| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08645975B2 |
Adding function to device driver
An information processing apparatus includes a detecting unit configured to detect an additional function data file including a description of an added function that is provided in addition to an already-installed device driver, a storing unit configured to store the detected additional function data file in an information storage area recognized as a logical device by an operating system, and a driver control unit configured to incorporate contents of the additional function data file into the already-installed device driver in response to the additional function data file stored in the information storage area. |
| US08645970B1 |
Method to route notifications to designated responder
A method for looking up routing information for a person or program assigned to respond to an incident messages is explained herein. The method includes recognizing a routing code that was appended to either the object name or description. The routing code is recognized by a program that looks up the responders contact information in a table that correlates routing codes with designated responder information. |
| US08645968B2 |
Information processing system, information processing method, program, and storage medium
An information processing system capable of communicating with a printing apparatus which returns from power saving by external access, and having first and second access units adapted to access the printing apparatus, includes a requesting unit adapted to request notification of event occurrence generated by processing by the first access unit, and a determination unit adapted to determine the presence/absence of the notification of event occurrence. The second access unit accesses the printing apparatus, if the determination unit determines that there is the notification of the event occurrence. |
| US08645965B2 |
Supporting metered clients with manycore through time-limited partitioning
In some embodiments, the invention involves partitioning resources of a manycore platform for simultaneous use by multiple clients, or adding/reducing capacity to a single client. Cores and resources are activated and assigned to a client environment by reprogramming the cores' route tables and source address decoders. Memory and I/O devices are partitioned and securely assigned to a core and/or a client environment. Instructions regarding allocation or reallocation of resources is received by an out-of-band processor having privileges to reprogram the chipsets and cores. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08645961B2 |
Image formation apparatus and program
An image formation apparatus that has a webpage viewing function includes a job receiver that receives a job execution instruction from a user terminal, a job analyzer that analyzes the received job execution instruction, a job executor that executes a job based on a result of the analysis, and a job registration part that, if the received job execution instruction includes URL information specifying a webpage, registers user identification information pertaining to a user who issued the job execution instruction and the URL information included therein in correspondence with each other such that the webpage can be viewed with use of the URL information. |
| US08645952B2 |
Method for providing location independent dynamic port mirroring on distributed virtual switches
A method for providing location independent dynamic port mirroring on distributed virtual switches is disclosed. A controller is provided to configure one or more virtual switches within a group of physical machines to appear as a set of distributed virtual switches. In response to the receipt of a data packet at a port of a physical machine, a determination is made whether or not the port has a monitor port located on the physical machine. If the port has a monitor port located on the same physical machine, a copy of the data packet is sent to the monitor port of the physical machine. If the port has a monitor port located on a different physical machine, a copy of the data packet along with an identification (ID) of the port and an ID of the monitor port are encapsulated, and the encapsulated information are sent to a controller. |
| US08645944B2 |
Deployment of a solution artifact to a client application
Technologies are described herein for deploying a solution artifact to a client-side application. In one method, an instruction to deploy the solution artifact to the client-side application program is received. Upon receiving the instruction, a determination is made whether a package associated with the solution artifact and the client-side application program was generated. Upon determining that the package was generated, a determination is made whether the package is current. Upon determining that the package is not current or that the package was not generated, the package is generated based on the solution artifact and the client-side application program. Upon determining that the package is current or upon generating the package, the package is deployed to the client-side application program. |
| US08645938B2 |
System and method for replacing code
Computer-implemented methods, computer program products and data processing systems for transmitting a target code module to a server that is executing a computer program capable of using the target code module, and for obtaining the target code module at the server. The target code module is encapsulated in a base language code module, and the base language code module is transmitted to the server. The server receives the base language code module having the target code module encapsulated therein, and extracts the target code module from the base language code module. |
| US08645933B2 |
Method and apparatus for detection and optimization of presumably parallel program regions
A method and apparatus for optimizing source code for use in a parallel computing environment by compiling an application source code, performing analysis, and optimizing the application source code. At the time of compilation, a compiler adds instrumentation to a prepared executable. An analysis program then analyzes the prepared executable and generates an analysis result. The analysis result is then used by the analysis program to optimize the application source code for parallel processing. |
| US08645932B2 |
Control flow analysis methods and computing devices for converting COBOL-sourced programs to object-oriented program structures
The various embodiments of the invention relate generally to computer software, computer program architecture, software development, and computer programming languages, and more specifically, to techniques for analyzing control flow in COBOL-sourced programs to facilitate optimized conversions to object-oriented program structures. For example, a compiler can include a global optimizer configured to analyze execution flow for a range of blocks of source code in the memory to determine flow-affected code. Also, the compiler can include a native code generator configured to generate native code based on representations of the native code as functions of the source code. The native code is configured to execute on a virtual machine. |
| US08645926B2 |
Testing a system management program
A testing system for a reverse client-server system management program comprises a server connected to one or more recipient devices and emulating devices through one or more repeaters. The recipient devices act as targets for the management program and the emulating devices emulate one or more of the recipient devices, to enable an assessment of the scalability of the management program to a large number of targets. The repeaters direct management requests from the server to the target devices depending on the configuration of the hook and/or the nature of the operation requested by the management request. The recipient devices and emulating devices execute the required system management operation on receipt of a management request from the server (via the repeaters). The recipient devices and emulating devices generate and transmit a report detailing the outcome of the system management operation. |
| US08645919B2 |
Generic validation test framework for graphical user interfaces
A scalable system and method is described that automatically identifies one or more generic tests for testing a GUI. A generic test case is written once instead of writing test cases for every single page or assembly. Each page has a corresponding page type. Each generic test is mapped to one or more testing rules, where the testing rules each have a rule type. An automated system is provided to scan target directories for all relevant pages related to a software product, identify a page type for each page, identify the appropriate generic test cases to be applied to each page, execute the generic test cases, and provide an output to indicate the results of the tests on the various pages. The generic tests for the GUIs can thus be automatically applied to identify and eliminate a certain class of bugs matching the behavior of the generic test case. |
| US08645918B2 |
Influencing device for control apparatus
An adjustment device for adjusting at least one control device with at least one control device microcontroller and with at least one control device debug interface, where the adjustment device comprises at least one programmable unit, at least one data transmission interface for connecting the adjustment device to an operating unit, and at least one adjustment device debug interface for connecting the adjustment device to the control device debug interface of the control device. The adjustment device according to the invention accomplishes the objective of reducing the load on the control device due to control device application by at least one address list and at least one data list, which are provided in a memory of the adjustment device. |
| US08645914B2 |
Conversational programming
Methods and systems for providing rich semantic feedback to programmers by executing programs, or parts of programs, in data contexts relevant to the programmer are provided. According to one embodiment, a method is provided for communicating semantic information to a programmer. A conversational programming agent of a programming environment receives (i) information regarding multiple programming building blocks and (ii) information indicative of a current situation relating to the programming building blocks. The conversational programming agent evaluates the programming building blocks based on the current situation. Then, the conversational programming agent provides semantic feedback regarding the programming building blocks to the programmer based on results of the evaluation. |
| US08645908B2 |
Method for generating specifications of static test
A computer implemented rule for verifying consistency in design documents is modeled as a set of associations among deliverable components, and a descriptive text explaining the specification is generated in combination with a text template. |
| US08645907B2 |
Capturing effort level by task upon check-in to source control management system
Techniques are provided for capturing the ID of a work item, and the corresponding effort level information, as a part of the actual check-in process of the artifacts into the underlying change management system. This effort information can then be propagated to an external system for subsequent reporting and analysis. In one embodiment, tasks (or similar items such as issues or bugs) are entered into a common task or issue tracking system. As part of this process each task is assigned a unique identifier. A “call-out” is added to the source control management system which captures the effort level and task ID associated with the proposed change. The data entered is validated to ensure that the task ID is valid and that the effort entered is within a valid range. If the data entered is valid, the change to the underlying artifact is allowed to proceed and the effort and task information is stored for later analysis. If the data is not valid, the proposed change is rejected and an appropriate error message is returned to the user. |
| US08645901B2 |
Visualization and information display for shapes in displayed graphical images based on a cursor
Graphical viewing of shapes and descriptive information in displayed graphical images. In one aspect, shape information is displayed in a graphical interface using a computer system and includes causing a display of an image and one or more shapes in the image, and causing a display of a cursor. Labels are also displayed, each of the labels associated with a different one of the displayed shapes. The plurality of labels are displayed within a predetermined zone relative to a displayed cursor, and wherein no labels are displayed outside of the zone. |
| US08645897B1 |
Integrated circuit design verification system
An integrated circuit (IC) design verification system includes a memory for storing an IC design and a processor in communication with the memory. The IC design includes multiple IP cores and the design verification apparatus includes multiple verification modules. The processor configures a first set of connections between the IP cores and the verification modules based on a first connection database and verifies each IP core independently using the first set of connections. Thereafter, the processor configures a second set of connections between the IP cores and the verification modules based on a second connection database generated based on the first connection database, and verifies the multiple IP cores together using the second set of connections. |
| US08645895B2 |
Checking an ESD behavior of integrated circuits on the circuit level
A system and a method for testing the ESD behavior, wherein a circuit (7) is automatically tested at circuit diagram level in that technology-specific ESD data is provided in database (2) for each circuit component present in the circuit, without requiring complex circuit simulations, for example based on front end or back end data, by taking into account the layout. |
| US08645894B1 |
Configuration and analysis of design variants of multi-domain circuits
A circuit design system generates a circuit variant by relocating one or more circuit elements through a user move action on a user interface. When the user move action results in the circuit element traversing a circuit domain boundary, the design system performs one or more operations to form the circuit variant having its initial connectivity with the relocated circuit element without any other user action on the user interface than the user move action. Further, in response to no other action on the user interface than the user move action, analysis tools and reports are initiated so that rapid evaluation of circuit variants may be implemented. |
| US08645890B2 |
Method and apparatus for identifying connections between configurable nodes in a configurable integrated circuit
Some embodiments provide a method that defines a set of connections that connect the nodes in a configurable node array. The method identifies different sets of connections for connecting a set of the nodes. For each identified set of connections, the method computes a metric score that quantifies a quality of the identified set of connections. The method then selects one of the identified sets of connections to connect the configurable nodes in the array. |
| US08645886B2 |
Integrated circuit power management verification method
A method for verifying power management of an integrated circuit design includes estimating a current load requirement of clocked modules in the circuit design based on the clock frequency and a predefined current load model. The voltage supplied to the circuit design is monitored. A first voltage regulator provides additional current drive to the circuit design when the supplied voltage drops below a threshold value of a full throttle run mode of the circuit design. A second voltage regulator is enabled to boost a response time of the first voltage regulator when the voltage drops below the threshold value. |
| US08645884B2 |
Multi-layer memory structure for behavioral modeling in a pre-distorter
A method and system for modeling distortion of a non-linear electronic device are disclosed. According to one aspect, the invention provides a layered memory structure that includes a plurality of memory structure layers. Each memory structure layer has an input to receive an input signal and has a memory function. Each memory function has at least one delay element that provides a pre-determined delay of the input signal of the memory structure layer. The pre-determined delay is different for each of at least two memory structure layers and is based at least in part on an evaluation period corresponding to the memory structure layer. |
| US08645881B1 |
Methods and apparatus for performing statistical static timing analysis
A method and an apparatus to perform statistical static timing analysis have been disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes performing statistical analysis on performance data of a circuit from a plurality of libraries at two or more process corners using a static timing analysis module, and estimating performance of the circuit at a predetermined confidence level based on results of the statistical analysis during an automated design flow of the circuit without using libraries at the predetermined confidence level. |
| US08645872B2 |
User interfaces for facilitating merging and splitting of communication sessions
An exemplary method includes a communication device maintaining multiple active communication sessions with multiple other communication devices, displaying, on a touch screen display, multiple graphical objects representing the multiple active communication sessions, detecting a pinch touch gesture provided by a user on the touch screen display in relation to the graphical objects representing the multiple active communication sessions, and initiating, in response to the pinch touch gesture, a merging of the multiple active communication sessions to form a merged active communication session. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed. |
| US08645869B1 |
List building system
A system implementable using a programmable processor includes a plurality of pre-stored commands for building an inventory of audio, musical, works or audio/visual works, such as music videos. A plurality of works can be collected together in a list for purposes of establishing a play or a presentation sequence. The list can be visually displayed and edited. A plurality of lists can be stored for subsequent retrieval. A selected list can be retrieved and executed. Upon execution, the works of the list are presented sequentially either audibly or visually. The works can be read locally from a source, such as a CD, or can be obtained, via wireless transmission, from a remote inventory. If desired, establishment of a predetermined credit can be a pre-condition to being able to add items to the list for presentation. |
| US08645867B2 |
Modifying time associated with digital media items
A computer-implemented method includes displaying multiple content items in a user interface, where each content item has an initial time value. Input is received to modify time values of the multiple content items. Input of a new time value for a content item of the multiple content items is also received. A change amount value is determined based on the difference between an initial time value of the content item and the new time value. For each content item, the initial time value is modified to a different time value by applying the change amount value to the initial time value. |
| US08645863B2 |
Menus with translucency and live preview
A region menu is used to easily access menu items. Generally, the region menu includes a number of regions with associated menus that are located close to an initial mouse position from where the region menu is evoked. Hovering over any of the regions of the region menu displays the menu item that is associated with the region. Additionally, hovering over a menu item within one of the regions of the displayed region menu may activate a live preview showing a projected result of what would occur should that menu item be selected. During a live preview, a portion of the region menu becomes translucent such that content beneath the menu becomes visible. |
| US08645862B2 |
Displaying and executing web services in multiple content domains
A method, computer program product and system for displaying Web services. Web services may be displayed by generating a data model of a description of the Web service. A perspective visitor may be applied to the generated data model where the perspective visitor corresponds to a preselected domain. A perspective of the Web service associated with the preselected domain may be displayed in response to applying the perspective visitor. The perspective visitor may include a visitor pattern for encapsulating an operation to be performed on elements of the data model. |
| US08645857B2 |
Method for controlling information display
A system and method for controlling the display of multiple pieces of information in adjacent regions of a display area is presented. A user control for the interface between the regions is provided so that a single type of user input provided to the control can contextually alter various characteristics of the interface. |
| US08645856B1 |
Ticker for internet client
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an Internet client window with a ticker display area. The ticker display area displays moving hypertext ticker data associated with selected ticker types and ticker fields. Ticker data may be provided by third party suppliers such as sponsors. Activation of the hypertext ticker data results in a display of related information. The ticker data may move in various directions through the ticker display area at various speeds, and be displayed in various formats, all depending on the ticker types and ticker fields with which the ticker data is associated, upon the number of ticker types being simultaneously displayed, and upon other factors including user preferences or selections. The Internet client window includes various other navigational and informational data, links, and application-invoking buttons. |
| US08645854B2 |
Provisioning workflow management methods and systems
An exemplary method includes associating one or more workflow tasks with each of a plurality of universal workflow steps, the one or more workflow tasks being specific to a provisioning workflow that corresponds to a first type of network circuit, receiving a request to provision a network circuit of the first type, displaying, in response to the request, graphical depictions of the universal workflow steps in a graphical user interface, determining a completion status of each of the universal workflow steps based on a completion status of each of the one or more workflow tasks associated with each of the universal workflow steps, and graphically indicating in the graphical user interface the completion status of each of the universal workflow steps. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed. |
| US08645851B1 |
Methods and apparatus for using a variant of the Bellman-Ford algorithm that operates with inconsistent constraints
Disclosed are apparatus and methods for generating displays based on a layout with inconsistent constraints. The layout specifies a set of rectangular components within a container rectangle. A plurality of grid lines is determined from the layout. Each rectangular component is associated with at least two grid lines that are based on a size of the rectangular component. A system of constraints is generated that includes inconsistent constraints. A graph including a plurality of nodes and a plurality of edges is generated from the plurality of grid lines and the system of constraints. A variant of the Bellman-Ford algorithm configured to operate with the inconsistent constraints solves a single-source path-length problem for the graph to determine locations for the grid lines. A display of the rectangular components is generated based on the locations of the grid lines. |
| US08645847B2 |
Security enhancements for immersive environments
In some example embodiments, a method includes defining a tracking area for a first avatar in an online immersive environment, wherein the tracking area encompasses the first avatar and some defined area beyond the first avatar. The first avatar represents a first person who is a guardian of a second person in the real world and external to the online immersive environment. A second avatar represents the second person in the online immersive environment. The method includes tracking a path through the online immersive environment of the tracking area for the first avatar. The method includes marking a region in the online immersive environment as a safe zone for the second avatar, after the path of the tracking area for the first avatar has traversed the region. The method includes authorizing access to the region marked as the safe zone for the second avatar in the online immersive environment. |
| US08645843B2 |
Supporting role-based access control in component-based software systems
A method, system and computer program product is disclosed for supporting role-based access control in a collaborative environment, wherein pluralities of users work together in a collaborative process using a software system. The method comprises componentizing the software system into a multitude of software components, and limiting access to specific software components to certain users based on roles assigned to the users as defined by a run-time state of the collaborative process. The set of components that a user can access is dynamic, that set can change based on the “context” or the step where the user is in a collaborative workflow/process. Thus, in comparison with traditional access control mechanisms, an embodiment of the invention combines three different elements: a) the set of components that comprise the application is partitioned in such a way as to make componentized role-based access control feasible, b) a method for specifying inter-component dependencies to enable role-based groups, and c) enabling the modification of the access privileges based on contextual information from a collaborative process. |
| US08645842B2 |
Interactive group content systems and methods
In an exemplary system, a content hub subsystem is selectively and communicatively coupled to a plurality of access devices. At least a subset of the access devices is associated with a predefined group of users. The content hub subsystem is configured to receive data representative of content from at least one of the access devices associated with the predefined group of users, map the content to the predefined group of users, and provide data representative of the content to the access devices associated with the predefined group of users. Each of the access devices associated with the predefined group of users is configured to generate at least one interactive graphical object representative of the content, and generate and present a graphical user interface including the interactive graphical object. |
| US08645839B2 |
Online desktop distribution
An apparatus and a method for an online desktop distribution is described. In one embodiment, an online desktop operates on a client with an online desktop distributor having an operating system with one or more kernels compiled for usermode. A server coupled to the client stores and uploads a user profile setting to the client to configure the online desktop on the client based on a user login on the online desktop. The online desktop can be booted from the client with the online desktop distributor or run as a hosted operating system in usermode under a default operating system of the client. |
| US08645837B2 |
Graphical user interface for managing services in a distributed computing system
Available components that make up a distributed computing system are discovered. The available components include available hardware components and available software components that operate on the available hardware components. The available components and dependencies between the available components are graphically displayed in a map of the distributed computing system. A plurality of undeployed services is also graphically displayed. A selection of one of the plurality of undeployed services and a selection of one of the available components is received. The selected undeployed service is deployed to the selected available component. |
| US08645834B2 |
Dynamic real-time playback
Systems and methods for previewing edited video. In general, in one implementation, a method includes generating a video sequence from a plurality of video segments, identifying an inability to output at least one video segment in the video sequence in substantially real time; and adjusting an output level associated with the at least one video segment to enable the at least one video segment to be output in substantially real time. The output level may include a video quality or a frame rate. |
| US08645825B1 |
Providing autocomplete suggestions
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for providing autocomplete suggestions. A computing device can receive an n-gram of characters. Cached autocomplete suggestions can be identified in a local cache of the computing device. Additional autocomplete suggestions can be requested at a first time. The computing device can prevent presentation of the cached autocomplete suggestions until a presentation event occurs. The presentation event can include (i) receiving the requested additional autocomplete suggestions by the computing device or (ii) the end of a predetermined period after the first time. The computing device can determine that that the presentation event has occurred, and in response, can display one or more autocomplete suggestions. |
| US08645824B2 |
Selective undo of editing operations performed on data objects
An undo process performed on a data object includes selecting a stored prior state of the data object; comparing the stored prior state with the current state of the data object to determine differences between the stored prior state and the current state of the data object other than the effect of the undesired editing operation; and applying the differences to the stored prior state of the data object to obtain a new state of the data object. Each prior state of the data object corresponds to an effect of one of previously performed editing operations on the data object. |
| US08645814B2 |
System and method for displaying status of electronic messages
Methods, systems and computer program products are displaying one or more electronic messages on a user interface. In one method, the method records timestamps of one or more activities of a user in a first user session. Subsequently, the method compares the timestamp of an initialization of a second user session, with the recorded timestamp of the one or more events such as a last logout timestamp and/or a last activity timestamp of the first user session. Further, the method may mark one or more new electronic messages based on the comparison of the timestamps. The method may then display the status of the marked one or more new electronic messages on a user interface based on the markings applied on the one or more new electronics messages received. |
| US08645812B1 |
Methods and apparatus for automated redaction of content in a document
A redaction process obtains redaction data indicating content to be redacted in a document. In addition, the redaction process obtains non-redaction data indicating content not to be redacted in the document. Furthermore, the redaction process obtains proximity data indicating proximate expressions to be matched against the document. In this manner, the redaction process processes the redaction data, non-redaction data and proximity data against the document to produce a redact list and a potential list. Upon receiving user selections from both the redact and the potential lists, the redaction process applies a redaction function to the document to produce a redacted version of the document. |
| US08645810B2 |
Fast detection of convergence or divergence in iterative decoding
A termination indication is computed during an iteration of an iterative decoding of a representation of a codeword according to a schedule. The termination indication is tested to see if the decoding has converged or is not likely to converge. The testing of the termination indication shows convergence or lack of likelihood thereof even if a codeword bit estimate was flipped during an immediately preceding traversal of the schedule. Preferably, the termination indication includes an error correction syndrome weight, a zero value whereof indicates convergence, and the computing of the termination indication includes, in response to the flipping of a codeword bit estimate, flipping the error correction syndrome bits that are influenced by that codeword bit estimate. |
| US08645805B2 |
Conditional decoding receiver
A wireless telecommunication system receiver is described comprising a demodulator adapted to demodulate a signal received from a source via a transmission channel to provide an error correction code word in the form of flexible or hard values, a decoder adapted to decode the code word, characterized in that it further comprises decision means adapted to receive an estimation of the fading coefficients of the channel during the transmission of the code word as well as an estimation of the noise variance or the signal to noise ratio, to deduce therefrom an estimation of the relative instantaneous mutual information to the channel, and to decide whether or not to inhibit the decoding of the code word by the decoder, according to whether the binary rate of transmission of the source is respectively greater than or less than a characteristic threshold of the instantaneous mutual information. |
| US08645799B2 |
Storage codes for data recovery
A random permutation code is described which provides efficient repair of data nodes. A specific implementation of a permutation code is also described, followed by description of a MISER-Permutation code. Finally, an optimal repair strategy is explained that involves an iterative process of downloading the most effective available parity data, updating costs of remaining parity data, and repeating until the data is recovered. |
| US08645793B2 |
Statistical tracking for flash memory
A system includes a read module, a statistical data generating module, and a storing module. The read module reads charge levels of nonvolatile memory cells and generates read signals. The statistical data generating module generates statistical data based on the read signals. The storing module stores the statistical data. The read module generates the read signals based on the charge levels of the nonvolatile memory cells and the statistical data. |
| US08645791B2 |
Data cache controller, devices having the same, and method of operating the same
An method of operating a data cache controller is provided. The method includes transmitting first data output from a data cache to a central processing unit (CPU) core with a first latency and transmitting second data to the CPU core with a second latency greater than the first latency. The first latency is a delay between a read request to the data cache and transmission of the first data according to execution of a first instruction fetched from an instruction cache, and the second latency is a delay between a read request to the data cache and transmission of the second data according to execution of a second instruction fetched from the instruction cache. |
| US08645786B2 |
Decoding method
A decoding method for decoding information content in at least one data packet, which is transmitted from a sender to a receiver via a data link. The information is represented by a bit sequence, which is transformed into a transmittable redundancy version. The information is initially transmitted for a first time in a first data packet from the sender to the receiver. The information is represented by a first redundancy version, which is self-decodable. An incorrect receipt is confirmed by sending a confirmation from the receiver to the sender. The information is retransmitted at least a second time in a second data packet from the sender to the receiver upon receipt of the confirmation, wherein, for representation of the information, a second redundancy version is used, the selection of which is performed in dependence on a coding parameter, describing whether the redundancy version is self-decodable or not. |
| US08645785B2 |
Method of re-ordering received data blocks in hybrid automatic repeat request telecommunication system
A method of transmitting data blocks between a user equipment and a station using parallel hybrid automatic repeat request processes. The station includes a scheduler that signals to the user equipment allocations of resources and parameters for transmission and re-transmission of the data blocks, and a set of reception buffers that receive and re-order the data blocks. The scheduler assigns a reception index to the corresponding scheduled reception and assigns reception buffers to received data blocks as a function of the assigned reception indexes identifying time slots scheduled for reception. A newly transmitted data block received in its scheduled time slot is assigned to the reception buffer corresponding to a new reception index. A re-transmitted data block received in a time slot later than its originally scheduled time slot is assigned to the reception buffer corresponding to a same reception index as its originally scheduled reception. |
| US08645782B2 |
Method and apparatus for correcting errors in a multiple subcarriers communication system using multiple antennas
A method for correcting errors in a multiple antenna system based on a plurality of sub-carriers and a transmitting/receiving apparatus supporting the same are disclosed. The method includes determining a phase shift based precoding matrix phase shifted at a predetermined phase angle, initially transmitting each sub-carrier symbol to a receiver in a packet unit by using the phase shift based precoding matrix, reconstructing the phase shift based precoding matrix to reduce a spatial multiplexing rate if a negative reception acknowledgement (NACK) is received from the receiver, and retransmitting the initially transmitted sub-carrier symbol by using the reconstructed phase shift based precoding matrix or by changing the phase shift based precoding matrix using offset information fed back from the receiver or random offset information. |
| US08645779B2 |
Scan testing of integrated circuits and on-chip modules
A method for scan testing an integrated circuit that includes a plurality of on-chip logic modules includes configuring the integrated circuit for module level scan testing and chip level scan testing by way of an external automatic test pattern generator (ATPG) tool. The ATPG tool generates first and second sets of test patterns for module level and chip level scan testing of the integrated circuit. The ATPG tool generates the second set of test patterns by excluding the design faults which have already been targeted during the module level scan testing, from the first set of test patterns and reduces the overall time required for scan testing the integrated circuit. |
| US08645777B2 |
Boundary scan chain for stacked memory
A boundary scan chain for stacked memory. An embodiment of a memory device includes a system element and a memory stack including one or more memory die layers, each memory die layer including input-output (I/O) cells and a boundary scan chain for the I/O cells. A boundary scan chain of a memory die layer includes a scan chain portion for each of the I/O cells, the scan chain portion for an I/O cell including a first scan logic multiplexer a scan logic latch, an input of the scan logic latch being coupled with an output of the first scan logic multiplexer, and a decoder to provide command signals to the boundary scan chain. |
| US08645774B2 |
Expedited memory drive self test
Expedited memory drive self test, including: determining, by a drive self test module, a base block size for testing a memory drive; determining, by a drive self test module, a block group size for testing a memory drive; determining, by the drive self test module, a percentage of the memory drive to test; and for each block group size of memory in the memory drive: testing for media defects, by the drive self test module, a number of blocks in a block group that corresponds to the percentage of the memory drive to test. |
| US08645771B2 |
Forward error correction with configurable latency
A method of performing forward error correction with configurable latency, where a configurable latency algorithm evaluates a target Bit Error Rate (BER) against an actual BER and adjusts the size of a configurable buffer such that the target BER may be achieved when utilizing the smallest buffer size possible. When errors are corrected without the utilization of each of the configurable buffer locations, the algorithm reduces the size of the buffer by y buffer locations; the algorithm may continue to successively reduce the size of said buffer until the minimum number of buffer locations are utilized to achieve the target BER. If the buffer locations have been reduced such that the buffer size is too small and the target BER cannot be achieved, the algorithm may increase the size of the buffer until the minimum number of buffer locations are utilized to achieve the target BER. |
| US08645770B2 |
Systems and methods for proactively refreshing nonvolatile memory
System and methods for proactively refreshing portions of a nonvolatile memory including a memory system that proactively refreshes a portion of nonvolatile memory based on data associated with the portion. The data may include the time elapsed since the portion was last refreshed, the number of times the portion has been cycled, and the average operating temperature of the nonvolatile memory. A portion of nonvolatile memory, when meeting certain criteria determined from the data, may be proactively refreshed during a downtime when the nonvolatile memory is not otherwise being accessed. |
| US08645767B2 |
Scalable I/O adapter function level error detection, isolation, and reporting
Embodiments of the invention relate to scalable input/output (I/O) function level error detection, isolation, and reporting. An error is detected in a communication initiated between a function and the system memory, the communication including an I/O request from an application. Future communication between the function and the system memory is prevented in response to the detecting. The application is notified that the error in communication occurred in response to the detecting. |
| US08645764B2 |
Diagnostic framework for use with application servers and virtual machines
Described herein are systems and methods for providing diagnostic information between an application server (e.g., a WebLogic server), and a virtual machine (VM) (e.g., a JRockit VM). In accordance with an embodiment, the system includes a diagnostic monitoring component adapted to obtain diagnostic data indicative of all available data on an application server, including diagnostic information from one or more application server components running on the application server, obtain diagnostic data from the virtual machine, and persists the diagnostic data obtained from the application server and the virtual machine into a diagnostic data image file. The system further includes a console that provides access to the diagnostic data persisted into the diagnostic image file. |
| US08645762B2 |
Queue freeze on protocol error
A method and apparatus for retrieving a state of a processor at a time at which failure is detected. More specifically, the detection of one or more protocol errors results in the halting of operations of one or more system elements, and the retrieving of the state of the processor at the time of the failure. |
| US08645761B2 |
Precise fault localization
Systems and methods for identifying expressions that are potential causes of program bugs are disclosed. A program and at least one input resulting in at least one passing test of the program can be received. Further, at least one plausible repair candidate expression in the program can be identified. In addition, the methods and systems can determine whether replacement of the at least one identified expression with at least one value, which is different from a value provided by the at least one identified expression, maintains the passage of the at least one passing test. Moreover, the at least one identified expression can be output when the replacement maintains the passage of the at least one passing test to enable a determination of a modification of the program that repairs a bug in the program. |
| US08645758B2 |
Determining page faulting behavior of a memory operation
Embodiments of the invention relate to page faulting of memory operations in a subject code block. An aspect of the invention concerns an apparatus comprising a component for identifying a first object node having a first dependency path and second object node having a second dependency path, and a component for calculating a numerical difference between a first addressing value and a second addressing value, where the first and second addressing values are respectively associated with the first and second dependency paths. The apparatus may include a dependency generator for ordering a subject order list of the subject code block in an object dependency non-page-faulting order when the numerical difference is equal to or less than an assigned memory page size. |
| US08645756B1 |
Systems and methods for remotely troubleshooting a software problem occurring on a computing device
A computer-implemented method to remotely troubleshoot a software problem occurring on a first device. A connection is established by a second device with the first device. The second device extracts a first set of information from the first device. The second device provides a user interface via a display in order to receive a second set of information. The second device transmits the first set of information and the second set of information to a third device. |
| US08645755B2 |
Enhanced error handling for self-virtualizing input/output device in logically-partitioned data processing system
Error handling is simplified for a self-virtualizing IO resource that utilizes a physical function adjunct partition for a physical function in the self-virtualizing IO resource to coordinate error recovery for the self-virtualizing IO resource, by restarting each virtual function adjunct partition associated with that physical function to avoid the need to coordinate error recovery within the logical partitions to which such virtual function adjunct partitions are assigned. |
| US08645754B1 |
Method and system for providing coordinated checkpointing to a group of independent computer applications
A method and system of checkpointing single process application groups and multi-process application groups. In an exemplary embodiment, the method may include creating at least one full checkpoint for each application in an application group, and creating at least one incremental application checkpoint for each application in the application group. Further, each of the at least one incremental application checkpoint may be automatically merged against a corresponding full application checkpoint. Further, checkpointing may be synchronized across all applications in the application group. In the exemplary embodiment, each application may use both fork( ) and exec( ) in any combination. |
| US08645753B2 |
Power system with hot-swap and the method thereof
The present disclosure discloses a power system with hot-swap with a buck converter. The power system comprises a front stage, a hot-swap stage and a load stage; wherein the hot-swap stage comprises: a buck converter having a switch operate at ON/OFF state to provide a desired output voltage to the load stage with low power loss and optimized thermal design. |
| US08645751B2 |
Triple parity encoding to facilitate data recovery
Examples are disclosed for facilitating recovery from failures associated with a storage array having a plurality of storage devices. |
| US08645749B2 |
Systems and methods for storing and recovering controller data in non-volatile memory devices
Systems and methods are disclosed for storing the firmware and other data of a flash memory controller, such as using a RAID configuration across multiple flash memory devices or portions of a single memory device. In various embodiments, the firmware and other data used by a controller, and error correction information, such as parity information for RAID configuration, may be stored across multiple flash memory devices, multiple planes of a multi-plane flash memory device, or across multiple blocks or pages of a single flash memory device. The controller may detect the failure of a memory device or a portion thereof, and reconstruct the firmware and/or other data from the other memory devices or portions thereof. |
| US08645747B2 |
Cable redundancy and failover for multi-lane PCI express IO interconnections
Method and apparatus for providing failover operation for a connection between a first PCIE bridge and a first input/output (IO) device are provided. A first set of bussed bits is exchanged between the first PCIE bridge and the first IO device over a first link using a first set of lanes of the first PCIE bridge. In response to detecting the failure in the first link, the first set of bussed bits is exchanged between the first PCIE bridge and the first IO device using an unused portion of a second link connecting a second PCIE bridge and a second IO device. |
| US08645743B2 |
Mechanism for an efficient DLL training protocol during a frequency change
An efficient delay locked loop (DLL) training protocol during a frequency change includes an integrated circuit with a memory physical layer (PHY) unit that includes a master DLL and a slave DLL. The master DLL may delay a first reference clock by an amount, and provide a reference delay value corresponding to the delay amount. The slave DLL may delay a second reference clock by a second amount based upon a received configuration delay value. An interface unit may generate the configuration delay value based upon the reference delay value. A power management unit may provide an indication that the frequency of the second reference clock is changing. In response to receiving the indication, the interface unit may generate a new configuration delay value that corresponds to the new frequency using a predetermined scaling value and provide the new configuration delay value to the memory PHY unit. |
| US08645741B2 |
Method and system for predicting a latency spike category of audio and video streams to adjust a jitter buffer size accordingly
Described are the architecture of such a system, algorithms for time synchronization during a multiway conferencing session, methods to fight with network imperfections such as jitter to improve synchronization, methods of introducing buffering delays to create handicaps for players with faster connections, methods which help players with synchronization (such as a synchronized metronome during a music conferencing session), methods for synchronized recording and live delivery of synchronized data to the audience watching the distributed interaction live over the Internet. |
| US08645740B2 |
Methods and systems to dynamically manage performance states in a data processing system
Methods and apparatuses to dynamically manage a performance state of a data processing system are described. The data processing system includes a plurality of components; one or more buses coupled to the plurality of components, and a dynamic performance state manager unit coupled to the components. The dynamic performance state manager unit is configured to receive information about a first plurality of current states of components of the system. The dynamic performance state manager unit is configured to determine a second plurality of required system performance states for the components; and to determine a current system performance state based on the first plurality and the second plurality. |
| US08645737B2 |
Power-saving control apparatus and method
A power-saving control apparatus and method capable of power-saving and prevention of decrease in the speed of accessing files of a high level of importance is suggested.First file migration processing is executed for detecting a user access pattern for each file stored in a storage apparatus, grouping files of similar access patterns based on the detected access patterns, migrating each of the grouped files, by group, to memory media individually capable of power-saving control, and setting a power-saving control schedule for each group based on the access pattern for each file; and power-saving control of each memory medium is executed in accordance with the schedule set for each group; wherein the power-saving control schedule for each group is set based on the access pattern of the file whose level of importance is set to the highest level, from among the files belonging to that group. |
| US08645735B1 |
Method for lowering power consumption in secure devices
The invention relates to a secure device, and more particularly, to systems, devices and methods of reducing power consumption of the secure device by limiting the amount of secure volatile memory that needs to be supplied by a battery. In a transport power mode, a sensitive data originally stored in a volatile memory is backed up in an encrypted format to a non-volatile memory, such that none or only a small area of the secure volatile memory has to be retained and powered by the battery for preserving cryptographic keys that are used to backup and recover the sensitive data. This secure device is applied in high security applications such as secure financial terminals. |
| US08645731B2 |
Charge suspend feature for a mobile device
An electronic device is described comprising connecting means configured to establish a connection to another device, and configured to receive electrical power from the connection and configured to receive information from the other device via the connection and comprising determining means configured to determine a set of limitations, wherein for at least one electronic unit configured to receive electrical power, the set of limitations comprises a limitation of electrical power to be distributed to the at least electronic unit and wherein the determining means is further configured to determine the set of limitations based on the information received from the other device, wherein the received information comprises a request for a reduced power consumption of the electronic device. |
| US08645727B2 |
Power control device for processor
A processor has: a power table including a plurality of power control registers each rewritably storing power control information; a condition determiner for rewritably storing a plurality of operating conditions (e.g., a comparison address to be compared with the program counter) and determining which one of the plurality of operating conditions is satisfied by a current operation of the processor so as to supply an index signal to select one of the plurality of power control registers based on the determination; and a voltage/clock controller for controlling the power consumption in a control object circuit block according to the power control information in one of the power control registers that is selected by the index signal. |
| US08645726B2 |
Method and system for load sharing in a multiple power supply system
Method and system for load sharing in a multiple power supply system. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are power supply units including a switching circuit, a coarse adjustment circuit coupled to the switching circuit (the coarse adjustment circuit configured to send an internal command to the switching circuit to modify a pulse width modulated signal that controls output current of the power supply unit), and a communication port coupled to the switching circuit. The power supply unit configured to receive from an external device over the communication port an external command to modify the pulse width modulated signal of the switching circuit. The power supply unit is also configured to modify the output current, the amount of modification based on the external command, and the internal command from the coarse adjustment circuit. |
| US08645725B2 |
Power up a LAN module when execution of special reproduction is expected by user during reproduction of an optical disc reproduction apparatus
An optical disc reproducing apparatus includes an Internet connectable LAN module and a control unit for controlling the LAN module. In the optical disc reproducing apparatus, the operation of the LAN module is temporarily stopped for periods during which an optical disc is being reproduced and Internet connection is not necessary. |
| US08645724B2 |
Redriver circuits with power saving modes
Consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure a redriver circuit is provided for a first and a second serial-unidirectional communications channel. The redriver circuit conditions received data signals by adjusting signal properties to correct for signal level attenuation and noise. The conditioned data signals are transmitted to corresponding outputs of the channels. The redriver circuit disables, in response to a first enable signal being inactive, current drawing circuitry of components for both channels on a common side of the redriver. The redriver circuit disables, in response to a second enable signal being inactive, current drawing circuitry of components for both channels on the other side of the redriver. |
| US08645723B2 |
Asynchronous management of access requests to control power consumption
Systems and methods are disclosed for asynchronous management of access requests to control power consumption. In some cases, by asynchronously managing power within a system, multiple dies of a NVM can simultaneously draw current in order to match the power demand. In particular, an arbiter of the system can receive multiple requests to draw current, where each request may be associated with a different die of the NVM. In some embodiments, the arbiter can determine the servicing order using the time of arrival of the request (e.g., a first-in, first-out scheme). In other embodiments, the arbiter can simultaneously service multiple requests so long as the servicing of the multiple requests does not exceed a power budget. |
| US08645717B2 |
System and method for securely storing firmware
A mechanism for creating secure storage for firmware for a computing device. A designated secure storage area holding firmware that is executable prior to a loading of an operating system for the computing device is created during a build of a ROM image. The creating marks one or more files as requiring encrypted storage and the one or marked files are combined during the build into the designated secure storage area. The designated secure storage area is located outside the ROM image and includes, during the build of the ROM image, a reference to the designated secure storage area in a build of firmware placed in the ROM image. The reference includes a flag indicating a current encrypted status of the designated secure storage area. |
| US08645714B2 |
Branch target address cache for predicting instruction decryption keys in a microprocessor that fetches and decrypts encrypted instructions
A branch target address cache (BTAC) caches history information associated with branch and switch key instructions previously executed by a microprocessor. The history information includes a target address and an identifier (index into a register file) for identifying key values associated with each of the previous branch and switch key instructions. A fetch unit receives from the BTAC a prediction that the fetch unit fetched a previous branch and switch key instruction and receives the target address and identifier associated with the fetched branch and switch key instruction. The fetch unit also fetches encrypted instruction data at the associated target address and decrypts (via XOR) the fetched encrypted instruction data based on the key values identified by the identifier, in response to receiving the prediction. If the BTAC predicts correctly, a pipeline flush normally associated with the branch and switch key instruction is avoided. |
| US08645713B2 |
Encrypting method, recording medium of encrypting program, decrypting method, and recording medium of decrypting program
An encrypting method including encrypting a first data segment of encryption target data on the basis of first key information, generating second key information on the basis of the first data segment by using a predetermined algorithm, and encrypting a second data segment of the encryption target data, which is different from the first data segment, on the basis of the second key information. |
| US08645712B1 |
Electronic circuit design copy protection
An electronic device takes the form of a programmable logic device, including logic resources whose functions and interconnections are dependent on the configuration information applied to the device. Each such electronic device is provided with a unique identifier. In order to implement a design of an electronic circuit on an electronic device, the configuration information that is required to cause the device to perform its desired function is encrypted before being applied to the device, and is decrypted on the device itself. The encryption process, and hence the required decryption, are based on the identifier, and hence are effectively unique to the particular device, so that the intended design can be implemented only by means of configuration information that is related to the unique identifier, and the configuration information cannot be applied to other devices to make unauthorized configured devices. |
| US08645711B2 |
Information processor, method for verifying authenticity of computer program, and computer program product
A disc stores therein a computer program and encrypted information. A BIOS is executed at the time of start-up and starts the computer program. A TPM is connected to the BIOS by a low-speed bus. The TPM includes a register for storing data. A blob stores therein true hash values of the computer program and the BIOS in advance. The BIOS includes a hash value calculating unit that calculates hash values of the computer program and the BIOS and stores those hash values in the register. The TPM compares the hash values stored in the register with the hash values stored in the blob and decrypts information in the blob if the hash values agree with each other. |
| US08645707B2 |
Apparatus and method for unlocking a user equipment
An apparatus and method for unlocking a user equipment. The apparatus may include a first input unit, a second input unit, a controller, and a memory. The first input unit may be configured to set up a first password and to receive a first input. The second input unit may be configured to set up a second password and to receive a second input. The controller may be configured to compare the first input with the first password, compare the second input with the second password, and initiate an unlock operation of the user equipment based on a result of the comparisons. The memory may be configured to store at least the first password and the second password. |
| US08645705B2 |
Information processing device and activation control method
According to one embodiment, an information processing device includes a receiving section configured to receive a trigger signal from a device connected thereto, a verifying section configured to verify the trigger signal when the receiving section receives the trigger signal, and an activating section configured to activate the system when the verification of the trigger signal is successfully made by the verifying section. |
| US08645703B2 |
Power analysis countermeasure for the ECMQV key agreement algorithm
Execution of the ECMQV key agreement algorithm requires determination of an implicit signature, which determination involves arithmetic operations. Some of the arithmetic operations employ a long-term cryptographic key. It is the execution of these arithmetic operations that can make the execution of the ECMQV key agreement algorithm vulnerable to a power analysis attack. In particular, an attacker using a power analysis attack may determine the long-term cryptographic key. By modifying the sequence of operations involved in the determination of the implicit signature and the inputs to those operations, power analysis attacks may no longer be applied to determine the long-term cryptographic key. |
| US08645701B2 |
System and method for zone signing and key management in a DNS system
Methods and systems for signing a DNS zone file and managing zone file signing are provided. An indication of a first DNS zone to be signed is received from one of several remote users, where each such remote user has control over a separate DNS zone. Unsigned zone data is retrieved for the first DNS zone to be signed and is cryptographically signed. The signed zone data is provided to a signed zone master for propagation to one or more DNS servers. |
| US08645700B2 |
DNSSEC inline signing
Systems and methods of performing incremental DNSSEC signing at a registry are described in which digital signature operations may be performed as part of a single transaction including DNS add, update, and/or delete operations and the like. Exemplary methods may include receiving a domain command from a requester, the domain command including an identifier of a domain. The received domain command may be executed with respect to data stored by the registry for the domain. As part of an individual transaction including the execution of the domain command, the registry may also sign DNSSEC records for the domain using a private key of an authoritative server. After the DNSSEC records have been signed, the registry may incrementally publish the signed DNSSEC records to a separate server. Exemplary methods may also include “took-aside” operations in which, for example, add, update, and/or delete operations may be executed on data stored in a registry database and reported to a requester, prior to applying digital-signatures to the DNSSEC data. After reporting that the instructions have been executed, the registry may generate a digital signature based on the add, update, and/or delete changes, and commit the digital signature to a registry resolution database. |
| US08645696B2 |
Notifying users of server changes via SSL
An apparatus and a method for authenticating a secure communication is described. A server receives a request from a client for an original SSL certificate. The server embeds a message in a common name (CN) of a new SSL certificate directing the client to another server. The client is transparently reconfigured and establishes a secure communication with the other server using the new SSL certificate. |
| US08645694B2 |
Method of authentication based on polyomials
There is provided an authentication method for a system (10) comprising several devices (30). The method involves: a) providing each device (30) with an identity value (pi: i=1, . . . , n) and a polynomial (P) for generating a polynomial key; (b) including a verifier device (p1) and a prover device (P2)amongst said devices (30); (c) arranging for the prover device (p2) to notify its existence to the verifier device (P1); (d) arranging for the verifier device (pi) to challenge the prover device (p2) to encrypt a nonce using the prover (P2)device's polynomial (P) key and communicate the encrypted nonce as a response to the verifier device (p1); (e) arranging for the verifier device (p1) to receive the encrypted nonce as a further challenge from the prover device (pZ) and: (i ) encrypt the challenge using the polynomial keys generated from a set of stored device identities; or (ii) decrypt the challenge received using the set of polynomial keys; until said verifier device (p1) identifies an authentication match. |
| US08645693B2 |
Zero-knowledge based authentication method, system, and apparatus
In the fields of data security and system reliability and qualification, this disclosure is of a method, system and apparatus for verifying or authenticating a device to a host using a zero-knowledge based authentication technique which includes a keyed message authentication code such as an HMAC or keyed cipher function and which operates on secret information shared between the host and the device. This is useful both for security purposes and also to make sure that a device such as a computer peripheral or accessory or component is qualified to be interoperable with the host. |
| US08645689B2 |
Stateless agent
Secure and stateless data transfer between a source agent at a first computer system and a destination agent at a second computer system is provided. A first list of labels of content structures is generated at the first computer system. During a first data transfer session, the first list, authentication information, at least one object included in the content structures, and file identifiers for one or more files included in the content structures are transferred from the first computer system to the second computer system. A second list is generated at the second computer system and received at the first computer system. The second list lists at least one requested file identified by the transmitted file identifier(s). During a second data transfer session, authentication information, the first list, the at least one object, and the requested file(s) are transferred from the first computer system to the second computer system. |
| US08645678B2 |
Chaotic cryptography for OFDM based communications systems
A chaotic cryptographic technique for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) based wireless/wired communication systems is implemented with an OFDM symbol structure based on symmetric key cryptography. At the receiver side, data detection becomes infeasible without knowledge of the secret key. Without the knowledge of the key, the signal will be a noise-like signal. The computational power required to implement the technique is very low, rendering the system an attractive option for high data rate communications based on OFDM technology. The system security is proportional to (L×N)! where N is the number of subcarriers in the OFDM system and L is the number of OFDM symbols involved in the encryption process. For OFDM applications where ≧256, L may be set to 1 and breaking the system would require N! exhaustive-search trials. In the case that N<256, L may be increased. |
| US08645676B2 |
Method and system for setting up an operating configuration of a portable device
A system and method for setting up an operating configuration of a portable electronic device is used for a server. The server includes a device database and is provided to the portable electronic device for logging in through a communication network and operating software. The method includes the steps of: accepting the portable electronic device login; determining whether the device database is a device profile of the portable electronic device; and if yes, generating operating configuration information. The operating configuration information includes the operating configuration of altering the operating configuration of the portable electronic device. |
| US08645675B2 |
Configuration of a basic input/output system (BIOS) based on a series of follow up questions tailored to user type
Example embodiments disclosed herein relate to configuring a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) of a computing device. An embodiment of a method may present, by the computing device, a first request relating to a first functionality of the computing device controlled by one or more settings of the BIOS, and may receive a first user response corresponding to the first request. The method may also present a second request relating to a second functionality of the computing device controlled by one or more settings of the BIOS, with the second request being selected based on the first user response. The method may then receive a second user response corresponding to the second request. In addition, the method may configure at least one setting of the BIOS based on the first and second user responses. Embodiments of a related computing device and computer-readable storage medium are also disclosed. |
| US08645673B2 |
Multicore processor and method of use that adapts core functions based on workload execution
A processor has multiple cores with each core having an associated function to support processor operations. The functions performed by the cores are selectively altered to improve processor operations by balancing the resources applied for each function. For example, each core comprises a field programmable array that is selectively and dynamically programmed to perform a function, such as a floating point function or a fixed point function, based on the number of operations that use each function. As another example, a processor is built with a greater number of cores than can be simultaneously powered, each core associated with a function, so that cores having functions with lower utilization are selectively powered down. |
| US08645672B2 |
Configuring a computer system for a software package installation
A request from an installer of a software application to configure the computer system for installation of the software application is received at a configuration client. Upon receiving the request, a message is sent to a local agent of the computer system to request a configuration for the installation of the software application. The message includes an identifier of the software application used by a configuration management server to identify the configuration corresponding to the software application. A configuration element is received from the local agent in response to the message. The configuration element includes a variable for holding a value that represents a characteristic of the computer system. The value of the variable is configured as a function of the computer system. The configuration element, including the configured variable value, is provided to the installer of the software application and is used for the installation of the software application. |
| US08645669B2 |
Cracking destructively overlapping operands in variable length instructions
A method, information processing system, and computer program product manage computer executable instructions. At least one machine instruction for execution is received. The at least one machine instruction is analyzed. The machine instruction is identified as a predefined instruction for storing a variable length first operand in a memory location. Responsive to this identification and based on fields of the machine instruction, a relative location of a variable length second operand of the instruction with location of the first operand is determined. Responsive to the relative location having the predefined relationship, a first cracking operation is performed. The first cracking operation cracks the instruction into a first set of micro-ops (Uops) to be executed in parallel. The first set of Uops is for storing a first plurality of first blocks in the first operand. Each of said first block to be stored are identical. The first set Uops are executed. |
| US08645666B2 |
Means to share translation lookaside buffer (TLB) entries between different contexts
A method and apparatus for sharing translation buffer entries between multiple processing resources is herein described. A sharing field in a translation entry is to represent that the translation entry is to be associated with/shared between a plurality of processing resources, if the translation entry is determined to be the same for the plurality of processing resources. Upon a miss to a translation buffer associated with a first resource, a new translation for the first resource is completed. The new translation is compared to other entries in the translation buffer to determine if any other entries include the same translation for other resources. In response to determining other resources are associated with the same translation, a sharing field in a translation entry is to indicate which resources the entry is to be associated with/shared between. |
| US08645663B2 |
Network interface controller with flexible memory handling
An input/output (I/O) device includes a host interface for connection to a host device having a memory, and a network interface, which is configured to transmit and receive, over a network, data packets associated with I/O operations directed to specified virtual addresses in the memory. Processing circuitry is configured to translate the virtual addresses into physical addresses using memory keys provided in conjunction with the I/O operations and to perform the I/O operations by accessing the physical addresses in the memory. At least one of the memory keys is an indirect memory key, which points to multiple direct memory keys, corresponding to multiple respective ranges of the virtual addresses, such that an I/O operation referencing the indirect memory key can cause the processing circuitry to access the memory in at least two of the multiple respective ranges. |
| US08645660B2 |
Automatic allocation of data replicas
Embodiments described herein are directed to providing scalability to software applications. A computer system partitions a portion of data stored in a directory services system into multiple different data partitions. Each data partition includes a primary writable copy and at least one secondary read-only copy of the data. The computer system receives a client request for a portion of the data that is stored in the directory services system and accesses various stored partition mappings to determine which of the different data partitions includes the requested data. The computer system also accesses a dynamic copy locator to determine which of the read-only copies of the indicated partition to access and provide the accessed primary writeable copy of the indicated partition and the determined read-only copy to the client in a virtualized manner so that the client is not aware of the data partitions. |
| US08645650B2 |
Augmented advisory lock mechanism for tightly-coupled clusters
An inter-machine locking mechanism coordinates the access of shared resources in a tightly-coupled cluster that includes a number of processing systems. When a requesting processing system acquires a lock to access a resource, a comparison is made between values of a global counter and a local counter. The global counter indicates the number of times the lock is acquired exclusively by any of the processing systems. Based on the comparison result, the requesting processing system determines whether the resource has been modified since the last time it held the lock. |
| US08645648B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing volume replication using unified architecture
A method and apparatus for performing volume replication using a unified architecture are provided. Each volume has an exclusive volume log table (VLT) and an exclusive volume block update table (VBUT). The VLT is mainly used for recording the relationship between two volumes of a mirroring pair, and the VBUT is used for tracking the state of each data block of the volume itself. By means of the cross operations between the VLT and the VBUT, various volume replication processes such as volume copying and volume mirroring can be enabled under a unified architecture. Specifically, for each volume, different replication relationships with other volumes can be handled merely by administering its two exclusive tables. Hence, the method and apparatus provided by the present invention can advantageously simplify the architecture for synchronization replication and reduce the burdens of administrating tables, thereby making the operation of a storage system more efficient. |
| US08645646B2 |
Stored data protection and recovery
A mechanism is provided in a computing system for controlling virtualized storage operable to communicate with a host and with mapped and unmapped storage resource pools. A selection component selects a target for a destructive data storage operation from the mapped storage resource pool. Responsive to the selection of the target, a virtual targeting component creates a virtual target from the unmapped storage resource pool to represent the target. Responsive to the selection of the target, a storage move component moves the target to a protected storage resource pool. Responsive to the creation of the virtual target from the unmapped storage resource pool, storage move component, moves the virtual target to the used storage resource pool. The computing system then performs the destructive data storage operation on the virtual target. |
| US08645645B2 |
File management method and hierarchy management file system
There is provided a file management method of a hierarchy management file system capable of preventing an access performance from dropping when a user accesses to a file. According to the method, a server creates file systems in high-speed and low-speed volumes and a file-sharing server virtually integrates those file systems into one system as a pseudo file system. Then, the server moves a file to be moved to the file system created in the low-speed volume in advance, not when an access is made to the file. When a user accesses to the file after that, the user directly accesses to destination without requiring to copy the file, so that the accessing performance may be prevented from dropping. |
| US08645637B2 |
Interruption of write memory operations to provide faster read access in a serial interface memory
After serially receiving several MSBs of the address, a microcontroller may determine whether a write operation is occurring in the same particular partition. If it is determined that a write operation is not occurring in the same partition, then the microcontroller may immediately perform the read operation. If a write operation is occurring, however, then the microcontroller may first begin to interrupt the write operation before beginning the read operation. |
| US08645635B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting and preemptively ameliorating potential logic unit thrashing in a storage system having multiple requesters
A method and apparatus for detecting and preemptively ameliorating potential logic unit thrashing in a storage system having multiple I/O requesters is disclosed. In response to detecting that each of two requesters has usable access to both of the active-passive pair of controllers, one of the active-passive pair of controllers is selected to be designated as an active resource controller. In response to detecting that one of the two requesters has usable access to only one of the active-passive pair of controllers, only one of the active-passive pair of controllers is selected to be designated as an active resource controller. In response to detecting that each of the two requesters has usable access only to different ones of the active-passive pair of controllers, one of the active-passive pair of controllers is selected to be designated as an active resource controller. |
| US08645633B2 |
Facilitating data coherency using in-memory tag bits and faulting stores
Fine-grained detection of data modification of original data is provided by associating separate guard bits with granules of memory storing the original data from which translated data has been obtained. The guard bits facilitate indicating whether the original data stored in the associated granule is indicated as protected. The guard bits are set and cleared by special-purpose instructions. Responsive to initiating a data store operation to modify the original data, the associated guard bit(s) are checked to determine whether the original data is indicated as protected. Responsive to the checking indicating that a guard bit is set for the associated original data, the data store operation to modify the original data is faulted and the translated data is discarded, thereby facilitating data coherency between the original data and the translated data. |
| US08645631B2 |
Combined L2 cache and L1D cache prefetcher
A microprocessor includes a first-level cache memory, a second-level cache memory, and a data prefetcher that detects a predominant direction and pattern of recent memory accesses presented to the second-level cache memory and prefetches cache lines into the second-level cache memory based on the predominant direction and pattern. The data prefetcher also receives from the first-level cache memory an address of a memory access received by the first-level cache memory, wherein the address implicates a cache line. The data prefetcher also determines one or more cache lines indicated by the pattern beyond the implicated cache line in the predominant direction. The data prefetcher also causes the one or more cache lines to be prefetched into the first-level cache memory. |
| US08645630B2 |
Stream context cache system
The present invention is directed to a stream context cache system, which primarily includes a cache and a mapping table. The cache stores plural stream contexts, and the mapping table stores associated stream context addresses in a system memory. Consequently, a host may, according to the content of the mapping table, directly retrieve the stream context that is pre-fetched and stored in the cache, rather than read the stream context from the system memory. |
| US08645628B2 |
Dynamically supporting variable cache array busy and access times for a targeted interleave
Various embodiments of the present invention manage access to a cache memory. In or more embodiments a request for a targeted interleave within a cache memory is received. The request is associated with an operation of a given type. The target is determined to be available. The request is granted in response to the determining that the target is available. A first interleave availability table associated with a first busy time associated with the cache memory is updated based on the operation associated with the request in response to granting the request. A second interleave availability table associated with a second busy time associated with the cache memory is updated based on the operation associated with the request in response to granting the request. |
| US08645623B1 |
Method for performing a raid operation in a data storage system
A data storage system having protocol controller for converting packets between PCIE format used by a storage processor and Rapid IO format used by a packet switching network. The controller includes a PCIE end point for transferring atomic operation (DSA) requests, a data pipe section having a plurality of data pipes for passing user data; and a message engine section for passing messages among the plurality of storage processors. An acceleration path controller bypasses a DSA buffer in the absence of congestion on the network. Packets fed to the PCIE end point include an address portion having code indicating an atomic operation. An encoder converts the code from a PCIE format into the same atomic operation in SRIO format. Each one of a plurality of CPUs is adapted to perform a second DSA request during execution of a first DSA request. |
| US08645620B2 |
Apparatus and method for accessing a memory device
An interfacing apparatus and related method is provided for configuring to couple a plurality of memory devices being addressable by means of an address space to a processing unit. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a first memory access unit being adapted for receiving a memory address from said processing unit and for accessing said memory devices accordingly based on the address provided. It also comprises a second memory access unit being adapted for receiving content data from the processing unit and for controlling a search or update function accordingly for the received content data in one or more of the memory devices. In addition, an allocation unit is also provided for allocating a first part of the address space of the memory devices to said first memory access unit and allocating a second part of the address space of said memory devices to the second memory access unit, each of the memory access units being assigned to corresponding memory devices of the plurality of memory devices. |
| US08645617B2 |
Memory device for concurrent and pipelined memory operations
This disclosure provides a non-volatile memory device that concurrently processes multiple page reads, erases or writes involving the same memory space. The device relies upon a crossbar and a set of page buffers that may each be dynamically assigned to each read or write request. The device also separates memory array control from IO control, such that multiple cycle state change operations can be performed while the buffers are used to transfer data into and out of the buffers along an external data bus; using this structure, the memory device can accept multiple transactions where pages can be immediately loaded into buffers and then “pipelined” either for transfer to a write data register or to an external bus as appropriate. By significantly mitigating the substantial “busy time” associated with program and erase of non-volatile memory devices, especially flash devices, this disclosure greatly expands potential application of such devices. |
| US08645616B2 |
Protecting groups of memory cells in a memory device
Methods for memory block protection and memory devices are disclosed. One such method for memory block protection includes programming protection data to protection bytes diagonally across different word lines of a particular memory block (e.g., Boot ROM). The protection data can be retrieved by an erase verify operation that can be performed at power-up of the memory device. |
| US08645615B2 |
Systems and methods for handling non-volatile memory operating at a substantially full capacity
This can relate to handling a non-volatile memory (“NVM”) operating at a substantially full memory. The non-volatile memory can report its physical capacity to an NVM driver. The NVM driver can scale-up the physical capacity a particular number of times to generate a “scaled physical capacity,” which is then reported to the file system. Because the scaled physical capacity is greater than the NVM's actual physical capacity, the file system allocates a logical space to the NVM that is substantially greater than the NVM's capacity. This can cause less crowding of the logical block addresses within the logical space, thus making it easier for the file system to operate and improving system performance. A commitment budget can also be reported to the file system that corresponds to the NVM's physical capacity, and which can define the amount of data the file system can commit for storage in the NVM. |
| US08645614B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing data of flash memory via address mapping
A method of managing data of a flash memory is provided. The method comprises: assigning a logical area of the flash memory as a user block area in which user storage data is stored, and a free block area in which the user storage data is temporarily stored when changing the user storage data; and, when a first data unit of user storage data received from a host is different from a second data unit used while mapping a physical address and a logical address of the flash memory where the user storage data is stored, assigning a predetermined logical area of the flash memory as a cache block area in which the user storage data received from the host is temporarily stored. |
| US08645610B2 |
Organizing and managing a memory blade with super pages and buffers
A system and method is illustrated wherein a protocol agent module receives a memory request encoded with a protocol, the memory request identifying an address location in a memory module managed by a buffer. Additionally, the system and method includes a memory controller to process the memory request to identify the buffer that manages the address location in the memory module. Further, the system and method includes an address mapping module to process the memory request to identify at least one super page associated with the memory module, the at least one super page associated with the address location. |
| US08645608B2 |
Electronic device that includes ranked control units that are connected together and control method thereof
According to one embodiment, an electronic device forming a first communication path which couples a first interface of a high-rank unit and a second interface of a mid-rank unit and a second communication path which couples a third interface of the mid-rank unit and a fourth interface of a low-rank unit, while cutting off a third communication path which couples the first interface and the fourth interface, in an ordinary state. When data needs to be write from the high-rank unit to the low-rank unit, the electronic device forming the third communication path and cutting off the first communication path and the second communication path. |
| US08645606B2 |
Upbound input/output expansion request and response processing in a PCIe architecture
Embodiments of the invention relate to upbound input/output expansion requests and response processing in a PCIE architecture. A first request to perform an operation on a host system is intitiated. The first request is formatted for the first protocol and includes data that is required in order to process the first request. A second request is created in response to the first request, the second request includes a header and is formatted according to the second protocol. The data required to process the first request in the header of the second request is stored, and the second request is sent to the host system. |
| US08645605B2 |
Sharing multiple virtual functions to a host using a pseudo physical function
A method is provided comprising: enumerating a group of available virtual functions corresponding to the physical function; mapping the group of available virtual functions to a non-transparent port of the switch by creating a copy of a configuration space for the physical function while assigning unique vendor and device identifications for different classes of devices, wherein the mapping creates a pseudo physical function exposing a subset of the SR-IOV capability from the configuration space for the physical function; receiving a request to access the physical function from the single host; and providing the pseudo physical function to the single host for loading on the single host, in response to the receiving of the request, wherein the pseudo physical function is designed to call management functions of the single host to enable the group of available virtual functions in a local hierarchy of the single host. |
| US08645599B2 |
Consumer media player
A consumer media player is configured to be electronically coupled to various different types of media source devices, extract media files from those media source devices, and play the extracted media files to a consumer. The consumer media player is also configured to physically hold all or part of one or more media source devices in a manner that facilitates electronic coupling of the media source device to the consumer media player and that provides an aesthetically pleasing appearance to the consumer. In particular, the consumer media player includes a cavity that can hold at least a portion of the media source device. In one of the embodiments described herein, at least some types of media source devices can be entirely physically stored within the cavity in the consumer media player. |
| US08645594B2 |
Driver-assisted base address register mapping
Techniques herein include systems and methods for driver-assisted BAR mapping that virtualize PCI functions, but without virtualizing the storage media itself. Such techniques make use of unused BARs (Base Address Registers) of a master (Operating system-facing) device to gain access to other PCIe logical instances, while still exposing only a single PCIe function (connection or channel) to system software. This technique provides a new concept of logical PCIe device instances through BAR mapping by making use of unused BARs to extend access to any number of PCIe instances or memory-mapped I/O devices behind a master device such that only a single PCIe function is exposed to system software. Embodiments can thus extend access to one or more additional storage devices through one level of BAR indirection. As a result, such techniques and embodiments enable the multiplication of storage capacity and performance through the aggregation of multiple, similar hardware components. |
| US08645592B2 |
Balancing usage of hardware devices among clients
Techniques are disclosed for managing the flow of IO jobs from a client to a hardware device such that resource starvation is reduced without significantly impacting throughput. Each flow can be assigned an amount of time that a hardware device can deplete completing IO jobs from the client. When the allocated amount of time is used IO jobs associated with the client can be stored in a queue until the client obtains more time. |
| US08645590B2 |
Application of alternate align primitives during SAS rate matching to improve continuous adaptation
The present invention is directed to a method which allows for substitution of standard SAS ALIGN primitives with an alternative, more spectrally pure set of SAS ALIGN primitives that allows for enhanced continuous adaptation performance. Two consenting SAS devices which are connected to each other may negotiate for and start communicating using the alternate set of ALIGN primitives, which may allow for improved jitter tolerance and reduced bit error rate. |
| US08645587B2 |
Connection apparatus, processing method for connection apparatus and computer-readable recording medium in which processing program is recorded
A connection apparatus interposed between a storage device including at least one storage section and a plurality of controllers for controlling the storage device, the connection apparatus includes a notification section that transfers, when a notification indicating occurrence of a state variation relating to the storage section is received from the storage device, the notification to at least one of the controllers, a monitoring section that monitors access from the at least one of the controllers, to which the notification has been transferred, to the storage device through the connection apparatus, and a notification controlling section that changes over, when it is detected by the monitoring section that the access has been terminated, a transfer destination of the notification by the notification section to one or more of the controllers to which the notification has not been transferred. |
| US08645585B2 |
System and method for dynamically configuring a serial data link in a display device
A technique is disclosed for dynamically reconfiguring a digital video link based on previously determined link training parameters. Reusing the previously determined link training parameters enables a no link training (NLT) protocol for quickly configuring the digital video link without the need for repeating a link training process. A display device advertises NLT capabilities information to a GPU indicating it can retain link characteristics for one or more link configurations. The GPU uses the NLT capabilities information to determine whether the display device is able to quickly transition to a specific link configuration using the NLT protocol, or to switch between configurations. The NLT capability allows a link to be advantageously quiesced and restored quickly while the GPU is transitioning in and out of power-saving sleep states, or placing the link in a more power efficient configuration, or higher-bandwidth higher-performance configuration. Additionally, the NLT capability allows a source to determine if the link configuration can be changed quickly while the display device retains the image, and thus can continue to present a constant screen for uninterrupted viewing. |
| US08645571B2 |
System and method for managing and/or using data for tools in a wellbore
A system and a method manage and use data related to a wellbore or a drill string. The system and the method may provide remote access to tools in a drill string using a network. In addition, the tools have access to the data. In a disclosed embodiment, the tools are able to automatically access the data needed to optimize or improve function of the tools. An example of the network is a wireless network where the tools may be monitored and/or controlled remotely by an application. A linking tool is optionally provided to communicate with the network and one or more of the tools. |
| US08645565B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for throttling traffic to an internet protocol (IP) network server using alias hostname identifiers assigned to the IP network server with a domain name system (DNS)
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for throttling traffic to an IP network server using alias hostname identifiers assigned to the IP network server with a domain name system are disclosed. One method includes maintaining a plurality of weight values and corresponding alias hostname identifiers for the IP network server that are associated with the IP network server in a DNS system. The method further includes throttling network traffic sent to an IP network server by sending, from the IP network server, messages to nodes that send the traffic to the IP network server, where the messages selectively enable or disable traffic flow to the individual alias hostnames. |
| US08645563B2 |
Method for dynamic rate adaptation based on selective passive network monitoring
A method for managing a session over a network that involves multiple end points obtaining services via an application server, the method involving: after the end points have registered with the application server for the session, establishing initial policies for network traffic flows for each end point participating in the session; after establishing the initial policies, determining information about the network traffic flows for at least some of the multiple end points participating in the session; from the information determined about the network traffic flows, identifying which of the multiple end points is functioning as a host server for the session; and after identifying which of the multiple end points is functioning as the host server, establishing new policies for network traffic flows for the multiple end points, wherein under the new policies fewer network resources are reserved for each of the multiple end points other than and as compared to the end point functioning as the host server. |
| US08645558B2 |
Reception according to a data transfer protocol of data directed to any of a plurality of destination entities for data extraction
A data processing system arranged for receiving over a network, according to a data transfer protocol, data directed to any of a plurality of destination identities, the data processing system comprising: data storage (event queues 31-33) for storing data received over the network; and a first processing arrangement for performing processing in accordance with the data transfer protocol on received data in the data storage, for making the received data available to respective destination identities; and a response former arranged for: receiving a message (dashed line on FIG. 4) requesting a response indicating the availability of received data to each of a group of destination identities; and forming such a response; wherein the system is arranged to, in dependence on receiving the said message: identify received data that is directed to any destination identity that is both a member of the group and a member of a subset of the plurality of destination identities, and on which processing has not yet been performed; trigger processing by the first processing arrangement in accordance with the protocol on only the identified data; and subsequently form a response based at least partly on the result of the triggered processing, wherein the response (table 40-41) is formed so as to comprise a positive indication (41) of availability of data for a destination identity of the group if the triggered processing caused data to be made available to the respective destination identity. |
| US08645557B2 |
System of interconnections for external functional blocks on a chip provided with a single configurable communication protocol
The system of interconnections (20) for external functional blocks on a chip provided with a single configurable communication protocol, comprises two physically separate communication networks (21, 22): a request network (21) for transmitting request messages from an initiating block (23, 24, 25, 26) to a recipient block (27, 28, 29, 30, 31) and a response network (22) for transmitting response messages from a recipient block (27, 28, 29, 30, 31) to an initiating block (23, 25, 26). The response messages include additional information making said request (21) and response (22) networks able to respectively manage the request messages and the response messages independently. |
| US08645555B2 |
System and method for stateless, fault tolerance and load balanced data collection using overlay namespaces
A resource monitoring method may include receiving a request to perform a read operation on an object at a first monitoring node of a plurality of monitoring nodes, and determining whether or not a copy of the object is present in a namespace associated with the first monitoring node. The namespace may include an overlay namespace and a local namespace. The local namespace may identify objects being monitored by the first monitoring node. The overlay namespace may include local viewpoints for other monitoring nodes of the plurality of monitoring nodes. Each local viewpoint may identify one or more objects that are monitored by a respective other monitoring node. The method may further include performing, by the first monitoring node, the read operation on the object if the copy of the object is determined as present in the namespace associated with the first monitoring node. |
| US08645554B2 |
Method and apparatus for identifying network functions based on user data
Techniques for identifying network functions include determining first data that indicates a concept represented in content provided by a device. A function provided by a network service is determined based on the first data. In some embodiments, techniques include forming a data structure that associates each function of a plurality of functions provided by a plurality of network services with at least one identifier for a concept. |
| US08645552B2 |
System and method for efficiently accessing internet resources
A system and method for efficiently accessing Internet resources is disclosed. One example directory system for permitting a user to access and retrieve information from a network of computers is disclosed. The example system comprises a key phrase field for accepting a search term, a data table and a search unit. The data table comprises a plurality of cells for storing unique identifiers wherein at least one of said plurality of cells may be activated by the user to perform an action related to the stored unique identifiers. The search unit conducts a search for unique identifiers from the network of computers related to the search term. |
| US08645551B2 |
Method for automatically negotiating type of service and aggregation apparatus therefor
The present invention provides a service type auto-negotiation method and an aggregation device. The method comprises: comparing a service type capability set of a local device with that of a peer device to select a communal service type capability set; configuring a service type on an optical transmission network chip using the highest priority service type in the communal capability set; the service type capability sets including various service types supported by the devices and their corresponding priorities. The method negotiates automatically service types supported by both interconnected devices through a protocol and configures device hardware based on the negotiation result such that service interworking can be achieved without network management, thereby greatly decreasing the complexity of service development. |
| US08645546B2 |
Cloud service control and management architecture expanded to interface the network stratum
Disclosed is an apparatus comprising: a cloud service control gateway (CSCG) positioned in an application stratum, wherein the CSCG is configured to couple to a network control gateway (NCG) positioned in a network stratum, and wherein the CSCG is configured to transmit a destination address list and a first network resource requirement to the NCG. Also disclosed is an apparatus comprising: a network control gateway (NCG) positioned in a network stratum, wherein the NCG is configured to couple to a cloud service control gateway (CSCG) positioned in an application stratum, and wherein the NCG is configured to receive a communication from the CSCG comprising a destination address list comprising a plurality of destination addresses and a network resource requirement. |
| US08645544B2 |
Cross product/service management
Cross product/service management of subscriber products/services is provided. When multiple product/services orders or instructions are received for a shared service or resource (e.g., a unified voicemail box/system) from two or more order or instruction entry systems (e.g., wireline and wireless telephone systems), the multiple orders or instructions are passed to a shared product/services provisioning manager for management of the orders or instructions with respect to the shared service or resource. If the orders require a change to the shared service or resource, the orders or instructions are mediated for concurrent or otherwise conflicting requests to the shared service or resource. Mediated requests are formatted for receipt and use by the shared service or resource and are then passed to a network element responsible for the shared service or resource for implementation. |
| US08645543B2 |
Managing and reconciling information technology assets in a configuration database
A method and system for managing and reconciling naming conflicts in a configuration database. Attributes are collected about a detected resource in a network. Valid names for the detected resource are created based on the collected attributes and a set of naming rules. A valid name is created for each naming rule, and the naming rules have a priority order. A master-alias table is search to locate a match between existing names of known resources recorded in the master-alias table and any of the valid names. A partial match of resource attributes is determined to exist when all of the valid names in the set of valid names do not match an existing name in a matching entry. The detected resource is determined to be a new resource or an existing resource based on a priority of the naming rules used to create the valid names. |
| US08645542B2 |
Distributed intelligent virtual server
A intelligent distributed virtual server for providing distributed services to a plurality of clients, including one or more servers units, each server units storing data and providing service for accessing by one or more clients; one or more switches and routers for connecting the clients to the server units and to provide a communication link; and a distribution control station connected to the clients and the server units via the switches and routers, wherein the distribution control station receives a request for a service from a client, and selectively establishes a data link between that client and an server unit, which stores the requested data and provides service, such that the server unit provides the data stream to the client via the communication link, independent of other server units. Therefore, it provides distributed computing cross intra-net or Internet and it provides scalability and all intelligent services such as fault handling, security and others. |
| US08645541B1 |
Systems and methods for synchronizing data between communication devices in a networked environment
A network communication system and a source device thereof. The source device may include a cluster manager that groups a plurality of connections between the source device and the plurality of destination devices into clusters, such as performance clusters. The cluster manager may also remove one or more of the destination devices that do not respond within a timeout threshold from their clusters, and when the removed one or more destination devices respond to the timeout threshold, the cluster manager may provide one or more of the plurality of destination devices full-buffer updates until such point as a recent average latency performance of a responding destination device is at a level that merits insertion back into one of the clusters. |
| US08645538B2 |
System and method for monitoring outbreak of contagious diseases
A surveillance system for monitoring outbreak of a contagious disease is disclosed. The system comprises a handheld computing and communication device with a short range ad hoc networking device. Handheld devices carried by persons in contacting with the device carried by a user form an ad hoc communication network at a location. Identities of all devices in the ad hoc network are broadcasted through the network. The user's device receives the identities and stores the received data in a log file. The log file may be sent to a central station after the device receives an authorized signal during an outbreak event of the contagious disease. The device may further include a body temperature automatic measuring system. The user's body temperature trend file may be sent together with the log file. |
| US08645534B2 |
Localization of peer to peer traffic
A method of processing peer-to-peer requests is provided. The method may include; storing, at a network element, peer information in a database for each peer of a plurality of peers, the peer information indicating at least one ISP associated with the peer and the content contained by the peer, receiving a request for content from a requester, and sending a response to the content requester based on the ISP with which the requester is associated and the stored peer information. |
| US08645528B2 |
Convergent mediation system with dedicated online steams
An object is to create a convergent mediation system (10) and method that provides a good degree of interoperability and ease of administration. According to an aspect of the invention, these objects are achieved by providing a convergent mediation system (10) that comprises a common platform (18) for both online processing (12) and off-line processing (14) of data. The common platform (18) is designed such that it includes a plurality of independent nodes (120, 125) adapted to form processing streams (200) for the online processing (12) of data and processing streams (200) for the off-line processing (14) of data such that each of the processing streams (200) comprises at least two nodes (120, 125) in sequence. Furthermore, the system (10) is provided with at least one online interface node (125) and configured such that the first node in each of the online processing streams (212) is such an online interface node (125). The online interface nodes (125) are adapted to receive data from the at least one of the communications network (30) or the service delivery platform (30) and send a response thereto. The content of the response is selectively formed in one of the online processing streams (212). |
| US08645526B2 |
Information processing apparatus and control method therefor, information processing system, computer program and storage medium
An information processing provided with a wireless communication unit adapted to communicate with a wireless network formed by a control apparatus, comprises: a first sending unit adapted to send a probe signal including identification data of the network via the wireless communication unit; a receiving unit adapted to receive a response signal to the probe signal from another information processing apparatus associated with the control apparatus via the wireless communication unit; and a determination unit adapted to determine an information processing apparatus capable of direct link communication, based on the response signal received by the receiving unit. |
| US08645520B2 |
Remote computer management using network communications protocol that enables communication through a firewall and/or gateway
The invention facilitates remote management of a computer via a network. Remote computer management in which communication between a managed computer and a remote computer management server is initiated by the managed computer is implemented so that the communication is formatted in accordance with a network communications protocol that can be used to format communication that is allowed to pass through a firewall and/or gateway that mediates communication with the managed computer. |
| US08645518B2 |
Computer-implemented method for compensating ancillary use of a remotely accessible network device
A computer-implemented method for compensating ancillary use of a wireless service device for excess transmission bandwidth is provided. Wireless service devices are discovered. Each wireless service device is interoperable on a wireless service network operated by a service provider. For each wireless service device, a primary function performable by a subscriber through the wireless service network and an ancillary function performable by a third party through the wireless service network based on availability of capacity for excess transmission bandwidth are determined. The wireless service devices include an available capacity to perform the ancillary function over the service network is identified. The ancillary function is performed over the excess transmission bandwidth using the identified wireless service devices through combination, modification and integration of data from the two or more other such identified wireless service devices. Participants of the ancillary function in exchange for the performance of the ancillary function are compensated. |
| US08645513B2 |
Automation of information technology system development
A method and associated computer program product for developing an Information Technology (IT) system. An abstract IT structure for the IT system is provided. A virtual IT structure for the IT system is generated from the abstract IT structure by a translator. A real IT structure for the IT system is generated from the virtual IT structure. |
| US08645507B2 |
Power management for a communications system
Described herein is a method and system for facilitating power management in a communications system. The communications system includes a server and one or more communications devices operably coupled to a network, each communications device being operable to enter a low power state in response to a “hibernate” command. The “hibernate” command may be provided by a power management unit in the server in response to, for example, a change in routing preference, location or availability status of the user. |
| US08645506B2 |
Server apparatus for collecting a response of a questionnaire, questionnaire response collection method, questionnaire response collection program and computer-readable recording medium recorded with a questionnaire response collection program
A server apparatus and the like for accurately collecting responses of questionnaires from respondents who submit responses to the questionnaires with regard to a target including a plurality of scenes and in which the scene changes over an elapsed time.Ambient sound data of a terminal device collected when response operation is performed from the terminal device on the basis of the response operation with which a respondent submits a response to the questionnaire are received, and the received sound data are compared with the sound data of the target stored by the storage means, and on the basis of the comparison result, the scene of the target is identified. |
| US08645501B2 |
Adaptive DNS pre-fetching
Methods and apparatus for obtaining web content are disclosed. The method includes identifying resources identified by domain name references that a user may request, obtaining a status of at least one operating condition that affects operations of the communication device, fetching, in advance of the user requesting the content, network addresses of the resources so as to resolve the domain name references, and adapting a level of the fetching based upon the at least one operating condition. The network addresses of the resources are cached so as to generate cached network addresses, and if the user requests the content, the cached network addresses are utilized to access the resources associated with the content. |
| US08645498B2 |
Transaction processing system
A method of transaction processing in a system comprising a plurality of distributed nodes, the method comprising the steps of receiving a message at a first node, the message defining an operation to be performed on data associated with an entity, queuing the message for processing by a message handler running on the node, permitting the message handler to process the message, in the event that no other message handler is operating on the data and forwarding the message to a second node for subsequent processing. |
| US08645497B2 |
Bookmark-based access to content feeds
At a client device, upon user selection of a respective bookmark, a document is downloaded from a network location associated with the bookmark, and then displayed at the client device. The bookmark contains a URL or parameter that references one or more content feeds to which the user has subscribed. The client device, in response to the user selection of the respective bookmark, transmits to a server a request specified by the respective bookmark, and receives in response to the request a redirect to a network location associated with the document. The downloaded document corresponds to a content feed to which the user has subscribed. |
| US08645492B2 |
System and method for a wireless display low power managed adapter
A method for managing wireless data communication links includes establishing first and second wireless data communication links between a host system and a wireless display adapter. The first wireless data communication link is associated with a high data rate of data traffic between the host system and the wireless display adapter, and the second wireless data communication link is associated with a low data rate of data traffic. The method further includes determining that information is to be transmitted between the host system and the wireless display adapter using the low data rate, turning off a first data radio associated with the first wireless data communication link, and transmitting the information over the second wireless data communication link. |
| US08645487B2 |
Method of requesting services of network devices, network devices capable of performing the method, and storage medium for storing the method
A method and apparatus of requesting service between network devices in which the range of service between network devices can be flexibly managed, a network device capable of performing the method, and a storage medium thereof are provided. The network devices includes: a network device requesting a partner network device to send service information; and if service information of the partner network device is received, requesting a service to the partner network device based on the received service information. |
| US08645485B1 |
Social based aggregation of related media content
Systems and methods for media aggregation are disclosed herein. The system includes a media system that can transform user generated media items into at least one aggregated media item. A synchronization component can synchronize media items with respect to time. Synchronized media items can be analyzed and transformed into an aggregated media item for storage and/or display. In addition, the aggregated media item is capable of being manipulated to create an enhanced and customizable viewing and/or listening experience. Accordingly, media item aggregation can be accomplished. |
| US08645482B2 |
Network coding with last modified dates for P2P web caching
A method may include obtaining a source file at a node in peer-to-peer network and dividing the source file into a plurality of pieces. The pieces of the source file may be encoded using network coding principles. A last-modified-date (LMD) value may be appended to each of the encoded pieces, the LMD value being the same for each of the encoded pieces of the source file. The encoded pieces with the LMD values may be sent to one or more other nodes in the peer-to-peer network. |
| US08645481B2 |
Wireless charging and communication with wireless communication devices in a communication system
A personal computing system and a mobile phone interoperate according to a wireless charging protocol while in a charging arrangement. The personal computing system can wirelessly charge a power source of the mobile phone. The personal computing system and the mobile phone are in a communication system. A server communicatively coupled to a first network and a wireless communication network can inhibit in the wireless communication network transmission of messages destined for reception by one of the personal computing system and the mobile phone, in response to determining that the personal computing system and the mobile phone are in a charging arrangement. |
| US08645479B2 |
Chatting system, method and apparatus for virtual pet
Embodiments of the present invention provides a chatting system for a virtual pet, including a pet client, configured to receive a natural language sentence of a pet master, and send the natural language sentence to a virtual pet server; the virtual pet server, configured to forward the natural language sentence to a questioning and answering server, and return a natural language response to the pet client; the questioning and answering server, configured to perform processing of natural language understanding on the natural language sentence, obtain language characteristics of the pet master, generate the natural language response according to a natural language understanding result and the language characteristics of the pet master, and return the natural language response to the virtual pet server. Embodiments of the present invention further provide a chatting method for a virtual pet and a questioning and answering server. |
| US08645475B2 |
Image transmission device, image transmission system, and image transmission method
An image transmission system includes an image transmission device and a server that provides recipient information including recipient specification information and a transmission method and destination for image data. The server records, in association with a recipient identifier, recipient-designated recipient information and display mode designation information indicating a display mode for the recipient information. Each time the recipient information and display mode designation information is updated, the server overwrites the recorded information with the updated recipient information and display mode designation information. The image transmission device receives a selection of a recipient identifier for image data transmission, and if the selected recipient identifier is associated with the recipient information and display mode designation information in the server, acquires such information from the server, and when transmitting image data based on the recipient information, displays the recipient information according to a display mode indicated in the acquired display mode designation information. |
| US08645472B2 |
System and method for informing a sender of a message of content adaptation and message failure issues
A system and method for controlling the content of a message transmitted from a transmitting device to a receiving device. When a message is sent from the transmitting device, it is determined whether the receiving device is capable of exhibiting the message without adaptation of the message's content. If the receiving device is capable of exhibiting the message without adaptation of the message's content, the receiving device exhibits the message. If the receiving device is not capable of exhibiting the message without adaptation of the message's content, the transmitting device is informed that the message could not be exhibited on the receiving device without adaptation of the message's content. The receiving device can also be informed what portions cannot be exhibited by the receiving device, and instructions can be provided so that the receiving device does not display the message at all if the message must be adapted. |
| US08645463B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for managing resources within a virtual room
In one embodiment, the methods and apparatuses display a list configured to represent a plurality of virtual rooms; identify a selected participant device associated with a selected virtual room from the plurality of virtual rooms wherein the selected participant device is a member of the selected virtual room; selectively display content associated with the selected virtual room to the selected participant device; and notify the selected participant device of a change to the content associated with the selected virtual room. |
| US08645458B2 |
Systems and methods for delivering media content and improving diagnostic reading efficiency
Certain embodiments provide systems and methods for image delivery in a picture archiving and communication system. Certain embodiments provide a method for transferring image data via a delivery chain for display at a client workstation. The method includes creating a data list describing image data to be delivered to implement an imaging workflow. The method includes establishing a general loading plan to specify a recommended priority for delivery of the image data in the data list. The method includes generating a node loading plan for each node in the delivery chain based on the general loading plan. The method includes reconciling at least one of the general loading plan and the node loading plan. The method includes delivering the image data via the nodes of the delivery chain based on the general loading plan, the node loading plan for each node in the delivery chain, and the data list. |
| US08645456B2 |
Content access policy management for mobile handheld devices
Devices and methods are disclosed which relate to a mobile communications device which presents a user with content optimized for the mobile communications device based on connection speed, device capabilities, and user preferences. When a user wishes to view content, the user inputs an address. The mobile communications device accesses a policy management agent. The policy management agent checks an onboard database of websites, their mobile counterparts, and attributes of each. An optimal website is selected and the mobile communications device requests content from that website instead. |
| US08645454B2 |
Task allocation multiple nodes in a distributed computing system
Work is distributed amongst a plurality of nodes. A first plurality of tasks is extracted, where the number of tasks is selected in correspondence to the number of nodes, and where sizes of the tasks are sized based on a job load metric. The first plurality of tasks is distributed. A determination is made whether a time difference between a response from a node that is first to complete its task and a response from a node that is last to complete its task exceeds a predefined threshold. In response to a determination that the time difference exceeds the predefined threshold, the job load metric is adjusted. A second plurality of tasks is extracted, where the number of tasks is selected in correspondence to the number of nodes, and wherein sizes of the tasks are sized based on the adjusted job load metric. The second plurality of tasks is distributed. |
| US08645442B2 |
Method and apparatus for a finite impulse response filter
A finite impulse response filter comprises an input formatter, a plurality of sample registers, a plurality of coefficient registers, an arithmetic unit, a multiply accumulate unit, a crosspoint switch, an interpolator, a control unit, and an output formatter. The input formatter separates the in-phase portion of a complex-number discrete-time sample from the quadrature portion. The sample registers store a plurality of discrete-time samples. The coefficient registers store a plurality of coefficients. The arithmetic unit adds two of the discrete-time samples to create a sum. The multiply accumulate unit includes a multiplier that multiplies the sum by a coefficient to create a product, an adder that adds the product to a sum of products, and a register that stores the sum of products. The crosspoint switch allows communication between the first and second plurality of registers and the arithmetic unit and the multiply accumulate unit. The interpolator inserts a desired number of zeros into the time-sampled data stream to adjust the time-sampled data stream to an increasing sampling rate. The control unit controls the settings of the crosspoint switch, the arithmetic unit, and the multiply accumulate unit. The output formatter combines the in-phase sum of products and the quadrature sum of products to create a filtered complex-number discrete-time sample. |
| US08645435B2 |
Efficient data transfer to/from storage medium of computing device
An application issues an application command to a file system of the computing device, where the application command includes a location of data at a source. The file system allocates space on a medium for the data and compiles a list including an identification of each portion of the medium that is to be used to store the data. The file system then issues a file system command to a block driver of the medium, where the file system command includes the location of the data at the source and the compiled list. The block driver contacts the source, requests the data at the location thereof, and writes the data to the portions of the medium included in the compiled list. |
| US08645434B2 |
Techniques for schema production and transformation
Techniques for schema production and transformation are presented. Enterprise data from a plurality of data sources is analyzed to produce patterns to types of enterprise data. Merging rules group patterns together with entries across multiple schemas. Each schema associated with one of the data sources. A single entry is then produced within a single generic schema for each group of patterns. The generic schema can then be used to suggest changes to enterprise data policy and to make the enterprise data interoperable across the enterprise in an automated fashion. |
| US08645422B2 |
Method for controlling access to informational objects
The described embodiments of invention comprises a method and an apparatus for regulating access to objects by authorized entities. Authorized entities are entities authorized for access by either an owner entity of the regulated object or an entity authorized to authorize access to the regulated object. Each user, which may be a physical person or another information system, is identified using standard user validation techniques. When an object is first created or introduced to the system, that information is associated with an owner, who is one user on the system. The present embodiment allows the owner to define relationships with other users, either generally or regarding a particular object. The owner may or may not have trusted relationships with other users. A second user that has a trusted relationship with the owner automatically has access to the object without additional intervention by the owner. In addition, the second user may have a trusted relationship with another user. In the above example, the records administrator may have an assistant. This third user will also have access to the records. This Web of Trust may link users infinitely, but such a case would create an undue risk of compromise of the information. Thus, the present embodiment includes a facility for the owner to designate a maximum number of trusted links from the owner and other users. |
| US08645419B2 |
Fusion of structural and cross-functional dependencies for root cause analysis
A method is provided for enhancing service diagnostics for root cause analysis of an identified problem in a vehicle. Service repair data of previously serviced vehicles is obtained from a memory storage device. The service data is compiled based on a service repair history for each vehicle. Each vehicle within the compiled service data having at least two service repairs performed within a predetermined period of time is identified. Combinations of parts serviced during each service repair are identified. A count is determined that indicates the number of times each combination appears in the compiled service data. The combinations having counts greater than a predetermined threshold are identified. A determination is made whether any of the combinations having counts greater than the predetermined threshold are present in the structural taxonomy database. A functional taxonomy database is updated by assigning the selected combinations to the function taxonomy database not present in the structural taxonomy database. |
| US08645417B2 |
Name search using a ranking function
An approach is described for performing a name search using a name search operation and a ranking operation. The name search operation may take text as input and apply a fuzzy matching operation and a lookup operation to generate a collection of candidate names with respective probability scores. In other cases, speech or handwriting recognition may generate the collection of candidate names and probability scores. The ranking operation may then rank these candidate names using a ranking function. The ranking function may rank the candidate names based on the probability scores associated with the names and at least one other factor. One such factor may reflect whether information provided by a user matches profile information associated with a candidate name under consideration. Another factor may reflect an extent of a nexus between the user and a person associated with the candidate name. Other types of factors can be used. |
| US08645415B2 |
De-duplication in billing system
A computing system partitions received events into a number of channels by account identifier. The channels receive the events and perform de-duplication of the events. This de-duplication can be performed with a filter that is updated to reflect the receipt of any original event. The filter may be used to either determine that the event is not a duplicate of another, or to determine that the event cannot be ruled out as being a duplicate of another. In the latter case, further processing may be performed to for definitively determine whether the event is truly a duplication, or in the alternative, the event may be immediately treated as a duplicate. |
| US08645413B2 |
System and method for object searching in virtual worlds
A system and method enabling the search for a three-dimensional virtual world object across the universe of virtual worlds by utilizing a two-step search process to first identify the object and second, to actively locate and generate a URI to all presently manifest instances of that object. |
| US08645411B1 |
Method and system for generating a modified website
A method including receiving a website text item of the website, where the website text item is categorized by a text category and a website element category, identifying, multiple text items of multiple websites relating to multiple businesses in an industry, searching the multiple text items using the website element category to identify multiple comparable text items, parsing the website text item to generate multiple keywords, searching the multiple comparable text items using the multiple keywords to identify a comparable text item, where the comparable text item includes a conversion rate corresponding to a percentage of transactions completed by multiple website visitors accessing the comparable text item, identifying, a modified conversion text item from the multiple comparable text items, where the modified conversion text item has a modified conversion rate that exceeds the conversion rate, generating, a conversion improved website including the modified conversion text item. |
| US08645402B1 |
Matching trip data to transportation network data
Trip data that includes points traversed during corresponding trips is received. Transportation network data that describes geographic locations and links between the geographic locations is received. The trip data and transportation network data are partitioned across a plurality of processing units executing on one or more processors. At each of the plurality of processing units, a subset of the trip data at the corresponding processing unit is locally matched to a subset of the transportation network data at the corresponding processing unit to identify a subset of paths of the transportation network data traversed by one or more of the trips. |
| US08645396B2 |
Reputation scoring of an author
Methods, computer program products and systems are described for online-content management. Online content from multiple contributors is received at one or more first computers for public online display. An authentication score is determined for a contributor of the multiple contributors. The contributor's name and a representation of the contributor's authentication score is published online for display on one or more second computers in association with the online content received from the contributor. |
| US08645394B1 |
Ranking clusters and resources in a cluster
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for ranking resources within clusters of resources, and for ranking the clusters. In one aspect, a method includes accessing a cluster of a plurality of resources associated with a name context; generating a quality score for a resource; generating a resource ranking score for the resource, with the resource ranking score at least partly based on the quality score and the cluster relation score; and ranking the resources in the cluster at least partly based on the resource ranking score. |
| US08645392B2 |
Privacy protection device, privacy protection method, and life log management system
A privacy protection device includes an attribute update frequency management unit configured to calculate and record therein an update frequency of each attribute included in a life log of a user in response to storing of the life log; a static attribute extraction unit configured to calculate a threshold value of a change frequency on the basis of a static attribute, an attribute the update frequency of which is less than or equal to the calculated threshold value of the change frequency, the update frequency being recorded by the attribute update frequency management unit; and a notification request reception unit configured to extract the number of users satisfying the notification condition of the notification request, accept the registration of the notification request from the service provider when the extracted number of users exceeds the limit number of persons. |
| US08645387B2 |
Expertise identification using interaction metrics
An illustrative embodiment of a computer-implemented method to identify expertise using interaction metrics receives a user identity to form an identified user, receives usage information associated with the identified user to form received information and identifies usage patterns in the received information to form identified usage patterns. The computer-implemented method further applies assessment factors to the identified usage patterns and received information, calculates a ranking for the identified user to form a calculated ranking and assigns the calculated ranking to the identified user. |
| US08645386B2 |
Processor implemented systems and methods for using the catalog part of an SQL identifier to expose/access heterogeneous data
Systems and methods are provided for providing data from a plurality of databases stored on a plurality of disparate servers. A query is received for data from a plurality of databases stored on a plurality of disparate servers. An address for a first server is resolved that stores a first database identified by the catalog field in the query using a logical name-to-connection metadata map. A first sub-query is transmitted to the first server based on the received query, and a first sub-query response is received from the first server. The resolving, transmitting, and receiving are repeated for a second server. The first sub-query response and the second sub-query response are combined to generate a query response according to the received query, and the query response is transmitted. |
| US08645384B1 |
Updating taxonomy based on webpage
According to an example implementation, a computer-implemented method may include extracting, by a computing device, structured content from a website, determining a recent taxonomy by applying category rules to the structured content, the recent taxonomy including multiple categories and a new category, and updating a stored taxonomy based on the determined recent taxonomy by adding the new category to the stored taxonomy. |
| US08645380B2 |
Optimized KD-tree for scalable search
Techniques for constructing an optimized kd-tree are described. In an implementation, an optimized kd-tree process receives input of a set of data points applicable for large-scale computer vision applications. The process divides the set of the data points into subsets of data points with nodes while generating hyperplanes (e.g., coordinate axes). The process identifies a partition axis for each node based on the coordinate axes combined in a binary way. The optimized kd-tree process creates an optimized kd-tree that organizes the data points based on the identified partition axis. The organization of the data points in the optimized kd-tree provides efficient indexing and searching for a nearest neighbor. |
| US08645379B2 |
Conceptual tagging with conceptual message matching system and method
A conceptual tagging and message matching system and method are provided. In one example, the system and method generate web pages or third party web pages with pieces of content combined with the message. |
| US08645376B2 |
Method and system for managing recent data in a mobile device linked to an on-demand service
Systems and methods for managing recent data items in a database. A method typically includes determining whether a data object managed by an on demand service is designated as able to be accessed by a user at a mobile device and storing locally at a mobile device a plurality of most recently used items viewed for a data object designated as able to be accessed by a user at a mobile device. The method also typically includes determining a single most recently used set from among the stored plurality of most recently used items viewed for at least one data object designated as able to be accessed by a user at a mobile device. |
| US08645373B2 |
Computer implemented method for automatically generating recommendations for digital media content
A computer implemented process encompasses the following steps: Identify the user's current media content library/ies; Analyze the content of those libraries, deriving a “taste signature” for the user from that analysis; Match the derived “taste signature” to other media content and to other users; and provide the user with recommendations based on that automatic matching process. |
| US08645370B2 |
Scoring relevance of a document based on image text
A method and system for determining relevance of a document having text and images to a text string is provided. A scoring system identifies image text associated with an image of the document. The scoring system calculates an image score indicating relevance of the image text to the text string. The image score may be used in many applications, such as searching, summary generation, and document classification, image search, and image classification. |
| US08645366B1 |
Generating recommendations of points of interest
Systems and methods for generating recommendations of points of interest to visit are provided. In some aspects, a method includes receiving a request to search for a point of interest recommendation, wherein the request comprises a query and a geographic region, and a social network group. The method also includes generating a set of points of interest associated with the query. The method further includes placing the points of interest within the set of points of interest in an order based on whether the expression of interest is by a member of the social network group. |
| US08645364B2 |
Providing definitions that are sensitive to the context of a text
Systems and techniques for providing definitions to a user. The provision embodies the context of a text in which the defined term appears. In one aspect, a system includes an electronic device that includes one or more data processing devices programmed to respond to receipt of the user selection of the first term by performing operations. The operations include accessing, from the one or more persistent data storage devices, the characterizations of the contexts of the texts, comparing the accessed characterizations of the contexts of the texts with one or more characteristics of the context of the textual content of a media file, and ranking the definitions of the first term according to respective likelihoods that the definitions appropriately characterize the usage of the first term within the textual content of the media file. |
| US08645362B1 |
Using resource load times in ranking search results
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for using resource load times in ranking search results. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a search query from a particular user device; receiving, for each of a plurality of resources responsive to the search query, a respective first score; accessing load time data that specifies, for each of the plurality of resources, a load time measure for the resource; and adjusting the first score for each of the plurality of resources based on the load time measure for the resource to generate a second score for each of the plurality of resources. |
| US08645361B2 |
Using popular queries to decide when to federate queries
A query received from a user is directed to a particular search application (e.g. an Enterprise search portal) that is associated with a result source from which to retrieve results. The received query may be federated to additional result sources when the received query is determined to be a popular query in a result source. Query logs associated with the additional result sources are analyzed to determine when a query is popular as compared to the original result source. The query may be altered before being executed that uses one or more of the additional result sources. When the query (altered/unaltered) is determined to be popular for any of the additional result sources as compared to the original result source, the query is executed using that additional result source. |
| US08645360B2 |
Previewing search results
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for previewing search results. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a query from a client device. One or more image search results are provided to the client device, each of the one or more image search results identifying a corresponding image resource and each of the one or more image search results including an image representation of the corresponding image resource. One or more related queries are provided to the client device, the one or more related queries having been determined to be related to the query, wherein each of the one or more related queries includes a preview image to be displayed at the client device, the preview image representing an image search result responsive to the related query. |
| US08645357B2 |
Enterprise hierarchy
Techniques implementable in an enterprise application or application suite for managing the organizational structure of an enterprise. In one set of embodiments, a single, unified hierarchy can be defined for the organizational structure of an enterprise. The unified hierarchy can include high-level nodes that correspond to entities common to different manifestations of the organizational structure (e.g., reporting structure, cost structure, etc.). The unified hierarchy can also include lower-level nodes that are unique to a particular manifestation. By defining a single, unified hierarchy in this manner, organizational changes in the enterprise can be modeled in the application/application suite by simply updating the unified hierarchy (rather than updating multiple hierarchies). In addition, the unified hierarchy can be used to facilitate security provisioning and reporting. |
| US08645348B2 |
Method and system for securing user identities and creating virtual users to enhance privacy on a communication network
A method of enabling a real entity to access a service on a communication network using a virtual entity, the method including the steps of establishing a user account including at least first data corresponding to the identity of the real entity and second data corresponding to the virtual entity and not identifying the real entity, storing the first and second data in a first database, linking between the first and second data in the first database, storing the second data at a second database, associating the second database with a communication network site, connecting the communication network site to the communication network, receiving the second data from an unidentified user on the communication network site, identifying the unidentified user as the virtual entity based on receiving the second data, and allowing the virtual entity to access the service. |
| US08645347B2 |
Assigning data for storage based on a frequency with which the data is accessed
A method, system, and apparatus for improving performance when retrieving data from one or more storage media. Files to be stored on the one or more storage media are classified into a ranking of different sets. Differences in retrieval value of different regions of the one or more storage media are exploited by selecting which files to store in which regions. For example, files that have a higher classification are stored in regions with faster retrieval values. The files can be classified based on frequency of access. Thus, files that are more frequently accessed are stored in regions that have a faster retrieval value. The files can be classified by another measure such as priority. For example, the classification for some or all of the files can be based on user-assigned priority. The classification may be based on events or data grouping. |
| US08645346B2 |
Composable SQL query generation
A system and method for facilitating querying one or more data sources. A system provides mechanisms to enable flexible specification of user queries and generation of one or more SQL queries that correspond closely to corresponding user queries. An operator tree and a logical operator tree may be created as intermediate steps to generate the one or more SQL queries. Capabilities of data sources are determined and used to generate remotable SQL queries for composable queries, to reduce an amount of post-processing that is performed on result sets. The system enables user queries that extend beyond those defined by a data model. |
| US08645344B2 |
Document processing system and method therefor
The present invention discloses a system of processing document data for document interoperation, comprising an application, embedded in a machine readable medium, which initiates an operation on a document by issuing instruction(s) describing the operation to a platform software; the said platform software, embedded in a machine readable medium, which performs the operation on the unstructured data according to the instruction(s); wherein the instruction conforms to an interface standard independent of the format of the unstructured data. |
| US08645342B2 |
Scope based indexing prioritization
Methods and systems provide a tool for prioritizing the ordering of outstanding indexing work in order to bring a particular portion of an indexing source up to date quickly and to reduce the likelihood of inconsistencies between an index-backed view and a direct view of a source. In accordance with the described embodiments, indexing of items can be prioritized based upon a user's view or metadata contained within a query. Further, in at least some embodiments, the tool can decide the order to index items based upon multiple prioritization requests. |
| US08645340B2 |
System and method of monitoring and controlling application files
A system and method for updating, monitoring, and controlling applications on a workstation. The workstation includes a workstation management module configured to detect the launch or request to access a network by an application. A workstation application server receives data associated with the application from the workstation. The application server module can determine one or more policies or categories to associate with the application by referencing an application inventory database. Once the application server module has the category or policy, it forwards a hash/policy table to the workstation management module. Upon receipt of the hash/policy table, the workstation management module applies the policy that is associated with the application to control network access by the application. |
| US08645335B2 |
Partial recall of deduplicated files
The subject disclosure is directed towards changing a file from a fully deduplicated state to a partially deduplicated state in which some of the file data is deduplicated in a chunk store, and some is recalled into the file, that is, in the file's storage volume. A partial recall mechanism such as in a file system filter tracks (e.g., via a bitmap in a file reparse point) whether file data is maintained in the chunk store or has been recalled to the file. Data is recalled from the chunk store as needed, and committed (e.g., flushed) to the file. Also described is efficiently returning the file to a fully deduplicated state by using the tracking information to determine which parts of the file are already deduplicated into the chunk store so as to avoid their further deduplication processing. |
| US08645333B2 |
Method and apparatus to minimize metadata in de-duplication
The invention provides a method for reducing identification of chunk portions in data de-duplication. The method includes detecting sequences of stored identification of chunk portions of at least one data object, indexing the detected stored identification of chunk portions based on a sequence type, encoding first repeated sequences of the stored identifications with a first encoding, encoding second repeated sequences of the stored identifications with a second encoding, and avoiding repeated stored identifications of chunk portions. |
| US08645332B1 |
Systems and methods for capturing data refinement actions based on visualized search of information
A method for refining data discrepancies in data loads from multiple data stores includes receiving a data set containing data records from one or more data sources, comparing the received data set with a prior data set to identify delta records among corresponding records of the received and the prior data sets, recalculating a best record for data located in each of the corresponding delta records, and if a discrepancy exists in a data value for corresponding delta records, executing a refinement action rule. The refinement action rule includes at least one replace statement and search criteria. The method also includes capturing a user's interaction with a user interface presenting the data set, and storing the interaction in a data store as a refinement action rule. A system for implementing the method and a computer readable medium are also described. |
| US08645331B2 |
Cascade delete processing
A time-efficient means for identifying and processing cascading deletes due to referential constraint violations includes: logging, to an error file, all primary key (“PK”) errors detected during table load operations; building a foreign key (“FK”) index for each child table; recursively probing each relevant FK index to identify all loaded rows that violate a referential constraint due to a PK error; logging all identified FK errors to the error file; and using the (preferably sorted) error file contents to identify, mark and physically delete table rows that violate a referential constraint. The described cascade delete processing methods make only a single pass through the table data, using ordinary computer files to track and organize rows identified for deletion. Use of error files rather than tablescans (multiple passes through the loaded table data) can provide a significant reduction in table load times, especially for large or intricately “related” tables. |
| US08645329B2 |
Unified model design for pending and production information and versioned information
A change management model-based approach can be used for managing information, such as rows of data, presenting merged information from a pending and/or production datastore with rule-based redirection to an appropriate pending and/or production datastore. Such a model can support versioning, leveraging the pending data storage; can provide for direct or merged views of the appropriate datastore; and can provide a model logic for production data updates, version updates, and/or for change context updates. A unified presentation and update model for change management can merge pending data over the production information based on the context, and allow updates on top of production/date effective versioned information. Based on various rules, the data can be pushed to production or to a change order in the context of either datastore or to a fresh change order itself. |
| US08645326B2 |
System to plan, execute, store and query automation tests
An automation testing platform that will enable simultaneous testing of new product code over variety of Operating Systems by calling remote machines. In one embodiment, the system is an SAP master data management based system such as NetWeaver, and the testing platform places important testing information onto the master data database itself. The platform then calls and controls the remote machines using distributed computing methodology such as the Java RMI protocol. The system provides the ability to run automated tests according to different technologies, OS, platforms and codelines, and allows for an automatic test portfolio to be managed from a single test catalog. The results can be represented by a variety of configurable user interface reports. The system has an ability to use legacy automation code, and can report on the quality, reliability and stability of the new product code along various configurable key performance indicators. |
| US08645324B2 |
Preventing pauses in algorithms requiring pre-image information concerning modifications during data replication
Data accessible to a first process is replicated for use by a second process. Modifications to the data during the replication process may cause algorithms requiring the values of data both before and after replication to pause. Sending the values of the datum, before and after modification, to a process that will access the replicated data enables algorithms that use both values to initiate execution without waiting for the replication process to be completed. |
| US08645318B2 |
System and method for the synchronization of a file in a cache
The present invention provides a system and method for file synchronization. One embodiment of the system of this invention includes a software program stored on a computer readable medium. The software program can be executed by a computer processor to receive a file from a server; store the file as a cached file in a cache; determine if the cached file has been modified; and if the cached file has been modified, communicate the cached file directly to the database. |
| US08645314B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for communicating interactive forms and reports in messaging applications
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for communicating interactive forms and reports in messaging applications. The apparatus for communicating interactive forms and reports in messaging applications is provided with a plurality of modules configured to functionally execute the necessary steps of selecting a markup language instruction, copying the markup language instruction and post the markup language instruction into a clipboard as a markup language object, pasting the markup language object into a data entry field associated with a messaging application, and injecting the markup language object into a message transmission to a second messaging application. These modules in the described embodiments include a selection module, a copy module, a paste module, and an injection module. |
| US08645310B2 |
Efficient source of infeasibility identification in timed automata traces
A method for verifying the performance of a real-time system modeled as a timed automaton. An abstract model of the system is checked against an initial Linear Temporal Logic specification. If a path to an undesirable state is found, the counterexample is validated or invalidated using negative cycle detection. If a negative cycle is detected, optimization is undertaken to identify a minimal infeasible fragment in the negative cycle. The specification is then refined to eliminate usage of the minimal infeasible fragment, and the abstract model is then checked against the refined specification. |
| US08645304B2 |
Change point detection in causal modeling
Structural changes in causal relationship over time may be detected, for example, by a Markov switching vector autoregressive model that detects and infers the structural changes in the causal graphs. |
| US08645302B2 |
Dynamic constraint satisfaction problem solver with part-whole hierarchy constraints
A constraint solver for solving a constraint satisfaction problem model which includes at least one part-whole hierarchy assigns variables to each part of the part-whole hierarchy. The variables include at least one of selected, quantity, and relative quantity, wherein each part has a parent. The solver automatically applies at least one part-whole hierarchy constraint to the part and solves the model and generates a solution. |
| US08645301B2 |
Automated entity identification for efficient profiling in an event probability prediction system
A computer-implemented method and system for automated entity identification for efficient profiling in an event probability prediction system. A first subset of entities belonging to one or more entity classes is defined. At least one historical profile is constructed for each entity in the subset of entities based on a set of possible outcomes of transaction behavior of each entity in the first subset of entities. Based on the historical profiles, a second subset of entities having transaction behavior associated with a transaction is selected, the transaction behavior being predictive of at least one targeted outcome from the set of possible outcomes. The first subset of entities is redefined with the second subset of entities. |
| US08645296B2 |
Knowledgebase partitioning
Some embodiments of knowledgebase partitioning for implementing parallelization in a rule engine have been presented. In one embodiment, a compiler divides a knowledgebase into a set of virtual partitions. The knowledgebase includes a network constructed according to rules added to the knowledgebase. A rule engine may execute the virtual partitions of the partitioned knowledgebase in parallel using threads obtained from a pool of threads. |
| US08645288B2 |
Page selection for indexing
Some implementations provide techniques for selecting web pages for inclusion in an index. For example, some implementations apply regularization to select a subset of the crawled web pages for indexing based on link relationships between the crawled web pages, features extracted from the crawled web pages, and user behavior information determined for at least some of the crawled web pages. Further, in some implementations, the user behavior information may be used to sort a training set of crawled web pages into a plurality of labeled groups. The labeled groups may be represented in a directed graph that indicates relative priorities for being selected for indexing. |
| US08645284B2 |
Methods and systems for computerized employment recruiting
Methods, systems and articles of manufacture for computerized employment recruiting are provided. The system accesses a candidate database of candidate data for a plurality of candidates and a job posting database. The system compares the qualifications of the candidates to the job criteria for the job postings and determines a match between the qualifications and the job criteria. The system also identifies a inferred links between the candidates and the employer for the job postings to provide an added reliability factor to the referred candidates. The system ranks the matched candidates based, at least in part, using the inferred links and provides the ranked candidates to the employer. The system may use ontology based, and semantic matching based, algorithms for matching candidates to job postings, and also for identifying inferred links between candidates and employers. |
| US08645283B2 |
Determination of event of interest
A method includes receiving first media data from a plurality of persons; identifying first media data generated within a window of time at a certain location and associating the identified first media data with an occurrence of a first event; determining which persons of the plurality of persons were present at the occurrence of the first event; and storing information related to the first event in association with information identifying those persons determined to be present at the occurrence of the first event. The method further includes, in response to receiving further media data from a plurality of persons, determining if the further media data was generated within a window of time at a certain location; determining based at least in part of the stored information if the certain location associated with the further media data is the same as the certain location associated with the first media data, and if at least some of the persons from which the further media data is received are the same as the persons from which the first media data was received and, if so, declaring that a second event is occurring that is related to the first event; and sending a notification of the occurrence of the second event to those persons who were determined to be present at the occurrence of the first event and who are determined to not currently be present at the occurrence of the second event. |
| US08645282B2 |
Method and apparatus to conduct a commercial transaction over wireless networks
A Secure Virtual Point of Service (SVPOS) that coordinates the authentication, authorization, and identity, settlement, arbitration and non-repudiation for an electronic commercial transaction. For each commercial transaction, both the buyer and merchant authenticate itself to the SVPOS and create two unique transaction encryption keys, one for the buyer and one for the merchant. The merchant uses both encryption keys to encrypt a package that include at least product identification. The merchant and buyer calculate a hash of the package and transmit the calculated hash to the SVPOS for comparison to prevent repudiation. If the calculated hash is identical the buyer receives the merchants encryption key and decrypts the package. Payment is released by the SVPOS if the buyer is satisfied with the package via a Parlay system. If the buyer is not satisfied, said SVPOS performs arbitration between the buyer and merchant to determine if the package is correct. |
| US08645277B2 |
Process for the on-line sale of a software product
Online sale of software product use licenses through a data network by offering software products (SOFT) through vendor sites, purchasing a license on-line on one of said vendor sites, and activating said license on-line by a different licensing site. A specific component (COMP) is provided with the software product (SOFT) and identifying data (IDV) of the vendor site are transmitted during the download of the software product (SOFT). When the component (COMP) is executed in an equipment, the component (COMP) locally accesses said data (IDV) and identifying data (IDL) of the licensing site and activates the license by setting up an on-line communication with the licensing site. |
| US08645272B2 |
System and method for loading stored value accounts
A system and method are provided which allow users to load stored value accounts through online bill payment. The system and method do not rely on the user loading the stored value account sharing online banking login information or account number/routing information. In an aspect, the method includes a user selecting online banking as a payment option, receiving a bill for the load amount, paying the bill through online banking bill pay, the system receiving notification from the bank of an online banking bill payment and the system notifying the stored value account provider of the payment. The cash settlement is released to a stored value account provider in response to load request. |
| US08645268B2 |
Money transfers for tax refunds
Tax refunds are provided via a money transfer service. Merely by way of example, a taxpayer (or a tax preparer) might provide to the IRS an account number at a bank, as a target for a direct deposit refund related to a tax return. In an aspect, the account number might have a specific format that informs the bank that the refund is to be processed by the money transfer service, and in another aspect, the account number might include data that identifies the taxpayer to the money transfer service. |
| US08645263B1 |
System and method for risk prioritization
Methods and systems for risk prioritization allow a user or organization to prioritize various risk items using a knowledge base. The knowledge base may be continually updated and/or improved based on newly available historical data (e.g., cost of mitigation, actual effects), new forecasts or predicative analyses (e.g., costs for mitigation), expert community consensus and/or new priority information. As new information is updated in the knowledge base, new and existing risk items may be evaluated and/or re-evaluated to determine a risk priority. Risk priority may be determined based on a remediation cost score as well as a risk score. The prioritization system may further develop recommendations for prioritizing and mitigating a risk item. |
| US08645262B1 |
System and method for displaying security information
A system and method provides security information by allowing the user to choose from among tools that will be displayed to the user, some of which may be displayed in a manner that replaces a display of a different tool when the user selects it. Some tools such as a series of small charts displayed on the user's computer screen will display information regarding multiple securities, while multiple other tools display information about a single security selected by the user, for example, by the user clicking on the small chart corresponding to that security. |
| US08645261B2 |
System and method for providing a market-backed annuity with variable segment terms and automatic rollover
The present invention provides a method and system for providing a market-backed annuity allowing for client-selected segment terms and automatic rollover. The method and system includes techniques for allowing an investor to specify a segment maturity date, specify a percentage of upside and downside protection, specify an underlying market index, and choose an amount of investment capital. By providing flexibility, the current invention increases the security and performance of market-backed annuity products. |
| US08645260B2 |
Systems and methods for market order volume clearing in online trading of credit derivatives
Systems and methods for market order volume clearing in online trading of credit derivatives are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for market order volume clearing may comprise: selecting, from a plurality of credit derivatives, at least one most liquid credit derivative; determining a volume clearing price level for the selected credit derivative; inviting trading clients of the electronic trading system to submit, within a time limit, buy orders and sell orders for the selected credit derivative at the volume clearing price level, each buy order or sell order specifying a desired volume; matching the buy orders and the sell orders submitted within the time limit to maximize a total notional amount of the selected credit derivative that can be traded at the volume clearing price level; and completing trades at the volume clearing price level according to the matching of orders. |
| US08645259B1 |
Mitigating risk associated with executing limit orders for trading securities
Current market price, limit price, and short term volatility define the probability that the market price will reach the desired limit price and that the order will be executed. A computer implemented method estimates the probability of executing the limit price order and provides output to the investor to assist in setting the limit price in an informed way. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a computer implemented system provides the investor with prices predicted to be executable at a set of given probabilities of execution. In one embodiment, the output to the investor includes a set of limit order execution probabilities, such as 80%, 90%, 95%, or similar, and corresponding limit order set prices. In another embodiment, an investor sets the execution probability, such as 95%, which is provided as input into the system. The output to the investor includes the calculated limit price corresponding to the set execution probability. |
| US08645258B2 |
Systems and methods for an online credit derivative trading system
A credit derivative trading system comprises a credit derivative authority configured to receive defined positions for credit derivatives and update a plurality of trade clients in real-time whenever there is movement in the market for a particular credit derivative. |
| US08645256B1 |
Transformation weighted indexes offering concentrated multi-risk factor exposure
Computer-based systems, software, and computer-implemented methods for creating an index of securities based upon various data transformations of risk factor metrics regarding entities or securities associated with the entities and weighting each index member in proportion to its combined transformed weighting value. |
| US08645250B2 |
Rules suggestion engine
Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems and methods for implementing a rules suggestion engine that suggests rules to a user for lowering fraud in future transactions. Embodiments of the invention segment the transaction data based on at least one attribute defined by the user. One or more key indicators are identified corresponding to the segmented data. A correlation is performed between the user defined attribute and one or more key indicators. One or more transaction rules are generated based on the correlation that are suggested to the user for future transactions. The user can customize the rule, a field of rule, a prioritization of the rules, and even create categories of rules. |
| US08645249B2 |
Systems, methods and computer program products for modeling uncertain future benefits
Systems, methods and computer program products are provided for modeling future benefits. According to the method, modeling future benefits begins by defining a growth rate for the good for each time segment of a period of time, where the period of time includes a plurality of time segments. An uncertainty for the good is then determined for each time segment. Next, a benefit distribution is determined for each time segment based upon the growth rate and uncertainty for the respective time segment. Finally, a benefit value is selected for each time segment by randomly selecting each benefit value based upon a respective benefit distribution to thereby model future benefits over the period of time. |
| US08645248B2 |
Integrated customer communications computer system and process for implementing same
An integrated customer communications computer system is configured to provide outbound customer communications. The communications computer system generates documents associated with the communications in a predefined format, in real-time or in batch, by merging templates comprising static data received from a template repository, dynamic data received from at least one component of an account opening system, and static content for the templates received from a content repository. The communications computer system includes a communication manager, a plurality of transmission channels, an interface for managing the templates and the content, and a document repository. Various embodiments are described, including a computer implemented method of providing customer communications using an integrated customer communications component and/or module. |
| US08645247B2 |
Systems for structured investment seeding
The disclosure provides an investment structure and corresponding arrangement which involves methods and systems whereby the asset manager directly or indirectly makes a seed investment in the new fund and hedges its risk, while obtaining financing on its investment. Additionally, in another embodiment, the financial institution or asset manager may actually make an investment into the fund and hedge itself by trading with the fund. The financial institution would require little collateral as the methods and systems of the disclosure are designed to recognize offsetting positions and early detect any hedging mismatches. |
| US08645243B1 |
Systems and methods for a retirement location advisor
A system for providing retirement location advice may comprise at least one subsystem that receives location characteristic preference input from a customer, at least one subsystem that finds possible locations that a customer could afford during their retirement based on a retirement plan of the customer and the location characteristic preference input of the customer, and at least one subsystem that displays the possible locations found. |
| US08645242B1 |
Systems and methods for compiling and analyzing bids in an auction of securities
Systems and methods for compiling and analyzing bids from bidders in an auction offering of securities by an issuing company are disclosed. A data striper stripes bid data compiled from the bids of potential investors into a plurality of stripes according to an algorithm and a bid aggregation system aggregates the bid data in the stripes. The bid aggregation system may perform a first-level aggregation on the bid data in the data stripes for combinations of a plurality of attributes related to the bid data and/or a second-level aggregation based on the first-level aggregation. The auction management system may further comprise an analytics system for analyzing the aggregated bid data. The analytics system may receive user requests for analysis of the bid data, perform the analysis in real time based on the user inputs, and serve the results of the analysis to the user. |
| US08645241B2 |
E-check and e-commerce
Methods, systems, and media for processing and clearing a check are disclosed. Embodiments include hardware and/or software for generating an e-check in response to receipt of a paper check, by which a merchant performs the manual data entry for the merchant, the merchant's bank, the Federal Reserve Bank, and the purchaser's bank clearing procedures. The paper check is electronically scanned at the point of sale (POS) terminal to create a check object (the ‘e-check’) that contains the binary data of the check information, a scanned image of the paper check, and identification data from the purchaser. Then, the check object is submitted to the check writer's, or purchaser's bank, for automated clearing without having to process the physical document any further. |
| US08645237B2 |
Method for managing tax return information
A process that arranges information warehoused at individual accounting and tax preparation firms at a central location for the purpose of marketing information. Data contained at these firms have qualitative and quantitative characteristics that are different from data archived at the Internal Revenue Service or other tax authorities. This fact makes the data valuable as data in two ways. First the data can be exchanged to provide new revenue streams. Secondly, these data, if grouped into data warehouses of other firms, has value as pure data, not just customer lists. These data may be sold or rented creating additional revenue streams for their originators. The purchasers of this bulk data are interested in using this data in the field of data mining. Data mining is a technique of analyzing vast amounts of information to uncover relationships to predict events and has wide application in many areas of the economy. |
| US08645235B2 |
Biasing of search result clustering to ensure more effective point of interest (POI) targeting
Directory service results responsive to a request for a desired good or service provider may be provided based on one or more user-selected locations. The user may seek a desired good or service provider that is proximate to a location from which the user may begin traveling to the point of interest, referred to as a source location, and satisfies a beneficial objective held by the user. The beneficial objective may relate to, for example, a directional travel preference, avoiding rush hour traffic or proximity to a specific location or another type of good or service provider that differs from the user's desired good or service provider that is the subject of the user's request. A sequence of geometrical representations, such as, for example, Delauney Triangles, may be generated to provide directory service results that satisfy the user's request. |
| US08645232B1 |
System and method for threshold billing for returned goods
A system, a method, and computer readable medium for threshold billing of returned items. Billing threshold rules are established and stored in a computer memory and are associated with returned items. A returned item is identified and a computer processor determines if a billing threshold rule has been associated with the returned item. If so, the processor assigns the returned item to a container based on a billing threshold rule associated with the returned item. Information indicating the container to which the returned item has been assigned is stored in the computer memory. The processor determines if the billing threshold amount for the returned item has been reached. If so, the processor determines the status of the container to which the returned item has been assigned. If the container to which the returned item has been assigned is not closed, the processor generates a notification to physically close the container and also generates an invoice to the product vendor for the returned items for which the billing threshold amount has been reached. |
| US08645231B2 |
Private sector coin consortium
Apparatus and methods for distributing coins in a coin distribution system. Coins may be distributed among members of a coin consortium. Coins may be shipped from a first coin consortium member to a second coin consortium member based on a requirement to adjust a first coin inventory of the first consortium member and a second coin inventory of the second consortium member, respectively. Neither the first consortium member nor the second consortium member is the U.S. Federal Reserve Branch. Coins may be shipped from the second coin consortium member to the first coin consortium member based on a second requirement to adjust the first and second coin inventories. |
| US08645228B2 |
Managing consistent interfaces for business objects across heterogeneous systems
A business object model, which reflects data that is used during a given business transaction, is utilized to generate interfaces. This business object model facilitates commercial transactions by providing consistent interfaces that are suitable for use across industries, across businesses, and across different departments within a business during a business transaction. In some operations, software creates, updates, or otherwise processes information related to a freight order, a maintenance plan, a maintenance task list, a request for supplier freight quote, and/or a supplier freight quote business object. |
| US08645227B2 |
Systems and methods to facilitate payment of shipped goods
One method herein includes forwarding an invoice for a purchase agreement made between a seller and a buyer. The method includes receiving a service selection indicating that the invoice is to be paid using an escrow system. The service selection includes a token for verification of a buyer's signatory. The method receives funding confirmation that the buyer has deposited funds into an escrow account. Based on funding confirmation, notification to ship the goods is sent. The method receives shipping confirmation confirming that the goods have been shipped. Upon receipt of the goods, a receiver is authenticated as the authorized signatory using the verification system. This authentication is based on the stored token matching a provided token. Based on verification of the receiver, the goods are released and the deposited funds from the escrow account are deposited into the seller's account. |
| US08645222B1 |
System and methods for mobile ordering and payment
Computer implemented methods and systems for fulfilling a customer request for a requested item purchased from a merchant is provided. The method may be performed by a tangibly embodied processing machine disposed in a customer device. The method may include (1) observing, through the input of information, an observed event that is associated with a customer; (2) associating the observed event with a corresponding order record; (3) retrieving order information from the corresponding order record, the order information including at least customer financial entity account information; (4) generating a merchant request based at least in part on the order information in the corresponding order record, the merchant request including at least customer identification information and customer financial entity account information; and (5) outputting the merchant request to the designated merchant, so as to provide the designated merchant with information to fulfill the customer request. |
| US08645219B2 |
Authorization system and method
A request is received from a first consumer to sell at least one ticket, in which a provider of the ticket has authorized the ticket to be sold. Information regarding the ticket may then be presented to at least a second consumer, who may make an indication to purchase the ticket. |
| US08645216B2 |
Enrollment apparatus, system, and method
An apparatus for enrolling a package is disclosed including: a receiving surface for receiving the package; at least one weight sensor in communication with the receiving surface which generates a weight signal indicative of the weight of the package; at least one video camera which generates a video signal indicative of an image of the package on the receiving surface; and a processor in communication with the at least one weight sensor and the at least one video camera. The processor includes: a weight module which produces, in response to the weight signal, weight data indicative of the weight of the package; and a dimension capture module which produces, in response to the video signal, dimension data indicative of the size of the package. In some embodiments, the processor further includes a recognition module which produces, in response to the video signal, character data indicative of one or more characters present on the package. |
| US08645211B2 |
System and method for adding an advertisement to a personal communication
A system and method is provided for adding an advertisement to a personal communication and providing additional communication data to a recipient that interacts with the advertisement regardless of the network device the recipient is utilizing. A sender network device communicates with an advertising application operating on a Web site to generate a personal communication containing at least one advertisement. In one embodiment of the present invention, the advertising application is configured to select an advertisement based on at least a portion of the content of the personal communication. If the advertisement is interactive, and the advertisement is interacted with, the advertising application will provide the recipient with additional communication data in a format that can be understood by the recipient network device. |
| US08645206B2 |
Systems and methods for electronic marketing
An exemplary system includes a publisher subsystem configured to communicate with an access device and an advertiser device over a data communication network. The publisher subsystem includes a publish module, a session module, and an allocation module. The publish module is configured to publish content over the data communication network, the content including an advertisement. The session module is configured to detect a selection of the advertisement, initiate a session between the access device and the advertiser device in response to the selection, the advertiser device being associated with the advertisement, and receive feedback from the advertiser device. The allocation module is configured to allocate revenue based on the feedback. In some examples, the amount of the revenue is independent of the feedback. |
| US08645204B2 |
Method and system for conducting promotional programs
A method for using promotional programs and merchant values is disclosed. In one example, the method includes receiving an authorization request message including a merchant verification value through a payment processing network, where the authorization request message is associated with a purchase by a consumer. A merchant-specific promotional program is then determined using the merchant verification value, and the merchant specific promotional program is performed. For example, the promotional program can be a sweepstakes and the task may be determining of the consumer is an instant winner. |
| US08645200B2 |
System for individualized customer interaction
A method and system for using individualized customer models when operating a retail establishment is provided. The individualized customer models may be generated using statistical analysis of transaction data for the customer, thereby generating sub-models and attributes tailored to customer. The individualized customer models may be used in any aspect of a retail establishment's operations, ranging from supply chain management issues, inventory control, promotion planning (such as selecting parameters for a promotion or simulating results of a promotion), to customer interaction (such as providing a shopping list or providing individualized promotions). |
| US08645199B1 |
Using application characteristics for ad pricing
This specification describes technologies relating to content presentation. In general, methods include the actions of receiving, for each of a plurality of mobile applications, application data associated with a respective mobile application of the plurality of mobile applications, the application data including different user interaction data associated with the respective mobile application; clustering applications of the plurality of mobile applications according to a classification; logging user interactions with each application of a cluster of applications for a plurality of users; generating an initial score for a first application in the cluster according to the logged interactions; and calculating pricing for content items served to the first application based on the initial score and an average score for applications in the cluster. |
| US08645194B1 |
Process impact matrix development and utilization
A method of prioritizing processes of an organization includes determining a plurality of processes capable of being performed by the organization, determining a plurality of goals or challenges associated with the organization, and generating a process impact matrix indicating respective impact levels for each process. Each respective impact level is indicative of an impact of each process on each of the plurality of goals or challenges. The method further includes converting each respective impact level to an impact score, determining, for each of the plurality of processes, a relative impact score based on the respective impact levels, and prioritizing each process based on the relative impact scores. |
| US08645193B2 |
System and method for analysis and presentation of used vehicle pricing data
Systems and methods for the aggregation, analysis, and display of data for used vehicles are disclosed. Historical transaction data for used vehicles may be obtained and processed to determine pricing data, where this determined pricing data may be associated with a particular configuration of a vehicle. The user can then be presented with an interface pertinent to the vehicle configuration utilizing the aggregated data set or the associated determined data where the user can make a variety of determinations. This interface may, for example, be configured to present the historical transaction data visually, with the pricing data such as a trade-in price, a list price, an expected sale price or range of sale prices, market low sale price, market average sale price, market high sale price, etc. presented relative to the historical transaction data. |
| US08645191B2 |
Product pricing optimization system
A product pricing system determines a product price. The system receives product pricing constraints and multinomial logit (“MNL”) calibration parameters. The system then generates a calibrated MNL model using the calibration parameters and encodes the MNL model and the product pricing constraints into a mixed-integer program (“MIP”). The system then solves the MIP to generate the product price. |
| US08645187B1 |
Identifying influencers among a group of wireless-subscription subscribers
An embodiment of the invention is directed to retaining customers for a wireless-service provider (“carrier”). A ratio is calculated based on a number of incoming calls received by a mobile device and a number of outgoing calls originating from the mobile device. The ratio is also based on locations of callers that originated the incoming calls. The ratio is compared to an influencer threshold. When the ratio is greater than the influencer threshold, then a subscriber associated with the mobile device is indicated to be an influencer that potentially affects decisions of other subscribers regarding whether to cancel or maintain their subscriptions with the wireless service. An incentive is provided to the influencer to increase the likelihood that the influencer will retain a subscription with the wireless service, thereby increasing the likelihood that other subscribers who might be influenced by the influencer will retain their respective subscriptions. |
| US08645183B2 |
System for assessing an environmental load of building during life cycle
The present invention relates to an environmental load assessment system, which is capable of efficiently and simply assessing an environmental load of a building in all stages (e.g., a planning stage, a design stage, a construction stage, and a use stage after construction) in doing executing a business by subdividing an assessment process, such as simple assessment in the design stage, detailed assessment in the start stage, and site assessment in the construction stage according to the progress of a construction project. The system of the present invention includes a DB server for storing material information, environmental load information, and itemized material information about a construction work and storing environmental load information about an energy source; a management server for assessing environmental loads based on simple assessment, a detailed assessment, and site assessment according to the progress of a target assessment construction project; and a UI server for providing user terminals with an execution environment so that the management server can be operated. |
| US08645180B1 |
Automated impact assessment and updates of compliance response plans pursuant to policy changes
A compliance management system is disclosed, including an analysis engine to analyze received compliance requirements. Stakeholders and relevant surveys are identified using results of the analysis. An assessment engine initiates and manages a process to assess the received compliance requirements. Results of the assessment are used to determine changes to existing policies and procedures. A workflow engine initiates and manages workflows to effect changes the policies and procedures. |
| US08645179B2 |
Systems and methods of partial shift swapping
Systems and methods of partial shift swapping are disclosed. An exemplary method comprises the steps of: receiving a partial shift swap request from an agent; determining a disposition of the partial shift swap request by applying a set of criteria associated with a validation rule to the partial shift swap request; and if the disposition indicates the partial shift swap request is approved, updating a schedule to reflect the partial shift swap request. An exemplary computer-readable medium has a computer program stored thereon. The computer program comprises computer-executable instructions for performing a computer-executed method of requesting a partial shift swap. The method comprises the steps of: receiving a partial shift swap request from an agent; determining a disposition of the partial shift swap request by applying a set of criteria associated with a validation rule to the partial shift swap request; and if the disposition indicates the partial shift swap request is approved, updating a schedule to reflect the partial shift swap request. |
| US08645176B2 |
Utilizing historical data in an asset management environment
A method and system for utilizing historical data in an asset management environment are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method generates an asset information report from a database, wherein the asset information report comprises at least a portion of real-time information about the asset when the real-time information about the asset is available. In addition, the asset information report is augmented by extrapolating at least a portion of historical asset information stored at the database when at least a portion of the real-time information is not available. |
| US08645175B1 |
Workflow system and method for single call batch processing of collections of database records
Vector-based record handling by a workflow facility may be performed in association with performing a step from a workflow model that requires more than one input. The workflow facility retrieves the records needed to complete the step as a collection of records comprising a single input unit. Various components of the workflow facility, including components that operate within a runtime environment provided by the facility, perform processing of the collection of records so that the step from the workflow model can be completed. |
| US08645171B2 |
System and method of drug disease matching
A computer implemented system and method for matching drugs and diseases involves matching drugs identified in a specific patient's prescription claim records with diseases identified in the patient's medical claims. A weighted relationship is generated between the matched drugs and diseases by calculating a link weight in accordance with a preprogrammed formula for each of the diagnosis codes identified in the patient's medical claims that is identified as associated with the disease identified and the drug. The link weight provides a statistical match association value to each of the matched diseases identified by way of a diagnosis code in the patient's medical claim and the drug identified in the prescription claim. |
| US08645170B2 |
Methods, apparatuses, systems and computer program products for use in determining premiums
The present embodiments provide methods, systems, apparatuses and/or code for use in determining premiums. Some embodiments provide methods for use in determining premium. These methods identify a work entry; determine a payroll based on the work entry; retrieve a compensation rate based on the work entry; calculate a base premium as a function of the payroll and the compensation rate; retrieve a customer experience modifier assigned to the customer; retrieve a staffer experience modifier rate for an employee provider; and calculate a modified premium by: modifying the base premium by the staffer experience modifier rate when the staffer experience modifier rate is less than the customer modifier rate; and modifying the base premium by the customer modifier rate when the customer modifier rate is less than the staffer experience modifier rate. |
| US08645168B2 |
Interactive electronic bill payment system
A system for coordinating the submission and processing of a bill according to predictive payment data of a plan. The system comprises a provider interface and an integrated database for receiving a predictive payment plan submitted from the provider interface. The system also has a predictive payment request of the plan storable in the database, the request including a plurality of predictive payment parameters. An adjudication engine is coupled to the integrated database, and an insertion function is used for inserting the predictive payment parameters into an adjudication rule set of the adjudication engine. The adjudication rule set is used for eventual adjudication of the predictive payment data, wherein adjudication of the predictive payment data results in the generation of the bill. The system also has a workflow engine for coordinating the processing of the electronic bill and for updating the bill information in response to processing. |
| US08645167B2 |
Systems and methods for tracking and providing workflow information
A tangible computer-readable storage device storing computer-executable program instructions that generate a user interface for displaying workflow information associated with a tissue specimen in a pathology laboratory. The program instructions may be configured to perform a method including displaying a virtual laboratory component representing a physical pathology laboratory having one or more laboratory stations for processing the tissue specimen, wherein the tissue specimen is processed by the one or more laboratory stations according to a workflow, and displaying a specimen indicator that indicates a current specimen state based on a current relationship of the tissue specimen to the workflow. The method may further include enabling a first active component associated with the virtual laboratory component, wherein the first active component is configured to receive a user selection of a laboratory station and generating a supplemental view component of the selected laboratory station in response to the user selection, wherein the supplemental view provides supplemental information on processing by the selected laboratory station of the tissue specimen. |
| US08645166B2 |
System and method for scoring illness complexity to predict healthcare cost
A processor-based method for presenting patient test data includes acts of obtaining values of factors indicative of different patient health parameters and operatively associating the values of the factors with a unique identifier in a database borne by a physical computer-readable medium. Using a processor, a Z-score is determined for each factor and absolute values for each Z-score are converted into logarithm values. On a display, a radar graph depicts the Z-scores for the plurality of factors, the radar graph defining at least an arc subdivided into a plurality of sectors, each sector being subdivided into a plurality of arcuate sections, wherein log values are plotted from a center point of the radar graph, with the Z-scores of identified ones of the plurality of factors being representing as highlighted arcuate sections extending from the center point of the radar graph outwardly in correspondence with a magnitude of each Z-score. |
| US08645153B2 |
System and method for enabling a proper dispensation of medication
A system and method of composing medicine orders is disclosed. Patient dosage information for multiple medications is merged into a personalized medication schedule for the consumer. The schedule is printed on paper divided into sections by lines of perforation. Individual doses of medication are added to each section corresponding to the instructions printed therein. |
| US08645152B1 |
Method for providing medical test results
In an exemplary embodiment, this invention provides a method of providing medical test results. The method includes a step of selecting formulary information that corresponds to a result of a medical test. The method also includes a step of generating a medical report. The medical report includes a laboratory report that corresponds to the medical test. The medical report also includes the selected formulary information. |
| US08645147B2 |
Video display mounting system and method
A display panel mounting system comprises a mounting base having at least one pin, and a mating mechanism coupled to a display panel for coupling to the mounting base. The mating mechanism comprises a first plate fixed to the display panel comprising a pair of prongs having an opening for receiving the pin of the mounting base, and a second plate movable coupled to the first plate, comprising a latch for securing the pin between the pair of prongs of the first plate. |
| US08645145B2 |
Audio encoder, audio decoder, method for encoding and audio information, method for decoding an audio information and computer program using a hash table describing both significant state values and interval boundaries
An audio decoder includes an arithmetic decoder for providing a plurality of decoded spectral values on the basis of an arithmetically encoded representation of the spectral values, and a frequency-domain-to-time-domain converter for providing a time-domain audio representation using the decoded spectral values. The arithmetic decoder selects a mapping rule describing a mapping of a code value onto a symbol code in dependence on a context state described by a numeric current context value. The arithmetic decoder determines the numeric current context value in dependence on a plurality of previously decoded spectral values. The arithmetic decoder evaluates a hash table, entries of which define both significant state values and boundaries of intervals of numeric context values, in order to select the mapping rule. A mapping rule index value is individually associated to a numeric context value being a significant state value. |
| US08645143B2 |
Systems and methods of performing speech recognition using global positioning (GPS) information
Embodiments of the present invention improve content selection systems and methods using speech recognition. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a speech recognition method comprising receiving location parameters from a global positioning system, retrieving location data using the location parameters, and configuring one or more recognition sets of a speech recognizer using the location data. |
| US08645142B2 |
System and method for method for improving speech intelligibility of voice calls using common speech codecs
System and method to improve intelligibility of coded speech, the method including: receiving an encoded speech signal from a network; extracting an encoded media data stream and one or more control data packets from the encoded speech signal; decoding the encoded media data stream to produce a decoded speech signal; boosting an upper spectral portion of the decoded speech signal to produce a boosted speech signal; and outputting the boosted speech signal. In another embodiment, the method may include: receiving an uncoded speech signal; processing the uncoded speech signal, wherein the processing comprises generating an unencoded data stream from the uncoded speech signal; boosting an upper spectral portion of the unencoded data stream to produce a boosted speech signal; encoding the boosted speech signal to produce an encoded speech signal; and outputting the boosted speech signal. |
| US08645140B2 |
Electronic device and method of associating a voice font with a contact for text-to-speech conversion at the electronic device
A method of associating a voice font with a contact for text-to-speech conversion at an electronic device includes obtaining, at the electronic device, the voice font for the contact, and storing the voice font in association with a contact data record stored in a contacts database at the electronic device. The contact data record includes contact data for the contact. |
| US08645131B2 |
Detecting segments of speech from an audio stream
The disclosure describes a speech detection system for detecting one or more desired speech segments in an audio stream. The speech detection system includes an audio stream input and a speech detection technique. The speech detection technique may be performed in various ways, such as using pattern matching and/or signal processing. The pattern matching implementation may extract features representing types of sounds as in phrases, words, syllables, phonemes and so on. The signal processing implementation may extract spectrally-localized frequency-based features, amplitude-based features, and combinations of the frequency-based and amplitude-based features. Metrics may be obtained and used to determine a desired word in the audio stream. In addition, a keypad stream having keypad entries may be used in determining the desired word. |
| US08645126B2 |
Apparatus and method of encoding and decoding signals
A method of encoding an audio signal, where signals including two or more channel signals are downmixed to a mono signal, the mono signal is divided into a low-frequency signal and a high-frequency signal, the low-frequency signal is encoded through algebraic code excited linear prediction (ACELP) or transform coded excitation (TCX), and the high-frequency signal is encoded using the low-frequency signal. A method of decoding of an audio signal, a low-frequency signal encoded through ACELP or TCX is decoded, a high-frequency signal is decoded using the low-frequency signal, the low-frequency signal and the high-frequency signal are combined to generate a mono signal, and the mono signal is upmixed by decoding spatial parameters regarding signals including two or more channel signals. |
| US08645124B2 |
Automatic context sensitive language generation, correction and enhancement using an internet corpus
A computer-assisted language generation system including sentence retrieval functionality, operative on the basis of an input text containing words, to retrieve from an internet corpus a plurality of sentences containing words which correspond to the words in the input text and sentence generation functionality operative using a plurality of sentences retrieved by the sentence retrieval functionality from the internet corpus to generate at least one correct sentence giving expression to the input text. |
| US08645119B2 |
Minimum error rate training with a large number of features for machine learning
Systems, methods, and apparatuses including computer program products for machine learning. A method is provided that includes determining model parameters for a plurality of feature functions for a linear machine learning model, ranking the plurality of feature functions according to a quality criterion, and selecting, using the ranking, a group of feature functions from the plurality of feature functions to update with the determined model parameters. |
| US08645116B2 |
Hybrid simulation system and method
A hybrid simulation model includes a real model, a bus interface and an acceleration model. The real model simulates a group of instructions. The acceleration model includes a trace generation unit, a trace replay unit, a selection unit, a snapshot generation and load unit and a virtual breakpoint control unit. The trace generation unit records at least one trace file of the real model in a first simulation. The trace replay unit reads and accordingly accesses the at least one trace file. The selection unit dynamically switches to perform a real simulation or a trace simulation. The snapshot generation and load unit generates at least one status snapshot file and loads the at least one status snapshot file to the real model in repeated simulations. The virtual breakpoint control unit controls the selection unit to switch between the trace simulation and the real simulation according to a virtual breakpoint. |
| US08645114B1 |
Data point averaging for computational fluid dynamics data
A system and method for generating fluid flow parameter data for use in aerodynamic heating analysis. Computational fluid dynamics data is generated for a number of points in an area on a surface to be analyzed. Sub-areas corresponding to areas of the surface for which an aerodynamic heating analysis is to be performed are identified. A computer system automatically determines a sub-set of the number of points corresponding to each of the number of sub-areas and determines a value for each of the number of sub-areas using the data for the sub-set of points corresponding to each of the number of sub-areas. The value is determined as an average of the data for the sub-set of points corresponding to each of the number of sub-areas. The resulting parameter values then may be used to perform an aerodynamic heating analysis. |
| US08645113B2 |
Methods and systems for evaluating a design of an aircraft
A method for evaluating a lightning/HIRF protection effectiveness of a vehicle design is provided. The method is performed using a computer system coupled to a database. The method includes storing in the database design service life goals and critical characteristics for at least one lightning/HIRF protection component. The method also includes storing in the database a potential for degradation of the at least one component. The potential for degradation is based at least partially on a position where the component is to be installed. The method also includes determining continued functionality of the at least one component using the computer system to compare the vehicle design to the stored design service life goals. |
| US08645112B2 |
Distributed physics based training system and methods
A distributed simulation system is composed of simulator stations linked over a network that each renders real-time video imagery for its user from scene data stored in its data storage. The simulation stations are each connected with a physics farm that manages the virtual objects in the shared virtual environment based on their physical attribute data using physics engines, including an engine at each simulation station. The physics engines of the physics farm are assigned virtual objects so as to reduce the effects of latency, to ensure fair fight requirements of the system, and, where the simulation is of a vehicle, to accurately model the ownship of the user at the station. A synchronizer system is also provided that allows for action of simulated entities relying on localized closed loop controls to cause the entities to meet specific goal points at specified system time points. |
| US08645109B2 |
Methods and apparatus for determining electromagnetic scattering properties and structural parameters of periodic structures
Numerical calculation of electromagnetic scattering properties and structural parameters of periodic structures is disclosed. A reflection coefficient has a representation as a bilinear or sesquilinear form. Computations of reflection coefficients and their derivatives for a single outgoing direction can benefit from an adjoint-state variable. Because the linear operator is identical for all angles of incidence that contribute to the same outgoing wave direction, there exists a single adjoint-state variable that generates all reflection coefficients from all incident waves that contribute to the outgoing wave. This adjoint-state variable can be obtained by numerically solving a single linear system, whereas one otherwise would need to solve a number of linear systems equal to the number of angles of incidence. |
| US08645106B2 |
Method of determining shape of artificial cementless hip prosthesis stem
A custom-made stem has a shape displaying good fit and fill, reflecting personal characteristics of a femur obtained by computer calculation. A model is made from the femur which does not need much time to calculate in spite of the fact that it complies with the characteristic of shape of the femur, particularly with the personal difference in the curvature thereof, which usually complicates the calculation. Several models are made which can be implanted in a deep hollow by calculating in a reverse course how the stem is pulled out of the deep hollow, to display reliable models to a surgeon. By determining the movement peculiar to the stem of a particular patient, an improved stem is made in a short time which meets the needs of the surgeon. The stem, which is custom-made, can be confirmed beforehand that it agrees with the femur of the patient. |
| US08645105B1 |
Methods and systems for round-trip editing of component artwork
A development application can be configured to facilitate editing multiple fragments already associated with an interface design simultaneously using a graphic design application, with the fragments arranged in a logical form supported by the graphic design application. The logical form of the artwork fragments as provided to the graphic design application can correspond to the relationship between different elements of the interface design using the respective fragments. Fragments may correspond to different components, parts of components, and part states, for instance. A method can comprise accessing data defining an interface component and comprising a plurality of logically arranged elements of the component. The method can comprise extracting the artwork and arranging the artwork into a form compatible with a graphic design application. The artwork can be edited in a graphic design application and then re-integrated into the data defining the design elements of the interface after editing is complete. |
| US08645097B2 |
Method for analyzing output from a rotary sensor
A method for analyzing the output of a rotary sensor, such as that coupled to a vehicle wheel assembly. In one embodiment, the method detects periodic irregularities in the output of an incremental rotary sensor and uses those irregularities with a reference signal and a pattern comparison technique to determine the absolute angular position of the sensor. |
| US08645094B2 |
Accurate gain implementation in CMOS sensor
The claimed subject matter provides systems and/or methods that facilitate combining analog and digital gain for utilization with CMOS sensor imagers. The analog gain can provide coarse gain steps and the digital gain can provide finer gain steps between adjacent coarse analog gain values. Further, since analog gain can suffer from low precision, dispersion, etc., on-chip calibration can be implemented to calibrate the analog and digital gain. For example, a digital amplifier can be calibrated to compensate for differences between actual and nominal analog gains associated with one or more analog amplifiers. |
| US08645089B2 |
Information processing device and information processing method
Disclosed herein is an information processing device including a voltage measuring unit and a determining unit. The voltage measuring unit measures a voltage across the positive and negative terminals of a set of a plurality of dye-sensitized solar cells connected in series. The determining unit determines the number of the dye-sensitized solar cells not generating electricity according to the amount of voltage drop across the positive and negative terminals from the voltage across the positive and negative terminals in the initial state in which all the dye-sensitized solar cells of the set generate electricity at the voltage measured by the voltage measuring unit. |
| US08645085B2 |
System and method for simulating a billiard cue stroke
A billiard cue stroke simulator includes a wireless acceleration sensing device and a computing system. The wireless acceleration sensing device measures acceleration of a billiard cue along two or more axes of a coordinate system during a stroke of the billiard cue and generates acceleration data including the acceleration data. Additionally, the wireless acceleration sensing device transmits a wireless communication signal including the acceleration data to the computing system. The computing system generates image data indicating movement of the billiard cue during the stroke of the billiard cue based on the acceleration data and displays the image data. In this way, the billiard cue stroke simulator simulates the stroke of the billiard cue. |
| US08645082B2 |
Monitoring, detecting and quantifying chemical compounds in a sample
Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for monitoring, detecting, and quantifying chemical compounds in a sample. A sample measurement comprising a digitized spectroscopic profile is received. A multivariate multistage background model comprising a first model that models a first time effect, a second model that models a second time effect that is different than the first time effect, or both is calculated. A background corrected sample measurement based on the sample measurement and the multivariate multistage background model is generated. A multivariate multistage library search, fault detection, and quantification algorithm is executed to identify one or more primary chemicals in the background corrected sample measurement. The search, detection, and quantification algorithm includes identifying one or more candidate chemicals in the background corrected sample measurement based on a multivariate statistical process control and identifying and quantifying a first primary chemical based on a focused chemical evaluation of the one or more candidate chemicals. |
| US08645079B2 |
Method for measuring the properties of petroleum fuels by distillation
The method for measuring the properties of petroleum fuels by distillation relates to a measuring method for predicting the property values of complex hydrocarbon fuels, such as the property values of gasoline, by distillation. Compensation of boiling point distribution measurements used for the prediction of physical properties of hydrocarbons is further performed. |
| US08645076B2 |
Microbial monitoring and prediction
Aspects describe capturing various bacteria levels within a process affected by microbial agents. A model of the process and a model of expected bacteria growth are analyzed and, based on the analysis, at least one process parameter is automatically modified to improve or optimize the product or process or other business or operational objectives. Also provided are at least two autonomous agents within the process. The at least two autonomous agents communicate and autonomously implement an action in an upstream stage and/or downstream stage within the process, wherein the at least two autonomous agents access the representation of the process and the biological representation and/or bio-chemical representation to implement the action. |
| US08645068B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining formation and fluid properties
A downhole tool and method for determining a parameter of a formation as a function of radial distance from the borehole into the formation. The tool comprising a nuclear source for irradiating the formation and a plurality of sensors each independently measuring a density of the formation at a different radial depth into the formation. A processor combines the density measurements for determining the parameter of the formation as a function of radial distance. |
| US08645064B2 |
Prioritized and subjectively personal navigation
Apparatus and methods for recommending a navigation destination based upon recent updates are provided. The apparatus and methods include, in one or more aspects, receiving a request from a user communication device for a desired item, and associating a user location of the user communication device with a destination location of a provider of the desired item. Further, the one or more aspects include identifying a destination communication device at the destination location, and querying the destination communication device for a human-originating response to obtain a current accessibility status of the desired item. Additionally, the one or more aspects include reporting the destination location of the provider and the current accessibility status to the user communication device. |
| US08645062B2 |
Low-complexity tightly-coupled integration filter for step detection in a sensor-assisted GNSS receiver
Embodiments of the invention provide a step detection. An accelerometer measurement in the form of a multi-dimensional acceleration vector is obtained. The magnitude of the accelerometer measurement is filtered using a low pass filter. A threshold for a down-crossing is provided as is a threshold for an up-crossing. A step detection is triggered if the magnitude of the accelerometer measurement is greater than or equal to the threshold for an up-crossing. |
| US08645061B2 |
Probabilistic map matching from a plurality of observational and contextual factors
Systems, methods, and devices are described for implementing map matching techniques relating to measured location data. Probabilistic models, including temporal Bayesian network models and Hidden Markov Models, may be used for combining multiple classes of evidence relating to potential locations of points traversed on routes over time. Multiple route segments and overall routes may be maintained under relative uncertainty as candidates. The candidate route segments and overall routes may then be reduced into a smaller number of candidates or a single most likely route as a trip progresses. As the trip progresses, route segments in proximity to each location point are identified and candidate matches are determined. A probability of an entity traversing a candidate match at a given time and a probability of an entity traversing between a first candidate match at a first time and a second candidate match at a second time are determined based on a plurality of factors. Different modalities may be used to measure and transmit the location data. |
| US08645059B2 |
Method of generating graphical data and electronic device
There is provided an electronic device, comprising: a receiving unit configured to receive location data generated by a navigation unit of a positioning system, and to receive performance data from a measuring unit, wherein performance parameters of the performance data are associated to corresponding route points included in the received location data; and a graphic generator configured to generate graphical data associated to the received location data. The graphic generator is further configured to generate graphical data associated to the performance parameters; and to adjust the spatial dimension of the generated graphical data associated to the performance parameters in proportion to the corresponding route points of the received location data on the basis of the values of the performance parameters. |
| US08645057B2 |
Software based driving directions
A method for electronically generating driving directions. The method including: indicating a starting address; indicating an ending address; indicating one or more preferences for the directions; and generating driving directions based on the indicated starting address, ending address, and one or more preferences; wherein at least one of the one or more preferences comprises one or more of an indication to use no roads of a certain type in the generated driving directions; an indication to generate driving directions that start from a nearest highway; an indication to generate driving directions that start from a named road or highway and/or an indication to generate driving directions that include a named road or highway. |
| US08645056B2 |
System and method for electronic moving map and aeronautical context display
A system and method for controlling a display of geographical data on a primary display device to assist in navigating a mobile platform such as an aircraft, ship, train, land-based motor vehicle, etc. The system includes a graphical user interface module (GUI) for receiving a plurality of user inputs, and an image control module. The GUI generates a primary display of the complete route being traveled on the primary display device. If the entire route does not fit on the display device, then the image control module generates data that the GUI uses to generate a context display on the primary display device. The context display presents the entire route as a smaller image on the primary display device, simultaneously with the primary display. The user inputs for the GUI enable the user to zoom, pan and perform other image control operations on either the primary display or the context display. |
| US08645054B2 |
Navigation system
A navigation system includes a map database 11 that stores map information, broadcast wave receivable area information indicating an area capable of receiving a broadcast wave, and broadcast wave reception blocked area information indicating an area incapable of receiving a broadcast wave; a vehicle position detecting unit 15 for detecting a current position of a vehicle; a control unit for estimating a direction of travel from the current position of the vehicle detected by the vehicle position detecting unit, and for deciding, from the broadcast wave receivable area information and broadcast wave reception blocked area information acquired from the map database, as to whether an area capable of receiving the broadcast wave continuously exists in the direction of travel estimated; and an output unit for producing a message indicating existence of an area capable of receiving the broadcast wave continuously in response to a decision result of the control unit. |
| US08645052B2 |
Motor vehicle acceleration determining system
Systems and methods for analyzing acceleration as a road segment characteristic in a vehicle are provided for determining information about a route including for example, the estimated fuel consumption of the route. An example of a system includes a data storage medium for storing map data having road segments, a bus interface to a data bus for receiving measured values of a velocity or an acceleration from a velocity or acceleration sensor, a position data receiver configured to receive position data for determining a current position, and a system controller. The system controller is configured to identify a road segment associated with the current position. The system controller retrieves parameters of a probability distribution of acceleration associated with the identified road segment from the data storage medium. Updated parameters of the probability distribution of acceleration are determined from the measured values of the velocity or acceleration. |
| US08645048B2 |
Internal combustion engine for use with a pressurized low viscosity fuel
An internal combustion, compression ignition engine for use with a pressurized low viscosity fuel includes an engine power cylinder with its associated gas flow path, a valve system for opening fluid communication between the engine power cylinder and the gas flow path, and an engine management system (EMS). The engine management system is adapted to provide a pre-starting mode in which an open fluid communication between the engine power cylinder and the gas flow path is established in such a manner that any fuel present inside said engine power cylinder is prevented from reaching the fuel ignition temperature for the fuel. |
| US08645046B2 |
Controller for internal combustion engine
In view of a difference in detectability of an air-fuel ratio sensor with respect to each cylinder, a first exhaust system model and a second exhaust system model are defined. The first exhaust system model outputs an air-fuel ratio at the confluent portion based on an air-fuel ratio in a cylinder. The second exhaust system model outputs a detection value of the exhaust gas sensor based on the air-fuel ratio at the confluent portion. A confluent-portion-air-fuel ratio estimating portion designed based on the second exhaust system model estimates the air-fuel ratio at the confluent portion. A combust-air-fuel ratio estimating portion designed based on the first exhaust system model estimates a combust-air-fuel ratio in each cylinder. |
| US08645044B2 |
Method and apparatus for operating an internal combustion engine in a homogeneous-charge compression-ignition combustion mode
A method for operating an internal combustion engine includes determining an actual combustion heat release during ongoing engine operation, calculating an expected combustion heat release corresponding to engine operation associated with the actual combustion heat release during ongoing engine operation, determining a difference between the actual combustion heat release and the expected combustion heat release, and operating the internal combustion engine in a homogeneous-charge compression-ignition combustion mode to achieve a preferred combustion phasing during each combustion cycle in response to the difference between the actual combustion heat release and the expected combustion heat release. |
| US08645041B2 |
Slip control apparatus and slip control method
A slip control apparatus includes a driving torque calculating means calculating driving torque, a driving torque applying means applying the calculated driving torque to driving wheels, and a slip restraining means restraining slippage at each driving wheel when the slippage occurs at each driving wheel, wherein when the slippage occurs at each driving wheel, the driving torque calculating means calculates demanded torque and adds consumed driving torque, which corresponds to the driving torque consumed for restraining the slippage at each driving wheel by the slip restraining means, to the calculated demanded torque to calculate the driving torque. |
| US08645040B2 |
Method for operating a vehicle brake system
A method for operating a vehicle brake system during a wheel slip condition. According to an exemplary embodiment, the method involves receiving a requested brake torque, monitoring wheel slip, and if no wheel slip is detected then operating the vehicle brake system according to the requested brake torque. If, however, wheel slip is detected then the method may operate the vehicle brake system according to a modified brake torque that is less than the requested brake torque. |
| US08645037B2 |
Vehicle driving apparatus and control method for same
When the condition for starting an engine (50) is satisfied, the controller (90) executes the lock switching control in which the wheels (88) are forcibly locked by the brake device (86) and the parking lock mechanism (200) is released to unlock the driveshaft (step S4, step S5), and then the controller (90) executes the cranking control (step S6) in which the engine (50) is started by the motor-generator (MG1). |
| US08645035B2 |
Method of controlling a hydraulic continuously variable transmission
A method of controlling a hydraulic CVT of a vehicle includes: determining a speed of rotation of a driving shaft; determining a speed of rotation of a driven shaft; determining a ratio of the speed of rotation of the driving shaft versus the speed of rotation of the driven shaft; determining an engine torque; determining a base clamping force to be applied by the driving pulley onto the belt based on the ratio and the engine torque; determining a desired speed of rotation of the driving shaft; determining a corrective clamping force by comparing the speed of rotation of the driving shaft to the desired speed of rotation of the driving shaft; and controlling a hydraulic pressure applied to a movable sheave to apply a sum of the base and corrective clamping forces onto the belt. A vehicle having a CVT controlled by the method is also disclosed. |
| US08645030B2 |
Control device of inverted pendulum type vehicle
Provided is a controller for an inverted pendulum type vehicle capable of moving the vehicle smoothly. The inverted pendulum type vehicle 1 is provided with a grip 18 at a upper end portion of a base body 9. A grip-acting external force F acting on the grip 18 is detected by a force sensor 55. According to the detected grip-acting external force F, a required center-of-gravity velocity generator 74 determines required center-of-gravity velocities Vb_x_aim and Vb_y_aim, and on the basis thereof, a traveling motion unit controller determines a manipulated variable for control. |
| US08645023B2 |
Wire harness and electronic device control system
A wire harness includes a standard connection circuit part which connects a standard electronic device and an ECU, and an optional connection circuit part which connects optional electronic devices and the ECU. The optional connection circuit part includes a communication connector which is provided to be connectable to the optional electronic devices, and an optional circuit which connects the ECU to the communication connector. The communication connector performs multiplex communication which multiplexes communication of the optional electronic devices and the ECU. |
| US08645016B2 |
Robotic vehicle controller
A control system is provided for automatically moving at least one machine along a desired path. |
| US08645015B2 |
Semiautomatic parking machine
The invention relates to a device and a method for controlling the steering of a vehicle during a parking maneuver. To this end first the parking spot selected for parking the vehicle is surveyed. Based on said survey, an orientation field is prepared, which defines a target orientation for a plurality of positioning points inside the selected parking spot and in the surroundings of the parking spot, the vehicle being guided along these points from any arbitrary point inside the orientation field to the target point of the parking maneuver. The control of the vehicle occurs by comparing the respective current orientation thereof to the target orientation specified for the respective position in the orientation field and by an appropriate adjustment of the steering angle by the vehicle orientation to said target orientation. |
| US08645014B1 |
Assistance on the go
A mobile computerized apparatus for use with a roadside assistance program to assist in identifying a service provider, such as a tow truck, is disclosed. The apparatus transmits relevant information to a remote server. The server in turn provides information about a plurality of service providers available to service the vehicle. |
| US08645008B2 |
Method for presenting the drift values of an aircraft
A method for presenting the current drift values of an aircraft on a display device in which the drift values are presented in a vector presentation. The length of the drift vector above a predefined threshold value is presented in a manner proportional to the current drift velocity, and the length of the drift vector below the threshold value is presented in a manner disproportionate to the current drift velocity. There is a continuous transition between the two ways of presentation at the threshold value. |
| US08645006B1 |
Electronic kit bag
The Electronic Kit Bag (EKB) is a computerized, portable pilot “kit bag” that accepts input data, manipulates said data, and outputs solutions. The EKB consists of standard and state-of-the-art computer parts and peripherals, interfaced for maximum utility. The central operating program of the device assesses the relationships of input data through logic based, three-dimensional decision-making algorithm. Data output is utilized either directly by the user, by the user through an aircraft system, or directly from the EKB to an aircraft system or autopilot. |
| US08645003B2 |
Braking control system and method for vehicle
Provided are a braking control system for a vehicle which is controlled in a priority order, and a method of the same. A braking control system for a vehicle equipped with an electronic brake at each wheel includes a first control unit controlling the operation of a first electronic brake mounted at a front-left wheel and a second electronic brake mounted at a front-right wheel in response to braking signals, and a second control unit controlling the operation of a third electronic brake mounted at a rear-left wheel and a fourth electronic brake mounted at a rear-right wheel in response to the braking signals. In this configuration, when a fail occurs in any one of the first and second control units, the other control unit selectively controls at least one or more of the first to fourth electronic brakes, in accordance with predetermined logic. |
| US08644997B2 |
Load sharing architecture for redundant channel controllers
A redundant, multi-source architecture provides output loads access to each of the plurality of power sources. The architecture includes at a least a first power bus and a second power bus. A plurality of loads are connected to the first power bus and the second power bus. Redundant first and second channel controllers are connected to receive power from the first power bus and the second power bus, respectively, wherein one of the first and second channel controllers is designated as the active channel controller. The active channel controller allocates power from both the first power bus and the second power bus to each of the plurality of loads. |
| US08644993B1 |
Method of controlling the flow rate of the liquid by controlling operation of the pump
Integrated, stand-alone, multiple-purpose pump stands are provided for controlled pumping of different liquids from a stand-mounted tank to a downstream use location, e.g., a seed treating device. The pump stands are equipped with an operating assembly including a liquid tank, a powered pump, a liquid flow line equipped with a flow meter from the tank and pump to the use location, and a programmable digital control device. During operation, the control device serves to approach and maintain the flow rate from the pump stand at or about a desired setpoint flow rate. |
| US08644990B2 |
Apparatus and method for providing robot interaction services using interactive behavior model
An apparatus for providing robot interaction services using an interactive behavior model for interaction between a user and a robot includes: a control module having a behavior model engine for receiving an observation signal from the outside and determining and outputting an interactive behavior signal based on previously stored behavior and policy models; a robot application module for executing a robot application service and applying the behavior signal to provide the service; a robot function operating module having sensors for observing an external circumstance and a function operating means for performing behavior or function of the robot; and a middleware module for extracting external circumstance observation information and service history information and inputting the information to the control module as the observation signal, and for analyzing the behavior signal to generate and provide motion and function operating signals to the robot function operating module. |
| US08644989B2 |
Method and system for applying a coating material using a programmable robot
In order to program the sealing membranes to be applied to attachment parts of vehicle bodies, for example to the edge-formed seam of vehicle doors using a robot, an attachment part may be removed from the body and, away from the latter, be mounted on a teach frame where all regions of the attachment part which need to be coated are highly visible to the programmer during programming. |
| US08644988B2 |
Drive force control in medical instrument providing position measurements
Control systems and methods for a remote joint use position measurements to determine and control the force that an actuator applies to the joint through a linkage. The use of force and feedback allows control of a medical instrument having a linkage that provides non-negligible compliance between the joint and a proximal actuator and particularly allows precise instrument operation even when the position of the distal joint cannot be directly related to the proximal motor position. |
| US08644983B1 |
Order fulfillment logistics workflow
An order fulfillment system is provided. The system comprises logistics substations comprising an entry and exit points. The system also comprises conveyors that adaptively couple the logistics substations in a serialized order fulfillment logistics workflow to convey an order from a selected one of the entry points of one of the logistics substations to a selected plurality of logistics substations where order fulfillment procedures are performed on the order and to a selected one of the exit points of one of the logistics substations. The system also comprises a computer system that receives batches of orders, that analyzes a trend of orders, that analyzes a current inventory, that analyzes a current topology of the serialized fulfillment logistics workflow, and that changes the topology of the serialized fulfillment logistics workflow by commanding the plurality of conveyors to change their coupling of the logistics substations, based on the analysis. |
| US08644981B2 |
Substrate processing apparatus, substrate processing method and storage medium
Disclosed is a substrate processing apparatus in which a target substrate is taken out from a slot of a cassette having a plurality of slots and processed. The substrate processing apparatus includes a substrate processing unit that processes the target substrate, a transfer unit that transfers the target substrate from the cassette to the substrate processing unit and transfers the target substrate processed in the substrate processing unit from the substrate processing unit to the cassette, and a confirming unit that determines whether or not the slot is empty. The substrate processing apparatus further includes a control unit that reads the slot designated to the target substrate and makes the confirming unit to determine whether or not the slot is empty, after the target substrate has been processed in the substrate processing unit but before the target substrate is disposed in the cassette. |
| US08644975B2 |
Display card for custom-manufactured item and method
A system and method allows a consumer to custom-order an item, such as footwear. The system is capable of accepting a designation for the design of the item by a consumer wherein the item is custom-manufactured according to designation of a characteristic made by the consumer. A display card is associated with the system and has a card member having indicia thereon. The indicia correspond to the designation of the characteristic provided by the consumer. |
| US08644970B2 |
Method and an apparatus for processing an audio signal
A method of processing an audio signal is disclosed. The present invention includes receiving downmix information of at least one downmixed object signal, obtaining side information including object information, and mix information, generating plural channel information based on the side information and the mix information, and generating an output channel signal from the downmix information using the plural channel information, wherein the object information includes at least one of level information of the object signal, correlation information of the object signal, gain information of the object signal and supplementary information thereof. |
| US08644967B2 |
Vibrating footwear device and entertainment system for use therewith
A footwear device for enhancing an entertainment experience in accordance with an embodiment of the present application includes a first actuator mounted in the footwear device and operable to impart a vibration to the footwear device based on an indication of reproduced sound included in the entertainment experience. A vibration signal is provided to drive the vibration of the footwear device and may be based on reproduced audible information and/or enhanced information optimized to maximize vibration. The present application also relates to an entertainment system for use with the vibrating footwear device. |
| US08644966B2 |
Apparatus and method for projecting field devices of a technical system
A device and a method for projecting field devices of a technical system, in particular a power plant system, into a control system of the technical system are provided. The device includes means for a computer-implemented display of two field devices as two data objects and means for a computer-implemented display of a connection between the two data objects of the two field devices. |
| US08644965B2 |
Marking device docking stations having security features and methods of using same
Docking stations and docking methods are provided for use with marking devices used for marking the presence or absence of an underground facility in a dig area. The docking station may serve as a home base for storage of a marking device, for charging the battery of a marking device, for transferring data to and from a marking device, and for securing a marking device against unauthorized use and/or theft. The docking station may be a mobile docking station that is installed in a vehicle or may be a fixed docking station that is installed at a central location in the field, at a central office, at a home base facility, and the like. |
| US08644963B2 |
Extended active disturbance rejection controller
Multiple designs, systems, methods and processes for controlling a system or plant using an extended active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) based controller are presented. The extended ADRC controller accepts sensor information from the plant. The sensor information is used in conjunction with an extended state observer in combination with a predictor that estimates and predicts the current state of the plant and a co-joined estimate of the system disturbances and system dynamics. The extended state observer estimates and predictions are used in conjunction with a control law that generates an input to the system based in part on the extended state observer estimates and predictions as well as a desired trajectory for the plant to follow. |
| US08644956B2 |
Shock electrode line
Implantable shock electrode line having a proximal end for connection to an implantable device which generates shock pulses, and a distal segment which has a shock electrode, wherein an area ratio of the shock electrode area to the surface area of the shock electrode line is not constant over the longitudinal extent of the shock electrode. |
| US08644955B2 |
Controller for a medical lead delivery device
The medical lead delivery device more easily and quickly delivers a lead to or through the coronary vein of a patient's heart. The medical lead delivery device includes an elongated body, a controller, a first and second spring, and a sleeve. The elongated body includes a proximal end and a distal end. The controller is disposed at the proximal end and provides enhanced control of the distal tip of the elongated body. |
| US08644954B2 |
Methods and systems for facilitating stimulation of one or more stimulation sites
Methods and systems of facilitating stimulation of a stimulation site within a patient include implanting a distal portion of a stimulating member such that the distal portion of the stimulating member is in communication with a stimulation site located within a patient, securing the distal portion of the stimulating member at a first securing site with a first securing device, forming at least two curves of opposite concavity with a proximal portion of the stimulating member, securing the stimulating member at a second securing site with a second securing device, and coupling a proximal end of the stimulating member to a stimulator. In some examples, the at least two curves of opposite concavity are located in between the first and second securing devices. |
| US08644953B1 |
Lead with braided reinforcement
A therapy delivery element configured for at least partial insertion in a living body. A braided structure surrounds the conductor assembly. A distal end of the braided structure is attached to an electrode assembly and a free floating proximal end is located near a connector assembly. An outer tubing surrounds the braided structure. The outer tubing includes a proximal end attached to the connector assembly and a distal end attached to the braided structure near the electrode assembly. A proximal tension force applied to the connector assembly acts substantially on the outer tubing and the conductor assembly and a proximal tension force applied to the free floating proximal end acts substantially on the braided structure. |
| US08644952B2 |
Medical devices including polyisobutylene based polymers and derivatives thereof
The present invention is directed to a medical electrical lead including an insulative lead body formed, at least in part, from a polyisobutylene urethane, urea or urethane/urea copolymer. In some applications, the lead body can include at least one outer tubular insulator and/or an inner elongated member formed from a polyisobutylene urethane, urea or urethane/urea copolymer. Portions of the lead body formed form the polyisobutylene urethane, urea or urethane/urea copolymer can be either extruded or molded. |
| US08644950B2 |
Cardiac tissue elasticity sensing
A system and method are provided for assessing the compliance of internal patient tissue for purposes of catheter guidance and/or ablation procedures. Specifically, the system/method provides for probing internal patient tissue in order to obtain force and/or tissue displacement measurements. These measurements are utilized to generate an indication of tissue elasticity. In one exemplary embodiment, the indication of elasticity is correlated with an image of the internal tissue area and an output of this image including elasticity indications is displayed for a user. |
| US08644949B2 |
Pressure-sensitive external charger for an implantable medical device
An improved external charger for an implantable medical device is disclosed in which charging is at least partially controlled based on a sensed pressure impingent on its case, which pressure is indicative of the pressure between the external charger and a patient's tissue. The improved external charger includes pressure detection circuitry coupled to one or more pressure sensors for controlling the external device in accordance with the sensed impingent pressure. The sensed pressure can be used to control charging, for example, by suspending charging, by adjusting a maximum set point temperature for the external charger based on the measured pressure, or by issuing an alert via a suitable user interface. By so controlling the external charger on the basis of the measured pressure, the external charger is less likely to create potentially problematic or uncomfortable conditions for the user. |
| US08644946B2 |
System and method to define target volume for stimulation in brain
One embodiment provides a computer-implemented method that includes storing a volume of tissue activation (VTA) data structure that is derived from analysis of a plurality of patients. Patient data is received for a given patient, the patient data representing an assessment of a patient condition. The VTA data structure is evaluated relative to the patient data to determine a target VTA for achieving a desired therapeutic effect for the given patient. |
| US08644942B1 |
Method and apparatus for treating tissue
A method and apparatus for treating tissue of a patient with an implantable material comprising a plurality of electrodes for providing controlled microcurrent stimulation. |
| US08644941B2 |
Peripheral nerve field stimulation and spinal cord stimulation
Delivery of peripheral nerve field stimulation (PNFS) in combination with one or more other therapies is described. The other therapy delivered in combination with PNFS may be, for example, a different type of neurostimulation, such as spinal cord stimulation (SCS), or a drug. PNFS and the other therapy may be delivered simultaneously, in an alternating fashion, according to a schedule, and/or selectively, e.g., in response to a request received from a patient or clinician. A combination therapy that includes PNFS may be able to more completely address complex or multifocal pain than would be possible through delivery of either PNFS or other therapies alone. Further, the combination of PNFS with one or more other therapies may reduce the likelihood that neural accommodation will impair the perceived effectiveness PNFS or the other therapies. |
| US08644940B2 |
Brain stimulation
A therapeutic brain stimulation system comprises at least two stimulation signal emitters generating stimulation signals from different positions towards a common target region in a patient's brain. While the signal intensity of each stimulation signal is much too low to cause stimulation, the accumulated stimulation signals cause a stimulation and, thus, a therapeutic effect in the neuronal brain cells of the target region. The stimulation signals accumulating in the target region are adjustable so as not to negatively affect the anatomic structure of neuronal brain cells in the target region. |
| US08644938B2 |
Neuromodulation device for pelvic dysfunction
A wearable neuromodulation device (1), configured for insertion into a pelvic orifice of the human body for treating urinary incontinence, faecal incontinence, muscle wastage, spasm and/or spasticity by applying electrical stimulation signals to pudendal nerves through the wall of the rectum or vagina, comprises at least one sensor, such as an electromyographic (EMG) sensor (11) or pressure sensor (12, 13), configured to detect conditions that indicate a requirement for stimulation. The device (1) is autonomous but may be arranged to communicate with an external device (28) comprising an alarm (33), to alert a user to their condition, and/or means (34) for allowing the user to control the stimulation applied by the device. Alternatively, or additionally, the device (1) may communicate with a computer (37) to store patient data for review by a medical professional and/or permit updating of device software. The device (1) may communicate with the external device(s) (28, 37) via wired or wireless links, including Bluetooth or a Body Area Network (BAN). Such a device (1) may comprise an outer sleeve (5) that can be replaced in event of damage, deterioration or discolouration. |
| US08644934B2 |
Cardiac stimulation using leadless electrode assemblies
An implantable cardiac tissue excitation system includes an implantable pacing controller unit with a pulse generation circuit. The system also includes a lead with a lead body extending between a proximal lead end attachable to the pacing controller unit and a distal lead end configured to be implanted within a heart. A lead conductor extends within the lead body. The system also includes a transmitter assembly located near the distal lead end that is electrically connected to the pulse generation circuit through the lead conductor to wirelessly transmit pacing control information and pacing energy. The system also includes a leadless electrode assembly configured to be implanted within the heart that includes a receiver to receive the wireless transmission, a charge storage unit to store the charge energy, and an electrical stimulation circuit to deliver an electrical stimulus to cardiac tissue using the pacing control information and the charge energy. |
| US08644932B2 |
Assessing a lead based on high-frequency response
In general, this disclosure is directed to techniques and circuitry to determine characteristics of an implantable lead associated with an implantable medical device (IMD). The implantable lead may be designed to be MRI-safe by having one or more components that attenuate frequencies associated with an MRI that, if left unreduced, may interfere with the performance of the lead and/or cause harm to the tissue in which the lead is implanted. The circuitry may transmit a signal through the lead and receive a response signal. The device may determine the lead characteristics by comparing the transmitted signal with the received signal. In addition to determining whether the lead is MRI-safe, the techniques of this disclosure may be also utilized to determine whether the lead is faulty. |
| US08644931B2 |
Impedance variability analysis to identify lead-related conditions
In general, the disclosure relates to techniques for calculating mean impedance values and impedance variability values to detect a possible condition with a lead or device-lead pathway or connection. In one example, a device may be configured to determine an impedance value for an electrical path based on a plurality of measured impedance values for the electrical path, wherein the electrical path comprises a plurality of electrodes, and to determine an impedance variability value based on at least one of the plurality of measured impedance values. The device may be further configured to determine a threshold value based on the determined impedance value and the impedance variability value, compare a newly measured impedance value for the electrical path to the threshold value, and indicate a possible condition of the electrical path based on the comparison. |
| US08644930B2 |
Operational electrode impedance measurement for an implantable medical stimulator
Controller, system and method for an implantable medical device having a plurality of electrodes, said implantable device being capable of delivering a therapeutic stimulation to a patient. An electrode interface is operatively coupled between a plurality of electrodes and a control module. The control module uses an electrode interface to obtain a plurality of measurements of impedance values for a plurality of selected pairs of individual ones of the plurality of electrodes. A user interface displays an indicia, indicative of operability of a group of at least one of said plurality of electrodes, based on a comparison of said plurality of measurements to a predetermined range, said indicia being a qualitative representation of operability of said group of at least one of said plurality of electrodes. |
| US08644923B2 |
Determination of upper limit of vulnerability using a variable number of shocks
A method and apparatus sense a cardiac electrical signal and determine a signal quality parameter of the cardiac electrical signal. A number of shock pulses to be delivered to a patient's heart is determined in response to the signal quality parameter. Each of the shock pulses are scheduled to be delivered at a unique offset from a T-wave shock interval in one embodiment of the invention. |
| US08644918B2 |
Method and apparatus for rate accuracy enhancement in ventricular tachycardia detection
An implantable cardioverter/defibrillator (ICD) executes a rate accuracy enhancement algorithm to select measured atrial and ventricular intervals for classifying a detected tachycardia based on average atrial and ventricular rates calculated from the selected atrial and ventricular intervals. The detected tachycardia is classified as ventricular tachycardia (VT) if the average ventricular rate is substantially higher than the average atrial rate. |
| US08644912B2 |
System and method for determining tissue characteristics
An apparatus to interrogate, receive, and analyze full emission spectra for at least one fluorescence excitation wavelength and for at least one reflectance measurement to determine tissue characteristics. The apparatus includes a base unit having illumination, detection and control sub-units, the illumination sub-unit providing illumination optical energy for illuminating a target tissue and the detection sub-unit detecting tissue characteristics of a target tissue, a separate tissue interface unit, and a pathway coupling the base unit and the tissue interface unit. The system and apparatus may also include a tube for maintaining the distance between the tissue and units and for surrounding the tissue to prevent patient movement from being transmitted to the tissue. |
| US08644910B2 |
Imaging protocols
Protocols for radioimaging an event or disorder are provided. An exemplary protocol comprises a method of radioimaging a myocardial perfusion, the method comprising in sequence: (a) administering to a subject about 3 mCi Tl201 thallous chloride; (b) allowing said subject to rest; (c) radioimaging a heart of said subject; (d) subjecting said subject to a physical stress; (e) administering to said subject at a peak of said physical stress about 20-30 mCi Tc99m sestamibi; and (f) radioimaging said heart of said subject, thereby radioimaging a myocardial perfusion. |
| US08644908B2 |
Imaging device for fused mammography with independently moveable imaging systems of different modalities
An apparatus for use in performing imaging a region of a patient's body including a first imaging system for acquiring first imaging information including a first region of interest using a first imaging modality, a second imaging system for acquiring second imaging information including a second region of interest using a second imaging modality, a first drive system for selectively moving at least a portion of one of the first and second imaging systems relative to an imaging reference frame, wherein the first drive system is operative to move one of the first and second imaging systems independent of movement of the other of the first and second imaging systems. A method for imaging a region of a patient's body including acquiring first imaging information corresponding to a first region of interest using a first imaging modality, acquiring second imaging information corresponding to a second region of interest using a second imaging modality, selectively moving at least a portion of one of a first and/or second imaging system relative to an imaging reference frame, wherein selectively moving comprises operating moving one of the first and second imaging systems independent of movement of the other of the first and second imaging systems. |
| US08644904B2 |
Dry electrode
A flexible dry electrode and the manufacturing method thereof are provided. The electrode has an electroplated uneven surface and at least one hole and is made of porous material. |
| US08644897B2 |
Joint of superconducting wires and method for joining superconducting wires
Provided is a superconducting apparatus, including a joint of superconducting wires having high electric conduction characteristics and a superconducting magnet or the like. The superconducting joint comprises a plurality of superconducting wires and a sinter which integrates the plurality of superconducting wires. Herein, at least any one of the superconducting wires is a MgB2 superconducting wire, the sinter contains MgB2, and the sinter is compressed form the direction different from the direction toward which the superconducting wires protrude. Further, in order to form such a joint, a compression vessel provided with an opening used for introducing raw material powders to construct the sinter and another opening used for inserting the superconducting wires is utilized, and the openings are directed to different directions each other. Accordingly, MgB2 is filled in the sinter at high density, allowing the joint structure to have a good bonding property among particles. |
| US08644885B1 |
Mobile electronic device wrapped in electronic display
Systems and techniques for substantially wrapping a mobile electronic device in a display are provided. A method for displaying elements on displays of a computing device is described that includes displaying user-selectable elements on a primary display that is located on a portion of an exterior surface of a mobile electronic device and displaying content to the user on a secondary display comprising substantially an entire exterior surface of the mobile electronic device excluding the primary display region. The method may further include receiving user input through a primary user input mechanism operable to receive user selections in coordination with the primary display of user-selectable elements; and receiving user input through a secondary user input mechanism operable to receive user selections in coordination with the secondary display of content, where the content includes user-selectable elements. |
| US08644878B2 |
Apparatus and method for operation according to squeezing in portable terminal
A method and apparatus perform pressure detection in a mobile terminal. method determines a squeezing pressure of the mobile terminal. The method determines whether a user squeezes the mobile terminal using the squeezing pressure determined and a value of a proximity sensor. The method transitions the mobile terminal to a wakeup state in response to determining that the user squeezed the mobile terminal. |
| US08644876B2 |
Combined open loop/closed loop (CQI-based) uplink transmit power control with interference mitigation for E-UTRA
A combined open loop and closed loop (channel quality indicator (CQI)-based) transmit power control (TPC) scheme with interference mitigation for a long term evolution (LTE) wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) is disclosed. The transmit power of the WTRU is derived based on a target signal-to-interference noise ratio (SINR) and a pathloss value. The pathloss value pertains to the downlink signal from a serving evolved Node-B (eNodeB) and includes shadowing. An interference and noise value of the serving eNodeB is included in the transmit power derivation, along with an offset constant value to adjust for downlink (DL) reference signal power and actual transmit power. A weighting factor is also used based on the availability of CQI feedback. |
| US08644874B2 |
Uplink power control for power limited terminals
Transmit power control methods and apparatus are disclosed. In several embodiments, a mobile terminal (200) is configured to effectively ignore ‘UP’ transmit power control commands in the event that the mobile terminal (200) is operating in a power-limited state. In an exemplary method for controlling transmit power at a mobile terminal (200), a plurality of transmit power control commands are received. An accumulated power control value is adjusted (350) in response to each transmit power control command that directs a negative adjustment in transmit power. However, the accumulated power control value is adjusted (350) in response to a transmit power control command that directs a positive adjustment in transmit power only if the mobile terminal (200) is not in a power-limited state. Transmit power settings for each transmission are calculated (360) based on the accumulated power control value and the one or more radio link parameters. |
| US08644873B2 |
Method and apparatus for delivering information to an idle mobile station in a group communication network
Delivering information to an idle mobile station in a group communication network includes delivering the information to the mobile station in special form, e.g., short data burst (SDB) form, if the information is smaller than a predetermined size limit. In one embodiment, the information is encapsulated inside a frame, forwarding the frame to a server for delivery to the mobile station, and causing the server to extract the information from the frame and deliver the information to the mobile station on a forward common channel. Another aspect provides for receiving information for delivery to the mobile station, the information being tagged for delivery on a forward common channel, and delivering the information to the mobile station on the forward common channel. Another aspect delivers the information when the mobile station is in idle state with no traffic channel. |
| US08644872B2 |
Continuous broadcast interface maintenance for group communications to wireless communications devices
A system, method, and computer device that selectively maintain an open broadcast interface to a communication control device that is controlling wireless communication to at least one wireless communication device that is configured to receive group-directed communications for a communication group, such as a push-to-talk (PTT) group. In one embodiment, the wireless communication device registers at the communication control device, such as a base station controller, and at least one broadcast interface is established between the communication control device and another computer device, such as a broadcast A10 interface with a broadcast serving node (BSN). The communication control device maintains the broadcast interface while the wireless communication device configured to receive group-directed communications is registered such that group-directed broadcast communications can more rapidly be delivered to the wireless communication device. When the communication control device determines that the group communication has ended, it releases the broadcast interface. |
| US08644864B2 |
Method and apparatus for paging in machine to machine or mobile assisted deployments
A method and apparatus may be used to perform WTRU-WTRU paging in wireless communications. For example, a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) may be configured to page another WTRU. In this example, the paging WTRU may receive a first message that indicates a group identification (ID). The WTRU may receive a second message that may include an indicator that indicates one or more other WTRUs that the paging WTRU may page. If the received indicator matches a paging indicator of the paging WTRU, the paging WTRU may transmit an access signal to one or more other WTRUs. The paging indicator of the paging WTRU may be predetermined, and may be received in a configuration message from a base station (BS). The first message may be a secondary advanced (SA)-preamble. |
| US08644861B1 |
Efficient acquisition of system information in mobile communication terminals
A method includes attempting to receive at a mobile communication terminal paging messages, which are transmitted from a base station. A likelihood that the mobile communication terminal has missed one or more of the paging messages is estimated. In response to finding that the estimated likelihood exceeds a likelihood threshold, an ascertainment is made at the mobile communication terminal whether at least one parameter of operation of the base station has changed by decoding at least part of a downlink message, other than the paging messages, that is transmitted by the base station. |
| US08644858B2 |
Radio apparatus transmitting or receiving a signal including predetermined information
An extracting unit detects movement from a first area to a second area, the first area and the second area defined as areas having different priorities. When the extracting unit detects the movement, this changes a communication process defined in the first area to the communication process defined in the second area. A notifying unit notifies that the area changed when the movement is detected. Herein, the priority of the first area and the priority of the second area are defined according to importance of a signal, which should be broadcasted from a processing unit. |
| US08644857B2 |
Method, device and system for implementing location-based service
The present disclosure relates to a communication technology and discloses a method, device, and system for implementing a Location-Based Service (LBS). A corresponding particular service area is set for a User Equipment (UE) and services in the particular service area are provided by a corresponding application server. By applying the technical solution provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure, an operator can provide services for particular users in the particular service area, and implement intelligence and personalization to avoid the spread of junk information and to improve user satisfaction. |
| US08644855B2 |
Femtocell network for determining location of a mobile device
A technique is provided for determining a location of a mobile device configured to a femtocell network. The technique includes a cluster of femtocell devices. Each of the femtocell devices is coupled to a macro network. The technique includes determining a position of mobile device coupled to a femtocell by transferring a request query to a switching device. The femtocell has been registered with the switching device. |
| US08644841B1 |
Dynamic adjustment of handoff bias based on load
A method and system is disclosed for dynamically adjusting a signal-to-noise (SNR) bias based on relative load between a macro type base station and a micro type base station of a wireless communication system. The SNR bias corresponds to a threshold differential SNR between SNRs of the macro base station and of the micro base station, wherein the SNR bias is configured to be provided to an access terminal (or user equipment) to cause the access terminal (i) to be biased to seek service from the micro base station if the access terminal detects an SNR from the micro base station that is less than the threshold differential SNR below an SNR that the access terminal detects from the macro base station, and (ii) to be biased to seek service from the macro base station otherwise. Once the SNR bias is determined based on the relative load, it is communicated to one or more access terminals. |
| US08644840B2 |
Enhanced manageability in wireless data communication systems
A cellular network system comprises a device identifier comparator and a connection enable indicator. A device identifier comparator for comparing a received device identifier with one of a plurality of stored device identifiers, wherein the one of the stored plurality of stored device identifiers is associated with a stored subscriber identifier. A connection enable indicator for indicating whether a connection from a cellular device associated with the received device identifier to a data network associated with the cellular network system should be enabled. |
| US08644839B2 |
Method for controlling radio resource allocation in mobile communication system
In a wireless mobile communications system, a method for controlling a radio resource allocation is provided. A network transmits access control information to a terminal such that a request for the radio resource allocation which will be transmitted from the terminal can be controlled. The terminal selectively transmits the request for the radio resource allocation based on the received information, thus a transmission of an unnecessary request for the radio resource can be minimized, thereby preventing a waste of the radio resource. |
| US08644838B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling transmission power in a wireless communication system using fractional frequency reuse
A method for acquiring FFR power pattern of Frequency Partitions (FPs) at a mobile station (MS) in a wireless communication system using Fractional Frequency Reuse (FFR) is disclosed. The method includes receiving a preamble from a base station (BS); and acquiring a FFR power pattern for a reuse-1 partition and reuse-N partitions using the received preamble, wherein the FFR power pattern is determined based on a segment identifier (ID), the reuse-N partitions include N frequency partitions, each frequency partition has a power level with a range of FP1_power level to FPN_power level, a power-boosted FP in the reuse-N partitions is a partition whose power level is the FP1_power level. |
| US08644837B2 |
Telecommunications networks
A mobile telecommunications network includes a plurality of terminals, a core and a radio access network having a radio device for providing wireless communication resources to the terminals. Further provided is a processing device for recording information indicative of a movement cycle of at least one of the terminals through the radio access network and for identifying points within the movement cycle at which there are spare communication resources to provide a list of spare resource points to the terminal to enable the prediction of optimal data transfer points during a subsequent movement cycle of the terminal through the radio access network. |
| US08644836B2 |
IP phone routing and call initiation based on location information
Routing an incoming call for an IP phone system is disclosed. A location data for a mobile device is received. A way point based at least in part on the location data is determined. A state for a user of the IP phone system is determined based at least in part on the way point. An incoming call is routed to the IP phone system based at least in part on the state. |
| US08644833B1 |
Method and system using a mobility server for handoff of a multi-mode mobile station
A multi-mode mobile station includes a first interface for wireless communication with a wireless local area network (WLAN) and a second interface for wireless communication with a wireless wide area network (WWAN). A mobility server facilitates call handoffs for the multi-mode mobile station, from the WLAN to the WWAN and vice versa. The mobility server maintains an activity log for the multi-mode mobile station. When the multi-mode mobile station becomes involved in a call, the mobility server stores call information regarding the call in the activity log. During the call, the multi-mode mobile station transmits a handoff request. In response to the handoff request, the mobility server controls establishment of a bearer path for call handoff between the WLAN and the WWAN, based on the call information contained in the activity log. |
| US08644831B2 |
Redirection method of femto cell and communication system based thereon
A redirection method of a femto cell is provided together with a communication system based thereon. A serving gateway, connected with a specific femto cell, or an additional server determines whether there is a need for a redirection of the femto cell by using a load condition of the serving gateway or a target gateway. If the redirection is determined, the femto cell receives redirection instructions from the serving gateway to the target gateway and then the redirection is performed. Since the femto cell is redirected from the overloaded femto gateway to another femto gateway, the femto cell can continuously provide a communication service to user terminals. |
| US08644828B2 |
Method and system for selecting a wireless network
A method and system for selecting alternative wireless networks to establish a connection to, based on pattern information concerning determined relationships between the wireless user and the wireless network location. By monitoring location information and available wireless networks within range of a wireless user terminal, patterns of frequent and recurring locations and available wireless access points can be used to identify the wireless access points for alternative wireless networks that provide the best opportunity for offloading. People tend to frequent certain locations during their daily lives, such as their home and their place of employ, as well as the homes of relatives and friends and other favorite places like restaurants, coffee shops, shopping and sporting venues. Assumptions can be derived by monitoring available wireless networks to identify those wireless networks that provide a beneficial opportunity to offload primary (e.g., cellular) network services onto other local networks. |
| US08644825B2 |
Customisation of a radio communication terminal
A method is provided for definitive customization or customization for a predetermined duration related to a subscription of a radio communication terminal possessing an operating mode requiring the association with the terminal of a customization data set specific to a radio communication network, so as to allow the terminal to be linked with the radio communication network. The method includes the following steps: obtaining carrier information pertaining to carriers received by the terminal; and selecting a customization data set for the terminal, from a plurality of customization data sets, as a function of a selection criterion applied to the carrier information obtained. |
| US08644824B1 |
Tracking registration buffer in a cellular network
Embodiments described herein may help to provide a delayed zone-update process. An exemplary method may involve a user entity, which is initially operating in a first of a plurality of multi-coverage-area zones in a radio access network (RAN), subsequently determining that the user entity has moved into a second multi-coverage-area zone of the RAN, wherein the user entity is located in a first coverage area of the second multi-coverage-area zone. In response, the user entity may refrain from sending a registration message to register in the second multi-coverage-area zone until the earlier of: (i) a threshold period of time elapsing and (ii) the user entity moving into another coverage area in the second multi-coverage-area zone that is different from the first coverage area. |
| US08644822B1 |
Method and system for providing differentiated services to mobile stations
A service profile for a mobile station identifies at least a first set of services that apply when the mobile station is in communication with a first radio access network and a second set of services that apply when the mobile station is in communication with a second radio access network. A service platform, such as an application server, receives a signaling message, e.g., a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) INVITE message, and the service platform identifies which radio access network is serving the mobile station based on information contained in the signaling message. The service platform then controls the provision of services to the mobile station based on the identified radio access network, in accordance with the service profile. |
| US08644821B2 |
Method of beacon synchronization for base stations
The present invention discloses a method of beacon synchronization for base stations, which comprises the following steps: receiving or transmitting a beacon by a first base station or a second base station; scanning at least one channel by the second base station to search for a channel of the first base station; calculating a time difference between the beacon sent by the first base station and the beacon sent by the second base station; and adjusting a time of transmitting the beacon sent by the second base station to synchronize the beacon sent by the second base station with the beacon sent by the first base station. Wherein, a wireless signal of the second base station is interfered by the first base station. |
| US08644820B2 |
Apparatus and method for acquiring service information in wireless network
A service list acquisition apparatus is provided for acquiring, from at least one service list provision apparatus located in a wireless network coverage area, a service list related to a wireless network which can embody a portion where a service list is exchanged with the service list provision apparatus in a layer lower than an Internet protocol (IP) layer, thereby acquiring the service list without an additional IP address allocation procedure. |
| US08644815B2 |
Mobile station and mobile communication method for determining radio link failure
In a mobile station (UE) according to the present invention, when a synchronization state determination unit notifies that a downlink synchronization state is a non-synchronization state; (1) when a first timer has expired, and when a second timer is being activated, a radio link failure state determination unit is configured to stop the second timer, and to determine that a current state is a radio link failure state; (2) when the first timer is being activated, and when the second timer is being activated, the radio link failure state determination unit is configured to stop the second timer; or (3) when the first timer is not being activated, the radio link failure state determination unit is configured to start the first timer. |
| US08644803B1 |
Mobile contacts outdialer and method thereof
A Mobile Voice Self Service (MVSS) mobile device incorporating a mobile contacts outdialer and method thereof. The MVSS mobile device may include a connection application operable to connect to at least one contact device. The connection application may include a launch interface that displays a representation of the at least one contact device, a selection interface that allows a user of the MVSS mobile device to select one or more of the at least one contact device, and a contact protocol operable to communicate with the selected at least one contact device. The multimedia application may be operable to present a multimedia presentation to the selected at least one contact device, wherein the multimedia application is further operable to solicit and collect one or more responses from the at least one contact device to the multimedia presentation. |
| US08644802B2 |
Terminated call control for roaming cellular telephony
A method, system and gateway for control of calls unanswered by a roaming user roaming on a roaming network, comprises monitoring outward bound calls to roaming users, monitoring subsequent inward forwarding of those calls terminated without answering at said roaming users, and matching between the outward bound and inward forwarding. Matching confers control of processing of the terminated call in two ways. One is that it allows call details, typically lost over International networks, to be obtained regarding the terminated call. Secondly, it allows the originating call to be connected directly to the voicemail or other forwarding destination without involving any International connections. |
| US08644793B2 |
Method of determining a location of a mobile device and method of managing a list for use in such a method
Methods of determining a location of a mobile device in a first communication network are presented. The mobile device is in communication with a cellular base station in a second communication network. First, access points within the first communication network are detected with the mobile device. Then, one or more of the detected access points is selected based on information provided by the cellular base station. Finally, the location of the mobile device is determined based on the selected access points. |
| US08644787B1 |
Apparatus and method for forming multiple independent and dynamically adaptable intermediate frequency signals
A method of separating individual channels from a composite or broadband RF signal that carries the channels on respective frequencies. An RF signal is received from an antenna at a high impedance input port of a plurality of mixers. A local oscillator (LO) signal is received at a high impedance port of the plurality of mixers. The plurality of mixers separately mix the RF signal to produce a plurality of common intermediate frequency (IF) signals. The plurality of common IF signals are output to filters corresponding to the individual isolated channels then processed to derive their information content. |
| US08644786B2 |
Receiver apparatus having filters implemented using frequency translation techniques
A method and apparatus is disclosed to effectively frequency translate a filter characterized as a low quality factor (Q) filter, corresponding to a baseband frequency of approximately zero Hertz or to an intermediate frequency (IF), to a filter characterized as a high Q filter at frequencies greater than the baseband frequency or the IF. A downconversion mixer frequency translates a communication signal to the baseband frequency or the IF using a first local oscillator signal to provide a downconverted communication signal. A filter corresponding to the baseband frequency or the IF filters the downconverted communication signal to provide a filtered communication signal. An upconversion mixer frequency translates a communication signal using a second local oscillator signal. The frequency translation by the upconversion mixer, in effect, translates the filter characterization from the low Q filter to the high Q filter at frequencies greater than the baseband frequency or the IF. |
| US08644785B2 |
Filtering using impedance translator
This disclosure relates to low noise amplifiers (LNAs) and more particularly to LNAs integrated on integrated circuit (IC) chips along with radio frequency (RF) amplifiers. In one implementation, an impedance translator is coupled to an amplifier, the impedance translator to cause the amplifier to selectively amplify the one or more components of a received signal. |
| US08644784B2 |
Terminal apparatus and diversity antenna control method for the same
A terminal apparatus adapted to receive a wireless signal by antenna diversity, wherein provisions are made to reduce the number of receive circuits while also reducing the time required for antenna selection. The a terminal apparatus is adapted to receive a wireless signal by antenna diversity, and includes: a mode-of-use detection unit for detecting the mode of use of the terminal apparatus as set up by a user; a storage unit for storing priority information that predefines an antenna to be selected for use by prioritizing the plurality of antennas according to the mode of use that can be detected by the mode-of-use detection unit; and a comparator for outputting selection control information specifying at least one antenna from among the plurality of antennas by comparing the mode of use detected by the mode-of-use detection unit with the priority information stored in the storage unit. |
| US08644777B2 |
System and method for power amplifier over-voltage protection
A system for power amplifier over-voltage protection includes a power amplifier configured to receive a system voltage, a bias circuit configured to provide a bias signal to the power amplifier, and a power amplifier over-voltage circuit configured to interrupt the bias signal when the system voltage exceeds a predetermined value, while the system voltage remains coupled to the power amplifier. |
| US08644775B2 |
Transmission apparatus
A transmission apparatus includes a case including first, second, and third stages, each stage having one slot, each slot allowing free insertion and removal of a board; a first control board; a first communication unit connected with the first control board and performing radio communication; and a second communication unit connected with the first control board and performing communication faster than the radio communication. The first control board is mounted in the slot of the first stage. The first communication unit is mounted in the slot of the second stage, and the second stage is provided on one side of the first stage. The second communication unit is mounted in the slot of the third stage, and the third stage is provided on a side opposite to the first communication unit with respect to the first stage. The second communication unit is arranged adjacent to the first control board. |
| US08644773B2 |
Multiband low noise amplifier (LNA) with parallel resonant feedback
A multiband low noise amplifier (LNA) with parallel resonant feedback includes an amplifier element configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal at an RF input and provide an amplified version of the RF signal at an RF output, a resistive feedback circuit coupled between the RF input and the RF output, and a plurality of series-coupled resonant circuits coupled in series with the resistive feedback circuit between the RF input and the RF output of the amplifier element, wherein each of the resonant circuits is configured to operate as an effective short circuit at a frequency other than a resonant frequency and configured to operate as an effective open circuit at the resonant frequency to decouple the resistive feedback from the amplifier element at each resonant frequency. |
| US08644770B2 |
Protocol adaptation layer for wireless communications
Protocol adaptation layer for wireless communications. Communication devices that include one or more radio modules operable in accordance with multiple communication protocols establish communications using one communication protocol and then switch to another communication protocol. This switching to another communication protocol may be performed based on a variety of factors including effectuating communications of higher throughput, supporting uni-directional communications vs. bi-directional communications, or any other desired factor. In some embodiments, various communication devices include two radio modules that are each implemented to operate in accordance with one particular communication protocol. Alternatively, a multi-protocol capable radio module may support and operate in accordance with more than one communication protocol. Examples of possible communication protocols include those compliant with Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11, and/or 802.15.3c. |
| US08644759B2 |
Offset cancellation for DC isolated nodes
Offset voltages developed on floating nodes on inputs to high-performance amplifiers that are DC isolated from the data signals input to amplifiers are cancelled by connecting a highly resistive element between the input node and a predetermined potential, particularly useful in proximity communication systems in which two chips are connected through capacitive or inductive coupling circuits formed jointly in the two chips. The resistive element may be an off MOS transistor connected between the node and a desired bias voltage or a MOS transistor with its gate and drain connected to the potential. Multiple bias voltages may be distributed to all receivers and locally selected by a multiplexer for application to one or two input nodes of the receiver. The receiver output can also serve as a predetermined potential when the resistive element has a long time constant compared to the data rate or the resistive element is non-linear. |
| US08644755B2 |
Method and system for managing learning materials presented offline
Managing offline presentation of learning material may include associating identification strings with various portions of the learning material. When a learner is presented with the learning materials, identification strings associated with the learning materials may also be presented to the learner. The progress of the learner with respect to the learning materials may be identified based on the identification strings. |
| US08644753B2 |
Cleaning blade, and image forming apparatus and process cartridge using same
A cleaning blade for cleaning a moving surface of an object by contacting an edge thereof with the moving surface is provided. The cleaning blade includes a strip-shaped elastic main body, in which a leading end portion thereof including the edge is impregnated with an ultraviolet-crosslinked resin; and a cover layer, which is located on a surface of a portion of the crosslinked resin-impregnated portion including the edge as an outermost layer and which has higher hardness than the strip-shaped elastic main body. |
| US08644752B2 |
Image processing device and image processing method
An image processing device has an image forming portion, a heating portion and a supplying portion. The image forming portion forms an image on a sheet. The heating portion heats the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming portion at a predetermined temperature, to thereby fix the image on the sheet. The supplying portion supplies the sheet on which an image is fixed previously. Further, the heating portion heats the sheet on which the image is fixed and which is supplied from the supplying portion at a temperature higher than the predetermined temperature to thereby remove the image. |
| US08644750B2 |
Fixing device including resistor layers having volume resistivity and image forming apparatus having fixing device
A fixing device includes: a rotating fixing body including a resistance heating layer disposed throughout an entire periphery; and a pressure-applying member pressed against an outer peripheral surface of the rotating fixing body to form a fixing nip. The rotating fixing body further includes: a pair of electrodes each of which is a layer disposed along a different one of edges of the resistance heating layer throughout an entire periphery; and a pair of resistor layers each of which is disposed between the resistance heating layer and a different one of the electrodes. An inner edge of each resistor layer is positioned at a location corresponding to or axially more inwardly of an inner edge of the electrode. The resistor layers are higher in volume resistivity than the electrodes. |
| US08644743B2 |
Method and apparatus to improve belt roll fusing stripping latitude by strip shoe position adjustment
According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided apparatus and methods of improving the self-stripping capabilities of a printing system employing a belt roll fuser structure. An exemplary embodiment apparatus comprises a pressure roll; a fuser belt; a nip formed by the fuser belt contacting the pressure roll, the nip including an inlet end where a medium enters the nip, an outlet end where the medium exits the nip, and a first nip width defined between the inlet end and the outlet end; and a striping shoe coupled to a controller that uses a lookup table to incrementally move the stripping shoe to some defined optimum position to compensate for at least one of belt degradation, media weight, and media coating to gain stripping latitude. |
| US08644742B2 |
Developer supply device and image forming apparatus having the same
A developer supply device is provided, which includes a developer fluidizing unit including a movable member that moves in a moving direction identical to a developer transfer direction while contacting a predetermined contact range of a developer transfer surface of a transfer board disposed along an inner wall of a developer storage section, which developer fluidizing unit fluidizes development agent stored in the developer storage section by movement of the movable member, and a developer level adjusting unit that adjusts a level of the development agent stored in the developer storage section to be higher than a downstream end of the predetermined contact range of the developer transfer surface of the transfer board in the moving direction of the movable member. |
| US08644737B2 |
Developing device and electrophotographic image forming apparatus including the same
A developing device including a two-component developer including toner and a carrier. The developing device includes first and second developer housing portions divided by a barrier wall having first and second communication openings. A development member is disposed on the first developer housing portion, and first and second agitators are respectively disposed on the first and second developer housing portions. The developing device satisfies 1.8≦(Wa/Wb)≦3.0, wherein Wa represents a mass of the developer in the first developer housing portion and Wb represents a mass of the developer in the second developer housing portion at an equilibrium state. |
| US08644732B2 |
Photosensitive drum unit, assembling method therefor, and disassembling method therefor
A photosensitive drum unit is provided, to which a coupling member is easily mounted. A drum flange is fixed to one end portion of a cylinder having a photosensitive layer at a peripheral surface. The coupling member is inserted into the drum flange. Finally, a closing member is mounted to the drum flange. |
| US08644727B2 |
Thermal agglomeration of toner in laser cartridges to aid recycling
A low cost batch or continuous toner agglomeration process for laser printer toner cartridges that virtually eliminates generation of airborne toner and that provides associated health and safety benefits. The residual powdered toner in cartridges is solidified in a clean, low cost thermal agglomeration process. |
| US08644724B2 |
Image forming device
An image forming device, comprising: an endless belt stretched by a plurality of rollers; and a detection sensor located to face one of the plurality of rollers while sandwiching the endless belt between the detection sensor and the one of the plurality of rollers, the detection sensor reading information formed on the endless belt through use of reflection of light. A recessed part is formed, to catch foreign particles, on the one of the plurality of rollers at a position which is shifted in an axis direction of the one of the plurality of rollers with respect to a detection area on the endless belt to which light from the detection sensor is irradiated. |
| US08644723B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus is for transferring a toner image on an image carrier onto a transfer medium, and thermally fixing the toner image by a fixing device, and comprises a cleaner removing residual toner on the image carrier. The apparatus: acquires information relating to a distribution of a density of the residual toner at each position within a section on the image carrier at an end of an image forming job, the section extending from the transfer position to immediately before a cleaning position; determines, based on the information, whether or not the density of the residual toner at the transfer position exceeds a corresponding threshold density pertaining to occurrence of fusion of the residual toner; and causes, if determining negatively, the drive unit to stop when the image forming job is completed and the residual toner at the transfer position reaches a predetermined position within the section. |
| US08644718B2 |
Image forming apparatus having rotary developing unit, method for controlling, and storage medium
A controller unit determines the operation mode of a device when an error relating to a color cartridge has been detected. When the controller unit determines that the operation mode of the device is a toner replacement priority mode, the controller unit determines whether or not the number of times a monochrome printing job has been executed is equal to or greater than a threshold value without resolving the error. When the number of times a monochrome printing job has been executed is equal to or greater than a threshold value without resolving the error, the controller unit switches the operation mode of the device to a monochrome performance priority mode. |
| US08644717B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method for double-sided printing
An image forming apparatus and a method are provided. The apparatus includes an image forming unit that discharges ink; a transfer unit that performs a first conveying operation of conveying the sheet in a state in which a first surface thereof faces the image forming unit, and a second conveying operation of conveying the sheet in a state in which a second surface thereof faces the image forming unit after the first conveying operation; a detecting unit that detects a jam of the sheet subjected to the second conveying operation; a setting unit that sets a dry time for drying the ink; and a control unit that controls the transfer unit to start the second conveying operation after the dry time has elapsed after the first conveying operation, wherein the setting unit sets the dry time for a current sheet based on the detection result of a previous sheet. |
| US08644713B2 |
Optical burst mode clock and data recovery
An optical receiver, transmitter, transceiver or transponder for bursty, framed or continuous data. The optical receiver includes a burst mode clock recovery module that recovers the clock rapidly and with a small number of preamble or overhead bits at the front end of the data. A local clock is used for timing when the recovered clock is not available. Transitions between the recovered clock and local clock are smoothed out to avoid undesirable artifacts. |
| US08644712B2 |
Opto-electronic transceiver module with housing having thermally conductive protrusion
An opto-electronic communication module includes a housing, a circuit substrate, and an opto-electronic communication device, such as a laser, mounted on the circuit substrate. A protrusion that is unitarily formed in the housing extends through the circuit substrate to provide a thermal path to promote dissipation of heat emitted by the opto-electronic communication device. |
| US08644709B2 |
Multiport passive device for sharing optical signals
A multiport passive optical signal sharing device enabling optical signals received by each of a first plurality of ports of the device to be transmitted to all of the ports of a second plurality of ports of the device. The device includes a first coupling mechanism adapted to combine signals received by each port of the first plurality of ports of said device into a first optical signal, the first optical signal being transmitted over a bi-directional optical link. The device further includes a second coupling mechanism and guide for redirecting the first optical signal in a form of a second optical signal into the bi-directional optical link, in the opposite direction from that of the first optical signal, the first coupling mechanism being adapted to duplicate the second optical signal on each port of the second plurality of ports of the device. |
| US08644708B2 |
Coupled seed light injection for wavelength division multiplexing passive optical networks
An apparatus comprising a first optical transmitter configured to couple to a second optical transmitter, a first optical receiver, and a seed light source, wherein the first optical transmitter and the first optical receiver are part of a first passive optical network (PON) and the second optical transmitter and a second optical receiver are part of a second PON, and wherein at least one of the first optical transmitter and the second optical transmitter is an injection locked laser transmitter. Also disclosed is a method comprising feeding a seed light to a plurality of injection locked laser transmitters in a plurality of PONs using only one broadband light source (BLS), wherein each PON comprises an optical line terminal (OLT) transmitter and a plurality of optical network units (ONUs) transmitters. |
| US08644703B2 |
Resource utilization method and system
An optimal resource utilization method and system is disclosed. The method includes monitoring an optical network comprising optical cross connect (OXC) nodes comprising regenerators and connected by links. Communication paths each comprising a group of OXC nodes connected by links of said links are selected. Routing demands, working communication paths, and protection communication paths are selected. A computer processor assigns successive links a wave length and allocates regenerators to multiple successive links. The computer processor positions a first group of the regenerators along the working communication paths and positioning a second group of regenerators along the protection communication paths. |
| US08644700B2 |
Digital camera with high dynamic range mode of operation
A digital camera is provided with a high dynamic range (HDR) mode of operation wherein a nominal exposure is automatically bracketed by one or more under exposures and one or more overexposures. The images thus obtained can then be used by suitable software to process the images to produce a final HDR image. |
| US08644698B2 |
Focusing-state detection apparatus, imaging apparatus, and its control method
In an apparatus having a vertical focusing-state detection area and a lateral focusing-state detection area in a cross focusing point, wherein either one of the focusing-state detection areas has a calculation range that is overlapping with the adjacent focusing point, a photographing result desired by a photographer can be obtained without bringing into focus a subject in the focusing point adjacent to the cross focusing point selected by the photographer. |
| US08644696B2 |
Image capturing device and automatic backlash correction method thereof
The present invention discloses an image capturing device and an automatic backlash correction method, comprising: a group of zoom lenses, a storage module and a processing module. The processing module drives the group of zoom lenses moving to a datum point to get the moving step value. The current backlash value is then calculated according to the moving step value and the predetermined step value. Then, the difference value between the current backlash value and the predetermined step value are stored in the storage module. The processing module determines whether the difference value is within an allowable error range. When the difference value is within the allowable error range, the processing module writes the current backlash value into the storage module to replace the backlash compensation value. Therefore, the backlash compensation value of the image capturing device can be corrected automatically to enhance image quality. |
| US08644692B2 |
Method for heating medical fluid using multi-input voltage capable heater
A method for heating medical fluid with different supply voltages comprising: configuring first, second and third switches in electrical communication with first and second power lines, the switches configured such that (i) in a first switch state first and second heater elements are placed in series, solely via a closing of the first switch, for operation with a first supply voltage applied to the first and second power lines, and (ii) in a second switch state the first and second heater elements are placed in parallel, via the second and third switches, for operation with a second supply voltage applied to the first and second power lines, and configuring a control element to automatically set the switches in the first or the second switch state based upon a signal sent to the control element indicative of the first or the second supply voltage. |
| US08644688B2 |
Community-based recommendation engine
A community-based recommendation engine is provided. In one example embodiment, a system to provide community-based recommendation engine comprises a recommendation detector and a decision module. The recommendation detector is configured to receive, at a viewer's system, a recommendation for a content item from a contact of a viewer. The decision module may be configured to determine an action to be performed at the viewer's system, based on the recommendation and on one or more rules, accept the recommendation as an instruction to perform the action, and initiate the action at the viewer's system. |
| US08644682B2 |
Playable content
Authoring a Blu-ray disc (BD), the method comprising: creating playable content structures; linking elementary stream data to the playable content structures; merging the elementary stream data into packetized elementary streams; and generating BD-ROM structures representing playable entities, wherein the playable entities provide information describing the packetized elementary streams and navigation scenarios of the BD. |
| US08644681B2 |
Device and method for delayed reading of digital video data
The invention relates to a method of delayed reading of digital video data stored in a file on a recording medium. According to the method, a fixed quantity of the storage resources of the recording medium is allocated to the file storing these data application to digital decoders. |
| US08644679B2 |
Method and system for dynamic control of digital media content playback and advertisement delivery
An approach provides control of digital media. A stream of digital media that includes an advertisement is received. The stream is selectively skipped to avoid the advertisement. In addition, the amount of advertisement played back is tracked. Further, tracking information is generated based on the tracking. |
| US08644678B2 |
Video recording management
A device may estimate a probability that each video recording, of a group of video recordings, will be played back at the device during a time interval. The group of video recordings may include video recordings stored locally at the device and video recording stored at a remote location. The device may also determine whether to transfer a video recording to the remote location or retrieve a video recording from the remote location based on the estimated probabilities. |
| US08644675B2 |
Methods and systems for use in providing playback of variable length content in a fixed length framework
The present embodiments provide methods and systems for use in providing supplemental content to be played back with a portable storage medium. Some embodiments retrieve supplemental content associated with a portable storage medium distributed to be played back by a playback device; access a predefined clip template; process the supplemental content in accordance with the predefined clip template; and generate a plurality of clips of supplemental content in accordance with the predefined clip template, such that the plurality of clips of supplemental content have a playback length that is a fraction of a playback length of the supplemental content. |
| US08644674B2 |
Control layer indexed playback
A method and system for controlling a playback experience for one or more videos is disclosed. Actions are specified in control documents for the one or more videos. The actions specify start time and duration for each action, optional introductory or confirmation messages or interface controls, optional gestures, and/or intents that are triggered by the actions. The various control documents are compiled into a single control document that includes a link to the one or more videos and the actions various. Multiple parties can control the playback experience with multiple control documents to provide a multi-layered control experience. |
| US08644671B2 |
Display apparatus, display system, and control method thereof
A display apparatus includes: a display unit; a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) through which an external device can be connected; a user input unit; a user interface (UI) generator; and a controller which outputs a command signal for generating a UI for external device through the HDMI if a control signal for generating the UI for external device is input to the user input unit, and controls the UI generator to display the UI for the external device on the display unit based on UI data input from the external device. |
| US08644664B2 |
Broad-bandwidth optical fiber
The present invention embraces an optical fiber that includes a central core having an alpha refractive index profile with respect to an outer optical cladding. The optical fiber also includes an inner cladding and a buried trench. The central core includes a core matrix doped with at least fluorine and a dopant element that increases refractive index. The optical fiber typically has reduced bending losses and cladding effect as well as a high bandwidth at the wavelengths of 850 nanometers and 1300 nanometers for high-data-rate applications. |
| US08644658B2 |
Light transmission system with optical waveguide
A light transmission system includes a light guide support, a first convex lens, an optical waveguide member, and two second convex lenses. The light guide support includes a first surface, a second surface, a hollow space formed between the first surface and the second surface, and an inner reflecting surface forming an angle of 45 degrees relative to the first surface. The first convex lens is formed at the first surface, and configured for converging light to the inner reflecting surface. The optical waveguide member is located at the hollow space, and includes a main section parallel with the first surface, two first branch sections extending from and forming equal angles relative to the main section, and two second branch sections extending from the respective first branch sections. The two second convex lenses are formed at the second surface and aligned with the respective second branch sections. |
| US08644650B2 |
Mach-Zehnder having segmented drive signal electrodes
Consistent with the present disclosure, MZ drive signal electrodes may be provided relatively close to and parallel to one another, such that the underlying waveguide arms may also be provided close to and parallel to one another. As a result, common mode performance of an MZ modulator may be obtained. In one example, an electrode wiring configuration consistent with the present disclosure may permit a waveguide arm separation of 40 microns or less. |
| US08644647B2 |
Optical control device
It is an object to provide an optical control device capable of realizing speed matching between a microwave and a light wave or impedance matching of microwaves and of reducing a driving voltage. An optical control device including a thin plate 1 (11) which has an electro-optical effect and has a thickness of 10 μm or less, an optical waveguide 2 formed in the thin plate, and control electrodes for controlling light passing through the optical waveguide is characterized in that the control electrodes are configured to include a first electrode and a second electrode disposed to interpose the thin plate therebetween, the first electrode has a coplanar type electrode including at least a signal electrode 4 and a ground electrode 5, and the second electrode has at least a ground electrode 54 (55, 56) and is configured to apply an electric field to the optical waveguide in cooperation with the signal electrode of the first electrode. |
| US08644645B2 |
Image processing device and processing method thereof
The invention is directed to an image processing device and a processing method thereof. The image processing device comprises an image calibration module estimating multiple local motions and global motions of unselected images relative to a target image and performing multiple motions calibrations so as to generate multiple calibrated images, a moving-object detection module determining if a difference value between each of the local motions and the corresponding global motions is greater than a threshold value and if a pixel difference value between each pixel point of the target image and each pixel point of the calibrated images is greater than a predetermined difference value so as to generate multiple object motion pointers, and an image blending module performing a calculation on each pixel point of the target and calibrated images based on the object motion pointers so as to generate a super-resolution image. |
| US08644644B2 |
Methods and apparatus for blending images
Methods and apparatus for blending regions from multiple images to produce a blended image. An image blending module may obtain multiple digital images of a scene. A base image and a source image are selected, and a stroke is applied to the source image to indicate a desired region which is to be blended with the base image. A region in the source image is identified from the stroke using a segmentation technique such as a graph cut algorithm, and the identified region is blended with the corresponding region of the base image, for example using alpha blending. Additional strokes may be applied to the source image to select other regions to be blended with the base image. A different image may be selected as a source image, and a region from the different image may be selected for blending with the base image. |
| US08644643B2 |
Convolution filtering in a graphics processor
Techniques for performing convolution filtering using hardware normally available in a graphics processor are described. Convolution filtering of an arbitrary H×W grid of pixels is achieved by partitioning the grid into smaller sections, performing computation for each section, and combining the intermediate results for all sections to obtain a final result. In one design, a command to perform convolution filtering on a grid of pixels with a kernel of coefficients is received, e.g., from a graphics application. The grid is partitioned into multiple sections, where each section may be 2×2 or smaller. Multiple instructions are generated for the multiple sections, with each instruction performing convolution computation on at least one pixel in one section. Each instruction may include pixel position information and applicable kernel coefficients. Instructions to combine the intermediate results from the multiple instructions are also generated. |
| US08644638B2 |
Automatic localized adjustment of image shadows and highlights
The shadows and highlights regions of an image can be automatically optimized in a localized manner. A mask can be generated that can automatically identify local regions of a digital image as highlight regions or shadow regions. Different processing can then be automatically applied to highlight regions separately from the shadow regions. Luminance histograms can be obtained for the overall digital image, as well as those portions of the digital image that are in the highlights regions and, separately, the shadows regions. The moments of those histograms, including the average and the variance, can be compared to target moments and processing can continue to be applied to highlights regions and, separately, shadows regions, until one or more target moments are achieved. Target moments can be generated from original moments of the original image histograms based on relationships generated from a prior manual optimization of a reference set of images. |
| US08644637B2 |
Image processing method
In a time-of-flight type, secondary ionization mass-spectrometry apparatus, spread of a primary beam irradiating a sample is calculated through a numeric or practical-experiment process, and the spread is used as a blurring function to restore an image to reduce blur. Provided is an image processing method of a mass-spectrum image derived by irradiating a surface of a sample with a converged short pulsed primary beam, while changing an irradiating position, to display two-dimensionally a signal intensity based on a ratio of mass to an electric charge relating to a mass spectrum, derived by a time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometer. The method includes the steps of: calculating a blurring function based on a shape of the primary beam incident on the surface of the sample; and restoring the mass-spectrum image based on the blurring function. |
| US08644636B2 |
Method and apparatus for removing image blocking artifact by using transformation coefficient
A method and apparatus for removing an image blocking artifact by using a transformation coefficient are provided. The method includes: detecting a first blocking artifact which is in a flat region of the input image; removing the first blocking artifact using a number of low frequency coefficients from among transformation coefficients for each transformation block of a plurality of transformation blocks of the input image, based on a result of detecting the first blocking artifact; detecting an edge region of the input image; and removing a second blocking artifact, which is in an edge region of an intermediate image obtained from the removing of the first blocking artifact of the input image, based on the detected edge region in the input image. |
| US08644632B2 |
Enhancing image quality
At least one particular method and apparatus provide an enhanced quality low resolution image extracted from a scalable high resolution bit stream in a DCP bit stream. In various implementations, an enhancement layer is used to produce the enhanced low resolution image. The enhancement layer may include, for example, spatial-domain or frequency-domain information to be used to enhance the typical low resolution image extracted from a DCP bit stream. One specific process includes encoding a digital image into an encoded image. The encoded image is capable of being processed to provide a higher resolution decoding of the digital image and to provide a lower resolution decoding of the digital image. The process further includes encoding additional information for enhancing the lower resolution decoding to provide an enhanced lower resolution image. A complimentary signal and decoding process are also provided, as well as structures for performing the processes. |
| US08644621B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image retrieval method
A image processing apparatus extracts a plurality of feature points, comprising a local feature amount, from an inputted image, and a region information that relates to the feature point, identifies at least one of the plurality of feature points, associates the feature point thus identified with a feature point with a high relational degree between the feature point thus identified and a region that is denoted by the region information of the feature point thus identified, and registers the feature point thus identified and associated as an index of the inputted image. |
| US08644620B1 |
Processing of matching regions in a stream of screen images
In one general aspect, a computer-readable storage medium can be configured to store instructions that when executed cause a host device to perform a process. The instructions can include instructions to calculate a set of hash values associated with a set of blocks of a first image, and calculate a hash value associated with a block of a second image. The instructions can include instructions to receive an indicator that the hash value of the block of the second image matches a hash value from the set of hash values associated with the first image, and designate, in response to the indicator, the block of the second image for duplication. |
| US08644610B1 |
Method and system for searching for information on a network in response to an image query sent by a user from a mobile communications device
Present invention relates to a method and system for automatic searching for information on a network in response to an image query sent by a user. The image query includes an image that is captured by using a mobile communications device with a camera. The image is processed to detect the text present in it. The detected text is then recognized using an OCR. Subsequently, the text is searched for matches in the corresponding domain database, selected from the various domain databases present in the network. Thereafter, selected matches and additional related information is sent to the user. |
| US08644609B2 |
Up-sampling binary images for segmentation
A method of up-sampling binary images for segmentation is described. In an embodiment, digital images are down-sampled before segmentation. The resulting initial binary segmentation, which has a lower resolution than the original image, is then up-sampled and smoothed to generate an interim non-binary solution which has a higher resolution than the initial binary segmentation. The final binary segmentation for the image is then computed from the interim non-binary solution based on a threshold. This method does not use the original image data in inferring the final binary segmentation solution from the initial binary segmentation. In an embodiment, the method may be applied to all images and in another embodiment, the method may be used for images which comprise a large number of pixels in total or in single dimension and smaller images may not be down-sampled before segmentation. |
| US08644606B2 |
Method for visual image detection
The method uses several steps to collect, analyze, compare, and flag an image for inappropriate content. The image is first collected based on detection and is analyzed via a database of inappropriate images. The collected image is scanned for skin-tone and/or texture, then the method eliminates the background of the image. The method then analyzes the curvature of the image. The next step is body part detection for inappropriate body parts. The image is then given a score based on all of the above steps. If the score is above a point, the image is flagged. If it is below a preselected point, the image is released. If the score is between the two points, it is withheld for further analysis. |
| US08644602B2 |
Colour correcting foreground colours for visual quality improvement
A method (199) is disclosed for modifying colors of text extracted from an image of a document page to improve visual quality. The document image comprises text and image regions of various colors. The method divides (100) the document image into a plurality of connected components, the connected components comprising pixels of similar color that are closely spatially located, and selects from the image a plurality of the connected components that represent text. The plurality of text connected components are grouped to form a logical structure grouping of said page comprising one or more text blocks wherein each said text block represents a text line or paragraph. One or more logically consistent color sets are then formed (120, 699, 399, 499) for each text block based on the colors of the connected components in the text block. The logically consistent color sets represent all text of visually similar color of the corresponding text line or paragraph. The method then applies color enhancement (130) to the logically consistent color sets to enhance visual quality and correct image defects in the document image. |
| US08644596B1 |
Conversion of monoscopic visual content using image-depth database
An image converter compiles three-dimensional content into a data store, identifies a number of stereo image pairs from the three-dimensional content, computes a depth map for each of the stereo image pairs from the three-dimensional content, and partitions the stereo image pairs in the data store into multiple categories. The image converter determines a depth cue for each of the categories based on the depth map for each of the stereo image pairs in each category. The image converter computes a depth map for a category associated with a two-dimensional input image based on the determined depth cue and renders a three-dimensional output image from the two-dimensional input image using the depth map for the category. |
| US08644595B2 |
Methods and apparatus for displaying images
In one aspect, a method of displaying data is provided. The method comprises obtaining projection data of an object by exposing an object to radiation at a plurality of view angles and detecting at least some of the radiation exiting the object to form the projection data, operating a computer to reconstruct the projection data at a reconstruction resolution to form image data comprising a plurality of voxels representing locations within the object, each of the plurality of voxels being assigned an associated intensity indicative of a density of the subject matter at the respective location, determining a maximum resolution for display, above which variation in intensity between adjacent voxels is not supported by information in the projection data, the maximum resolution being less than the reconstruction resolution, and displaying the image data at or below the maximum resolution. |
| US08644594B2 |
Three-dimensional image editing device and three-dimensional image editing method
Even when the size of a three-dimensional image is changed, the pop-out amount is automatically adjusted to one intended by the user. The pop-out amount is adjusted based on a conversion characteristic defining a relationship between the size and the pop-out amount of a three-dimensional image as the size of the three-dimensional image is changed, and therefore the pop-out amount of the three-dimensional image can be automatically adjusted to a given pop-out amount preferred by the user or intended by the user. |
| US08644589B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing model-based OPC for pattern decomposed features
A method for decomposing a target circuit pattern containing features to be imaged into multiple patterns. The process includes the steps of separating the features to be printed into a first pattern and a second pattern; performing a first optical proximity correction process on the first pattern and the second pattern; determining an imaging performance of the first pattern and the second pattern; determining a first error between the first pattern and the imaging performance of the first pattern, and a second error between the second pattern and the imaging performance of said second pattern; utilizing the first error to adjust the first pattern to generate a modified first pattern; utilizing the second error to adjust the second pattern to generate a modified second pattern; and applying a second optical proximity correction process to the modified first pattern and the modified second pattern. |
| US08644588B2 |
Photo-mask and wafer image reconstruction
A system receives a mask pattern and a first image of at least a portion of a photo-mask corresponding to the mask pattern. The system determines a second image of at least the portion of the photo-mask based on the first image and the mask pattern. This second image is characterized by additional spatial frequencies than the first image. |
| US08644584B1 |
Apparatus and system for imaging currency bills and financial documents and method for using the same
A stack of currency bills is received, transported, and imaged via an image scanner to produce image data that is reproducible as a visually readable image for each currency bill. Each of the currency bills has an associated serial number and additional identifying character information. The associated currency bill serial number and the additional identifying character information are extracted from the image data of each currency bill. Each currency bill is denominated. A suspect determination is made for each currency bill and upon a determination that a currency bill is a suspect bill, A suspect note report is automatically generated. Fields in the report are populated with information associated with the suspect bill including the extracted serial number, the extracted additional identifying character information, and the denomination of the suspect bill. |
| US08644583B1 |
Apparatus and system for imaging currency bills and financial documents and method for using the same
Currency bills are received, transported, and imaged to produce image data from which a visually readable image of each currency bill can be reproduced. Each of the currency bills includes a denomination, a serial number, and a set of secondary identifiers. One of the currency bills is determined to be a suspect bill. The suspect bill serial number is attempted to be extracted from the image data associated with the suspect bill. In response to failing to extract a complete serial number of the suspect bill, a serial number field in a suspect report is populated with a serial number snippet image. |
| US08644579B2 |
System and method for diagnosing onset of osteoarthritis
The present invention relates to a method of diagnosing/predicting a degenerative disease in the hip of a subject. The method including the steps of applying a compressive force on at least one hip joint of the subject and calculating a compression index value for at least one hip joint, wherein a non-zero compression index value for the at least one hip joint is indicative of the subject developing/having a degenerative disease. The present invention also relates to a diagnostic test for determining incongruity in a hip joint of a subject, where the test includes the steps of applying a compressive force on at least one hip joint of the subject and calculating a compression index value, wherein a non-zero compression index value for the hip joint is indicative of at least mild hip joint incongruity. |
| US08644574B2 |
Measurement of thin-layered structures in X-ray computer tomography
A method for reconstructing an image includes receiving tomographic data representative of an image signal; deriving, from the image signal, a plurality of components; identifying a spatial location associated with maximum phase congruency of the components; incorporating, into an image, an edge at the spatial location; and providing an output representative of the image. |
| US08644572B2 |
Systems for processing images generated using fourier domain optical coherence tomography (FDOCT)
Methods, systems and computer program products for managing frequency domain optical coherence tomography (FDOCT) image resolution. A spectrum used to acquire an image of a subject is calibrated and default dispersion correction parameters are set. Default dispersion management parameters associated with a region of the image of the subject are also set. The image of the subject is acquires after setting the default dispersion correction parameters and the default dispersion management parameters. A quality of the acquired image is compared to a quality metric for the acquired image. The dispersion correction parameters are adjusted if the quality of the acquired image does not meet or exceed the quality metric for the acquired image. The acquired image is reprocesses based on the adjusted dispersion correction parameters. The steps of comparing, adjusting and reprocessing are repeated until the acquired image meets or exceeds the quality metric for the acquired image. |
| US08644569B2 |
Automated fly through review mechanism
A novel and useful mechanism for generating a fly-through review for digital images such as tissue sample scans. A fly-through path based on the sample image is determined and one or more fly-through curves are generated. Two-dimensional image manipulations are applied to the sample image in accordance with the one or more fly-through curves and any user preferences to generate a sequence of frame images to be displayed. |
| US08644567B2 |
Method for acquiring a three-dimensional image of a set of teeth
The present invention relates to a method for acquiring a 3-Dimensional (3D) image of a set of teeth, and, in particular, to a method for acquiring a 3D image of a set of teeth which can continuously acquire a plurality of 3D images of a set of teeth which show the change of dentition of a patient using only a single Computed Tomography (CT) scan. |
| US08644566B2 |
Biometric authentication device and biometric authentication method
A biometric authentication device includes: a biometric information acquiring unit which acquires a user's biometric information and generates a biometric image representing the biometric information; a storage unit which stores data concerning registered biometric information of at least one registered user; and a processing unit. The processing unit detects from the biometric image a moderately blurred region having a first degree of blurring and a highly blurred region having a second degree of blurring which is higher than the first degree of blurring, identifies the cause of the occurrence of the highly blurred region and the moderately blurred region, and presents to the user a warning message corresponding to the cause of the occurrence of the blurred regions. |
| US08644559B2 |
Image processing device and image processing method
An image processing device comprises: a tracking area setting unit that sets a tracking area in an input moving image obtained by photographing an object; a following feature point setting unit that detects a feature point that exhibits a motion in correlation with the motion of the tracking area and sets the detected feature point as a following feature point; a motion detection unit that detects movement over time of the following feature point within the input image; and a clip area setting unit that sets a clip area of an image to be employed when a partial image including the tracking area is clipped out of the input image for either recording or displaying or both recording and displaying, and that sets a size and a position of the clip area on the basis of a motion detection result obtained by the motion detection unit. |
| US08644544B2 |
Dynamic microphone unit and dynamic microphone
A dynamic microphone unit includes a diaphragm vibrating in response to received sound waves; a voice coil fixed to the diaphragm; a magnetic circuit generating magnetism in a magnetic gap where the voice coil is disposed; and an acoustic resistor disposed in a space adjacent to the reverse of the diaphragm. The acoustic resistor includes a cover disposed between a felt and the diaphragm. A case having an open end and a closed end accommodates the felt and the cover. The cover has holes transmitting sound waves at the closed end and a bending portion at the open end which urges the cover and the felt. |
| US08644543B2 |
Hearing aid device having a sealing device
With a hearing aid device in a frame configuration, acoustic feedback is avoided with an opened battery charger. To this end, a seal surrounds the frame component in an annular manner, the seal sealing a gap between the frame component and the housing thus providing a more user friendly hearing aid. |
| US08644542B2 |
Hearing aid with wireless battery charging capability
In an embodiment, a hearing aid is provided. The hearing aid may include a set of battery charging terminals configured to be connected to a battery. A receiver oscillator circuit is electrically coupled to the set of battery charging terminals, the receiver oscillator circuit includes a receiver coil. The receiver coil may be tuned to resonate at a resonance frequency in a range of MHz and at the resonance frequency. The receiver coil may be configured to receive magnetic energy in the form of electromagnetic waves of a frequency similar to the resonance frequency of the receiver coil and to convert the magnetic energy of the received electromagnetic waves to an electrical current to charge the battery via the set of battery charging terminals. |
| US08644541B2 |
Method of installing a signal processing component in a housing of a hearing apparatus and hearing apparatus
A hearing apparatus and in particular a hearing aid are to be optimized as regards the risk of feedback. The hearing apparatus contains a housing, having a first opening and a second opening, and with a frame, in or on which a signal processing component is attached, and which can be inserted into the first opening of the housing as far as an end position. A ramp is disposed in the housing which interacts with the frame such that the frame is also moved perpendicular to the direction of insertion toward the second opening during insertion into the housing along a direction of insertion only in one section as far as the end position, which is less than 30% of the insertion path from the first opening to the end position. |
| US08644539B2 |
Hearing aid having improved RF immunity to RF electromagnetic interference produced from a wireless communications device
A hearing aid has improved immunity to RF electromagnetic interference produced from wireless communications devices. A microphone receives audio signals from the environment. Audio circuitry is connected to the microphone and amplifies the audio signals. A speaker is connected to the audio circuitry and directs the audio signals into an ear canal of the user of the hearing aid. The audio connection lines connect the microphone and audio circuitry and the speaker and audio circuitry. A filter is connected into each of the audio connection lines and operative for reducing the RF coupling from a wireless communications device. |
| US08644536B2 |
User control for hearing prostheses
A method of operating a hearing prosthesis. The hearing prosthesis includes memory and a clock and is configured to deliver stimuli to a user. The method includes determining the stimuli, with the hearing prosthesis, in response to a sound signal and at least in part by using one or more adjustable parameters stored in the memory. The method further includes receiving, from the user, a request to adjust at least one of the parameters, and determining whether to make the requested adjustment by reference to an amount of time, as determined by said clock, or a function based around an amount of time since a predefined event. |
| US08644535B2 |
Method for adjusting a hearing device and corresponding hearing device
A method for adjusting a hearing device, in particular a hearing aid, to an individual user, includes firstly recording data relating to at least one setting of the hearing device together with direct or indirect temporal information. Thereupon, a period of time during which the at least one setting was/is active is automatically determined. Finally, at least one parameter of the hearing device is automatically adapted as a function of the determined period of time and the at least one setting. This affords the possibility of adapting, for example, time constants according to individual usage. A corresponding hearing device is also provided. |
| US08644534B2 |
Recording medium
A recording medium is provided that records a separating step of separating a mixed sound signal in which a plurality of excitations are mixed into the respective excitations, and a step of performing speech detection on the plurality of separated excitation signals, judging whether or not the plurality of excitation signals are speech and generating speech section information indicating speech/non-speech information for each excitation signal. The recording medium also includes at least one of a step of calculating and analyzing an utterance overlap duration using the speech section information for combinations of the plurality of excitation signals and a step of calculating and analyzing a silence duration. The recording medium further includes a step of calculating a degree of establishment of a conversation indicating the degree of establishment of a conversation based on the extracted utterance overlap duration or the silence duration. |
| US08644533B2 |
Method and apparatus for hearing assistance device microphones
One embodiment of the present subject matter includes an apparatus, including: a microphone to convert sound into a signal; and an electrically adjustable shutter including conductive polymer, the shutter in acoustic communication with the microphone and configured to provide an adjustable acoustic resistance to the microphone. Variations include conductive traces adapted to apply an electric signal to the conductive polymer. In some embodiments a diaphragm in acoustic communication with the shutter configured to detect acoustic energy is included. The present subject matter also provides methods including, but not limited to a method for operating a microphone in a hearing assistance device, including measuring acoustic energy detected by a diaphragm in acoustic communication with a shutter via a conduit, and controllably adjusting an acoustic resistance of the shutter with an electric signal to change directionality of the microphone. |
| US08644532B2 |
Channel coordination between a wireless earphone and a transmitter
A method of the present invention includes coordinating tuning to the same channel of a radio band wherein the following steps are performed: tuning to a channel, within a radio band, that uses a side band; receiving control information in the side band of the channel; and processing the received audio information in the channel using the control information. |
| US08644531B2 |
Information processing system and information processing method
An information processing system includes a display, a display sensor that detects a movement or a rotation of the display, a transducer unit as an earphone unit or a headphone unit, a sound processing part that processes an audio signal so as to localize a sound image in a position outside a head of a listener wearing the transducer unit and listening to sound, and an operation controller that computes an output from the display sensor to obtain a moving direction and a moving distance, or a rotation direction and a rotation angle of the display, and controls sound processing performed by the sound processing part in accordance with a result of the computation so that a positional relation between the display and the head of the listener is mapped as a positional relation between an image display surface and the head of the listener in a virtual viewing space. |
| US08644528B2 |
Microfabricated microphone
The present invention provides a microfabricated microphone that can mitigate negative effects caused by residual stress in its sensing diaphragm. In particular, a center-supported diaphragm is provided to allow residual stress to relax through the radial expansion or contraction of the diaphragm. The diaphragm is suspended by an anchor that is attached to a supporting beam. The supporting beam is situated in between one or more sections of a back-plate electrode. The supporting beam is mechanically and electrically separated from the back-plate electrode. Various mechanical dimensions of the aforementioned components are also disclosed to optimize performance of a microfabricated microphone in different operational conditions. Further, a method and system for fabricating a microfabricated microphone with a center-supported diaphragm is also disclosed. |
| US08644522B2 |
Method and system for modeling external volume changes within an acoustic echo canceller
A method and system are provided in which a device, such as an acoustic echo canceller, may reduce the residual echo that may be heard at the far end of a conversation when an external speaker volume is changed. The device may compute a gain based on an echo estimate produced by a filter and on a near-end signal comprising audio information. The gain may be based on a correlation of the echo estimate and the near-end signal that tracks the changes in volume. Once computed, the gain may be validated to ensure that it is being applied when appropriate. The echo estimate may be adjusted by first applying the gain to an output of the filter and subsequently scaling a value of each of the coefficients of the filter based on the gain. The gain may be smoothed out over consecutive frames based on several adaptation schemes. |
| US08644518B2 |
Audio broadcast collecting method
An audio broadcast collecting method includes a plurality of steps. In one step, an audio broadcast collecting system simultaneously receives a single audio broadcast in a plurality of audio systems. In another step, the audio broadcast collecting system outputs from each of the plurality of audio systems separate audio performances corresponding to the single audio broadcast. In yet another step, the audio broadcast collecting system records an audio sample of the separate audio performances outputted by the plurality of audio systems simultaneously to obtain recorded samples from the plurality of audio systems. |
| US08644517B2 |
System and method for automatic disabling and enabling of an acoustic beamformer
A system and method that automatically disables and/or enables an acoustic beamformer is described herein. The system and method automatically generates an output audio signal by applying beamforming to a plurality of audio signals produced by an array of microphones when it is determined that such beamforming is working effectively and generates the output audio signal based on an audio signal produced by a designated microphone within the array of microphones when it is determined that the beamforming is not working effectively. Depending upon the implementation, the determination of whether the beamforming is working effectively may be based upon a measure of distortion associated with the beamformer response, an estimated level of reverberation, and/or the rate at which a computed look direction used to control the beamformer changes. |
| US08644515B2 |
Display authenticated security association
A system and method for establishing a mutual entity authentication and a shared secret between two devices using displayed values on each device. Unique first private keys and first public keys are assigned to both devices. The public keys are exchanged between the two devices. Both devices compute a shared secret from their own private keys and the received public keys. Both devices compute, exchange, and verify their key authentication codes of the shared secret. If verification is successful, both devices use the shared secret to generate a displayed value. One or more users compare the displayed values and provide an indication to the devices verifying whether the displays match. If the displays match, then the devices compute a shared master key, which is used either directly or via a later-generated session key for securing message communications between the two devices. |
| US08644512B2 |
Mission planning interface for accessing vehicle resources
In an aspect, the invention features a method for mission planning. The method includes displaying a graphical representation of a geographical area and displaying a graphical representation of one or more regions within the geographical area. The method also includes accepting a specification of geographical regions from a user, accepting a specification of a set of one or more receivers from the user, and accepting a specification of resource access rights associated with the specific one of the geographical regions from the user. The method also includes remotely causing access to a vehicle's resources to be provided or denied to the specified set of one or more receivers based on their association with the specific one of the geographical regions specified by the user when the vehicle is within the specific one of the geographical regions specified by the user. |
| US08644511B2 |
System and method for providing digital content
A method of providing access to content based upon one or more adequately-credentialed keys being proximate to a certain location. The method includes a first step of acquiring credential information from at least one key tagged with credential information using a credential acquisition device (CAD) at the certain location. The method also includes a second step of confirming that the credential information meets requirements for receiving the content. Further, the method includes a step of providing access to the content after performing the first and second steps. |
| US08644505B2 |
Remote entitlement processing module integration processing device and method
There is provided a remote entitlement processing module integration processing device. The remote entitlement processing module integration processing device includes: a remote entitlement processing module generating and managing remote smart cards (RSCs) having the number corresponding to the number of host terminals managed by the remote entitlement processing module integration processing device; and a descrambler transferring channel selection information in response to a selection of a pay channel by a user to the remote entitlement processing module and descrambling a scrambled channel signal using a control word (CW) received as a response to the channel selection information, thereby making it possible to minimize dependency between a subscriber device and a conditional access system. |
| US08644504B2 |
Method, apparatus, and system for deciphering media content stream
A method, apparatus and system for media content deciphering is disclosed. In one embodiment, a first content stream is received at a receiver device from a transmitter device coupled to the receiver device, wherein the first content stream having media content formatted in a particular package structure, the media content is associated with High-Definition Content Protection (HDCP) values. The first content stream is deciphered into a second content stream by removing the HDCP values from the first content stream, while the package structure of the media content is maintained. |
| US08644503B2 |
Content server systems and methods
A content server system includes a remote content server including content license information and a local content player coupled to the remote content server by a network, the local content player requiring verification of a license by a user of the local content player as administered by the remote content server. In an alternate embodiment the network includes a local area network. In another alternate embodiment, the network includes the Internet. |
| US08644501B2 |
Paired carrier and pivot steganographic objects for stateful data layering
A system, method and program product for utilizing a steganographic process to hide data element in a carrier object. A system is disclosed that includes: a pivot object generator that generates a pivot object having a key hidden therein, wherein the key is hidden in the pivot object based on an inputted salt; and a carrier object generator that generates a carrier object having a data element hidden therein using a steganographic hiding system, wherein the steganographic hiding system requires utilization of the key to extract the data element from the carrier object. |
| US08644498B2 |
Electronic device
An easy to use electronic device is provided. The electronic device functions as a telephone and has a display portion, an audio input portion, an audio output portion, and operation keys. The display portion has a passive element, and the operation keys have LEDs. The direction of an image displayed by the LEDs is switchable. |
| US08644495B2 |
Echo canceler
An echo canceler 10 generates an echo elimination signal by filtering through adaptive filters 101 and 102 reference signals input from sound sources causing echoes. It includes a sound source number detecting unit 103 for detecting the number of the sound sources causing echoes from the reference signals, and a control unit 105 for making the number of taps of the adaptive filters 101 and 102 variable in accordance with the number of the sound sources detected by the sound source number detecting unit 103. |
| US08644485B1 |
Intelligent softswitch for managing a call
Systems, methods and computer program products for managing a call are described. In some implementations, an intelligent softswitch can be used to communicate with a provider system that can relay or switch one or more outbound calls initiated by a caller and intended for a subscriber to the intelligent softswitch. Upon receiving the relayed call, the intelligent softswitch can process the relayed call using one or more call handling rules that have been specified by the subscriber. After processing, the relayed call is routed back to the provider system for completing the call. |
| US08644484B2 |
System and method for active mobile collaboration
A communication system is provided that uses loosely-coupled client-server architectures to improve the efficiency of communications. The communication system includes client and facilitator applications. The client application is a component of processor-based mobile communication devices. The facilitator application is hosted on one or more servers or other processor-based devices, and communicates with the client application via one or more couplings. The facilitator application can also be distributed among one or more portable processor-based devices including the communication devices hosting the client application. The communication system improves efficiency of voice communications by allowing communication device users to dynamically manage how and when mobile calls take place, intelligently screen calls based on caller identity, urgency, and subject matter, determine which contacts in a directory are available to talk and which ones choose not to be disturbed, and increase accessibility of enterprise and personal contact information from mobile phones. |
| US08644482B2 |
Method and apparatus for implementing and filtering customized ringing signals
A method for implementing Customized Ringing Signal (CRS) services is provided. The method includes: receiving a call request initiated by a caller terminal; obtaining a policy of playing a CRS tone according to the call request, where the policy is a policy of playing a CRS tone, namely, a caller CRS tone or a callee CRS tone, or a policy of filtering the CRS tone; and playing the CRS tone to a callee according to the policy. By setting a policy of playing the CRS tone to the callee in the network or the callee terminal, the users enjoy the CRS services at their own discretion. |
| US08644480B2 |
Telephone call processing
Disclosed embodiments allow telephony services of different types to be provided by a telephone company at a service platform for telephone calls received at a local telephone exchange belonging to the telephone company, but which does not itself support services those different types of services. Additional embodiments allow for disabling a subscriber-configurability feature for a service of a first service type on the local exchange so as to prevent or inhibit a subscriber from configuring a setting which may interfere with services provided on the service platform. |
| US08644479B2 |
Method and apparatus for protecting moderator access for a conference call
A method for protecting moderator access using a communication device. The method includes: displaying an interface for editing a conference call profile, the conference call profile including conference call scheduling information including one or more addressees for communicating with a conference call server, wherein the conference call scheduling information further includes a moderator access code and a participant access code; generating an indicator for the conference call profile for excluding sending of the moderator access code to invited participants; and storing the conference call profile including the indicator in a memory of the communication device. A communication device can be configured to perform the method. |
| US08644476B2 |
Method and system for providing a value added service that is available in a first network to a subscriber in a second network
Method and communication system for providing a value added service, such as an intelligent network (IN) service, which is available in a first network (5), to a subscriber (3) in a second network (7). The first network (5) comprises a first network node (11) for executing the value added service. The method comprises detecting in a terminating call to the subscriber (3) that the subscriber (3) desires to use the value added service, forwarding control of the call towards the first network node (11) associated with a forwarding number in the first network (5), executing the value added service by the first network node (11), and, when necessary, further directing the call towards the subscriber (3) associated with the terminating call. The present method can also be applied to originating calls from a subscriber. In this case, the call is further directed towards a destination associated with the call. |
| US08644471B1 |
Caller name detection and export
Methods, media, and network devices are provided for detecting errors in caller identifier records. A caller name provider is identified for a terminating endpoint that is a recipient of a communication from a transmitting device. The caller name provider receives queries for caller identifier information that will be transmitted to the terminating endpoint. The caller name provider returns records having the caller identifiers in response to the queries. When the records contain an error, the caller name providers receive update requests from a calling party of the transmitting device. The update requests include changes to the records that correct the errors. |
| US08644469B2 |
Methods, systems, and products for monitoring service usage
Usage information is received that describes usage of communication services by a communications device. The usage information is compared to monitoring criteria. When the monitoring criteria is satisfied, an electronic notification message is sent to the communications device. The electronic notification message when a communications service is initiated and before an additional charge for the communications service is incurred. |
| US08644466B1 |
Interjurisdictional recording mechanism
The present invention provides a system for recording an interaction including, a telephone call between a caller and a digital processing system placed over an interjurisdictional boundary, and may include a telephone call placed to at least one called recipient. For example, a caller may place a telephone call over an interjurisdictional boundary to a remote computer server. The server may use an interactive voice response (IVR) unit to obtain caller identification information, provide recording identification information to the caller, and receive authorization from the caller to record an interaction between the caller and a call recipient. The server can also obtain testamentary intent information. A telephone call may then be placed by the server to the recipient, and a two-party digital voice recording can be made on the remote server of a three-way telephone call, in which the server is one of the parties. |
| US08644463B2 |
System and method for delivery of voicemails to handheld devices
Briefly, a variety of embodiments, including the following, are described: a system embodiment and methods that allow random access to voice messages, in contrast to sequential access in existing system embodiments; a system embodiment and methods that allow for the optional use of voice recognition to enhance usability; and a system embodiment and methods that apply to the area of voicemail. |
| US08644460B2 |
Application service invocation
An Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) includes a Serving-Call Session Control Function (S-CSCF). The S-CSCF includes a Service Capability Interaction Manager (SCIM) configured to invoke one or more application services in response to a message being received by the S-CSCF. |
| US08644455B2 |
High availability architecture for computer telephony interface driver
Systems, method, and media for providing communication services between an application and a computer telephony interface server are provided. One of a plurality of computer telephony interface drivers is launched as a primary computer telephony interface driver to interface the application with the computer telephony interface server. The computer telephony interface drivers are monitored with a plurality of monitors. Each of the monitors is associated with one of the computer telephony interface drivers and monitors a status of another of the computer telephony interface drivers. A failure of the primary computer telephony interface driver is detected with a secondary monitor. The secondary monitor monitors the primary computer telephony interface driver and is associated with a secondary computer telephony interface driver. The secondary computer telephony interface driver is launched with the secondary monitor in response to the secondary monitor detecting the failure of the primary computer telephony interface driver. |
| US08644454B2 |
Radiation image capturing system
A radiation image capturing system including a CR cassette and a FPD cassette, and the icon corresponding to the bucky device is displayed in a different manner according to the type of cassette loaded on the bucky device. When the icon of the bucky device showing that the FPD cassette is loaded is selected, the icon corresponding to the FPD cassette does not need to be selected. |
| US08644452B2 |
Delivery system for radiation therapy
A device is used to precisely deliver the treatment plan created by an automatic planning system by positioning a single low energy radiation source, or a plurality of low energy sources connected to each other, in a predetermined parallel, planar, or similar geometry, each source equipped with blocking and attenuation mechanisms, thereby delivering a plurality of parallel overlapping beams indexed on a millimeter or submillimeter grid such that a concentration of dose is achieved at a variable depth in tissue relative to the dose where the radiation first enters the tissue. A plurality of overlapping beams indexed on a millimeter or submillimeter grid can converge on a target volume loaded with gold nanoparticles to deliver a tumorcidal dose of radiation in as little as a single session to tumor cells but not to normal cells or to deliver serial radiosurgical treatments. |
| US08644449B2 |
X-ray imaging apparatus and method of X-ray imaging
Provided is an X-ray imaging apparatus and a method of X-ray imaging, with which the apparatus can be reduced in size and a with which differential phase image or a phase image with consideration of an X-ray absorption effect of an object can be obtained.A displacement of X-rays that have been split by a splitting element and have passed through an object is measured. The displacement can be measured by using a first attenuation element having a transmission amount that continuously changes in accordance with the incident position of X-rays. At this time, an X-ray transmittance of an object that is calculated by using a second attenuation element having a transmission amount that does not change in accordance with the incident position of X-rays is used. |
| US08644446B2 |
Spacer grid with saddle-shaped supports and corresponding nuclear fuel assembly
A spacer grid for a nuclear fuel assembly for a light water reactor delimits a substantially regular array of cells housing nuclear fuel rods. The spacer grid further including supporting members which project into the cells from the peripheral belt of walls. The inner surface of at least one supporting member has before irradiation a concave shape in a plane transverse to the longitudinal direction. The inner surface of the contact part of the supporting member also has a convex shape in a longitudinal plane orientated radially with respect to the central axis of the corresponding cell before irradiation. |
| US08644444B2 |
Nuclear fuel assembly for boiling water reactor
An assembly of the type having a water channel extending along a longitudinal axis and having an upper section of larger cross-section area than a lower section and at least one fuel rod receiving groove extending longitudinally on the outer surface of the lower section, fuel rods extending longitudinally and disposed around the water channel and fixing members for fixing at least one fuel rod to the water channel in the at least one groove below the upper section.According to one aspect of the invention, the at least one groove extends along the upper section such that a fuel rod received in fixing members is longitudinally extractable or insertable from the upper end side of the fuel assembly. |
| US08644443B2 |
Gamma thermometer axial apparatus and method for monitoring reactor core in nuclear power plant
A pair of linear arrays of gamma thermometer (GT) sensors arranged in a nuclear reactor core including: a first linear array of GT sensors, wherein the GT sensors are arranged asymmetrically along a length of the first linear array; a second linear array of GT sensors, wherein the GT sensors are arranged asymmetrically along the second linear array and wherein the second linear array of GT sensors is asymmetrical with respect to the first linear array of GT sensors, and the first linear array positioned in the reactor core at a first core location and the second instrument housing positioned at a second core location, wherein a line of symmetry of the core extends through a center of the core and the first core location is the same horizontal distance from the line of symmetry as the second core location. |
| US08644440B1 |
Apparatus and methods for detection and correction of transmitter duty cycle distortion
One embodiment relates to an integrated circuit which includes a transmitter buffer circuit, a duty cycle distortion (DCD) detector, correction logic, and a duty cycle adjuster. The DCD detector is configured to selectively couple to the serial output of the transmitter buffer circuit. The correction logic is configured to generate control signals based on the output of the DCD detector. The duty cycle adjuster is configured to adjust a duty cycle of the serial input signal based on the control signals. Another embodiment relates to a method of correcting duty cycle distortion in a transmitter. Other embodiments and features are also disclosed. |
| US08644439B2 |
Circuits and methods for signal transfer between different clock domains
In certain embodiments, a circuit for transferring signals from a source clock domain to a destination clock domain comprises a first pulse generation circuit, a hold flip-flop circuit, a clocked synchronizer circuit and a second pulse generation circuit. The first pulse generation circuit, operable in the source clock domain, generates a source data pulse from a source data signal. The hold flip-flop circuit, operable in the source clock domain, is configured to hold the source data pulse. The clocked synchronizer circuit, operable in the destination clock domain, samples the source data pulse received from the hold flip-flop circuit, where source data pulse held at the output of the hold flip-flop circuit is cleared when the source data pulse is sampled by the clocked synchronizer circuit. The second pulse generation circuit, operable in the destination clock domain, is configured to generate a destination data pulse from the sampled source data pulse. |
| US08644431B2 |
Parallel execution of trellis-based methods
A receiver system and method for recovering information from a symbol data sequence Y. The symbol data sequence Y corresponds to a symbol data sequence X that is transmitted onto the channel by a transmitter. The symbol data sequence X is generated by the transmitter based on associated information bits. At the receiver, a set of two or more processors operate in parallel on two or more overlapping subsequences of the symbol data sequence Y, where each of the two or more overlapping subsequences of the symbol data sequence Y corresponds to a respective portion of a trellis. The trellis describes redundancy in the symbol data sequence Y. The action of operating in parallel generates soft estimates for the associated information bits. The soft estimates are useable to form a receive message corresponding to the associated information bits. |
| US08644427B2 |
Radio frequency receiver with dual band reception and dual ADC
A radio frequency receiver with dual band reception and dual analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) can be configured to operate in a single channel mode or a dual channel mode to receive a single RF input channel or two RF input channels at the same or different frequency bands. In the single channel mode, the dual ADCs can be used to improve the performance of the receiver for the single input signal or the dual ADCs can be configured for reduced power consumption. In the dual channel mode, the dual ADCs operate on the individual RF input signals to realize dual band reception. In one embodiment, the receiver is configured for asymmetric dual band reception to receive a wideband input signal on a first input signal path and a narrow band input signal on a second input signal path. |
| US08644422B2 |
Low overhead PMI and CQI feedback and pairing schemes for MU-MIMO
A method is provided for searching for a pairing PMI including estimating a MIMO wireless propagation channel from an access point transmitter to a receiver at a UE; quantizing the estimated channel with a codebook consisting of a plurality of codewords, the result being an actual SU-MIMO PMI currently applicable to the UE; estimating the channel quality corresponding to the actual SU-MIMO PMI, resulting in at least one CQI for the UE; constructing a plurality of subsets from a codebook of codewords, wherein each subset comprises potential MU-MIMO PMIs that represent channels that have reduced interference with a channel represented by one of the potential SU-MIMO PMIs; associating each potential SU-MIMO PMI with the subset that comprises the potential MU-MIMO PMIs that represent channels that have reduced interference with the channel represented by that potential SU-MIMO PMI; searching for an appropriate pairing PMI and the associated CQI for the UE. |
| US08644419B2 |
Periodic calibration for communication channels by drift tracking
A method and system that provides for execution of a first calibration sequence, such as upon initialization of a system, to establish an operation value, which utilizes an algorithm intended to be exhaustive, and executing a second calibration sequence from time to time, to measure drift in the parameter, and to update the operation value in response to the measured drift. The second calibration sequence utilizes less resources of the communication channel than does the first calibration sequence. In one embodiment, the first calibration sequence for measurement and convergence on the operation value utilizes long calibration patterns, such as codes that are greater than 30 bytes, or pseudorandom bit sequences having lengths of 2N−1 bits, where N is equal to or greater than 7, while the second calibration sequence utilizes short calibration patterns, such as fixed codes less than 16 bytes, and for example as short as 2 bytes long. |
| US08644415B2 |
Method for precoding using a block diagonal matrix
An objective problem of the invention is to provide a mechanism for improving the performance of a radio access network. According to a first aspect of the present invention, the object is achieved by a method in a first node for adapting a multi-antenna transmission to a second node over an effective channel. The first node and the second node are comprised in a wireless communication system. The method comprises the steps of obtaining at least one symbol stream and determining a precoding matrix having a block diagonal structure. The method comprises the further steps of precoding the at least one symbol stream with the determined precoding matrix, and transmitting the at least one precoded symbol stream over the effective channel to the second node. |
| US08644414B2 |
Codebook design method for multiple input multiple output system and method for using the codebook
A multiple input multiple output (MIMO) communication method using a codebook is provided. The MIMO communication method may use one or more codebooks and the codebooks may change according to a transmission rank, a channel state of a user terminal, and/or a number of feedback bits. The one or more codebooks may be adaptively updated according to a time correlation coefficient of a channel. |
| US08644413B2 |
Implementing blind tuning in hybrid MIMO RF beamforming systems
A system and a method for applying a blind tuning process to M antennas coupled via N beamformers to a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) receiving system having N channels, wherein M>N, are provided herein. The method includes the following steps: Periodically measuring channel fading rate at a baseband level to determine the number of antennas L out of K antennas connected to each one of the beamformers, to be combined at each one of the N beamformers; assigning the antennas to the subset L according to some criteria such as best quality indicator; repeatedly applying a tuning process to L antennas in each one of the N beamformers. |
| US08644409B2 |
Method and apparatus for modulation and layer mapping in a wireless communication system
Systems and methodologies are described herein that facilitate improved modulation and coding techniques for a multiple-in multiple-out (MIMO) communication system. As described herein, data to be transmitted over a set of physical layers (e.g., corresponding to antennas, beams, etc.) can be processed such that encoding is performed on a per-codeword basis and modulation is performed on a per-layer basis, thereby mitigating performance degradation experienced by traditional systems due to layer imbalance. As further described herein, per-codeword code rate parameters and per-layer modulation parameters can be signaled to a device in various manners, such as through modulation and coding scheme (MCS) signaling, explicit code rate and/or modulation scheme signaling, relative code rate and/or modulation scheme signaling, or the like. |
| US08644407B2 |
Apparatus, and associated method of phase-offset modulation, for space-time coded wireless communication systems
An apparatus, and an associated methodology, for facilitating communication of data in a wireless communication systems. Binary data are modulated to form modulated symbols on parallel paths. The symbols formed on one of the parallel paths are phase-offset by a phase rotator to form phase-offset symbols. The parallel paths of symbols provide the symbols, both the phase-offset symbols and the symbols that are not phase-offset, to an Alamouti encoder. As a result, the dynamic range of the transmitted RF signals is reduced due to the introduction of the phase offset between the symbols of the parallel paths applied to the Alamouti encoder. |
| US08644402B2 |
Apparatus and method for compressive sensing tap identification for channel estimation
An apparatus and method for compressive sensing tap identification for channel estimation comprising identifying a set of significant taps in the time domain; representing a time-flat channel response using a Taylor series expansion with the set of significant taps; converting the time-flat channel response to a vectorized channel response; transforming the vectorized channel response to a compressive sensing (CS) polynomial frequency response; aggregating the CS polynomial frequency response into a stacked frequency response; converting the stacked frequency response into a measured pilot frequency response; estimating a channel parameter vector based on the measured pilot frequency response; and generating a reconstructed channel response from the channel parameter vector. |