| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08671666B2 |
System and apparatus for enhancing exhaust aftertreatment startup emissions control
An aftertreatment system including a method which provides a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst disposed in an exhaust stream of an engine; determines that an ammonia pre-load condition for the SCR catalyst is present; determines a first amount of ammonia pre-load in response to the ammonia pre-load condition; injects an amount of ammonia or urea into the exhaust stream in response to the first amount of ammonia; and adsorbs a second amount of ammonia onto the SCR catalyst in response to injecting an amount of ammonia or urea, where the second amount of ammonia is either the injected amount of ammonia or an amount of ammonia resulting from hydrolysis from the injected amount of urea. |
| US08671664B2 |
System for purging a device
A system for purging a device for injecting fuel into an exhaust system of an engine comprising a device having an input and an output coupled to an exhaust system, at least one air valve and at least one fuel valve. The air valve has an input an input coupled to an air supply and an output coupled to the device through a check valve. The fuel valve has an input coupled to a fuel supply and an output coupled to the device through a check valve. When the air valve is open and the fuel valve is closed, air flows from the air supply to the device and is injected into the exhaust system of the engine. When the air valve is closed and the fuel valve is open, fuel flows from the fuel supply to the device and is injected into the exhaust system of the engine. |
| US08671662B2 |
Exhaust gas purifying system and exhaust gas purifying method using the same
An exhaust gas purifying system (100) includes: a NOx purifying catalyst (34) that is disposed in an exhaust gas flow path (3) to purify nitrogen oxide; and an HC generator (33, 133) that is disposed upstream of the NOx purifying catalyst (34) in the exhaust gas flow path (3) to generate at least one of acetylene, a hydrocarbon with a carbon number of 2 to 5 other than acetylene, and an aromatic hydrocarbon from a hydrocarbon contained in an exhaust gas. In addition, an exhaust gas purifying method using the exhaust gas purifying system includes the step of adjusting an oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas supplied to the HC generation catalyst (33A, 133A) to 0.8 to 1.5 vol % when an air-fuel ratio is stoichiometric or rich. |
| US08671658B2 |
Oxidizing fuel
A mixture of air and fuel is received into a reaction chamber of a gas turbine system. The fuel is oxidized in the reaction chamber, and a maximum temperature of the mixture in the reaction chamber is controlled to be substantially at or below an inlet temperature of a turbine of the gas turbine system. The oxidation of the fuel is initiated by raising the temperature of the mixture to or above an auto-ignition temperature of the fuel. In some cases, the reaction chamber may be provided without a fuel oxidation catalyst material. |
| US08671657B2 |
Drawing frame for a spinning machine
The invention relates to a spinning machine, the drafting arrangement of which comprises a drafting arrangement unit (35, 65, 95) with a first pair of rollers consisting of a first bottom roller (22) and a first top roller (21, 41, 71). The drafting arrangement unit (35, 65 95) is configured as an assembly which is detachably fastened to the spinning machine by means of a fastening device (11, 59). The drafting arrangement unit (35, 65, 95) is designed for one spinning station or as a twin drafting arrangement unit for two adjacent spinning stations. The unit can also include further rollers which, together with the first pair of rollers, form a drafting zone of the drafting arrangement. |
| US08671654B2 |
Method and system for forming containers with corrugated material
A case is disclosed that is made from a corrugated material and has a generally flat transversely extending base panel and first and second transversely extending, generally parallel, side wall panels upstanding from, and being oriented generally orthogonal to, the base panel. First and third end wall panels meet at a first vertically extending seam extending upwards from one end of the base panel and second and fourth end wall panels meet at a second vertically extending seam extending upwards from an opposite end of the base panel. A blank for forming such a case is also disclosed. A method comprises forming a sheet of corrugated fiberboard; operating a die cutting apparatus to form a generally flat case blank from the sheet of corrugated fiberboard at a first location; transporting the flat case blank to a second location; operating a case forming apparatus at the second location to fold the case blank to form the case; after the case has been formed by the case forming apparatus, operating a loading apparatus to load at least one item into the case; and sealing opposed top panels. |
| US08671652B2 |
Packages, packaging systems, methods for packaging and apparatus for packaging
The present invention relates to the use of vacuum packaging and vacuum packaging techniques. Embodiments of the present invention include bales and packages comprising a sealed chamber having an internal volume at a pressure less than ambient atmospheric pressure. In alternate embodiments of the present invention, the internal volume of the package comprises a bulk material, a bulk fiber material, fibers or fibrous materials. Also disclosed are methods for packaging, packaging systems and apparatus for packaging. |
| US08671651B2 |
Packaging machine and method of packaging articles
A packaging machine (10) comprising two or more packaging subsystems each capable of packaging articles (A) into a carton, wherein the packaging subsystems share a common source of articles (11) to be packaged and at least one transfer mechanism 5 (22) is provided for transferring articles (A) from the common source to any of the two or more packaging subsystems. |
| US08671645B1 |
Safing insulation with pre-applied smoke sealant
The present invention relates safing insulation and, particularly, to safing insulation with pre-applied smoke sealant and methods for using the same. In one exemplary embodiment, safing insulation sheets are formed from individual safing insulation sections having a layer of smoke sealant applied to the upper surface of the safing insulation sections. In order to form the safing insulation sheets, individual safing insulation sections are arranged with the fibers of each individual section extending in a vertical direction and a smoke sealant is applied thereto. The smoke sealant acts to mechanically secure the individual sections of safing insulation to one another and also eliminates the need to apply smoke sealant to the safing insulation after installation. Advantageously, by pre-applying the smoke sealant to the safing insulation, the need to use spraying equipment to apply the smoke sealant to the safing insulation at a job site is eliminated. |
| US08671639B2 |
Roof panel for roofing system and roof structure
A roof panel system assembled from roof panels comprising a panel portion bounded along a support edge by a support element and along an opposed cover edge by a cover element. The cover element adapted to rest upon and provide resilient sealing and locking engagement with the support element of an adjacent panel. The support element adapted to provide resilient support and locking engagement with the cover element of a second adjacent panel. In an embodiment a panel cover is provided for shielding an upper surface of the panel portion and adapted to inter-fit and lock with engaged support element and cover element pairs along the support element and the cover element of the panel when the panel is engaged with adjacent panels when assembled. In an embodiment contoured insulated panels are provided as a base to support the panels. The contours providing passageways to allow the transport of air beneath the panels when assembled. |
| US08671635B2 |
Perimeter pedestals
Pedestal assemblies configured to support first and second pavers positioned adjacently against an elevated periphery and methods of making the same are provided herein. Preferred assemblies include a cap, base, and at least two towers configured to be sandwiched between the cap and base. Kits can be sold with just cap and base alone. Preferred caps and bases can be formed in the same shape or substantially so, and are racetrack-shaped. Preferred towers include polyvinyl chloride (PVC) cylindrical tubing. The cap can advantageously include an upwardly-projecting fin used to align and separate two pavers positioned alongside an elevated periphery. A pedestal support system can include both periphery pedestals in addition to conventional pedestals positioned away from the elevated periphery. |
| US08671634B2 |
Shallow flat soffit precast concrete floor system
A precast concrete floor system that eliminates the need for column corbels and beam ledges while being very shallow. The main advantages of the present system include a span-to-depth ratio of 30, a flat soffit, economy, consistency with prevailing erection techniques, and fire and corrosion protection. The present system consists of continuous precast columns, prestressed rectangular beams, hollow-core planks, and cast-in-place composite topping. Testing results have indicated that a 12 inch deep flat soffit precast floor system has adequate capacity to carry gravity loads (including 100 psf live load) in a 30 ft×30 ft bay size. Testing has also shown that shear capacity of the ledge-less hollow-core-beam connections can be accurately predicted using the shear friction theory. |
| US08671633B2 |
Foldable sliding wall and carriage
The foldable sliding wall includes at least a first and a second wall element that are pivotally connected to one another and pivotally held by a first and a second head carriage, which are displaceably supported in a head rail. A first head fitting is mounted at the upper side of the first wall element and is connected to a first shaft, which is supported in a first carriage body of the first head carriage and a second head fitting is mounted at the upper side of the second wall element and is connected to a second shaft, which is supported in a second carriage body of the second head carriage. |
| US08671630B2 |
Photovoltaic roof covering
In certain aspects, the present invention relates to a photovoltaic roof covering in the form of overlapping elements (i.e., tiles, shingles or panels), electrically connected to one another. Each of the elements includes a backing material and a photovoltaic layer arranged at least over that portion of the exterior face of the backing material that is exposed to the outside. Electrical conductors are positioned on each side of said photovoltaic layer and are configured to collect the electrical current generated by said layer when it is exposed to light. Notably, at least one of the connectors includes or is incorporated into a foldable moving tongue or strip and in that said tongue or said strip is kept in electrical contact with a connector of an underlying element and in a position that is folded over between the element and the underlying element. |
| US08671629B2 |
Buildings seismic isolation and snubber system for a seismic isolation mechanism instantly activated
A building's seismic isolation and snubber system for a seismic isolation mechanism instantly activated includes sensors, a processing unit, absorber systems, hydraulic oil pressure systems and multilayer sliding systems. In this regard, a sensor detecting any earthquake-induced strike and dip in a building's quadrant of operation could supply an oblique angle to the processing unit in which the oblique angle thereof is transferred to any hydraulic oil pressure system's coefficient of damping for the hydraulic oil pressure system's corresponding damping force generated to control and distribute a building's equilibrium, and any multilayer sliding system is used to yield or eliminate any seismic horizontal vibrations for the said elements developing all functions, substantially reducing and distributing earthquake-induced stresses, and delivering a building with seismic vibrations effectively isolated and prevented. |
| US08671628B2 |
Spacing/levelling device for laying slab products for surface cladding
An intake manifold (2) of comburent air is presented for an internal combustion engine (1) provided with a recirculating conduit (60) of exhaust gases. The intake manifold (2) includes a first inlet mouth (213) of the comburent air, a second inlet mouth (214) in communication with the recirculating conduit (60) of the exhaust gases, and a plurality of outlet mouths (201), having a wall (7) positioned in front of each of the outlet mouths (201) and configured for dividing the internal volume of the intake manifold (2) into two chambers (215, 204), the first chamber (215) being placed in communication with the first inlet mouth (213) and the second inlet mouth (214) and the second chamber (204) being placed in communication with the outlet mouths (201), the wall (7) defining an opening (70) adapted for placing the first chamber (215) and the second chamber (204) in communication. |
| US08671627B2 |
System for forming a movable slab foundation
An embodiment of the system for forming a movable slab foundation as comprised by the present invention has a slab foundation, at least one substantially vertical support member, at least one support surface, and at least one support sleeve. The at least one support sleeve surrounds the at least one support member and is encased within the slab foundation and is capable of movement axially along the axis of the at least one support member. The at least one vertical support member is capable of rotation relative to the at least one support sleeve to restrict the movement of the at least one support sleeve downward relative to the at least one vertical support member, thereby maintaining the height of the at least One support sleeve and the slab foundation relative to the at least one support surface. |
| US08671625B2 |
Module structure and plant construction method
The present invention provides a module structure and a plant construction method capable of easily attaching a facility device of a plant and shortening a plant construction period. The module structure of the present invention includes a support member which temporarily supports a facility device component to be arranged in a cell constituting a plant at a designed position and which constitutes scaffolding for attaching the facility device component and forming the cell, a box-shaped frame which is possible to be carried into inner space of the cell while fixing the support member, and joint means which is detachably attachable and which temporarily assembles the support member and the frame. |
| US08671619B2 |
Drive apparatus for a swing-out element of a motor vehicle
In a drive apparatus for a swiveling swing-out element of a motor vehicle, in particular for a swing-out window, which is adjustable between an open position and a closed position, an adjusting lever that is flexurally elastic in the x direction in relation to the motor vehicle coordinate system is provided for compensating the swivel movement of the swing-out element. |
| US08671617B2 |
Continuous loop plant growing system
A continuous loop plant growing system includes a channel having a moving floor, a growing medium contained in the channel, at least one plant, at least one light, and at least one chopper. The moving floor transports the growing medium around a continuous loop dividable into a planting zone, a growing zone, a harvesting zone, and a decomposing zone. |
| US08671606B2 |
Ammunition magazine
A firearm includes a barrel having first and second ends, and is adapted to fire a round of ammunition from the second end. A handgrip is operatively coupled to and extending in a downward direction relative to the barrel. An ammunition magazine is removably received within the handgrip. The magazine includes a front, a rear, and a pair of opposed side surfaces extending between the front and rear. A clip member includes at least an arm portion extending along the rear of the magazine. The arm portion of the clip member is adapted to allow the ammunition magazine to be temporarily attached to an object while outside of the magazine. |
| US08671605B2 |
Off-trigger locator
An off-trigger locator for firearm comprises an elongated member adapted to mounted to a frame of the firearm adjacent a trigger of the firearm. The member is configured to allow a user of the firearm to sense the member with a trigger finger of the user and to move the trigger finger between the member and the trigger without significant movement of a hand of the user. The member comprises longitudinally opposite first and second ends with longitudinal sides extending between the longitudinally opposite ends. A locator surface is arranged between the longitudinal sides. The longitudinal side adjacent the trigger of the firearm forms a shoulder. The other longitudinal side is spaced from the shoulder by the locator surface. The width of the member at the shoulder is greater than the width of the member at the other longitudinal side. A method of mounting the off-trigger locator is provided. |
| US08671604B2 |
Marking carrier for marking a floating caliper brake
For a marking carrier, the following is provided for the purpose of simple production and installation: the marking carrier has at least one spring tongue extending from the main body of the marking carrier, the spring tongue being designed to act on the vehicle component in a resilient manner and to preload the main body against the vehicle component in a preloading direction, and the marking carrier has at least one spring tab, which acts on the vehicle component in such a way that the spring tab retains the marking carrier in a retaining direction opposite the preloading direction. |
| US08671601B2 |
System and method for mounting a badge on a vehicle
A system and method for mounting a badge to a component of a vehicle is provided. The system comprises a mounting base including first and second fastening apertures defined therein, and a trim ring coupled with the mounting base having an opening defined therein. The badge is adapted to be securely mounted between the trim ring and the mounting base so that the badge is positioned within the opening in the trim ring. The system further includes a flexible fastening member that is configured to be positioned within the first and second fastening apertures, positioned around at least a portion of the component of the vehicle, and between the mounting base and the badge to fasten the badge to the vehicle. |
| US08671597B2 |
Snow plow towing hitch system
A snow plow towing hitch system removably attached to an existing vehicle hitch which is lightweight and compact to allow an individual to attach the snow plow towing hitch system to a vehicle hitch when needed and to remove and store it when not in use. The snow plow towing hitch system includes a connecting bar connected to a vehicle hitch, a vertical support bar attached to the connecting bar, a plow blade rotatably attached to the vertical support bar, and a spring attached to the vertical support bar and the plow blade to limit rotation of the plow blade. Another alternate embodiment of the snow plow towing hitch system comes in a kit form allowing the user to easily assemble the snow plow towing hitch for use and to disassemble for storage or to use portions as a snow shovel. |
| US08671596B2 |
Ultrasonic ice shaving blade
An ice re-surfacing machine induces ultrasonic frequency vibrations onto the ice shaving blade. The vibrating blade can be pulled across the ice with less pressure and provides an improved finished surface. |
| US08671588B2 |
Shoe cover
A shoe cover having a covering sized to receive a shoe and a sole coupled to the covering. In one example embodiment, the covering is made of an elastic material and the sole includes a serrated edge for expanding a perimeter portion of the sole. |
| US08671586B2 |
Apparatus for upgrading coal and method of using same
A method for using an apparatus for upgrading coal comprising a baffle tower, inlet and exhaust plenums, and one or more cooling augers. The baffle tower comprises a plurality of alternating rows of inverted v-shaped inlet and outlet baffles. The inlet and outlet plenums are affixed to side walls of the baffle tower. Process gas enters the baffle tower from the inlet plenum via baffle holes in the side wall and dries the coal in the baffle tower. Process exhaust gas exits the baffle tower into the exhaust plenum via baffle holes in a different side wall of the baffle tower. Coal that outers the baffle tower descends by gravity downward through the baffle tower and enters a cooling auger, where the dried coal from the baffle tower is mixed with non-dried coal. |
| US08671583B2 |
Alignment device
An alignment device which comprises an alignment member, and a measuring mechanism for measuring the orientation of the alignment member. The measuring mechanism is retained by the alignment member. |
| US08671581B2 |
Undercut saw height adjustment, handle, blade guard improvements
An undercut saw including a motor, a drive shaft rotated by the motor, a blade mount mechanically linked to the drive shaft, the blade mount allowing a saw blade to be mounted and a fixed blade guard circumscribing a portion of the saw blade. The fixed blade guard includes a top plate and a height adjustment skirt in telescoping attachment joined by fasteners. A guide washer with a fastener assembly is configured to move up and down in a slot on the height adjustment skirt. Turning a lead threaded member raises and lowers the top plate. |
| US08671580B2 |
Low friction rotary knife
A power operated knife comprises a blade supporting structure supporting an annular blade for rotation about a central axis. The blade and blade supporting structure are engagable along bearing contact locations that are spaced apart in a direction parallel to the axis so that the blade is stabilized both radially and axially as the knife operates. The blade supporting structure comprises a split blade housing member that is radially expandable and contractible to receive the blade. The split blade housing member and blade engage along relatively short lines of bearing contact that serve to minimize friction and blade heating when the knife operates. The bearing locations are spaced apart both circumferentially around the blade perimeter and in the direction of the axis so that the blade position is stabilized during operation of the knife. |
| US08671578B1 |
Forward extending assisted opening knife
In general, it can be appreciated that the specific type of knife is an “Out the Front” (OTF) knife whereby the blade is operatively configured to reposition longitudinally forwardly with respect to the handle. The handle in general has an interior surface forming an interior chamber. In addition to the handle and blade, the knife further includes a stored energy mechanism. In general, the stored energy mechanism permits the OTF knife to operate with assisted opening technology with a linear-actuating-type system. Described herein are a few embodiments by way of example of the broadly claimed concept, and it can be appreciated that numerous types of assisted opening technologies, such as a stored energy mechanism, can be incorporated. |
| US08671576B1 |
Divisible head razor device
The divisible head razor device provides a removable blade case with two blade heads slideably disposed therein. The handle of the device terminates in a carrier having a thumb wheel within the neck. The gear shaft in turn rotates the distally disposed rack gear. Two gear arms are disposed in contact with the rack gear. Each gear arm is adjusted laterally by the thumb wheel. Each gear arm is connected to an extension, each extension connected to a vertical section, each vertical section connected to a right angle section. Two blade heads are disposed slideably side by side within the blade case. Each of the blade heads removably connects to one of each of the right angle extensions. The blade heads are controlled by the thumb wheel such that the heads can be positioned together or apart with a gap determined by a user. |
| US08671568B2 |
Method of installing equipment into a pit container using an anchor member supporting mechanism and an anchor bolt unit
Efficiency of installation work of equipment such as an ECCS pump is enhanced. In an installation method of equipment, a pit can unit in which an upper side frame, a pit can, various reinforcing steels including vertical reinforcing bars reinforcing the above from a periphery, and an anchor plate supporting mechanism are integrated is manufactured in advance, and the pit can unit is placed on an MMR via a lower side frame. Further, an anchor bolt unit is disposed on the anchor plate supporting mechanism after primary concrete is deposited, a relative positional relationship of respective foundation bolts relative to the pit can is corrected by using a template, and secondary concrete is deposited under the state in which the positional relationship is corrected. After that, the ECCS pump is carried into the pit can, and an installation of the ECCS pump is completed by fixing the carried ECCS pump through the respective foundation bolts of which bottom sides are embedded. |
| US08671567B2 |
Method for manufacturing a probe for an electrical test
A method for manufacturing a probed for an electrical test includes producing by a deposition technique a deposit including a probe main body portion made of a nickel-boron alloy and a probe tip portion projecting downward from the probe main body portion and made of a different conductive material from the probe main body portion. The method further includes annealing the deposit. The average grain diameter of the nickel-boron alloy is between 97 Å and 170 Å. The contained amount of boron is from 0.02 wt % to 0.20 wt %. |
| US08671566B2 |
Method of forming a lead
An implantable, substantially isodiametric, low resistance implantable lead having at least one electrode positioned in a stimulation/sensing portion of the lead as well as a method of manufacturing the same. At least the stimulation/sensing portion is unitized through partially surrounding and supporting insulation and conductive element(s) of the stimulation/sensing portion with a fused matrix of material having mechanical properties consistent with a body of the lead. |
| US08671557B2 |
Tray in combination with electronic component attaching tool attached to the tray
A tray is provided in combination with an electronic component attaching tool attached to the tray and includes an attachment depression part that includes an inner wall and to which an electronic component is attached, wherein forming of the inner wall of the attachment depression part does not substantially depend on an external shape of the electronic component, and a standard part formed in the inner wall of the attachment depression part and engaging with a first structure part of the electronic component attaching tool to align a position of the electronic component attaching tool to the standard part when a position of the electronic component is aligned to a first position of the tray using the electronic component attaching tool, the standard part having a shape which does not substantially depend on the external shape of the electronic component. |
| US08671554B2 |
Method of manufacturing a magneto-resistance effect element
An example method for manufacturing a magneto-resistance effect element having a magnetic layer, a free magnetization layer, and a spacer layer includes forming a first metallic layer and forming, on the first metallic layer, a second metallic layer. A first conversion treatment is performed to convert the second metallic layer into a first insulating layer and to form a first metallic portion penetrating through the first insulating layer. A third metallic layer is formed on the first insulating layer and the first metallic portion. A second conversion treatment is performed to convert the third metallic layer into a second insulating layer and to form a second metallic portion penetrating through the second insulating layer. |
| US08671550B1 |
Wire electrical discharge machined rupture disk and method
The present invention provides an improved method of manufacturing a rupture disk and specifically of forming a score on a rupture disk. The method of the present invention includes the rotating of a rupture disk blank relative to an electrical discharge machining or “EDM” cutting wire and the simultaneous moving of the EDM cutting wire toward the axis of the disk while maintaining the wire in a selected position such as generally parallel to the disk peripheral skirt or flange. The rotation of the disk and the movement of the EDM wire can be precisely controlled with the motion system of a commercially available EDM machine. With the present invention, a precise score is cut a partial distance through the disk thickness and preferably on the convex side of the dome, near the transition from the dome to the flange and in a generally “c” shaped pattern. The formed score creates a pattern of weakness so that the disk will open in either of the forward or reverse buckling direction. Score patterns other than the “c” shaped pattern could be cut. |
| US08671549B2 |
Transmission mount type of side assembling
A transmission mount type of side assembling includes a cylindrical insulator; a core having a plurality of longitudinal holes and inserted in the insulator; a side stopper having a support connected to one end of the core in contact with the inner side of the insulator and a protrusion protruding outside the insulator from the support; a cylindrical case accommodating the core, the side stopper, and the insulator; and a plurality of bolts that is longer than the case and inserted through holes in the core and the side stopper from a side to protrude outside the case, such that it can simplify the assembly process of fastening a transmission to a car body and reduce the manufacturing cost, without changing the existing manufacturing line, and ensure safety in assembly. |
| US08671546B2 |
Method of mounting a refiner plate segment
A refiner plate carrier for use in refining lignocellulosic material including a mounting mechanism for mounting to a refiner plate segment and not a rotor or stator disk. The combined plate carrier and refiner plate segment may be then attached to a refiner disk. The refiner plate carrier need not provide structural support to the segment during lignocellulosic refining. |
| US08671545B1 |
Decoratable utility rod assemblies
One customizable utility rod assembly includes a wall attachment member; a base rod; and a cross rod, hook, towel ring, shelving rod, or toilet paper rod extending from the base rod. The wall attachment member has threading and at least one hole. The base rod has a distal side and a threaded proximal side threadably coupling the base rod to the wall attachment member. A method of customizing a utility rod having: (a) a threaded wall attachment member with a hole, and (b) a base rod presenting a distal side and a threaded proximal side forming a cavity, includes the following steps. Step (1): securing the wall attachment member to a surface with a fastener extending through the hole. Step (2): threadably coupling the base rod proximal side to the wall attachment member such that the wall attachment member is at least partially enclosed within the cavity. |
| US08671544B2 |
Methods and moulds for use in fabricating side-ported microneedles
A microneedle mold and a method of manufacturing a microneedle mold are provided for use in fabricating microneedles. The method includes providing a microneedle mold base with recesses therein, the recesses corresponding to the microneedles to be fabricated and extending from a first surface of the microneedle mold base; and forming side-port forming holes in the microneedle mold base, the side-port forming holes extend in side surfaces of the recesses within the microneedle mold base at side-port forming positions of the recesses. |
| US08671542B2 |
Shoulder protection pad for ladders with hollows to accommodate rung ends and rivets
A shoulder pad or shoulder cushion that can be affixed to the outside face of any ladder rail, regardless of shape, size, length, or material. One face of the pad is made to allow for easy and quick permanent attachment to the rail by way of self-adhesive, double-stick tape or other adhesive that enables the installer to simply and quickly affix the pad to the ladder in a matter of just a few seconds. The same side is hollowed out, or routed out, to allow ladder rung protrusions, rivets, or rung attachment plates to remain recessed inside the shoulder pad without interference to the adhesive edges of the pad. The hollow may be formed by the protrusion pushing into a thin layer of soft material of lower resilience than an adhered thicker layer. |
| US08671541B2 |
Method for producing a shutter and method for producing a set of two serrated belts
The present invention concerns a method for producing a shutter (2) designed to be rolled up and unrolled, characterized in that on each face, opposite one another, is provided a serrated belt (3,4) comprising a succession of teeth, and in that, in order to make it possible for both belts (3,4) to mesh, the position of the teeth of at least one of the belts (3,4) is adjusted by deforming said belt (3,4) in such a way that both belts (3,4) can mesh, and that this mutual position of the belts (3,4) can subsequently be stabilized. |
| US08671536B2 |
Apparatus for installing a turbine case
An apparatus for installing a turbine casing including a first drive subassembly and a member coupled to the first drive subassembly configured for engaging a first segment of the turbine casing. The apparatus may also include a second member coupled to the second drive subassembly configured for engaging the first segment of the turbine casing. The apparatus may be provided with a first retainer connected to the first member and configured for engaging a second segment of the turbine casing, and a second retainer connected to the second member and configured for engaging the second segment of the turbine casing. |
| US08671534B2 |
Universal clutch alignment tool
An universal clutch alignment tool is provided. A tool rod is assembled with a connecting mechanism, and the connecting mechanism is then assembled with a positioning pipe, thereby forming a tool for assembling/disassembling a clutch. The connecting mechanism includes a sleeve, a driving rod, and connecting blocks. The sleeve is made into a hollow pipe in which a driving head at one end of the driving rod is disposed. The surface of the sleeve is formed with slots respectively arranged at an angular interval in which the connecting blocks are received. The outer surface of the driving head is formed with a conical driving slope. The middle section of each driving block is provided with a V-shaped notch. The inner walls on both sides of the notch are formed with two connecting slopes symmetrical to each other. The outer edge of the driving head is inserted into the notches of the connecting blocks, so that the tool rod drives the connecting blocks via the driving rod to generate a radial expansion or retraction, thereby allowing various kinds of clutches to be assembled or disassembled. |
| US08671533B2 |
Gripper device for mounting rubber elastic rings and finger for a gripper device of this type
A gripper device (10) is provided for mounting rubber elastic rings (5) on the inner wall (62) of a workpiece opening and/or on the exterior of a workpiece. The device includes a basic housing (12), forming jaws (14) that are displaced in relation to the basic housing (12) and bearing jaws (16). To displace the plate element together with the jaws that are located on the element in an axial direction, the element is provided with a piston (20) which engages in a piston cylinder (22) in the basic housing. The displacement of the jaws that are located on the plate element (18) is mechanically coupled by a common actuator (24) and the actuator (24) is driven by an actuator piston (25) that is located in the piston (20). |
| US08671532B2 |
Eyeglass lens processing apparatus
An eyeglass lens processing apparatus includes: a mode selector for selecting an auxiliary lens processing mode; an eyeglass data input unit for inputting a first target lens shape of the eyeglass lens and a right target lens shape-to-left target lens shape distance; a first hole data input unit for inputting a position of a first hole, to which a first magnet is attached; a determination unit which determines second target lens shape of the auxiliary lens, a position of a second hole to which a second magnet is attached, positions of third holes to which a bridge is attached; and a processing controller which processes the auxiliary lenses based on the second target lens shape data, and drills the auxiliary lenses based on the second and third hole positions in the auxiliary lens processing mode. |
| US08671531B2 |
Manufacturing method for a zinc oxide piezoelectric thin-film with high C-axis orientation
A manufacturing method for a Zinc Oxide (ZnO) piezoelectric thin-film with high C-axis orientation comprises the steps of providing a substrate having a base, a SiO2 layer and a Si3N4 layer; forming a bottom electrode layer on the Si3N4 layer; patterning the bottom electrode layer; sputtering a Zinc Oxide layer on the Si3N4 layer and the bottom electrode layer; forming a photoresist layer on the Si3N4 layer and the Zinc Oxide layer; patterning the photoresist layer to reveal the Zinc Oxide layer; forming a top electrode layer on the Zinc Oxide layer and the photoresist layer; removing the photoresist layer and the top electrode layer formed on the photoresist layer, and the top electrode layer formed on the Zinc Oxide layer can be remained; and patterning the Si3N4 layer to form a recess that reveals the base of the substrate. |
| US08671527B2 |
Fastener assembly
A fastener adapted to join a first component to a second component. The fastener includes a first connecting end adapted to engage a slot opening in the first component, and a second connecting end adapted for press-fit insertion into an opening in the second component. The first connecting end includes a raised edge collar defining a concave surface facing away from the second connecting end and an opposing platform surface disposed above the raised edge collar in spaced relation to the raised edge collar with a post member extending between the raised edge collar and the opposing platform surface. The first connecting end is adapted to hold the first component in sandwiched relation between the raised edge collar and the opposing platform surface. The raised edge collar includes a segmented perimeter wall including a plurality of cut-outs defining substantially independently flexible segments between the cut-outs. |
| US08671526B2 |
String covering apparatus
Drawstrings or cords of clothing or non-clothing items such as carrying apparatuses are prevented from receding and being lost in the item by providing a flexible string covering apparatus through which strings or cords are passed. A central body region of a string covering apparatus is adorned with a team logo, company emblem, or the like, and aperture regions are arranged on opposite ends of the central body region in which to thread the string or cord. The thermoplastic composition material and the shape of apertures within the aperture regions prevent the string covering apparatus from sliding, allowing the user or maker of the string covering apparatus to display a desired image unobstructed by the string or cord. |
| US08671521B2 |
Control motion hinge with torsion spring
A control motion hinge, comprising a first leaf hinge with three knuckles to secure a first pin, wherein the two outer knuckles have roller knuckles, a link having a two knuckles on a first end to interlock with the first leaf hinge and a single knuckle on a second end, a second leaf hinge with two knuckles to secure a second pin when interlocked with the second end of the link, wherein the two knuckles of the second leaf hinge have a roller path for engaging the roller of the first leaf hinge, wherein such rollers traverse the roller path, a first spring device positioned between said first leaf hinge and said link to apply a force therebetween, and thus softly closing the door reducing the sound of closure during the final approach of the door. |
| US08671520B2 |
Slide assist device
A slide assist device includes a draw-in unit including a case attached to one of a main body or a mobile body, a slider slidably placed on the case, a latch pivotally supported in the slider and switchable between a standby position locking in a corresponding portion of the case and a draw-in position releasing the locking; and an urging device; and an actuating member attached to the other of the main body or the mobile body, switching the latch from the standby position to the draw-in position, or from the draw-in position to the standby position. The latch includes an axis portion having a flat surface and rotatably fits in an axis hole of the slider and forming a positional control surface corresponding to the flat surface. When the latch is switched to the standby position, the flat surface and the positional control surface face each other. |
| US08671519B1 |
Quick-change caster
Method and apparatus for a quick-change caster system for removing and replacing the casters which are used to support articles such as steel racks, containers, crates and the like. The caster system having a housing which is attached to the article so that a caster mounted on a plate can be slidably inserted and removed from the housing in a very quick and easy fashion so as to be quiet in operation. Also disclosed is a dampening pad disposed between the caster plate and the housing which is designed to decrease noise, vibration, etc. Also shown is a bolt or the like used for locking the caster plate and dampening plate inside the housing so that it cannot be accidentally removed therefrom. |
| US08671514B2 |
Cleaner head
A cleaner head for a cleaning appliance includes a rotatable agitator assembly, an agitator chamber housing the agitator assembly, and a sole plate defining a downwardly-directed opening through which debris energized by the agitator assembly enters the agitator chamber. A set of support members is located on a leading and trailing section of the sole plate, the support members extending downwardly beyond the sole plate to support the sole plate above a relatively hard floor surface. The lowermost extremities of the sets of support members are located in a first plane, and the edges of the opening are located in a second plane which is inclined upwardly relative to the first plane. The agitator assembly includes agitating members which extend outwardly from the opening beyond the second plane but within the first plane. |
| US08671513B2 |
Nozzle assembly having subsidiary brush unit
A nozzle assembly of a vacuum cleaner capable of easily separating spidery dirt, such as hair, fur of a pet and the like, from a surface to be cleaned is disclosed. The nozzle assembly includes a nozzle assembly body; a drum brush unit disposed in the nozzle assembly body, and having a drum brush disposed to brush away dirt or dust adhered to a surface to be cleaned while coming in rotation contact therewith; and a subsidiary brush unit disposed to one of the nozzle assembly body and the drum brush unit, and having a subsidiary brush to preliminarily brush away the dust or dirt adhered to the surface to be cleaned. |
| US08671508B2 |
Dust collector
In a dust collector, a main body includes a motor and a rotary fan. The rotary fan is to be driven by the motor to suck air from outside through an intake port provided at the main body. A receptacle unit configured to allow a battery pack to be attached thereto and an exhaust port configured to allow a dust bag to be detachably attached thereto are provided at the main body. A handle capable of being grasped and a belt fastening part configured to allow a belt to be fastened thereto are also provided at the main body. At an underside of the main body, a supporting surface is provided which is configured to allow the dust collector with the dust bag and the battery pack attached to the exhaust port and to the receptacle unit respectively to be placed thereon. |
| US08671507B2 |
Autonomous floor-cleaning robot
A floor cleaning robot includes a housing having an underside, a substantially semi-circular front portion, and a substantially semi-circular rear portion. A displaceable bumper of a substantially semi-circular leading edge is located along a front portion of the housing. A leading wheel is mounted on the underside of the housing located adjacent to a mid-point of the semi-circular leading edge, and a battery pack cover is positioned rearwardly of the leading wheel and covers a battery pack that supplies power to the robot. At least two drive wheels are positioned rearwardly of the leading wheel, and at least one main brush is positioned rearwardly of the at least two drive wheels and is configured to rotate about an axis substantially parallel to the underside. The floor cleaning robot also includes at least one side brush having at least two arms extending outwardly from a central hub located in a recess in the underside of the housing, the at least one side brush being attached to the hub such that rotation of the hub causes the brush to direct debris from a floor surface beyond the semi-circular leading edge of the robot housing for collection by the robot. An ejectable dust bin is provided that has a surface forming at least a portion of a semi-circular trailing edge of the housing. |
| US08671504B2 |
Cover of vehicle optical sensor and vehicle optical sensor device
A vehicle optical sensor device has a snow/ice removal orifice for jetting the cleansing fluid toward an upper space of a lens and an optical sensor cleansing orifice for jetting the cleaning fluid toward a lens surface of the lens of a camera. The jetted fluid from the snow/ice removal orifice and the optical sensor cleansing orifice removes snow/ice protruding from a sensor top cover of a case into a front upper space of the lens in an eaves shape and foreign matter on the lens surface of the lens of the camera. |
| US08671497B2 |
Toothbrush
A toothbrush designed to enable horizontal brushing of the contact line between the teeth and the gums, which is composed of a handle and a brush. One end of the handle has a protruding arm, which constitutes an extension of the handle's longitudinal axis and ends in a ball. The brush is convex-concave/bean shaped with protruding bristles on one side and a hollow socket attached to the other side; the socket has an opening that faces the handle. To attach the brush to the handle, the ball is inserted into the cavity in the socket, so that a ball and socket joint is formed that enables the user to spatially change the angle between the brush and the handle. |
| US08671493B2 |
Dental cleaning device
An electric toothbrush with a removable brush section having a transponder communicating with a handle portion of the toothbrush via a non-contacting inductive coupling. |
| US08671492B2 |
Electric toothbrush
An attachment part for an electric toothbrush is disclosed. The attachment has a brush head, a tubular connecting piece being connected to the brush head for connecting the same to the head of a toothbrush handle, and a drive shaft for driving the working head. The connecting piece has at least one interior latching element that is arranged such that it is suitable to move into the interior of the neck of the handle and to create a disengageable connection of the attachment part to the neck of the handle, the interior latching element being radially inwardly offset, with regard to the diameter thereof, relative to an internal cylindrical surface of the connecting piece, such that a gap remains between the exterior of the interior latching element and the internal cylindrical surface, the gap being suitably made such that a wall of the neck of the handle can be moved into it. |
| US08671491B1 |
Cleaning and storage unit for pacifiers
A cleaning and storage unit for pacifiers comprises a cylindrical enclosure including a top center with a hinged lid which swings open to expose an internal cleaning assembly which comprises a cavity containing a cleaning fluid and a plurality of brushes. A standard pacifier can be inserted nipple-first into a top opening and against the brushes which automatically starts an electric motor which spins the brushes, thereby cleaning the pacifier. After a suitable period of time, the cleaned pacifier is removed. Clean pacifiers may be stored on removable hooks located around the perimeter of the enclosure. |
| US08671490B1 |
Bridge span replacement system
A vertically-adjustable gantry assembly installation adapted for removal or placement of a train bridge-span of the type which spans and is supported by two piers, comprises a gantry assembly positioned on load-bearing first ground-support locations, the gantry assembly comprising a gantry and a ground-engaging vertical support and lift system, the vertical support and lift system adapted for supporting a combined weight of the gantry and a bridge span in at least one operational vertical position above respective bridge span support-surfaces of the piers including a position corresponding to a disembarking plane in which the leg portions are extended from a stowed position to an extent at least sufficient for the gantry assembly to self-liftoff the pre-installation conveyance system onto the first ground-support locations to effect the gantry assembly installation. |
| US08671485B2 |
Infant apparatus
An infant apparatus includes a top panel and a bottom panel having securing means that form an aperture between the top panel and the bottom panel. A longitudinally extending wall connects the top panel and the bottom panel forming at least a first leg holding section and a second leg holding section. The bottom panel further includes a sleeping surface securing means. |
| US08671482B2 |
Method and apparatus for dynamically correcting posture
An orthopedic device for improving posture while sitting, having a foundation member including a front portion for upper legs and a bowl portion for lower pelvic area. The bowl portion has a central portion and an upwardly inclined lateral portion. The lateral portion and the front portion collectively surround the central portion. The central portion has regions of varying flexibility and the lateral portion has regions of varying flexibility. The bowl portion applies an upwardly and inwardly compressive force when the lower pelvic area is disposed in the bowl portion, and rotates on a supporting surface between a first position when the lower pelvic area is not disposed in the bowl portion, and a second position, rotationally forward of the first position, when the lower pelvic area is disposed in the bowl portion, to thereby cause a forward rotational tilting of the lower pelvic area into a forward lordotic position after the lower pelvic area is placed in the bowl portion. |
| US08671481B2 |
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation support pillow
A medical support pillow comprising of a pair of oppositely positioned sidewalls, a bottom portion having a bottom surface, and an upper portion. The support pillow includes a head support and neck support, which are dimensioned to automatically align the airways to facilitate CPR when head and neck are positioned thereupon. The upper portion has two opposing inclined surfaces. The first inclined surface for receiving and supporting the individual's neck, the second oppositely positioned inclined surface for supporting the individual's head. In a further embodiment, the medical support pillow has a circular indentation, which curves inwardly on the upper portion which hold and support and individual's neck to prevent substantial movement of the individual's head. In a further embodiment, the medical support pillow includes a hollowed out section on both right and left side of base creating handles making the medical support pillow easy to carry and transport. |
| US08671480B1 |
Multi-purpose pillow system
A multi-purpose pillow system. The pillow system comprises a pair of compressible, shape-sustaining pillows. One pillow is wedge-shaped with a knife-edge on its inner side. The second pillow has a broad flat bottom, so that it can maintain an upright position when standing alone, and an inwardly curved top. The system includes a connecting strap by which one of the pillows is removably and adjustably connected to the other. In this way, the distance between the pillows can be changed to suit the size of the user. When joined by the strap, the pair of pillows provides both back and abdominal support for a pregnant woman or can be used as back support for a sleeping infant. The second pillow with its curved top performs well as a nursing pillow or as a lap tray for an adult or child. |
| US08671477B1 |
Mattress skirt
A mattress skirt applied to a bed for concealing an edge of a mattress. The mattress skirt has a horizontal panel that is inserted between a mattress and box spring and a vertical panel that drapes over an edge of the mattress. The mattress skirt has a plurality of pockets on the horizontal panel, each dimensioned to receive a batten. A batten is inserted into a pocket to install the horizontal panel between the mattress and box spring. |
| US08671475B2 |
Apparatus and methods for transferring a patient
In one embodiment, an example patient movement apparatus and methods for its use enable an EMS crew to load a patient disposed in an ambulance chair and/or in an ambulance stretcher into an ambulance, unload the patient from the ambulance, and otherwise move the patent within the ambulance, for example, from the ambulance chair to the ambulance stretcher. The patient movement apparatus may comprise a patient cradle in which a patient is wrapped, a loading ramp that spans between ground level and the level of the floor of the rear of the ambulance, a winch secured within the rear of the ambulance and having a retractable winch cable, an articulating arm secured within the rear of the ambulance and having a pulley to accommodate the winch cable, and/or one or more cable guides secured within the rear of the ambulance and that accommodate the winch cable. |
| US08671474B2 |
Support frame assembly for patient lifts
A patient lift support frame assembly, comprising a patient-lift-carrying member, and first and second support members for carrying the patient-lift-support member. The support members are telescopically configured, and can be extended manually, with an actuator to push a ceiling pad against a ceiling for greater stability. The support member are selectively lockable against being shortened, using gears and a cam, or other lock. The ceiling bearing element is spring loaded. |
| US08671472B2 |
Air control and aromatherapy module
An air control and aromatherapy module for a jetted tub comprising an air control member having a body portion defining an intake opening, a scent container defining a scent opening, and a housing having a body portion. The scent container is positioned within the body portion of the air control member. The air control member and the scent container are at least partially disposed within the body portion of the housing. The air control member and the housing define a central passageway and the scent opening of the scent container is in fluid communication with the central passageway. A method of providing aromatherapy to a jetted tub is also disclosed. |
| US08671469B1 |
Toilet seat system for raising and lowering toilet seat
A toilet seat system for lowering the toilet seat featuring a housing; a rotation lever pivotally attached in the inner cavity of the housing; a lift arm attached to the rotation lever and extending outwardly from the housing, the lift arm is for securing to a bottom surface of a toilet seat; mounting brackets for mounting the housing to a toilet seat; a motor operatively connected to the rotation lever, the motor is adapted to pivot the rotation lever and lift arm together upwardly and downwardly between at least a horizontal position and a vertical position; a microprocessor and a sensor activated when the toilet seat is lifted, the microprocessor is receives an input signal from the sensor when the sensor is activated whereupon the microprocessor generates an output command to the motor to move the rotation lever and lift arm to the horizontal position after a time delay. |
| US08671468B2 |
Hinge assembly for a toilet seat
A hinge assembly for a toilet seat, the hinge assembly comprising a hinge post for pivotally supporting the toilet seat on a toilet bowl, and a bolt embedded in the hinge post and configured to extend through an opening in the toilet bowl, the bolt having thereon a plurality of projections extending into the hinge post to distribute to the hinge post forces applied to the bolt. |
| US08671464B2 |
Temperature regulating garment
A garment for regulating temperature includes a body having a back panel and at least one front panel made of a temperature insulating textile and partially joined along at least one common edge, the joined panels defining an inside chamber. At least one pocket is fastened to an inside surface of at least one of the front panel and the back panel. The at least one pocket is configured for accommodating a temperature regulating element. |
| US08671462B2 |
Stab resistant knit fabric having ballistic resistance made with layered modified knit structure and soft body armor construction containing the same
A stab resistant knit fabric, made containing a plurality of panels of a knit fabric having a modified knit structure corresponding to rows of knit stitches, wherein each of the panels of knit fabric comprise a front layer of knit fabric and a back layer of knit fabric, wherein the front layer and back layer are joined together by rows of tuck stitches formed from a yarn having no more than 4.5% elongation; wherein at least one panel of knit fabric is arranged such that the rows of knit stitches of the at least one panel of knit fabric are perpendicular to the rows of at least one other panel of knit fabric, its combination with a ballistic layer to provide ballistic resistance properties, and a protective garment prepared therefrom. |
| US08677506B2 |
System and method for loading application classes
In an application, variants of a class may be generated and associated with different security permissions for the application. When a class is to be loaded, a determination is made as to the application's security permissions, e.g. by decoding a security token. The class is then retrieved from a repository that stores class variants matching the required security level. The retrieved class variant, which may have a full or a reduced functionality as appropriate for the security permission may then by loaded. |
| US08677505B2 |
Security system with extraction, reconstruction and secure recovery and storage of data
The method for securing data includes establishing a group of security sensitive items, filtering data and extracting and separating the security items from remainder data. The filtered data are separately stored (locally on a PC or on another computer in a LAN or WAN or on the Internet.) A map may be generated. The filter and/or map may be destroyed or stored. The data input, extracted data and remainder data may be deleted from the originating computer. Encryption may be utilized to enhance security (including transfers of data, filter and map). Reconstruction of the data is permitted only in the presence of a predetermined security clearance. A plurality of security clearances may be used to enable a corresponding plurality of partial, reconstructed views of the plaintext (omitting higher security words). |
| US08677502B2 |
Proximity based networked media file sharing
Among other things, methods, systems and computer program products are disclosed for manipulating media. In one aspect, one or more processes executing on a host computer system detect that a portable electronic device is within a predefined communications proximity relative to the host computer system, establish wireless communications and exchange information with the portable electronic device sufficient to determine that metadata relating to one or more items of visual media content reside on the portable electronic device. The metadata is used to retrieve the one or more items of visual media content from a storage location separate from the portable electronic device. The retrieved one or more items of visual media content are added to a list of visual media content available for presentation on a presentation device associated with the host computer system. |
| US08677500B2 |
Digital broadcasting receiver for protection of broadcasting contents and the method thereof
Provided are a digital broadcasting receiver and method of broadcast content protection. The digital broadcasting receiver comprises a platform which stores received broadcast data, middleware which comprises an application manager managing various applications so that broadcast content corresponding to the received broadcast data is used according to a consumption policy, a platform interface unit which acts as an interface between the platform and the middleware, and a middleware interface unit which acts as an interface between the various applications and the middleware. According to the method, various broadcast content protection and management policies can be accepted in various digital broadcasting receivers, each having different hardware and software structures. |
| US08677499B2 |
Enforcing access control policies on servers in an information management system
A method and apparatus for controlling document access and application usage using centrally managed rules. The rules are stored and manipulated in a central rule database via a rule server. Policy enforcers are installed on client systems and/or on servers and perform document access and application usage control for both direct user document accesses and application usage, and application program document accesses by evaluating the rules sent to the policy enforcer. The rule server decides which rules are required by each policy enforcer. A policy enforcer can also perform obligation and remediation operations as a part of rule evaluation. Policy enforcers on client systems and servers can operate autonomously, evaluating policies that have been received, when communications have been discontinued with the rule server. |
| US08677497B2 |
Mobile risk assessment
A query is received from a particular endpoint device identifying a particular wireless access point encountered by the particular endpoint device. Pre-existing risk assessment data is identified for the identified particular wireless access point and query result data is sent to the particular endpoint device characterizing pre-assessed risk associated with the particular wireless access point. In some instances, the query result data is generated based on the pre-existing risk assessment data. In some instances, pre-existing risk assessment data can be the result of an earlier risk assessment carried-out at least in part by an endpoint device interfacing with and testing the particular wireless access point. |
| US08677495B1 |
Dynamic trap for detecting malicious applications in computing devices
A trap is dynamically created in a computing device to detect a malicious application. The trap may be a fake e-mail address created in response to detecting running of an application in the computing device. The fake e-mail address includes a local-part that identifies the application and identifies the mobile computing device (e.g., by user identifier). A backend system receives e-mails that are addressed to fake e-mail addresses. The backend system parses a recipient address of a received e-mail to identify an application associated with the e-mail and the computing device where the fake e-mail address was generated. The backend system informs a user of the computing device of a data leakage occurring in the computing device and the application that may be responsible for the data leakage. |
| US08677489B2 |
Methods and apparatus for managing network traffic
Methods, apparatus, and computer readable storage media reduce or eliminate network traffic meeting criteria. In some aspects, network traffic transmitted by one or more source nodes to one or more destination nodes may comprise a denial of service attack against the destination node(s). At least a portion of the denial of service attack traffic may be reduced or eliminated with the disclosed methods and apparatus. In one aspect, a method of managing undesirable network traffic transmitted from a source node to a destination node over a communications network includes receiving a notification of a routing rule change, authenticating the notification, determining a network routing rule based on the notification, applying the network routing rule, determining a network path toward the source node, determining an entity based on the network path, and transmitting a notification of the routing rule change to the entity. |
| US08677486B2 |
System and method for near-real time network attack detection, and system and method for unified detection via detection routing
A system includes a processor. The processor is configured to receive network traffic that includes a data block. The processor will generate a unique identifier (UID) for the file that includes a hash value corresponding to the file. The processor will determine whether the file is indicated as good or bad with the previously-stored UID. The processor will call a file-type specific detection nugget corresponding to the file's file-type to perform a full file inspection to detect whether the file is good or bad and store a result of the inspection together with the UID of the file, when the file is determined to be not listed in the previously-stored UIDs. The processor will not call the file-type specific detection nugget when the file's indicator is “good” or “bad” in the previously-stored UIDs. The processor will issue an alert about the bad file when the file's indicator is “bad”. |
| US08677485B2 |
Detecting network anomaly
A method for detecting an anomaly in a network can include combining a number of data-created sketch-sets and requesting a finer sketch-set for an identified sketch-set among the combined number of sketch-sets using an aggregator, and creating the finer sketch-set for the identified sketch-set to detect the anomaly in the network using a monitor. |
| US08677484B2 |
Providing protection against unauthorized network access
A system includes a detection unit configured to detect unauthorized access to one or more information processing apparatuses that are virtually implemented by virtual machines executed by a computer; an authorized network configured to transfer authorized access to the one or more information processing apparatuses from an external network; a honeypot network configured to transfer unauthorized access to the information processing apparatuses from the external network; and a control unit configured to connect the information processing apparatuses for which no unauthorized access has been detected to the authorized network, and connect the information processing apparatuses for which unauthorized access has been detected to the honeypot network; wherein the control unit shifts, in response to detecting unauthorized access by the detection unit, the corresponding information processing apparatus into a decoy mode in which the detected unauthorized access is disconnected from a normal operation. |
| US08677477B2 |
Application program launching method and system for improving security of embedded Linux kernel
Provided is an application program launching method and system for improving security of an embedded Linux kernel by distributing superuser privileges. The method includes: searching security set information on an application program selected by a user; changing a user account for a processor of the application program to a user ID associated with the application program in the security set information; setting a capability for the processor according to setting information for the capability in the security set information; changing a basic directory for the processor according to a basic directory in the security set information; and launching the application program. |
| US08677476B2 |
Providing remotely defined security data to a local application extension
Systems and methods, including computer software adapted to perform certain operations, can be implemented for providing remotely defined security data to an application extension on a client device. A sequence of instructions and at least one permission indicator associated with the sequence of instructions are received. A first permission indicator is associated with a code extension to a software application adapted to execute at least a portion of the sequence of instructions. The code extension is adapted to perform one or more operations that supplement the operations supported by the software application. An instruction within the sequence of instructions associated with adapted for execution by the code extension and with an activity is identified. The first permission indicator is provided to the code extension. The code extension determines whether performance of the activity is permitted based, at least in part, on the first permission indicator. |
| US08677472B1 |
Multi-point collection of behavioral data relating to a virtualized browsing session with a secure server
A method of operating a VM server (VMS) is described, including (a) executing a VM instance (VMI) at the VMS, the VMI having a remote display within a terminal program of a client computer, the terminal program being configured to send commands received by the client from a user to the VMS to affect operation of the VMI, (b) running a browser within the VMI, the browser having a connection to a secure web application running on a web application server, the commands sent from the terminal program to the VMS allowing the user to interact with the web application via the terminal program and the browser running on the VMI, (c) at the VMS, asynchronously collecting information in connection with the commands sent from the user to the VMS, and (d) at the VMS, asynchronously sending the collected information to an analysis server to be analyzed for anomalous behavior. |
| US08677468B2 |
Service activation in a passive optical network (PON)
An Optical Line Terminal (2) connected to a Passive Optical Network provides a service to a Client device (1, 8) by receiving its hardware identity, as well as SIM-authentication information, from the Client device, and forwarding to the Authentication Server (3). After authentication of an end-user, a relationship is created between the Client device and the end-user. The OLT activates a service, based on service subscriptions associated with the end-user and on hardware-dependent service definitions associated with the Client device. |
| US08677465B2 |
Preventing inadvertent lock-out during password entry dialog
One embodiment provides a computer-implemented method for providing controlled access to electronic content. A password is associated with electronic content, such as by password-protecting an electronic file that contains the electronic content. At least one password attempt is received in an effort to access the electronic content. Each password attempt is compared to the password at a selected subset of “trap” character positions. Up to a threshold number of password entries is allowed that have incorrect characters at any of the trap character positions. A greater number or even an unlimited number of incorrect password entries are allowed having incorrect characters at non-trap character positions. Access to the electronic content is allowed only if one of the password entries exactly matches the password. |
| US08677464B2 |
Systems and methods for managing secure communication sessions with remote devices
According to various embodiments, a session manager generates, stores, and periodically updates the login credentials for each of a plurality of connected IEDs. An operator, possibly via an access device, may provide unique login credentials to the session manager. The session manager may determine the authorization level of the operator based on the operator's login credentials, defining with which IEDs the operator may communicate. According to various embodiments, the session manager does not facilitate a communication session between the operator and a target IED. Rather, the session manager maintains a first communication session with the operator and initiates a second communication session with the target IED. Accordingly, the session manager may forward commands transmitted by the operator to the target IED. Based on the authorization level of the operator, a session filter may restrict what may be communicated between an operator and an IED. |
| US08677459B2 |
Secure zero-touch provisioning of remote management controller
Embodiments enable secure zero-touch remote provisioning/management of a computer system. A computer system is shipped to end customers with its remote management controller enabled but not provisioned. During automatic testing, for example, provisioning authentication data is embedded into the remote management controller. The computer system vendor harvests the provisioning authentication data or derivative data therefrom from the remote management controller and stores it in a database. Upon sale of the computer system, the computer system vendor provides to the end-customer the harvested data of the computer system's remote management controller. The end-customer can then remotely authenticate a remote provisioning/management console to the remote management controller. Once successfully authenticated, the remote provisioning/management console can provision the remote management controller with one or more user accounts/roles with corresponding authentication details, authenticate as one of the provisioned user accounts, and perform computer system provisioning using remote manageability functions as desired. |
| US08677456B2 |
Accelerated reevaluation of authorization rules
A method for evaluating authorization rules, the method including evaluating a plurality of authorization rules in connection with an authorization process for a subject, storing in a computer-readable storage medium and in association with the subject a rule identifier of any of the rules that are applicable to the subject, and performing, in connection with a subsequent authorization process for the subject, a computer-based action indicated by any of the rules identified by any of the stored rule identifiers, where the performing step is performed independent from an evaluation of the applicability of any of the authorization rules in connection with the subsequent authorization process. |
| US08677454B2 |
Utilization of virtual machines by a community cloud
A mechanism for utilization of virtual machines by a community cloud is disclosed. A method of the invention includes authenticating a virtual machine (VM) to be joined to a cloud environment managed by a central administrative computing device as a cloud computing resource, wherein the VM is operating on a workstation that is not a dedicated cloud computing resource, updating a database of VMs utilized as cloud computing resources with information of the VM related to its operational status, and providing instructions for the VM to operate as a cloud computing resource, the instructions based on current demand for cloud services of the cloud environment and an overall current supply of cloud computing resources presently available in the cloud environment. |
| US08677451B1 |
Enabling seamless access to a domain of an enterprise
A user is allowed to access any of a number of domains associated with an enterprise using a credential for any one of the domains. An exemplary method includes steps of receiving, from a user and at a first domain of the enterprise, a user identification and a password; determining, at the first domain, whether the user identification is associated with the first domain; and upon determination that the user identification is not associated with the first domain, determining, at the first domain, whether the user identification is associated with a second domain of the enterprise. The user identification and the password are authenticated at the first domain, upon determination that the user identification is associated with the second domain. Upon successful authentication, the user is enabled to access the second domain of the enterprise. The user identification does not need to include a character directly reflecting a domain name. |
| US08677449B1 |
Exposing data to virtual machines
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for exposing metadata to a virtual machine. In one aspect, a method includes executing a virtual machine on a host operating system. A synthetic file system is mounted on the virtual machine to expose the synthetic file system to a plurality of guest applications executing on the virtual machine. The synthetic file system is configured to provide a plurality of system calls to the guest applications including at least a read operation or a write operation for reading from or writing to external metadata stored outside the virtual machine. |
| US08677447B1 |
Identifying user names and enforcing policies
Techniques for identifying user names and enforcing policies are disclosed. An external user account associated with an external application request is identified. A policy is applied based on the identified external user account. One example policy is that access to the external application (via the external user account) should be blocked. |
| US08677446B2 |
Centrally managed impersonation
Systems, methods and computer readable media for centrally managed impersonation are described. Examples include a system having a central server and a remote shell daemon running on a remote machine, wherein a trust relationship is established between the central server and the remote shell daemon. Examples also include a method wherein a user sends the management system a request to act upon a remote machine. The management system determines whether the user is authenticated for the requested action. Upon authentication, the management system identifies an impersonation policy based on user profile and the remote machine. The management system connects to the remote machine, impersonates an elevated privilege account if required, and executes the user action on the remote machine. |
| US08677445B2 |
Information processing apparatus and computer readable medium
An information processing apparatus, includes: a registration unit that refers to a use limit information memory which stores use limit information indicating a policy of a use limit of a document corresponding to a set of a mark image indicating that use of the document is limited and user associated information relating to a user associated to the document, extracts the mark image and person in charge information from document image information obtained by reading a paper document including the mark image and the person in charge information indicating a person in charge with respect to contents of the paper document, acquires the use limit information corresponding to a set of the extracted mark image and the user associated information corresponding to the extracted person in charge information from the use limit information memory, and registers the acquired use limit information associated with a document including the document image information in a document memory. |
| US08677443B2 |
Set top box with capability to support user identification
A method for performing a service action on a particular set top box based on a particular private identifier associated with the particular set top box is disclosed. At a database associated with a service provider, a user record is created. The user record includes a public identifier and a private identifier for each set top box that is available to the user. The public identifier for a particular set top box is accessible by the user and may be used to determine the private identifier for the particular set top box. |
| US08677438B2 |
Wireless video transmission device
After fixing the physical address of a wireless video transmission device to a route address or the like, it is possible to shorten the switchover time by having a conversion table provided that maps the physical addresses on the wireless video reception device side, since it does not occur that the addresses of AV equipment connected by wire with the wireless video transmission device are changed, even if the physical address of the wireless video reception device changes. Further, by performing split transfer of the CEC messages, it is possible to carry out transmission of the CEC messages promptly and to suppress reception confirmation bits with respect to CEC messages for which there exists no destination. |
| US08677435B2 |
Upstream power control for multiple transmit channels
A novel apparatus for and method of upstream power control for multiple transmit channels. The invention is particularly useful in environments that include two level amplification, wherein the first level corresponds to each channel separately and the second level corresponds to the joint sum of all the channels. When working with two-level amplification, changing the joint sum amplification is permitted during specific time periods known as “CMTS re-configuration time” in the DOCSIS specification. The mechanism functions to maintain an optimal transmit power operating point of the PGA using self-configuration without any need to receive permission from an exterior control entity such as the cable head-end thus bypassing the prior art requirement of waiting for a global reconfiguration time from the CMTS (i.e. when the specification assures that there is sufficient time to change the PGA gain). This can be achieved with high confidence if there is sufficient quiet time (which is calculated) to perform the self-configuration of the PGA within a specific period of time. |
| US08677434B2 |
Method and system for direct digital up-conversion in a cable modem
Provided are a method and system for a module for a cable modem termination system. The module includes a digital modulator configured to block up-convert a plurality of digital channels and a digital to analog converter coupled, at least indirectly, to an output of the digital modulator to convert the digital channels to an analog format. |
| US08677432B2 |
System and method for providing a personal broadcasting service using a mobile communication terminal
A system and method for providing a personal broadcasting service using a mobile communication terminal with a multimedia broadcasting module are provided. A broadcasting service provider provides multimedia broadcasting content. A multimedia broadcasting terminal sends a channel selection signal to the broadcasting service provider, receives multimedia broadcasting content of a selected channel, and opens personal broadcasting. A normal terminal sends a multimedia broadcasting content request to the multimedia broadcasting terminal opening the personal broadcasting, and receives the multimedia broadcasting content from the multimedia broadcasting terminal opening the personal broadcasting. |
| US08677429B2 |
Resource conflict resolution for multiple television
A system for managing resource-usage conflict among a plurality of viewers associated with a plurality of TVs, including a plurality of resources for shared usage among the viewers, the resources including at least one input device adapted to receive a program broadcast and to transmit the program broadcast onward for display, a resolution arrangement operationally connected to the at least one input device, the resolution arrangement being adapted to identify a usage conflict of at least one of the resources, and send an on-screen display having a resource usage action-choice to at least two of the TVs. Related apparatus and methods are also described. |
| US08677428B2 |
System and method for rule based dynamic server side streaming manifest files
There is provided a system and method for rule-based dynamic server-side streaming manifest files. There is provided a method comprising receiving a request to provide a first video content for playback, evaluating a plurality of rules for the first video content, generating a dynamic manifest file referencing the first video content, and providing the dynamic manifest file in response to the request, thereby enabling an application to playback the first video content for output on a display by interpreting the dynamic manifest file. The rules may implement various features such as dynamic advertisement insertion, load balancing, client customization, user and device targeting, enhanced security mechanisms, global announcements, and others. As streaming protocols are widely supported by default on many client platforms, the dynamic manifest files can be utilized in a user friendly and transparent manner compared to client-side solutions requiring cumbersome client software installations. |
| US08677427B1 |
Receiving over-the-air licenses to high-quality media content
A method, system, and medium are provided for enabling playback of licensed media content. The depicted embodiments provide a method to enable users to play a high-quality media file on a computing device. More specifically, the method provides a method to authenticate a high-fidelity license on a computing device to enable playback of an associated high-quality media file. Illustrative examples of high-quality media files include any media file that may contain a video and/or audio component. |
| US08677425B2 |
Method and system for implementing interaction between set-top box (STB) and home gateway
The present invention provides a Set-Top Box, a home gateway, and a method and a system for implementing interaction between the Set-Top Box and the home gateway, and the method comprises: the Set-Top Box transmitting a subscription message to the home gateway by means of a UPnP protocol message; the home gateway receiving and parsing the subscription message, combining a subscription response event according to the parsed subscription information, and then transmitting the subscription response event to the Set-Top Box by means of a UPnP protocol message; and the Set-Top Box triggering a corresponding operation according to a subscription response event message, after receiving the subscription response event message. The flexible coordination between the home gateway and the Set-Top Box can be implemented in accordance with the present invention, which can achieve the purposes of automatic diagnosis and automatic adjustment of services, and improve the user experience effectively. |
| US08677421B2 |
Digital broadcast reception apparatus
An object of the present invention is to provide a digital broadcast reception apparatus that allows a stable viewing even if a reception environment changes along with a movement. In the present invention, based on current position information indicating a current position detected by a current position detection section and broadcast area information stored in a broadcast area information storage section, a search-mode switching control section instructs a tuning control section to select a diversity operation mode if the current position is close to a boundary of a broadcast area, and select an independent reception operation mode if the current position is not close to the boundary of the broadcast area. In the diversity operation mode, a first system and a second system are tuned to the same physical channel, and cooperate with each other to demodulate a digital broadcast signal and a make an output through a diversity process. In the independent reception operation mode, the first system and the second system individually and independently demodulate the digital broadcast signal and make an output. |
| US08677419B2 |
Program search device
A program search device is described that searches for programs using a keyword search and handles the programs found in the search by classifying the programs into special programs and regular programs. The device searches for broadcast programs corresponding to a current time from an electronic program guide, and includes a program guide storing unit that prestores an electronic program guide a keyword storing unit that prestores one or more extraction keywords and corresponding effective periods, a time obtaining unit operable to obtain a current time, a detecting unit operable to read an extraction keyword corresponding to an effective period and detect, from the electronic program guide, one or more program display information sets including the read extraction keyword, and an extracting unit operable to extract each of one or more program display information sets that indicates a regular program, or a special program. |
| US08677415B2 |
On-screen program guide with interactive programming recommendations
A subscriber to a video service generally has available to them an on-screen program guide. The program guide lists programming (e.g., TV shows) that are available to the subscriber for a certain upcoming time period. The programming guide may sort the listings by channel and time, areas of interest, age appropriateness and/or MPAA or TV rating, free or additional cost, etc. In an embodiment, the programming guide includes an ability to make a selection to see which TV shows are recommended by reviewers. Such reviewers may be individuals or panels or institutions to which some credibility may be attached—a trusted source. After selecting a reviewer, the subscriber is made aware of the programs recommended by the selected reviewer. |
| US08677414B2 |
Apparatus and method for managing messages of communication devices
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set top box having a controller to present media content to a user, receive a message, and selectively cease presentation of the media content until after the message is reviewed. Additional embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08677413B2 |
Information descriptor and extended information descriptor data structures for digital television signals
A digital television (DTV) data stream includes an event information table (EIT), the EIT including: a descriptor including: a descriptor tag identifying the descriptor as a genre descriptor, a descriptor length field, and at least one category code for an associated event in a DTV data stream. |
| US08677403B2 |
Administrative tool for video programming
A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for administering a video channel comprising a plurality of video feeds. A method in accordance with the present invention comprises coupling a computer to a transmission station, the transmission station receiving the plurality of video feeds, arranging a plurality of icons on a monitor of the computer to emulate a video layout to be presented, associating a video feed of the plurality of video feeds with an icon of the plurality of icons, and enabling manipulation of the video feeds through the computer. |
| US08677402B2 |
Second display support of character set unsupported on playback device
Systems and methods are provided to allow users to browse services, content items, or the like using the language that is generally most familiar to them, and in particular ones that are not available on an IPTV. Thus, users can browse content offerings on the second display in a language and font set that are personalized to themselves, and they may further send the content item to the IPTV for playback. The disclosed systems and methods provide a way for a group of users to exploit individual “second displays” to view, browse, and navigate content or data service offerings, by service providers, e.g., internet network services, in a preferred language and using preferred fonts, especially one not supported by a content playback device, on behalf of a content playback device, e.g., IPTV, the same having authenticated credentials for playback of such content, and then arrange for a selected content item or items to be played back on the content playback device. The second displays serve as a visual aid to the IPTV, but generally do not require additional investment by the user because the same make use of a device, e.g., a smartphone, laptop computer, tablet computer, an internet appliance, a desktop computer, etc., which most users would already have in their possession. Such a second display is a significant complement to an IPTV because of the second display's strength in supported languages and character font sets, data entry, processing power, and user experience in content management. |
| US08677399B2 |
Preprocessing video to insert visual elements and applications thereof
Embodiments of this invention relate to preprocessing video such that visual elements, such as advertisements, can be inserted at a later point in time when the video is requested by a user. In an embodiment, a video and target data is received. The video is analyzed to determine how a target moves and changes over time. Metadata describing how the target moves and changes over time is stored. When a user requests an on-demand video such as from a video sharing site, a visual element is inserted into the video. The visual elements move and change as defined in the stored metadata. In this way, advertisements can be inserted into on-demand video such as video from a video sharing website. |
| US08677394B2 |
Integrating and processing embedded links to related video content in a video stream to provide advertising information
In one embodiment, a capability is disclosed for conveying a link to further information over a cable system to a consumer device, wherein the video link can be associated with an external video source. The information can be conveyed to the consume device in one embodiment by embedding the video link information within a stream of MPEG formatted video information using an EBIF application. The video link information can be a URL from which the external information, typically video information, can be received. Upon detecting the link, the consumer device opens up a display window on a television image, which is presented to the viewer in an overlaid manner in addition to the MPEG video information on a television display. Typically, after the external video is presented, the window is closed. |
| US08677392B2 |
Distributed TV access system
Distributed navigation of broadcast signals is provided through an on-line application connected through a second network connection. A customer receives the broadcast signals through a first network connection, and navigates the broadcast TV content through an on-line application by a browser connected through a second network connection. The present on-line application provides flexible and re-configurable content services, which will need to be customized once for each service provider, but will render consistently on a variety of PC and non-PC client devices. Further, the present on-line application can provide targeted advertising by maintaining an advertising profile for each viewer, determined in part by recording data about the navigating of the content of the broadcast signals, and by recording a plurality of selections of the viewer transmitted to the on-line application. The on-line capability further provides ease for roaming access. |
| US08677391B2 |
Moving image data delivery system, an advertising image data delivery system, and a moving image viewing apparatus
An advertisement provider issues coupons to an audiences of television set in exchange of viewing a commercial message and receives advertising rate from the advertiser of the commercial message in exchange of informing of the coupon issuance. A television station allows the audience to decompress a downloaded digital image data of a television program in exchange of presentation of the coupon. The television station receives allotment of the advertising rate in exchange of informing of the coupon presentation form audiences. The television station sorts the presented coupons by the advertisement providers to inform each advertisement provider of the coupon presentation. The television station allows the decompression even in a shortage of the presented coupon, provided that it will be compensated by money or later presentation of coupon by due data. The commercial messages are provided automatically or by request. The audience may voluntarily replace television program by commercial message. |
| US08677389B2 |
Media usage monitoring and measurement system and method
Media monitoring and measurement systems and methods are disclosed. Some embodiments of the present invention provide a media measurement system and method that utilizes audience data to enhance content identifications. Some embodiments analyze media player log data to enhance content identification. Other embodiments of the present invention analyze sample sequence data to enhance content identifications. Other embodiments analyze sequence data to enhance content identification and/or to establish channel identification. Yet other embodiments provide a system and method in which sample construction and selection parameters are adjusted based upon identification results. Yet other embodiments provide a method in which play-altering activity of an audience member is deduced from content offset values of identifications corresponding to captured samples. Yet other embodiments provide a monitoring and measurement system in which a media monitoring device is adapted to receive a wireless or non-wireless audio signal from a media player, the audio signal also being received wirelessly by headphones of a user of the monitoring device. |
| US08677386B2 |
Automatic rating system using background audio cues
Methods and systems for capturing, transmitting and processing data for generating ratings relating to multimedia programming based on passively obtained user cues are disclosed herein. |
| US08677383B2 |
Radio frequency transponder for use with a medium
A radio frequency transponder for use with a disc, such as a CD or DVD has an antenna formed by depositing a conductive solution on a surface of disc outside at adjacent to its outer periphery outside of the disc storage area to yield at least one conductive region. A transponder circuit is coupled to the antenna for supplying an RF signal to the antenna in response to a signal received from the antenna. |
| US08677380B2 |
Laser diode holding member with position adjusting member
A laser diode assembly for an optical pickup includes a laser diode, a holding member, and a position adjustment member. The holding member has a housing portion formed therein. The laser diode is housed in the housing portion. The position adjustment member is disposed between the laser diode and an inner wall of the housing portion and configured to adjust a mounting position of the laser diode by abutting the inner wall and the laser diode. |
| US08677378B2 |
Lightweight, high performance, remote reconfigurable communications terminal architecture
A software defined radio system having at least one radio core that has the ability to request or accept the delivery of a Reconfigurable Communications Architecture (RCA) compliant application(s), store the application(s), and has the minimum parts of the RCA framework necessary to run the application(s). |
| US08677375B2 |
Selecting executing requests to preempt
Systems, methods, and computer-readable and executable instructions are provided for selecting executing requests to preempt. Selecting executing requests to preempt can include determining whether an application is in an overload condition. Selecting executing requests can also include in response to determining the application is in an overload condition, identifying each request that is being executed by the application. Selecting executing requests can also include determining a value for each request that is executing. Furthermore, selecting executing requests can also include selecting executing requests to preempt based on the values for the requests. |
| US08677373B2 |
Computation resource control apparatus, computation resource control method, and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium
A computation resource control apparatus includes an activation unit, a first queue managing unit, an allocating unit and a second queue managing unit. The activation unit activates a computation resource being in a stop state in accordance with a computation request. The first queue managing unit adds the computation resource which is being activated to a first queue. The allocating unit allocates the computation resource, which is output from the first queue, to the computation request to execute a computation process corresponding to the computation request. The second queue managing unit adds the computation resource which has completed the computation process to a second queue and places the computation resource, which is output from the second queue, in the stop state. |
| US08677372B2 |
Method, data processing program, and computer program product to compensate for coupling overhead in a distributed computing system, and corresponding overhead calculator for a distributed computing system and corresponding computer system
An improved method to compensate for coupling overhead in a distributed computing system offering a raw processing capacity, comprising an effective processing capacity (404) and the coupling overhead, is disclosed, wherein the distributed computing system comprises at least one computer system and at least one coupling facility. The method comprises determining a coupling efficiency, determining and adding an amount of missing processing capacity to the effective processing capacity based on the coupling efficiency in a way that the effective processing capacity of the raw processing capacity corresponds to a billable target processing capacity. |
| US08677371B2 |
Mixed operating performance modes including a shared cache mode
Functionality is implemented to determine that a plurality of multi-core processing units of a system are configured in accordance with a plurality of operating performance modes. It is determined that a first of the plurality of operating performance modes satisfies a first performance criterion that corresponds to a first workload of a first logical partition of the system. Accordingly, the first logical partition is associated with a first set of the plurality of multi-core processing units that are configured in accordance with the first operating performance mode. It is determined that a second of the plurality of operating performance modes satisfies a second performance criterion that corresponds to a second workload of a second logical partition of the system. Accordingly, the second logical partition is associated with a second set of the plurality of multi-core processing units that are configured in accordance with the second operating performance mode. |
| US08677368B2 |
Broadcast receiving terminal and program execution method
Under a resource manager, unexpected blocking is prevented without calling a handler for resolving a resource contention, by assigning a priority level depending on the program that has requested for a reservation of a resource as well as by assigning a special priority level which permits a reservation of a resource without any conditions in the case of a program which is urgently needed such as an EAS module. |
| US08677367B2 |
Execution order decision device
An execution sequence decision device is capable of efficiently and appropriately determining the execution sequence of processing modules even in a case where those have a closed circuit in the input/output dependencies. A dependence evaluation sub-unit and an anti dependence evaluation sub-unit evaluate the dependence and anti dependence of each processing module in a processing module group. A priority evaluation sub-unit determines the priority of each processing module in the processing module group based on the dependence and anti dependence. An execution order allocation sub-unit allocates the top of execution sequence to one processing module that has the highest priority obtained by the priority evaluation sub-unit. An execution sequence allocation unit causes the respective sub-units to repeatedly execute the above-mentioned process every time the order of execution sequence of one processing module is determined, and then sequentially allocates the orders of execution sequence to the respective processing modules. |
| US08677365B2 |
Performing zone-based workload scheduling according to environmental conditions
To perform zone-based workload scheduling according to environmental conditions in a system having electronic devices, indicators of cooling efficiencies of the electronic devices in corresponding zones are aggregated to form aggregated indicators for respective zones, where the zones include respective subsets of electronic devices. Workload is assigned to the electronic devices according to the aggregated indicators. |
| US08677363B2 |
Method for managing, tracking and distributing job programs for processing to a plurality of execution computers
A method for controlling a distributed processing system comprising a management computer for managing distributed processing of a job program and a plurality of execution computers for executing the job program, includes dividing the job program into a plurality of jobs and the management computer assigning the plural jobs among the execution computers, transferring processed information obtained by executing said jobs program by each of the execution computers to the management computer, storing processed information corresponding to the executed job program into the execution computers, and re-executing the job program on said management computer by using the processed information when the processed information is available. |
| US08677362B2 |
Apparatus for reconfiguring, mapping method and scheduling method in reconfigurable multi-processor system
Provided are an apparatus for reconfiguring a mapping method and a scheduling method in a reconfigurable multi-processor system. A single function is mapped to a reconfigurable processor. When a task is created in the reconfigurable multi-processor system, a function of the task is dynamically mapped to a host processor or a reconfigurable processor, thereby removing temporal sharing between functions on the reconfigurable processor and thus reducing the number of times reconfiguration is performed. The overhead of the reconfigurable processor is minimized and the reconfigurable processor is optimized for a dynamic multi-application environment. |
| US08677360B2 |
Thread-related actions based on historical thread behaviors
Various embodiments provide techniques for managing threads based on a thread history. In at least some embodiments, a behavior associated with currently existing threads is observed and a thread-related action is performed. A result of the thread-related action with respect to the currently existing threads, resources associated with the currently existing threads (e.g., hardware and/or data resources), and/or other threads, is then observed. A thread history is recorded (e.g., as part of a thread history database) that includes the behavior associated with the currently existing threads, the thread related action that was performed, and the result of the thread-related action. The thread history can include information about multiple different thread behaviors and can be referenced to determine whether to perform thread-related actions in response to other observed thread behaviors. |
| US08677358B2 |
Endpoint-hosted hypervisor management
A client hypervisor comprises a virtual agent that runs outside of a system OS and that allows device management independent of the OS and user. The virtual agent is tied to a device and not a specific instance of the OS. Such client hypervisors expose new functionality to ease managing systems. Some of these capabilities come from the persistence and privileges outside the OS. In some embodiments of the invention, this new management functionality is exposed to allow device management via new virtualization concepts, such as multiple VMs per system, VM replacement, snapshot/rollback, etc. |
| US08677356B2 |
Adjunct partition work scheduling with quality of service attributes
Operating system-directed workload scheduling of an adjunct partition in a logically partitioned computer is selectively overridden to handle platform work requiring a Quality of Service (QoS) guarantee. Firmware may track outstanding requests for platform work for an adjunct partition, and in response to a request for platform work that requires a QoS guarantee, the firmware may assume or take over scheduling decisions for the adjunct partition from the operating system of an associated logical partition and schedule execution of the adjunct partition to ensure that the adjunct partition will be allocated sufficient execution resources to perform the platform work independent of the scheduling desires of the operating system. As a result, any platform work that potentially impacts the platform work of other adjunct partitions will not be held up as a result of an unwillingness or inability of the operating system to schedule execution of the adjunct partition. |
| US08677354B2 |
Controlling kernel symbol visibility and accessibility across operating system linkage spaces
A kernel extension associated with a first instance of an operating system can be detected. The kernel extension is configured to extend functionality of the kernel when loaded in a kernel managed by a second instance of the operating system. Some embodiments are further directed to detecting symbols for the kernel extension, where the symbols specify one or more functions associated with the kernel extension. Some embodiments are further directed to generating a first namespace that is assigned only to the first of the plurality of instances of the operating system. The first namespace is separate from a second namespace for the second of the plurality of the instances of the operating system. Some embodiments are further directed to storing the symbols in the first namespace. |
| US08677353B2 |
Provisioning a standby virtual machine based on the prediction of a provisioning request being generated
A shared server 40 includes an active virtual machine 41 where a sufficient amount of resources are allocated to an operation of an application system and a standby virtual machine 42 that starts with a minimum amount of resources. When it is predicted that a provisioning request is generated, a standby construction determining unit 22 previously executes provisioning on a standby virtual machine 42, and performs a start of an OS and an application or a setting change of a network apparatus. A provisioning determining unit 23 changes the resource allocation amounts of the active virtual machine 41 and the standby virtual machine 42, allocates a sufficient amount of resources to the standby virtual machine 42, registers the standby virtual machine 42 as a target of load balancing in a load balancer 11, and executes provisioning. |
| US08677352B2 |
Interchangeable guest and host execution environments
Embodiments of the present invention include methods, systems, apparati, computer program products and other tangible realizations of techniques to support interchange of role for guest and host operating system instances executed (or executable) within a virtualization system. In particular, one embodiment of the present invention is a method operating a computer system, the method comprising: (a) selecting a first operating system image from amongst plural operating system images accessible to a hardware machine; (b) booting the hardware machine using the first operating system image and executing code thereof as a host operating system; (c) providing a virtualization environment and instantiating therein a virtual machine using configuration data descriptive of a particular system virtualized, wherein the configuration data is stored separately from the first operating system image; and (d) loading from a second one of the operating system images, a guest operating system and executing code thereof in connection with the instantiated virtual machine. |
| US08677345B2 |
System for creating virtual application, method for installing virtual application, method for calling native API and method for executing virtual application
A virtual application creating system comprises: a virtual environment library block including a plurality of modules that process native application program interfaces (APIs) of an operating system such that the native application APIs are suited to a virtual environment, finding a module capable of processing a specific native API from the plurality of modules when the specific native API is called and operating the found module; a virtual application installation block receiving position information of an application to be virtualized and information on an installation place where the application will be virtualized and installed from a user and inserting the virtual environment library block into a memory to install a virtual application in the installation place; and a virtual application execution block executing the virtual application installed in the installation place. |
| US08677343B2 |
Centrally coordinated firmware upgrade model across network for minimizing uptime loss and firmware compatibility
Techniques are presented for managing firmware updates for a plurality of devices within a wireless network. Embodiments monitor network usage of the plurality of devices to collect historical usage data. An optimal window of time for updating the firmware of the plurality of devices is then determined, based on the collected historical device usage data. Embodiments flag at least one of the plurality of devices for a firmware update, based on a current firmware version of the device and a corresponding available firmware version for the device. In one embodiment, dependencies for each of the plurality of devices are considered in flagging the devices for the firmware update. The firmware of the flagged devices is updated during the determined optimal window of time. |
| US08677341B2 |
Software-delivered dynamic persistent data
A method and apparatus for dynamically managing non-volatile memory items in a wireless device, the method comprising the steps of: checking the non-volatile memory items for a unique identifier item; if the unique identifier item exists, comparing an identifier stored within the unique identifier item with a software identifier located in software on the wireless device; and if the unique identifier item does not exist or if the identifier is different from the software identifier, performing the steps of: updating the non-volatile memory items; and writing the software identifier to the unique identifier item. The method may further include a rollback scheme for previous software versions. |
| US08677338B2 |
Data dependence testing for loop fusion with code replication, array contraction, and loop interchange
Methods and apparatus to data dependence testing for loop fusion, e.g., with code replication, array contraction, and/or loop interchange, are described. In one embodiment, a compiler may optimize code for efficient execution during run-time by testing for dependencies associated with improving memory locality through code replication in loops that enable various loop transformations. Other embodiments are also described. |
| US08677334B2 |
Parallelization method, system and program
A computer-implemented method, system, and article of manufacture for parallelizing a code configured by coupling a functional block having an internal state and a functional block without any internal state. The method includes: creating and storing a graphical representation where functional blocks are chosen as nodes and connections between functional blocks are chosen as links; visiting the nodes on the graphical representation sequentially, detecting inputs from functional blocks without any internal state to functional blocks having an internal state and storing these functional blocks as a set of use blocks, and detecting inputs from functional blocks having an internal state to functional blocks without any internal state and storing these functional blocks as a set of definition blocks; and forming strands of functional blocks based on information on the set of use blocks and information on the set of definition blocks stored in association with the functional blocks. |
| US08677333B2 |
Virtual machine and programming language for event processing
A virtual machine supports execution of compiler-generated code and provides an execution environment for code that may correspond to any of several different event-driven or message-driven programming models (such as state machines, rules for complex event processing and event correlation, monitoring contexts, processes, and mediations). The programming models may be used in business monitoring and/or business integration environments. A programming language is defined for execution using the virtual machine, which contains a relatively small number of instructions and which is preferably generated by a compiler from a higher-level, event-driven or message-driven model. |
| US08677330B2 |
Processors and compiling methods for processors
A compiling method compiles an object program to be executed by a processor having a plurality of execution units operable in parallel. In the method a first availability chain is created from a producer instruction (p1), scheduled for execution by a first one of the execution units (20: AGU), to a first consumer instruction (c1), scheduled for execution by a second one of the execution units (22: EXU) and requiring a value produced by the said producer instruction. The first availability chain comprises at least one move instruction (mv1-mv3) for moving the required value from a first point (20: ARF) accessible by the first execution unit to a second point (22: DRF) accessible by the second execution unit. When a second consumer instruction (c2), also requiring the same value, is scheduled for execution by an execution unit (23: EXU) other than the first execution unit, at least part of the first availability chain is reused to move the required value to a point (23: DRF) accessible by that other execution unit.In other compiling methods (FIG. 8), the object program includes a loop kernel block and a basic block preceding the loop kernel block, and the basic block includes a producer instruction (p1) and the loop kernel block includes a consumer instruction (c1, c2) requiring a value produced by the producer instruction. The loop kernel block is scheduled first, after which the basic block is scheduled. These methods can put additional move instructions between producer and consumer instructions in the basic block instead of the loop kernel block, or eliminate the move instructions altogether. |
| US08677329B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for a compiler server
A method and an apparatus that instructs a compiler server to build or otherwise obtain a compiled code corresponding to a compilation request received from an application are described. The compiler server may be configured to compile source codes for a plurality of independent applications, each running in a separate process, using a plurality of independent compilers, each running in a separate compiler process. A search may be performed in a cache for a compiled code that satisfies a compilation request received from an application. A reply message including the compiled code can be provided for the application, wherein the compiled code is compiled in direct response to the request, or is obtained from the cache if the search identifies in the cache the compiled code that satisfies the compilation request. |
| US08677324B2 |
Evaluating performance of an application using event-driven transactions
An event-driven performance measurement technique provides a set of transaction definitions that specify transaction actions that correspond to start and end points of a transaction. Events associated with execution of an application are received by a processor-based machine. The machine uses the events to generate transactions in accordance with the set of transaction definitions. The transactions can be used to evaluate performance of the application. |
| US08677323B2 |
Recording medium storing monitoring program, monitoring method, and monitoring system
A recording medium readable by an information processing apparatus, has recorded thereon a monitoring program for monitoring an operation status of a monitoring target program that runs on an information processing apparatus having a processor and a memory. The monitoring program causes the information processing apparatus to obtain, at a time of installation of a program, information indicating a status where the program is executed in the information processing apparatus and becomes a monitoring target program. The program monitors, on the basis of the information obtained, whether the monitoring target program exists in a memory in which the monitoring target program has been loaded. |
| US08677320B2 |
Software testing supporting high reuse of test data
A software testing system and method provides full reuse of software tests and associated test data in a centralized shared repository, including enabling the full reuse of test assets including test actions, test scenarios, test data; and automation scripts. Reusable test components consisting of test steps and the type of test data needed by those test steps, are managed and maintained. These components are assembled into reusable components with no binding of test data until execution time, thereby treating the test data as a reusable asset. A reusable test is initially defined using only an indication of a type or category of data, and not bound to the actual data itself, until it is assembled into an executable immediately prior to automated or manual test execution. |
| US08677315B1 |
Continuous deployment system for software development
Examples of a continuous deployment system are provided that manage and track releases of software code, where some or all of the steps between check-in and deployment to production can be automated. Such systems can reduce the amount of developer effort needed to deploy a package, as developers may not have to be responsible for scheduling package builds, clicking deployment buttons, or manually running tests. The system can take care of all or some of that work. |
| US08677312B1 |
Generation of compiler description from architecture description
A computer implemented method of generating a compiler description from an architecture description. Information is automatically extracted from an architecture description that is usable in a description of an architecture described by the architecture description. The extracted information is imported into a program comprising a graphical user interface that accepts user provided additional information that is usable in the compiler description. User provided additional information is accessed that is usable in the compiler description. A compiler description is automatically generated for the architecture described by the architecture description, based on the automatically extracted information and the accessed user provided additional information. |
| US08677311B2 |
Separate-type signal processing apparatus and software version updating method therefor
A separate-type signal processing apparatus includes: a first device having a data acquisition part; and a second device connected with the first device by wire or wireless, wherein the first and second devices work in cooperation to execute a predetermined process, the first device acquires version renewal data for addition to or renewal of software components for respectively controlling the first and second devices, through the data acquisition part, the first device has a first control part for sending a completion-of-acquisition notice signal to the second device, the second device has a second control part for sending a response signal to the first control part when the notice signal is input thereto, and the first control part transfers at least a part of the acquired version renewal data to the second control part on receipt of the response signal as an input thereto. |
| US08677309B2 |
Techniques for automated generation of deployment plans in an SOA development lifecycle
A framework (referred to herein as Application Integration Architecture, or AIA) that formalizes and orchestrates activities in an SOA development lifecycle. In one set of embodiments, AIA can capture development-related information in a shared data store and cause the information to flow in an automated or semi-automated manner from one lifecycle phase to the next as the lifecycle progresses. This information flow can, in turn, facilitate automations at each lifecycle phase for the responsible stakeholders (e.g., solution architects, developers, installation developers, etc.), thereby enforcing SOA best practices, enhancing development productivity, and ensuring the quality of the final SOA deliverables. |
| US08677306B1 |
Microcontroller controlled or direct mode controlled network-fabric on a structured ASIC
A network-fabric used for testing with an external or internal tester is shown for a Structured ASIC. In one embodiment, the Structured ASIC uses a microprocessor, network-aware IO routing fabric comprising network agents in a scalable novel configuration, with the network-aware IO having a plurality of blocks connected in series in a plurality of paths in the fabric leading to and from the microprocessor and memory and/or logic, the blocks acting as intelligent network agents under processor control to determine what state they can assume, whether to pass a data signal or not along these paths, comprising open loops and closed loops running to and from the microprocessor and memory and/or logic, primarily for testing and determining the state of the memory and logic. In another embodiment a JTAG controller may receive JTAG test commands from an external testing apparatus and set up to communicate along the fabric. |
| US08677304B2 |
Task-based multi-process design synthesis
A task-based multi-process design synthesis methodology relies on a plurality of child processes to assist a parent process in performing optimizations on an integrated circuit design. Objects from an integrated circuit design are grouped into subsets and assigned to child processes, with each child process performing a transform on each of the objects in the subset assigned to that child process and determining which of the objects in the subset are candidate objects for which performance of the transform has been successful. The child processes then notify the parent process of those objects that qualify as candidate objects, so that the parent process only has to perform the transform on the candidate objects, thereby relieving the parent process from the overhead associated with performing the transform on non-candidate objects for which the transform has been determined by the child processes as not being successful. |
| US08677302B2 |
Multi-threaded detailed routing
Some embodiments provide techniques and systems for routing nets in a circuit design in parallel. During operation, the system can receive a set of partitions for a circuit design, wherein each partition has zero or more overlapping partitions along four directions, e.g., up, down, left, and right. Next, the system can perform, in parallel, detailed routing on non-overlapping partitions in the set of partitions, wherein detailed routing is performed on a partition after detailed routing is completed on adjacent or overlapping partitions that located along two perpendicular directions. In some embodiments, each detailed routing thread that is executing in parallel performs detailed routing on a different net. |
| US08677299B1 |
Latch clustering with proximity to local clock buffers
A method, system, and computer usable program product for latch clustering with proximity to local clock buffers (LCBs) where an algorithm is used to cluster a plurality of latches into a first plurality of groups in an integrated circuit. A number of groups in the first plurality of groups of clustered latches is determined. A plurality of LCBs are added where a number of added LCBs is the same as the number of groups in the first plurality of groups. A cluster radius for a subset of the first plurality of groups of clustered latches is determined, a group in the subset having a cluster radius that is a maximum cluster radius in the subset. The plurality of latches are reclustered into a second plurality of groups responsive to the maximum cluster radius exceeding a radius threshold, the second plurality of groups exceeding the first plurality of groups by one. |
| US08677296B2 |
Circuit design support computer product, method, and apparatus
A computer-readable recording medium stores a design support program that causes a computer to execute a process that includes generating based on a control flow graph conversion result for operation description information concerning a circuit-under-design, a first synthesis result according to which a time length of 1 clock cycle of the circuit-under-design is greater than or equal to a clock period in which the circuit-under-design operates; calculating based on the generated first synthesis result, first circuit scale information indicating a circuit scale of the circuit-under-design; acquiring a second synthesis result that is for the circuit-under-design and conforms to a timing constraint that is based on the control flow graph conversion result; calculating second circuit scale information indicating the circuit scale of the circuit-under-design, based on the generated second synthesis result; and outputting the calculated first circuit scale information and the calculated second circuit information. |
| US08677294B2 |
Semiconductor device, adjustment method thereof and data processing system
A system includes a first device, a second device, and a bus interconnecting the first and second devices to each other, wherein the first device includes a first semiconductor chip that includes a first memory cell array including a plurality of first memory cells, a first control logic circuit accessing the first memory cell array and producing a first data signal in response to data stored in a selected one of the first memory cells, the first control logic circuit being configured to store first timing adjustment information and to produce a first output timing signal that is adjustable in timing of change from an inactive level to an active level by the first timing adjustment information, a first data electrode, and a first data control circuit coupled to the first control logic circuit and the first data electrode. |
| US08677288B2 |
Test pattern selection method for OPC model calibration
A block management method for OPC model calibration includes calculating differences in several different optical functions between first patterns of a first mask and patterns of a second mask corresponding to the first patterns but differing therefrom by a predetermined bias, selecting one or more of the optical functions based on the calculated differences, clustering data of variations in the values of the calculated differences in the selected ones of the optical functions, selecting respective ones of the first patterns in consideration of how the data clusters, and designating the selected first patterns as test patterns. |
| US08677285B2 |
User interface of a small touch sensitive display for an electronic data and communication device
A method and apparatus for receiving an input by a user on an interactive touchscreen display based, electronic data and communication device, the input comprising a contact gesture, which further comprises touchscreen single or multiple simultaneous contacts. The contact gestures are classified as primary, secondary, tertiary, universal and non-universal contact gestures. The method further includes performing an operation or entering an operational mode based on the user input. |
| US08677284B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling and displaying contents in a user interface
A user interface with multiple applications which can be operated concurrently and/or independently by using simple finger gestures allows a user to intuitively operate and control digital information, functions, applications, etc. to improve operability. The user is able to use finger gesture to navigate the user interface via a virtual spindle metaphor to select different applications. The user can also split the user interface to at least two display segments which may contain different applications. Moreover, each display segment can be moved to a desirable location on the user interface to provide a seamless operation environment. |
| US08677277B2 |
Interface cube for mobile device
A computing device presents, on a screen, a three-dimensional rendering of an interface cube that includes a representation of a user's contacts displayed on at least one surface of the interface cube. The computing device receives a communication item from a peripheral application, where the communication item is associated with a particular contact of the user's contacts. The computing device creates a graphic based on the communication item and displays the graphic at a location on the representation of the user's contacts that corresponds to the location of the particular contact within a sequence of the user's contacts. |
| US08677276B1 |
System and method of contextual pre-tuning
A method implemented on a multi-tuner receiver system comprises successively displaying a set of visual cards where each visual card of the set of visual cards comprises a graphical representation. A visual card of the set of visual cards is selected, the visual card being associated with a first television program. Based on a characteristic of the selected visual card, a second television program is identified. The second television program is then tuned. |
| US08677275B2 |
Illustrating a menu of insights associated with visualizations
A system and method are provided for generating one or more menus having options that display insights from visualizations. The options presented in the menus enable users to determine relationships between elements of the visualization. The relationships may be displayed textually to enable user to navigate the menus using a keyboard, a text-to-voice converter, and/or pointers. |
| US08677274B2 |
Highlighting items for search results
The present invention provides a search capability to allow a user to easily locate a preference control, file, folder, control, or other system resource or data item associated with a search result. In one embodiment, a user enters a search term (or a portion thereof) in a search field associated with one or more resource types that may be searched. The user may be presented with a pop-up menu containing a list of likely matches. The user selects the desired preference control from the pop-up menu, and the corresponding preference pane, or other container, containing the selected data item, control, or other resource is displayed. In one aspect, as the user enters the search term (or portion thereof), certain icons are highlighted. Specifically, those icons that represent containers containing matching data items (such as preference panes having controls that match the search term) are highlighted. Different types of highlighting can be used depending on the degree of certainty as to which container is likely to contain the correct match. |
| US08677271B2 |
Method for displaying information in a motor vehicle and display device for a motor vehicle
In a method for displaying information in a motor vehicle, at least one two-dimensional object is represented graphically with the aid of a display mounted in the motor vehicle, the graphical object including a display field and an operating field. A user-interface device generates graphics data which control the display such that the display field is shown on one side of the two-dimensional graphical object and the operating field is shown on the other side of the two-dimensional graphical object, and in response to an input with the aid of an input device, an arithmetic logic unit of the user-interface device alters the graphics data such that the object in the perspective representation on the display rotates from one side to the other side. A corresponding display device is provided for a motor vehicle, and a motor vehicle may include such a display device. |
| US08677269B2 |
Creating and maintaining a singular uninterrupted focus while transitioning through a graduated user interface
Method, device, and computer product for displaying a single focus on a device. A piece of content is displayed in a first application on a display of the device. The piece of content is enlarged to create a single focus on the piece of content on the display. Parameters of the piece of content are passed to a second application. The piece of content is duplicated as an identical piece of content in the second application, and the identical piece of content is visually exactly positioned behind the piece of content on the display. The piece of content is seamlessly swapped with the identical piece of content of the second application, so that the identical piece of content is visually positioned to be viewable by the user. Tools of the second application are visually presented in an incremental transition until the tools are viewable and available to the user. |
| US08677267B2 |
Method and system for displaying annotated information associated with a settable variable value feature
A method and user interface which enables the setting of a variable value feature, having a plurality of values associated therewith, wherein the plurality of values include a default value and a plurality of non-default values. The method and user interface displays a first value associated with a user selected variable value feature and changes the displayed first value associated with the selected variable value feature by a predetermined amount so as to display a second value associated with the selected variable value feature by a user engaging a user activatable area associated with the selected variable value feature. The method and user interface determines if an annotated message is associated with the displayed second value associated with the selected variable value feature and displays the annotated message associated with the selected variable value feature along with the displayed second value associated with the selected variable value feature when it is determined that the displayed second value associated with the selected variable value feature has an associated annotation message. |
| US08677262B2 |
Presentation of industrial automation data as a function of relevance to user
A visualization system that generates visualization(s) in an industrial automation environment is provided. An interface component receives input concerning displayed objects and information. A context component can detect, infer or determine context information regarding an entity. A reference component infers or determines relevance of respective display objects as a function of the context information. A visualization component dynamically generates a visualization from a set of display object, and spatially organizes the display objects as a function of the inferred or determined relevance. |
| US08677261B2 |
In-vehicle display system
An in-vehicle display system is installed in a vehicle for displaying information to a user. The system includes a display unit that displays information; an operation unit that is located separately from the display unit and that allows a user to perform user operations including a directional operation and a turning operation; and a receiver that receives user instructions for making entry of plural characters that can be displayed on the display unit, based on displayed content displayed on the display unit and the user operations made with the operation unit. The receiver receives: (i) a first one of the directional operation and the turning operation as the user instruction in order to select a group from amongst a plurality of groups displayed on the display unit each of the plurality of groups representing a plurality of characters which are candidates for entry, and (ii) a second one of the directional operation and the turning operation as the user instruction in order to select a character from amongst the plural characters included in the group that is selected by the first one of the directional operation and the turning operation. |
| US08677259B2 |
System and method for annotating multimedia objects
The system and a computer-implemented method annotate a multimedia object on a web page hosted on a publisher computer system. A web page that includes a multimedia object is rendered in a web browser of a client computer system. One or more layers, including a transparent layer, at least partially located over the multimedia object displayed on the web page are generated wherein the one or more layers are configured to facilitate the creation and display of annotation data for the multimedia object based on user interface events produced by a user of the client computer system. Annotation data for the multimedia object is received from the user. The annotation data is transmitted to an annotation server for storage. A visual indicator indicating that the annotation data is associated with the multimedia object is displayed, wherein the visual indicator is rendered in the one or more layers. |
| US08677255B1 |
Expanded container view for graphical editing environment
A Web development environment includes a design view mode that provides an expanded view of container constructs within Web page being edited. When operating in a design view of the development environment, the user is provided an option to view all container constructs in an expanded view. The expanded view will temporarily increase the visual attributes of the container constructs allowing the user to more easily access the editing regions within the cells or content locations of the container. Increasing the visual attributes also allows the developer to see the structure of the edited Web page more clearly. When the developer is finished working with the container, he or she may then return to a standard or other view offered by the graphical development environment. The resulting containers will be re-rendered according to the originally-coded size, without the additional space added for viewing in the expanded mode. |
| US08677254B2 |
Discerning and displaying relationships between avatars
The invention relates generally to virtual universe environments and, more particularly, to discerning and displaying information regarding relationships between two or more avatars in a virtual universe environment. In one embodiment, the invention includes determining whether a first avatar and a second avatar have at least one relationship with one or more common avatars in response to the first avatar initiating an interaction with the second avatar, and in the case that the first and second avatars have at least one relationship with at least one common avatar, displaying information regarding the relationship with the common avatar to at least one of the first and second avatar. |
| US08677248B2 |
Requesting computer user's context data
Techniques are described for providing information about a current state that is modeled with multiple state attributes. In some situations, the providing includes receiving from first and second sources indications of an ability to supply values for, respectively, an indicated one of the state attributes and another of the state attributes. In such situations, the providing also includes, in response to receiving a request from a first client for a value of the indicated one attribute, determining that the first source is available to supply the value, obtaining the value from the first source, and supplying a value obtained from the first source to the first client. |
| US08677242B2 |
Dynamic positioning of timeline markers for efficient display
Systems and methods are presented for simultaneously displaying a plurality of timeline markers within a timeline marker region of an interface for a video application. The timeline marker region may include multiple display tracks within which numerous timeline markers may be positioned for simultaneous display. At a given instant, each timeline marker may appear in a particular one of the multiple display tracks, and the entire collection of timeline markers being simultaneously displayed at that instant may be arranged so that all of the timeline markers appear separately from each other. Pairs of timeline markers which coincide with non-overlapping portions of the timeline may be placed in the same display track, while timeline markers that coincide with overlapping portions of the timeline may be put into separate display tracks, thus guaranteeing that all the timeline markers appear separately from each other. |
| US08677239B2 |
Electronic album and method for replaying electronic album
An electronic album and a method for replaying the electronic album are provided. The method for replaying the electronic album includes determining whether a predetermined command is received, and replaying an image file and audio file simultaneously, if it is determined that the predetermined command is received. Hence, it is possible for a user to utilize image and audio files which are automatically replayed simultaneously. |
| US08677236B2 |
Contact-specific and location-aware lexicon prediction
Word predictions in a message are selected or prioritized based on the recipient of the message and a previous location of use by a user. An input history is created based on messages sent to the recipient from the user at a particular location (e.g., global positioning system coordinates). As the user composes subsequent messages, a current location of the user is determined. Word predictions are performed based on a comparison of the current location to the previous locations, and based on the recipient(s). In further embodiments, location-aware spell-check functionality is provided for the messages. |
| US08677232B2 |
Devices, methods, and graphical user interfaces for document manipulation
An electronic device displays at least a portion of an electronic document with a predefined page layout at a first magnification level on a display; detects a first input indicating a first insertion point in the document, where the first insertion point is proximate to a first portion of text in the document; and in response to detecting the first input: selects a second magnification level different from the first magnification level, where the second magnification level is selected so as to display the first portion of text at a target text display size, and, while maintaining the predefined page layout of the document, displays, at the second magnification level, a portion of the document that includes the first portion of text. |
| US08677220B2 |
Error control on-demand
The present invention relates to a new error control paradigm in a packet switched network that is particularly advantageous for multicast transmission.A transmission Status Vector TSV (T) is updated at the sender side whenever a new outgoing data packet (Dj−1) is scheduled for transmission. A corresponding Reception status Vector RSV (R) is similarly updated at the receive side whenever a new incoming and correctly indexed data packet (Dj−1) is validly received.As soon as a missing or corrupted data packet (Dj) is detected, the update of the RSV is suspended. A request is then sent to the sender to get the current Tsv's value, or a part thereof. The erroneous data packet is then recovered from the current TSV's value (Sk,m), from the lastly updated RSV's value (Sj−1), and from otherwise validly received data packets (Dj+1, . . . , Dk).The present invention more specifically relates to a transmitting unit (100) and a receiving unit (200) implementing that paradigm, and correspondingly to a method for protecting a flow of indexed data packets against data lost or data corruption, and a method for recovering a missing or corrupted data packet within a flow of indexed data packets. |
| US08677219B2 |
Method and apparatus for adapting a bit interleaver to LDPC codes and modulations under AWGN channel conditions using binary erasure surrogate channels
The present invention relates to code-dependent bit interleavers for parallel non-uniform channels. Since the channel dependence of a given code ensemble is dominated by the mutual information between the channel input and output, the present invention proposes to simplify the analysis about the decoding behavior by using a set of surrogate binary erasure channels. The approximation of the actual channel by the surrogate BEC is established on the equivalence of bitwise capacities, which represent the mutual information between the uniformly-distributed binary input and the likelihood ratios of the effective parallel AWGN channels. Moreover, the transition of the erasure probabilities is modeled by a linear difference equation around the decoding threshold SNR, from which we can derive a necessary condition on the convergence of decoding iterations and achieve a useful guideline for the configuration of the bit interleaver. |
| US08677210B2 |
Method for encoding data with double-interlaced parity symbols, for a radio infrastructure, and associated codec
A method is dedicated to encoding data that must be transmitted by means of a wave-based transmission infrastructure, and comprises i) a step consisting of creating in parallel M first matrices having T rows and C columns with subsets of data from B successive received bursts, the subsets of data from each burst being distributed within at least two successive first matrices, ii) a step consisting of creating in parallel M second matrices each having T rows and N columns with parity symbols resulting from encoding the data that is respectively contained in the rows of each of the M first matrices, iii) a step consisting of creating in parallel M first matrices having K rows and C columns with parity symbols resulting from encoding the data that is respectively contained in the columns of each of the M first matrices, and iv) a step consisting of distributing by interlacing, firstly, J subsets of parity symbols from each second matrix into J successive sets, and secondly P subsets of parity symbols from each third matrix into P of these successive sets, and of placing into each of the successive sets the respective data from the successive received bursts. |
| US08677209B2 |
Subwords coding using different encoding/decoding matrices
In a communications system that demultiplexes user data words into multiple sub-words for encoding and decoding within different subword-processing paths, the minimum distance between bit errors in an extrinsic codeword can be increased by having corresponding subword encoders/decoders in the different subword-processing paths perform subword encoding/decoding with different encoder/decoder matrices. |
| US08677205B2 |
Hierarchical error correction for large memories
A mechanism is provided for detecting and correcting a first number of bit errors in a segment of data stored in a memory region being read, while concurrently detecting the presence of higher numbers of bit errors in that segment of data. In the event of detection of a higher number of bit errors in any single segment of data of the memory region, error correction of that higher number of bit errors is performed on the memory region, while concurrently detecting the presence of an even higher level of bit errors. By performing error correction of higher levels of bit errors in such a hierarchical order, memory latency associated with such error correction can be avoided in the majority of data accesses, thereby improving performance of the data access. |
| US08677201B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit and method of retrieving signal to semiconductor integrated circuit
A semiconductor integrated circuit is configured so that a transition scan test can be performed thereon. The semiconductor integrated circuit includes a plurality of logic circuit blocks having different operation frequencies; a clock supply unit for supplying a plurality of clock signals having frequencies corresponding to the operation frequencies of the logic circuit blocks from a clock supply source; a compression scan circuit including a plurality of scan chains formed of a plurality of flip-flop circuits, a pattern deployment circuit connected to the scan chains on an input side thereof, and a pattern compression circuit; and a clock control unit for controlling the clock supply unit to stop supplying the clock signals to specific ones of the flip-flop circuits of the scan chains when a capture operation is performed during a transition scan test. |
| US08677200B2 |
Integrated circuit with transition control circuitry for limiting scan test signal transitions during scan testing
An integrated circuit comprises scan test circuitry and additional circuitry subject to testing utilizing the scan test circuitry. The scan test circuitry comprises transition control circuitry configured to detect transitions between binary logic levels in a scan test signal, and responsive to a number of detected transitions reaching a threshold, to limit further transitions associated with a remaining portion of the scan test signal. In an illustrative embodiment, the transition control circuitry limits further transitions associated with the remaining portion of the scan test signal by replacing at least part of the remaining portion of the scan test signal with a limited transition signal. The limited transition signal may be maintained at a constant binary logic level such that it has no transitions. By limiting the number of transitions associated with the scan test signal, the transition control circuitry serves to reduce integrated circuit power consumption during scan testing. |
| US08677199B2 |
Pulse dynamic logic gates with mux-D scan functionality
A scannable pulse dynamic logic gate may include an evaluation network that evaluates dynamic inputs in response to assertion of an evaluate pulse. The evaluate pulse may be generated from a clock signal such that it is shorter in duration than the clock signal. During a normal mode of operation, when the evaluate pulse is asserted, the evaluation network may discharge a dynamic node depending on the state of the dynamic inputs. The resultant state of the dynamic node may be stored within an output storage element. When the evaluate pulse is deasserted, the dynamic node may be precharged. During a scan mode of operation, the dynamic node may remain precharged. Scan data may be transferred to the output storage element under the control of scan-related control signals. |
| US08677198B2 |
Method and apparatus for system testing using multiple processors
An apparatus is provided for performing testing of at least a portion of a system under test via a Test Access Port (TAP) configured to access the system under test. The apparatus includes a first processor for executing instructions adapted for controlling testing of at least a portion of the system under test via the TAP, and a second processor for supporting an interface to the TAP. The first processor is configured for detecting, during execution of the test instructions, TAP-related instructions associated with control of the TAP, and propagating the TAP-related instructions toward the second processor. The second processor is configured for receiving the TAP-related instructions detected by the first processor and processing the TAP-related instructions. The first processor is configured for performing at least one task contemporaneously with processing of the TAP-related instructions by the second processor. An associated method also is provided. |
| US08677196B1 |
Low cost production testing for memory
Embodiments provide methods, systems, devices, and/or machine readable storage medium for memory built-in self testing (memory BIST) that may not require JTAG. Embodiments may provide less chip overhead through the use of one or more direct access pins. Embodiments may provide simple checks to determine if the memories on a chip are good or bad with minimal cost, for example. In some cases, the memory BIST may determine whether or not memories are good when the chip powers on. Some embodiments may also perform stress testing on the memories to force early life failures of the memories. Embodiments do not necessarily have to diagnose failures. |
| US08677195B2 |
Data transmission method using ACK transmission opportunity in wireless network
Disclosed is a data transmission method in a wireless network capable of improving transmission performance on a wireless network by transmitting data, on which ACK is piggybacked, using the ACK transmission opportunity having high priority. The data transmission method includes acquiring a wireless channel by a STA to transmit a first data to the AP, transmitting the first data by the STA acquired the wireless channel to the AP through the wireless channel, analyzing by the AP whether there are second data intended to any one of the plurality of STAs, and, if there are the second data to transmit, transmitting the second data, on which an ACK is piggybacked, to the intended STA from the AP using ACK transmission opportunity having higher priority than that of data transmission. |
| US08677194B2 |
Method and system for site configurable error reporting
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to error reporting methods and systems. An error reporting application may be configured to be a stand-alone program, embedded within another application, or added as a plug-in application. The error reporting application may also be configured to provide a mechanism for a user to describe a problem with another application and send the problem description to a configurable, user defined location. The error report from the error reporting application may then be processed by an error processing system at the user-defined location. |
| US08677191B2 |
Early detection of failing computers
A computer management system may track services on multiple computers executing the same workload. Various performance counters may be retrieved from the computers and analyzed to identify those with low deviations and low mean deviations. Statistical tests may then be used to compare the values of a particular computer to the deviation of the group of computers to identify outliers, which may indicate degraded performance and imminent failure of the computer. The management system may analyze any collectable performance related parameter to identify outlying systems. |
| US08677188B2 |
Web page error reporting
An error in a web page displayed on a device is detected. The error is assigned to a bucket to indicate a type of the error, and a record describing the current state of the device is generated. Both an indication of the bucket and the record describing the current state of the device are then sent to a server. At the server, error information including error records and bucket identifiers are received from multiple devices. Each error record describes a current state of one of the multiple devices at a time when an error in a web page displayed on the one device was detected. Each bucket identifier corresponds to one of the error records and describes a type of the error associated with that error record. The error records are grouped into multiple baskets based at least in part on the current state information in the error records. |
| US08677186B2 |
Debugging in data parallel computations
The debugging of a program in a data parallel environment. A connection is established between a debugging module and a process of the data parallel environment. The connection causes the data parallel environment to notify the debugging module of certain events as they occur in the execution of the process. Upon notification of such an event, the process execution is paused, and the debugging module may query the data parallel environment for information regarding the process at the device independent virtual machine layer. Upon completion of this querying, the process may then resume execution. This may occur repeatedly if multiple events are encountered. |
| US08677183B2 |
Dynamic testing of networks
Service providers strive to maintain networks with high levels of availability and performance. To maintain the networks, the service providers measure performance and perform network diagnostics. Measuring performance and performing network diagnostics typically involves manual verification of functionality or performing individual tests between user agents. Service providers who maintain networks and service providers who use networks can dynamically run tests with operations of a signaling protocol (e.g., session initiation protocol) to diagnose network problems and determine appropriate responses. An agent manager can coordinate the dynamic tests across multiple user agents to gather more information to increase problem diagnosis accuracy. |
| US08677178B2 |
Recovery control in mirrored disks
A method for operating a mirrored disk storage system, comprises a detector component operable to detect that a failure has left read stability in doubt, a determiner component for determining a repair characteristic of a pair of mirrored disks, a comparator for comparing the repair characteristic of a first of the pair with the repair characteristic of a second of the pair, and a selector for selecting one of the first or the second of the pair having a preferred repair characteristic to be used as a synchronization source disk. The preferred repair characteristic comprises the characteristic that no repair is required for the one of the first or the second of the pair, or that a least repair time is required for the one of the first or the second of the pair. |
| US08677175B2 |
Reducing impact of repair actions following a switch failure in a switch fabric
Techniques are disclosed for reducing impact of a switch failure and/or a repair action in a switch fabric. In one embodiment, a server system is provided that includes a first interposer card that operatively connects one or more server cards to a midplane. The first interposer card may include a switch module that switches network traffic for the one or more server cards. The first interposer card may be hot-swappable from the midplane, and the one or more server cards may be hot-swappable from the first interposer card. The server system may further include an interconnect between the first interposer card and a second interposer card. |
| US08677174B2 |
Management of runtime events in a computer environment using a containment region
The scope and impact of an event, such as a failure, are identified. A Containment Region is used to identify the resources affected by the event. It is also used to aggregate resource state for those resources. This information is then used to manage one or more aspects of a customer's environment. This management may include recovery from a failure. |
| US08677172B2 |
Method and system for correcting error in a PLL generated clock signal using a system clock of lower frequency and/or accuracy
The present invention provides a system for detecting timing characteristics of internal signals in a communications device, the system comprising: a system clock running at a known frequency; a test counter having a test input at which an internal signal to be tested is received; a gating counter having an input arranged to receive the system clock signal; and a system controller for controlling the counters; wherein the system controller controls the gating counter to count a predetermined number of system clock cycles to define a test period, and during the test period the test counter counts the cycles of the internal signal under test, whereby timing characteristics of the internal signal may be found with reference to a time base defined by the system clock. An associated method of operation is also described. |
| US08677170B2 |
Method for generating a clock signal
An apparatus for generating a delayed clock signal. The apparatus is a computer system with a processor to which a memory device is coupled. The memory device has a delay clock generator that has a synchronizing circuit for generating an output clock signal from an input clock signal and further includes a delay circuit having an input coupled to the output of the synchronizing circuit. The delay circuit provides an output clock signal having a delay with respect to the clock signal from the synchronizing circuit according to one of a plurality of programmable time delays selected in accordance with a selection signal. The method of generating a clock signal includes synchronizing an internal clock signal to an external clock signal, and delaying the internal clock signal different amounts based on a selection value indicative of external clock frequency to provide the clock signal. |
| US08677160B2 |
Managing power consumption of a computer
Methods, computers, and products for managing power consumption of a computer, the computer including a computer processor and managing power consumption of a computer includes: dynamically during operation of the computer, setting, by an in-band power manager in dependence upon performance metrics of the computer processor, a current performance state (‘p-state’) of the computer processor; and providing, by the in-band power manager to an out-of-band power manager, the current p-state of the computer processor. |
| US08677156B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an image controller that performs processing of input image information, an engine controller into which a first processing part and a second processing part are combined, and a power supply that supplies power to the engine controller. A mode of the image forming apparatus is switchable from a first mode that is a state of image formation or a stand-by state, to a second mode whose power consumption is smaller than a power consumption of the first mode. In addition, a switch unit switches between the first mode in which power is supplied to the second processing part from the power supply. The image controller and the first processing part communicate with each other through the second processing part in the first mode, or the image controller and the first processing part communicate with each other through a communication line but not through the second processing part in the second mode. In the second mode the first processing part controls the switch unit to start supplying power to the second processing part when the image controller orders transition from the second mode to the first mode through the communication line. |
| US08677154B2 |
Protecting sensitive data in a transmission
A processor-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product protects sensitive data in a received transmission. A network interface receives a data transmission, which includes multiple units of data. Any sensitive data in the received data transmission is identified by the recipient according to a pre-determined rule. Identified sensitive data from the data transmission is then encrypted. |
| US08677153B2 |
Method for protecting a cryptographic module and a device having cryptographic module protection capabilities
A device and a method for protecting a cryptographic module of which the method includes: estimating a functionality of a circuit that is adapted to malfunction when a physical parameter has a first value different from a nominal parameter value at which the cryptographic module functions correctly. The cryptographic module malfunctions when the physical parameter has a second value different from the nominal parameter value and a difference between the first value and the nominal parameter value being smaller than a difference between the second value and the nominal parameter value. A cryptographic module protective measure is applied if estimating that the circuit malfunctions. |
| US08677147B2 |
Method for accessing services by a user unit
The invention concerns a method for providing a plurality of receivers with conditional access to broadcast services using a simplified means for managing the control messages required by such conditional access schemes. The method involves providing all information which will allow a registered receiver having the necessary decryption key to access the services without having any prior rights loaded locally. A management center keeps a register of all subscribed receivers, including a list of services to which the receiver is subscribed, and encrypts the services using control words encrypted by the necessary keys. Control messages comprising the control words for decryption are provided within a special channel to which the receiver has permanent access, the special channel being a different one from channels used for broadcasting audio/video services. |
| US08677144B2 |
Secure software and hardware association technique
In an embodiment, authenticated hardware and authenticated software are cryptographically binded using symmetric and asymmetric cryptography. Cryptographically binding the hardware and software ensures that original equipment manufacturer (OEM) hardware will only run OEM software. Cryptographically binding the hardware and software protects the OEM binary code so it will only run on the OEM hardware and cannot be replicated or altered to operate on unauthorized hardware. This cryptographic binding technique is referred to herein as secure software and hardware association (SSHA). |
| US08677142B2 |
Method and system for protecting against the execution of unauthorized software
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a client device is protected against the execution of unauthorized software. The client includes a code authentication process that verifies the integrity of executable code, by generating and comparing a first hash value of the executable code with a known hash value of the original code. Furthermore, during boot-up, the client initializes a CPU exception vector table with one or more vector table entries. One or more, or all, of the vector table entries direct the CPU to execute the code authentication process prior to executing an event handler when an exception event occurs. Consequently, the code authentication process is virtually guaranteed to execute, thereby protecting against the execution of unauthorized code. |
| US08677141B2 |
Enhanced security and performance of web applications
A client-side enforcement mechanism may allow application security policies to be specified at a server in a programmatic manner. Servers may specify security policies as JavaScript functions included in a page returned by the server and run before other scripts. At runtime, and during initial loading, the functions are invoked by the client on each page modification to ensure the page conforms to the security policy. As such, before a mutation takes effect, the policy may transform that mutation and the code and data of the page. Replicated code execution may take place at both the client and the server where the server runs its own shadow copy of a client-side application in a trusted execution environment so that the server may check that the method calls coming from the client correspond to a correct execution of the client-side application The redundant execution at the client can be untrusted, but serves to improve the responsiveness and performance of the Web application. |
| US08677138B2 |
System and method of secure authentication information distribution
A system and method of distributing authentication information for remotely accessing a computer resource. A request for authentication information, including identity information, is received from a user of a remote device. When the user is authenticated based on the identity information, requested authentication information is retrieved and returned to the remote device. The authentication information, or information generated from the authentication information, is then used for remotely accessing the computer resource. |
| US08677137B2 |
Communication device, communication method, information processing device, information processing method, program, and communication system
In one example embodiment, an information processing apparatus determines whether a target ID is a unique ID or a partial randomization ID that includes a first part being replaced by a different number and a second part being generated based on the unique ID. In response to the target ID being the partial randomization ID, the information processing apparatus generates an access key based on the second part of the partial randomization ID and a key. The information processing apparatus executes a mutual authentication process using the generated access key. |
| US08677134B2 |
HTTP signing
A system and method for signing data transferred over a computer network is described. In one aspect, the HTTP header of an HTTP response message is extended to include a content identifier, a content expiration time, and a digital signature. The digital signature may be generated from the content identifier, the content expiration time, and the message body of the HTTP response message. |
| US08677128B2 |
Method and apparatus for efficient and secure creating, transferring, and revealing of messages over a network
An encryption based method of enabling a plurality of parties to share, create, hide, or reveal message or token information over a network includes a commutative group cipher (CGC), where the underlying CGC is secure against ciphertext-only attack (COA) and plaintext attacks (KPA), and is deterministic. The protocols doe not require a trusted third party (TTP), and execute rapidly enough on ordinary consumer computers as to be effective for realtime play among more than two players. Protocols are defined which include VSM-L-OL, VSM-VL, VSM-VPUM, and VSM-VL-VUM, wherein the letters V, O, SM, P, and UM represent, respectively, Verified, Locking Round, Open, Shuffle-Masking Round, Partial, and Unmasking Round. |
| US08677126B2 |
Method and system for digital rights management of documents
A method and system for transmission of digital content via e-mail with point of use digital rights management is disclosed. The secured access rights to the digital content may be customized for individual recipients by the sender, and may evolve over time. The access rights are enforced according to a time-dependent scheme. A key server is used to arbitrate session keys for the encrypted content, eliminating the requirement to exchange public keys prior to transmission of the digital content. During the entire process of transmitting and receiving e-mail messages and documents, the exchange of cryptographic keys remains totally transparent to the users of the system. Additionally, electronic documents may be digitally signed with authentication of the signature. |
| US08677124B2 |
Method and device for securing data transfers
The method of securing data transfer comprises: a step of attempting to transmit a document from a document sender to at least one document recipient, by implementing at least one transmission attribute and for at least one step of attempted transmission, a step of evaluating the value of at least one transmission attribute and a step of making the evaluation of the value of the transmission attribute available to the sender. Preferably, in the course of the evaluating step, the evaluation is dependent on the anomalies of correspondence that are observed for each attempted transmission. Preferably, in the course of the evaluating step, the evaluation is, moreover, dependent on the elements provided by the recipient in the course of a step of registering with an electronic document transmission service. |
| US08677121B2 |
Monitoring encrypted session properties
Methods and systems for monitoring encrypted session properties include receiving a number of encrypted session properties at a real user monitor (RUM) on a real user monitoring (RUM) system, decrypting the number of encrypted session properties using an identity and access management (IAM) agent on the RUM system, and sending the number of decrypted session properties from a RUM mirror application to the RUM. |
| US08677119B2 |
Remote data viewer
A medical image and data application service provider system provides a way of remotely viewing and manipulating medical images and data for diagnostic and visualization purposes by users unconstrained by geography. Medical images and data are stored on one or more servers running application service provider software along with meta-data such as access control information, origin of information and references to related data. A set of medical data consisting related information is sent as an encrypted stream to a viewing station running client software in a secure execution environment that is logically independent of the viewing station's operating system. |
| US08677115B2 |
Methods for verifying system integrity
A request is received from a client for accessing a resource provided in a network, the request including credential data representing system integrity of at least one component running on the client. In response to the request, one or more credential identifiers identifying the credential data is transmitted to a management server that provisioned the client. Credential reference data is received from the management server based on the one or more credential identifiers. The client is authenticated based on a comparison of the credential data received from the client and credential reference data received from the management server. |
| US08677113B2 |
Transmission of secure electronic mail formats
A method and system for providing e-mail messages to a receiving e-mail application. The e-mail messages as sent from a sending e-mail application being secure and in opaque signed format. The opaque signed e-mail messages being converted to clear signed e-mail messages by decoding extracting message content and digital signatures. The clear signed e-mails being sent to a receiving e-mail application. |
| US08677111B2 |
Booting devices using virtual storage arrays over wide-area networks
Virtual storage arrays consolidate data storage at a data center for physical and virtual computer systems at one or more branch network locations. Standalone and virtualized computer systems at a branch network location load, execute, and store their operating systems, applications, and data using virtual storage arrays and do not require any built-in or external non-volatile data storage devices such as hard disk drives or solid-state drives at the branch network location. The virtual disks of the virtual storage array are mapped to physical data storage at the data center and accessed via a WAN using storage block-based protocols. A storage block cache at the branch network location includes storage blocks prefetched based on knowledge about the computer systems at the branch network location and the behavior of their operating systems and applications. |
| US08677107B2 |
Apparatus and method for handling exception events
Processing circuitry 4 has a plurality of exception states EL0-EL3 for handling exception events, the exception states including a base level exception state EL0 and at least one further level exception state EL1-EL3. Each exception state has a corresponding stack pointer indicating the location within the memory of a corresponding stack data store 35. When the processing circuitry is in the base level exception state EL0, stack pointer selection circuitry 40 selects the base level stack pointer as a current stack pointer indicating a current stack data store for use by the processing circuitry 4. When the processing circuitry 4 is a further exception state, the stack pointer selection circuitry 40 selects either the base level stack pointer or the further level stack pointer corresponding to the current further level exception state as a current stack pointer. |
| US08677105B2 |
Parallel processing of a sequential program using hardware generated threads and their instruction groups executing on plural execution units and accessing register file segments using dependency inheritance vectors across multiple engines
A unified architecture for dynamic generation, execution, synchronization and parallelization of complex instructions formats includes a virtual register file, register cache and register file hierarchy. A self-generating and synchronizing dynamic and static threading architecture provides efficient context switching. |
| US08677103B1 |
Asynchronous pipelined data path with data transition
Systems, methods, and computer program products for controlling a plurality of pipelined stages are described. In some implementations, an apparatus is described that includes a pipelined data path including a plurality of adjacent stages, where a stage includes a data store, a valid indicator, and a transfer controller including a state machine having a plurality of states. In some implementations, the stage is configured to send a status indicator different from the valid indicator to the state machine to indicate whether new data is available for processing by the stage in a next cycle, and whether a new data transfer is desired in the next cycle between the stage and the adjacent stage. |
| US08677092B2 |
Secure memory devices and methods of managing secure memory devices
A computing device and method for managing security of a memory or storage device without the need for administer privileges. To access the secure memory, a host provides a data block containing a control command and authentication data to the memory device. The memory device includes a controller for controlling access to a secure memory in the memory device. The memory device identifies the control command in the data block, authenticates the control command based on the authentication data, and executes the control command to allow the host device to access the secure memory. |
| US08677085B2 |
Virtual machine snapshotting in object storage system
The storage system exports logical storage volumes that are provisioned as storage objects within logical storage containers. These storage objects are accessed on demand by connected computer systems using standard protocols, such as SCSI and NFS, through logical endpoints for the protocol traffic that are configured in the storage system. A snapshot profile can be separately defined for each of these logical storage volumes, even for those that are within the same storage container. The snapshot profile for a logical storage volume defines whether or not snapshot is enabled for that logical storage volume, the frequency of the snapshot, and the number of snapshots to be retained. |
| US08677084B2 |
Method of configuring non-volatile memory for a hybrid disk drive
A system, method and machine-readable medium are provided to configure a non-volatile memory (NVM) including a plurality of NVM modules, in a system having a hard disk drive (HDD) and an operating system (O/S). In response to a user selection of a hybrid drive mode for the NVM, the plurality of NVM modules are ranked according to speed performance. Boot portions of the O/S are copied to a highly ranked NVM module, or a plurality of highly ranked NVM modules, and the HDD and the highly ranked NVM modules are assigned as a logical hybrid drive of the computer system. Ranking each of the plurality of NVM modules can include carrying out a speed performance test. This approach can provide hybrid disk performance using conventional hardware, or enhance performance of an existing hybrid drive, while taking into account relative performance of available NVM modules. |
| US08677067B2 |
Storage system and method for controlling storage system
In a storage system in which storage apparatuses communicatively coupled to a host computer are communicatively coupled to SVPs of the storage apparatuses through a management network, virtual SVPs are configured based on resources of the SVPs, and a maintenance environment for constituent elements of the storage apparatuses is provided through the virtual SVP to a maintenance apparatus accessing through the management network. The virtual SVPs share the information held by the SVPs. The virtual SVP performs maintenance and management of the storage apparatuses through a virtual storage apparatus configured based on the resources of at least two of the storage apparatuses. The virtual SVP acquires a data transmission amount for each communication protocol of a network port from a channel control unit, and sets a bandwidth for each communication protocol of the network port based on the acquired data transmission amount. |
| US08677063B2 |
Parity declustered storage device array with partition groups
This disclosure relates to parity declustered storage device arrays having partition groups. In an exemplary embodiment, the storage system includes a storage device array, such as disk array. Each storage device is divided into partitions. Each partition includes stripe units, such as hundreds or thousands of stripe units in exemplary embodiments. The storage system also includes a physical array controller coupled to the storage device array. In an exemplary embodiment, the array controller includes a partition group lookup table and stores and retrieves data and parity in the storage devices based on the partition group lookup table. In this exemplary embodiment, the array controller also includes a stripe lookup table and/or a log. In an exemplary embodiment, the partition group lookup table and the stripe lookup table take up less memory (e.g., by an order of magnitude) than a single-level stripe map conveying the same information. |
| US08677062B2 |
Caching data in a storage system having multiple caches including non-volatile storage cache in a sequential access storage device
Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for caching data in a storage system having multiple caches. A sequential access storage device includes a sequential access storage medium and a non-volatile storage device integrated in the sequential access storage device, received modified tracks are cached in the non-volatile storage device, wherein the non-volatile storage device is a faster access device than the sequential access storage medium. A spatial index indicates the modified tracks in the non-volatile storage device in an ordering based on their physical location in the sequential access storage medium. The modified tracks are destaged from the non-volatile storage device by comparing a current position of a write head to physical locations of the modified tracks on the sequential access storage medium indicated in the spatial index to select a modified track to destage from the non-volatile storage device to the storage device. |
| US08677061B2 |
Information processing apparatus and cache control method
According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a storage device, a volatile memory, and a processor. The storage device includes a controller, a first nonvolatile storage module, and a second nonvolatile storage module whose access speed is higher than an access speed of the first nonvolatile storage module. The processor is configured to execute an operating system and a cache driver that are loaded into the volatile memory. The cache driver uses at least part of an area in the second nonvolatile storage module as a cache for the first nonvolatile storage module. |
| US08677060B2 |
Isolation switching for backup of registered memory
Certain embodiments described herein include a memory system having a register coupled to a host system and operable to receive address and control signals from the host system, a volatile memory subsystem, a non-volatile memory subsystem, a controller coupled to the non-volatile memory subsystem, and a circuit coupled to the register, the volatile memory subsystem, and the controller. In a first mode of operation, the circuit is operable to selectively isolate the controller from the volatile memory subsystem, and to selectively couple the volatile memory subsystem to the register to allow data to be communicated between the volatile memory subsystem and the host system. In a second mode of operation, the circuit is operable to selectively couple the controller to the volatile memory subsystem to allow data to be communicated between the volatile memory subsystem and the non-volatile memory subsystem using the controller, and is operable to selectively isolate the volatile memory subsystem from the register. |
| US08677057B1 |
Initiating memory wear leveling
Systems and processes may use a host and an external host. The host may be a portable device that includes a memory, a memory controller, and a communication interface for communication with the external host. The portable device may receive a command signal from the external host and initiate a predetermined amount of wear leveling in response to the command signal. |
| US08677055B2 |
Flexible way of specifying storage attributes in a flash memory-based object store
Approaches for performing a write operation on a solid state device (SSD). One or more containers are maintained on the solid state device. Each container is a logical grouping of objects independent from where the logical grouping of objects are physically stored on the solid state device. When a write operation is received at the SSD, the manner is which changes requested by the write operation should be stored are determined based on which container is being written. Containers provide a flexible approach for specifying attributes of how data should be stored and accessed which is independent from where the data is physically stored. Containers also have particular utility in performing load balancing and ensuring high availability and recovery. |
| US08677054B1 |
Memory management schemes for non-volatile memory devices
A method includes storing data in a non-volatile memory that includes multiple memory blocks. At least first and second regions are defined in the non-volatile memory. A definition is made of a first over-provisioning ratio between a first logical address space and a first physical memory space of the first region, and a second over-provisioning ratio, different from the first over-provisioning ratio, between a second logical address space and a second physical memory space of the second region. Portions of the data are compacted, individually within each of the first and second regions and independently of the other region, by copying the portions from one or more source memory blocks to one or more destination memory blocks using the first and second over-provisioning ratios, respectively. |
| US08677052B2 |
Snapshotting of a performance storage system in a system for performance improvement of a capacity optimized storage system
A system for storing data comprises a performance storage system for storing one or more data items. A data item of the one or more data items comprises a data file or a data block. The system further comprises a segment storage system for storing a snapshot of a stored data item of the one or more data items in the performance storage system. The taking of the snapshot of the stored data item enables recall of the stored data item as stored at the time of the snapshot. At least one newly written segment is stored as a reference to a previously stored segment. |
| US08677049B2 |
Region prefetcher and methods thereof
A prefetch device and method are disclosed that determines from which addresses to speculatively fetch data based on information collected regarding previous cache-miss addresses. A historical record showing a propensity to experience cache-misses at a particular address-offset from a prior cache-miss address within a region of memory provides an indication that data needed by future instructions has an increased likelihood to be located at a similar offset from a current cache-miss address. The prefetch device disclosed herein maintains a record of the relationship between a cache-miss address and subsequent cache-miss addresses for the most recent sixty-four unique data manipulation instructions that resulted in a cache-miss. The record includes a weighted confidence value indicative of how many cache-misses previously occurred at each of a selection of offsets from a particular cache-miss address. |
| US08677047B1 |
Serial/parallel ATA controller and converter
An interface comprises a storage device controller that controls data flow from a Serial ATA bus to a storage device. A configurable bridge circuit is configured in one of a plurality of operating modes including a device bridge mode, and converts Parallel ATA information received on a Parallel ATA bus to Serial ATA information output to the Serial ATA bus when in the device bridge mode. |
| US08677046B2 |
Deadlock resolution in end-to-end credit protocol
A method for deadlock resolution in end-to-end credit protocol includes receiving a data frame and determining a number of credits required to transmit the data frame. The method also includes requesting and receiving credits from an end controller and responsively incrementing a credit counter. The method further includes determining if a value of the credit counter is greater than the number of credits required to transmit the data frame. Based on determining that the value of the credit counter is at least the number of credits required, the method includes transmitting the data frame to the end controller and decreasing the value of the credit counter by the number of credits required to transmit the data frame. Based on determining that the value of the credit counter is less than the number of credits required, the method includes transmitting a credit shortage notification to the end controller. |
| US08677043B2 |
Filler module for computing devices
An A filler module may include, but is not limited to: a body portion; and at least one conductive portion receivable within a component port of a computing device.A method for initializing a computing system may include but is not limited to: detecting a presence or absence of one or more filler modules within one or more computing device component ports; and determining compliance with an allowed filler module configuration according to the detection of the presence or absence of the one or more filler modules withing the one or more computing device component ports.A system comprising: a computing device component port; and a processing device configured to: detect a presence or absence of one or more filler modules within one or more computing device component ports, and determine compliance with an allowed filler module configuration according to the detection of the presence or absence of the one or more filler modules within the one or more computing device component ports. |
| US08677042B2 |
Interrupt moderation
A technique for interrupt moderation allows coalescing interrupts from a device into groups to be processed as a batch by a host processor. Receive and send completions may be processed differently. When the host is interrupted for receive completions, it may check for send completions, reducing the need for interrupts related to send completions. Timers and a counter allow coalescing interrupts into a single interrupt that can be used to signal the host to process multiple completions. The technique is suitable for both dedicated interrupt line and message-signaled interrupts. |
| US08677041B2 |
Balancing loads of a plurality of bus lanes of a snooping-based bus using a receiver, analyzer, and controller
A method and system for balancing loads of a plurality of bus lanes of a snooping-based bus. The system includes: a receiver for receiving snoop transactions from the bus lanes, each of the snoop transactions having a snoop request and at least one snoop response, an analyzer for analyzing respective actual and expected loads of each of the bus lanes dependent on the received snoop transactions, and a controller for providing a next snoop request from a number of outstanding snoop requests to a buffer allocated to the system, where the buffer is dependent on the analyzed loads of the bus lanes. |
| US08677038B2 |
Handheld electronic device and associated method employing a multiple-axis input device and learning a context of a text input for use by a disambiguation routine
A handheld electronic device includes a reduced QWERTY keyboard and is enabled with disambiguation software that is operable to disambiguate text input. In addition to identifying and outputting representations of language objects that are stored in the memory and that correspond with a text input, the device is able to employ contextual data in certain circumstances to prioritize output and to learn new contextual data. |
| US08677034B2 |
System for controlling I/O devices in a multi-partition computer system
An I/O control system for controlling I/O devices in a multi-partition computer system. The I/O control system includes an IOP partition containing an I/O processor cell with at least one CPU executing a control program, and a plurality of standard partitions, each including a cell comprising at least one CPU executing a control program, coupled, via shared memory, to the I/O processor cell. One or more of the standard partitions becomes an enrolled partition, in communication with the I/O processor cell, in response to requesting a connection to the IOP cell. After a partition is enrolled with the I/O processor cell, I/O requests directed to the I/O devices from the enrolled partition are distributed over shared I/O resources controlled by the I/O processor cell. |
| US08677031B2 |
Facilitating, at least in part, by circuitry, accessing of at least one controller command interface
An embodiment may include circuitry to facilitate, at least in part, a first network interface controller (NIC) in a client to be capable of accessing, via a second NIC in a server that is remote from the client and in a manner that is independent of an operating system environment in the server, at least one command interface of another controller of the server. The command interface may include at least one controller command queue. Such accessing may include writing at least one queue element to the at least one command queue to command the another controller to perform at least one operation associated with the another controller. The another controller may perform the at least one operation in response, at least in part, to the at least one queue element. Many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible. |
| US08677030B2 |
Apparatus and method for managing packet classification tables
Methods and apparatus are provided for managing classification of packets within a multi-function input/output device, and for allowing the device's classification tables to be cleared in a non-blocking manner. The input/output device conveys multiple communication connections corresponding to multiple physical and/or virtual PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) functions bound to software images executing on hosts. The device comprises gate logic configured to indicate statuses of the functions or the DMA engines bound to the functions. When the gate logic indicates a particular destination function is valid, the packet is transferred normally after being classified. A portion of the logic corresponding to a given function is reprogrammed to indicate the function is invalid when that function is reinitialized (e.g., FLR or Function Level Reset). The function's entries in packet classification tables are cleared afterward. When the logic indicates a function is invalid, packets destined for that function are dropped. |
| US08677028B2 |
Interrupt-based command processing
In general, this disclosure describes techniques that allow communication between devices/modules of a computer system regarding inter-device/module command execution. In accordance with the techniques described herein, an operating device of a computing system may receive from a client one or more command indications of commands to be executed on the operating device. The operating device may further receive at least one command completion indicator that indicates a command for which one or more clients are awaiting completion of execution. The operating device may generate an interrupt that indicates completion of execution of the command for which the at least one command completion indicator was received. The interrupt may be a generic interrupt or a client-specific interrupt. In this manner, inefficiencies caused by client monitoring of operating device command execution may be reduced. |
| US08677026B2 |
Computers and microchips with a portion protected by an internal hardware firewalls
This invention generally relates to one or more computer networks having computers like personal computers or network servers with microprocessors linked by broadband transmission means and having hardware, software, firmware, and other means such that at least one parallel processing operation occurs that involve at least two computers in the network. |
| US08677025B2 |
Low latency communication via memory windows
A high performance computer system has compute nodes interconnected by an inter-node communication network. The compute nodes include local packetized interconnects. Shared memory between compute nodes is emulated by tunneling packetized interconnect packets between the compute nodes. A memory region on one of the compute nodes is used as a window into a memory region in another compute node. Special registers may be provided to expedite remote operations on small amounts of data. |
| US08677019B2 |
Data communication method using unambiguous vehicle identification information
A data communication method between a first communication user arranged at a motor vehicle and a second communication user arranged outside the motor vehicle is provided. The first communication user can be addressed by the second communication user by way of a network address. The network address of the first communication user is defined by an address management unit arranged outside the motor vehicle and is transmitted to the first communication user. |
| US08677016B1 |
System and method for identifying network topology information
A system and method identifies topology information of an autonomous system as well as other autonomous systems, and can provide topology information in response to requests. |
| US08677012B2 |
Method of and apparatus for transceiving data frame in wireless broadband internet network
A method of transmitting/receiving a frame between a portable terminal and a base station in a wireless broadband Internet network are provided. More particularly, a method of transmitting/receiving frames can include activating a session between the portable terminal and the base station, removing at least one header information field included in an Internet protocol (IP) datagram after activating the session, adding a network header which sets a predetermined transport connection identifier (TCID) to the IP datagram, generating the frame, and transmitting the generated frame via the activated session. Preferably, the frame is generated in any one of the portable terminal and the base station, and transmitted to the other one of the portable terminal and the base station. |
| US08677008B2 |
Distributed storage system with high bandwidth utilization
A distributed storage system comprising a plurality of storage-and-computing elements, each storing a plurality of small content fragments associated with a plurality of contents, wherein a content retrieval load is shared between the storage-and-computing elements such that approximately the total uplink bandwidth of the distributed storage system can be utilized, on a continuous basis, by virtually any combination of multiple storage-and-computing elements simultaneously retrieving many contents or retrieving the same content with different time shifts. |
| US08677007B2 |
Systems and methods for bypassing an appliance
Methods for redirecting, on a client, a communication of the client to a server to upon determining the server is not useable to communicate to the client include the steps of: establishing, by an client agent on a client, a transport layer connection between the client and an intermediary appliance, the intermediary appliance providing access to one or more servers; receiving, by the client agent from the intermediary appliance, address information identifying at least one of the one or more servers available to communicate; determining, by the client agent, the transport layer connection is unusable to communicate; establishing, by the client agent, a second transport layer connection between the client and one of the identified available servers to bypass the appliance. Corresponding systems are also described. |
| US08677004B2 |
Migration of logical partitions between two devices
A method includes receiving a command to migrate a workload partition from a source machine to a target machine. The source machine and the target machine are communicatively coupled to a first subnetwork and a second subnetwork, respectively. The workload partition has a source network address defined by network addressing of the first subnetwork. The method also includes determining a socket connection providing network communication between the workload partition and a host. The method includes notifying the host that the workload partition is migrating from the source machine to the target machine, wherein in response to the notifying the host is on alert to receive, through a network tunnel communication, an identification of a target network address that is assigned to the workload partition after the workload partition is migrated to the target machine. The workload partition is migrated from the source machine to the target machine. |
| US08677003B1 |
Distributed processing of streaming data on an event protocol
An exemplary method for distributed processing of streaming data on an event protocol comprises receiving a plurality of related events from the streaming data at a node, amending a state of the related events, determining an error margin based on the amended state, and updating a current data transformation based on the amended state and error margin, thereby enabling real time analysis of streaming data. |
| US08676999B2 |
System and method for remote authentication dial in user service (RADIUS) prefix authorization application
An apparatus comprising a client node configured to communicate with a server node and a plurality of mobile nodes, wherein the client node is configured to obtain Prefix Authorization (PA) for the mobile node from the server node using a Remote Authentication Dial In User Service (RADIUS) protocol. Also disclosed is a network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising sending an Access-Request message to an Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) PA server using a RADIUS protocol, receiving an Access-Accept message from the AAA PA server using the RADIUS protocol if the Access-Request message is accepted by the AAA PA server, and receiving an Access-Reject message from the AAA PA server using the RADIUS protocol if the Access-Request message is not accepted by the AAA PA server. |
| US08676997B2 |
System and method for unitized maneuvers for multi-player games
There is provided a system and method for facilitating unitized maneuvers for a shared environment to mitigate the effects of network latency. There is provided a method for use by a processor of a server for facilitating unitized maneuvers for a shared environment, the method comprising receiving a first message generated by a first client of a plurality of clients in response to the first client initiating a first unitized maneuver on a first object for rendering the shared environment and sending a second message to a second client of the plurality of clients in response to receiving the first message to communicate the first unitized maneuver so as to cause the second client to render the first object executing the first unitized maneuver in the shared environment approximately synchronously with the first client until a first end time determinable using parameters of the first unitized maneuver. |
| US08676996B2 |
System and method for variable time scale for multi-player games
There is provided a system and method for facilitating variations in a time scale for a shared environment. There is provided a method for use by a processor of a server for facilitating variations in a time scale for a shared environment, the method comprising receiving a message generated by a first client of a plurality of clients in response to a variation in the time scale, for rendering the shared environment, caused by a user of the first client, and sending a second message to a second client of the plurality of clients in response to receiving the first message to communicate the variation in the time scale caused by the first client, so as to cause the second client to render the shared environment approximately synchronously in accordance with the variation in the time scale. |
| US08676989B2 |
Robust domain name resolution
A recursive DNS nameserver system and related domain name resolution techniques are disclosed. The DNS nameservers utilize a local cache having previously retrieved domain name resolution to avoid recursive resolution processes and the attendant DNS requests. If a matching record is found with a valid (not expired) TTL field, the nameserver returns the cached domain name information to the client. If the TTL for the record in the cache has expired and the nameserver is unable to resolve the domain name information using DNS requests to authoritative servers, the recursive DNS nameserver returns to the cache and accesses the resource record having an expired TTL. The nameserver generates a DNS response to the client device that includes the domain name information from the cached resource record. In various embodiments, subscriber information is utilized to resolve the requested domain name information in accordance with user-defined preferences. |
| US08676987B2 |
Method of processing data in internet protocol television receiver and internet protocol television receiver
A method of processing data in an IPTV receiver and such an IPTV receiver are disclosed. The method includes transmitting a request signal for resolution of a content reference identifier (CRID) corresponding to a content, receiving location information including a session description protocol (SDP) file, and a session initiation protocol-uniform resource identifier (SIP-URI) corresponding to the CRID, and controlling a session setup for processing a content by using the received SDP file. |
| US08676984B2 |
Live directory of cloud tenants to enable inter-tenant interaction via cloud
A system for enabling communication between multiple cloud-based services operating on a common cloud infrastructure includes a cloud infrastructure providing cloud-based services. The cloud-based services include a first service of a first tenant and a second service of a second tenant. A live directory is located within the cloud infrastructure and aggregates and distributing sharing and availability information pertaining to one or more of the cloud-based services. A back-end network is within the cloud infrastructure and enables communication between the cloud-based services and the live directory. A wide area network enables communication between the cloud-based services and one or more remote clients. The sharing and availability information pertaining to one or more of the cloud-based services aggregated and distributed by the live directory is used to establish a back-end connection between the first service of the first tenant and the second service of a second tenant. |
| US08676982B2 |
Home network domain master
A method of generating a transmission schedule for a network device of a home network includes ensuring that strongly interfering nodes of different domains do not transmit simultaneously while enabling other non interfering nodes of the different domains to transmit simultaneously. A domain master for a home network includes a receiver and a scheduler. The receiver receives at least one transmission from at least one node of its domain indicating at least one node of at least one neighboring domain whose transmissions are interfering. The scheduler schedules transmissions of said nodes of its domain in coordination with a domain master of said neighboring domain according to inter-domain node interference. |
| US08676981B2 |
Routing service requests based on lowest actual cost within a federated virtual service cloud
A method for providing a virtual cloud service at the lowest actual cost can begin with an optimal transaction handler of a federated virtual service cloud maintaining a virtual resource pool of transactional units. Each transactional unit can represent a service application deployed to a cloud service provided by a cloud service provider having a usage-based service cost model that allows transactional units to be placed in an inactive state to suspend its operating expense. Operational metrics data for the cloud service providers can be continuously captured. In response to a service request, the transactional unit that meets fulfillment requirements of the service request and incurs a lowest actual cost can be determined based upon cost factors derived from the operational metrics data, the usage-based service cost model, and a current usage state of the virtual resource pool. The received service request can be routed to the determined transactional unit. |
| US08676979B2 |
Methods and systems for efficient API integrated login in a multi-tenant database environment
Methods and systems for efficient API integrated login in a multi-tenant database environment and for decreasing latency delays during an API login request authentication including receiving a plurality of API login requests at a load balancer of a datacenter, where each of the plurality of API login requests specify a user identifier (userID) and/or an organizational identifier (orgID), fanning the plurality of API login requests across a plurality of redundant instances executing within the datacenter, assigning each API login request to one of the plurality of redundant instances for authentication, and for each of the respective plurality of API login requests, performing a recursive query algorithm at the assigned redundant instance, at one or more recursive redundant instances within the datacenter, and at a remote recursive redundant instance executing in a second datacenter, as necessary, until the login request is authenticated or determined to be invalid. |
| US08676976B2 |
Microprocessor with software control over allocation of shared resources among multiple virtual servers
A system and computer program product for controlling the allocation of shared resources. The system includes a next request priority module connected to a shared resource and to a plurality of requesters identified by requester identifiers. The next request priority module includes a pending request mechanism that prioritizes pending requests for the shared resource, a logging mechanism logging requester identifiers associated with previous grants to the shared resource, and next request priority logic. The next request priority logic accesses the next pending request to determine if it should be granted priority to the shared resource. The determining is responsive to logged requester identifiers and to the next requester identifier. Priority is granted to the shared resource to the next pending request in response to determining that the next pending request should be granted priority to the shared resource. The next requester identifier is logged in response to the granting. |
| US08676974B2 |
Quality of service (QoS) based planning in web services aggregation
Embodiment of the present invention include a method, system and computer program product for a data processing system for QoS based planning in a Web services aggregation. The system can include Web service aggregation and coordination logic configured to identify accessible Web services in a registry and to arrange an aggregation of the Web services for invocation responsive to requests received from communicatively coupled clients over a computer communications network. The system further can include QoS planning logic coupled to the Web service aggregation and coordination logic. The QoS planning logic can be enabled to measure both the individual performance of the Web services in an aggregation of Web services and also the cumulative performance of the aggregation of Web services. Finally, the QoS planning logic can be enabled to modify the aggregation of Web services responsive to measuring both of the individual performance of Web services in the aggregation of Web services and also of the cumulative performance of the aggregation of Web services. |
| US08676971B2 |
Method, system and computer program product for providing ethernet VLAN capacity requirement estimation
A method, system, and computer program product for providing VLAN capacity requirement estimation is provided. The method includes receiving at a computing system a VLAN configuration file that specifies VLAN access ports, VLAN switches and VLAN trunks in a VLAN. A target access port identifier is received at the computing system from a requestor. A target trunk and target switch corresponding to the target access port are determined at the computing system. A bandwidth contribution of the target access port to the VLAN is calculated at the computing system. The calculating is based on a least contribution algorithm that reflects an impact of provisioning the target access port with respect to trunk capacity, and is responsive to the target bandwidth requirement, the target class of service and placement of the target port in the VLAN. The bandwidth contribution is then transmitted to the requestor. |
| US08676966B2 |
Detecting and monitoring server side states during web application scanning
A computer-implemented method, system, and computer program product for detecting and monitoring server side state during the scanning of a web application. The method includes: monitoring executed code of the web application while scanning the web application; retrieving code coverage information from the monitoring of the executed code and retrieving scanning information from the scanning of the web application; correlating the code coverage information with the scanning information; and determining a change in the server side state based on the correlation. The system includes one or more devices that executes the steps of the method. The computer program products includes computer program instructions stored on a computer readable storage medium, where the instructions, when executed, will cause a computer to perform the steps of the methods. |
| US08676964B2 |
Detecting outliers in network traffic time series
According to an aspect of the invention, a system and method is configured to detect time series outliers in network traffic. |
| US08676955B1 |
Method and system for managing network traffic
A system and method for directing network connections. The invention enables a network device to direct subsequent connections from a client to a server for accessing resources. A process extracts a persistence key from a received message, and employs the persistence key to identify the appropriate server. An interface is provided, enabling a user program to direct the process of extracting the persistence key. The invention also provides a way for multiple clients to persist to a common server. |
| US08676954B2 |
Method and apparatus of performing simultaneous multi-agent access for command execution through a single client
Disclosed are an apparatus and method of managing a multiple agents via a session client. One example method of operation may include selecting multiple endpoint devices to manage, establishing a connection to a server, and identifying at least two agent identifiers identifying multiple agents corresponding to the multiple endpoint devices. The method may also include transmitting a session setup command to the server including the at least two agent identifiers and receiving a confirmation that a session has been established between the session client and the multiple agents of the multiple endpoint devices. |
| US08676952B2 |
User adaptive HTTP stream manager and method for using same
A stream manager and a method are described herein for creating an adaptive stream manifest file (e.g., HTTP adaptive stream manifest file) associated with original content where the original content is subsequently modified while being streamed based on input from a user of a user device. The user device is configured to request, receive and playback the original content and the modified content associated with the adaptive stream manifest file. |
| US08676949B2 |
Methods for interfacing with a virtualized computing service over a network using a lightweight client
Methods for controlling a virtualized computer service remotely through a client includes receiving a connection request from the client for controlling the virtual service available at a virtual machine. The request includes a plurality of connection parameters that describe the connection requirements of the client and is received at a virtual machine that is equipped with an image processor algorithm. The connection parameters are interrogated using the image processor algorithm to identify a specific virtual machine that provides the requested virtualized computer service. A framebuffer data for the identified virtual machine located in virtual memory is accessed and read directly through a hypervisor. The framebuffer data is processed into a plurality of image data packets using the image processor algorithm and transmitted to the client for presenting on a display device associated with the client. The image data packet grammar is tailored to the client and represents an image of the virtual machine display for the specific virtual machine. |
| US08676948B2 |
Method for tunnel mapping
The present invention discloses a method for tunnel mapping involved with the field of the next generation network. The method of the present invention comprises: according to a service data stream resource information request received, selecting, by a transport resource control function entity (TRC-FE), a corresponding label switch path (LSP) tunnel, and after completing allocation of the service data stream, instructing a transport resource enforcement function entity (TRE-FE) to update a stream label mapping table; and completing, by the TRE-FE, the update of the stream label mapping table, and according to mapping information in the table, mapping the service data stream to the LSP tunnel designated. The present invention solves the problem that a mapping between a service data stream and LSP tunnel resource in a NGN based on MPLS-TE can't be implemented according to current standards, and fills a gap in implementation of resource allocation in a bearer network. |
| US08676945B2 |
Method and system for processing fault alarms and maintenance events in a managed network services system
An approach for supporting automated fault isolation and recovery is provided. A workflow event corresponding to an alarm indicative of a fault within a customer network is generated. Recovery from the fault is automated according to the workflow event. Alarm information is transmitted to a maintenance management system, wherein the alarm information specifies information about the alarm. A maintenance event information from the maintenance management system is received in response to the transmitted alarm information. Additionally, it is determined whether the alarm is correlated to a maintenance event based on the maintenance event information. Automated handling of the alarm is differentiated based on the correlation. |
| US08676944B2 |
Network models, methods, and computer program products for managing a service independent of the underlying network technology
Embodiments of the present invention provide network models, methods, systems, and computer program products for managing a service. For example, in some embodiments, a network model for managing a service includes an end service domain that associates the service with an end service provider. The end service domain includes a plurality of wholesale service domains that each includes one or more networks that provide traffic transport for the end service domain. One or more gateways are used to couple one of the wholesale service domains to another one of the wholesale service domains, and to perform protocol translation on traffic passing between the coupled wholesale service domains. In addition, one or more gateways are configured to couple a user to the end service domain, and are further configured to communicate with the user by a protocol associated with the service. A process domain provides an abstract representation of applications provided by the end service domain. |
| US08676940B2 |
Communications portal
Per one embodiment, apparatus may be provided that include a communications portal and a back-end system. The communications portal includes a provider interface accessible by providers and a target user interface accessible by target users. The back-end system may include an deployment management. The provider interface is configured to present graphical user interface tools representing offering options. The graphical user interface tools are presented on a remote provider data access point device display remote from the provisioning portal while the remote provider data access point device is authenticated for a given provider. The offering options include “provider selectable assets” screen inputs configured to receive asset selections from the given provider, and “asset location and identifying data” screen inputs configured to receive data locating and identifying assets selected by the given provider. |
| US08676938B2 |
Local streaming proxy server
A local application streaming proxy can create a virtual image of storage media, which allows cloud operators to rapidly deliver applications, or deliver any operating system remotely, while providing better security, network utilization, low power requirements, and consistent performance for streamed applications and operating systems. A station using its WiFi/LAN provides QoS guarantees (or priority) for application streaming network communications to create a consistent user experience regardless of other application bandwidth utilization. “HTTP demand paging” is also possible. |
| US08676936B2 |
Managing method and apparatus for servicing contents provided by content provider
A managing method and/or an apparatus for servicing contents provided by contents provider includes creating a segment for providing contents to a subscriber terminal according to a prescribed regulation; connecting contents connection points connected to the contents with menus; and forming a segment menu of the segment by at least one menu connected to the contents to be provided to the subscriber terminal subscribed to the segment and selected from the menus. |
| US08676934B2 |
Communication device, server, program, and communication system
A communication device including: a communication unit; and a control unit controlling the communication unit to inquire if one upload service allows direct upload to a server storing service information of each of a plurality of upload services, to have the communication unit obtain desired information from the server for directly uploading data to the one upload service when the one upload service allows direct upload, and to have the communication unit directly upload data to the one upload service according to the desired information. |
| US08676933B2 |
NAT traversal method in session initial protocol
The present invention provides an NAT (Network Address Translator) traversal method in Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) for solving the problems of SIP in Internet phone (VoIP) under current Internet environment. In other words, the present invention solves the SIP problems caused by NAT (Network Address Translator) that P2P (Peer to Peer) transmission cannot traverse the NAT firewall directly. The major content of the present invention is that the computer conducts multiple registrations before issuing an Invite message in order to detect the rule of the NAT server to assign port number and IP address. Additional commands or parameters beyond the SIP standard are not required for the NAT traversal function. Hence, the capability of SIP for a NAT traversal function is provided without no additional commands or parameters. |
| US08676930B2 |
System and method for multiport automation
A system and method are disclosed for enhancing the throughput of signals from a security system receiver to an associated automation server. Multiple parallel Ethernet connections or ports are provided between the receiver and server to enable multiple signals to be transmitted between the two when such signals are received from a client's security system panel. The system and method may access the ports in a variety of orders to provide efficient transmittal of signals from the receiver to the server. In one embodiment, received event signals may be routed though the ports in numeric sequence, forward or reverse. In another embodiment, received event signals may be routed preferentially to the first port, if it is not busy. If the first port is busy then the signal may be routed to the second port, and so on. In a further embodiment, received event signals from specific client panels may be directed through predetermined ports, and a predetermined automation server at the central monitoring facility. |
| US08676928B1 |
Method and system for writing network data
Method and system for writing data in a network is provided. The method includes receiving an original write command from a host system to write data to a target; sending a command notifying the host system to send data, wherein a local router sends the command to the host system; receiving data from the host system, wherein the local router receives data; segmenting the original write command into a plurality of write commands; sending the plurality of write commands with data to a remote router; sending a status command to the local router for the plurality of write commands except for a first write command; assembling the plurality of write commands with data to a single write command, wherein the remote router assembles the plurality of write commands with data; and sending the single write command to the target. |
| US08676921B1 |
Contextual mapping based learning by converting information
A method, network server, communication device and system of preparing a pictorial representation of information. The system comprises a server for providing information and generating the pictorial representation, a wireless network for communicating said server over the air waves, and wireless terminals of said wireless network for receiving the information and making mark-ups or indications to the information from which the pictorial representation is created. |
| US08676918B2 |
Point of presence management in request routing
A system and method for the management of client computing device DNS queries and subsequent resource requests within a content delivery network service provider domain are provided. The management of the DNS queries can include the selection of computing devices corresponding to various Point of Presence locations for processing DNS queries. Additionally, the management of the content requests can include the selection of computing devices corresponding to resource cache components corresponding to various Point of Presence locations for providing requested content. The selection of the computing devices can incorporate logic related to geographic criteria, performance threshold criteria, testing criteria, and the like. |
| US08676917B2 |
Administering an epoch initiated for remote memory access
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for administering an epoch initiated for remote memory access that include: initiating, by an origin application messaging module on an origin compute node, one or more data transfers to a target compute node for the epoch; initiating, by the origin application messaging module after initiating the data transfers, a closing stage for the epoch, including rejecting any new data transfers after initiating the closing stage for the epoch; determining, by the origin application messaging module, whether the data transfers have completed; and closing, by the origin application messaging module, the epoch if the data transfers have completed. |
| US08676910B2 |
Method, server, client and system for network platform interaction
The present invention discloses a method, a server, a client and a system for network platform interaction which belong to the technical field of communication. The method comprises steps wherein: an intermediate platform detects a location event which includes selecting a contact person on a first platform and locating the contact person at a certain position; the intermediate platform acquires the information about the contact from the first platform, determines a corresponding second platform according to the position, and sends the location event to the second platform; the second platform analyzes the location event to acquire the related data of the position, acquires the contact person's information from the intermediate platform, and executes corresponding operations according to the contact person's information and the related data of the position. The system comprises a server and a client, wherein the server comprises an intermediate platform and the client comprises a first platform and a second platform. The invention reduces the complexity and development cost of the network platform and the mutual dependence and coupling degree of two interacting parties. |
| US08676909B2 |
Method, system and architecture for delivering messages in a network to automatically increase a signal-to-noise ratio of user interests
The present invention pertains to a method for delivering messages in a social network to increase a signal-to-noise ratio for the recipients of messages, characterized in that a process mechanism comprises of a diffusion process and a selection process combined through an adaptive process, in which: the diffusion process dispatches each message through dynamic routing graphs defined between the sender user and a set of potentially interested recipient users; the selection process locally filters the messages that are transmitted from sender users and received by potentially interested recipient users, according to the result of the application of a selection function on the metadata values constituting a message profile extracted from each transmitted message and weighted feature values constituting a user profile of the recipient to establish an estimate of interest for the user regarding each message, and the adaptive process continuously adjusts processing functions to adapt the graphs structure according to the user profiles dynamically updated by message metadata. |
| US08676906B2 |
Email access manager for a wireless communication device
In general, this disclosure relates to techniques for management of email access for a wireless communication device (WCD). The techniques may utilize an email access manager that selects a synchronization mode to synchronize with a remote email server and selects a transfer mode to transfer email messages with the remote email server based on context data regarding the WCD. The context data of the WCD may include one or more of quality of service (QoS) of network connections with the remote email server, battery status of the WCD, and user settings for the WCD. The email access manager monitors the context data from one or more managers, applications, and/or memory within the WCD. The techniques described herein enable an email application on a WCD to dynamically alter synchronization and transfer of email messages with a remote email server as appropriate given the context of the WCD. |
| US08676903B2 |
System and method to control email whitelists
A system and method to control email whitelists by collecting one or more website email addresses parsed from a web page, detecting whether one or more of the user's email addresses are included in a webform of the web page, confirming whether the collected one or more website email addresses are to be added to one or more email whitelists, and updating the configuration of the one or more whitelists in response to a confirmation to add the one or more site email addresses to the one or more email whitelists. |
| US08676901B1 |
Methods for transcoding attachments for mobile devices
Methods for transcoding attachments for mobile devices are described. In some embodiments, attachments associated with any communication are stored on a server. When a communication is sent from a server to a client device, a representation of the attachment that includes an indication of a native file type of the attachment is also sent along with the communication to the client device. In responding to a user's request to view the attachment, the server transcodes the attachment from the attachment's native file type to a viewable file type configured to display in the client device and then transmits at least a portion of the attachment in the viewable file type to the client device for display. Other embodiments are also described. |
| US08676897B1 |
N-way interactive communication using hand held computers
A method and apparatus for collaborative chatting on a plurality of hand held computer systems are disclosed. A Bluetooth communication may be established among several hand held computer systems. A participants list may be cached from previous sessions, eliminating a typical step of discovery. Collaborative chatting software may be automatically initiated on the hand held systems in the group. Information entered by any member of the group may be displayed in substantially real time on all hand held computer systems. Information may be color coded to identify its source. In this novel manner, collaborative chatting on a plurality of hand held computer systems may occur, resulting in richer, more efficient and more secure communication between group members. |
| US08676891B2 |
Visibility inspector in social networks
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for transmitting a content data set to a computing device for displaying digital content to an author user, the author user having authored the digital content, receiving user input from the author user, the user input corresponding to the digital content, and, in response to receiving the user input, transmitting first data and second data to the computing device for display to the author user, the first data comprising a number of contacts that are able to access the digital content and the second data indicating one or more relationships between the author user and the contacts. |
| US08676889B2 |
Connection device, connection method for the same, and program
A connection device according to an aspect of the present invention is a server (104) which establishes a connection among a terminal (101), a terminal (102), and a terminal (103) for a multipoint conference in which media data is directly transmitted and received among the terminals (101 to 103), the connection device includes a caller information obtaining unit (202) and a callee information obtaining unit (203) which obtains media information of the terminals, a holding unit (204) which transmits, to the terminal (101), a first message for preventing the terminal (101) from starting a transmission of the media data to the terminal (102) and the terminal (103), when the media information of the terminal (102) and the terminal (103) is not obtained, and a communication starting unit (205) which transmits a second message (i) including the media information of the terminal (102) and (ii) for causing the terminal (101) to start transmitting the media data to the terminal (102), when the media information of the terminal (102) is obtained after the first message is transmitted. |
| US08676888B2 |
Method for multi-terminal session, and communication system and related device thereof
A method for a multi-terminal session, and a communication system and related devices thereof are disclosed according to the present invention. Accordingly, the user experience is improved. The method of the present invention includes setting up a connection between each terminal of a multi-terminal user and a session transfer server; setting up a connection between the session transfer server and a peer user; conducting a session between each terminal of the multi-terminal user and the peer user via the session transfer server. |
| US08676884B2 |
Security configuration
An example embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus including at least one processor; and at least one memory including executable instructions, the at least one memory and the executable instructions being configured to, in cooperation with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: retrieving, from a reputation server, reputation data of uniform resource locators (URL) of one or more web sites relating to one or more web site features that are available via the web site; and determining executable web site features on the basis of the retrieved reputation data. |
| US08676883B2 |
Event management in a distributed processing system
Methods, systems, and computer program products for event management in a distributed processing system are provided. Embodiments include receiving, by the incident analyzer, one or more events from one or more resources, each event identifying a location of the resource producing the event; identifying, by the incident analyzer, an action in dependence upon the one or more events and the location of the one or more resources producing the one or more events; identifying, by the incident analyzer, a location scope for the action in dependence upon the one or more events; and executing, by the incident analyzer, the identified action. |
| US08676876B2 |
Synchronizing an active feed adapter and a backup feed adapter in a high speed, low latency data communications environment
Methods, apparatus, and products are disclosed for synchronizing an active feed adapter and a backup feed adapter in a high speed, low latency data communications environment that include brokering, by a stream administration server, establishment of an active message stream to a subscribing client device from an active feed adapter, the active message stream capable of communicating active application messages; brokering, by the server, establishment of a backup message stream to the client device from a backup feed adapter, the backup message stream capable of communicating backup application messages; receiving an active feed adapter state in backup messaging middleware of the backup adapter from active messaging middleware of the active adapter; determining, by the backup feed adapter, whether a backup feed adapter state is synchronized with the active feed adapter state; and administering, by the backup feed adapter, operation of the backup adapter in dependence upon the determining. |
| US08676869B2 |
Adaptive display for enhancing audio playback
An audio playback device and method searches initiates a web search for images related to music or other audio files being played, downloads images from selected web pages returned by the search engine, and outputs one or more images from the selected web pages on a display to enhance the user's listening experience. |
| US08676868B2 |
Macro programming for resources
A system and a method are disclosed for generating, storing, retrieving, and utilizing a search macro or shortcut link to a resource, such as a web site that provides access to an information database. The system may load a page into an application from the resource. The resource may have a Uniform Resource Identifier, and the page may have a search field that causes the application to generate a message when activated. The system may read the Uniform Resource Identifier insert a placeholder into the search field, and activate the search field, which causes the application to generate a message. The system may read the message and parse the message to isolate a search string containing the placeholder. The system may store the search string in a data structure, and may also store the Uniform Resource Identifier and associate it with the search string in the data structure. The system may further retrieve the search string, replace the placeholder with a search term, and generate a message as a function of the search string and the search term. |
| US08676866B2 |
Computing canonical hierarchical schemas
Methods, systems, and computer-readable storage media for receiving a plurality of source hierarchical schemas, processing the source hierarchical schemas to generate a merged graph, which is comprising a plurality of merged nodes, each merged node being provided based on one or more nodes from at least two of the source hierarchical schemas, determining and resolving using conflicts in the merged graph to generate a conflict-free merged graph, wherein resolving comprises splitting one or more merged nodes into respective sub-sets of merged nodes, defining and processing a constraints satisfaction problem (CSP) to generate a plurality of mediated hierarchical schemas (MHSs), each MHS being a solution to the CSP, identifying an MHS of the plurality of MHSs as an optimum MHS, wherein a canonical hierarchical schema (CHS) is provided as the optimum MHS, and storing the CHS as a computer-readable document in a computer-readable memory. |
| US08676864B2 |
Methods and systems for providing schema layout in an on-demand services environment
Methods and systems are provided for automatically arranging graphical representations of objects on a canvas. Optionally, the automatic arrangement of the graphical representation of the object may be performed in an on demand, multi-tenant database as part of a tool for creating and displaying schema. A data object with more connections to other data objects may tend to be placed closer to other objects, where as data objects with fewer connections may tend to be placed further apart. The algorithm for placement is based on computations of pseudo-forces between objects. The pseudo force on an object from all other objects is calculated in a given time step and when the force is less than a threshold value, the positions of the objects is updated based on the forces. When the computed displacements are less than a threshold, the objects are in equilibrium. |
| US08676862B2 |
Information management
A method for information management comprises monitoring output from an application to an operating system, wherein the output is monitored substantially continuously; determining if a policy applies to data associated with the output; and executing the policy if the policy applies. |
| US08676860B2 |
Web service discovery via data abstraction model
A method includes querying a discovery registry associated with a data abstraction model of a database to discover one or more web services that are resolvable based on a particular logical field selected via a database query interface. The data abstraction model includes a plurality of logical fields that each correspond to a particular data structure of the database. A web service input of a discovered web service is associated with a first logical field of the data abstraction model via the discovery registry, and a web service output of the discovered web service is associated with a second logical field of the data abstraction model via the discovery registry. A modified database query interface includes a text entry element to receive a text search term and a first selectable input associated with the first discovered web service. |
| US08676858B2 |
Grouping and differentiating volumes of files
Methods and apparatus teach a digital spectrum of a file. The digital spectrum is used to map a file's position in a multi-dimensional space. This position relative to another file's position reveals distances between the files. Closest files can be grouped together. When contemplating voluminous numbers of files for digital spectrums, various methods include: concatenating all such files together to get a single key useful for creating a file's spectrum; or compressing files individually and combining their collective dictionaries into a single dictionary that defines the digital spectrum. Each provides advantage over the other. The latter consumes considerably less run time because each compression event can be distributed to a separate processor. Method two provides better spectrums because it is more “informationally” valid than is method one. |
| US08676852B2 |
Process and apparatus for selecting an item from a database
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for selecting database items from a database, where the database items are indexed by a list of item identifiers. The item identifiers may be in the form of text. An initial display is generated which includes one or more parts of the item identifiers. Selection of the one or more parts may be made and results in the generation of a display of a further one or more parts for selection. The further one or more parts may be selected in order to add to the selected one or more parts to build a larger part or whole of an item identifier. Selection from a large list of item identifiers may be carried out in a relatively short time period. |
| US08676848B2 |
Configuring cloud resources
A method, system, and program product for identifying cloud resources are provided, and further a method, system, and program product for configuring cloud resources are provided. The method for identifying cloud resources may include receiving a request with respect to at least one resource in a cloud and determining a set of resources among the at least one resource in the cloud in accordance with the received request. Determining the set of resources may include consulting an ontology including metadata associated with the at least one resource in the cloud and computing the set of resources based on the metadata and the received request. Additionally, the method may include computing a cost factor with respect to the determined set of resources. Furthermore, the method may include rendering, in response to the received request, the determined set of resources and the cost factor with respect to the determined set of resources. |
| US08676847B2 |
Visibility control of resources
Organization and assignment of access privileges to resources in a computer network. The resources of the network are organized into a hierarchical tree structure, with each node in the tree representing a resource, resource group, or resource instance. Read and/or write permission to one or more resources may be explicitly granted to the resource or implicitly granted based upon the location of the resource in the hierarchical structure. The access rights attach to the resource(s). Upon movement of the resource within the tree structure or to an alternate tree structure, the access rights associated therewith remain with the relocated resource. |
| US08676846B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing a generic database security application using virtual private database functionality with a common security policy function
Methods for providing a generic database security application using virtual private database (VPD) functionality are provided. The methods may include inserting rows into a user security table in a database providing VPD functionality, each row comprising a user ID for which database access is to be controlled, the name of a database object to be secured, and a predicate; and defining a security policy function common to all secured database objects, said security policy function generating a second predicate to be appended by the database's VPD functionality to queries made on a queried secured database object by a querying user, said second predicate based on at least one predicate in at least one row in the user security table, the at least one row referencing the name of the queried secured database object and the user ID of the querying user. Related systems and computer program products are also provided. |
| US08676843B2 |
Failure recovery in a parallel-processing database system
A system and method for failure recovery in a multiple processing node system are described herein. Each node can be adapted to store a backup copy of its database portion and/or results to disk storage or memory of at least one other node. In the event of a failure of a node, the replacement node can be adapted to transfer or copy the backup copy of the database portion of the failed node from the failed node's neighbors to the replacement node's disk storage or memory in between database operations. Before the transfer or copy of the backup copy is completed, the replacement node can be adapted to perform database operations in part on the portion of the backup copy the replacement node has already received and in part on the backup copy stored at the neighboring node(s). |
| US08676841B2 |
Detection of recurring non-occurrences of events using pattern matching
Techniques for detecting recurring non-occurrences of an event. In one embodiment, techniques are provided for detecting the non-occurrence of an event within each of a series of time periods following the occurrence of another event. Language extensions are provided that enable queries to be formulated for detecting recurring non-occurrence of an event following occurrence of a triggering event. |
| US08676837B2 |
Systems and methods for personalizing aggregated news content
A system customizes a news document associated with a user of a news aggregation service. The system includes multiple news source servers that store news content and a remote news aggregation server. The news aggregation server creates a customized news document based on one or more personalized search queries received from a user. The news aggregation server fetches the news content from the multiple news source servers, aggregates the news content, and searches the aggregated news content based on the one or more personalized search queries. The news aggregation server provides selected news content to the customized news document based on results of the search. |
| US08676832B2 |
Accessing medical image databases using anatomical shape information
The invention relates to a system (100) for retrieving a volumetric image data subset comprised in a data storage (105) of volumetric image data sets, the system comprising: a first query unit (111; 113) for composing a first query for searching the data storage (105) for a volumetric image data set comprising the volumetric image data subset; a second query unit (112; 113) for composing a second query for searching the volumetric image data set for the volumetric image data subset, the second query comprising anatomical structure information for identifying an anatomical structure within the volumetric image data set; a first determination unit (121; 123) for determining the volumetric image data set, based on the first query; a second determination unit (122; 123) for determining the volumetric image data subset of the volumetric image data set, based on the anatomical structure identified within the volumetric image data set, using the anatomical structure information comprised in the second query; and a retrieval unit (125) for retrieving the determined volumetric image data subset. The system is thus capable of retrieving a reduced amount of data describing the anatomical structure, i.e. a subset of a volumetric image data set. |
| US08676830B2 |
Keyword recommendation for internet search engines
A computer implemented method of generating keyword recommendations is provided, which includes providing keyword frequency data in computer readable media that indicate frequency counts of keywords used in past internet searches; providing keyword affinity data in computer readable media that indicate affinities between pairs of keywords used in past user internet searches; identifying keywords from the keyword frequency data that include the selected keyword; identifying keywords from the keyword affinity data that have an affinity to the selected keyword; and prioritizing the identified keywords based upon the keyword frequency. |
| US08676826B2 |
Method, system and program storage device for automatic incremental learning of programming language grammar
The embodiments provide for automatic incremental learning of programming language grammar. A corpus (i.e., a text file of software code written in a particular programming language) is parsed based on a set of grammar rules. An unparsed statement from the corpus is identified along with a section thereof, which did not match any of the grammar rules in the set. A subset of the set of grammar rules at fault for the parsing failure is identified. Groups of new grammar rules are developed such that each group comprises at least one new grammar rule, such that each group can parse the unparsed statement, and such that each new grammar rule is a modification of grammar rule(s) in the subset. One specific group can then be selected for possible incorporation into the set of grammar rules. Optionally, before a specific group is selected, the groups can be heuristically pruned and/or ranked. |
| US08676822B2 |
System and method for quality assured media file storage
There is provided a system and method for quality assured media file storage. There is provided a method for use by a processor to verify quality of a new media file by transcoding a master media file into a first media file, determining a quality of the first media file, applying a first quality assurance scheme to the first media file for an assured quality, calculating a first hash value using a hash function for the first media file, storing the first hash value in a memory, transcoding the master media file into a new media file, calculating a test hash value using the hash function for the new media file, and searching the memory for the test hash value to decide whether the new media file has the assured quality, without having to apply the first quality assurance scheme again to the new media file. |
| US08676820B2 |
Indexing and search query processing
A method for processing a search query according to one embodiment includes receiving a search query containing terms; combining at least some consecutive terms in the search query to create biwords; looking up at least some of the terms and biwords in a search index for identifying sections of documents containing the at least some of the terms and/or biwords; generating a content score for each of the identified sections based at least in part on a number of the terms and biwords found in the sections of each document, wherein the biwords are given a higher priority than matched terms, wherein the priority affects the content score; and selecting and outputting an indicator of at least one of the sections, or portion thereof, based at least in part on the content score. |
| US08676815B2 |
Suffix tree similarity measure for document clustering
The subject innovation provides for systems and methods to facilitate weighted suffix tree clustering. Conventional suffix tree cluster models can be augmented by incorporating quality measures to facilitate improved performance. Further the quality measure can be employed in determining cluster labels that show improvements in accuracy over conventional means. Additionally “stopnodes” can be defined to facilitate traversing suffix tree models efficiently. Quality measurements can be determined based in part on weighting factors applied to terms in a vector model, said terms being mapped from a suffix tree model. |
| US08676810B2 |
Multiple index mixed media reality recognition using unequal priority indexes
An MMR system for processing image queries across index tables with unequal priority comprises a plurality of mobile devices, a pre-processing server or MMR gateway, and an MMR matching unit, and may include an MMR publisher. The MMR matching unit receives an image query from the pre-processing server or MMR gateway and sends it to one or more of the recognition units to identify a result including a document, the page, and the location on the page. The MMR matching unit includes a dispatcher, a plurality of recognition units, and index tables, as well as an image registration unit. In one embodiment, the system includes an MMR matching plug-in installed on the mobile device. The present invention also includes methods for processing image queries across index tables of unequal priority and updating a high priority index based on received or projected image queries. |
| US08676809B1 |
Method and apparatus for mapping virtual machine incremental images
Embodiments of the present invention include a method and apparatus for performing incremental mapping of virtual machine incremental images. The method and apparatus comprise creating a map of the base file as well as the incremental file, utilizing at least a portion of the file tables contained in the various images. This map indicates the type of change (i.e., whether the file is contained completely in an incremental image, is contained in the base image, or is contained in both). In another embodiment, the map may also contain the location of the change or the location of the file within the sequentially stored images upon the backup media. |
| US08676804B1 |
Managing information about entities using observations generated from user modified values
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for managing entities using observations. In one aspect, a method includes receiving data identifying an entity; generating a user interface document that, when rendered by a user device, presents a plurality of attribute values to a user and allows the user to modify one or more of the plurality of attribute values; and storing an observation in a data store, the observation including a user-modified value of one of the plurality of attribute values and a context including one or more of the presented attribute values. |
| US08676803B1 |
Clustering images
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for clustering images. In one aspect a system includes one or more computers configured to, for each of a plurality of digital images, associate extrinsic image-related information with each individual image, the extrinsic image-related information including text information and co-click data for the individual image, assign images from the plurality of images to one or more of the clusters of images based on the extrinsic information associated with each of the plurality of images, receive in the search system a user query from a user device, identify by operation of the search system one or more clusters of images that match the query, and provide one or more cluster results, where each cluster result provides information about an identified cluster. |
| US08676802B2 |
Method and system for information retrieval with clustering
Methods and systems that enable searching with clustering in information access systems are described. The methods of clustering operate on a collection of materials wherein each item in the collection may be associated with one or more properties. An original subset of materials is selected from the collection and relevant properties associated with the subset of materials are clustered into property clusters. Each property cluster generally contains properties that are more similar to each other than to properties in a different property cluster. The property clusters can be used to respond to the query. A mapping function can be used to identify a set of materials that correspond to each property cluster based on the associations between individual items and properties. The property clusters can also be used for iterative query refinement. |
| US08676799B1 |
Evaluating techniques for clustering geographic entities
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for evaluating clusters of geographic entities, for example, to be used in a randomized geographic experiment. One method includes using a clustering algorithm to cluster geographic entities into a set of clusters, and identifying whether each geographic entity is an ambiguously classified entity or a definitively classified entity. The method further includes determining a measurement for the set of clusters according to a quantification of an attribute of the definitively classified entities and the ambiguously classified entities. Similar measurements can be calculated for other sets of clusters, and the clusters can be compared according to their measurements. |
| US08676795B1 |
Dynamic visual representation of phrases
A plurality of phrases may be extracted from documents associated with one or more document sources. The plurality of phrases may be filtered and processed to determine a frequency in which the plurality of phrases appear in the documents and/or a number of the document sources in which each phrase appears. A weight may be assigned to each of the phrases and, based at least in part on the assigned weight, a visual representation of the plurality of phrases may be presented. The visual representation may be dynamically updated based at least in part on an updated frequency or an updated total number of document sources associated with any one of the plurality of phrases. |
| US08676794B2 |
Method and system for online searching of physical objects
Online searching related to a physical object by a user making use of a computing device is accomplished by creating a representation of the object at the user's computing device. A software button originating remote from the user's computing device is provided to the user's computing device, and the button is constructed based upon the representation of the object. The software button is associated with a second device in use by a subscriber associated with the object, the button and it is actuable by the user. Upon actuation of the software button by the user, an executable agent is downloaded to his computing device, effective to establish a connection between the user's computing device and the second device. |
| US08676793B2 |
Systems and methods of building and using custom word lists
Standard word lists that are often used for such operations as predictive text, spell checking, and word completion are based on general linguistic data that might not accurately reflect actual text usage patterns of particular users. Systems and methods of building and using a custom word list for use in text operations on an electronic device are provided. A collection of text items associated with a user of the electronic device is scanned to identify words in the text items. A weighting is then assigned to each identified word, and the words and corresponding weightings are stored. |
| US08676790B1 |
Methods and systems for improving search rankings using advertising data
Systems and methods for improving search rankings using advertising data are disclosed. In one embodiment, a search engine implements a method comprising receiving a search query, identifying a plurality of articles relevant the search query, determining advertising data associated with the search query, and ranking the articles based at least in part on the advertising data. |
| US08676789B2 |
Systems and methods to sort information related to entities having different locations
Systems and methods sort location dependent information based on selecting multiple groups of information according to location, ordering the groups based on location, and ordering the information within the groups based on at least one or more other criteria. The size(s) of the areas used to select the groups may be predetermined, or dynamically determined (e.g., based on clustering of information along distance to a location of interest). |
| US08676788B2 |
Structured large object (LOB) data
Provided are techniques for processing structured content within Large Object (LOB) data that is stored in a column of a database table. Structural metadata describing structures that each define a different format of the structured content is stored. A request for data in the database table is received. The structural metadata is used to create an empty result set with columns defined by at least two of the structures. For each row of data in the database table that includes LOB data, control data is used to identify one of the structures to be applied to the structured content within the LOB data stored in that row of data, and the structured content within the LOB data in that row of data is mapped to the columns in the result set based on the identified one of the structures. The result set is returned. |
| US08676785B2 |
Translator of statistical language programs into SQL
System and method for translating statements and expressions within statistical language programs into SQL. These statements include one or more input statements and have a plurality of data rows. These statements include one or more array statements, the array statements having a set of original variables. The method for translating statements and expressions within statistical language programs into SQL includes the step of defining a select statement including a subset of the original variables. The expressions include one or more assignment expressions, the assignment expressions including a set of original variables and a set of new variables affected by the assignment expressions. |
| US08676784B2 |
Relevant individual searching using managed property and ranking features
Embodiments are configured to provide information relevant to individuals of interest to a searching user. In an embodiment, a method includes identifying relevant individuals of a network using a relevance model that includes the use of a number of managed properties and ranking features to identify relevant individuals of a defined network. The relevance model of one embodiment is defined by a schema that includes a textual matching ranking feature, social distance ranking feature, a levels to top ranking feature, and a proximity ranking feature. |
| US08676779B2 |
Efficient storage and search of word lists and other text
A computer readable storage medium tangibly embodying machine-readable digital data arranged to facilitate expedited searching. The data includes a plurality of words residing in a table having rows and columns, each word residing in a different row and each letter of the word occupying a different column in that row. Each continuous run of same letters in a column forms an interval. The words are positioned relative to each other to maximize lengths of the intervals, and/or optimize efficiency of compression of the columns by run length encoding. |
| US08676778B2 |
Method and apparatus for electronically publishing information on a computer network
Methods and apparatus for electronically publishing information on a computer network are disclosed. A computer connected to a computer network is provided to host a database. The computer is configured receive a request from a user to electronically publish information on the computer network. The computer then may accept and store input from the user in a database. The computer may then electronically publish the user input by making information stored in the database freely accessible on the computer network. |
| US08676768B1 |
Collaborative modeling environment
A system may receive a model, extract information from the model, form a group of tags using the extracted information, and associate the group of tags with the model. The system may further receive a search query including one or more sequences of characters and determine whether to provide the model in a list of models created for the search query, based on the one or more sequences of characters and the group of tags. |
| US08676767B2 |
Real time XML data update identification
A data file comprising a plurality of blocks of data may have two or more versions. The meaning of the data file is insensitive to the ordering of the blocks of data within the data file. Updates to the data file may be identified by providing each of said plurality of blocks of data with a first checksum and each of said versions of the data file with a second checksum of the said version of the data file as a whole. The second checksum of the first version of the data file is compared with the second checksum of the second version of the data file. If the comparison indicates that the second checksums of the first and second versions of the data file differ, then the first checksums of each of said plurality of blocks of data of the first and second versions of the data file are compared and an indication is provided of which of the plurality of blocks of data differs between the first and second versions of the data file. |
| US08676766B2 |
Computer-readable recording medium storing cluster system control program, cluster system, and cluster system control method
A computer-readable recording medium stores a cluster system control program controlling a cluster system in which clustered nodes are connected to a shared disk having a journaling file system. The cluster system control program causes a computer to execute a request reply information generation procedure for, when a request is accepted from a client, generating request reply information including an identification number identifying the request and reply data to respond to the request from the client, and a saving procedure for saving the request reply information generated by the request reply information generation procedure in the journaling file system. |
| US08676765B2 |
Database archiving performance benefit determination
A database archiving performance benefit determination system may include a data reduction module to ascertain a reduction value of data stored on a database, and a database setup module to ascertain a setup of the database. A performance modeling module may calculate a performance increase for a database application using the database based on the reduction value, the setup of the database, and at least one parameter representing the database application. |
| US08676763B2 |
Remote data protection in a networked storage computing environment
A method, system, and program product are provided for protecting and restoring data within a networked (e.g. cloud) storage computing environment through asynchronous replication and remote backup of data and its associated metadata. Data backup and recovery functionality provides data backups by detecting incremental updates to the data and its associated metadata at specific points in time determined by policies. The policies are configurable based on user requirements. Multiple copies of the data backups can be made and stored in separate compressed files at backup/disaster recovery locations. The backups of data and its associated metadata, which includes file system configuration information can be used to restore the state of a computer file system to that of a given point-in-time. Accordingly, a data protection approach is disclosed for protecting data at both the file system level and application level. |
| US08676762B2 |
Efficient backup and restore of a cluster aware virtual input/output server (VIOS) within a VIOS cluster
In a Virtual Input/Output (I/O) Server (VIOS) partition within a data processing system that comprises cluster-aware VIOSes, the system provides the functions of: performing, via a backup/restore utility of a cluster aware (CA) operating system (OS) executing on a processor resource of the first VIOS partition, a backup operation on the first VIOS partition, which creates a first configuration backup file having configuration information about the hardware, logical and virtual devices of the VIOS partition; storing the configuration backup file within local storage; and responsive to receipt of a VIOS restore command: retrieving the configuration backup file from the local storage; and restoring the configuration of the hardware, logical and virtual devices of the first VIOS to a state that existed at a time at which the backup operation creating the configuration backup file was performed. |
| US08676758B2 |
Extending configuration management databases using generic datatypes
A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer program product for allowing users with minimal database skills to produce efficient, extended configuration management databases. Input is received from a user to extend a configuration management database, wherein the input includes a generic data type. The generic data type is mapped to a database data type of the configuration management database. An SQL statement is then generated to create the database data type in the configuration management database. Responsive to a successful execution of the SQL statement, the tables in the configuration management database are updated with the database data type to reduce a number of tables created for the database data type. |
| US08676755B2 |
Contact entry population from call entity information
Populating a contact entry with selected entity information based on an identifier associated with a call (e.g., a telephone call, VoIP call, text message, electronic mail message, or any other communication). As the call is detected, entity information for the identifier (e.g., a telephone number, VoIP address, MAC address, etc.) is generated. The entity information is filtered based on a category of the entity information, user preferences, location of a computing device (e.g., mobile telephone) of the user, or other filtering criteria. The filtered entity information is associated with the contact entry for the identifier, thereby enhancing the contact entry while reducing typing on the computing device. In some embodiments, additional information such as advertisements for a competitor of the entity are provided to the user. |
| US08676754B2 |
Method and apparatus for data disaster tolerance preprocessing, and service control point
The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus for data disaster tolerance preprocessing and a Service Control Point (SCP), the method and the apparatus are used in each SCP of a plurality of SCPs with databases, the method comprises: setting a first database in a first SCP, wherein the first database is used to perform disaster tolerance backup for a second database in a second SCP. Through the present invention, the cost of the construction of the system is reduced, and the stability and feasibility of a disaster tolerance system are enhanced. |
| US08676751B2 |
High availability database systems and methods
Described are systems and methods for communicating between a primary database and a standby database of a high availability data recovery (HADR) system. A plurality of primary partitions in a primary database and a plurality of standby partitions in a standby database are configured to communicate with each other. A transition of the plurality of primary partitions from a first HADR state to a second HADR state is synchronized. |
| US08676749B2 |
Statement logging in databases
System, method, computer program product embodiments and combinations and sub-combinations thereof for logging of data manipulation language (DML) statements are described herein. An embodiment includes a database engine, a replication agent and a replication server which replicates data from the database engine to one or more replicate databases. The database engine writes parsed query information into a transaction log so that a process of replication agent may read the parsed query information and forward it to the replication server. The database engine writes all log records associated with a statement in a manner that allows the replication server to distinguish if those log records belong to same statement. In another embodiment, replication agent selectively sends SQL statement information to the replication server based on the replication server architecture. |
| US08676746B2 |
Database management system risk assessment
A method of evaluating an implementation of a DBMS is provided. The method comprises collecting data associated with the implementation of the DBMS and accessing a database comprising problems and their associated solutions, wherein the solutions are configured to remedy at least one of the problems. The method further comprises comparing the data associated with the implementation of the DBMS with the problems and identifying at least one problem associated with the DBMS. Finally, a DBMS risk assessment report is generated that identifies the problem associated with the DBMS and a solution configured to remedy the problem. |
| US08676740B2 |
Attribute estimation system, age estimation system, gender estimation system, age and gender estimation system and attribute estimation method
An attribute estimation system and a method in which there are no cases that the estimation accuracy declines in a specific numerical value area, and an age estimation system, a gender estimation system and an age and gender estimation system using this is provided.It is a system to estimate an age of a person photographed in an input image, the system including: a classifier 3 that estimates the age of a person as a discrete quantity based on data of an input image; a classifier 4 that estimates the age of a person as a continuous quantity based on data of an input image; and an integration unit 7 that integrates an estimated result of the classifier 3 and an estimated result of the classifier 4. |
| US08676738B2 |
Relationship detector, relationship detection method, and recording medium
For a group of elements defined with a first relationship between elements stored in a first data memory unit and a second relationship therebetween different from the first relationship stored in a second data memory unit, a relationship detector includes a first distance calculating unit that calculates a predetermined first distance between the two elements belonging to the group in the first relationship, a second distance calculating unit that calculates a predetermined second distance between the two elements belonging to the group in the second relationship, and an unpredictability calculating unit that calculates a dissociation level between the first distance and the second distance between the two elements belonging to the group through a predetermined rule. |
| US08676735B1 |
System and method to facilitate and document user thinking about an arbitrary problem with collaboration system
Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems and methods for facilitating of formal and informal collaborative or cooperative groups, teams or multiple individuals according to exemplary or preferred approaches for problem solving and conducting inquiry based projects. Preferred embodiments use exemplary archetype processes or archetype structures for problem solving or thinking about a problem or inquiry based project. |
| US08676730B2 |
Sentiment classifiers based on feature extraction
Method and apparatus are provided for providing one or more sentiment classifiers from training data using supervised classification techniques based on features extracted from the training data. Training data includes a plurality of units such as, but not limited to, documents, paragraphs, sentences, and clauses. A feature extraction component extracts a plurality of features from the training data, and a feature value determination component determines a value for each extracted feature based on a frequency at which each feature occurs in the training data. On the other hand, a class labeling component labels each unit of the training data according to a plurality of sentiment classes to provide labeled training data. Thereafter, a sentiment classifier generation component provides a least one sentiment classifier based on the value of each extracted feature and the labeled training data using a supervised classification technique. |
| US08676724B2 |
Training with complex event processing engine to identify semantic meaning of virtual world object state changes
Techniques for training a system to identify state changes in objects in virtual worlds. Base events transmitted by a virtual world engine are observed. Statistical analysis of the observed base events is performed. Based at least in part on this statistical analysis, a computer processor determines that a group of one or more of the observed base events is correlated to a first identified higher-level event. Optionally, the determination is based in part on a frequency of occurrence of the group of base events, on generated rules, or both. A candidate higher-level event including the group of base events thus determined is stored. User input is received about the candidate higher-level event. If so specified by the received user input, the candidate higher-level event is stored as a second identified higher-level event. As a result, the system is advantageously trained to identify higher-level events which represent abstract situations. |
| US08676723B2 |
Automated test system based on three-dimensional application software framework and a method thereof
A three-dimensional application program framework structure; a method for implementing an application program based on the same; and an automatic testing system based on a three-dimensional application software framework and a method therefor. The three-dimensional application program framework structure provides a framework comprising functions and management of the environment of the system and events to be implemented by the user (developer), and the developer can easily expand the graphic user interface (GUI) and an actual modeling function as required, and user model. In addition, by using an automatic test system based on the framework, it is possible to record the function-execution history of the user and to automatically generate a test case, and to thereby test the functioning of the application software through the use of the test case regardless of changes in the source code and the GUI. |
| US08676720B1 |
Collaborative method for managing electronic catalogs
The present invention allows multiple parties to collaborate on managing the content of an electronic catalog. In one embodiment, the invention can include receiving at a hub records from a first source, receiving at the hub updates of the records from a second source, and transferring the updated records to the first source. In another embodiment, the invention can include transferring to a hub records having information related to items in an electronic catalog and receiving updates of the records from the hub. |
| US08676718B2 |
Efficiently delivering and displaying a heated food product
Aspects for delivering and displaying warm food products are disclosed. In one aspect, a disclosed method includes determining a threshold delivery time for delivering such products after production, and ascertaining a peak period corresponding to a sale of those products at a delivery location. The method further includes loading the warm food products onto a heat-insulated container at a production source, and scheduling a delivery of those products in the heat-insulated container. A heat-insulated display case is also provided, which includes a housing compartment coupled to a display door that includes a window. Here, a seal between the display door and the housing compartment in a closed position is configured to maintain an optimal ambient temperature range within the housing compartment. In a further aspect, another disclosed method includes receiving warm food products from a production source, and loading those products onto a heat-insulated display case. |
| US08676717B2 |
Psychometric analysis tool for predicting the renege rate
Embodiments of the present invention provide a renege reducing hiring method. Other embodiments of the present invention provide a renege factor evaluation method. Other embodiments of the present invention provide an organizational renege reduction method. Other embodiments of the present invention provide a candidate renege prediction method in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. An still other embodiments of the present invention provide a psychometric analysis tool for predicting the renege rate. |
| US08676715B2 |
System and method for authenticating indicia using identity-based signature scheme
Methods and systems for verification of indicia that do not require key management systems, and in which revocation of key pairs is easily performed without adding costs to the verification process are provided. Indicia are generated and authenticated utilizing an identity-based encryption (IBE) scheme. A key generating authority generates a private key for a PSD, distributes the private key securely to the PSD, and provides public information for use by a verification service when verifying cryptographic digital signatures generated with the private key. The corresponding public key is a string consisting of PSD information that is provided as part of the indicium. The verification service can verify the signature of each indicium by obtaining the public key string from the indicium, and utilizing the key generating authority's public information. |
| US08676713B2 |
Dynamic constraints for content rights
A device for playing digital media comprises a connection for receiving content over a network and a digital rights management (“DRM”) module that identifies rights for the received content by accessing a DRM data structure. The DRM data structure can be a temporal cache. The device receives content and the DRM module identifies identifiers associated with the content and/or the device. The DRM module uses the identifiers to access the DRM data structure and identify rights associated with the content. The identified rights are applied to the content to prevent and/or permit activities with respect to the content. Permitted activities for the content may be presented in a display of the device and can be updated as the content changes and/or as rights associated with content change. Content providers and other authorized entities can change the rights associated with particular content by updating the DRM data structure. |
| US08676711B2 |
Payment method and apparatus for use in digital distribution system
A method to distribute and monetize media content by associating media content with a cost stored in associated media information within a media package. The user can elect to pay all of the cost, a portion of the cost, or none of the cost. When the user does not pay all of the cost, informative messages paid for by sponsors can be presented as part of the presentation of media content. |
| US08676705B1 |
Communication device
The communication device comprising a voice communicating implementer, an incoming communication ID implementer, a payment monetary value data transmitting implementer, a remaining monetary value data updating implementer, an automated supplementary monetary value data adding implementer, and a simultaneous implementation implementer. |
| US08676693B2 |
System and method for risk management using average expiration times
A margin requirement is computed while trading. The margin requirement may be calculated while trading because the preferred system takes into account working orders to generate the margin requirement. The on the fly possibility allows the preferred system to provide pre-trade risk calculations, but can also be used to provide post-trade calculations. A generic spread number and the maximum number of outright positions are determined. Average expirations for the generic spread are computed. Using the spread positions, the average expirations and the maximum number of outright positions, a spread margin and an outright margin are calculated, which when summed provide a total margin requirement. Limits based in part on the total margin requirement may be imposed on one or more traders. |
| US08676688B2 |
Methods and systems for providing preferred income equity replacement securities
In one aspect, the invention comprises a method comprising issuing perpetual preferred securities that provide non-cumulative dividends with a fixed liquidation preference; wherein valuation of the securities upon redemption or conversion is based on market value of a specified number of common shares, and wherein the securities are operable to receive treasury stock method accounting. In various embodiments: (1) the securities receive C or D Basket treatment from Moody's; (2) the securities receive treasury stock method accounting because, upon conversion or redemption, common shares are issued only with respect to the valuation of the securities in excess of the fixed liquidation preference; and (3) upon conversion or redemption the number of common shares is equal to (A×B−C)/B, where A=a conversion rate, B=price per share of the common shares, and C=the fixed liquidation preference. |
| US08676686B2 |
Program for alternative funding of employee and retiree benefits
An investment program for funding benefits by maintaining assets in the investment program that includes an employer owned trust account and at least one life, disability, health or annuity contract (including a terminal annuity) obtained directly or indirectly from a partially or wholly owned or non-owned captive insurance company. The insurance contract is purchased with assets from the trust account and the partially or wholly owned or non-owned captive insurance company is a least partially, wholly or non-owned by the employer. When paying or reimbursing benefits, the employer or the trust may pay the benefit and if the employer pays the benefit, the trust may reimburse the employer. |
| US08676685B2 |
Method and apparatus for facilitating monetary and reward transactions and accounting in a gaming environment
Financial and player tracking/reward transactions are facilitated by a system including at least one server and a plurality of gaming machines. The server has a memory containing data files corresponding to players that contain information such as credits or monies in an account belonging to the player. The data files also contain player tracking information, such as points awarded to a player based upon their game play. Players are issued media in the form of player cards having identification information thereon that may be used to access the player's account or files. A player and a casino may manage the player's accounts, such as by placing criteria upon the account, including the use of associated credits. A player may play a game using credits associated with their account. A player may also manage their accounts, including viewing financial and game play or reward information and transfer funds into and out of an account. |
| US08676683B1 |
Business transaction facilitation system
Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to methods, systems and computer program products for facilitating a business relationship between a customer and at least one provider. The methods, systems and computer program products allow for a system for conducting business transactions and/or facilitating business relationships wholly electronically via an e-vault system. The e-vault system provides at least one interface for one or more client systems to upload data to and from an storage system via a network. |
| US08676681B2 |
Methods and apparatus for using assignable fee profiles to define fee structures for remittance services
A method includes storing a plurality of service fee profiles. Each of the profiles is for associating a respective service fee level with each of a plurality of transaction amount tiers. The method further includes, after the storing step, selecting a pair of currencies. The pair of currencies includes a sender currency and a recipient currency. The method also includes assigning one of the stored service fee profiles to the selected pair of currencies to set up a service fee schedule for the selected pair of currencies. |
| US08676675B2 |
Tax transaction system
A tax transaction system, and combined sale and tax transaction systems, are disclosed for use in electronic commerce for the deduction of a tax, which may be a sales tax, value-added tax, or any tax on income related to a transaction or taxing event. A trusted third party server system (300, 1060) may be provided which handles the calculation and/or deduction of a tax, e.g. related to a transaction of the sale of a good or service from a seller (200) to a buyer (100), on behalf of the seller, and which further provides for the remission of the tax to a tax collection agency (500, 1090), and which may perform the entire sale and tax transaction by proxy on behalf of the seller. Software modules (1070) including objects which embody instruction code and data structures to enable integral tax calculation and collection solutions, including multi jurisdictional tax calculation, remission and reporting, and even real time tax collection at point of sale, are provided. Such modules may form part of a data processing system hosted by a third party to a taxing event transaction, or be distributed in a pervasive manner, such as via the Internet in multiple server locations, as a downloadable client module, embodied in multiple hardware devices such as smartcards, electronic tags, radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. |
| US08676672B2 |
Systems and methods for electronic delivery of stored value
Systems and methods for electronic delivery of stored value are provided. An example method includes receiving a set of identifiers corresponding to a merchant's stored value tracking system, receiving a request for an electronic value card, associating an identifier from the set of identifiers with the electronic value card, synchronizing the merchant's stored value tracking system with the issued electronic value card, and delivering the electronic value card to a customer. An example system includes a merchant stored value tracking system having a set of unique identifiers, a network communicatively linked with a merchant stored value tracking system; and a value card manager communicatively linked with the network. The value card manager may be configured to receive a request for an electronic value card, synchronize the electronic value card with the merchant stored value tracking system using the unique identifiers, and deliver the electronic value card to a customer for use in the merchant stored value tracking system. |
| US08676666B2 |
System for assessing environmental impact of processing print jobs
A system for assessing environmental impact of processing print jobs includes a processor and a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium is in communication with the processor and comprises one or more programming instructions for: electronically receiving a campaign specification data structure including at least one job specification; and operatively selecting a plurality of vendors from a database. Each of the selected vendors is capable of performing a job as operatively specified by the at least one job specification of the campaign specification data structure. The computer-readable storage medium is in communication with the processor and also includes one or more programming instructions for generating a plurality of environmental impact assessments corresponding to the campaign specification data structure. Each of the plurality of environmental impact assessments is operatively associated with one of the selected capable vendors. |
| US08676660B2 |
System and method for providing a streamlined checkout process
Once a purchaser has proceeded through a check out experience with an online retail system, the settings established during that checkout experience will be applied to future checkout experiences by that purchaser. By capturing and thereafter using checkout settings in this manner, a purchaser can proceed from a shopping cart directly to a checkout review page with the checkout review page being pre-populated with such prior established settings. Furthermore, the methodology allows the purchaser to have a virtually unlimited number of goods in their shopping cart and to have multiple different types of order fulfillment options (e.g., shipping, store pickup, delivery to an organization, etc.) automatically established for those goods. |
| US08676657B2 |
Automated service and support notices using electronic shopping lists
A method and system of updating an electronic shopping list (ESL) indicating items that may be purchased in response to detecting, by a wireless device having access to the ESL, a service request event corresponding to an asset. Upon detection of the service request event, a service request item may be inserted into the ESL. The asset may be queried from time to time to verify operation of the asset. The items listed in the ESL may be ordered according to a date the service request event was detected. |
| US08676656B2 |
Method for product demonstration
A method of demonstrating a household appliance by executing a demonstration software to cause demonstration of at least one component of the appliance and to display related information on a user interface of the appliance by a multimedia program. |
| US08676650B1 |
Allocating and pricing geo-located advertisements for display on maps
In one embodiment, a map server provides online maps with advertisements corresponding to map features included in the online maps. The map server holds an auction to determine which advertisers can display their associated advertisements in an online map. In one embodiment, the map server selects which advertisers with collocated advertisements in the online map can display their advertisements and calculates a price paid by the selected advertisers for the display of the advertisements. |
| US08676647B2 |
Response attribution valuation
A computer-implemented method is described for determining a response attribution value that represents a credit assignment to a communication, for an associated response received from a recipient during a marketing campaign. |
| US08676645B2 |
Identification of users for advertising using data with missing values
A method and system for identifying users for advertising. Users, attributes, and first web sites provided by ISPs accessed by the users are identified. First data including content of the first web sites and user time spent thereon are received from ISPs and analyzed to determine first attribute values indicative of user interest. Second data received from ISPs include content of second web sites and user time spent thereon. Second attribute values, derived from questionnaires completed by the users, indicate interest in each attribute by each user. Third attribute values are determined by combining the first and second attribute values. The third attribute values are processed to identify users to which a product or service may be advertised. The identified users are communicated to a service provider or product provider. The first, second, or third attribute values may have missing values, which are determined by correlation and linear regression. |
| US08676642B1 |
System and method for granting promotional rewards to financial account holders
A system and method for offering rewards. The method comprising the steps of: receiving a plurality transaction occurrences from a plurality of merchants relating to at least one account; ordering the plurality of transaction occurrences based on an ordering scheme; selecting a winning transaction from the plurality of transaction occurrences based on a reward selection scheme; and rewarding at least one reward to a user associated with the winning transaction. |
| US08676640B2 |
Method for managing contests
A service to manage sweepstakes, games, contests, loyalty programs and scavenger hunts is disclosed. The user of an end user device moves to different locations and sends back information regarding the user's location to the service. The service can be updated/adjusted real time to automatically track users, points, entries, location, and multiple step scavenger hunts. The service may send the user to different locations where the user can obtain prizes. Companies can engage with their customers in new ways by leveraging and modifying mobile technology. In one implementation locations, address book, on device animations, randomized unique ID generated by a device during the contest can be modified in real time during operation of the service. |
| US08676636B2 |
System for managing electric energy grid-vehicle exchange devices
A system for managing electric energy exchange devices is disclosed. The system comprises a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to receive a set of predefined parameters for electric energy exchange a vehicle using an electric energy exchange device for a time increment. The processor is further configured to receive a set of transaction specific parameters. The processor is configured to determine a price for electric energy exchange based at least in part on the set of predefined parameters and the set of transaction specific parameters. The memory is coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions. |
| US08676634B2 |
Statistical credibility metric for online question answerers
Techniques for statistically estimating a rating or other “figure of merit” for a user are disclosed. According to one such technique, a first quantity of submissions that were submitted by a user is determined. A second quantity of submissions that (a) were submitted by the user and (b) obtained a particular rating from a rating mechanism also is determined. A user rating for the user is determined based at least in part on the first quantity, the second quantity, and a factor that is independent of both the first quantity and the second quantity—such as the probability that an answer submitted by any answerer in a population will obtain the particular rating from the rating mechanism. The influence that the second quantity has on the user rating relative to the influence that the factor has on the user rating may depend at least in part on the first quantity. |
| US08676633B2 |
Office document assessment method and system
A method and system for the assessment of the office document production environment(s) in a facility, and more particularly to a client-based method and system that can be used to collect, analyze, model, optimize, and report on document output costs and efficiencies in an office environment. |
| US08676630B2 |
Systems and methods for selectively updating forecast data
A characteristic forecasting system is disclosed. The characteristic forecasting system may have a memory module and a processor. The memory module may store instructions, that, when executed, enable the processor to generate forecast data for a target item based on historical data related to the target item, the forecast data representing a forecast for characteristics of the target item. The processor may also be enabled to analyze a subset of the historical data within an observation window to determine whether the forecast data should be updated with new forecast data and generate the new forecast data for the target item responsive to a determination that the forecast data should be updated with the new forecast data. |
| US08676626B1 |
Event notification and organization utilizing a communication network
A user of a telecommunications or other computing device may notify his or her contacts of an event of interest, which event may be modified by the user's contacts without requiring the permission of the originating user to do so. In this regard, an event organizing service receives an event notification request from a user of a telecommunications device (e.g., a mobile telephone), automatically identifies the user's contacts to whom the event notification is to be published, and publishes the event notification to the automatically identified contacts. A contact who receives the event notification may update the event, e.g., by modifying data describing the event, without the permission of the originating user. Accordingly, a contact who has received the event notification may modify the event (e.g., change the date/time, change the location, etc.) and the event organizing service may publish a notification for the updated event to the originating user and his or her contacts informing them of the modification. It will be appreciated that as updates to the event are made by the user's contacts (and in some cases the user herself), the event is ultimately organized by the user's social network or community without requiring the user to organize the details of or manage the event herself. |
| US08676625B2 |
Customer terminal for conducting a video conference between the customer terminal and an operator terminal and in which an estimated wait time is determined based on operator skill and an average dealing time
A reception management system for handling transactions includes a plurality of ACMs (Automated Contract/Consulting Terminals) for receiving procedure requests for predetermined transactions from customers, a plurality of ROTs (Remote Operation Terminals) to be employed by an operator for handling the procedure requests, a server for storing information for managing the operators for each transaction skill, and information about queues formed for each transaction skill upon a procedure request accepted from an ACM, and a queue monitoring terminal for monitoring the queues by receiving information from the SACD server. |
| US08676624B2 |
Conveying requests to service persons using avatars acting as proxies
A method may include defining an avatar as information related to at least one of communication, skills, responsibilities, experience, physical location, availability, workload, or history of work success. The avatar may be registered in an enterprise and interaction with a service may occur based on the information defining the avatar. |
| US08676623B2 |
Building directory aided navigation
A navigation system utilizes building directories to aid navigation. A mobile device, such as a mobile phone, captures an image of a building directory. The building directory includes information regarding the names and/or locations of tenants. An image recognition algorithm is performed on the captured image to extract information from the building directory. The extracted information is used to access a map database. The mobile device may display directions or a map to guide the user to a selected destination. In addition, the captured image may be used to build the map database or update the map database. Finally, the captured image may be matched with stored images of the building directory to determine the current location of the mobile device. |
| US08676622B1 |
Job resource planner for cloud computing environments
Methods and apparatus for a job resource planner for cloud computing environments are disclosed. A system includes a plurality of resource instances of a provider network, and a resource planner. The planner receives a plan request from a client, comprising a job goal and an indication of a resource acquisition policy to be used to obtain resource instances for the job. The policy specifies one or more instance data sources. The planner generates a resource acquisition plan for the job, based at least in part on an analysis of pricing data obtained from a specified data source. The analysis comprises one or more computation steps indicated in the policy. The generated plan includes at least one recommended acquisition price for a resource instance. |
| US08676618B2 |
Systems and methods for automatic detection and processing of instances of business rules
A method for processing instances of business rules, includes providing a business rule, parsing the business rule to extract entities used as rule parts, creating a hierarchical entity buffer indicating the entities used as the rule parts and identifying instances of each of the entities and real data corresponding to each of the identified instances of the entities and creating a step result table indicating instances of the business rule and information identifying the real data in the hierarchical entity buffer used by each of the instances of the business rule. |
| US08676617B2 |
Architectural design for self-service procurement application software
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing self-service procurement used to procure goods and services “ad hoc” by requests from within an organization. The application is structured as multiple process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, and multiple service interface operations, each being implemented for a respective process component. The process components include an Accounting process component, an Internal Request Processing process component, a Purchase Request Processing process component, a Purchase Order Processing process component, a Goods and Service Acknowledgement process component, a Supplier Invoice Processing process component, a Payment Processing process component, an RFQ Processing process component, and a Due Item Processing process component. |
| US08676616B2 |
Transaction tracking, managing, assessment, and auditing data processing system and network
An improved processing system for tracking commerce on the Internet provides for subvariable processing and includes web page scanning to discern fraud or improper content to insure proper promotion of select products within the network environment. |
| US08676614B2 |
Automated airlines reservations system
Disclosed is an automated reservations system for use with a frequent flyer account or other similar awards account. The automated reservations system initially authenticates customers utilizing one or more forms of identification. The customer is then prompted to provide travel itinerary information to the reservations system by a series of voice prompt menus. Utilizing the customer-entered itinerary information, the automated reservations system queries a flight information database to determine if the requested itinerary is available. The automated reservations system then determines if the customer has the required amount of frequent flyer miles to book the requested itinerary. If the customer has the required amount of frequent flyer miles, the automated reservations system allows the customer to either ticket or hold the requested itinerary. The automated reservations system is also capable of assigning seats for each passenger in the customer's itinerary. |
| US08676611B2 |
System and methods for fraud detection/prevention for a benefits program
Systems and methods of the present invention detect and/or deter individuals who may be collecting or intending to collect unemployment insurance (UI) benefits and simultaneously receive pay from an employer. Embodiments identify, during either initial screening of a UI applicant or on an ongoing basis for current recipients, those individuals who would seek to defraud UI programs by receiving improper payments. Methods include locating account information in databases from one or more (preferably, a plurality) of financial service organizations pertaining to deposit (or other) accounts for an individual applying for benefits, analyzing deposit transactions into those accounts, determining whether the individual is likely to be receiving deposits from employment or wages, and providing information to an entity such as a government agency regarding likely employment deposits for the individual. |
| US08676610B2 |
Insurance product, rating system and method
In the present invention, an insurance product, rating system and method generally relates to a rating and pricing system for quantifying the risk that the annual savings will not fall below specified levels associated with implementing and maintaining economic improvements. The product, system and method can be applied to various industries, including, power generation, petro-chemical, manufacturing and refining facilities. Various embodiments disclosed herein relate to systems and products for providing a computer implemented insurance product. |
| US08676608B2 |
Genetic data analysis and database tools
A computerized tool and method for delivery of pharmacogenetic and pharmacological information, comprising a core system having algorithms and databases for storing, collating, accessing, cross-referencing, and interpreting genetic and pharmacologic data, with a graphical user interface for a client network of providers of laboratory genetic testing services to access the core services under contract. The system includes “paypoints” in support of improved business models. Included are mechanisms for ‘pass through’ third party and insurance reimbursement for interpretive reports, insurance reimbursement for on-line access to pharmacogenetic information at the point of care, tools for market segmentation, and a conversion tool for capturing new subscribers. Also disclosed are tools and predictive algorithms for preventing drug-drug and drug-gene adverse drug reactions. |
| US08676604B2 |
Method and apparatus for medication prescription consultation
A method and apparatus of providing a pharmaceutical consultation prevents a person from receiving a medication prescription if consultation is required, and enables a user to readily view the medication prescription information and convey information to the person. Methods and apparatus of providing a pharmaceutical consultation are provided herein. The methods and apparatus include receiving medication prescription data relating to the medication prescription, and displaying a consultation review screen having a medication prescription view with information relating to the medication prescription and a discussion view with information to be conveyed to the person. The medication prescription data includes a consultation requirement for the medication prescription. A transaction for the medication prescription is prevented if consultation is required, and permitted when data is received indicating the consultation is completed. The methods and apparatus of pharmaceutical consultation also include remote consultation between a user and a person at different geographic locations. |
| US08676596B1 |
Stimulating reviews at a point of sale
A user is prompted to provide a review at a point of sale. Review data is received from the user. The review data is transmitted to a reputation platform configured to evaluate the received review data. If the review data indicates a positive review, a review request action is commenced. If the review data indicates a negative review, a remedial action is commenced. |
| US08676595B2 |
Manifest delivery system and method
There is provided a method and system of determining efficient routing of a mail piece in a delivery system for delivering mail pieces. The system determines whether or not the mail piece requires urgent delivery. The system determines a weight of the mail piece. Also, the system determines, based on the urgency determination and the weight determination, a most cost-effective place in which to introduce the mail piece into the delivery system. |
| US08676588B2 |
System for handling a plurality of streaming voice signals for determination of responsive action thereto
Streaming voice signals, such as might be received at a contact center or similar operation, are analyzed to detect the occurrence of one or more unprompted, predetermined utterances. The predetermined utterances preferably constitute a vocabulary of words and/or phrases having particular meaning within the context in which they are uttered. Detection of one or more of the predetermined utterances during a call causes a determination of response-determinative significance of the detected utterance(s). Based on the response-determinative significance of the detected utterance(s), a responsive action may be further determined. Additionally, long term storage of the call corresponding to the detected utterance may also be initiated. Conversely, calls in which no predetermined utterances are detected may be deleted from short term storage. In this manner, the present invention simplifies the storage requirements for contact centers and provides the opportunity to improve caller experiences by providing shorter reaction times to potentially problematic situations. |
| US08676585B1 |
Synchronizing the playing and displaying of digital content
The techniques disclosed herein allow a user to synchronize the playing and displaying of digital content on an electronic device. The device may render a first portion of digital content so it may be displayed. The device may also play a segment of the digital content as audio using text to speech software. The device may also render a second portion of digital content for display depending on whether the position of the last word read is greater than the last position in the first portion of digital content. |
| US08676584B2 |
Method for time scaling of a sequence of input signal values
The invention relates to a digital signal processing technique that changes the length of an audio signal and, thus, effectively its play-out speed. This is used for frame rate conversion or sound effects in music production. Time scaling may further be used for fast forward or slow-motion audio play-out.According said method the waveform similarity overlap add approach is modified such that a maximized similarity is determined among similarity measures of sub-sequence pairs each comprising a sub-sequence to-be-matched from a input window and a matching sub-sequence from a search window wherein said sub-sequence pairs comprise at least two sub-sequence pairs of which a first pair comprises a first sub-sequence to-be-matched and a second pair comprises a different second sub-sequence to-be-matched.The input window allows for finding sub-sequence pairs with higher similarity than with a WSOLA approach based on a single sub-sequence to-be-matched. This results in less perceivable artefacts. |
| US08676581B2 |
Speech recognition analysis via identification information
Embodiments are disclosed that relate to the use of identity information to help avoid the occurrence of false positive speech recognition events in a speech recognition system. One embodiment provides a method comprising receiving speech recognition data comprising a recognized speech segment, acoustic locational data related to a location of origin of the recognized speech segment as determined via signals from the microphone array, and confidence data comprising a recognition confidence value, and also receiving image data comprising visual locational information related to a location of each person in an image. The acoustic locational data is compared to the visual locational data to determine whether the recognized speech segment originated from a person in the field of view of the image sensor, and the confidence data is adjusted depending on this determination. |
| US08676572B2 |
Computer-implemented system and method for enhancing audio to individuals participating in a conversation
A computer-implemented system and method for enhancing audio to individuals participating in a conversation is provided. Audio data for individuals participating in one or more conversations is analyzed. Possible conversational configurations of the individuals are generated based on the audio data, and each possible conversational configuration includes one or more subconfigurations of at least two of the individuals. A probability weight is assigned to each of the subconfigurations and includes a likelihood that the individuals of that subconfiguration are participating in one of the conversations. A probability of each possible conversational configuration is determined by combining the probability weights for the subconfigurations of that possible conversational configuration. The possible conversational configuration with the highest probability is selected as a most probable configuration. The individuals participating in the conversations are determined based on the most probable configuration. Audio for each individual participating in the determined conversations is enhanced. |
| US08676571B2 |
Audio signal processing system and audio signal processing method
An audio signal processing system including a time-frequency conversion unit which converts an audio signal in time domain into frequency domain in frame units so as to calculate a frequency spectrum of the audio signal, a spectral change calculation unit which calculates an amount of change between a frequency spectrum of a first frame and a frequency spectrum of a second frame before the first frame based on the frequency spectrum of the first frame and the frequency spectrum of the second frame, and a judgment unit which judges the type of the noise which is included in the audio signal of the first frame in accordance with the amount of spectral change. |
| US08676570B2 |
Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to perform audio watermark decoding
Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to perform audio watermark decoding are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving an audio signal including an audience measurement code embedded therein using a first plurality of frequency components, sampling the audio signal, transforming the sampled audio signal into a first frequency domain representation, determining whether the code is detectable in the first plurality of frequency components of the first frequency domain representation, and when the code is not detected in the first plurality of frequency components, examining a second plurality of frequency components of a second frequency domain representation to determine whether the code is detected, the second plurality of frequency components being offset from the first plurality of frequency components by a first offset, the first offset corresponding to a sampling frequency mismatch. |
| US08676568B2 |
Information processing apparatus and message extraction method
A storage unit stores first filter information specifying the formats of messages and second filter information specifying weights for words or phrases. A first search unit selects messages matching the formats specified by the first filter information from a plurality of messages as messages to be extracted. A second search unit calculates the importance level of each message unselected by the first search unit, based on the words or phrases included in the message and the second filter information, and selects messages to be extracted, according to the calculated importance levels from the messages unselected by the first search unit. |
| US08676563B2 |
Providing human-generated and machine-generated trusted translations
Customers having a translation project to select a translation method from a variety of options, ranging from a completely human translation to a completely automated translation. For human translations, translation job information may be communicated through one or more network service modules which execute within a network service application, such as a web-based networking application. A network service module may register a user having an account with the network service application as a translator and communicate translation jobs to the user. One or more users who express interest in performing the translation are selected to perform a translation job, each job comprising at least a portion of the translation project. After a user provides a translation for the translation job, the translation is analyzed to generate a trust level prediction for the translation. A user translation profile may be updated after each translation to reflect the user's performance. |
| US08676556B2 |
Method for determining the properties of hydrocarbon reservoirs from geophysical data
A hydrocarbon exploration method is disclosed for developing a model of at least one effective material property of a subsurface reservoir as a function of the composition and structure of the reservoir rock. In one embodiment, the method comprises: obtaining a 3D image (102) of a rock sample characteristic of a reservoir of interest (101); segmenting the 3D image into compositional classes (103) based on similarities in mineralogy, structure and spatial distribution; selecting a model (105) that relates an effective material property of interest to the volume fractions of each compositional class; and determining the parameters of the model (106). The model may be used to assess the commercial potential of the subsurface reservoir (107). |
| US08676554B2 |
Simulation apparatus for motor-driven compressor system and the simulation method thereof
With a simulation apparatus for a system including a motor-driven compressor, a compressor that does not suffer from a driving torque shortage and surging, but can operate at low costs, can be provided.A simulation apparatus for a motor-driven compressor system includes a simulation section in which a driving motor, a compressor driven by the driving motor, a suction throttle valve controlling the inlet flow rate of the compressor, and an anti-surge valve interposed between pipes for returning a part of gas discharged from the compressor to the inlet side of the compressor are translated into unit models and stored. The simulation apparatus further includes an input section through which designed specification data of the compressor is input, a data setting section storing the designed specification data, and a display section displaying unsteady-state Q-H characteristics and required driving torque obtained through simulation by the simulation section. |
| US08676547B2 |
Parameter extraction method
It is an object to provide a parameter extraction method using a model equation having a physical meaning, in which parameters optimum for an element are extracted without setting appropriate initial values based on experience or deep understanding of models and actual device characteristics.A structure is provided in which multiple patterns of initial values of parameters are generated by a random number generator mechanism, and automatic parameter extraction is executed for each initial value to select a combination of parameters in which ultimate difference between a calculated value and a measured value is minimized thereby finding an optimal solution. |
| US08676546B2 |
Grading method utilizing flow grade solution
A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide the ability to create a flow-grade solution. In a computer application, a curve from which a slope is to be projected and an elevation field depth buffer, that provides a 2D array with one element for each coordinate, are defined. A slope angle for the slope is specified. As grading shapes are rendered, by sweeping a cone with the slope angle along the curve, a grid is used to capture, into the buffer, an elevation for each vertex of the grid. A flow grade solution represented by the field depth buffer is thus obtained. The flow grade solution includes a path of steepest slope (determined from the elevations stored in the buffer) from any given location in the grid. |
| US08676545B2 |
Methods and apparatus to determine air duct system configurations
Example methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to determine pliable air duct configurations are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves determining a first quantity of adjustable air outlet duct sections to configure an air delivery duct system when an operating mode identifier is received. The operating mode identifier is associated with an amount of air delivered by the air delivery duct system into targeted areas. The first quantity of adjustable air outlet duct sections is based on an airflow rate value and the operating mode identifier. The airflow rate value is indicative of airflow through an air delivery duct system. Each adjustable air outlet duct section includes at least one adjustable air outlet having at least one size-adjustable orifice. |
| US08676544B2 |
Method of predicting the aerodynamic behavior of an aircraft element
A method for predicting the aerodynamic performance of an aircraft element under predetermined conditions, the aircraft element having at least one break at least partially separating two parts that cannot or should not be modeled with a common envelope form, in which: a digital form representative of the form that the aircraft element assumes under the predetermined conditions studied and in which each break is represented, is created, for each break, a totally non-coincident boundary surface at the joining of the two parts is created, and a partial structured meshing around each part is generated, the two partial meshings made in this way being independent of one another, and digital aerodynamic simulation computations using this meshing are carried out with the aid of an aerodynamic computation code capable of processing a totally non-coincident join. |
| US08676541B2 |
Footwear having sensor system
A shoe has a sensor system operably connected to a communication port. Performance data is collected by the system and can be transferred for further use via the communication port. The shoe may contain an electronic module configured to gather data from the sensors. The module may also transmit the data to an external device for further processing. The collected data can be further processed for a variety of different uses or applications. |
| US08676540B1 |
Methods for automatic trigger threshold adjustment
Methods are presented for adjusting trigger threshold values to compensate for drift in the quiescent level of a signal monitored for initiating a data recording event, thereby avoiding false triggering conditions. Initial threshold values are periodically adjusted by re-measuring the quiescent signal level, and adjusting the threshold values by an offset computation based upon the measured quiescent signal level drift. Re-computation of the trigger threshold values can be implemented on time based or counter based criteria. Additionally, a qualification width counter can be utilized to implement a requirement that a trigger threshold criterion be met a given number of times prior to initiating a data recording event, further reducing the possibility of a false triggering situation. |
| US08676539B2 |
System and method for rapidly locating historical performance data
A method is described for providing performance metrics stored in an array of at least three-dimensions. The method includes receiving at least one metric criteria associated with a performance metric. The method also includes determining a list of array elements. The list represents a portion of the array including the at least one metric criteria. The method further includes sorting the list of array elements according to predetermined ordering criteria to identify a best match of the at least one metric criteria. A system and article of manufacture are also described for providing performance metrics stored in an array of at least three dimensions. |
| US08676530B2 |
System and method for variation testing for performance test
A performance testing framework enables multiple components working together to test a deployed application automatically in an unattended manner and to analyze the test results easily. At very high level, the performance testing framework can run performance tests on a tested system with one or more variations without user intervention and save the test results and configuration metadata to a database for later analysis. Each of the variations is composed of a set of logical dimensions and values associated with each of those dimensions to be tested. |
| US08676526B2 |
High speed frequency and phase estimation for flow meters
Meter electronics (20) for processing sensor signals in a flow meter and for computing mass flow rate, density or volume flow rate includes an interface (201) for receiving a first sensor signal and a second sensor signal and a processing system (203) in communication with the interface (201) and configured to generate a ninety degree phase shift from the first sensor signal with a Hilbert transform and compute a phase difference from the ninety degree phase shift, the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal. A frequency is computed from the first sensor signal and the ninety degree phase shift. A second ninety degree phase shift can be generated from the second sensor signal. |
| US08676523B2 |
Method of detecting the position, in a signal received by a detector, of a wavefront corresponding to an event
A method of detecting the position of a wavefront in a time-varying signal corresponding to an event is disclosed. According to one aspect, the method includes digitizing a signal received by a detector to produce a working signal, filtering the working signal N4 times with a band-pass filter to obtain N4 filtered working signals with different pass-bands, detecting a peak of the N4 filtered working signals to detect the position of a first wavefront as a function of time of occurrence. The N4 points are plotted such that an ordinate is one of the times of occurrence and an abscissa is the width of the associated band. An exponential asymptote that fits a maximum number of the N4 points is applied, and the position of the wavefront is determined as the ordinate of the point that has the maximum abscissa and substantially fits the exponential asymptote. |
| US08676520B2 |
Method and system for determining an amount of a liquid energy commodity in storage in an underground cavern
A method for determining an amount of a liquid energy commodity in storage in an underground cavern generally comprises the steps of: establishing a volume function for a brine pond associated with the underground cavern; acquiring an image of the brine pond; transmitting the acquired image to a central processing facility; analyzing the acquired image to calculate a depth of the brine in the brine pond; estimating the volume of the brine in the brine pond based on the calculated depth and using the volume function; determining the amount of the liquid energy commodity in storage in the underground cavern associated with the brine pond based on the estimated volume of the brine in the brine pond; and communicating information about the amount of the liquid energy commodity in storage to a third-party market participant. |
| US08676513B2 |
Method and device for early signal attenuation detection using blood glucose measurements
Methods and devices to detect analyte in body fluid are provided. Embodiments include receiving one or more analyte sensor data, receiving a reference measurement value associated with an analyte level, determining a sensitivity parameter based on the received one or more analyte sensor data and the reference measurement value, performing a probability analysis based on prior analyte sensor data to determine presence of signal attenuation, and generating an output value based on the probability analysis. |
| US08676511B2 |
Method and system for predicting liver fibrosis and related pathologies
Provided herein are methods of detecting and staging liver fibrosis in an individual with liver disease. Also provided are methods of detecting necroinflammatory activity. Invention methods utilize four serum markers, age, and gender to determine an end value. The end value is compared to a cut-off value, in order to identify significant fibrosis (METAVIR stages F2 to F4), or an absence of advanced fibrosis (stages F3 and F4) or cirrhosis (stage F4). In particular aspects, progression or treatment of liver fibrosis can be monitored by invention methods. The end value is also used to distinguish between no to mild necroinflammatory activity (METAVIR grade A0 to A1) and moderate to severe necroinflammatory activity (grade A2 to A3). |
| US08676510B2 |
Clinical-result confirming device, clinical-result confirming method, and computer program therefor
A pattern matching unit performs pattern matching on present data obtained this time in clinical examination of a part of a subject and previous data obtained last time in the clinical examination of the part with reference patterns. Reference patterns that are most closely approximate to the present data and the previous data are selected. A distance calculator calculates a distance between selected reference patterns. A determining unit determines whether a re-examination is necessary based on the distance. |
| US08676508B2 |
Method for determining a road profile of a lane located in front of a vehicle
A method for determining a road profile of a lane located in front of a vehicle via sensed image data (1) and/or sensed inherent vehicle movement data (2). An estimating device (3) is provided, to which the sensed image data (1) and/or the sensed inherent vehicle movement data (2) are supplied. A road elevation profile (P) of the lane located in front of the vehicle is determined via the sensed image data (1) and/or the sensed inherent vehicle movement data (2). |
| US08676507B2 |
Vehicle navigation system
A vehicle navigation system includes a map database storing map data. The map data has links representing road segments, road number icons, and additional road information icons. At least one of the links is associated with at least one of the road number icons and at least one of the additional road information icons. The vehicle navigation system may furthermore include a processing unit coupled to the map database and configured to control outputting of route guidance information via an output device. The outputting of route guidance information may include displaying a road number icon and an additional road information icon together with a link if the link is associated with the road number icon and the additional road information icon. |
| US08676506B1 |
Systems and methods for identifying missing signage
Methods and systems for identifying missing signage are described herein. The method includes generating a route from an origin to a destination, the route having a plurality of maneuvers. The method further includes receiving missing signage information from a first device, the missing signage information relating to one or more maneuvers of the plurality of maneuvers, and providing the missing signage information and at least one of the one or more related maneuvers to a second device. |
| US08676500B1 |
Method of providing intersection assistance and related portable electronic device
A method of providing intersection assistance with a portable electronic device to remind a user of traffic rules when the user approaches traffic intersections includes receiving an input from the user indicating a destination location for generating navigation instructions to the destination location, determining a current location of the portable electronic device according to received position signals, providing navigation instructions to the destination location according to the current location of the portable electronic device, and reminding the user of traffic rules related to intersections for a geographical location in which the portable electronic device is currently located when the portable electronic device detects that the portable electronic device is approaching an intersection, where reminding the user of traffic rules related to intersections comprises indicating a side of a second road the user should turn onto when making a turn from a first road onto the second road. |
| US08676499B2 |
Movement guidance system, movement guidance device, movement guidance method, and computer program
Movement guidance systems, devices, methods, and programs set a guidance branch point on a guidance route. The systems, devices, methods, and programs acquire a position and a shape of the guidance branch point and a prior branch point, and determine whether the prior branch point is adjacent based on the acquired information. The prior branch point is adjacent when the prior branch point exists within a first predetermined distance from the guidance branch point and is connected with a road in a same direction as the guidance branch point. When it is determined that the prior branch point is adjacent, the systems, devices, methods, and programs complete verbal guidance for the guidance branch point at a timing at which the movable body is located at a guidance end point that is located a second predetermined distance before the prior branch point. |
| US08676497B2 |
Method and apparatus to search and process POI information
An apparatus and method searches and provides additional Points-of-interest (POI) information to a user when basic POI information such as POI name, address, phone number, etc. is specified. In one aspect, the system includes an information managing unit to search, display and transmit POI information, a communication interface and a plurality of information providers adapted to stream information to the communication interface, and a communication network adapted to connect the information managing unit and the communication interface. The basic information and an additional POI information search request can be transmitted from the information managing unit to the communication interface to search for the additional POI information in the information providers and transmit the additional POI information back to the information managing unit. The additional POI information may be filtered and organized before presenting to the user. |
| US08676483B2 |
Guidance control device, guidance control method, and guidance control program
Guidance control device, methods and programs control an in-vehicle apparatus of a vehicle. The devices, methods, and programs access vehicle state information that specifies a state of the vehicle and determine whether a vehicle state condition is established based on the accessed vehicle state information. The devices, methods, and programs access driving environment information that specifies a driving environment of the vehicle and determine whether a driving environment condition is established based on the accessed driving environment information. The devices, methods, and programs generate guidance based on whether the vehicle state condition is established and whether the driving environment condition is established and cause the generated guidance to be output on a display. |
| US08676479B2 |
Methods and systems for assisted direct start control
Method and systems are provided for controlling a vehicle system including an engine that is selectively deactivated during engine idle-stop conditions. One example method comprises, adjusting a brake torque applied to a deactivated rotating engine after an engine restart request, the brake torque applied to slow the engine to at least a predetermined threshold speed without stopping the engine, and engaging a starter to the still rotating engine to increase the engine speed and restart the engine. |
| US08676478B2 |
Engine stop control device
Target rotation speed at a reference point set at TDC slightly preceding a target stop position of engine rotation is set. A target trajectory of an engine rotation behavior extending since an engine rotation stop behavior starts until the target rotation speed at the reference point is reached is calculated based on the target rotation speed at the reference point and an engine friction. Torque of an alternator is controlled to conform the engine rotation behavior to the target trajectory during the engine rotation stop behavior. Generation of the torque of the alternator stops at a position preceding the reference point by a predetermined crank angle. Therefore, the torque of the alternator is controlled such that an energy deviation between the target trajectory and the engine rotation behavior becomes zero at the position preceding the reference point by the predetermined crank angle. |
| US08676468B2 |
Vehicle control device
Provided is a vehicle control device which generates a speed pattern of a vehicle and controls traveling of the vehicle based on the speed pattern, including: rear vehicle travel situation checking means for checking a travel situation of a rear vehicle which travels behind the vehicle; wave-like travel speed pattern generating means for generating a wave-like travel speed pattern where acceleration travel and free run travel are alternately repeated based on the travel situation of the rear vehicle; and control means for controlling the traveling of the vehicle based on the wave-like travel speed pattern. |
| US08676460B2 |
Shift control device for vehicle
A shift control device is provided for a vehicle of shift-by-wire type having shift operation detecting means electrically detecting a shift operation of a driver, range switching means switching a shift range in response to the shift operation of the driver, failure detecting means detecting a failure in a shift operation detection executed by the shift operation detecting means, and vehicle state detecting means detecting a vehicle state upon detection of the failure in the shift operation detection, the range switching means being switched to a fail-safe mode, when the shift operation detection is recovered from a failed state to a normal state and the range switching means is switched from the fail-safe mode to a normal control mode, a recovery condition for determining switching of the fail-safe mode to the normal control mode being altered depending on the vehicle state. |
| US08676456B2 |
Controlling tip-in bump performance in a transmission
A method of managing tip-in bump in an automatic transmission includes detecting a set of conditions indicative of an impending throttle tip-in event, including calculating a speed difference between engine speed and turbine speed, and reducing a pressure command to a designated clutch of the transmission to a threshold level. The method also include setting an upper limit on engine torque, flaring the turbine speed during the tip-in event, and using proportional-integral-derivative control logic of a controller to reduce flare to about zero in a calibrated duration, thereby allowing the clutch to dissipate engine inertia and minimize the severity of the tip-in bump. A transmission in a vehicle is operatively connected to an engine and has a torque converter with a turbine. The transmission includes a clutch and a controller configured to manage tip-in bump performance in the transmission via the above method. |
| US08676451B2 |
Method and apparatus for in situ treatment of grass
An apparatus for spraying a treatment liquid onto grass growing on a ground surface includes a plurality of rotatable discs spaced laterally apart across the path of travel. Each disc has a plurality of cutters which are adapted to penetrate the ground surface and to cut holes therein as the apparatus travels forwardly. The holes are spaced apart along the path of travel and are also spaced apart laterally. The apparatus also includes a set of nozzles positioned on the apparatus above the grass such that each nozzle is spaced rearwardly along the path of travel from its associated disc but is aligned along the path of travel with such disc. The nozzles are adapted to spray the treatment liquid. The apparatus also including a controller for causing the nozzles to spray the treatment liquid into the holes. |
| US08676449B2 |
Vehicle governance system
Disclosed are a method and system for preventing the unauthorized use of a vehicle. A set of vehicle operating parameters is entered onto a person's driver's license, and that person registers as an authorized user of a specified vehicle. When that person enters the vehicle, the person inserts the driver's license into a card reader, and the card reader reads the operating parameters and enters those parameters onto a computing platform. The computing platform receives these operating parameters and checks to determine if the person is an authorized user of the vehicle. If the computing platform determines that the person is an authorized user, the computing platform sends the operating parameters to a control module within the vehicle. If the person then operates the vehicle, the control module controls the vehicle to maintain that operation within the operating parameters. |
| US08676445B2 |
Hydraulic steering diagnostic system and method
The present disclosure relates to computer-implemented methods of diagnosing a vehicle hydraulic power steering system and steering diagnostic systems for executing the same. Some exemplary diagnostic systems are configured to detect a steering system condition based on an evaluation of a steering pump outlet pressure, an engine speed and/or a steering wheel position. The system sends a warning signal when a predetermined steering system condition is detected. |
| US08676438B2 |
Method and system for implementing ultrasonic sensor signal strength calibrations
Temperature compensation for ultrasonic sensors can have a significant error that is highly undesirable because temperature of ultrasonic sensors and the temperature of the medium through which they sense objects affect signal strength calibrations (e.g., echo thresholds) applied when detecting an object. In order to increase the detection capabilities and reported distance of an object, ultrasonic sensors need to adjust their detection criteria and distance calculations as the temperature of air surrounding a vehicle (i.e., outside air temperature) changes and also as the temperature of the sensor changes. Embodiments of the inventive subject matter provide for a simple, effective and consistent approach for determining a temperature upon which such detection criteria and distance calculation adjustments can be based. |
| US08676437B2 |
Vehicle test system including plurality of apparatuses mutually communicable via network
A vehicle test system including a plurality of apparatuses mutually communicable via a network. A control apparatus included in the apparatuses controls two or more objects in the vehicle by using respective control modules each having fault detecting module used to detect fault in the object being controlled. A test apparatus connected to the control apparatus commands any one of the control module included in the control apparatus in order to read out fault information in the objects. The control apparatus generates, in response to the test apparatus, a response command indicative of the fault information detected by the fault detecting module and transmits the response command to the test apparatus via the network. The response commands includes both fault information corresponding to the control module to which the test apparatus commands and fault information corresponding to the other control module. |
| US08676436B2 |
Method for monitoring the oil system of a turbomachine
A monitoring method that includes calculating the autonomy of a lubrication system of an airplane engine and also providing for the diagnosis and prognosis of a plurality of problems and breakdowns of the engine and of its lubrication system by means of measurements taken by sensors arranged in the lubrication system. The method further comprises the step of calculating the status of the lubrication system at a given moment and calculating its evolution over time in order to determine the remaining lifetime before a breakdown. |
| US08676432B2 |
Fault prediction framework using temporal data mining
A vehicle fault diagnosis and prognosis system includes a computing platform configured to receive a classifier from a remote server, the computing platform tangibly embodying computer-executable instructions for evaluating data sequences received from a vehicle control network and applying the classifier to the data sequences, wherein the classifier is configured to determine if the data sequences define a pattern that is associated with a particular fault. |
| US08676430B1 |
Controlling a vehicle having inadequate map data
A vehicle can be controlled in a first autonomous mode of operation by at least navigating the vehicle based on map data. Sensor data can be obtained using one or more sensors of the vehicle. The sensor data can be indicative of an environment of the vehicle. An inadequacy in the map data can be detected by at least comparing the map data to the sensor data. In response to detecting the inadequacy in the map data, the vehicle can be controlled in a second autonomous mode of operation and a user can be prompted to switch to a manual mode of operation. The vehicle can be controlled in the second autonomous mode of operation by at least obtaining additional sensor data using the one or more sensors of the vehicle and navigating the vehicle based on the additional sensor data. |
| US08676428B2 |
Server request for downloaded information from a vehicle-based monitor
A system for triggered request for downloaded information from a vehicle-based monitor comprises a transmitter, a receiver, and a processor. The processor is coupled to the transmitter and the receiver. The processor is configured to determine whether it is desired to receive one or more data from a vehicle-based monitor. In the event that it is desired to receive one or more data from the vehicle-based monitor, the processor is configured to provide an indication that it is desired to receive the one or more data from the vehicle-based monitor. The processor is configured to receive the one or more data. |
| US08676427B1 |
Controlling autonomous vehicle using audio data
A method includes receiving, at a computing system, audio data from one or more microphones associated with a vehicle. In one example, the audio data originates from a source external to the vehicle and the vehicle is configured to operate in an autonomous mode. The method also includes processing the audio data to generate directional data related to a direction of the source of the audio data relative to the vehicle and processing the audio data to generate identification data related to an identity of the source of the audio data. Further, the method includes controlling the vehicle in the autonomous mode in response to the directional data and the identification data, using the computing system. |
| US08676426B1 |
Automatic guided vehicle system and method
An apparatus and method for guiding an automatic guided vehicle along a magnetic pathway and more specifically to an apparatus and a method capable of accurately and precisely following a weak magnetic field emitted by a substantially continuous passive magnetic marker having route junctions. |
| US08676425B2 |
Methods and systems for maintenance and other processing of container-grown plants using autonomous mobile robots
A system is provided for processing container-grown plants positioned in a given area. The system includes a processing station positioned in the area for processing the container-grown plants. It also includes one or more autonomous mobile container handling robots configured to: (i) travel to a source location in the area and pick up a container-grown plant, (ii) transport the container-grown plant to the processing station where a process is performed on the container-grown plant, (iii) transport the container-grown plant from the processing station to a destination location in the area, (iv) deposit the container-grown plant at the destination location, and (v) repeat (i) through (iv) for a set of container-grown plants in the source location. |
| US08676422B2 |
Creep control device and method for hybrid vehicle
Disclosed is a creep control system and method for a hybrid vehicle, which controls the driving of a motor according to the distance to a preceding vehicle in order to provide creep driving when the hybrid vehicle has come to a complete stop. In particular, driving information is detected and a determination is made as to whether the hybrid vehicle is in an idle stop and completely stationary state. Then when the hybrid vehicle is in the idle stop and completely stationary state, a determination is made as to whether a distance from a preceding vehicle is more than a predetermined distance. When the distance to the preceding vehicle is more than the predetermined distance, a motor is driven to perform creep driving. |
| US08676419B2 |
Time-based vehicle battery balancing system and method
A power system for a vehicle may include at least one controller and a battery having a plurality of cells. The at least one controller may, for each of the cells, determine a voltage of the cell, determine a discharge time to reduce the voltage to a value approximately equal to a minimum of the determined voltages, and cause the cell to discharge for the discharge time to balance the battery. |
| US08676416B2 |
System and method for starting fuel cell vehicle in emergency
The present invention provides a system and method for starting a fuel cell vehicle in an emergency, which can start the fuel cell by supplying necessary air to the fuel cell even in the event of a failure or malfunction of a high voltage system, the high voltage system including a high voltage DC-DC converter and a high voltage battery which are generally used as a power source of an air blower during start-up of the fuel cell. In particular, the present invention provides a system and method for starting a fuel cell vehicle in an emergency, in which a controller drives an air blower by a voltage output from a low voltage battery to start the fuel cell in an emergency, if it is determined that there is a failure or malfunction in the high voltage system during start-up of a fuel cell system. |
| US08676409B2 |
Electric brake apparatus
Even when a rigidity table stored in a RAM at the time of a start of a brake operation does not coincide with an actual rigidity characteristic of an electric caliper which changes according to brake conditions including how often and how long a brake operation is applied, it is possible to reduce a deviation between a pressing force instruction value and a generated pressing force by updating the characteristic of the relation between a pressing force instruction value and rotational position each time an estimated thrust force value is calculated during one brake operation. It is possible to steadily keep followability to a pressing force instruction according to an actual state of the rigidity characteristic of the electric caliper, thereby ensuring generation of an appropriate brake force. |
| US08676408B2 |
Unmanned aircraft and aerial surveillance system for unmanned aircraft
An unmanned aircraft includes a camera, a laser ranging system and a driving unit. The laser ranging system measures a distance to an object in the field of view of the camera. The driving unit rotates the field of view. Thus, it is possible to acquire relative position data of the object around the unmanned aircraft with a small and light-weight unit. |
| US08676399B2 |
System and method for generating and displaying an electric taxi index
A taxi method for an aircraft having a primary thrust engine taxi system and an electric taxi system is provided. The method involves obtaining aircraft and airport status data and generating therefrom taxi drive information indicative of the relative cost of taxiing the aircraft along a predetermined route using the electric taxi system versus the aircraft engine taxi system. The taxi drive index information is presented to a user. |
| US08676397B2 |
Regulating the temperature of a datacenter
A method for regulating the temperature of a datacenter within an optimum temperature range includes predicting, using a computing device, a thermal load from a workload scheduler containing information on machines assembled in the datacenter to be turned on and/or off during a particular time period, and the thermal load of the datacenter associated with the work of the machines within the particular time period; and controlling at least one cooling system of the datacenter based upon the predicted thermal load within the particular time period under consideration of the thermal inertia of the datacenter by at least one of activating, controlling, and deactivating cooling resources of the cooling system in advance to maintain the temperature of the datacenter within the optimum temperature range. |
| US08676396B2 |
Mesh delivery system
A mesh delivery system for controlling electricity supplied to one or more electrical devices from a power source are disclosed. Signals relating to characteristics of the electrical devices are uniformly or non-uniformly sampled at discrete intervals are provided along with associated sampling time indications via the mesh network to a destination controller. |
| US08676390B2 |
Universal remote machinery controller and monitor
A system is provided herein for remotely controlling and monitoring machinery, the machinery having a control network for control thereof, one or more switches coupled to the control network for controlling the machinery via the control network. The system includes a controller hardwired coupled to the control network of the machinery. The controller is configured to control the machinery via the control network separately from the switches, and the controller is configured to monitor operation of the machinery. In addition, the system includes an arrangement for receiving signals for controlling the controller from a remote location and an arrangement for transmitting, to a remote location, information collected by the controller resulting from the controller monitoring operation of the machinery. Advantageously, with the subject invention, the system can control and monitor machinery from remote locations directly. In the event of faults or failures, corrective action may be taken using the subject invention. |
| US08676386B2 |
Fault detection system for a generator
A fault detection system is provided, and includes a generator, a power converter, a breaker, a current monitoring device, and a control module. The power converter is selectively connected to the generator and is selectively activated to produce a test voltage. The breaker is located between the generator and the power converter for selectively connecting the generator to the power converter. The breaker includes an open position and a closed position. The current monitoring device is located between the generator and the power converter. The current monitoring device measures a line current between the generator and the power converter. The control module is in communication with the current monitoring device and the power converter. The control module has a memory with a threshold current value. |
| US08676385B2 |
Method for operating a heat exchanger unit
A method operates a heat exchanger unit and determines a current physical characteristic of a process fluid at or adjacent a process fluid outlet of the heat exchanger unit and predetermining a desired physical characteristic of the process fluid at which the process fluid is desired to exit the heat exchanger unit. If the current physical characteristic of the process fluid is greater than the desired physical characteristic of the process fluid, then either a current fan speed is incrementally increased or the current fan speed is set at a predetermined low set point fan speed. Alternatively, if the current physical characteristic of the process fluid is less than the desired physical characteristic of the process fluid, then either the current fan speed is incrementally decreased or the current fan speed is set at a predetermined high set point fan speed or an OFF operating mode is activated. |
| US08676380B2 |
Moving robot and operating method for same
There are provided a moving robot and a method of operating the same. A bottom surface is photographed to sense a moving distance and a moving direction based on input image data. The amount of light radiated to photograph the bottom surface is sensed to feedback control the light emission degree of a light source unit. The light source unit is controlled when errors are generated in sensing the image data. Therefore, the sensing ratio of the photographed image is improved so that correctness of calculating the position of the moving robot is improved. |
| US08676378B2 |
Robot with docking station, system and method
A robot, a station, system and method therefor is described. The docking system includes, among other items, a robot and a docking station. The robot may have a power storage unit configured to supply power for the robot, a docking terminal group having a first docking terminal and a second docking terminal, and a robot control unit configured to control working state of the robot. The docking station includes a conductive terminal group comprising at least a first conductive terminal and a second conductive terminal. The conductive terminal group is configured to be electrically connected to the docking terminal group respectively. The robot control unit comprises a signal transmission module configured to be electrically connected to the first docking terminal and send a predetermined detection signal, a signal receiving module configured to be electrically connected to the second docking terminal. When the signal receiving module receives a predetermined feedback signal corresponding to the predetermined detection signal, the robot control unit verifies that the docking of the docking terminal group of the robot with the conductive terminal group of the docking station has succeeded. The robot can reliably dock to the docking station without human intervention, which brings extreme convenience to production and life. |
| US08676377B2 |
Retail shelf supply monitoring system
An inventory shelf monitoring system includes a plurality of track systems located on at least one shelf of a retail or warehouse establishment. Each track system includes a sensor and actuator that determines the position of a product pusher. The identity and location of the product pusher, for each track system on the shelf, is sent to a data acquisition and transmitter circuit that assembles, formats, and transmits pusher position data to a central receiver. The data is then transmitted to a central processing unit in a user device that maintains data corresponding to product count, availability, and activity associated with each track unit of each shelf employing the system. Inventory control, the prevention of out-of-stock situations, and the assessment of activity indicative of theft or accident is thus monitored in real time for prompt remedial action. |
| US08676376B2 |
Systems and methods for dispensing control for a product dispenser
Embodiments of the invention include systems and methods of dispensing control for a product dispenser. In one embodiment, a system or product dispenser can be provided. The system or product dispenser can include a plurality of beverage ingredient sources comprising a respective beverage ingredient, a plurality of beverage supply lines in respective communication with the plurality of ingredient sources, at least one pump in communication with the plurality of beverage supply lines, and a controller in communication with the at least one pump and operable to execute a set of instructions. The set of instructions can be operable to store data associated with a prior poured beverage, provide a command for a user to dispense the prior poured beverage in a subsequent pour, and after selection of the command, based at least in part on the data associated with a prior poured beverage, dispense a subsequent beverage similar to the prior poured beverage. |
| US08676372B1 |
Tool path generation for machining operations
A method and apparatus for managing machining. A desired level of engagement of a tool may be identified with a workpiece. A tool path for the tool may be generated relative to the workpiece. The tool path may have a number of levels of engagement of the tool with the workpiece along the tool path. The number of levels of engagement of the tool with the workpiece along the tool path may be based on the desired level of engagement. |
| US08676371B2 |
Rolling of a strip in a rolling train using the last stand of the rolling train as a tension reducer
A rolling train for rolling a strip has a number of rolling stands and a coiler. The rolling stands have work and backing rolls. Data of the strip are fed to a control device of the rolling train which determines individual pass reductions for the rolling stands based on the data. It controls the main rolling stands and the coiler such that the strip is rolled in the main rolling stands according to the individual pass reductions and then coiled up. It determines the individual pass reductions such that they are zero and controls the rolling stand arranged directly upstream of the coiler such that—with respect to this main rolling stand—the tension in the strip on the outlet side is less than on the inlet side, but the strip runs through this rolling stand without undergoing any forming, at least on one side. |
| US08676367B2 |
Lot process order modification to improve detection of manufacturing effects
A system for lot based, multi-step wafer manufacturing processes is provided and includes a transfer apparatus, disposed among tools for performing respective process steps on each wafer of each lot of wafers transferred thereto, the transfer apparatus being configured to transfer each lot from a current tool to a next tool in accordance with a process step sequence, a dispatcher operably coupled to the transfer apparatus to modify the lot order in response to a modification condition detection, a measurement unit configured to receive each wafer of each fully processed lot and to collect measurements therefrom and a processor disposed in signal communication with the dispatcher and the measurement unit to analyze the measurements relative to the lot order for evidence that a process step of a corresponding tool is responsible for performance effects. |
| US08676362B2 |
Encapsulation of high definition audio data over an input/output interconnect
Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to systems, methods, and apparatuses for encapsulation of high definition audio data over an input/output interconnect. In some embodiments, a system includes tunneling logic coupled with a high definition (HD) audio controller. The tunneling logic may receive digital audio data from the HD audio controller, encapsulate the digital audio data in a message suitable for an in-band input/output (IO) interconnect, and send the message to an add-in graphics card via the in-band input/output IO interconnect. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08676358B2 |
Numerical control method and numerical control device
A numerical control machine tool has two spindles mounted in opposition to each other. In order to enable consecutive operations of lathe turning machining work in accordance with a speed command, drill machining work for drilling with rotating tools with a work positioned at a given angle, and other machining works while keeping a state where a single work is grasped by both of the spindles, switching means 152, 215 and 225 are provided which switch a reference spindle 314 to a profile control axis in a state where both of the spindles are held in the position control mode selected during spindle synchronized control, in a case where a C-axis control switching command is issued to treat the reference spindle 314 as the profile control axis while spindle synchronized control is performed for the reference spindle 314 and a synchronized spindle 324 and the synchronized spindle 324 is revolving at a command speed given to the reference spindle 314. |
| US08676357B2 |
System and method for implementing an extended safety instrumented system
An apparatus, system and process is provided for communicating safety-related data, over an open system, from a sender to a receiver. Safety-related components, including function blocks, flexible function blocks, resource blocks and transducer blocks, as well as, safety-related objects are provided. Also, an extended safety-related protocol provides for authenticating communications between safety-related components over an existing black channel, such as one using a fieldbus Architecture. |
| US08676355B2 |
Position control apparatus including iterative learning circuit, exposure apparatus, method for manufacturing device, and iterative learning method for use in position control apparatus having iterative learning circuit including learning filter
A position control apparatus includes a detecting unit configured to detect a position of a control target, a subtracting unit configured to subtract an output of the detecting unit from a target value, an iterative learning control circuit including a filter into which a deviation between the output of the detecting unit and the target value is input, where the iterative learning control circuit feeds forward a control input to the control target, and a parameter computing unit configured to compute a variation in a parameter of the control target. A characteristic of the filter is changed in accordance with the variation in the parameter of the control target. |
| US08676353B2 |
Control system
In the control system having plural control devices that are connected to a network, and control objects different from each other, an engine control device, a meter control device, and an AT control device, which are second control devices store a control volume computation procedure for computing the control volume of a pre-determined control among controls made by the engine control device which is a first control device, therein. The engine control device compares the control volume related to the pre-determined control computed by the engine control device with the control volume related to the pre-determined control computed by the meter control device. If a comparison result is different, the engine control device again compares the control volume with the control volume related to the pre-determined control computed by the AT control device, and controls an object to be controlled by the engine control device according to the comparison result. |
| US08676352B2 |
Implantable electrode line
A device for fastening permanently or temporarily implantable medical devices includes a main body (1) having a first end (1a) and a second end (1b), a flexible and extensible body section (2) therebetween, and a first inflexible and inextensible body support (3) which is fixedly attached to the body section (2) at the second end (1b) of the main body (1), whereby the extensible section (2) can be converted from an unextended state to an extended state in which it is lengthened in comparison with the unextended state. At least one first flexible finger-shaped anchor (4) protrudes away from the main body (1) and is attached to the first body support (3) at an anchor mount (4a). At least one first flexible retraction device (5) is provided for retraction of a respective first anchoring means (4), wherein the retraction device (5) is connected to the body section (2) and to the anchor (4). On conversion of the body section (2) from the unextended state to the extended state, the retraction device (5) does not expand, so that the respective anchors (4) are moved in the direction of the main body (1). |
| US08676349B2 |
Mechanism for releasably engaging an implantable medical device for implantation
An apparatus for releasably engaging an implantable medical device during delivery includes an elongate, tubular body having an open distal end a plurality of deflectable jaw members extending distally from the distal end of the body and terminating in distal tip portions, and an actuating member slidably disposed within the body and including a distal end portion operable to prevent inward deflection of the jaw members when positioned proximate the distal tip portions. The jaw members are adapted to releasably engage an engagement feature of the implantable medical device. |
| US08676340B2 |
MRI-safe implantable lead
A stimulation lead is configured to be implanted into a patient's body and includes at least one distal stimulation electrode and at least one conductive filer electrically coupled to the distal stimulation electrode. A jacket is provided for housing the conductive filer and providing a path distributed along at least a portion of the length of the lead for conducting induced RF energy from the filer to the patient's body. |
| US08676331B2 |
Devices for controlling spinal cord modulation for inhibiting pain, and associated systems and methods, including controllers for automated parameter selection
Devices for controlling spinal cord modulation for inhibiting pain, and associated systems and methods, including controllers for automated parameter selection are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes receiving a first input corresponding to a location of a signal delivery device implanted in a patient, establishing a positional relationship between the signal delivery device and an anatomical feature of the patient, receiving a second input corresponding to a medical indication of the patient, and, based at least in part on the positional relationship and the indication, automatically identifying a signal delivery parameter in accordance with which a pulsed electrical signal is delivered to the patient via the signal delivery device. |
| US08676325B2 |
Adaptive airway treatment of dorsal displacement disorders in horses
An adaptive airway treatment system is described for treating a dorsal displacement disorder in a horse. A pacemaker processor generates a dorsal displacement disorder treatment signal as a function of at least one therapy parameter. One or more stimulation electrodes are adapted to interface with tissue of the horse for delivering the treatment signal to continuously or intermittently stimulate soft palate tissue of the horse during an entire period of increased activity of the horse or for training prior to exercise. |
| US08676324B2 |
Electrical and magnetic stimulators used to treat migraine/sinus headache, rhinitis, sinusitis, rhinosinusitis, and comorbid disorders
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation devices and magnetic stimulation devices are disclosed, along with methods of treating medical disorders using energy that is delivered noninvasively by such devices. The disorders comprise migraine and other primary headaches such as cluster headaches, including nasal or paranasal sinus symptoms that resemble an immune-mediated response (“sinus” headaches). The devices and methods may also be used to treat rhinitis, sinusitis, or rhinosinusitis, irrespective of whether those disorders are co-morbid with a headache. They may also be used to treat other disorders that may be co-morbid with migraine or cluster headaches, such as anxiety disorders. In preferred embodiments of the disclosed methods, one or both of the patient's vagus nerves are stimulated non-invasively. In other embodiments, parts of the sympathetic nervous system and/or the adrenal glands are stimulated. |
| US08676321B2 |
Connection housing and manufacture of same
A medical implant includes a hermetically sealed hollow housing having a hermetically sealed feedthrough suitable for conducting electrical signals to and from the hollow housing without impairing the hermetic seal thereof. The hollow housing includes a circuit suitable for measuring signals from the human body, sending signals to the human body, and transmitting signals to a receiver located outside the body. The implant also includes a connection housing having an insulating connection body, an externally accessible cavity for connecting an implantable electrode line, an insulating substrate having at least one electrically conductive strip conductor structure, and contacts that are securely electrically connected to a strip conductor structure present in or on the substrate material. The substrate may be embedded in the connection body in such a way that the contacts are present in the externally accessible cavity. |
| US08676313B2 |
Wearable medical treatment device with motion/position detection
A wearable defibrillator consists of a vest (or belt) which is worn by the patient. The device monitors the patient's ECG with sensing electrodes and can monitor other patient conditions and in appropriate cases can treat certain conditions. An accelerometer(s) in the wearable defibrillator can allow for the device to determine the position, movements, forces applied to the patient, and/or the device. The device can use a least one patient motion detector generating a signal indicative of patient activity. Analysis of the signal can be indicative of patient activity appropriate for treatment or indication of device condition. |
| US08676311B2 |
Memory device associated with defibrillation electrodes
An electrode package for use with a defibrillator, the electrode package comprising an outer shell providing a vapor barrier between an interior space inside the outer shell and an exterior environment, one or more defibrillation electrodes positioned in the interior space inside the outer shell, each of the defibrillation electrodes including a metallic layer in electrical contact with a conductive liquid-containing layer through which electrical current is delivered to a patient when the defibrillation electrodes have been applied to the patient, the conductive a liquid-containing layer being subject to drying out as liquid from the water-containing layer vaporizes and travels from the interior space to the external environment, and one or more electrical conductors extending from inside of the outer shell to a package electrical connector outside of the shell, the package electrical connector being configured to be connected to a mating defibrillator electrical connector connected to the defibrillator, and an electronic memory device positioned outside the outer shell and in electrical contact with some of the electrical conductors extending from the outer shell to the package electrical connector. |
| US08676309B2 |
Systems and methods for neuromodulation for treatment of pain and other disorders associated with nerve conduction
Methods and apparatus are provided for selective destruction or temporary disruption of nerves and/or conduction pathways in a mammalian body for the treatment of pain and other disorders. Apparatus comprises catheters having electrodes for targeting and affecting nerve tissue at a cellular level to reversible and irreversible nerve poration and incapacitation. |
| US08676305B2 |
Automated analysis of complex fractionated electrograms
A method for mapping abnormal electrical activity, including obtaining electrical signal data from respective locations in a heart of a living subject, and automatically analyzing the signal data to identify complex fractionated electrograms (CFEs) therein. The method further includes analyzing the CFEs so as to identify reentry locations comprised in the respective locations, and displaying information derived from the identification in relation to a map of the heart. |
| US08676303B2 |
Methods and systems for treating heart instability
Systems and methods define an index of risk for cardiac disease by detecting cellular derangements that may lead to cardiomyopathy, heart rhythm disorders or ischemic heart disease. The markers include fluctuations or abnormal rate-behavior of electrical, mechanical or other measurable biosignals. The invention operates in modes that can be applied to prevent atrial fibrillation or the risk for ventricular arrhythmias. Alternative embodiments are applied to tissue outside the heart such as skeletal muscle, smooth muscle, the central nervous system, the respiratory system, the urogenital system and the gastrointestinal system. |
| US08676302B2 |
Systems and methods for multi-spectral bioluminescence tomography
Bioluminescent imaging has proven to be a valuable tool for monitoring physiological and pathological activities at cellular and molecular levels in living small animals. Using biological techniques, target cells can be tagged with reporters which generate characteristic photons in a wide spectrum covering the infra-red range. Part of the diffused light can reach the body surface of a subject/specimen (e.g., a small animal), be separated into several spectral bands using optical means, and collected by a sensitive camera. Systems and methods are disclosed herein for multi-spectral bioluminescence tomography (MBLT), in which an image of an underlying 3D bioluminescent source distribution is synergistically reconstructed from spectrally resolved datasets externally measured. This MBLT process involves two or multiple imaging modalities that produce structural information of the object and optical properties of the object as well to enable and improve the quality of MBLT. |
| US08676301B2 |
Guide wire incorporating a handle
A guide wire incorporating a handle that incorporates a handle at the proximal end of said guide wire, the handle incorporating a guide wire actuator slidably disposed upon an actuator rail, the guide wire actuator being affixed to the proximal end of the guide wire and a guard rail contained within the actuator rail that prevents buckling of the proximal end of the guide wire. The handle can be connected to a catheter device amalgamating the guide wire and the catheter, allowing the catheter and guide wire to be operated simultaneously while also enabling the guide wire to be advanced or torqued independently of the catheter device. |
| US08676296B2 |
Echo-specific K-space reordering approach to compatible dual-echo arteriovenography
A dual-echo sequence technique provided herein empowers simultaneous acquisition of both TOF MRA and BOLD MRV in a single MR acquisition. By this approach, an echo-specific K-space ordering scheme permits the adjustment of the scan parameters that are compatible for each of the MRA and MRV. The image quality in the MRA and MRV acquired by this compatible dual-echo arteriovenography (CODEA) technique is comparable to that for conventional, single-echo MRA and MRV. When the technique is integrated with MOTSA, seamless vascular connectivity is achieved in both MRA and MRV over a large area of brain anatomy. The technique will facilitate routine clinical acquisition and application of dual-echo MRA and MRV, as both MRA and MRV can be acquired with minimal impact on the image quality and without adversely affecting the scan throughput. |
| US08676295B2 |
Interventional instrument tracking device imageable with magnetic resonance imaging and method for use thereof
A tracking device configured to be coupled to an interventional instrument and tracked by a magnetic resonance imaging system is provided. The tracking device includes, for example, paramagnetic and diamagnetic components that form first and second tracking members. When the tracking device is adjusted into a first arrangement, the tracking device will produce a local magnetic field in the presence of the magnetic field of an MRI system that is measurable by the MRI system. However, when the tracking device is adjusted into a second arrangement, the local magnetic field produced by the tracking device is reduced relative to the first arrangement, wherein the reduced local magnetic field produces substantially no magnetic field disturbances detectable by the MRI system. Images may be acquired of a patient in which the tracking device has been introduced and, using a numerical fitting method, an accurate location of the tracking device can be determined. |
| US08676287B2 |
System and methods for processing analyte sensor data
Systems and methods for processing sensor analyte data, including initiating calibration, updating calibration, evaluating clinical acceptability of reference and sensor analyte data, and evaluating the quality of sensor calibration. During initial calibration, the analyte sensor data is evaluated over a period of time to determine stability of the sensor. The sensor may be calibrated using a calibration set of one or more matched sensor and reference analyte data pairs. The calibration may be updated after evaluating the calibration set for best calibration based on inclusion criteria with newly received reference analyte data. Fail-safe mechanisms are provided based on clinical acceptability of reference and analyte data and quality of sensor calibration. Algorithms provide for optimized prospective and retrospective analysis of estimated blood analyte data from an analyte sensor. |
| US08676286B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing coupling between signals in a measurement system
A method and an apparatus for separating a composite signal into a plurality of signals is described. A signal processor receives a composite signal and separates a composite signal in to separate output signals. Feedback from one or more of the output signals is provided to a configuration module that configures the signal processor to improve a quality of the output signals. In one embodiment, the signal processor separates the composite signal by applying a first demodulation scheme to the composite signal to generate a first output signal. In one embodiment, the signal processor also applies a second demodulation scheme to the composite signal to generate a second output signal. In one embodiment, the composite signal is obtained from a detector in a system for measuring one or more blood constituents. |
| US08676283B2 |
Method and apparatus to compensate for melanin and hemoglobin variation in determination of a measure of a glycation end-product or disease state using tissue fluorescence
A method of determining a measure of a tissue state (e.g., glycation end-product or disease state) in an individual is disclosed. A portion of the skin of the individual is illuminated with excitation light, then light emitted by the tissue due to fluorescence of a chemical with the tissue responsive to the excitation light is detected. The detected light can be combined with a model relating fluorescence with a measure of tissue state to determine a tissue state. The invention can illuminate the skin and detect responsive light over a time that spans a plurality of cardiac cycles of the individual, which can, as an example, help mitigate the effects of time-varying signals such as those due to hemoglobin. The invention can also determine the amount of light to be directed to the skin, for example by controlling the time that a light source is energized. The amount of illumination light can be determined from a skin reflectance characteristic such as pigmentation or melanin in the skin. Controlling the amount of light directed to the tissue can reduce the dynamic range required of a corresponding optical system, for example by allowing a single system to accurately measure individuals with very light skin and individuals with very dark skin. |
| US08676278B2 |
Mobile terminal device
A mobile terminal device comprise a first housing 11a provided with a displaying unit 13; a second housing 11b on which the first housing 11a is laid; a hinge portion 12 pivotably connecting respective one end portions of the first housing 11a and second housing 11b with each other such that the first housing 11a moves toward/away from the second housing 11b; and a self-stand maintaining unit for maintaining a self-standing state where the displaying unit 13 is inclined by pivoting the first housing 11a relative to the second housing 11b with the hinge portion 12 as a pivoting center, as well as moving the first housing 11a along an axial direction of the hinge 12 to bring a side of the first housing 11a and a contact portion A on a side surface of the second housing 11b into contact with a placement surface. |
| US08676276B2 |
Mobile device having solar cell and power control method thereof
A mobile device has a solar cell and a rechargeable battery and may be connected with an external power source. A method for a power control of the mobile device allows a continuous and reliable power supply through selective connections with the solar cell, the battery and the external power source. In one embodiment, if the battery is unavailable or absent, the mobile device executes at least one function thereof by using electric power supplied from the solar cell. In another embodiment, if the battery is available with the mobile device powered off, the mobile device charges the battery by using electric power supplied from the solar cell. In still another embodiment, if the battery is available with the mobile device powered on, the mobile device executes at least one function thereof by using electric power supplied from both the solar cell and the battery. |
| US08676273B1 |
Communication device
A communication device, wherein when the communication device is in a ringing mode, audio data is output from the speaker, and when the communication device is in a silent mode, audio data is converted to a text data and the text data is output from the display in a visual fashion. |
| US08676271B2 |
Application displaying method and mobile communication terminal based on user's habit
The present invention relates to the field of communications technologies, and provides an application displaying method and a mobile communication terminal based on a user's habit. The method includes: when the mobile communication terminal runs an application, acquiring a statistical value of displaying in a landscape manner and a statistical value of displaying in a portrait manner when the mobile communication terminal previously ran the application, comparing the statistical value of the landscape-manner displaying and the statistical value of the portrait-manner displaying to acquire a displaying manner corresponding to a larger displaying statistical value; and displaying a display interface of the application of the mobile communication terminal in the displaying manner corresponding to the larger displaying statistical value. |
| US08676269B2 |
Mobile terminal having wide display unit
A mobile terminal having a wide display unit is provided. The mobile terminal includes a main body having a first display unit therein. The mobile terminal includes a folder unit having a second display unit at an inner surface opposite to the first display unit. The terminal also includes a sliding unit connected to one end of the folder unit to guide the folder unit capable of performing a slide movement. The terminal includes a hinge coupler to connect the sliding unit and the main body such that the sliding unit rotates based on the main body. The folder unit positions the second display unit to be adjacent to the first display unit by performing a slide movement toward the main body when the folder unit is opened as the sliding unit rotates based on the hinge coupler, and a wide display unit is formed when a surface of the first display unit and a surface of the second display unit become in a single plane. Thereby, mobility of a mobile terminal while providing a wide display unit can be provided. |
| US08676253B2 |
Method and device for ranking frequencies
An arbitration method and device for arbitrating receiving conflict in a multi-mode multi-SIM multi-standby communication terminal is provided. The method includes: determining if there are at least two cards to receive messages in a time cycle while all of the cards are in standby states, the time cycle being a radio frame of one card; identifying types of messages to be received by the at least two cards after determining there are at least two cards to receive messages in the time cycle, and the types of messages comprising paging message and broadcast message; determining if a receiving conflict occurs; and arbitrating based on the types of receiving conflicts and obtaining arbitration results after determining there is a receiving conflict. The arbitration results include: receiving a paging message preferentially; receiving the paging message with the longest paging period; and receiving the broadcast message with the highest priority. |
| US08676252B2 |
Dual mode mobile terminal in MIMO wireless communication system and controlling method thereof
A method for dual mode mobile terminal in an MIMO wireless communication system is disclosed. The present invention includes the steps of if an uplink transmission mode is for simultaneous transmission to an LTE base station and a CDMA base station, determining whether a transmission power to the LTE base station is equal to or greater than a threshold value, transmitting a simultaneous transmission mode dedicated scheduling request signal for excluding a risky frequency band from an uplink band to the LTE base station, receiving a scheduling information on the uplink band except the risky frequency band from the LTE base station, transmitting a CS service signal to the CDMA base station, and transmitting a PS service signal to the LTE base station using the scheduling information. |
| US08676250B2 |
Portable electronic device and control method therefor
Disclosed are a portable electronic device that can change imaging instruction keys according to the position of the casing, and a control method therefor. The device is provided with an operating unit casing, an operating unit that has multiple keys, an assessment unit that assesses the position of the operating side casing, a setting unit that sets the prescribed keys in the operating part to be the imaging instruction keys that give instructions for imaging according to the position of the operating side casing assessed by the assessment unit, and a camera that performs imaging according to the imaging instructions from the imaging instruction keys that are set by the setting unit. |
| US08676249B2 |
Apparatus and method for increased security of wireless transactions
A mobile communication device with security mechanisms is provided for enabling wireless personal information transfer with increased security. In another embodiment of the invention, a mobile communication device is used to confirm a transaction. |
| US08676248B2 |
Device, method, and medium for optimizing simultaneous long term evolution (LTE) signals and signals in the industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) radio band
A wireless communication device includes a processing unit with first chip and second chip that operates in parallel with the first chip. The first chip transmits/receives data according to LTE. The second chip transmits/receives data over a WLAN. The processing unit determines access points (AP) through which data can be transmitted/received by the second chip over the WLAN; and identifies an optimal AP, based on factors including a determination, for each AP, of whether transmission/reception of data by the first chip according to the LTE standard, simultaneous to transmission/reception of data over the WLAN by the second chip, would decrease the overall throughput of the first and second chips. When the second chip is previously connected to the WLAN through any AP other than the optimal AP, the second chip is disconnected from the other AP, and it is connected to the WLAN through the optimal AP. |
| US08676242B2 |
Method and apparatus for registration of location information of wireless devices in a wireless communication network supporting multicast calls
An apparatus and method for transmitting push-to-talk (PTT) communications through multicast channels to a plurality of wireless devices. The PTT server uses the unicast approach to deliver the PTT communication to a group of PTT clients when it does not have the location information of the PTT clients in the group. In one embodiment, the wireless devices report their location to a PTT server after receiving a PTT communication for a group and a timer is started. The wireless devices continue to report their location when moving from an area served by one base station to an area served by another before the timer expires. The PTT server also starts the timer for that PTT group with the same value after initiating the PTT group communication. The PTT server uses the location information to determine if multicast channels can be used when transmitting PTT communications to the wireless devices. |