conversations, in combination with one or more device usage indicators such as the status of the backlight, the idle timer, and the orientation of the mobile device 10A itself as indicated by the orientation sensor. |
| US08548433B1 |
Voice messaging service for network-based instant connect systems
Voice messaging services are used to provide messages for recipients associated with terminated network-based instant connect communication sessions. A first device engages in a communication session with a second device. The communication session between the two devices terminates and the first device records locally a voice message addressed to the second device. The message may be stored on the first device and transmitted to the second device after another communication session is established between the two devices. Alternately, the voice message may be transmitted to a message server and forwarded to the second device at a later time. |
| US08548430B2 |
Position and velocity-based mobile device management
A set of one or more positional control parameters includes at least one of a geographic limit, a velocity limit, and a direction of travel limit. A control list identifies at least one feature in a mobile device. The at least one feature may be associated with at least one of the positional control parameters. |
| US08548428B2 |
Device group partitions and settlement platform
Device group partitions and a settlement platform are provided. In some embodiments, device group partitions (e.g., partitions of devices based on associated device groups) are provided. In some embodiments, a settlement platform service is provided. In some embodiments, a settlement platform service is provided for partitioned devices. In some embodiments, collecting device generated service usage information for one or more devices in wireless communication on a wireless network; and aggregating the device generated service usage information for a settlement platform for the one or more devices in wireless communication on the wireless network is provided. In some embodiments, a settlement platform implements a service billing allocation and/or a service/transactional revenue share among one or more partners. In some embodiments, service usage information includes micro-CDRs, which are used for CDR mediation or reconciliation that provides for service usage accounting on any device activity that is desired. In some embodiments, each device activity that is desired to be associated with a billing event is assigned a micro-CDR transaction code, and a service processor of the device is programmed to account for that activity associated with that transaction code. In some embodiments, a service processor executing on a wireless communications device periodically reports (e.g., during each heartbeat or based on any other periodic, push, and/or pull communication technique(s)) micro-CDR usage measures to, for example, a service controller or some other network element for CDR mediation or reconciliation. |
| US08548426B2 |
Systems and methods to approve electronic payments
Systems and methods are provided to facilitate online transactions via mobile communications. In one aspect, a system includes a data storage facility to store an account identifier of a user and a phone number of the user and an interchange coupled with the data storage facility. The interchange includes a common format processor and a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of different controllers of mobile communications. The converters are configured to communicate with the common format processor in a common format and to communicate with the controllers in different formats. The interchange uses the converters to communicate with the mobile phone of a user to confirm the identity of the user using a user terminal separate from the mobile phone for subsequent payment requests from the user terminal to be fulfilled using the account identifier. |
| US08548424B1 |
Dynamic geotagging of photographs
A wireless mobile telecommunications network tags an image or other multimedia message that it receives from wireless user equipment (UE) with geographical information indicating the location of the UE. The network can determine the UE location using a conventional method such as those used in Location-Based Services. |
| US08548420B2 |
Panic button for data collection device
A data collection device comprising: a data collection subsystem; a wireless communication device; a dedicated panic button; and a processor that, responsive to a user activating the dedicated panic button, uses the wireless communication device to cause a message to be sent to a designated emergency contact. |
| US08548416B2 |
Semiconductor chip and radio frequency circuit
A two-terminal semiconductor device is formed on a semiconductor substrate. Two wiring patterns are respectively connected to terminals of the semiconductor device, and two electrode pads are respectively connected to the wiring patterns for connecting a signal input/output circuit formed on a separate substrate. Two parallel wiring patterns are respectively connected to the wiring patterns, and two reactance-circuit connection electrode pads are respectively connected to the parallel wiring patterns for electrically connecting a reactance circuit formed on the separate substrate separately from the signal input/output circuit. |
| US08548410B2 |
RF front-end for intra-band carrier aggregation
The method and apparatus described herein address problems associated with conventional wireless receivers configured for intra-band carrier aggregation. The disclosed solution applies the received signal to a single front-end amplifier, which may comprise a low-noise amplifier, and divides the amplified signal into two or more processing paths, where each path is associated with a different local oscillator frequency corresponding to a different reception band. To compensate for the impact of the additional processing paths on the amplifier performance, a negative resistor unit applies a negative resistance to the output of the front-end amplifier when two or more processing paths are active. |
| US08548408B2 |
Method and apparatus for utilizing modulation based audio correlation technique for maintaining dynamic FM station list in single tuner variant and assisting alternate frequency switching methodology in single tuner and dual tuner variants
A method of operating a single-tuner radio includes tuning into a first frequency. A pause in a first signal associated with the first frequency is detected. Tuning is switched from the first frequency to a second frequency during the pause. Fieldstrength, multipath, adjacent channel energy, frequency offset and FM modulation for the second frequency are measured. Tuning is switched from the second frequency to the first frequency. Tuning is switched from the first frequency to the second frequency dependent upon the measuring step. |
| US08548407B2 |
Apparatus to communicate multiple signals from multiple antennas on a single cable
An antenna assembly, a receiver, and a system configured to superimpose a first received signal from a first antenna and an intermediate signal based on a second received signal from a second antenna onto a single cable. The antenna assembly includes a mixer and an adjustable local oscillator (ALO) that frequency shift the second received signal to generate the intermediate signal. The output frequency of the ALO is controlled by a control signal superimposed on the single cable that is output by the receiver. With this arrangement, a plurality of antennas or antenna elements can be connected to a receiver using a single coaxial cable. Such an arrangement is particularly desirable to manufacturers of automobiles and other vehicles. Also, the receiver can detect if the output frequency of the ALO needs to be adjusted, and so close-loop control of the output frequency is possible. |
| US08548403B2 |
Baseband-derived RF digital predistortion
A baseband-derived RF predistortion system using a lookup table having coefficients extracted at baseband and then applied at RF by means of a vector modulator. The architecture combines the narrowband advantage of envelope predistortion with the accuracy of baseband predistortion, and including compensation for memory effects. A polynomial-based alternative is also described. |
| US08548402B2 |
Power amplification device and method for acquiring power adjusting coefficient
An embodiment of the invention discloses a power amplification device and method and a method for acquiring a power adjusting coefficient. The power amplification device according to one embodiment of the invention includes: a power control module configured to perform power adjusting on an input signal; a power amplification module configured to perform power amplification on the signal subjected to the power adjusting by the power control module; and a pre-distortion module configured to compensate for nonlinear characteristic of the power amplification module; wherein, said power control module is coupled between said pre-distortion module and said power amplification module in series; alternatively, said pre-distortion module is coupled between said power control module and said power amplification module in series. With the embodiment of the invention, a transmitter can be provided with a spectrum including a low side lobe even upon startup. |
| US08548401B2 |
Amplifier circuit, control method for supplying power to amplifier circuit, and transmission device
An amplifier circuit includes an amplifier, a detecting unit which detects a power output from the amplifier, a control unit which controls a saturation point of the amplifier with respect to a Peak-to-Average Power Ratio (PAPR) obtained by a detection output of the detecting unit. |
| US08548400B2 |
System and method for polar modulation using power amplifier bias control
Systems and techniques are described for applying a polar bias modulation having a phase component and an amplitude component to a signal amplified by a power amplifier. The power amplifier (PA) has a plurality of amplifier gain stages and is configured to amplify an input to create an amplifier output signal. The input to the power amplitude is phase modulated based upon the phase component of the polar bias modulation, but need not be amplitude modulated. Amplitude modulation is provided by logic that includes a detector configured to receive an indication of the amplifier output as a feedback signal, a control module configured to generate a control signal based upon both the feedback signal and the amplitude component of the polar bias modulation, and a bias circuit configured to adjust a bias signal associated with at least one of the plurality of amplifier gain stages in response to the control signal. Such a modulation scheme may be readily applied in enhanced data rate for global service mode (GSM) evolution (EDGE) applications, as well as in other environments that make use of polar modulation. |
| US08548396B2 |
Antenna element and communication apparatus
An antenna element includes a feeding path unit connected to a feeding point, first and second antenna main body units, and first and second short-circuit path units. The first antenna main body unit has one end connected to the feeding path unit and the other end that is opened. The second antenna main body unit has one end connected to a connection point between the feeding path unit and the first antenna main body unit and the other end that is opened. The first short-circuit path unit contributes to a resonance to a radio signal in a predetermined first frequency band, and is formed between the connection point and a ground point. The second short-circuit path unit contributes to a resonance to a radio signal in a second frequency band higher than the first frequency band, and has a path length different from that of the first short-circuit path unit. |
| US08548392B2 |
Communication device
A communication device includes a receiver, a transmitter and an interruption module. The receiver receives an allocation signal indicating a first period usable by the communication device and a second period usable by a plurality of communication devices including the communication device. The transmitter transmits a transmission signal in the first period. If the transmission of the transmission signal is completed within the first period, the interruption module interrupts at least a part of power supply to the receiver in the second period. If the transmission of the transmission signal is not completed within the first period and directivity of radio waves used by a second communication device includes a direction of the communication device in a communication period allocated before the second period, the transmitter transmits the transmission signal in the second period. |
| US08548389B2 |
System and methods for determining radiated radio frequency (RF) receiver sensitivity
A test method is for determining RF sensitivity of an RF receiver for a plurality of channels extending over a frequency band(s) using an RF source coupled to the RF receiver by an RF communications link. The plurality of channels may include channels having a predictable RF sensitivity and a channel(s) having a non-predictable RF sensitivity. The test method may include measuring an RF sensitivity for one or more of the channels having the predictable RF sensitivity, and generating a partial RF sensitivity function for the channels having the predictable RF sensitivity based thereon. The method may further include measuring an RF sensitivity for the channel(s) having the non-predictable RF sensitivity. Additionally, an overall RF sensitivity function may be generated for the plurality of channels based upon the partial RF sensitivity function, and based upon the measured RF sensitivity for the channel(s) having the non-predictable RF sensitivity. |
| US08548387B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing uplink signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) estimation in a wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for providing uplink signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) estimation in a wireless communication system. A first signal is received over a first channel and a second signal is received over a second channel, where the second signal is received at a higher signal power level than said first signal. A signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the second signal is measured, and the SNR of the first signal is determined based at least in part upon the measured SNR of the second signal. |
| US08548386B1 |
Antenna optimum beam forming for multiple protocol coexistence on a wireless device
A first angle of arrival of a first signal from a second communication device to a first communication device is determined. A second angle of arrival of a second signal from a third communication device to the first communication device is determined. A first beam pattern for an antenna array is determined using (i) the first angle of arrival of the first signal and (ii) the second angle of arrival of the second signal. The first beam pattern is for communicating with the second communication device. A second beam pattern for the antenna array is determined using (i) the first angle of arrival of the first signal and (ii) the second angle of arrival of the second signal. The second beamforming pattern is for communicating with the third communication device. |
| US08548384B2 |
Adaptive interference alignment precoding and decoding to prevent multi-cell interference
A mobile station and a network control apparatus are provided. The network control apparatus may generate beamforming information, associated with an interference alignment of a plurality of mobile stations, and transmit the beamforming information to a plurality of base stations. The mobile station may receive a signal from the plurality of base stations based on the beamforming information. |
| US08548380B2 |
Communications device for intelligently routing information among multiple user interfaces
A near field communications (NFC) device is disclosed that intelligently routes NFC data from a NFC device between multiple user interfaces based upon a power level of its internal batteries. The communications device utilizes a communications device user interface to send and/or receive the NFC data from the NFC device when its internal batteries are sufficient to operate the communications device user interface. The communications device begins to route some of this NFC data from being sent and/or received by the communications device user interface to a NFC user interface as its internal batteries deplete. Eventually, all of the NFC data will be sent to and/or received by the NFC user interface as the internal batteries of the communications device become so depleted that they are unable to reliably operate the communications device user interface. |
| US08548379B2 |
Calibration-less transmit beamforming
A calibration-less transmit beamforming apparatus and method are provided. In a wireless communication device that comprises a plurality of antennas, a gain block is provided in the front-end module associated with each antenna and the same gain block is used during transmit and receive operations. As a result, the transmit phase offset and receive phase offset for each antenna are made to be equal, thereby achieving conditions for transmit beamforming without the need for complex antenna calibration algorithms and hardware. |
| US08548378B2 |
Communication system for transmitting data using cooperative communication relay
A mobile station which connects to a base station having a plurality of relays belonging thereto is provided. The mobile station includes a receiving unit which receives a first preamble signal from a first relay and receives a second preamble signal from a second relay, the first relay belonging to a first cluster including an N1 number of relays and the second relay belonging to a second cluster including an N2 number of relays, a control unit which selects the first cluster as an access cluster to connect to the base station, based on the first preamble signal and the second preamble signal, and a transmission unit which transmits an access request message to the first relay, wherein the access request message is transmitted to the base station via the first relay. |
| US08548377B2 |
Frequency re-use for service and gateway beams
A method is presented for communicating data in a multibeam satellite system utilizing frequency re-use. The method comprises establishing uplink service beams and downlink service beams between a satellite and a plurality of subscriber terminals. A plurality of the uplink service beams are transmitted to the satellite by re-using at least one common uplink frequency channel. A plurality of the downlink service beams are transmitted from the satellite by re-using at least one common downlink frequency channel. The method further comprises establishing at least one uplink feeder beam and at least one downlink feeder beam between the satellite and a gateway terminal. The at least one uplink feeder beam is transmitted to the satellite by further re-using the at least one common uplink frequency channel. The at least one downlink feeder beam is transmitted from the satellite by further re-using the at least one common downlink frequency channel. |
| US08548371B2 |
Electrophotographic print binding system
Systems for producing bound electrophotographic prints are provided. In one aspect there is provided a system with a print engine having a printing module to form a toner image on a receiver, a fuser with a heater that heats the toner image to fuse the toner image to a receiver to form a print, a stacking system that stacks the print and a sheet in a stacking area with the fused toner image between the print and the sheet. A heating system has a heat source that applies a heat along an edge of the stack, and a controller that causes the toner image to have toner in a binding area proximate to the heated edge of the stack and in an image area that is separated from the binding area by a separation area. A portion of the heat applied at the edge of the stack heats the binding area to cause toner in the binding area to fuse for a second time and a residual portion of the heat applied heats the separation area, but the separation area does not heat the image area to an extent sufficient to fuse toner in the image area. |
| US08548369B2 |
Image forming apparatus reducing driving noise
An image forming apparatus which includes a main body, an image forming unit to form an image on a printing medium, a plate to open and close a first side of the main body; a pickup unit which includes a driven gear to rotate in forward and backward directions, a pickup roller to receive a driving force from the driven gear to pick up the printing medium disposed on the plate, and a support frame to rotatably support the pickup roller and to interlock with the forward and backward rotations of the driven gear to move toward and away from the plate, a driving source to drive the image forming unit and the driven gear, and a blocking gear disposed between the driven gear and the driving source, to prevent the support frame, spaced apart from the plate, from moving toward the plate. |
| US08548368B2 |
Method and apparatus for fusing a recording material on a medium
In a method for fusing a recording material on a medium, a fusing element is radiated close to and upstream from a fuse nip. Thus, the heat that is provided has very little time to penetrate the fusing element and thus remains at a surface of the fusing element. Therefore, the fusing element does not need to be heated thoroughly, which would require a substantial amount of time. Consequently, in the method, heat may be provided on demand and an energy efficient fuse method is thus provided. |
| US08548366B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
A fixing device includes a fixing member formed into a loop inside which a nip formation member, a core holder, a heater support, and a laminated heater are provided, and a pressing member provided outside the loop formed by the fixing member. The pressing member is pressed against the nip formation member via the fixing member. The heater support is between the laminated heater and the nip formation member to support the laminated heater. The core holder is between the nip formation member and the heater support to support the nip formation member and the heater support. |
| US08548362B2 |
Toner stirring member and toner cartridge including thereof
A toner stirring member includes a stirring blade made of a flexible sheet having a first insertion hole, and a rotation shaft having a nipping section for nipping an edge the flexible sheet such that the flexible sheet can be inserted into and pulled out from the nipping section. An inclining projection on the rotation shaft is inserted into the first insertion hole. The flexible sheet is nipped by the nipping section, and the inclining projection is inserted into the first insertion hole, so that the stirring blade is fixed to the rotation shaft. The inclining projection has a first inclining surface that inclines in a direction in which the flexible sheet is pulled out from the nipping section. |
| US08548361B2 |
Developing device
A developing device includes a developer carrying member for carrying a developer; a first feeding portion for supplying the developer to the developer carrying member while feeding the developer along the developer carrying member; a second feeding portion, communicating with the first feeding portion at end portions thereof, for feeding the developer in a direction opposite to a developer feeding direction of the first feeding portion while collecting the developer from the developer carrying member; and a partition wall portion for partitioning the first and second feeding portions. The partition wall portion includes an opposing portion opposing the developer carrying member with a spacing. A surface roughness of at least the opposing portion is larger than that of the developer carrying member. |
| US08548352B2 |
Developer container, developing device, and process cartridge
A developer container, which contains a developer to be supplied to a developing chamber in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the developer container including: a partition wall partitioning the container from the chamber; a conveying member conveying the developer to an opening in the partition wall to supply the developer to the chamber; a sealing member attached to a wall surface of the partition wall to cover the opening; an extending portion extending from the sealing member to an outside of the container, wherein, when the extending portion is pulled, the sealing member is separated into a remaining portion and a removal portion, and a free end of the remaining portion is positioned below an upper edge of the opening; and a spacing holding member disposed between the wall surface of the partition wall and the sealing member to hold a spacing between the wall surface and the sealing member. |
| US08548349B2 |
Method and apparatus for life extension of oil contaminated intermediate transfer belts
A method and apparatus that uniformly distributes a material on an image transfer surface is disclosed. The apparatus may include a circulation mechanism to circulate an image transfer surface in a two-dimensional manner around an axis and a retractable blade which is movable between a smoothing position contacting the material on the image transfer surface and a stand-by position departing from the material on the image transfer surface. Additionally, a cam on a lever moves the retractable blade to the stand-by position or to the smoothing position. In an image forming apparatus a retractable blade is used to smooth contamination of unknown distribution on a belt and to move corresponding to the movement of a roller disposed proximate to the belt. |
| US08548346B2 |
Label press fuser algorithm for feeding a continuous roll of label material through a sheet fed printing device
According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided an apparatus and method to use a fuser speed algorithm to engage a web print media to a rotatable image carrier (PR) during transfer of toner to paper without additional parts or tight web requirement. The fuser speed algorithm can drive the web through a sheet fed printer efficiently by only using the fuser nip as the main drive. The fuser speed algorithm leverages the advantage of fuser speed to enable the required speed and tension at transfer for proper engagement, then release tension to create slack web at transfer so the PR drives create a buckle zone prior to the fuser system. The fuser speed algorithm drives the fuser at the nominal desired speed which is slower than PR speed to maintain the buckle zone. |
| US08548345B2 |
Image forming apparatus with transfer nip adjustment function
A secondary transfer facing roller includes a roller part that has a through-hole penetrating in a rotary shaft line direction at a rotation center position, and a penetrating shaft member penetrating the through-hole of the roller part and spinning the roller part on a surface of the penetrating shaft member. Eccentric cams are fixed to both end regions that are not located in the roller part, so as to rotate integrally with the penetrating shaft member. A position regulating cam and an abutting roller form a gap between the intermediate transfer belt and the secondary transfer roller immediately before a transfer sheet enters a transfer nip part. While the gap is formed, current flows between the intermediate transfer belt and the secondary transfer roller via the position regulating cam and the abutting roller. |
| US08548343B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method of measuring linear speed
An image forming apparatus including an image carrying member, a detecting section, and a linear-speed deriving section. The image carrying member carries a toner image. The detecting section detects passages of a mark, provided on the image carrying member, at a plurality of predetermined detection positions. The linear-speed deriving section determines a linear speed of the image carrying member from times at which the detecting section detects the passage of the mark. |
| US08548342B2 |
Customer replaceable unit monitor (CRUM) unit, replaceable unit and image forming apparatus comprising the CRUM unit, and unit driving method thereof
An image forming apparatus including a replaceable unit to participate in an image forming job, and a consumer replaceable unit monitor (CRUM) unit mountable to the replaceable unit. |
| US08548339B2 |
Cartridges, such as developer cartridges, for an image forming apparatus, such as a printer
A cartridge includes an engagement gear which includes a first engaging portion and is configured to selectively rotate. The cartridge also includes a rotational body which includes a second engaging portion, and a center axis of the rotational body is aligned with a center axis of the engagement gear. Moreover, the cartridge includes an extension portion which is positioned offset from a center of rotation of the rotational body. The engagement gear and the rotational body are configured to selectively be positioned in one of a first state in which the second engaging portion and the first engaging portion are separated from each other, and a second state in which the second engaging portion engages the first engaging portion. The rotational body is configured to rotate with the engagement gear when the engagement gear rotates and the engagement gear and the rotational body are in the second state. |
| US08548338B2 |
Method and system for deploying an optical demodulator arrangement in a communications network
The present application describes methods and systems for use in a communications network. More specifically, a method of deploying an optical demodulator arrangement having at least one interferometer in a network that transmits an optical signal is provided. The optical signal may include one or more on-off-keyed signals and one or more DMPSK signals. In some embodiments, the DMPSK signal is a DQPSK signal. The network may include one or more of fiber spans carrying the signals. The interferometer may have a first optical path and a second optical path and a time delay is formed between the first and second optical paths. The method may involve determining a cross-talk penalty that results from cross-phase modulation between the channels, and determining a time delay value for the interferometer. The time delay value may be determined based at least in part on determined the cross-talk penalty. |
| US08548332B2 |
Indirect optical free-space communications system and method for the broadband transmission of high-speed data
An indirect optical free-space communications system provides broadband transmission of high-speed data in transportation vehicles such as aircraft. The system includes a transmitter with a light source that can be modulated and a receiver with a photo detector, adapted to receive light that is emitted from the transmitter and to convert it into an electric signal. The transmitter and the receiver are directed onto at least one common surface, which reflects the light emitted from the transmitter before it reaches the receiver. The free space communications system is cellular and includes several cells, each of which has a transmitter and at least one corresponding receiver. The cells are configured in such a way that crosstalk with a respective adjoining cell is prevented. The cells are thus independent of one another. |
| US08548328B2 |
Transparent overhead in a passive optical network that supports enhanced features
A Gigabit-capable Passive Optical Network (GPON), including an enhanced Optical Line Termination (OLT) and Optical Network Units (ONUs), provides enhanced features, e.g., features defined in XG-PON. One or more of the ONUs are enhanced ONUs. The enhanced OLT communicates with the ONUs via downstream frames and upstream bursts, each downstream frame and upstream burst being compliant with a GPON framing format. The enhanced OLT transmits downstream frames to the ONUs, the downstream frames including downstream sub-frames with at least one downstream sub-frame being an overhead sub-frame that includes information of the enhanced features. The enhanced OLT receives upstream bursts from the ONUs, the upstream bursts including upstream sub-frames, each upstream sub-frame including an upstream identifier field that indicates to the enhanced OLT whether the upstream sub-frame is an overhead sub-frame. The enhanced OLT and the enhanced ONUs perform network operations to provide the enhanced features specified in the overhead sub-frame. |
| US08548327B2 |
Dynamic management of polling rates in an ethernet passive optical network (EPON)
A system in an Optical Line Terminal (OLT) to dynamically manage polling rates in a passive optical network is provided herein. The system includes a Media Access Control (MAC) unit that is configured to receive a first message from an Optical Network Unit (ONU). The first message includes a status of an upstream queue of the ONU. The system includes a traffic monitor unit coupled to the MAC unit and is configured to receive the first message from the MAC unit and place the upstream queue of the ONU in an inactive mode if the status of the upstream queue indicates that the upstream queue is empty. |
| US08548326B2 |
Optical communication system
An optical communication system is disclosed. The optical communication system includes a reflection hub connected to a plurality of communication modules. The communication modules communicate optical signals to one another via two way light channels, such that an optical signal is scattered off a diffuse surface at a distal end of the reflection hub and into the two way light channel of each communication module. |
| US08548324B2 |
Method and apparatus for regulating service of optical synchronous digital hierarchy network
The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus for adjusting a service of optical synchronous digital hierarchy network, and the method comprises: at first configuring the input time-slot space-division cross path to the time-division module after adjustment in space-division module and the time-division cross path of the time-division module after adjustment; and configuring the output time-slot space-division cross path from the time-division module after adjustment in space-division module; deleting the original cross path formed by the time-division module before adjustment. The apparatus comprises: a first configuration unit used to configure the input time-slot space-division cross path to the time-division module after adjustment in space-division module and the time-division cross path of the time-division module after adjustment; a second configuration unit configuring the output time-slot space-division cross path from the time-division module after adjustment in the space-division module; deleting the original cross path formed by the time-division module before adjustment. |
| US08548319B1 |
Camera lens shade assembly
A camera lens shade assembly includes an elongated member having a first end and a second end. The elongated member includes a plurality of attached ball and socket members and is bendable such that first and second ends are positionable with respect to each other. An attachment member is attached to the first end of the elongated member. The attachment apparatus is removably coupled to an image capturing device. A shade is attached to the second end of the elongated member. The shade is positionable relative to a lens of the image capturing device to inhibit light from a selected light source from directly entering the lens. |
| US08548317B2 |
Different aspects of electronic pens
A miniaturized optical component (36) for a camera pen has the shape of a plate and comprises at least two non-overlapping radiation-transmitting sections: an imaging section (36′) configured to transmit an image of an object plane, and an illuminating section (36″) configured to transmit illuminating radiation towards the object plane. Passive optical elements may be incorporated in the component to provide the imaging and illuminating sections, e.g. an image-generating surface structure, an illumination-controlling surface structure, a radiation filter, a stray light shield, and an aperture stop. These optical elements may be provided as well-defined surface structures and layers on a plate substrate. The optical component may be manufactured as a wafer structure comprising a plurality of these optical components. A camera housing (22) may be provided with a first mounting structure (56) for the optical component (36), a second mounting structure (64) for an image sensor (11) configured to detect the image, and a third mounting structure (66) for a radiation source (13) configured to generate the illuminating radiation. An elongate guide pipe (24) for receiving a stylus (8) may be received in and joined to an elongate recess (28) in an exterior wall portion of the camera housing (22). |
| US08548315B2 |
In-vehicle camera unit having camera built into body
An in-vehicle camera unit has a body to which a lens is attached and prevention members that prevent water drops from falling on the lens. Specifically the body has a top surface where the lens is arranged, a front surface of the lens being exposed to an outside of the body. The top surface has an oblique portion extending from the periphery of the lens backward of the lens. The oblique portion is oblique in such a way as to be away from the optical axis 13a of the lens with increasing distance from the lens backward. The prevention member is provided in or on the oblique portion across an oblique direction of the oblique portion. |
| US08548314B2 |
Articulated sensor support structure
Embodiments include an assembly comprising: (a) a camera support structure comprising: a masthead disposed on the distal end of a mast wherein the masthead is configured to receive an imaging element; where a proximal end of the mast rotatably engaging an azimuth-elevation joint assembly wherein the azimuth-elevation joint assembly comprises a first angular actuator of a first rotational degree-of-freedom and a second angular actuator of a second rotational degree of freedom; and (b) a camera support structure housing comprising an aperture and a hatch wherein the hatch is resiliently biased to close the aperture; and wherein the camera support structure is configured to overcome the hatch resilient bias by at least one of: the release of a pin restraining a loaded spring and a rotational actuation of the mast via at least one of the first angular actuator and the second angular actuator. |
| US08548313B2 |
Aerial digital camera and method of controlling the same
An aerial digital camera comprises a housing 15, a lens, a frame 45, an image sensor 35 mounted on the frame, at least three flexure bearings 51 connecting the frame and the housing, the flexure bearings allowing a displacement of the frame relative to the housing in a displacement direction 67 parallel to a light receiving surface of the image sensor, a spring 69 providing a biasing force between the housing and the frame oriented in the displacement direction; and an actuator 71 for displacing the frame relative to the housing against the biasing force of the spring. |
| US08548310B2 |
Playback apparatus
According to one embodiment, a capturing apparatus includes a capturing unit configured to capture a moving image video, a storage unit configured to store the moving image video captured by the capturing unit, an operation unit configured to include a plurality of keys used to instruct playback of the moving image video stored in the storage unit, a skip playback unit configured to play back the moving image video while skipping the moving image video at predetermined time intervals every time a predetermined operation is made on the operation unit, and a playback control unit configured to switch the time intervals skipped by the skip playback unit based on the total playback time period of the moving image video. |
| US08548308B2 |
Playback apparatus, integrated circuit, and playback method considering trickplay
A read unit 201 reads a digital stream that includes a left-view video stream and a right-view video stream from a recording medium. A mode storage unit 203 stores either a 3D mode to show a user video frames in stereoscopic view or a 2D mode to show a user video frames in monoscopic view as a playback mode of the apparatus. A dimension determining unit 202 determines whether the digital stream read from the recording medium supports 3D mode. When (i) the digital stream supports 3D mode and (ii) the current playback mode is 3D mode, a demultiplexer 204 separates the left-view video stream and the right-view video stream from the digital stream, and when condition (i) or (ii) is not met, the demultiplexer 204 separates either the left-view video stream or the right-view video stream from the digital stream. |
| US08548306B2 |
Audio and video recording and reproduction apparatus for reproducing audio signals having different volume levels
An audio and video recording and reproduction apparatus includes an audio signal switch section for outputting one of a first audio signal having a first volume level and a second audio signal having a second volume level by a switching operation; and a mute section for muting the first audio signal which is output from the audio signal switch section when the audio signal switch section switches the second audio signal to the first audio signal. |
| US08548301B2 |
Record carrier carrying a video signal and at least one additional information signal
A record carrier is described carrying a video signal and at least one additional information signal, such as graphics or audio. The at least one additional information signal is meant to be reproduced simultaneously with said video signal. The record carrier further carries scheduling information indicating in which order parts of the at least one additional information signal or video signal have to be read from said record carrier. The scheduling information enables a reproducing device according to the invention to read parts of the video signal and the additional information signals such that no buffer overflow or underflow occurs. The size of the buffers in the apparatus can be reduced by means of the scheduling information. |
| US08548300B2 |
Method and device for recording of frames
The invention is related to a method and a device for recording of frames.Said method comprises buffering fractions of frames in a buffer and transferring from the buffer to memory devices data packets comprising at least one fraction, each, wherein after transferring to a first memory device a first fraction of a first frame, only fractions of said first frame are transferred to said first memory device until the amount of data belonging to said first frame and being transferred to said first memory device corresponds the storage capacity of at least one memory block comprised in said first memory device. |
| US08548298B2 |
Recording medium, reproducing device, recording method and reproducing method
On a BD-ROM, PlayList information is recorded. The PlayList information includes MainPath information and SubPath information. The MainPath information specifies one of a plurality of AVClips as a MainClip, and defines a primary playback section (PlayItem) on the MainClip. The SubPath information specifies, among the rest of the AVClips, one AVClip as a SubClip, and defines, on the SubClip, a secondary playback section (SubPlayItem) to be synchronized with the primary playback section. The SubPath information includes In_Time information and Out_Time information which indicate In_Time and Out_Time, respectively, of the SubPlayItem. In_Time and Out_Time of the SubPlayItem match In_Time and Out_Time of the PlayItem. |
| US08548295B2 |
Method and system for replaying video images
The present invention relates to method of replaying video images by placing a bookmark on the particular thumbnail image of the broadcast content using thumbnail method and replaying it from the position a user wants. The method of the present invention extracts a plurality of thumbnail images from a broadcast content, placing a bookmark on a thumbnail image being most recent one before the user's request for stopping replaying the broadcast content that is being replayed. Accordingly, the user is allowed to understand roughly the broadcast content watched by the user using the thumbnail image that a bookmark is placed on, and the broadcast content can be replayed. |
| US08548289B2 |
Apparatus and method for reducing pixel operational voltage in MEMS-based optical displays
Embodiments of a display comprising pixels formed from suitably tethered deformable membrane-based MEMS subsystems are provided that include the means to dynamically alter the in-plane tension, and thus the effective spring constant, of the deformable membrane being ponderomotively propelled between active and inactive optical states, said dynamic alteration being effected by exploiting transverse piezoelectric properties of the deformable membranes. Manipulating the spring constant can reduce the actuation force required to turn pixels on, thus significantly reducing the operational voltages for the display composed of an array of such subsystems. Since display power rises with the square of the pixel drive voltage, such architectures give rise to more power efficient display systems. |
| US08548284B2 |
Optical element module and method of manufacturing the same
A method of manufacturing an optical element module 1 in which an optical element 8 and a semiconductor circuit element 9 are mounted on one surface of a silicon substrate 2, a mirror surface 2a inclined at approximately 45 degrees is formed on the other surface, and an optical fiber 7 facing the mirror surface is disposed in a V groove formed along the other surface, the method of manufacturing includes the steps of forming the mirror surface 2a and V-shaped side surfaces of the V groove simultaneously by first crystal anisotropic etching on the other surface, and forming an attaching surface 2b substantially perpendicular to the one surface and the other surface, which is formed at an end side of the V groove, and for attaching an end of the optical fiber 7, by second crystal anisotropic etching in a crystal plane orientation different from that of the first crystal anisotropic etching. Thereby, it is possible to realize an optical element module including an optical element that receives light or emits light, a semiconductor circuit element, and an optical fiber optically connected to the optical element, the optical element module highly-functionally performs an optical connection between the optical element and the optical fiber, and realize a method of efficiently manufacturing the optical element module. |
| US08548277B2 |
Image display apparatus and method
Provided are an image display apparatus and method which enables a user to quickly and easily obtain information related to an image currently being reproduced. The image display apparatus includes: a setting module setting a plurality of sub regions into which a predetermined image frame of an image being played back are divided according to color; and a mapping module mapping one or more thumbnail images of one or more relevant contents related to the image to one or more sub regions selected from the sub regions. |
| US08548269B2 |
Seamless left/right views for 360-degree stereoscopic video
A method is disclosed for stitching together first and second sets of images from three or more image sensors. The first set of images are combined into a composite left view of the panorama, and the second set of images are combined into a composite right view of the panorama. When properly stitched together, the left and right views may be presented as a stereoscopic view of the panorama. A stitching algorithm is applied which removes any disparity due to the parallax in the combined left images and in the combined right images. |
| US08548268B2 |
Device to analyze and determine the movement characteristics of products, in particular in a casting line, and relative method
A device to analyze and determine the movement characteristics of products moving in a determinate direction of feed (F) and emitting radiations, in particular products exiting from a casting line, comprises a camera to continuously acquire images of the product moving in the direction of feed (F) in at least two successive instants of time, and an electronic processing unit by means of which the comparison between at least two successive images acquired is carried out, using mathematical algorithms based on the image correlation principle, in order to determine the spatial displacement of the images and then the movement characteristics of the product moving in the direction of feed (F) are analyzed and determined. |
| US08548266B2 |
Method of performing fast compression and decompression for image with accelerated steps
The present invention relates to an image compression and decompression method, in particular in the areas of computer image processing and data compression. The currently, the process speed for which JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group, a compression standard) is applied, it's not all too satisfactory. One aspect of the present invention is simplify compression process based on particular features of an image, thus achieve the aim of accelerate the processing speed. Apply the process described in the present invention, the processing speed for JPEG compression/decompression would rise, without suffers quality reduction compare to current JPEG compression/decompression method. |
| US08548265B2 |
Fast multiplierless integer invertible transforms
This invention relates to the design and implementation of a large family of fast, efficient, hardware-friendly fixed-point multiplierless inverse discrete cosine transforms (IDCT) and the corresponding forward transform counterparts. All of the proposed structures comprises of butterflies and dyadic-rational lifting steps that can be implemented using only shift-and-add operations. The approach also allows the computational scalability with different accuracy-versus-complexity trade-offs. Furthermore, the lifting construction allows a simple construction of the corresponding multiplierless forward DCT, providing bit-exact reconstruction if properly pairing with our proposed IDCT. With appropriately-chosen parameters, all of the disclosed structures can easily pass IEEE-1180 test. The high-accuracy algorithm of the present invention is over 100 times more accurate than IEEE-1180 specifications, leading to practically drifting-free reconstruction in popular MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 codecs even at the lowest quantization setting. |
| US08548264B2 |
Apparatus for predicting a motion vector for a current block in a picture to be decoded
In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a decoder. The decoder is configured to obtain at least one motion vector of a block other than the current block. The other block is associated with at least one reference picture indicated by a reference index for a set of multiple reference pictures. The decoder is configured to compare picture output order information of the picture to be decoded with picture output order information of the at least one reference picture, and is configured to predict the motion vector for the current block using said at least one motion vector, based on the comparison. |
| US08548262B2 |
Method and apparatus for steganalysis of texture images
Embodiments of the invention are directed toward methods for steganalysis that improve the detection of steganography in texture images. The methods combine features extracted from the image spatial representation and from a block discrete cosine transform (BDCT) representation with multiple different block sizes (i.e., N×N) to improve detection of data hidden in texture images. Image data that is to undergo steganalysis can be provided to embodiments of the invention in at least one of spatial (pixel) and JPEG format. When JPEG format is provided, the image is first decompressed to spatial representation, from which the features are extracted when the block size is at least one 2×2, 4×4, and 16×16. When the block size is 8×8, the JPEG coefficients (JPEG quantized 8×8 BDCT coefficients) derived directly from the JPEG image are used to extract features. In addition, the method is also effective as a universal steganalyzer for both texture and smooth/non-texture images. Embodiments of the invention also (1) utilize moments of 1-D and 2-D characteristic functions; (2) Prediction-error; and (3) all wavelet subbands including the low-low subbands. |
| US08548261B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding and decoding multi-view image
A Method and apparatus for encoding and decoding a multi-view image are provided. The method of encoding a multi-view image includes determining whether each of pictures included in multi-view image sequences is a reference picture referred to by other pictures included in the multi-view image sequences for inter-view prediction, and encoding the pictures using at least one of inter-view prediction and temporal prediction based on the determination result, thereby efficiently encoding and decoding the multi-view image at high speed. |
| US08548259B2 |
Classifier combination for optical character recognition systems utilizing normalized weights and samples of characters
Techniques and methods are disclosed herein for combining and weighting of values from and associated with classifiers. Classifiers are used to recognize characters as part of an optical character recognition (OCR) system. Various methods of normalization facilitate combining of results of classifiers. For example, weight values may be entered into a weight table having two columns, one that includes weights from comparing patterns with images of correct characters, the other column includes weights from comparing patterns with images of incorrect characters. |
| US08548258B2 |
Method system and associated modules and software components for providing image sensor based human machine interfacing
Disclosed is an image based human machine interface which comprises an image acquisition assembly which may acquire one or more of two-dimensional images of a user, wherein substantially each image may be associated with a different point in time. The human machine interface further comprises a processing unit which may classify one or more groups of pixels as either background or foreground. |
| US08548252B2 |
Edge detection
One or more techniques and/or systems for detecting edges in images of objects subjected to imaging using imaging apparatus are disclosed, such that the effect of image noise on the edge detection can be mitigated. Ratios of intensity values (e.g., signal values) for a subject region (e.g., a pixel) and respective adjacent regions are determined. An adaptive threshold value is determined for respective adjacent region pairs. The ratio value is compared to the adaptive threshold value for respective adjacent region pairs, to determine whether an edge is present between the respective adjacent region pairs. |
| US08548249B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program
There is provided an information processing apparatus including an analysis section which analyzes, based on image information extracted from image data, a theme per image data group including a plurality of pieces of the image data, and a selection section which selects a combination of predetermined processing which is stored in association with the theme and the image data group based on the theme. |
| US08548248B2 |
Correlated land change system and method
A system and method of mapping a persistent feature change of image data at a geographic location includes selecting a plurality of satellite images from a geographic location on different dates, producing a plurality of two-date satellite change images from pairs of the satellite images, comparing the plurality of satellite change images, and detecting a persistent feature change of image data in the compared satellite change images.The system may be implemented by selecting a plurality of satellite images from a database from different dates. A change detection module measures a change between pairs of the satellite images to produce a plurality of two-date satellite change images. A change confirmation module compares the two-date satellite change images and to confirm a persistent feature change. |
| US08548247B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method, and program
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method, and a program that make it possible to more accurately specify a photographic subject in an image.A photographic subject map generating unit 21 generates, based on an input image, a photographic subject map indicating the likeliness of each region of the input image being a region of a photographic subject. A gradient map generating unit 22 generates a gradient map indicating the degree of change of the likeliness of the photographic subject map being a photographic subject. A threshold processing unit 23 and a threshold processing unit 24 binarize the gradient map using a high threshold THh and a low threshold TH1, and obtain threshold maps. A composite map generating unit 25 generates a composite map indicating the likeliness of each region of the input image being a photographic subject by regarding that, among regions specified as being likely to be a photographic subject based on the threshold map of the low threshold TH1, a region including a region specified as being likely to be a photographic subject based on the threshold map of the high threshold THh is a region of a photographic subject. The present invention is applicable to an image processing apparatus. |
| US08548244B2 |
Image recognition of content
Techniques are described to employ image recognition techniques to content. In an implementation, one or more images are identified in content using a signature derived from the one or more images. Metadata associated with the content is then supplemented based on the identified one or more images. |
| US08548243B2 |
Information processing device, information processing method, and program
An information processing device includes a recognition section for recognizing a feature keyword representing a feature of at least part of text content, an additional information acquisition section for acquiring additional information related to the text content from an outside of the text content in response to the recognized feature keyword, and a control section for controlling the additional information acquired by the additional information acquisition section to be output along with the part of the text content. |
| US08548241B2 |
Enhanced multilayer compression of image files using OCR systems
Described herein is a method for segmenting a document image into a picture component, a special or significant picture component, and a non-picture component. The non-picture component is compressed and may include character blocks. Separately, picture components are compressed with a lossy algorithm or with a preliminary defined compression ratio. Subsequently, the compressed picture component, significant picture component and the compressed non-picture component are saved in memory or in a storage location so that the document image may be recomposed based on the compressed picture component or compressed significant picture component and the compressed non-picture component. |
| US08548238B2 |
Method for partitioning combinatorial graphs
A method of partitioning a weighted combinatorial graph representative of a dataset consists of the steps of generating a generalized Laplacian matrix corresponding to the combinatorial graph, computing the eigenstructure of the generalized Laplacian matrix, determining if an end criterion is satisfied using the eigenstructure, and if the end criterion is not satisfied, calculating new values for at least some of the plurality of weighting factors using the eigenstructure, updating the combinatorial graph with the new values for at least some of the weighting factors, and returning to the generating step. |
| US08548236B2 |
Method for matching colors between two systems
A method for matching colors including comparing the appearance of a first white color associated with a first color imaging system and a second white color associated with a second color imaging system, wherein the tristimulus values of the first and second white color are similar; determining a fixed correction to the tristimulus values of the second white color to achieve a visual match to the first white color; measuring a first set of spectral values for a first color associated with the first color imaging system; determining a first set of tristimulus values from the first set of spectral values; measuring a second set of spectral values for a second color associated with the second color imaging system; determining a second set of tristimulus values from the second set of spectral values; applying a correction to the tristimulus values of the second color; determining a difference between the tristimulus value of the first color and the corrected tristimulus value of the second color; and adjusting the second color to reduce the difference. |
| US08548231B2 |
Predicate logic based image grammars for complex visual pattern recognition
First order predicate logics are provided, extended with a bilattice based uncertainty handling formalism, as a means of formally encoding pattern grammars, to parse a set of image features, and detect the presence of different patterns of interest implemented on a processor. Information from different sources and uncertainties from detections, are integrated within the bilattice framework. Automated logical rule weight learning in the computer vision domain applies a rule weight optimization method which casts the instantiated inference tree as a knowledge-based neural network, to converge upon a set of rule weights that give optimal performance within the bilattice framework. Applications are in (a) detecting the presence of humans under partial occlusions and (b) detecting large complex man made structures in satellite imagery (c) detection of spatio-temporal human and vehicular activities in video and (c) parsing of Graphical User Interfaces. |
| US08548230B2 |
Image processing device and method, data processing device and method, program, and recording medium
A tentative eigenprojection matrix (#12-a) is provisionally generated from a studying image group (#10) including a pair of a high quality image and a low quality image, and a tentative projection core tensor (#12-b) defining a correspondence between the low quality image and an intermediate eigenspace and a correspondence between the high quality image and the intermediate eigenspace is created. A first sub-core tensor is created from the tentative projection core tensor based on a first setting (#12-c), and the studying image group is projected based on the tentative eigenprojection matrix and the first sub-core tensor (#15-a) to calculate an intermediate eigenspace coefficient vector (#15-b). A representative intermediate eigenspace coefficient vector (#15-c) is obtained from the coefficient vector group according to the number of studying representatives, an eigenprojection matrix (#17) and a projection core tensor (#18) are recreated based on the determined representative studying image group (#15-d), and the matrix and the tensor are used in a restoration step. This can reduce the redundancy of a studying image set, reduce processing load of projection conversion, speed up a process, and suppress a memory size. |
| US08548226B2 |
Stereo image processing device and method
In stereo matching based on standard area matching, in order to suppress a decrease in matching accuracy, it is effective to adaptively change a matching area in accordance with the local properties of an image. However, this requires high calculation costs. Thus, the present invention provides a stereo image processing apparatus including an image pickup unit 101 configured to take a plurality of image data using a plurality of cameras, an image memory 102 configured to store the plurality of image data taken by the image pickup unit 101, a calculated disparity storage unit 105 configured to store disparity data determined based on the plurality of image data, a matching area control unit 103 configured to set a matching area for each pixel based on the plurality of data read from the image memory 102 and the disparity data read from the calculated disparity storage unit 105, and a disparity calculating unit 104 configured to perform matching on the image data based on the plurality of image data read from the image memory 102 and the matching area for each pixel set by the matching area control unit 103 to calculate disparity data. |
| US08548224B2 |
Method for inspecting measurement object
An inspection method for inspecting a device mounted on a substrate, includes generating a shape template of the device, acquiring height information of each pixel by projecting grating pattern light onto the substrate through a projecting section, generating a contrast map corresponding to the height information of each pixel, and comparing the contrast map with the shape template. Thus, a measurement object may be exactly extracted. |
| US08548221B2 |
Microbead automatic recognition method and microbead
A microbead automatic recognition method includes the steps of: acquiring an image of a circular surface of a cylindrical microbead having a recognition pattern created on the circular surface and a plurality of reference points also created on the circular surface; and acquiring information on the rear/front and/or orientation of the cylindrical microbead from the acquired image on the basis of the positions of the reference points. |
| US08548219B2 |
Detection of circulating tumor cells using imaging flow cytometry
Photometric and morphometric features derived from multi-mode imagery of cells in flow are used as a cell analyzer to determine if a marker corresponding to a cancer cell or precancerous cell is present in the population of cells imaged. An imaging system simultaneously acquires a plurality of images for each cell passing through the field of view of the imaging system. Acquiring a plurality of different images (i.e., bright field, dark field, and fluorescent images) facilitates the determination of different morphological and morphometric parameters. Simultaneously acquiring the plurality of images enables relatively large populations of cells to be rapidly imaged, so that relatively small numbers of cancer cells in a large population of cells can be detected. Initially, known cancer cells are imaged to enable a marker to be identified. Then, a sample that may include cancer cells is imaged to determine if the marker is present. |
| US08548218B2 |
Image reconstruction
A system and method of reconstructing an image through solution of a data fitting problem, wherein the data fitting problem is not susceptible to efficient solution as a whole, is disclosed, which may comprise gathering, via a computing device, k-space image data, selecting a data fitting problem solution algorithm for the k-space data, decomposing the data fitting problem solution into a plurality of sub-problem solutions each susceptible to efficient solution separately for the k-space data, obtaining, via the computing device, the plurality of sub-problem solutions for the k-space data, and reconstructing, via the computing device, the image based upon a weighted average of the plurality of sub-problem solutions for the k-space data. The image may be a magnetic resonance image. The data fitting problem may comprise a minimization of a plurality of linear terms of a least square data fitting solution. The image may comprise under-sampled k-space image data. |
| US08548215B2 |
Automatic image segmentation of a volume by comparing and correlating slice histograms with an anatomic atlas of average histograms
The invention provides methods and apparatus for image processing that perform image segmentation on data sets in two- and/or three-dimensions so as to resolve structures that have the same or similar grey values (and that would otherwise render with the same or similar intensity values) and that, thereby, facilitate visualization and processing of those data sets. |
| US08548213B2 |
Method and system for guiding catheter detection in fluoroscopic images
A method and system for detecting a guiding catheter in a 2D fluoroscopic image is disclosed. A plurality of guiding catheter centerline segment candidates are detected in the fluoroscopic image. A guiding catheter centerline connecting an input guiding catheter centerline ending point in the fluoroscopic image with an image margin of the fluoroscopic image is detected based on the plurality of guiding catheter centerline segment candidates. |
| US08548210B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus includes an analysis processing unit that quantizes an input image in two levels by replacing an area of the input image where a feature of a subject appears with a first pixel value and replacing an area of the input image where no feature of the subject appears with a second pixel value when the input image is acquired; a storing unit that stores dictionary data including a feature of a plurality of face images quantized by the analysis processing unit; and a face detection processing unit that performs face detection on a detection target image by using the dictionary data read from the storing unit, the detection target data being quantized by the analysis processing unit. |
| US08548209B2 |
User settings system and method of using the same
A user settings system includes a trigger module, an image acquisition module, a microprocessor and a database. The trigger module implements the image acquisition module to capture a pupil image of a driver. The database is coupled with the microprocessor, and stores at least one pupil image of at least one authorized user and the personalized settings of the authorized user. The microprocessor includes a comparison module, a response module, and an implementation module. The comparison module compares the pupil image of the driver captured by the image acquisition module with the stored pupil images in the database and generates a result notification to the response module. The response module determines whether or not a matching pupil image is found. The implementation module automatically activates the personalized settings stored in the database. |
| US08548207B2 |
Method of host-directed illumination and system for conducting host-directed illumination
A method of host-directed illumination for verifying the validity of biometric data of a user is provided that includes capturing biometric data from a user with an authentication device during authentication and directing illumination of the biometric data from a host authentication system during the capturing operation. Moreover, the method includes comparing illumination characteristics of the captured biometric data against illumination characteristics expected to result from the directing operation, and determining that the user is a live user when the illumination characteristics of the captured biometric data match the illumination characteristics expected to result from the directing operation. |
| US08548205B2 |
Image processing device, and recording medium storing image processing program
An image processing device connected with an image formation device configured to output image on a recording medium, includes a data obtaining unit configured to obtain map image data representing a basic map image showing a user-designated geographic area at a user-designated scale, an area identifying unit configured to identify a basic image formation area and a surplus area, the basic map image being formed on the basic image formation area, the surplus area being an area within the image forming area but the basic map image is not formed. The image processing device further includes an additional data obtaining unit configured to obtain map image data necessary for covering an enlarged image formation area including the basic image formation area and at least part of the surplus area, from the map image data provider. The map image can be formed based on the updated map image data. |
| US08548198B2 |
Identifying anomalous object types during classification
Techniques are disclosed for identifying anomaly object types during classification of foreground objects extracted from image data. A self-organizing map and adaptive resonance theory (SOM-ART) network is used to discover object type clusters and classify objects depicted in the image data based on pixel-level micro-features that are extracted from the image data. Importantly, the discovery of the object type clusters is unsupervised, i.e., performed independent of any training data that defines particular objects, allowing a behavior-recognition system to forgo a training phase and for object classification to proceed without being constrained by specific object definitions. The SOM-ART network is adaptive and able to learn while discovering the object type clusters and classifying objects and identifying anomaly object types. |
| US08548197B2 |
Method for estimating the motion of a carrier relative to an environment and computing device for navigation system
A method (10) for estimating a carrier's movement relative to an environment (20) with respect to which the carrier moves, the carrier having at least one navigation sensor and one vision sensor producing 2D images of the environment installed, The method (10) includes the following steps: i) (12) identifying, in images acquired by the vision sensor, characteristic elements of the images representing characteristic elements of the environment, ii) (14) calculating, based on characteristic elements of a triplet of images acquired at different times, at least one condensed measurement representative of characteristics of the carrier's movement during the acquisition of the triplet's images, iii) (16) estimating the movement by a navigation filter, based on navigation measurements made by the navigation sensor and on the at least one condensed measurement. A computing device for a navigation system of a carrier is also described. |
| US08548196B2 |
Method and interface of recognizing user's dynamic organ gesture and elec tric-using apparatus using the interface
A method of recognizing a user's dynamic organ for use in an electric-using apparatus includes comparing a background image and a target image, which are inputted through an imaging element, to detect a candidate region including portions of the target image that are different between the background image and the target image; scanning the candidate region using a window; generating a HOG (histograms of oriented gradients) descriptor of a region of the target image that is scanned when it is judged that the scanned region includes a dynamic organ; measuring a resemblance value between the HOG descriptor of the scanned region and a HOG descriptor of a query template for a gesture of the dynamic organ; and judging that the scanned region includes the gesture of the dynamic organ when the resemblance value meets a predetermined condition. |
| US08548189B2 |
Positioning structure for speaker of portable electronic device
An exemplary positioning structure for a portable electronic device includes a support element, a metal element, and a ring seal. The support element defines an opening. The metal element is attached to the support element. The metal element includes a projection and a depression. The opening and the depression receives the speaker. The ring seal is placed around the projection. |
| US08548185B2 |
Microphone coupler for a communication device
The disclosure relates to a microphone coupler and coupler system for a communication device. The microphone coupler comprises a conduit having an internal channel therein, a distal end, a proximal end, a first opening in the distal end connecting to the internal channel and a second opening in the proximal end connecting to the internal channel, the conduit being attachable to a printed circuit board of the communication device over an opening in the printed circuit board with the second opening mating to the opening and with the distal end of the coupler extending towards an end of the printed circuit board. The coupler has a microphone having a port that is mounted on the printed circuit board and the port is aligned with the opening in the printed circuit board. |